-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Wxe+s/ft6OsFv+f2B8SuCa8jTzPgclaC4rGIXcgdiI00uu6Sa41gcQhLwdeVZizH xSaSr5ezRCB6AhfsSdojJQ== 0000813779-07-000013.txt : 20070515 0000813779-07-000013.hdr.sgml : 20070515 20070514174351 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000813779-07-000013 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20070508 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets ITEM INFORMATION: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant ITEM INFORMATION: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20070515 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070514 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000813779 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 870444770 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 0228 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-21644 FILM NUMBER: 07848008 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 480 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST STREET 2: SUITE 300 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77060 BUSINESS PHONE: 2818201919 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 480 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST STREET 2: SUITE 300 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77060 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GULFWEST ENERGY INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20010523 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GULFWEST OIL CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19960515 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GULFWEST ENERGY INC// DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920924 8-K 1 form8k.htm FORM 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8–K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 14, 2007 (May 8, 2007)

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

000-21644

(Commission File Number)

20-3037840

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

717 Texas Ave., Suite 2900, Houston Texas 77002

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(713) 236-7400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Acquisition of Certain Oil and Gas Properties

On May 8, 2007, Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc. (“CEO”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Crimson Exploration, Inc. (the “Company”), entered into a Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with EXCO Resources, Inc. (“EXCO”) and Southern G Holdings, LLC (“SGH”), pursuant to which EXCO sold for $285 million in cash (excluding adjustments) and 750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), certain oil and gas properties and related assets in the South Texas and Gulf Coast areas of Louisiana and Texas held by SGH immediately before the closing of the acquisition. EXCO acquired the properties and assets as part of a larger property package on May 4, 2007, from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Anadarko”). The properties acquired include approximately 250 producing wells in over 30 fields. The Company has an average 65% working interest in the properties and will operate more than 80% of the value acquired. The major producing fields acquired by the Company reside in Liberty and Lavaca counties of the Upper Gulf Coast, Brooks County of south Texas and Calcasieu Parish of south Louisiana. The properties and related assets were acquired through the conveyance of 100% of the membership interests of SGH from EXCO to CEO.

Based on the $6.10 closing price of the Common Stock on May 7, 2007, the total purchase price was approximately $289.5 million. The purchase price was negotiated on an arms’-length basis based upon customary industry metrics for acquisitions of oil and gas reserves. The effective date of the acquisition was January 1, 2007. After adjustment for interim activity subsequent to the effective date and other customary purchase price adjustments, the cash consideration paid at closing was approximately $245 million. The cash portion of the purchase price is subject to further adjustment as agreed to by the parties following the closing based on actual credits, charges, receipts and other items finalized or received after the closing date.

The Purchase Agreement contains indemnification obligations on the part of both EXCO, on the one hand, and the Company and CEO, on the other. Generally, the Company retains liability for, and indemnifies EXCO against, claims arising from any breaches of representations or warranties, covenants or agreements of the Company, CEO or SGH under the Purchase Agreement, the ownership, use or operation of the acquired assets after January 1, 2007, any environmental liabilities with respect to the acquired assets, and all obligations and liabilities of Anadarko with respect to the acquired assets, regardless of when such obligations and liabilities arose.

With certain exceptions, the parties will not be obligated to indemnify the other parties to the Purchase Agreement and related persons against claims that aggregate less than $2 million or for aggregate liabilities in excess of $30 million. In particular, EXCO will not be required to indemnify any party for breaches of representations and warranties, covenants or obligations of Anadarko under its agreement with EXCO for losses that aggregate less than $7.5 million or for aggregate liabilities in excess of $75 million.

 

 

2

 


In connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with EXCO (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), which provides EXCO and its permitted transferees a limited demand registration right that would require the Company to file one resale registration statement on Form S-3 (or other appropriate form on which the Company is eligible to use) at any time after May 7, 2008 but in no event later than the one year anniversary thereof, to permit reoffers and resales of Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), in addition to piggyback registration rights, subject to certain limitations, for any registered offering of the Company’s securities other than pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or similar or successor forms) or a registration statement filed in connection with an exchange offer or any employee dividend reinvestment plan. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is also required to use its best efforts to enable EXCO and its permitted transferees to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), within the limits of Rule 144 thereunder. The Registration Rights Agreement contains customary registration procedures and indemnification and contribution provisions.

The Company is controlled by an investment fund, OCM GW Holdings, LLC (“Holdings”), which is managed by Oaktree Capital Management, LLC (“Oaktree”). B. James Ford is a managing director and Skardon F. Baker is a senior vice president of Oaktree, and both Mr. Ford and Mr. Baker are on the Company's board of directors. In addition, Allan D. Keel, president and chief executive officer of the Company, was, together with Messrs. Ford and Baker, elected to serve on the board of directors of the Company by a series of preferred stock, the majority of which is owned by Holdings. One of EXCO's directors, Vincent Cebula, is a managing director of Oaktree.

The Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Credit Agreements

The Company financed the acquisition of the properties and related assets under the Purchase Agreement through loans advanced under an amended and restated revolving credit facility and a new senior secured second lien term loan facility.

On May 8, 2007, the Company entered into a $400 million amended and restated credit agreement (the “Senior Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc, as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and each lender from time to time party thereto, which amended and restated the Company’s existing senior secured revolving credit facility dated as of July 15, 2005, as amended. As of May 8, 2007, the outstanding balance under the Senior Credit Agreement was $122.7 million.

Borrowings under the Senior Credit Agreement are subject to a borrowing base limitation based on the Company’s proved oil and gas reserves. The initial borrowing base is set at $200 million and will be subject to semi-annual redeterminations, with the first redetermination to be November 1, 2007.  The Senior Credit Agreement has a term of four years, and all principal amounts, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, will be due and payable in full on May 8,

 

 

3

 


2011.  Proceeds from extensions of credit under the Senior Credit Agreement are available to pay the consideration under the Purchase Agreement, together with the loans borrowed under the Second Lien Credit Agreement (as defined below), to refinance certain existing indebtedness of the Company, to acquire oil and gas properties and to serve general corporate purposes. The Senior Credit facility also provides for the issuance of letters-of-credit up to a $5 million sub-limit.

Advances under the Senior Credit Agreement will be in the form of either base rate loans or Eurodollar loans.  The interest rate on the base rate loans fluctuates based upon the higher of (1) the lender’s “prime rate” or (2) the Federal Funds rate plus a margin of 0.50%, plus a margin of between 0.0% and 0.5% depending on the percent of the borrowing base utilized at the time of the credit extension.  The interest rate on the Eurodollar loans fluctuates based upon the rate at which Eurodollar deposits in the London Interbank market (“Libor”) are quoted for the maturity selected, plus a margin of 1.25% to 2.00% depending on the percent of the borrowing base utilized at the time of the credit extension.  Eurodollar loans of one, two, three and six months may be selected by the Company. A commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion of the borrowing base will accrue, and be payable quarterly in arrears.

In addition, on May 8, 2007, the Company entered into a five-year second lien credit agreement (the “Second Lien Credit Agreement” and, together with the Senior Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreements”) with Credit Suisse, as agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto, which provides for term loans to be made to the Company in a single draw in an aggregate principal amount of $150 million. On May 8, 2007, the Company borrowed $150 million pursuant to the Second Lien Credit Agreement to pay the consideration under the Purchase Agreement and to refinance certain existing indebtedness of the Company. The Second Lien Credit Agreement replaced the Company’s existing $150 million subordinate credit facility, which was paid off in full and terminated at closing.

The Second Lien Credit Agreement matures on May 8, 2012. Loans under the Second Lien Credit Agreement are subject to floating rates of interest equal to, at the Company’s option, the LIBOR rate plus 5.25% or the base rate plus 4.25%; however, if the Company does not obtain gross proceeds of at least $25 million from the issuance of Common Stock and/or preferred equity within 150 days from the closing date of the Second Lien Credit Agreement, the applicable interest rate will be the LIBOR rate plus 5.75% or the base rate plus 4.75%. Eurodollar loans of one, two, three and six months may be selected by the Company.

The Credit Agreements are secured by a lien on all the assets of the Company and its active subsidiaries, as well as a security interest in the stock of all the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries.  The obligations under the Second Lien Credit Agreement will be subordinate and junior to those under the Senior Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreements include usual and customary affirmative covenants for credit facilities of the respective types and sizes, as well as customary negative covenants, including, among others, limitations on liens, hedging, mergers, asset sales or dispositions, payments of dividends, incurrence of additional indebtedness, certain leases and investments outside of the ordinary course of business, as well as events of default. The Credit Agreements also contain certain financial covenants, including (a) with respect to the Senior Credit Agreement,

 

 

4

 


maintaining (i) a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of at least 1.0 to 1.0, (ii) an interest coverage ratio of EBITDAX (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and exploration expense) to cash interest expense of 3.0 to 1.0 and (iii) a minimum leverage ratio of total debt to EBIDAX of 3.50 to 1.00 and (b) with respect to the Second Lien Credit Agreement, maintaining (i) a minimum leverage ratio of total debt to EBIDAX of 4.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending on or before December 31, 2007, 3.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending after December 31, 2007 and ending on or before June 30, 2008 and 3.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending after June 30, 2008 and (ii) a PV-10 Ratio (as defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement) less than 1.25x for a period from June 30, 2007 to December 31, 2007 and less than 1.50x for the period on or after January 1, 2008. EBITDAX is calculated without consideration of unrealized gains and losses related to stock derivatives accounted for under variable accounting rules or to commodity hedges.

In connection with the Credit Agreements, the Company also entered into new crude oil and natural gas hedges, which combined with the Company's existing commodity price hedge positions, result in approximately 75% of forecasted pro forma PDP production for the Company being hedged through the end of 2011. The Company used a series of swaps and new costless collars to accomplish the hedging requirements. The Company also constructively fixed the base LIBOR rate on $200 million of its variable rate debt for the next 25 months by entering into interest rate swaps at a swap price of 5.02%.

PRICE HEDGES

NYMEX NatGas

 

 

 

 

 

 

June - Dec 07

Cal 08

Cal 09

Cal 10

Cal 11

Volumes (MMBtu per Month)

872,000

659,000

475,000

351,000

266,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTLESS COLLARS

 

 

 

 

 

Floor

$7.71

$8.19

$7.90

$7.57

$7.32

Ceiling

$8.85

$9.65

$9.45

$9.05

$8.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX WTI Crude

 

 

 

 

 

 

June - Dec 07

Cal 08

Cal 09

Cal 10

Cal 11

Volumes (Barrels per Month)

29,500

18,800

12,800

9,000

7,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWAPS

$66.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTLESS COLLARS

 

 

 

 

 

Floor

 

$67.11

$66.55

$65.28

$64.50

Ceiling

 

$70.50

$71.40

$70.60

$69.50

 

The Senior Credit Agreement and the Second Lien Credit Agreement are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.3 and Exhibit 10.4, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

5

 


 

Item 2.01

Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

 

The disclosure contained in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

The disclosure contained in Item 1.01 under “Credit Agreements” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

In connection with the Purchase Agreement described in Item 1.01 above, the Company issued 750,000 shares of Common Stock in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act to EXCO.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) and (b)        Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired and Pro Forma Financial Information

Pursuant to Items 9.01(a)(4) and (b)(2) of Form 8-K, the financial statements with respect to the assets that were acquired by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the pro forma financial information with respect to the Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement required by Items 9.01(a) and (b) of Form 8-K, respectively, will be filed by way of an amendment to this Form 8-K not later than 71 calendar days after May 14, 2007 (the required filing date of this Form 8-K). The Company expects to file this amendment no later than the date they are due (July 24, 2007).

 

 

6

 


 

(c)

Exhibits

 

 

Exhibit Number

Description

10.1

Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated May 8, 2007, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., Southern G Holdings, LLC, Crimson Exploration Inc. and Crimson Exploration Operating Inc.

10.2

Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 8, 2007, by and between Crimson Exploration Inc. and EXCO Resources, Inc.

10.3

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2007, among Crimson Exploration Inc., as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc, as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

10.4

Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2007, among Crimson Exploration Inc., as borrower, Credit Suisse, as agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

 

7

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

 

Date:

May 14, 2007

/s/_E. Joseph Grady___________________

E. Joseph Grady

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

8

 


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit Number

Description

10.1

Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated May 8, 2007, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., Southern G Holdings, LLC, Crimson Exploration Inc. and Crimson Exploration Operating Inc.

10.2

Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 8, 2007, by and between Crimson Exploration Inc. and EXCO Resources, Inc.

10.3

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2007, among Crimson Exploration Inc., as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc, as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

10.4

Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2007, among Crimson Exploration Inc., as borrower, Credit Suisse, as agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

EX-10 2 ex10_1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

 

 

 

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,

SOUTHERN G HOLDINGS, LLC

AND

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

AND

CRIMSON EXPLORATION OPERATING, INC.

AS PURCHASER

Executed on May 8, 2007

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Article 1 PURCHASE AND SALE

7

Section 1.1.

Purchase and Sale.

7

Section 1.2.

Assets.

7

Section 1.3.

Anadarko Retained Assets.

7

Section 1.4.

Effective Time; Proration of Costs and Revenues.

7

Section 1.5.

Delivery and Maintenance of Records.

7

Article 2 PURCHASE PRICE

7

Section 2.1.

Purchase Price.

7

Section 2.2.

Adjustments to Cash Purchase Price.

7

Section 2.3.

Allocation of Purchase Price for Tax Purposes.

7

Article 3 TITLE MATTERS

7

Section 3.1.

Seller’s Title.

7

Section 3.2.

Definition of Defensible Title.

7

Section 3.3.

Definition of Permitted Encumbrances.

7

Section 3.4.

Notice of Title Defect Adjustments.

7

Section 3.5.

Casualty or Condemnation Loss.

7

Section 3.6.

Government Approvals Respecting Assets.

7

Article 4 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

7

Section 4.1.

Environmental Access.

7

Section 4.2.

NORM, Wastes and Other Substances.

7

Section 4.3.

Environmental Defects.

7

ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER AND THE COMPANY                                                                                                                                                                             7

Section 5.1.

Generally.

7

Section 5.2.

Existence; Qualification and Capitalization.

7

Section 5.3.

Power.

7

Section 5.4.

Authorization and Enforceability.

7

Section 5.5.

No Conflicts.

7

Section 5.6.

Liability for Brokers’ Fees.

7

Section 5.7.

No Business Conduct.

7

Section 5.8.

Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

7

Section 5.9.

Litigation.

7

Section 5.10.

Disregarded Entity.

7

Section 5.11.

Contract Review

7

Section 5.12.

Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements.

7

Section 5.13.

No Conveyances, Liens or Transfers.

7

Section 5.14.

Investment Representations.

7

Section 5.15.

Casualty or Condemnation Losses.

7

ARTICLE 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER AND CRIMSON PARENT                                                                                                                                                         7

Section 6.1.

Existence and Qualification.

7

Section 6.2.

Power.

7

Section 6.3.

Authorization and Enforceability.

7

Section 6.4.

No Conflicts.

7

Section 6.5.

Liability for Brokers’ Fees.

7

Section 6.6.

Litigation.

7

Section 6.7.

Financing.

7

Section 6.8.

Limitation.

7

Section 6.9.

SEC Disclosure.

7

Section 6.10.

Bankruptcy.

7

Section 6.11.

Capitalization of Crimson Parent.

7

Section 6.12.

Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.

7

Section 6.13.

SEC Documents and Other Reports of Crimson Parent.

7

Section 6.14.

No Required Vote of Crimson Parent Stockholders.

7

Article 7 COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

7

Section 7.1.

Statements of Revenues and Expenses.

7

Section 7.2.

Government Reviews.

7

Section 7.3.

Public Announcements.

7

Section 7.4.

Tax Matters.

7

Section 7.5.

Further Assurances.

7

Section 7.6.

Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

7

Section 7.7.

Insurance.

7

Section 7.8.

Transition Services Agreement.

7

Section 7.9.

Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements.

7

Article 8 CLOSING

7

Section 8.1.

Time and Place of Closing.

7

Section 8.2.

Obligations of Seller at Closing.

7

Section 8.3.

Obligations of Purchaser at Closing.

7

Section 8.4.

Closing Adjustments.

7

ARTICLE 9 POST-CLOSING OBLIGATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATIONS; DISCLAIMERS AND WAIVERS                                                                         7

Section 9.1.

Receipts.

7

Section 9.2.

Expenses.

7

Section 9.3.

Assumed Anadarko Obligations.

7

Section 9.4.

Survival.

7

 

 

ii

Section 9.5.

Indemnification by Seller.

7

Section 9.6.

Indemnification by Purchaser.

7

Section 9.7.

Indemnification Proceedings.

7

Section 9.8.

Limitations on Indemnities.

7

Section 9.9.

Release.

7

Section 9.10.

Disclaimers.

7

Section 9.11.

Waiver of Trade Practices Acts.

7

Section 9.12.

Redhibition Waiver.

7

Article 10 MISCELLANEOUS

7

Section 10.1.

Counterparts.

7

Section 10.2.

Notice.

7

Section 10.3.

Sales or Use Tax Recording Fees and Similar Taxes and Fees.

7

Section 10.4.

Expenses.

7

Section 10.5.

Change of Name.

7

Section 10.6.

Replacement of Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guarantees.

7

Section 10.7.

Governing Law and Venue.

7

Section 10.8.

Captions.

7

Section 10.9.

Waivers.

7

Section 10.10.

Assignment.

7

Section 10.11.

Entire Agreement.

7

Section 10.12.

Amendment.

7

Section 10.13.

No Third-Party Beneficiaries.

7

Section 10.14.

References.

7

Section 10.15.

Construction.

7

Section 10.16.

Conspicuousness.

7

Section 10.17.

Severability.

7

Section 10.18.

Time of Essence.

7

Section 10.19.

Affiliate Liability.

7

Section 10.20.

Schedules.

7

Section 10.21.

Limitation on Damages.

7

 

 

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

EXHIBITS

Exhibit “A”

Leases and Mineral Interests

Exhibit “A-1”

Wells, Future Wells and Units

Exhibit “B”

Anadarko Purchase Agreement

Exhibit “C”

Assignment of Membership Interest

Exhibit “D”

Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit “E”

Seismic License

Exhibit “F”

Third Amendment to Anadarko Purchase Agreement

Exhibit “G”

Title Defect Notice

Exhibit “H”

Environmental Defect Notice

Exhibit “I”

Transition Services Agreement

Exhibit “J”

Preliminary Settlement Statement

Exhibit “K”

First Amendment Letter Agreement to Anadarko Purchase Agreement

Exhibit “L”

Second Amendment to Anadarko Purchase Agreement

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.4

Overhead Amounts

Schedule 5.2

Limited Liability Company Agreement

Schedule 5.5

Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements

Schedule 9.3

Proceedings

 

(iv)

DEFINITIONS

“actual knowledge” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).

“Adjusted Purchase Price” shall mean the Purchase Price after calculating and applying the adjustments set forth in Section 2.2 to the Cash Purchase Price.

“Adjustment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

“Affiliates” with respect to any Person, means any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. The concept of control, controlling or controlled as used in the aforesaid context means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of another, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. No Person shall be deemed an Affiliate of any Person by reason of the exercise or existence of rights, interests or remedies under this Agreement.

“Agreed Accounting Firm” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(b).

“Agreed Interest Rate” means the rate of interest published in the Wall Street Journal from time to time, as the one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 75 basis points, with adjustments in that rate to be made on the same day as any change in that rate.

“Agreement” means this Purchase and Sale Agreement.

“Allocated Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

“Anadarko” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

“Anadarko Closing” means the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

“Anadarko Closing Date” means the date of the Anadarko Closing.

“Anadarko Deductible” means the Deductible as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

“Anadarko Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto and is attached as Exhibit B as the Anadarko Purchase Agreement is in effect on the date hereof.

“Anadarko Purchase Price” means the Purchase Price as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

“Anadarko Retained Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.

“Anadarko Warranties” means the representations and warranties of Anadarko contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement insofar as such representations and warranties relate to the Assets and the Assumed Anadarko Obligations.

“Assessment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

 

(v)

“Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

“Assignment of Membership Interest” means that certain Assignment of Membership Interest in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

“Assumed Anadarko Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.

“Business Day” means each calendar day except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

“Cash Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

“CERCLA” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Environmental Laws.

“Claim Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(b).

“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

“Closing Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).

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

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

“Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(d).

“Crimson Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

“Crimson Parent Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

“Crimson Parent SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.13.

“Deductible” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.8(a).

“Defensible Title” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

“DTPA” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.11(a).

“Due Diligence Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

“Earned” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(b).

“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(a).

“Environmental Defect” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

“Environmental Defect Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

“Environmental Defect Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

 

(vi)

“Environmental Laws” means, as the same may have been amended, any federal, state or local statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, order or decree including any rule of common law, relating to (i) the control of any potential pollutant or protection of the environment, including air, water or land, (ii) the generation, handling, treatment, storage, disposal or transportation of waste materials, or (iii) the regulation of or exposure to hazardous, toxic or other substances alleged to be harmful, including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq. (“RCRA”); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq. the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1471 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 through 2629; the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f through 300j; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq.; the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.; the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.; and all applicable related law, whether local, state, territorial, or national, of any Governmental Body having jurisdiction over the property in question addressing pollution or protection of human health, safety, natural resources or the environment and all regulations implementing the foregoing. The term “Environmental Laws” includes all judicial and administrative decisions, orders, directives, and decrees issued by a Governmental Body pursuant to the foregoing.

“Environmental Liabilities” means any and all environmental response costs (including costs of remediation), damages, natural resource damages, settlements, consulting fees, expenses, penalties, fines, orphan share, prejudgment and post-judgment interest, court costs, attorneys’ fees, and other liabilities incurred or imposed (i) pursuant to any order, notice of responsibility, directive (including requirements embodied in Environmental Laws), injunction, judgment or similar act (including settlements) by any Governmental Body to the extent arising out of any violation of, or remedial obligation under, any Environmental Laws which are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Assets prior to the Effective Time or (ii) pursuant to any claim or cause of action by a Governmental Body or other Person for personal injury, property damage, damage to natural resources, remediation or response costs to the extent arising out of any violation of, or any remediation obligation under, any Environmental Laws which is attributable to the ownership or operation of the Assets prior to the Closing.

“Equipment” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(f).

“Event” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Material Adverse Effect.

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

“Excluded Anadarko Obligations” means Excluded Seller Obligations (as such term is defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement) that relate to the Assets.

“Final Cash Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(b).

“Final Settlement Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(b).

 

(vii)

“First Amendment” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“Fundamental Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(a).

“Future Well” means a well to be drilled in the future on a Future Well Location, which (for the purposes of determining Defensible Title thereto and any Title Defects associated therewith pursuant to this Agreement) shall be treated as if such well had been drilled and completed and was in existence at or prior to the Effective Time.

“Future Well Location” means each drilling location identified on Exhibit A-1, subject to any depth restriction set forth in such Exhibit A-1 with respect to such location.

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

“Governmental Body” or “Governmental Bodies” means any federal, state, local, municipal, or other government; any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body, arbitrator or arbitration panel or other authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power; and any court or governmental tribunal.

“Hazardous Material” means (i) any “hazardous substance,” as defined by CERCLA, (ii) any “hazardous waste” or “solid waste,” in either case as defined by RCRA, and any analogous state statutes, and any regulations promulgated thereunder, (iii) any solid, hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance, within the meaning of and regulated by any applicable Environmental Laws, (iv) any radioactive material, including any naturally occurring radioactive material, and any source, special or byproduct material as defined in 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. and any amendments or authorizations thereof, (v) any regulated asbestos-containing materials in any form or condition, (vi) any regulated polychlorinated biphenyls in any form or condition, and (vii) petroleum, petroleum hydrocarbons or any fraction or byproducts thereof.

“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

“Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, condensate and other gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons or any combination thereof and sulphur and other minerals extracted from or produced with the foregoing.

“Imbalance” or “Imbalances” means any over-production, under-production, over-delivery, under-delivery or similar imbalance of Hydrocarbons produced from or allocated to the Assets, regardless of whether such over-production, under-production, over-delivery under-delivery or similar imbalance arises at the platform, wellhead, pipeline, gathering system, transportation system, processing plant or other location.

“incurred” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(b).

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(a).

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(a).

 

(viii)

“Invasive Activity” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

“Lands” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(a).

“Laws” means all statutes, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders, and codes of Governmental Bodies.

“Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(a).

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, lien, preference, security interest or other encumbrance.

“Losses” means any and all debts, obligations and other liabilities (whether absolute, accrued, contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether known or unknown, or due or to become due or otherwise), diminution in value, monetary damages, fines, fees, Taxes, penalties, interest obligations, deficiencies, losses and expenses (including amounts paid in settlement, interest, court costs, costs of investigators, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, financial advisors and other experts, and other actual out of pocket expenses incurred in investigating and preparing for or in connection with any Proceeding).

“Lowest Cost Response” means the response required or allowed under Environmental Laws that addresses the condition present at the lowest cost (considered as a whole taking into consideration any material negative impact such response may have on the operations of the relevant assets and any potential material additional costs or liabilities that may likely arise as a result of such response) as compared to any other response that is required or allowed under Environmental Laws.

“Material Adverse Effect” means any change, inaccuracy, circumstance, effect, event, result, occurrence, condition or fact (each an “Event”) (whether or not (i) foreseeable or known as of the date of this Agreement or (ii) covered by insurance) that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on (i) the ownership, operation or value of the Assets, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Excluded from such Events for the purposes of determining whether a “Material Adverse Affect” has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur are (A) Events resulting from entering into this Agreement or the announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) Events resulting from changes in general market, economic, financial or political conditions or any outbreak of hostilities or war, (C) Events that affect the Hydrocarbon exploration, production, development, processing, gathering and/or transportation industry generally (including changes in commodity prices or general market prices in the Hydrocarbon exploration, production, development, processing, gathering and/or transportation industry generally), and (D) any effect resulting from a change in Laws or regulatory policies.

“Mineral Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(a).

“Net Revenue Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

“NORM” means naturally occurring radioactive material.

 

(ix)

“Notice Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(a).

“Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Body or any other entity.

“Personal Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(g).

“Pipelines” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(g).

“Preference Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.

“Preference Right” means any right or agreement that enables any Person to purchase or acquire any Asset or any interest therein or portion thereof as a result of or in connection with (i) the sale, assignment or other transfer of any Asset or any interest therein or portion thereof or (ii) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation or performance of the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement.

“Proceeding” or “Proceedings” means any proceeding, arbitrations, action, suit, pending settlement, or other legal proceeding of any kind or nature by or before any Governmental Body.

“Properties” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(c).

“Property Costs” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(a).

“Proprietary Seismic Data” means all of Seller’s proprietary geophysical, seismic and geological data collected or obtained from any 3D seismic surveys, covering the Lands, including any processed or reprocessed data.

“Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

“Purchased Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

“Purchaser” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

“Purchaser Indemnified Persons” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5.

“RCRA” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Environmental Laws.

“Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(i).

“REGARDLESS OF FAULT” MEANS WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CAUSE OR CAUSES OF ANY CLAIM, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, EVEN THOUGH A CLAIM IS CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY:

OTHER THAN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, THE NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, JOINT, CONCURRENT, COMPARATIVE,

 

(x)

CONTRIBUTORY, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHER FAULT OF THE SELLER INDEMNIFIED PERSONS; AND/OR

A PRE-EXISTING DEFECT, WHETHER PATENT OR LATENT, OF THE PREMISES OF PURCHASER’S PROPERTY OR SELLER’S PROPERTY (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE ASSETS), INVITEES AND/OR THIRD PARTIES; AND/OR

THE UNSEAWORTHINESS OF ANY VESSEL OR UNAIRWORTHINESS OF ANY AIRCRAFT OF A PARTY WHETHER CHARTERED, OWNED, OR PROVIDED BY THE PURCHASER INDEMNIFIED PERSONS, SELLER INDEMNIFIED PERSONS, INVITEES AND/OR THIRD PARTIES.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, by and between Crimson Parent and Seller in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

“Retained Preference Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

“Retained TR Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

“Royalty Amounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.

“SEC” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.13.

“Second Amendment” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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

“Seismic License” means that certain seismic license covering Proprietary Seismic Data in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

“Seller” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

“Seller Credit Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2007, among Seller, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of Seller, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as sole bookrunner and lead arranger.

“Seller Indemnified Persons” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6.

“Seller Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2004, as amended and supplemented, among Seller, certain subsidiaries of Seller as guarantors, and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, that governs Seller’s 7 ¼% Senior Notes Due 2011.

“Stock Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

“Surface Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(e).

 

(xi)

“Tax Allocated Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

“Taxes” means all federal, state, local, and foreign income, profits, franchise, sales, use, ad valorem, property, severance, production, excise, stamp, documentary, real property transfer or gain, gross receipts, goods and services, registration, capital, transfer, or withholding taxes or other governmental fees or charges imposed by any Governmental Body, including any interest, penalties or additional amounts which may be imposed with respect thereto.

“Tax Returns” means all reports, returns, statements (including estimated reports, returns or statements) and other similar filings with respect to all Taxes related to the Company or the Assets required to be filed by Seller or the Company.

“Third Amendment” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(a).

“Title Claim Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

“Title Defect” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(d).

“Title Defect Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

“Transfer Requirement” means any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Person which is required to be obtained, made or complied with for or in connection with any sale, assignment or transfer of any Asset or any interest therein; provided, however, that “Transfer Requirement” shall not include any consent of, notice to, filing with, or other action by any Governmental Body in connection with the sale or conveyance of oil and/or gas leases or interests therein or Surface Contracts or interests therein, if they are not required prior to the assignment of such oil and/or gas leases, Surface Contracts or interests or they are customarily obtained subsequent to the sale or conveyance (including consents from state agencies).

“Transfer Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.

“Transition Services Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8.

“Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(c).

“UTPCPL” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.11(a).

“Warranty Well” means a Well or a Future Well, as the context requires.

“Wells” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(b).

 

(xii)

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

This Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) is executed on May 8, 2007, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Seller”), Southern G Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Crimson Exploration Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Crimson Parent”), and Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Crimson Parent (“Purchaser”).

RECITALS

A.           Seller formed the Company on March 9, 2007 and owns 100% of the outstanding membership interests (the “Interests”) in the Company.

B.           Seller is a party to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated February 1, 2007, by and among Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko E&P Company LP, Howell Petroleum Corporation, Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP (collectively, “Anadarko”) and Seller (the “Original Anadarko Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Seller purchased certain oil and gas properties from Anadarko, including, among others, the Assets.

C.           On April 13, 2007, Anadarko and Seller entered into the First Amendment Letter Agreement, a copy of which has been attached hereto as Exhibit K (the “First Amendment”).

D.           On May 1, 2007, Anadarko and Seller entered into the Second Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement, a copy of which has been attached hereto as Exhibit L (the “Second Amendment”).

E.            On the Anadarko Closing Date, Anadarko, Seller and the Company entered into the Third Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement, a copy of which has been attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “Third Amendment”), pursuant to which the Company was designated to take title to the Assets and to assume the Assumed Anadarko Obligations (the Original Anadarko Purchase Agreement as so amended by the First Amendment, Second Amendment and the Third Amendment, the “Anadarko Purchase Agreement”).

F.            Upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, the Company took title to the Assets and assumed the Assumed Anadarko Obligations at the Anadarko Closing.

G.           Seller desires to sell to Purchaser and Purchaser desires to purchase from Seller all right, title and interest of Seller in the Interests, in the manner and upon the terms and conditions hereafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises, representations, warranties, covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound by the terms hereof, agree as follows:

 

 

-1-

ARTICLE 1

PURCHASE AND SALE

Purchase and Sale.

At the Closing, and upon the terms of this Agreement, Seller agrees to sell, transfer and convey the Interests to Purchaser, and Purchaser agrees to purchase, accept and pay for the Interests.

Assets.

As used herein, the term “Assets” means, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, all of the Company’s right, title, interest and estate, real or personal, recorded or unrecorded, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, in and to the following (but excluding the Anadarko Retained Assets):

(a)          All (i) of the oil and gas leases; subleases and other leaseholds; carried interests; farmout rights; options; and other properties and interests described on Exhibit A, subject to such depth limitations and other restrictions as may be set forth on Exhibit A (collectively, the “Leases”) and (ii) fee mineral interests, fee royalty interests and other fee interests in oil, gas and other minerals described on Exhibit A (collectively, the “Mineral Interests”), (in each case) together with each and every kind and character of right, title, claim, and interest that the Company has in and to the lands covered by the Leases and the Mineral Interests and the interests currently pooled, unitized, communitized or consolidated therewith (the “Lands”);

(b)          All oil, gas, water or injection wells located on the Lands, whether producing, shut-in, or temporarily abandoned, including the interests in the wells shown on Exhibit A-1 attached hereto (collectively, the “Wells”);

(c)          All interests of the Company in or to any currently existing pools or units which include any Lands or all or a part of any Leases or Mineral Interests or include any Wells, including those pools or units shown on Exhibit A-1 (the “Units”; the Units, together with the Leases, Mineral Interests, Lands and Wells, being hereinafter referred to as the “Properties”), and including all interests of the Company in production of Hydrocarbons from any such Unit, whether such Unit production of Hydrocarbons comes from Wells located on or off of a Lease or the Mineral Interests, and all tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging to the Leases, the Mineral Interests and Units;

(d)          All contracts, agreements and instruments by which the Properties are bound or subject, or that relate to or are otherwise applicable to the Properties, only to the extent applicable to the Properties rather than Seller’s or any of its Affiliates’ other properties, including but not limited to, operating agreements, unitization, pooling and communitization agreements, declarations and orders, joint venture agreements, farmin and farmout agreements, exploration agreements, participation agreements, exchange agreements, transportation or gathering agreements, agreements for the sale and purchase of oil, gas or casinghead gas and processing agreements to the extent applicable to the Properties or the production of Hydrocarbons produced in association therewith from the Properties (hereinafter collectively

 

 

-2-

referred to as “Contracts”), but excluding any contracts, agreements and instruments to the extent transfer would result in a violation of applicable Law or is restricted by any Transfer Requirement that is not waived by Purchaser or satisfied and provided that “Contracts” shall not include the instruments constituting the Leases;

(e)          All easements, permits, licenses, servitudes, rights-of-way, surface leases and other surface rights (“Surface Contracts”) appurtenant to, and used or held for use in connection with the Properties, but excluding any permits and other rights to the extent transfer would result in a violation of applicable Law or is restricted by any Transfer Requirement that is not waived by Purchaser or satisfied;

(f)           All treatment and processing plants and equipment, machinery, fixtures and other tangible personal property and improvements located on the Properties or used or held for use in connection with the operation of the Properties (“Equipment”);

(g)          All flow lines, pipelines, gathering systems and appurtenances thereto located on the Properties or used, or held for use, in connection with the operation of the Properties (“Pipelines” and, together with the Equipment and Wells, “Personal Property”);

(h)          All Hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Leases, Mineral Interests, Lands, and Wells from and after the Effective Time, together with Imbalances associated with the Properties;

(i)           All lease files; land files; well files; gas and oil sales contract files; gas processing files; division order files; abstracts; title opinions; land surveys; logs; maps; engineering data and reports; interpretive data, technical evaluations and technical outputs; and other books, records, data, files, and accounting records, in each case to the extent related to the Assets, or used or held for use in connection with the maintenance or operation thereof, but excluding (i) any books, records, data, files, logs, maps, evaluations, outputs, and accounting records to the extent disclosure or transfer would result in a violation of applicable Law or is restricted by any Transfer Requirement that is not satisfied, (ii) computer or communications software or intellectual property (including tapes, codes, data and program documentation and all tangible manifestations and technical information relating thereto), (iii) reserve studies and evaluations, and (iv) records relating to the negotiation and consummation of the sale of the Interests (subject to such exclusions, the “Records”); provided, however, that Seller may retain the originals of such Records as Seller has reasonably determined may be required for existing litigation, tax, accounting, and auditing purposes; and

 

(j)

All vehicles or vessels used exclusively in connection with the Assets.

Anadarko Retained Assets.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 7.9, the Assets shall not include, and there is excepted, reserved and excluded from the transaction contemplated hereby all Assets not conveyed to the Company by Anadarko pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, including pursuant to Sections 3.4(d)(iii) and 7.7 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Anadarko Retained Assets”).

 

 

-3-

Effective Time; Proration of Costs and Revenues.

(a)          Subject to Section 1.5, possession of the Interests shall be transferred from Seller to Purchaser at the Closing, but certain financial benefits and burdens attributable to the Assets were transferred from Anadarko to the Company effective as of 7:00 A.M., local time, where the respective Assets are located, on January 1, 2007 (the “Effective Time”), as described below.

(b)          Pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, the Company is entitled to the benefit of all Hydrocarbon production from or attributable to the Properties at and after the Effective Time (and all products and proceeds attributable thereto), and to all other income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with respect to the Assets at or after the Effective Time, and is responsible for (and entitled to any refunds with respect to) all Property Costs incurred at and after the Effective Time. Pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, Anadarko is entitled to the benefit of all Hydrocarbon production from or attributable to the Properties prior to the Effective Time (and all products and proceeds attributable thereto), and to all other income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with respect to the Assets prior to the Effective Time, and is responsible for (and entitled to any refunds with respect to) all Property Costs incurred prior to the Effective Time. “Earned” and “incurred”, as used in this Agreement, shall be interpreted in accordance with GAAP and Council of Petroleum Accountants Society (COPAS) standards, as applicable. “Property Costs” means all costs attributable to the ownership and operation of the Assets (including without limitation costs of insurance relating specifically to the Assets and ad valorem, property, severance, Hydrocarbon production and similar Taxes based upon or measured by the ownership or operation of the Assets or the production of Hydrocarbons therefrom, but excluding any other Taxes) and capital expenditures incurred in the ownership and operation of the Assets in the ordinary course of business and, where applicable, in accordance with the relevant operating or unit agreement, if any, and overhead costs charged to the Assets under the relevant operating agreement or unit agreement, if any, or, if none, the amounts shown under Schedule 1.4 shall be the overhead amounts deemed charged to the Assets, but excluding without limitation liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses attributable to (i) claims for personal injury or death, property damage or violation of any Law, (ii) obligations to plug wells or dismantle, abandon and salvage facilities, (iii) obligations to remediate any contamination of groundwater, surface water, soil, Equipment or Pipelines under applicable Environmental Laws, (iv) obligations to furnish make-up gas according to the terms of applicable gas sales, gathering or transportation contracts, (v) gas balancing obligations and (vi) obligations to pay working interests, royalties, overriding royalties or other interests held in suspense, all of which are addressed in Article 9 or elsewhere in this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 1.4, determination of whether Property Costs are attributable to the period before or after the Effective Time shall be based on when services are rendered, when the goods are delivered, or when the work is performed. For clarification, the date an item or work is ordered is not the date of a pre-Effective Time transaction for settlement purposes, but rather the date on which the item ordered is delivered to the job site, or the date on which the work ordered is performed, shall be the relevant date. For purposes of allocating Hydrocarbon production (and accounts receivable with respect thereto), under this Section 1.4, (i) liquid Hydrocarbons shall be deemed to be “from or attributable to” the Properties when they are placed into the storage facilities and (ii) gaseous Hydrocarbons shall be deemed to be “from or attributable to” the Properties when they pass through the delivery point sales meters on the pipelines through which they are transported. Anadarko shall utilize reasonable interpolative procedures to arrive at an

 

 

-4-

allocation of Hydrocarbon production when exact meter readings or gauging and strapping data is not available. Seller has provided to Purchaser all data necessary to support any estimated allocation, for purposes of establishing the adjustment to the Cash Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof that has been used to determine the Closing Payment. Property Costs that are paid periodically shall be prorated based on the number of days in the applicable period falling before and the number of days in the applicable period falling at or after the Effective Time, except that Hydrocarbon production, severance and similar Taxes shall be prorated based on the number of units actually produced, purchased or sold or proceeds of sale, as applicable, before, and at or after, the Effective Time. In each case, Purchaser and Company shall be responsible for the portion allocated to the period at and after the Effective Time and Anadarko shall be responsible for the portion allocated to the period before the Effective Time. For purposes of this Section 1.4, the calculations and allocations contemplated hereby shall be made in the same manner as such calculations and allocations are made by Anadarko pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement insofar as such calculations and allocations relate to the Assets.

Delivery and Maintenance of Records.

To the extent that Seller holds any Records, Seller, at Seller’s sole cost and expense, shall deliver the Records (FOB Seller’s office) to Purchaser within thirty (30) days following Closing. To the extent that any Records are held by Anadarko at or following the Closing, Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such Records from Anadarko; provided that Seller shall not be obligated to utilize any greater level of effort to obtain such Records from Anadarko than Seller uses to obtain any other records from Anadarko to which Seller is entitled pursuant to the terms of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement. Other than any original Records retained by Seller pursuant to Section 1.2(i), Purchaser shall be entitled to all original Records maintained by the Company or its Affiliates. Seller shall be entitled to keep a copy or copies of all Records; provided, however, that Seller shall not sell or otherwise allow third parties to review, copy or otherwise use (for any purpose) any Records retained by Seller for its own account. Purchaser shall, and shall cause the Company to, preserve the Records for a period of ten (10) years following the Closing and will allow Seller and its representatives, consultants and advisors reasonable access, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, to the Records for any legitimate business reason of Seller, including in order for Seller to comply with a Tax or other legally required reporting obligation or Tax or legal dispute; provided, however, that Purchaser or the Company shall not be required to grant access to Seller or any of its representatives, consultants or advisors, to any Records that are subject to an attorney/client or attorney work product privilege or that would cause Purchaser or the Company to violate any obligation to any third party or breach any restriction legally binding on Purchaser or the Company. Any such access shall be at the sole cost and expense of Seller. Unless otherwise consented to in writing by Seller, for a period of ten (10) years following the Closing Date, Purchaser shall not and shall cause its Affiliates (including the Company) not to, destroy, alter or otherwise dispose of the Records, or any portions thereof, without first giving at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Seller and offering to surrender to Seller the Records or such portions thereof.

 

 

-5-

ARTICLE 2

PURCHASE PRICE

Purchase Price.

The purchase price for the Interests (the “Purchase Price”) shall be (a) $285,000,000, adjusted as provided in Section 2.2 (the “Cash Purchase Price”), payable in cash, and (b) 750,000 shares (the “Purchased Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Crimson Parent Common Stock”), of Crimson Parent (the “Stock Purchase Price”).

Adjustments to Cash Purchase Price.

The Cash Purchase Price (before adjustment pursuant to this Section 2.2) for the Interests shall be adjusted in the manner specified below (without duplication), with all such amounts being determined in accordance with GAAP and Council of Petroleum Accountants Society (COPAS) standards, as applicable, in order to reach the Adjusted Purchase Price:

(a)          Reduced by the aggregate amount of the following proceeds received by the Company, but distributed to Seller, or received by Anadarko and not remitted to the Company, in each case, between (and including) the Effective Time and the Closing Date (with the period between the Effective Time and the Closing Date referred to as the “Adjustment Period”): (i) proceeds from the sale of Hydrocarbons (net of any royalties, overriding royalties or other burdens on or payable out of production, gathering, processing and transportation costs and any production, severance, sales, excise or similar Taxes not reimbursed to Seller by the purchaser of production) produced from or attributable to the Properties during the Adjustment Period, and (ii) other proceeds earned with respect to the Assets during the Adjustment Period, provided that the amount of any such adjustment for the portion of the Adjustment Period that ends on the Anadarko Closing Date shall be the same amount by which the Anadarko Purchase Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 2.2(a) of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement in respect of the Properties and the Assets;

(b)          Reduced by $1,594,434 for all Retained Preference Property and Retained TR Assets;

(c)          Reduced by an aggregate of $2,297,764 with respect to (i) all Title Defects and (ii) all Environmental Defects pursuant to Section 4.3;

(d)          Increased by the amount of all Property Costs and other costs attributable to the ownership and operation of the Assets which are paid and incurred during the Adjustment Period (including any overhead costs under Schedule 1.4 deemed charged to the Assets with respect to the Adjustment Period even though not actually paid), except any Property Costs and other such costs already deducted in the determination of proceeds in Section 2.2(a), provided that the amount of any such adjustment for the portion of the Adjustment Period that ends on the Anadarko Closing Date shall be the same amount by which the Anadarko Purchase Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 2.3(d) of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement in respect of the Properties and the Assets;

 

 

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(e)          Reduced by the aggregate amounts payable to owners of working interests, royalties and overriding royalties and other interests in the Properties held in suspense by a Person other than the Company as of the Closing Date;

(f)           Increased or reduced as mutually agreed upon in writing prior to Closing by Seller and Purchaser;

(g)          Increased by the value of the amount of merchantable Hydrocarbons stored in tanks and pipelines attributable to the ownership and operation of the Assets that belong to the Company as of the Effective Time (which value shall be computed at the applicable third-party contract prices for the month of December 2006 for such stored Hydrocarbons), provided that the amount of any such increase shall be the same amount by which the Anadarko Purchase Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 2.3(h) of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement in respect of the Assets;

(h)          Reduced by the actual net aggregate Imbalances, if any, owed to third-parties, as of the Effective Time, multiplied by a price of $3.00 per MMBtu, provided that the amount of any such reduction shall be the same amount by which the Anadarko Purchase Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 2.3(1) of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement in respect of the Assets; and

(i)           Increased by $150,811 to cover the costs and expenses of the transition operations to be provided by Anadarko pursuant to Section 1.11 of the Third Amendment.

Each adjustment made pursuant to Section 2.2(a) shall serve to satisfy, up to the amount of the adjustment, the Company’s entitlement under Section 1.4 to Hydrocarbon production from or attributable to the Properties during the Adjustment Period, and to the value of other income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with respect to the Assets during the Adjustment Period, and as such, Purchaser (and the Company) shall not have any separate rights to receive any Hydrocarbon production or income, proceeds, receipts and credits with respect to which an adjustment has been made. Similarly, the adjustment described in Section 2.2(d) shall serve to satisfy, up to the amount of the adjustment, Purchaser’s (and the Company’s) obligation under Section 1.4 to pay Property Costs and other costs attributable to the ownership and operation of the Assets which are incurred during the Adjustment Period, and as such, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Purchaser (and the Company) shall not be separately obligated to pay for any Property Costs or other such costs with respect to which an adjustment has been made.

The Cash Purchase Price, adjusted as set forth in clauses (a) through (i) above, shall be increased by simple interest thereon from the Effective Time to the Closing Date, computed at the Agreed Interest Rate.

 

Allocation of Purchase Price for Tax Purposes.

Purchaser and Seller shall use good faith efforts to agree, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing but not later than ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, upon an allocation of the unadjusted Purchase Price among each of the Assets (“Allocated Values”), in compliance with the principles of Section 1060 of the Code, and the Treasury regulations

 

 

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thereunder. Such allocation of value shall be generally treated as Class V assets for purposes of Internal Revenue Service Form 8594 to the extent possible consistent with the character of the Assets involved. The “Tax Allocated Value” for any Asset equals the portion of the unadjusted Purchase Price to be allocated to such Asset by the parties pursuant to this Section 2.3, increased or reduced as described in this Article 2. Any adjustments to the Purchase Price other than the adjustments provided for in Section 2.2(b) and Section 2.2(c) shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the amounts agreed to by the parties pursuant to this Section 2.3 for all Assets to the maximum extent possible consistent with the character of the adjustments. After all such adjustments are made, any adjustments to the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.2(b) and Section 2.2(c) shall be applied to the amounts agreed to by the parties pursuant to this Section 2.3 for the particular affected Assets. After Seller and Purchaser have agreed on the Tax Allocated Values for the Assets, Seller will be deemed to have accepted such Tax Allocated Values for purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, but otherwise makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of such values. Seller and Purchaser agree (i) that the Tax Allocated Values shall be used by Seller and Purchaser as the basis for reporting asset values and other items for purposes of all federal, state, and local Income Tax Returns, including without limitation Internal Revenue Service Form 8594 and (ii) that neither they nor their Affiliates will take positions inconsistent with the Tax Allocated Values in notices to Governmental Bodies, in audit or other proceedings with respect to Taxes unless required by applicable Law or with the consent of the other party. Purchaser and Seller agree that each shall furnish the other a copy of Form 8594 (Asset Acquisition Statement under Section 1060) proposed to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service by such party or any Affiliate thereof at least ten (10) days prior to such filing.

ARTICLE 3

TITLE MATTERS

Seller’s Title.

(a)          Except for Seller’s representations and warranties contained in Section 5.11, Section 5.12 and Section 5.13, Seller makes no warranty or representation, express, implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Company’s title to any of the Assets.

(b)          Notwithstanding anything herein provided to the contrary, if a Title Defect under this Article 3 results from any matter which could also result in the breach of any representation or warranty of Seller set forth in Article 5, then (other than the right to assert a breach of any representation or warranty of Seller contained in Section 5.11, Section 5.12 or Section 5.13 following the Closing) Purchaser shall only be entitled to the adjustment to the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.2(c), and, other than the right to assert a breach of any representation or warranty contained in Section 5.11, Section 5.12 or Section 5.13 following the Closing, shall be precluded from also asserting such matter as the basis of the breach of any representation or warranty of Seller set forth in Article 5.

 

 

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Definition of Defensible Title.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Defensible Title” means that title of the Company with respect to the Units, Warranty Wells or other Assets shown in Exhibit A-1 that, except for and subject to Permitted Encumbrances:

(a)          Entitles the Company to receive a share of the Hydrocarbons produced, saved and marketed from any Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset shown in Exhibit A-1 throughout the duration of the productive life of such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset (after satisfaction of all royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests or other similar burdens on or measured by production of Hydrocarbons) (a “Net Revenue Interest”), of not less than the Net Revenue Interest shown in Exhibit A-1 for such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset, except for decreases in connection with those operations in which the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) may from and after the Effective Time become a non-consenting co-owner, decreases resulting from the establishment or amendment from and after the Effective Time of pools or units, and decreases required to allow other working interest owners to make up past underproduction or pipelines to make up past under deliveries, and except as stated in such Exhibit A-1;

(b)          Obligates the Company to bear a percentage of the costs and expenses for the maintenance and development of, and operations relating to, any Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset shown in Exhibit A-1 not greater than the “working interest” shown in Exhibit A-1 for such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset without increase throughout the productive life of such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset, except as stated in Exhibit A-1 and except for increases resulting from contribution requirements with respect to non-consenting co-owners under applicable operating agreements and increases that are accompanied by at least a proportionate increase in the Net Revenue Interest of the Company; and

(c)          Is free and clear of liens, encumbrances, obligations, security interests, irregularities, pledges, or other defects.

(d)          As used in this Agreement, the term “Title Defect” means any lien, charge, encumbrance, obligation (including contract obligation), defect, or other matter (including without limitation a discrepancy in Net Revenue Interest or working interest) that causes the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) not to have Defensible Title in and to the Units, Warranty Wells or other Assets shown on Exhibit A-1 as of the Effective Time and the Closing. As used in this Agreement, the term “Title Benefit” shall mean any right, circumstance or condition that operates to increase the Net Revenue Interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) in any Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset shown on Exhibit A-1, without causing a greater than proportionate increase in the working interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) above that shown in Exhibit A-1 as of the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not be considered Title Defects:

 

 

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(i)

defects based solely on (1) lack of information in the files of Seller or the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period), or (2) references to a document(s) if such document(s) is not in the files of Seller or the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period);

 

(ii)

defects arising out of lack of corporate or other entity authorization unless Purchaser provides affirmative evidence that the action was not authorized;

 

(iii)

defects based on failure to record Leases issued by any state or federal Governmental Body, or any assignments of such Leases, in the real property, conveyance or other records of the county or parish in which such Property is located;

 

(iv)

defects based on a gap in the chain of title of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) in the county or parish records as to Leases, unless such gap is affirmatively shown to exist in such records by an abstract of title, title opinion or landman’s title chain which documents shall be included in a Title Defect Notice; and

 

(v)

defects that have been cured by applicable Laws of limitation or prescription.

Definition of Permitted Encumbrances.

As used herein, the term “Permitted Encumbrances” means any or all of the following:

(a)          Royalties and any overriding royalties, reversionary interests and other burdens on production, to the extent that any such burden does not reduce the Net Revenue Interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) below that shown in Exhibit A-1 or increase the working interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) above that shown in Exhibit A-1 without a proportionate increase in the Net Revenue Interest;

(b)          All Leases, unit agreements, pooling agreements, operating agreements, Hydrocarbon production sales contracts, division orders and other contracts, agreements and instruments applicable to the Assets, to the extent that they do not, individually or in the aggregate, reduce the Net Revenue Interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) below that shown in Exhibit A-1 or increase the working interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) above that shown in Exhibit A-1 without a proportionate increase in the Net Revenue Interest;

 

(c)

Preference Rights applicable to this or any future transaction;

 

 

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(d)

Transfer Requirements applicable to this or any future transaction;

 

(e)

Liens for current Taxes or assessments not yet delinquent;

(f)           Materialman’s, mechanic’s, repairman’s, employee’s, contractor’s, operator’s and other similar liens or charges arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent (including any amounts being withheld as provided by Law);

(g)          All rights to consent by, required notices to, filings with, or other actions by Governmental Bodies in connection with the conveyance of the Assets or interests therein by means of the sale of the Interests pursuant to this or to any future transaction if they are not required or customarily obtained prior to the sale or conveyance;

(h)          Rights of reassignment arising upon final intention to abandon or release the Assets, or any of them;

(i)           Easements, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other rights in respect of surface operations, to the extent that they do not (i) reduce the Net Revenue Interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) below that shown in Exhibit A-1, (ii) increase the working interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) above that shown in Exhibit A-1 without a proportionate increase in Net Revenue Interest, or (iii) detract in any material respect from the value of, or interfere in any material respect with the use, ownership or operation of, the Assets subject thereto or affected thereby (as currently used, owned and operated) and which would be acceptable by a reasonably prudent purchaser engaged in the business of owning and operating oil and gas properties;

 

(j)

Calls on Hydrocarbon production under existing Contracts;

(k)          All rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Body to control or regulate any of the Assets in any manner, and all obligations and duties under all applicable Laws or under any franchise, grant, license or permit issued by any such Governmental Body;

(l)           Any encumbrance on or affecting the Assets which is discharged by the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) at or prior to Closing;

 

(m)

Any matters shown on Exhibit A-1;

(n)          Any other liens, charges, encumbrances, defects or irregularities which do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract in any material respect from the value of, or interfere in any material respect with the use or ownership of, the Assets subject thereto or affected thereby (as currently used or owned), which would be accepted by a reasonably prudent purchaser engaged in the business of owning and operating oil and gas properties, and which do not reduce the Net Revenue Interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) below that shown in Exhibit A-1, or increase the working interest of the Company (or its predecessor in interest to such Unit, Warranty Well

 

 

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or other Asset during the Adjustment Period) above that shown in Exhibit A-1 without a proportionate increase in Net Revenue Interest;

 

(o)

Imbalances associated with the Assets; and

 

(p)

Liens granted under applicable joint operating agreements.

Notice of Title Defect Adjustments.

(a)          Attached as Exhibit G (the “Title Claim Date”) is a notice to Purchaser setting forth all Title Defects relating to the Assets that were identified by Seller pursuant to Section 3.4(a) of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement (the “Title Defect Notice”).

Casualty or Condemnation Loss.

From and after the Effective Time, Purchaser shall assume all risk of loss with respect to and any change in the condition of the Assets and for production of Hydrocarbons through normal depletion (including, but not limited to, the watering out of any Well, collapsed casing or sand infiltration of any Well) and the depreciation of personal property due to ordinary wear and tear with respect to the Assets.

Government Approvals Respecting Assets.

(a)          Federal and State Approvals. To the extent that the Company has not previously done so pursuant to Section 3.7 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, Purchaser shall, within thirty (30) days after the Anadarko Closing and at Purchaser’s own expense, file (or cause the Company to file) for approval with the applicable Governmental Bodies all assignment documents and other state and federal transfer documents required to effectuate the transfer of the Assets from Anadarko to the Company. Purchaser further agrees, promptly after Closing, to take (or cause the Company to take) all other actions reasonably required by federal or state agencies having jurisdiction to obtain all requisite regulatory approvals with respect to this transaction and the sale of the Assets to the Company pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the approval by such federal or state agencies, as applicable, of Anadarko’s assignment documents pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement requiring federal or state approval in order for the Company to be recognized by the federal or state agencies as the owner of the Assets. Purchaser shall provide Seller with the resignation and designation of operator instruments, and approved copies of the assignment documents and other state and federal transfer documents, as soon as they are available.

(b)          Title Pending Governmental Approvals. Until all of the governmental approvals contemplated by Section 3.6(a) have been obtained, the parties acknowledge that the following shall occur pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement with respect to the affected portion of the Assets:

 

(i)

Anadarko shall continue to hold record title to the affected Leases and other affected portion of the Assets as nominee for Seller;

 

 

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(ii)

The Company shall be responsible for all Assumed Anadarko Obligations with respect to the affected Leases and other affected portion of the Assets as if the Company was the record owner of such Leases and other portion of the Assets as of the Effective Time; and

 

(iii)

Anadarko shall act as Seller’s nominee but shall be authorized to act only upon and in accordance with Seller’s instructions, and Anadarko shall have no authority, responsibility or discretion to perform any tasks or functions with respect to the affected Leases and other affected portion of the Assets other than those which are purely administrative or ministerial in nature, unless otherwise specifically requested and authorized by Seller in writing. Seller, at Purchaser’s and the Company’s expense, shall take reasonable direction from Purchaser in requesting any such tasks or functions.

(c)          Denial of Required Governmental Approvals. Purchaser acknowledges that pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, if the federal or state agency fails to do so within twenty-four (24) months after the Anadarko Closing, Anadarko may continue to hold record title to the affected Leases and other affected Assets as Seller’s nominee or, at Anadarko’s option, it may terminate the Anadarko Purchase Agreement and all its obligations thereunder as to the affected Leases and other affected portion of the Assets by giving sixty (60) days written notice to Seller, which upon such termination: (i) the Anadarko Purchase Agreement shall be null and void and terminated as to the affected Leases and other affected portion of the Assets, (ii) Purchaser and the Company shall promptly reassign and return to Anadarko the assignment documents and any and all other documents, materials and data previously delivered to the Company with respect to the affected Leases and other affected portion of the Assets, and (iii) Anadarko shall pay to the Company (or Seller for the benefit of the Company) the Allocated Value of the affected Property (without interest), less the proceeds of Hydrocarbon production received by the Company (which the Company may retain as its sole property) net of all expenses, overhead, royalties, and costs of operations (including plugging and abandonment expenses but excluding mortgage interest and any burdens, liens, or encumbrances created by the Company which must be released prior to this payment) attributable to the affected Leases or other affected portion of the Assets from the Effective Time forward, plus interest payable on such net amount at the Agreed Interest Rate from (but not including) the Closing Date to (and including) the date on which such amount is paid to the Company (or Seller for the benefit of the Company). Purchaser further acknowledges (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates) that in no event, however, shall Anadarko or Seller or any of their respective Affiliates ever be required to reimburse Purchaser or the Company or any of their respective Affiliates for any expenditures associated with workovers, recompletions, sidetracks, or the drilling, completion or plugging and abandonment of wells drilled or work performed by Anadarko or any of its Affiliates.

 

 

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ARTICLE 4

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Environmental Access.

Purchaser acknowledges that Seller has afforded, and has caused the Company to afford, to Purchaser and its officers, employees, agents and authorized representatives, at the sole cost and expense of Purchaser, reasonable access to all due diligence materials and information, environmental reports, work papers and other information relating to the Assets either developed by Seller or obtained from Anadarko (the “Due Diligence Materials”), but only to the extent that Seller could do so without violating any obligations to any third party. Purchaser further acknowledges that Seller has made available, and caused the Company to make available, to Purchaser, upon reasonable notice during normal business hours, Seller’s personnel and consultants knowledgeable with respect to the Assets and such Due Diligence Materials in order that Purchaser could make such diligent investigation as Purchaser considered desirable. Purchaser acknowledges (and accepted the risk) that it had no right to conduct an environmental assessment of all or any portion of the Properties (an “Assessment”) or any sampling, boring, drilling or other invasive investigative activity with respect to the Properties (an “Invasive Activity”), but that Seller provided Purchaser with a copy of the final draft of all environmental reports prepared by, or on behalf of, Seller with respect to any Assessment or Invasive Activity conducted on the Properties pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

NORM, Wastes and Other Substances.

Purchaser acknowledges that the Assets have been used for the exploration, development, and production of Hydrocarbons and that there may be petroleum, produced water, wastes, or other substances or materials located in, on or under the Properties or associated with the Assets. Equipment and sites included in the Assets may contain Hazardous Materials, including NORM. NORM may affix or attach itself to the inside of wells, materials, and equipment as scale, or in other forms. The wells, materials, and equipment located on the Properties or included in the Assets may contain Hazardous Materials, including NORM. Hazardous Materials, including NORM, may have come in contact with various environmental media, including without limitation, water, soils or sediment. Special procedures may be required for the assessment, remediation, removal, transportation, or disposal of environmental media and Hazardous Materials, including NORM, from the Assets.

Environmental Defects.

Attached as Exhibit H is a notice to Purchaser of all violations of an Environmental Law (other than with respect to NORM) relating to the Assets (in each case, an “Environmental Defect”) identified by Seller pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement (an “Environmental Defect Notice”). The Environmental Defect Notice includes (i) a description of the matter constituting the alleged Environmental Defect, (ii) the Units/Warranty Wells and associated Assets affected by the Environmental Defect, (iii) the Lowest Cost Response to eliminate the Environmental Defect in question, as determined by Anadarko and Seller in accordance with the Anadarko Purchase Agreement (the “Environmental Defect Amount”), and (iv) a copy of the environmental defect notice (redacted to show only the information that relates

 

 

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to the Assets) delivered to Anadarko by Seller pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement and a copy of the supporting documents provided by Seller to Anadarko pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement to verify the existence of the alleged Environmental Defect(s). Each of Purchaser, the Company and Crimson Parent has no right to assert any Environmental Defect other than such Environmental Defects contained in the Environmental Defect Notice. The parties adjusted the Cash Purchase Price to reflect the Environmental Defect Amounts for all Environmental Defects by the amount set forth in Section 2.2(e) which is Purchaser’s exclusive remedy for Environmental Defects.

ARTICLE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER AND THE COMPANY

Generally.

(a)          For purposes of this Agreement, (i) any representations or warranties given pursuant to Section 5.5, to the extent that such representation or warranty relates to the Assets, shall be deemed made with respect to events, acts or omissions occurring or conditions coming into existence on or after the Anadarko Closing Date, (ii) Seller shall not be deemed to be in breach of this Agreement to the extent such representations or warranties contained in Section 5.5 are inaccurate due to events, acts or omissions occurring or existing or conditions occurring or existing prior to the Anadarko Closing Date that do not constitute a material breach by Seller of any covenants in this Agreement, and (iii) the Schedules to this Agreement are based on information provided to Seller in connection with the Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

(b)          Any representation or warranty qualified “to the knowledge of Seller” or “to Seller’s knowledge” or with any similar knowledge qualification is limited to matters within the actual knowledge of the officers of Seller or its Affiliates or those employees of Seller or any of its Affiliates who have responsibility for the Assets and who have the following titles: all officers of EXCO with the title of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer or Vice President. “Actual knowledge” for purposes of this Agreement means information actually personally known by such Persons.

(c)          Inclusion of a matter on a Schedule in relation to a representation or warranty which addresses matters having a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed an indication that such matter does, or may, have a Material Adverse Effect. Likewise, the inclusion of a matter on a Schedule in relation to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an indication that such matter necessarily would, or may, breach such representation or warranty absent its inclusion on such Schedule. Matters may be disclosed on a Schedule to this Agreement for purposes of information only.

(d)          Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.1, the disclaimers and waivers contained in Section 9.10, Section 9.11, and Section 9.12 and the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, Seller represents and warrants to Purchaser and Crimson Parent the matters set out in the remainder of this Article 5.

 

 

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Existence; Qualification and Capitalization.

(a)          Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in every jurisdiction in which it is required to qualify in order to conduct its business, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company where the Assets are located, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)          Subject to the terms of the limited liability company agreement and the other organizational documents of the Company, a true and correct copy of which are attached hereto as Schedule 5.2 (collectively, the “Limited Liability Company Agreement”), Seller is the beneficial and record owner and has good and marketable title to the Interests, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances, obligation, security interests, pledges or other limitations or restrictions, preemptive rights, preferential arrangements or restrictions of any kind, including any restriction of the use, voting, transfer, right to income or any other incidents of ownership. Seller has the full legal right, power and authority to sell such Interests to Purchaser in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon payment of the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Purchaser will acquire good and marketable title to the Interests free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances, obligation, security interests, pledges or other limitations or restrictions. No membership interests of the Company are reserved for issuance. Except for the Interests, there are not outstanding or in existence (i) membership interests or other voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for membership interests or other voting securities of the Company, (iii) options, warrants or other rights to acquire from the Company, or obligations of the Company to issue or sell, any membership interests or other voting securities or any securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for such membership interests or voting securities, or (iv) equity equivalents, interest in the ownership or earnings, or other similar rights of or with respect to the Company.

Power.

Seller and the Company have the corporate power to enter into and perform this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Authorization and Enforceability.

The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate or partnership action on the part of Seller and the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller and the Company (and all documents required hereunder to be executed and delivered by Seller and the Company at Closing will be duly executed and delivered by Seller and the Company, respectively) and this Agreement constitutes, and at the Closing such documents will constitute, the valid and binding obligations of Seller and the Company, enforceable against Seller and the Company, respectively, in accordance with their

 

 

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terms except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy or other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).

No Conflicts.

Subject to compliance with the Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements set forth in Schedule 5.5, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller and the Company, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement or similar governing documents of Seller or the Company, (ii) result in default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any lien or encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license or agreement to which Seller or the Company is a party or which affect the Assets, (iii) violate any judgment, order, ruling, or decree applicable to Seller or the Company as a party in interest, (iv) violate any Laws applicable to Seller or the Company or any of the Assets, except for (a) rights to consent by, required notices to, filings with, approval or authorizations of, or other actions by any Governmental Body where the same are not required prior to the sale of the Interests or they are customarily obtained subsequent to the sale thereof and (b) any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) above which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Liability for Brokers’ Fees.

Purchaser shall not directly or indirectly have any responsibility, liability or expense, as a result of undertakings or agreements of Seller or its Affiliates (including the Company), for brokerage fees, finder’s fees, agent’s commissions or other similar forms of compensation in connection with this Agreement or any agreement or transaction contemplated hereby.

No Business Conduct.

The Company was organized on March 9, 2007. Since its organization to the Closing Date, the Company has engaged in no activity other than in connection with (a) its organization, (b) the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (c) obtaining the right to receive the Assets by transfer from Anadarko pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, (d) its compliance with the Seller Indenture and the Seller Credit Agreement and (e) the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Anadarko Purchase Agreement and the ancillary documents thereto and the ownership and operation of the Assets. As of the Closing, there were no liabilities or obligations contingent or otherwise, and no assets of the Company, other than liabilities or obligations arising or existing under or resulting from, and the Assets acquired pursuant to, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the ownership and operation of the Assets, (iii) the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, (iv) the Conveyance (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement) to which the Company is a party, (v) the Transition Services Agreement, (vi) the Seller Indenture, (vii) the Seller Credit Agreement and (viii) the Limited Liability Company Agreement. As of the Closing, the Company will be released from its liabilities and obligations under the Seller Indenture and the

 

 

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Seller Credit Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company does not and has not ever had any employees or any benefit plan, agreement or arrangement or any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of any applicable Laws.

Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

(a)          To Seller’s knowledge, except as disclosed in writing to Purchaser prior to the Closing, (i) all of the Anadarko Warranties were true and accurate in all material respects as though made on and as of the Anadarko Closing Date, except to the extent that any such Anadarko Warranty was made as of a specified date, in which case such Anadarko Warranty was true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date, and (ii) Anadarko performed and observed in all material respects its covenants and agreements contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement to be performed or observed by Anadarko under the Anadarko Purchase Agreement prior to or on the Anadarko Closing Date (in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), insofar as, and solely to the extent that, such Warranties, covenants or agreements relate to the Assets or the Assumed Anadarko Obligations), and neither Seller nor Company has executed any waivers in respect of any such untruth, inaccuracy, breach or nonperformance.

(b)          There was (i) no occurrence or failure to occur of any event that caused any of Seller’s representations and warranties contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement (insofar as, and solely to the extent that, such representations and warranties relate to the Assets or the Assumed Anadarko Obligations) to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect as though made on and as of the Anadarko Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representations and warranties was made as of a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty was true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date, and (ii) no breach or nonperformance by Seller in any material respect of any covenant or agreement contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement to be performed or observed by Seller under the Anadarko Purchase Agreement prior to or on the Anadarko Closing Date (in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), insofar as, and solely to the extent that, such covenant or agreement relates to the Assets or the Assumed Anadarko Obligations), in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)          Seller has previously provided Purchaser with copies of all Title Defect Notices and Environmental Defect Notices (each as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement) provided by Seller to Anadarko pursuant to the terms of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

Litigation.

As of the date hereof, there are no Proceedings pending, or to the actual knowledge of Seller, threatened in writing before any Governmental Body against Seller or any Affiliate of Seller which are reasonably likely to impair materially Seller’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Except as set forth on Schedule 9.3, there are no Proceedings pending, or to the actual knowledge of Seller, threatened in writing, which relate to the Assets.

 

 

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Disregarded Entity.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company is and has been disregarded as an entity separate from its owner within the meaning of Section 301.7701-2 of the United States Treasury Regulations, and neither Seller nor any Affiliate of Seller has made an election under the entity classification regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 7701 of the Code to treat the Company as an entity taxable as a corporation.

 

Contract Review

Except as to any Contracts, copies of which have been provided or made available to Purchaser (to which this Section 5.11 does not apply), Seller has reviewed the Contracts that were provided to Seller by Anadarko and deemed material by Seller and concluded that such Contracts contained customary provisions that would be reasonably acceptable to a reasonably prudent purchaser, similarly situated to Seller and engaged in the business of owning and operating oil and gas properties, if it were to purchase and operate the Assets.

Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements.

Except for the items listed on Schedule 5.5, all of the Preference Rights affecting the Assets have been waived and all Transfer Requirements affecting the Assets have been met.

No Conveyances, Liens or Transfers.

Except for (a) the Company becoming a subsidiary guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Seller Indenture and the Seller Credit Agreement after the Anadarko Closing and (b) any Lien on the Company or the Assets pursuant to the terms of the Seller Credit Agreement, each of which guaranties and Liens will be released as of the Closing, the Company has not conveyed, encumbered or otherwise transferred any interest in the Assets.

Investment Representations.

(a)          Seller is acquiring the Purchased Shares for its own account, and not with a view toward or for sale associated with any distribution thereof, nor with any present intention of making a distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, without prejudice, however, to Seller’s right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Purchased Shares under a registration statement under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, whether pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or otherwise, or under an exemption from such registration available thereunder (including, if available, Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act).

(b)          Seller is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(c)          Seller understands that the Purchased Shares are being offered and sold to it in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws and that Crimson Parent is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and

 

 

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Seller’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of Seller set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of Seller to acquire the Purchase Shares. Seller understands that the Purchased Shares are “restricted securities” under the federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from Crimson Parent in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may not be transferred without registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption therefrom.

Casualty or Condemnation Losses.

Seller did not receive or become entitled to any remedy pursuant to Section 3.5(b) or (c) of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement at the Anadarko Closing for any loss of any portion of the Assets due to destruction by fire or other casualty or taking by condemnation or right of eminent domain.

ARTICLE 6

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

OF PURCHASER AND CRIMSON PARENT

Purchaser and Crimson Parent jointly and severally represent and warrant to Seller the following:

Existence and Qualification.

Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation; and each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in every jurisdiction in which it is required to qualify in order to conduct its business, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on Purchaser or Crimson Parent; and Purchaser is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in the respective jurisdictions where the Assets are located.

Power.

Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent has the corporate power to enter into and perform this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Authorization and Enforceability.

The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the performance of the transaction contemplated hereby, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Purchaser and Crimson Parent. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and Crimson Parent (and all documents required hereunder to be executed and delivered by Purchaser or Crimson Parent at Closing have been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and Crimson Parent) and this Agreement and such documents constitute the valid and binding obligations of Purchaser and Crimson Parent, enforceable against Purchaser and Crimson Parent in accordance with their terms except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy or other similar laws affecting the rights

 

 

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and remedies of creditors generally as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

No Conflicts.

Subject to compliance with the HSR Act and Regulation D of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser and Crimson Parent, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) violate any provision of the organizational documents of Purchaser or Crimson Parent, (ii) result in a default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any lien or encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license or agreement to which Purchaser or Crimson Parent is a party, (iii) violate any judgment, order, ruling, or regulation applicable to Purchaser or Crimson Parent as a party in interest, or (iv) violate any Law applicable to Purchaser or Crimson Parent or any of their respective assets, or (v) require any filing with, notification of or consent, approval or authorization of any Governmental Body or authority, except any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above which would not have a material adverse effect on Purchaser or Crimson Parent or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Liability for Brokers’ Fees.

Seller shall not directly or indirectly have any responsibility, liability or expense, as a result of undertakings or agreements of Crimson Parent, Purchaser or their respective Affiliates, for brokerage fees, finder’s fees, agent’s commissions or other similar forms of compensation in connection with this Agreement or any agreement or transaction contemplated hereby.

Litigation.

There are no Proceedings pending, or to the actual knowledge of Purchaser or Crimson Parent, threatened in writing before any Governmental Body against Purchaser, Crimson Parent or any Affiliate of Purchaser or Crimson Parent which are reasonably likely to impair materially Purchaser’s or Crimson Parent’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

Financing.

Purchaser has sufficient sources of immediately available funds (in United States dollars) to enable it to pay the Closing Payment to Seller at the Closing and to otherwise satisfy its obligations under this Agreement.

Limitation.

Except for the representations and warranties expressly made by Seller in Article 5 of this Agreement or confirmed in any certificate furnished or to be furnished to Purchaser or Crimson Parent pursuant to this Agreement, Purchaser and Crimson Parent represent and acknowledge that (i) there are no representations or warranties, express, statutory or implied, as to the Assets or prospects thereof, and (ii) Purchaser and Crimson Parent have not relied upon

 

 

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any oral or written information provided by Seller. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Purchaser and Crimson Parent represent and acknowledge that Seller has not made and will make no representation or warranty regarding any matter or circumstance relating to Environmental Laws, Environmental Liabilities, the release of materials into the environment or protection of human health, safety, natural resources or the environment or any other environmental condition of the Assets. Purchaser and Crimson Parent further represent and acknowledge that they are knowledgeable of the oil and gas business and of the usual and customary practices of producers such as Seller and that they have had access to the Company, the Assets (to the extent within the power and control of Seller to provide such access), the officers and employees of Seller and the Company, and the books, records and files made available by Seller relating to the Company and the Assets (to the extent within the power and control of Seller to provides access to such books, records and files), and in making the decision to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, Purchaser and Crimson Parent have relied solely on the basis of their own independent due diligence investigation of the Company and the Assets and Seller’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.

SEC Disclosure.

Purchaser is acquiring the Interests for its own account for use in its trade or business, and not with a view toward or for sale associated with any distribution thereof, nor with any present intention of making a distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Bankruptcy.

There are no bankruptcy, reorganization or receivership proceedings pending against, or, to the knowledge of Purchaser or Crimson Parent, being contemplated by, or threatened against Purchaser or Crimson Parent.

Capitalization of Crimson Parent.

(a)          The authorized capital stock of Crimson Parent consists of (i) 200,000,000 shares of Crimson Parent Common Stock, (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which (A) 12,000 shares are designated as Series D Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, (B) 9,000 shares are designated as Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, (C) 81,000 shares are designated as Series G Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (D) 6,500 shares are designated as Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

(b)          Since March 19, 2007 through the date hereof, except as disclosed in the Crimson Parent SEC Documents, Crimson Parent has not issued any additional shares of its capital stock, or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of such capital stock, other than upon the exercise of stock options, and Crimson Parent has not acquired any additional shares of Parent Common Stock in treasury.

 

 

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(c)          All of the issued and outstanding shares of Crimson Parent Common Stock and capital stock of Purchaser have been validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable, and are not subject to preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. Each Purchased Share to be issued as the Stock Purchase Price has been duly authorized and, when so issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable, and will not be subject to preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

(d)          Except as set forth in the Crimson Parent SEC Documents, as of the date hereof, (i) no shares of capital stock or other equity securities of Crimson Parent are authorized, issued or outstanding, or reserved for issuance and there are no options, warrants or other rights (including registration rights), agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character to which Crimson Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a party relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other equity interests of Crimson Parent, requiring Crimson Parent to grant, issue or sell any shares of the capital stock or other equity interests of Crimson Parent or any of its subsidiaries by sale, lease, license or otherwise and (ii) Crimson Parent does not have any obligation, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of the capital stock or other equity interests of Crimson Parent or any of its subsidiaries.

(e)          No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Crimson Parent having the right to vote (whether currently or upon the occurrence of an event) on any matters on which the stockholders of Crimson Parent or any of its subsidiaries may vote are issued or outstanding or subject to issuance.

Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.

True, correct and complete copies of the Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws, each as amended to date, of Crimson Parent and Purchaser have been provided to Seller. The Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws of Crimson Parent and Purchaser are in full force and effect. Neither Crimson Parent nor Purchaser is in violation of any provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws.

SEC Documents and Other Reports of Crimson Parent.

Crimson Parent has filed all documents required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) prior to the date hereof by it and its subsidiaries under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the “Crimson Parent SEC Documents”). As of their respective dates, or if amended as of the date of the last such amendment, the Crimson Parent SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and none of the Crimson Parent SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements (including related notes) of Crimson Parent included in the Crimson Parent SEC Documents fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Crimson Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries, as at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of the unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and to any other adjustments

 

 

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described therein and the fact that certain information and notes have been condensed or omitted in accordance with the Exchange Act) in conformity with GAAP (except in the case of the unaudited statements) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto).

No Required Vote of Crimson Parent Stockholders.

No vote of the stockholders of Crimson Parent is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of Crimson Parent in order for Crimson Parent and Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance of the Purchased Shares.

ARTICLE 7

COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

Statements of Revenues and Expenses.

(a)          Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Anadarko to prepare at the sole cost and expense of Purchaser, either (i) if relief is granted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, statements of revenues and direct operating expenses and all notes thereto related to the Assets or (ii) if such relief is not granted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the financial statements required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (such financial statements set forth in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), as applicable, the “Statements of Revenues and Expenses”) in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), that will be required of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates in connection with reports, registration statements and other filings to be made by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, in such form that such statements and the notes thereto can be audited. Seller (x) shall cooperate with and, to the extent permitted by Anadarko, permit Purchaser to reasonably participate in the preparation of the Statements of Revenues and Expenses and (y) shall provide Purchaser and its representatives with reasonable access to the personnel of Seller and its Affiliates who participate in the preparation of the Statements of Revenues and Expenses. Seller shall deliver the Statements of Revenues and Expenses to Purchaser promptly after Seller receives such financial statements from Anadarko.

(b)          Promptly after the date of this Agreement, Seller shall engage KPMG, LLP to perform an audit of the Statements of Revenues and Expenses and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause KPMG, LLP to issue unqualified opinions with respect to Statements of Revenues and Expenses (the Statements of Revenues and Expenses and related audit opinions being hereinafter referred to as the “Audited Financial Statements”) and provide its written consent for the use of its audit reports with respect to Statements of Revenues and Expenses in reports filed by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as needed. Purchaser shall reimburse Seller for all fees charged by KPMG, LLP pursuant to such engagement. Seller shall take all action as may be necessary to facilitate the completion of such audit and delivery of the Audited Financial Statements to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than ten (10) days prior to the date that such Audited Financial Statements would be required to be filed by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates with a

 

 

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report on Form 8-K or an amendment thereto under the Exchange Act. Seller shall provide to Purchaser a draft of the Audited Financial Statements no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the date that such Audited Financial Statements would be required to be filed by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates with a report on Form 8-K or an amendment thereto under the Exchange Act. Seller shall keep Purchaser regularly informed regarding the progress of such audit and also shall periodically provide Purchaser with copies of drafts of the Audited Financial Statements and related audit opinions.

Government Reviews.

Seller and Purchaser shall in a timely manner (i) make all required filings, if any, with and prepare applications to and conduct negotiations with, each Governmental Body as to which such filings, applications or negotiations are necessary or appropriate in the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) provide such information as each may reasonably request to make such filings, prepare such applications and conduct such negotiations. Each party shall cooperate with and use all commercially reasonable efforts to assist the other with respect to such filings, applications and negotiations.

Public Announcements.

At or after Closing, the content of any press release or public announcement first announcing the consummation of this transaction shall be subject to the prior review and reasonable approval of Seller and Purchaser; provided, however, the foregoing shall not restrict disclosures by Purchaser or Seller which are required by applicable securities or other laws or regulations or the applicable rules of any stock exchange having jurisdiction over the disclosing party or its Affiliates.

Tax Matters.

Subject to the provisions of Section 10.3, Seller shall be responsible for all Taxes related to the Company or the Assets (other than ad valorem, property, severance, Hydrocarbon production and similar Taxes based upon or measured by the ownership or operation of the Assets or the production of Hydrocarbons therefrom, which are addressed in Section 1.4) prior to the Closing Date, and Purchaser shall be responsible for all other such Taxes related to the Company or the Assets on or after the Closing Date. Seller shall handle payment to the appropriate Governmental Body of all Taxes with respect to the Company or the Assets which are required to be paid prior to Closing (and shall file all Tax Returns with respect to such Taxes). Purchaser shall file all Tax Returns that are required to be filed after the Closing Date relating to the Company or the Assets and shall handle payment to the appropriate Governmental Body of all Taxes required to be paid with respect to such Tax Return.

Further Assurances.

After Closing, Seller and Purchaser each agrees to take such further actions and to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such further documents as are reasonably requested by the other party for carrying out the purposes of this Agreement or of any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

 

 

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Anadarko Purchase Agreement.

(a)          Purchaser acknowledges that neither Seller nor the Company had ownership or control of the Assets prior to the Anadarko Closing. Purchaser further acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto.

(b)          Following the Anadarko Closing, Seller shall comply with the covenants, agreements and obligations of Seller contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement (including, without limitation Sections 3.7, 7.8, 11.1 and 11.3 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement) insofar as, and to the extent that, such covenants, agreements and obligations relate to the Company or the Assets.

(c)          Seller agrees that (i) any waiver following the Anadarko Closing by it of the performance by Anadarko of any covenant or agreement of Anadarko contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, the waiver of which would adversely affect the Assets, or (ii) any amendment or modification of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement following the Anadarko Closing that would adversely affect the Assets, in each case shall be subject to the Purchaser’s prior written consent thereto (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or absent obtaining such Purchaser’s consent, any Losses that any Purchaser Indemnified Party incurs due to such waiver, amendment or modification shall be subject to indemnification by Seller pursuant to Section 9.5(c).

(d)          In consideration of the benefits that Purchaser, the Company and Crimson Parent shall receive pursuant to Section 1.11 of the Third Amendment, Purchaser and the Company agree (i) to pay (or, if previously paid by Seller, to reimburse Seller for) all costs and expenses associated with the continued employment of the Employees (as defined in the Third Amendment, which Employees are set forth on Exhibit X thereto) during the transition period specified in the Transition Services Agreement, including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses of any employee benefits and increase of severance arrangements previously offered by Anadarko to such Employees, (ii) to reimburse Anadarko (or, if Anadarko is previously reimbursed by Seller, Seller) within ten (10) days after receipt of an invoice therefor (whether from Anadarko or from Seller) all costs and expenses related to such extension of the terms of the Brammer Agreement (as defined in the Third Amendment), and (iii) assume and perform Seller’s obligation pursuant to Section 1.10(iii) of the Third Amendment to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Seller Indemnified Persons (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement) from and against any and all Losses asserted against, resulting from, imposed upon, or incurred or suffered by any Seller Indemnified Person (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement), directly or indirectly, to the extent resulting from, arising out of, or relating to the continued employment of the Employees and extension of the term of the Brammer Agreement during the transition period.

Insurance.

(a)          Effective as of the Closing Date, Purchaser shall cause the following insurance to be carried and maintained with respect to the Company and the Assets: (i) general liability insurance with combined single limits per occurrence of not less than $1,000,000.00 for bodily

 

 

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injury and property damage, including property damage by blowout and cratering, completed operations, and contractual liability as respects any contract into which Purchaser may enter under the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) operators extra expense insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, covering the costs of controlling a blowout, and certain other related and/or resulting costs and seepage and pollution liability.

Transition Services Agreement.

At the Anadarko Closing, Seller and the Company entered into a transition services agreement with Anadarko in substantially the form attached as Exhibit I hereto (the “Transition Services Agreement”). Purchaser acknowledges that the Company shall be liable for, and Purchaser agrees that it shall cause the Company to pay, 25% of the management fee payable to Anadarko pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement.

Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements.

The Assets subject to Preference Rights (“Preference Property”) described on Schedule 5.5(a) have been conveyed to Seller (and not the Company) at the Anadarko Closing and will not be held by the Company at the Closing and the Purchase Price has been reduced pursuant to Section 2.2(b) by the Allocated Value of such Preference Property because as of the Closing Date the holder of the Preference Right in respect of such Preference Property has not yet exercised or waived its Preference Right and the time in which the Preference Right may be exercised has not yet expired (the “Retained Preference Property”). The Assets described on Schedule 5.5(b) were not conveyed to the Company by Anadarko at the Anadarko Closing and will not be held by the Company at the Closing and the Purchase Price has been reduced pursuant to Section 2.2(b) by the Allocated Value of such Assets because as of the Closing Date such Assets remain subject to a Transfer Requirement that has not been waived, complied with or otherwise satisfied prior to the Anadarko Closing or the Closing (the “Retained TR Assets”). The Retained Preference Property will be conveyed by Seller to Purchaser and the Company at a delayed Closing (which shall become the new Closing Date with respect to such Retained Preference Property) within ten (10) days following the date on which Seller obtains a waiver of or notice of election not to exercise or otherwise satisfies all remaining Preference Rights with respect to such Retained Preference Property as contemplated by this Section 7.9. The Retained TR Assets will be conveyed by Seller (or by Anadarko at the direction of Seller) to Purchaser and the Company at a delayed Closing (which shall become the new Closing Date with respect to such Retained TR Assets) within ten (10) days following the date on which Anadarko and/or Seller complies with, obtains a waiver of or otherwise satisfies all remaining Transfer Requirements with respect to such Anadarko Retained Assets and such Retained TR Assets are conveyed to Seller (or Anadarko agrees to convey such Retained TR Assets directly to Purchaser or the Company). At any delayed Closing, Purchaser shall pay to or at the direction of Seller a purchase price equal to the amount by which the Purchase Price was reduced on account of the holding back of such Retained Preference Property or Retained TR Asset (in each case, as adjusted pursuant to Section 2.2 through the new Closing Date therefor); provided, however, if all such Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements with respect to any Retained Preference Property or Retained TR Asset so held back at the initial Closing are not obtained, complied with, waived or otherwise satisfied as contemplated by this Section within one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial Closing has occurred with respect to any Asset, then such Retained

 

 

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Preference Property or Retained TR Asset shall be eliminated from the Assets and this Agreement and shall not be transferred or conveyed to Purchaser or the Company, unless Seller and Purchaser agree to proceed with a closing on such Retained Preference Property or Retained TR Asset, in which case Seller and Purchaser shall be deemed to have waived any objection (and shall be obligated to indemnify the Seller Indemnified Persons for all Losses) with respect to non-compliance with such Preference Rights and Transfer Requirements with respect to such Retained Preference Property or Retained TR Asset.

ARTICLE 8

CLOSING

Time and Place of Closing.

The completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall occur as of 11:00 a.m., local time, on the date hereof (the “Closing Date”), at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas.

Obligations of Seller at Closing.

At the Closing, upon the terms of this Agreement, Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser and Crimson Parent, or perform or cause to be performed, the following:

 

(a)

the Assignment of Membership Interest, duly executed by Seller;

(b)          the Transition Services Agreement, duly executed by Anadarko and the Company;

 

(c)

the Seismic License, duly executed by Anadarko and the Company;

 

(d)

the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by Seller; and

(e)          the Conveyance (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement), duly executed by the Company and Anadarko.

Obligations of Purchaser at Closing.

At the Closing, upon the terms of this Agreement, Purchaser and Crimson Parent shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Seller, or perform or caused to be performed, the following:

(a)          a wire transfer of the Closing Payment, by wire transfer of immediately available funds;

(b)          a certificate, in proper form, issued in the name of Seller and evidencing the number of shares of Crimson Parent Common Stock that comprise the Stock Purchase Price;

(c)          a legal opinion of counsel to Purchaser, dated as of the Closing, to the effect that the Purchased Shares have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller;

 

 

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(d)

the Assignment of Membership Interest, duly executed by Purchaser; and

 

(e)

the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by Crimson Parent.

Closing Adjustments.

(a)          Seller has prepared and delivered to Purchaser, based upon the best information available to Seller, the preliminary settlement statement attached hereto as Exhibit J estimating the cash portion of the Adjusted Purchase Price after giving effect to all adjustments listed in Section 2.2 (which statement is consistent in all material respects, to the extent applicable to the Assets, with the preliminary settlement statement delivered by Anadarko to Seller pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement). The estimate delivered in accordance with this Section 8.4(a) constitutes the dollar amount to be paid by Purchaser to Seller at the Closing (the “Closing Payment”). Purchaser has had the opportunity to review and discuss the preliminary settlement statement with Seller.

(b)          As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing but not later than ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and deliver to Purchaser a statement setting forth the final calculation of the cash portion of the Adjusted Purchase Price and showing the calculation of each adjustment, based, to the extent possible, on actual credits, charges, receipts and other items before and after the Effective Time and taking into account all adjustments provided for in this Agreement (the “Final Cash Purchase Price”). Seller shall, at Purchaser’s request, supply reasonable documentation available to support any credit, charge, receipt or other item. Seller shall afford Purchaser and its representatives the opportunity to review such statement and the supporting schedules, analyses, workpapers, and other underlying records or documentation as are reasonably necessary and appropriate in Purchaser’s review of such statement. Each party shall cooperate fully and promptly with the other and their respective representatives in such examination with respect to all reasonable requests related thereto. As soon as reasonably practicable but not later than the 30th day following receipt of Seller’s statement hereunder, Purchaser shall deliver to Seller a written report containing any changes that Purchaser proposes be made to such statement. Seller and Purchaser shall undertake to agree on the final statement of the Final Cash Purchase Price no later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Closing Date (the “Final Settlement Date”). In the event that Seller and Purchaser cannot reach agreement by the Final Settlement Date, either party may refer the remaining matters in dispute to Ernst & Young LLP, or such other nationally-recognized independent accounting firm as may be mutually accepted by Purchaser and Seller, for review and final determination (the “Agreed Accounting Firm”). If issues are submitted to the Agreed Accounting Firm for resolution, Seller and Purchaser shall each enter into a customary engagement letter with the Agreed Accounting Firm at the time the issues remaining in dispute are submitted to the Agreed Accounting Firm. The Agreed Accounting Firm will be directed to (i) review the statement setting forth Seller’s calculation of the Final Cash Purchase Price and the records relating thereto only with respect to items identified by Purchaser in its written report containing changes to such statement that remain disputed immediately following the Final Settlement Date and (ii) determine the final adjustments. Each party shall furnish the Agreed Accounting Firm such work papers and other records and information relating to the objections in dispute as the Agreed Accounting Firm may reasonably request and that are available to such party or its Affiliates (and such parties’ independent public accountants). The parties will, and

 

 

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will cause their representatives to, cooperate and assist in the conduct of any review by the Agreed Accounting Firm, including, but not limited to, making available books, records and, as available, personnel as reasonably required. The Agreed Accounting Firm shall conduct the arbitration proceedings in Houston, Texas in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, to the extent such rules do not conflict with the terms of this Section 8.4(b). The Agreed Accounting Firm’s determination shall be made within thirty (30) days after submission of the matters in dispute and shall be final and binding on both parties, without right of appeal and such decision shall constitute an arbitral award upon which a judgment may be entered by a court having jurisdiction thereof. In determining the proper amount of any adjustment to the Final Cash Purchase Price, the Agreed Accounting Firm shall not increase the Final Cash Purchase Price more than the increase proposed by Seller nor decrease the Final Asset Value more than the decrease proposed by Purchaser, as applicable, and may not award damages or penalties to either party with respect to any matter. Seller and Purchaser shall each bear its own legal fees and other costs of presenting its case. Each of Seller and Purchaser shall bear one-half of the costs and expenses of the accounting firm. Within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which the parties or the Agreed Accounting Firm, as applicable, finally determines the disputed matters, (x) Purchaser shall pay to Seller in cash (by wire transfer of immediately available funds) the amount by which the Final Cash Purchase Price exceeds the Closing Payment or (y) Seller shall pay to Purchaser in cash (by wire transfer of immediately available funds) the amount by which the Closing Payment exceeds the Final Cash Purchase Price, as applicable. Any post-Closing payment pursuant to this Section 8.4(b) shall bear interest at the Agreed Interest Rate from (but not including) the Closing Date to (and including) the date both Purchaser and Seller have executed the final settlement statement.

(c)          All payments made or to be made hereunder to Seller shall be by electronic transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Seller, for the credit of Seller. All payments made or to be made hereunder to Purchaser shall be by electronic transfer of immediately available funds to a bank and account specified by Purchaser in writing to Seller.

ARTICLE 9

POST-CLOSING OBLIGATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION;

LIMITATIONS; DISCLAIMERS AND WAIVERS

Receipts.

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any Hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Assets (and all products and proceeds attributable thereto) and any other income, proceeds, receipts and credits attributable to the Assets which are not reflected in the adjustments to the Final Cash Purchase Price (following the final adjustment pursuant to Section 8.4(b)) shall be treated as follows: (a) all Hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Assets (and all products and proceeds attributable thereto) and all other income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with respect to the Assets to which the Company is entitled under Section 1.4 shall be the sole property and entitlement of the Company, and, to the extent received by Seller (including pursuant to Section 1.4 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement), Seller shall fully disclose, account for and remit the same promptly to the Company, and (b) all Hydrocarbons produced from or attributable to the Assets (and all products and proceeds

 

 

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attributable thereto) and all other income, proceeds, receipts and credits earned with respect to the Assets to which Seller or Anadarko is entitled under Section 1.4 shall be the sole property and entitlement of Seller or Anadarko, as applicable, and, to the extent received by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates (including the Company), Purchaser shall fully disclose, account for and remit, or cause to be remitted, the same promptly to Seller or Anadarko, as applicable.

Expenses.

Except for Royalty Amounts and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any Property Costs which are not reflected in the adjustments to the Final Cash Purchase Price (following the final adjustment pursuant to Section 8.4(b)) shall be treated as follows: (a) all Property Costs for which Seller or Anadarko is responsible under Section 1.4 shall be the sole obligation of Seller or Anadarko, as applicable, and Seller or Anadarko, as applicable, shall promptly pay, or if paid by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates (including the Company), promptly reimburse Purchaser for and hold Purchaser and its Affiliates (including the Company) harmless from and against same; and (b) all Property Costs for which Purchaser or the Company is responsible under Section 1.4 shall be the sole obligation of Purchaser and the Company, and Purchaser shall promptly pay, or if paid by Seller (including pursuant to Section 1.4 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement), promptly reimburse Seller for and hold Seller harmless from and against same. Seller is entitled to resolve all joint interest audits and other audits of Property Costs covering periods for which Seller or Anadarko is wholly responsible and Purchaser is entitled to resolve all joint interest audits and other audits of Property Costs covering periods for which Purchaser or the Company is in whole or in part responsible; provided that Purchaser shall not agree to any adjustments to previously assessed costs for which Seller or Anadarko is liable without the prior written consent of Seller, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Purchaser shall provide Seller with a copy of all applicable audit reports and written audit agreements received by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates (including the Company) and relating to periods for which Seller is partially responsible.

Assumed Anadarko Obligations.

Subject to the indemnification by Anadarko under Section 11.5 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, Purchaser acknowledges and understands that on the Anadarko Closing Date, the Company assumed and agreed to fulfill, perform, pay and discharge (or cause to be fulfilled, performed, paid or discharged) all of the obligations and liabilities of Anadarko, known or unknown, with respect to the Assets, regardless of whether such obligations or liabilities arose prior to, on or after the Effective Time, including but not limited to obligations to (a) furnish makeup gas according to the terms of applicable gas sales, gathering or transportation contracts, and to satisfy all other gas balancing obligations, if any, (b) pay working interests, royalties, overriding royalties and other interests held in suspense, (c) properly plug and abandon any and all wells, including inactive wells or temporarily abandoned wells, drilled on the Properties, as required by Law, (d) replug any well, wellbore, or previously plugged well on the Properties to the extent required by Governmental Body, (e) dismantle, salvage and remove any equipment, structures, materials, platforms, flowlines, and property of whatever kind related to or associated with operations and activities conducted on the Properties, (f) clean up, restore and/or remediate the premises covered by or related to the Assets in accordance with applicable agreements and Laws, (g) perform all obligations applicable to or imposed on the lessee, owner, or operator

 

 

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under the Leases or with respect to the Mineral Interests and related contracts, or as required by applicable Laws, and (h) pay working interests, royalties, overriding royalties and other interests payable to third parties on account of production from the Assets other than any royalties owed on account of production from the Properties before the Closing Date as a result of or attributable to the resolution of the Proceedings set forth on Schedule 9.3 (collectively, “Royalty Amounts”)(all of said obligations and liabilities, excluding the Excluded Anadarko Obligations, herein being referred to as the “Assumed Anadarko Obligations”). Purchaser, Crimson Parent and the Company, on the one hand, and Seller, on the other hand, agree and acknowledge that the Company shall be responsible for, and shall fulfill, perform, pay and discharge (or cause to be fulfilled, performed, paid or discharged) the obligations and liabilities relating to or arising out of the Proceedings set forth on Schedule 9.3 that were assumed by the Company at the Anadarko Closing pursuant to Anadarko Purchase Agreement and the Conveyance (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement) and that such obligations and liabilities relating to or arising out of the Proceedings shall constitute Assumed Anadarko Obligations. Seller and not Company shall be responsible for the obligations and liabilities relating to or arising out of the other Proceedings (other than those set forth on Schedule 9.3) that were assumed by Seller at the Anadarko Closing pursuant to Anadarko Purchase Agreement and the Conveyance (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement). Following the Closing, Purchaser shall cause the Company to fulfill, perform, pay and discharge (or cause to be fulfilled, performed, paid or discharged) all of the Assumed Anadarko Obligations.

Survival.

(a)          All representations and warranties of Seller and Purchaser contained herein shall survive the Closing Date and shall terminate on the first anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, however, that (i) the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.3, Section 5.4, Section 5.6, Section 6.2, Section 6.3, and Section 6.5 (collectively, the “Fundamental Representations”) shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations period and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.5 and the Anadarko Warranties and covenants to which Seller Indemnified Persons are entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 9.5(e) shall survive the Closing Date and shall terminate on the first anniversary of the Anadarko Closing Date. Upon the termination of a representation or warranty in accordance with the foregoing, such representation or warranty shall have no further force or effect for any purpose under this Agreement. The covenants and other agreements of Seller and Purchaser set forth in this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date until fully performed.

(b)          No party hereto shall have any indemnification obligation pursuant to this Article 9 or otherwise in respect of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement unless it shall have received from the party seeking indemnification a written notice (a “Claim Notice”) of the existence of the claim for or in respect of which indemnification in respect of such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement is being sought on or before the expiration of the applicable survival period set forth in Section 9.4(a). If an Indemnified Party delivers a Claim Notice to an Indemnifying Party before the expiration of the applicable survival period set forth in Section 9.4(a), then the applicable representation, warranty, covenant or agreement shall survive until, but only for purposes of, the resolution of the matter covered by such Claim Notice. A Claim Notice shall set forth with reasonable specificity (1) the basis for such claim under this Agreement, and the facts that otherwise form the basis of such claim and (2) to the

 

 

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extent reasonably estimable, an estimate of the amount of such claim (which estimate shall not be conclusive of the final amount of such claim) and an explanation of the calculation of such estimate.

Indemnification by Seller.

From and after the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions of this Article 9, Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, Purchaser and Crimson Parent and their managers, directors, officers, employees, stockholders, members, agents, consultants, advisors and other representatives (including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors) and Affiliates and the successors and permitted assigns of this Agreement of Purchaser (collectively, the “Purchaser Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all Losses asserted against, resulting from, imposed upon, or incurred or suffered by any Purchaser Indemnified Person to the extent resulting from, arising out of or relating to:

(a)          any breach of any representation or warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement or confirmed in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of Seller in connection with this Agreement;

(b)          any breach or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement of Seller contained in this Agreement or confirmed in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of Seller in connection with this Agreement;

(c)          any waiver, amendment or modification of a covenant of Anadarko contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement that relates to the Assets and for which Seller does not obtain Purchaser’s prior written consent in accordance with Section 7.6;

(d)          the ownership, use or operation, following the Anadarko Closing Date, of the Assets (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement) acquired directly by Seller (and not by the Company) pursuant to the Anadarko Purchase Agreement;

(e)          any breach of any Anadarko Warranty or any breach or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement of Anadarko contained in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement, in each case, only insofar as, and solely to the extent that, (i) such breach or nonfulfillment adversely affects the Assets and (ii) subject to the Section 9.5(e) Deductible and disregarding the Anadarko Deductible, any Purchaser Indemnified Person would be entitled to indemnification under Section 11.5(a) or 11.5(b) of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement if the Purchaser Indemnified Person were the purchaser under the Anadarko Purchase Agreement; and

(f)           other than the Assumed Anadarko Obligations and the obligations of Purchaser and the Company pursuant to Section 7.6(d), the Assumed Seller Obligations (as defined in the Anadarko Purchase Agreement).

Indemnification by Purchaser.

From and after the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions of this Article 9, Purchaser, the Company and Crimson Parent shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller and its directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, stockholders,

 

 

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advisors and other representatives (including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors), and Seller’s successors, permitted assigns of this Agreement and Affiliates (collectively, the “Seller Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all Losses, asserted against, resulting from, imposed upon, or incurred or suffered by any Seller Indemnified Person, directly or indirectly, to the extent resulting from, arising out of, or relating to:

(a)          any breach of any representation or warranty of Purchaser or Crimson Parent contained in this Agreement or confirmed in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of Purchaser or Crimson Parent to Seller in connection with this Agreement;

(b)          any breach or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement of Purchaser, Crimson Parent or the Company contained in this Agreement or confirmed in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of Purchaser or Crimson Parent to Seller in connection with this Agreement;

 

(c)

the ownership, use or operation of the Assets after the Effective Time;

(d)          Environmental Laws, Environmental Liabilities, the release of materials into the environment or protection of human health, safety, natural resources or the environment, or any other environmental condition of the Assets; and

 

(e)

the Assumed Anadarko Obligations.

Indemnification Proceedings.

(a)          In the event that any claim or demand for which Seller, on the one hand, or Purchaser, the Company and Crimson Parent, on the other hand, (such Person, an “Indemnifying Party”) may be liable to an Purchaser Indemnified Person under Section 9.5 or to an Seller Indemnified Person under Section 9.6 (an “Indemnified Party”) is asserted against or sought to be collected from an Indemnified Party by a third party (a “Third Party Claim,”) the Indemnified Party shall with reasonable promptness notify the Indemnifying Party of such Third Party Claim by delivery of a Claim Notice, provided that the failure or delay to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article 9, except (and solely) to the extent that the Indemnifying Party demonstrates that its defense of such Third Party Claim is actually and materially prejudiced thereby. The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of the Claim Notice from the Indemnified Party (in this Section 9.7, the “Notice Period”) to notify the Indemnified Party whether or not the Indemnifying Party desires, at the Indemnifying Party’s sole cost and expense, to defend the Indemnified Party against such claim or demand; provided, that the Indemnified Party is hereby authorized prior to and during the Notice Period, and at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party, to file any motion, answer or other pleading that it shall reasonably deem necessary to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim only if and for so long as the Indemnifying Party (i) notifies the Indemnified Party during the Notice Period that the Indemnifying Party is assuming the defense of such Third Party Claim, (ii) uses counsel of its own choosing that is reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, and (iii) conducts the defense of such Third Party Claim in an active and diligent manner. If the Indemnifying Party is entitled to, and does, assume the defense of any

 

 

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such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at its own expense and to participate in the defense thereof; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying Party shall pay the reasonable attorneys’ fees of the Indemnified Party if the Indemnified Party’s counsel shall have advised the Indemnified Party that there is a conflict of interest that could make it inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct to have common counsel for the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party (provided that the Indemnifying Party shall not be responsible for paying for more than one separate firm of attorneys and one local counsel to represent all of the Indemnified Parties subject to such Third Party Claim). If the Indemnifying Party elects (and is entitled) to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim, (i) no compromise or settlement thereof or consent to any admission or the entry of any judgment with respect to such Third Party Claim may be effected by the Indemnifying Party without the Indemnified Party’s written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the Indemnifying Party (and no injunctive or other equitable relief is imposed upon the Indemnified Party) and there is an unconditional provision whereby each plaintiff or claimant in such Third Party Claim releases the Indemnified Party from all liability with respect thereto and (ii) the Indemnified Party shall have no liability with respect to any compromise or settlement thereof effected without its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). If the Indemnifying Party elects not to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim (or fails to give notice to the Indemnified Party during the Notice Period or otherwise is not entitled to assume such defense), the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim with counsel of its own choice, at the expense and for the account of the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall make no settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment that would give rise to liability on the part of any Indemnifying Party without the prior written consent of such Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(b)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to control (but shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of), and the Indemnified Party, shall be entitled to have sole control over, the defense or settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment of any Third Party Claim (i) at the reasonable expense of the Indemnifying Party, as to which the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense during the Notice Period after the Indemnified Party gives notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party or (ii) at the reasonable expense of the Indemnifying Party, to the extent the Third Party Claim seeks an order, injunction, or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party which, if successful, could materially adversely affect the business, condition (financial or other), capitalization, assets, liabilities, results of operations or prospects of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall make no settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment that would give rise to liability on the part of the Indemnifying Party without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(c)          In any case in which an Indemnified Party seeks indemnification hereunder and no Third Party Claim is involved, the Indemnified Party shall deliver a Claim Notice to the Indemnifying Party within a reasonably prompt period of time after an officer of such Indemnified Party or its Affiliates has obtained knowledge of the Loss giving rise to indemnification hereunder. The failure or delay to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not

 

 

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relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article 9 except to the extent such failure results in insufficient time being available to permit the Indemnifying Party to effectively mitigate the resulting Losses or otherwise prejudices the Indemnifying Party.

(d)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rights and obligations of Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser, the Company and Crimson Parent, on the other hand, under this Section 9.7 shall be subject (and subordinate) to the rights and obligations of Anadarko pursuant to Section 11.7 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement as to any Third Party Claims under the Anadarko Purchase Agreement for which Anadarko has the right to control the defense thereof insofar as such Third Party Claim under the Anadarko Purchase Agreement relates to the matters indemnified by Seller hereunder.

Limitations on Indemnities.

(a)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Seller shall not be obligated to indemnify any Purchaser Indemnified Persons for Losses pursuant to Section 9.5(a), and Purchaser, the Company and Crimson Parent shall not be obligated to indemnify the Seller Indemnified Persons for Losses pursuant to Section 9.6(a), in each case, pursuant to this Article 9 unless and until the amount of all Losses incurred by Purchaser Indemnified Persons, or by Seller Indemnified Persons, as the case may be, exceeds, in the aggregate, $2,000,000 (the “Deductible”), in which event the party or parties seeking indemnity may recover all Losses incurred in excess of the Deductible, and (ii) Seller’s maximum liability for Losses pursuant to Section 9.5(a), and Purchaser’s, the Company’s and Crimson Parent’s aggregate maximum liability for Losses pursuant to Section 9.6(a), in each case, shall be $30,000,000; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Deductible shall not apply to (and the Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Losses relating to) any claims based on the occurrence of common law actual fraud and (B) any claims asserted under Section 9.5(a), or Section 9.6(a) insofar as such claims relate to any breach of Fundamental Representations or any certificate to the extent based on any such Fundamental Representation.

(b)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller shall not be obligated to indemnify any Purchaser Indemnified Persons for Losses pursuant to Section 9.5(e) unless and until the amount of all Losses incurred by Purchaser Indemnified Persons pursuant to Section 9.5(e) exceeds, in the aggregate, $7,500,000 (the “Section 9.5(e) Deductible”), in which event the party or parties seeking indemnity may recover all Losses incurred in excess of the Section 9.5(e) Deductible; provided, however, that Seller’s maximum liability for Losses pursuant to Section 9.5(e) shall be $75,000,000.

(c)          Solely for purposes of calculating the amount of Losses incurred, arising out of or relating to any breach or inaccuracy of a representation or warranty (and not for determining whether a breach has occurred), the references to “Material Adverse Effect” or other materiality qualifications (or correlative terms) shall be disregarded.

(d)          The liability of any party under Article 9 shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, any other liability that such party may have at Law or equity based on such party’s common law actual fraud. None of the provisions set forth in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the provisions set forth in Section 9.4(b) (relating to limitations on the period during which a

 

 

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claim for indemnification may be brought) or Section 9.8(a) (relating to the Deductible), shall be deemed a waiver by any party to this Agreement of any right or remedy which such party may have at Law or equity based on any other party’s common law actual fraud, nor shall any such provisions limit, or be deemed to limit, (i) the amounts of recovery sought or awarded in any such claim for common law actual fraud, (ii) the time period during which a claim for common law actual fraud may be brought or (iii) the recourse which any such party may seek against another party with respect to a claim for common law actual fraud; provided, that with respect to such rights and remedies at law or equity, the parties further acknowledge and agree that none of the provisions of this Section 9.8(d), nor any reference to this Section 9.8(d) throughout this Agreement, shall be deemed a waiver of any defenses which may be available in respect of actions or claims for common law actual fraud, including but not limited to, defenses of statutes of limitations or limitations of damages.

Release.

EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO POST-CLOSING REMEDIATION AGREED TO BY SELLER PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.3, EACH OF PURCHASER, CRIMSON PARENT AND THE COMPANY HEREBY RELEASES, REMISES AND FOREVER DISCHARGES THE SELLER INDEMNIFIED PERSONS FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR ARISING IN THE FUTURE, CONTINGENT OR OTHERWISE, WHICH PURCHASER, CRIMSON PARENT OR THE COMPANY MIGHT NOW OR SUBSEQUENTLY MAY HAVE AGAINST THE SELLER INDEMNIFIED PERSONS, RELATING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO THE CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR INCIDENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES, THE RELEASE OF MATERIALS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT OR PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH, SAFETY, NATURAL RESOURCES OR THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, RIGHTS TO CONTRIBUTION UNDER CERCLA, REGARDLESS OF FAULT.

Disclaimers.

EXCEPT AS AND TO THE EXTENT EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, OR CONFIRMED IN THE CERTIFICATE OF SELLER TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8.2(c), (I) SELLER MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, STATUTORY OR IMPLIED, AND (II) SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, STATEMENT OR INFORMATION MADE OR COMMUNICATED (ORALLY OR IN WRITING) TO PURCHASER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES (INCLUDING CRIMSON PARENT AND THE COMPANY), EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONSULTANTS OR REPRESENTATIVES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OPINION, INFORMATION, PROJECTION OR ADVICE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO PURCHASER, CRIMSON PARENT OR THE COMPANY BY ANY OFFICER, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE, AGENT, CONSULTANT, REPRESENTATIVE OR ADVISOR OF SELLER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES).

 

 

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EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY REPRESENTED OTHERWISE IN ARTICLE 5 OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR CONFIRMED IN THE CERTIFICATE OF SELLER TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8.2(c) AND WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS, STATUTORY OR IMPLIED, AS TO (I) TITLE TO ANY OF THE ASSETS, (II) THE CONTENTS, CHARACTER OR NATURE OF ANY DESCRIPTIVE MEMORANDUM, OR ANY REPORT OF ANY PETROLEUM ENGINEERING CONSULTANT, OR ANY GEOLOGICAL OR SEISMIC DATA OR INTERPRETATION, RELATING TO THE ASSETS, (III) THE QUANTITY, QUALITY OR RECOVERABILITY OF PETROLEUM SUBSTANCES IN OR FROM THE ASSETS, (IV) ANY ESTIMATES OF THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS OR FUTURE REVENUES GENERATED BY THE ASSETS, (V) THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS FROM THE ASSETS, (VI) THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, CONDITION, QUALITY, SUITABILITY, DESIGN OR MARKETABILITY OF THE ASSETS, (VII) THE CONTENT, CHARACTER OR NATURE OF ANY DESCRIPTIVE MEMORANDUM, REPORTS, BROCHURES, CHARTS OR STATEMENTS PREPARED BY THIRD PARTIES, (VIII) ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE OR COMMUNICATED TO PURCHASER OR ITS AFFILIATES (INCLUDING CRIMSON PARENT AND THE COMPANY), OR ITS OR THEIR EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONSULTANTS, REPRESENTATIVES OR ADVISORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DISCUSSION OR PRESENTATION RELATING THERETO, AND FURTHER DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS, STATUTORY OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY, FREEDOM FROM REDHIBITORY VICES OR DEFECTS (INCLUDING THOSE CONTEMPLATED IN LOUISIANA CIVIL CODE ARTICLES 2475, AND 2520 THROUGH 2548), FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS OF ANY EQUIPMENT, IT BEING EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BY THE PARTIES HERETO THAT PURCHASER, THE COMPANY AND CRIMSON PARENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE OBTAINING THE ASSETS IN THEIR PRESENT STATUS, CONDITION AND STATE OF REPAIR, “AS IS” AND “WHERE IS” WITH ALL FAULTS AND THAT EACH OF PURCHASER, THE COMPANY AND CRIMSON PARENT HAS MADE OR CAUSED TO BE MADE SUCH INSPECTIONS AS PURCHASER, THE COMPANY AND CRIMSON PARENT DEEMS APPROPRIATE, OR (IX) ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF FREEDOM FROM PATENT OR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT.

SELLER HAS NOT AND WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY REGARDING ANY MATTER OR CIRCUMSTANCE RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES, THE RELEASE OF MATERIALS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH, SAFETY, NATURAL RESOURCES OR THE ENVIRONMENT, OR ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE ASSETS, AND NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, AND PURCHASER, THE COMPANY AND

 

 

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CRIMSON PARENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE TAKING THE ASSETS “AS IS” AND “WHERE IS” FOR PURPOSES OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION.

Waiver of Trade Practices Acts.

(a)          It is the intention of the parties that Purchaser’s and Crimson Parent’s rights and remedies with respect to this transaction and with respect to all acts or practices of Seller, past, present or future, in connection with this transaction shall be governed by legal principles other than the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices--Consumer Protection Act, Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 17.41 et seq. (the “DTPA”) or the Louisiana unfair trade practices and consumer protection law, La. R.S. 51:1402, et seq. (the “UTPCPL”). As such, each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent hereby waives the applicability of the DTPA and the UTPCPL to this transaction and any and all duties, rights or remedies that might be imposed by the DTPA and/or the UTPCPL, whether such duties, rights and remedies are applied directly by the DTPA or the UTPCPL itself or indirectly in connection with other statutes; provided, however, neither Purchaser nor Crimson Parent waives § 17.555 of the DTPA. Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent acknowledges, represents and warrants that it is purchasing the goods and/or services covered by this Agreement for commercial or business use; that it has assets of $5,000,000.00 or more according to its most recent financial statement prepared in accordance with GAAP; that it has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that enable it to evaluate the merits and risks of a transaction such as this; and that it is not in a significantly disparate bargaining position with Seller. The foregoing waivers shall be applicable to the Affiliates of Purchaser and Crimson Parent.

(b)          Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent expressly recognizes that the price for which Seller has agreed to perform its obligations under this Agreement has been predicated upon the inapplicability of the DTPA and the UTPCPL and this waiver of the DTPA and the UTPCPL. Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent further recognizes that Seller, in determining to proceed with the entering into of this Agreement, has expressly relied on this waiver and the inapplicability of the DTPA and the UTPCPL.

Redhibition Waiver.

Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent waives all rights in redhibition pursuant to Louisiana Civil Code Articles 2475 and 2520 through 2548, and acknowledges that this express waiver shall be considered a material and integral part of this transaction and the consideration thereof. Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent acknowledges that this waiver has been brought to its attention and has been explained in detail and that each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent has voluntarily and knowingly consented to this waiver of warranty of fitness and warranty against redhibitory vices and defects for the Assets. The foregoing waivers shall be applicable to the Affiliates of Purchaser and Crimson Parent.

 

 

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ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS

Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

Notice.

All notices which are required or may be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing and delivered personally, by telecopy or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, as follows:

 

If to Seller:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

 

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

 

Dallas, Texas 75251

 

Attention: William L. Boeing

 

Telephone: (214) 368-2084

 

Telecopy: (214) 706-3409

 

 

With a copy to (which:

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

 

shall not constitute

2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 3700

 

notice to Seller)

Dallas, Texas 75201

 

Attention: Jeffrey A. Chapman

 

Telephone: (214) 220-7797

 

Telecopy: (214) 999-7797

 

Attention: P. Gregory Hidalgo

 

Telephone: (214) 220-7959

 

Telecopy: (214) 999-7959

 

 

If to Purchaser or

Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc.

 

Crimson Parent:

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Tracy Price

Telephone: (713) 236-7400

Fax: (713) 236-4402

 

Any party may change its address for notice by notice to the other in the manner set forth above. All notices shall be deemed to have been duly given at the time of receipt by the party to which such notice is addressed.

Sales or Use Tax Recording Fees and Similar Taxes and Fees.

Purchaser shall bear any sales, use, excise, real property transfer, gross receipts, goods and services, registration, capital, documentary, stamp or transfer Taxes, recording fees and

 

 

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similar Taxes and fees (collectively “Transfer Taxes”) incurred and imposed upon, or with respect to, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Seller will determine, and Purchaser will cooperate with Seller in determining the amount of any Transfer Taxes, if any, that is due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and Purchaser agrees to pay any such Transfer Tax to Seller or to the appropriate Governmental Body. If any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are exempt from any such Transfer Taxes upon the filing of an appropriate certificate or other evidence of exemption, Purchaser will timely furnish to Seller such certificate or evidence.

Expenses.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 10.3 or elsewhere in this Agreement, (a) all expenses incurred by Seller in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation or execution of this Agreement and the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and thereto, and all other matters related to the Closing, including without limitation, all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants and financial advisers employed by Seller, shall be borne solely and entirely by Seller, and (b) all such expenses incurred by Purchaser or Crimson Parent shall be borne solely and entirely by Purchaser and Crimson Parent.

Change of Name.

Following the Closing, each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent shall comply (and shall cause the Company and all other Affiliates of Purchaser and Crimson Parent to comply) with the obligations of Seller pursuant to Section 12.5 of the Anadarko Purchase Agreement insofar as such obligations relate to the Assets. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as promptly as practicable, but in any case within ninety (90) days after the Anadarko Closing Date, Purchaser and Crimson Parent shall eliminate (and shall cause the Company and all other Affiliates of Purchaser and Crimson Parent to eliminate) (i) the names “Anadarko Petroleum Corporation”, “Anadarko” and any variants thereof, (ii) any names of Anadarko’s Affiliates and any variants thereof, (iii) the name “EXCO” and any variants thereof and (iii) any names of Seller’s Affiliates and any variants thereof from the Assets acquired pursuant to this Agreement and, except with respect to such grace period for eliminating existing usage, shall have no right to use any logos, trademarks or trade names belonging to Anadarko or Seller or any of their respective Affiliates.

Replacement of Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guarantees.

The parties understand that none of the bonds, letters of credit and guarantees, if any, posted by Seller or any of its Affiliates with Governmental Bodies and relating to the Assets may be transferable to Purchaser or the Company. Promptly following Closing, Purchaser shall obtain, or cause to be obtained in the name of Purchaser or the Company, replacements for such bonds, letters of credit and guarantees, to the extent such replacements are necessary to permit the cancellation of the bonds, letters of credit and guarantees posted by Seller or any of its Affiliates or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

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Governing Law and Venue.

THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LEGAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS OTHERWISE APPLICABLE TO SUCH DETERMINATIONS. JURISDICTION AND VENUE WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTES ARISING HEREUNDER SHALL BE PROPER ONLY IN DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS.

Captions.

The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

Waivers.

Any failure by any party or parties to comply with any of its or their obligations, agreements or conditions herein contained may be waived in writing, but not in any other manner, by the party or parties to whom such compliance is owed. No waiver of, or consent to a change in, any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of, or consent to a change in, other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.

Assignment.

No party shall assign all or any part of this Agreement, nor shall any party assign or delegate any of its rights or duties hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Entire Agreement.

The Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement and the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto, and the documents to be executed hereunder constitute the entire agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof.

Amendment.

(a)          This Agreement may be amended or modified only by an agreement in writing executed by the parties hereto.

(b)          No waiver of any right under this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby.

 

 

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No Third-Party Beneficiaries.

Nothing in this Agreement shall entitle any Person other than Purchaser or Crimson Parent or the Company, on the one hand, or Seller, on the other hand, to any claims, remedy or right of any kind, except as to those rights expressly provided to the Seller Indemnified Persons and Purchaser Indemnified Persons (provided, however, any claim for indemnity hereunder on behalf of an Seller Indemnified Person or an Purchaser Indemnified Person must be made and administered by Purchaser in respect of Purchaser Indemnified Persons and Seller in respect of Seller Indemnified Persons).

References.

In this Agreement:

 

(a)

References to any gender includes a reference to all other genders;

 

(b)

References to the singular includes the plural, and vice versa;

(c)          Reference to any Article or Section means an Article or Section of this Agreement;

(d)          Reference to any Exhibit or Schedule means an Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement, all of which are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement;

(e)          Unless expressly provided to the contrary, “hereunder”, “hereof’, “herein” and words of similar import are references to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular Section or other provision of this Agreement;

(f)           “Include” and “including” shall mean include or including without limiting the generality of the description preceding such term; and

(g)          Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Agreement as such terms are identified and/or defined in the Definitions section hereof.

Construction.

Each of Purchaser and Crimson Parent is a party capable of making such investigation, inspection, review and evaluation of the Assets as a prudent party would deem appropriate under the circumstances including with respect to all matters relating to the Assets, their value, operation and suitability. Each of Seller and Purchaser and Crimson Parent has had substantial input into the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and has had the opportunity to exercise business discretion in relation to the negotiation of the details of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement is the result of arm’s-length negotiations from equal bargaining positions. In the event of a dispute over the meaning or application of this Agreement, it shall be construed fairly and reasonably and neither more strongly for nor against either party.

 

 

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Conspicuousness.

The parties agree that provisions in this Agreement in “bold” type satisfy any requirements of the “express negligence rule” and any other requirements at law or in equity that provisions be conspicuously marked or highlighted.

Severability.

If any term or other provisions of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced under any rule of law, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in a materially adverse manner with respect to any party; provided, however, that if any such term or provision may be made enforceable by limitation thereof, then such term or provision shall be deemed to be so limited and shall be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law.

Time of Essence.

Time is of the essence in this Agreement. If the date specified in this Agreement for giving any notice or taking any action is not a Business Day (or if the period during which any notice is required to be given or any action taken expires on a date which is not a Business Day), then the date for giving such notice or taking such action (and the expiration date of such period during which notice is required to be given or action taken) shall be the next day which is a Business Day.

Affiliate Liability.

Each of the following is herein referred to, for purposes of this Section 10.19, as an “Seller Affiliate”: (i) any direct or indirect holder of equity interests in Seller (whether shareholders or otherwise), and (ii) any director, officer, manager, employee, representative or agent of (a) Seller or (b) any Affiliate of Seller. Except to the extent that a Seller Affiliate is an express signatory and party hereto, no Seller Affiliate shall have any liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby, and Purchaser and Crimson Parent hereby waive and release all claims of any such liability and obligation.

Schedules.

The disclosures in any Schedule must relate only to the representations and warranties in the Section of this Agreement to which it expressly relates and not to any other representation or warranty in this Agreement, unless some other representation and warranty is specifically and clearly referred to in such Schedule.

Limitation on Damages.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties acknowledge that this Agreement does not authorize one party to sue for or collect from the other party its own punitive damages, or its own consequential or indirect

 

 

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damages in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and each party expressly waives for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates, any and all Claims it may have against the other party for its own such damages in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

[SIGNATURES BEGIN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been signed by each of the parties hereto on the date first above written.

SELLER:

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

By:

_____________________________

 

Name:

R. L. Hodges

 

Title:

Vice President - Land

 

 

COMPANY:

 

SOUTHERN G HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

By:

_____________________________

 

Name:

R. L. Hodges

 

Title:

Vice President - Land

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION OPERATING, INC.

 

 

By:

_____________________________

 

Name:

Tracy Price

 

Title:

Senior Vice President of Land and Business Development

 

CRIMSON PARENT:

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

 

 

By:

_____________________________

 

Name:

Tracy Price

 

Title:

Senior Vice President of Land and Business Development

 

 

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EX-10 3 ex10_2.htm EXHIBIT 10.2

EXHIBIT 10.2

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 8, 2007, by and among Crimson Exploration Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Initial_Holder”).

Section 1.     Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Common Equity Securities” shall mean all interests hereafter authorized of any class or series of common equity interests of the Company, which interests have the right (subject to the rights of any class or series of preferred interest or other preferred equity interests of the Company) to participate in the distribution of the assets and earnings of the Company without limit as to per share (or other denomination) amount, including but not limited to, the Common Stock.

Common Stock” shall mean shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Holders” shall mean the Initial Holder and any other Person that acquires Registrable Securities as a Permitted Transferee pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof. Each Holder shall be reflected by name in Annex A hereto.

Indemnified party” and “indemnifying party” shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 7(c) hereof.

Initial Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) hereof.

Person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity and any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 


Piggyback Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

Proceeding” shall mean an action, claim, suit, arbitration or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including, without limitation, post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

Registrable Securities” shall mean (a) all interests or other denominations of Common Equity Securities of the Company held by the Initial Holder on the date hereof (including, without limitation, any Common Equity Securities issued or distributed by way of dividend, split or other distribution in respect of such securities or other denominations of Common Equity Securities) and, subject to the next succeeding sentence and Section 11(c) hereof, any successor or assign of such interests, and (b) the interests or other denominations of Common Equity Securities acquired by the Initial Holder after the date hereof and, subject to the next succeeding sentence and Section 11(c) hereof, any successor or assign of such interests. As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they are sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, (ii) they are sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act) and the transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144, (iii) they cease to be outstanding, (iv) they have been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of the securities in accordance with this Agreement, (v) they become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar rule then in effect under the Securities Act) and the Holder of such securities does not then beneficially own more than 2% of such class of securities or (vi) they become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar rule then in effect under the Securities Act) and the Holder of such securities does not then beneficially own more than 1% of such class of securities. No Registrable Securities may be registered under more than one Registration Statement at any one time.

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act which permits the public offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

 

2

 


Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency having jurisdiction under the Securities Act.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Underwritten registration or underwritten offering” shall mean a registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

Section 2.

Piggyback Registration.

(a)          Right to Piggyback. If, on and after the date of this Agreement, the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Common Equity Securities, whether or not for the Company’s own account (other than (i) a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or (ii) a registration statement filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan), then, each such time, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such proposed filing at least twenty (20) days before the anticipated filing date (the “Piggyback Notice”) to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities. The Piggyback Notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request (a “Piggyback Registration”). Subject to Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after the Piggyback Notice has been given to the applicable Holder. Each Holder agrees to keep the contents of any non-public registration statement confidential until such registration statement is filed. The Holders of Registrable Securities exercising their rights under this Section 2(a) shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of the Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the business day immediately preceding the effective date of such Piggyback Registration. The Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration beyond the earlier to occur of (i) 180 days after the effective date thereof and (ii) consummation of the distribution by the Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. If at any time after giving written notice of its intentions to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of all of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Holder and, thereupon, (x) in the case of a determination not to register, the Company shall be relieved of any obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such registration, the Company shall be permitted to delay the registration of any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in such other securities.

(b)          Priority on Piggyback Registrations. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed

 

 

3

 


underwritten offering to permit Holders of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration for such offering to include all such Registrable Securities on the same terms and conditions as any other equity interests in the Company, if any, of the Company included therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering have informed the Company in writing (a “Cutback Notice”) that in its or their view the total number or dollar amount of Common Equity Securities that the Holders, the Company and any other Persons having rights to participate in such registration, intend to include in such offering is such as to adversely affect the success of such offering, then the number of Common Equity Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such offering shall be included in the following order:

(i)           first, the Common Equity Securities for the account of the Company;

(ii)          second, to any Person requesting registration of Common Equity Securities pursuant to demand registration rights;

(iii)        third, to any Person exercising registration rights under the Shareholders Rights Agreement of the Company, dated February 28, 2005, as amended from time to time, pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis of the number of such securities owned by each such holder; and

(iv)         fourth, to any Holder exercising registration rights under this Agreement and to any other Person having the right to include Common Equity Securities in such Registration Statement, pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis of the number of such securities owned by each such holder.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in respect of any offering under this Agreement (whether under Section 2 or otherwise) except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law, no Holder or any of its affiliates (other than the Company), officers, directors, managers, members, stockholders or representatives shall be required directly or indirectly to make any representations or warranties to the Company other than representations or warranties regarding such Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities and its intended method of distribution. If requested by the Company, each Holder agrees to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriters; provided, that any liability of any such Holder or its affiliates (other than the Company) to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting agreement shall be limited to liability arising from breach of its representations and warranties and shall be limited to an amount equal to the total price at which the securities sold by such Holder were offered to the public (net of discounts and commissions paid by such Holder in connection with such offering). Each selling Holder of Registrable Securities agrees to notify the Company, and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in any Registration Statement, related Prospectus, offering circular, or in any other document in reliance upon and in material conformity with written information provided to the Company by such Holder in connection with the preparation of any such document.

 

Section 3.

Demand Registration.

 

 

4

 


(a)          At any time after the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement but in no event later than the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement, if (i) any Holder holds Registrable Securities that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such Holder of Registrable Securities to dispose of the number of Registrable Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then upon the written request of any such Holder, the Company shall file under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement on Form S-3 (or other appropriate form on which the Company is able to file) under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Registrable Securities specified by such Holder, including, if requested by such Holder, as a “shelf” registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to effect more than one registration pursuant to this Section 3. If the board of directors of the Company or the appropriate committee thereof determines in its good faith judgment that a postponement of the requested registration for up to three months would be in the best interests of the Company due to a pending transaction, investigation or other event, the filing of such registration statement or the effectiveness thereof may be deferred for up to three months (but not more than once in any twelve month period). If the Company shall so postpone the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3, the Holders who made the request for such registration shall have the right to withdraw the request for registration by giving written notice to the Company within 20 days of the anticipated termination date of the postponement period, and in the event of such withdrawal, such request shall not be counted as a registration pursuant to this Section 3. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) the Company shall not be responsible for any underwriter’s fees or expenses, including any fees and disbursements of underwriter’s counsel, arising in connection with or otherwise relating to the distribution of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 3 and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors, or employees shall be obligated to assist in the marketing (including, without limitation, participation in “road shows”) of Registrable Securities in connection with a distribution of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 3.

Following receipt of the foregoing written request by such Holder, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement as promptly as practicable, but not later than 60 days after such written request, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof.

No registration shall be deemed to have occurred pursuant to this Section 3 if the Registration Statement relating thereto (i) does not become effective, (ii) is not maintained effective for the period required pursuant to this Section 3 or (iii) the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement is subject to a stop order, injunction or similar order or requirement of the SEC during such period. In the case of each of the immediately foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Holders shall be entitled to an additional registration pursuant to this Section 3.

 

 

5

 


The Company shall be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (except in the case of a requested “shelf” registration) with respect to any registration pursuant to this Section 3 for a period of at least 180 days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided, however, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period any Holders of Registrable Securities refrain from selling any securities included in such registration at the request of (x) an underwriter or (y) the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall be required to maintain the effectiveness of a “shelf” Registration Statement with respect to any Demand Registration at all times after the effective date thereof until all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided, however, that any Holder owning Common Equity Securities that have been included on a “shelf” Registration Statement may request that such Common Equity Securities be removed from such Registration Statement, in which event the Company shall promptly either withdraw such Registration Statement if no securities remain registered thereunder or file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement removing such Common Equity Securities.

(b)          Priority on Registration. If any of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to a registration pursuant to this Section 3 are to be sold in a firm commitment underwritten offering, and the managing underwriter or underwriters advise the holders of such securities in writing that in its or their view the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such offering is such as to adversely affect the success of such offering (including, without limitation, securities proposed to be included by other holders of securities entitled to include securities in such offering pursuant to incidental or piggyback registration rights), then the number of Registrable Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such offering shall be included in the same order as set forth in Section 2(b) in connection with a Piggyback Registration.

In connection with any Registration to which the provisions of this subsection (b) apply, such registration shall not reduce the number of available registrations under this Section 3 in the event that the Registration Statement excludes more than 50% of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Holders.

Section 4.           Restrictions on Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees, in connection with any underwritten public offering in which the Holders are permitted to participate hereunder, if requested (pursuant to a written notice) by the managing underwriter or underwriters in an underwritten offering of any Common Equity Securities, not to effect or agree to effect any sale or distribution of any Common Equity Securities (except as part of such underwritten offering), including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 during the period commencing on the date of the request and continuing for not more than 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (or Prospectus supplement if the offering is made pursuant to a “shelf” registration) pursuant to which such public offering shall be made or such shorter period as is required by the managing underwriter, provided, however, that the Company and all officers and directors of the Company must be subject to the same restrictions and that if any other holder of securities of the Company is subject to a shorter period or receives more advantageous terms, then the Holders of Registrable Securities shall be subject only to such shorter period and also on such more advantageous terms, and provided further, that, if a Holder

 

 

6

 


had attempted to register Registrable Securities in connection with such offering but was unable to do so because the managing underwriter or underwriters gave a Cutback Notice pursuant to Section 2(b), such Holder shall not be restricted from making non-public sales of Registrable Securities so long as such sales otherwise comply with the requirements of applicable law.

Section 5.          Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 2 and Section 3 hereof, subject to the Company’s right to not register such securities or delay the registration of such securities, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall cooperate in the sale of the securities and shall, as expeditiously as is reasonably practicable:

(a)          Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on any form which shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof or the Company in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that no later than 10 days before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including, without limitation, documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comments of such Holders, counsel and managing underwriters.

(b)          Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective during the period provided herein and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement; and cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; provided, however, that any Holder of Registrable Securities that has been included on a “shelf” registration statement may request that such Holder’s Registrable Securities be removed from such registration statement, in which event the Company shall promptly either withdraw such registration statement or file a post-effective amendment to such registration statement removing such Registrable Securities.

(c)          Notify each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any notice from the SEC that there will be a review of a Registration Statement and promptly provide such Holders, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, with a copy of any SEC comments received by the Company in

 


 

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connection therewith, (iii) of any request by the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (v) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including, without limitation, any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(o) below cease to be true and correct, (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (vii) of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(d)          Use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction.

(e)          In connection with a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2, if requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or any Holder of Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and such Holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received such request.

(f)           Furnish or make available as promptly as practicable to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, at least five conformed copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Prospectus supplements, if applicable, and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits, unless requested by such Holder, counsel or underwriter).

(g)          Deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and the underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of Prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities; and the Company, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of

 

 

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Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement thereto.

(h)          Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any seller or underwriter reasonably requests and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and to take any other action that may be necessary or advisable to enable such Holders of Registrable Securities to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business or as a broker or dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject, or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.

(i)           Cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from each Holder of such Registrable Securities that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such Holder will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request at least five (5) business days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities in a firm commitment public offering, but in any other such sale, within ten (10) business days prior to having to issue the securities.

(j)           Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder’s business, in which case the Company will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals, as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

(k)          Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(vii) above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

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(l)           Prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities.

(m)         Provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.

(n)          Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, or if the Common Stock is not then listed on a national securities exchange, authorized for quotation on any automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then quoted.

(o)          In connection with a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2, enter into such agreements (including, without limitation, an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) furnish to the selling Holders of such Registrable Securities opinions of counsel and a negative assurance letter to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel, opinions and letter (in form, scope and substance, in the case of such opinions and such letter) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the selling Holders of such Registrable Securities, the managing underwriters, if any, and counsels to the selling Holders of the Registrable Securities), addressed to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities and each of the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions and negative assurance letters requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders, counsel and underwriters, (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) who have certified the financial statements included in such Registration Statement, addressed to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities (unless such accountants shall be prohibited from so addressing such letters by applicable standards of the accounting profession) and each of the underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, which form and substance shall be acceptable to the selling Holders of the Registrable Securities and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities being sold, such Holder’s counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to Section 5(o)(i) above and to evidence compliance with the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The above shall be done at each

 

 

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closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder. The Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities being sold may, at their option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters, shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Holders and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of the underwriters under the underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of the Holders.

(p)          In connection with a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2, make available for inspection by the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorneys or accountants retained by such selling Holders or underwriter, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is not publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons (other than disclosure by such Persons to such Persons’ respective affiliates who, prior to any such disclosure, shall agree to keep such information confidential subject to the exceptions set forth herein) unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or other legal process, (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law, or (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Person. In the case of a proposed disclosure pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such Person shall be required to give the Company written notice of the proposed disclosure prior to such disclosure and, if requested by the Company, assist the Company in seeking to prevent or limit the proposed disclosure.

(q)          Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to its security holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder, or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act, as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than 90 days after the end of any twelve (12) month period (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover one of said twelve (12) month periods.

(r)           In connection with a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2, cause officers of the Company, who are requested by the managing underwriter to do so, to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, participation in “road shows”).

The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company in writing such information required in connection with such registration regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing. If any selling

 

 

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Holder refuses to provide the Company with any information required pursuant to the preceding sentence or if any such selling Holder otherwise breaches any of its other obligations set forth herein, the Company may exclude such Holder's Registrable Securities from the Registration Statement.

Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees if such Holder has Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(iii), Section 5(c)(iv), Section 5(c)(v), Section 5(c)(vi) or Section 5(c)(vii) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the disposition may be resumed and, if applicable, has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, together with any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 2 and Section 3 with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a Registration Statement must be maintained by the amount of time the Holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

Section 6.          Registration Expenses. All reasonable fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company (including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the SEC, (B) of compliance with securities or Blue Sky laws, including, without limitation, subject to Section 3, any fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 5(h) and (C) of listing and registration with a national securities exchange or national market interdealer quotation system), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses of the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) expenses of the Company incurred in connection with any road show, (vi) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(o)(iii) hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any “cold comfort” letters required by this Agreement) and any other persons, including special experts retained by the Company, and (vii) rating agency fees shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective. In addition, the Company shall pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and rating agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

The Company shall not be required to pay (i) fees and disbursements of any counsel retained by any Holder of Registrable Securities or by any underwriter (except as set

 

 

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forth in the foregoing clause 6(i)(B), (ii) any underwriter’s fees (including discounts, commissions or fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals) relating to the distribution of the Registrable Securities (other than with respect to Registrable Securities sold by the Company) or (iii) any other expenses of the Holders of Registrable Securities not specifically required to be paid by the Company pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 6.

 

Section 7.

Indemnification.

(a)          Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities whose Registrable Securities are covered by a Registration Statement or Prospectus, the affiliates, officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each of them, each Person who controls each such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each such controlling person (collectively, the “Holder Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or Proceeding), expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, offering circular or other document (including, without limitation, any related Registration Statement, “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, notification or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance, (ii) any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, with respect to any Prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or state securities or Blue Sky laws or, in each case, any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification, or compliance, and will reimburse each such Holder Indemnified Person for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or action, provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission by such Holder or underwriter, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder or underwriter specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document. It is agreed that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Such indemnity obligation shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on

 

 

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behalf of the Holder Indemnified Persons and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder Indemnified Persons.

(b)          Indemnification by Holder of Registrable Securities. In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder of Registrable Securities shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests, including all information required by applicable law, for use in connection with any Registration Statement or Prospectus and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, severally and not jointly, the Company, its affiliates, and each of their respective directors, managers, officers, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents or employees of such controlling persons (collectively, the “Company Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all Losses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document, or (ii) any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, with respect to any Prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each such Company Indemnified Person for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document; provided, however, that the obligations of such Holder hereunder shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claims, losses, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and provided further, however, that, except to the extent that such liability is caused by such Holder’s willful or intentional misconduct, the liability of each selling Holder of Registrable Securities hereunder shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. Such indemnity obligation shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company Indemnified Persons and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder.

(c)          Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “indemnified party”), such indemnified party shall give prompt notice to the party from which such indemnity is sought (the “indemnifying party”) of any Proceeding with respect to which such indemnified party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any obligation or liability except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been prejudiced by such delay or failure. The indemnifying party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an indemnified party promptly after the receipt of written notice from such indemnified party of such Proceeding, to, unless in the indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and

 

 

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indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such Proceeding, assume, at the indemnifying party’s expense, the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless: (i) the indemnifying party agrees to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party fails promptly to assume, or in the event of a conflict of interest cannot assume, the defense of such Proceeding or fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (in which case the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel and to assume the defense of such Proceeding), (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those available to the indemnifying party or (iv) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them; provided further, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such claim or Proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the indemnified parties, or for fees and expenses that are not reasonable. Whether or not such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, such indemnified party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The indemnifying party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation for which such indemnified party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(d)          Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any Losses (other than in accordance with its terms), then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and indemnified party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been taken by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), an

 

 

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indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party exceeds the amount of any damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, except to the extent that such damages are caused by such Holder’s willful or intentional misconduct. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligation of each selling Holder of Registrable Securities to contribute pursuant to this Section 7(d) is several, and not joint, in proportion to the net proceeds of the offering received by such selling Holder in relation to the total net proceeds of the offering received by all of the selling Holders.

Section 8.          Rule 144. The Company shall use its best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner, and will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied in all material respects with such requirements.

Section 9.          Underwritten Registrations. If any registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof is an underwritten offering, the Holders requesting such registration shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer the offering, which selection shall be subject to the prior consent of the Company (which consent shall be not unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Company shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer any Piggyback Registration.

Section 10.        Listing. If, from and after the date of this Agreement, the Company causes any Common Stock to become listed or otherwise eligible for full trading privileges on any national securities exchange or authorized for quotation on any automated quotation system, then the Company shall (i) cause all Registrable Securities to be listed or otherwise eligible for full trading privileges on such national securities exchange or authorized for quotation on such automated quotation system and (ii) use its best efforts to continue the listing or trading privilege for such Registrable Securities on such national securities exchange or quotation on such automated quotation system.

 

Section 11.

Miscellaneous.

(a)          Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given without the written consent of Holders of two-thirds of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that in no event shall the obligations of any Holder of Registrable Securities be materially increased or the rights of any Holder be adversely affected (without similarly adversely affecting the rights of all Holders),

 

 

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except upon the written consent of such Holder; and provided, further, that the Company shall update Annex A hereto to reflect Permitted Transferees who become Holders after the date hereof and may do so without approval of the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable Securities may be given by Holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(b)          Notices. All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given if personally delivered, telecopied and confirmed, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or overnight delivery service with proof of receipt maintained, at the following address (or any other address that any such party may designate by written notice to the other parties):

(i)           if to the Company, to the address of its principal executive offices; and with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Jerry DeVault

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP

1000 Louisiana, Suite 3400

Houston, TX 77002-5011

(ii)          if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address as set forth in the records of the Company.

Any such notice shall, if delivered personally, be deemed received upon delivery; shall, if delivered by telecopy, be deemed received on the first business day following confirmation; shall, if delivered by overnight delivery service, be deemed received the first business day after being sent; and shall, if delivered by certified mail, be deemed received upon the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five business days after the date of deposit in the United States mail.

(c)          Successors and Assigns; Holder Status. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each Holder, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities acquired, directly or indirectly, from a Holder (each, a “Permitted Transferee”); provided, however, that no Holder shall transfer any of the Registrable Securities and no Person shall become a Permitted Transferee unless and until such Person shall have executed and delivered to the Company an Addendum Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto promptly following the acquisition of such Registrable Securities, in which event such Permitted Transferee shall be deemed a Holder for purposes of this Agreement and Annex A shall be updated by the Company accordingly. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective Permitted Transferees any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under, in or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to the Registrable Securities and to any and all securities of any successor or assign of the Company

 


 

17

(whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise, including securities issued by a parent company in connection with a triangular merger) which may be issued in respect of a conversion of, in exchange for, or in substitution of Registrable Securities, appropriately adjusted for any dividends or splits of equity interests, reverse splits, combinations, reclassifications and the like occurring after the date hereof.

(d)          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(e)          Headings. The section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(f)           Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof).

(g)          Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

(h)          Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein, with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

(i)           Securities Held by the Company or its Subsidiaries. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its subsidiaries shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

(j)           Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the date when no Registrable Securities remain outstanding; provided, that Section 6 and Section 7 shall survive any termination hereof.

 

 

18

 


(k)          Specific Performance. The parties hereto recognize and agree that money damages may be insufficient to compensate a party for breaches by the other party of the terms hereof and, consequently, that the equitable remedy of specific performance of the terms hereof will be available in the event of any such breach.

(l)           Consent to Jurisdiction. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Texas and the federal courts of the United States of America located in Texas, and appropriate appellate courts therefrom, over any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each party hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such dispute or proceeding may be heard and determined in such courts. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. This consent to jurisdiction is being given solely for purposes of this Agreement and is not intended to, and shall not, confer consent to jurisdiction with respect to any other dispute in which a party to this Agreement may become involved.

Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to process being served by any party to this Agreement in any suit, action, or proceeding of the nature specified in the paragraph above by the mailing of a copy thereof in the manner specified by the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 11.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

19

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Tracy Price

 

Name:

Tracy Price

 

Title:

Senior Vice President of Land and

 

Business Development

 

 

 

 

INITIAL HOLDER:

 

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. L. Hodges

 

Name:

R. L. Hodges

 

Title:

Vice President - Land

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

 


Annex A

HOLDERS

Name and Address of Holders:

Shares of Common Equity Securities Held by Holders:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive

Suite 1700, LB 82

Dallas, TX 75251

750,000

 

 

Annex A - 1

 


EXHIBIT A

ADDENDUM AGREEMENT

This Addendum Agreement is made this ___ day of ______________, 20___, by and between ________________________________ (the “New Holder”) and [__________] (the “Company”), pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [___________], 2007 (the “Agreement”), among the Company and the Holders. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to provide registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities as set forth in the Agreement;

WHEREAS, the New Holder has acquired Registrable Securities directly or indirectly from a Holder; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders have required in the Agreement that all persons desiring registration rights must enter into an Addendum Agreement binding the New Holder to the Agreement to the same extent as if it were an original party thereto;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of the parties, the New Holder acknowledges that it has received and read the Agreement and that the New Holder shall be bound by, and shall have the benefit of, all of the terms and conditions set out in the Agreement to the same extent as if it were a Holder originally party to the Agreement. The New Holder represents and warrants to the Company that:

(a)          The New Holder is acquiring the Registrable Securities for its own account, and not with a view toward or for sale, nor with any present intention of making a distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, without prejudice, however, to the New Holder’s right to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Purchased Shares under a registration statement under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, whether pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or otherwise, or under an exemption from such registration available thereunder (including, if available, Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act).

(b)          The New Holder is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(c)          The New Holder understands that the Registrable Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the New Holder’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the New Holder set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the New Holder to acquire the Registrable Securities. The New Holder

 

 

Exhibit A - 1

 


understands that the Registrable Securities are “restricted securities” under the federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from a Holder in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may not be transferred without registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption therefrom.

Terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.

 

 

 

New Holder

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A - 2

 


AGREED TO on behalf of the Company pursuant to Section 11(c) of the Agreement.

 

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

Exhibit A - 3

 

 

EX-10 4 ex10_3.htm EXHIBIT 10.3

EXHIBIT 10.3

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

DATED AS OF MAY 8, 2007

 

AMONG

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

 

AS BORROWER

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

AS AGENT

 

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND plc

 

AND

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

AS

CO-LEAD ARRANGERS AND JOINT BOOKRUNNERS

 

AND

 

THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

ARTICLE I. Definitions and Accounting Matters

1

   

 

Section 1.01.

Terms Defined Above.

1

 

 

Section 1.02.

Certain Defined Terms.

1

 

ARTICLE II. Commitments

17

   

 

Section 2.01.

Loans and Letters of Credit.

17

 

 

Section 2.02.

Borrowings, Continuations and Conversions, Letters of Credit.

18

 

 

Section 2.03.

Changes of Commitments.

19

 

 

Section 2.04.

Fees.

20

 

 

Section 2.05.

Several Obligations.

20

 

 

Section 2.06.

Notes.

21

 

 

Section 2.07.

Prepayments.

21

 

 

Section 2.08.

Borrowing Base.

22

 

 

Section 2.09.

Assumption of Risks.

23

 

 

Section 2.10.

Obligation to Reimburse and to Prepay.

24

 

 

Section 2.11.

Lending Offices.

25

 

ARTICLE III. Payments of Principal and Interest

25

   

 

Section 3.01.

Repayment of Loans.

25

 

 

Section 3.02.

Interest.

25

 

ARTICLE IV. Payments; Pro Rata Treatment; Computations; Etc.

26

   

 

Section 4.01.

Payments.

26

 

 

Section 4.02.

Pro Rata Treatment.

27

 

 

Section 4.03.

Computations.

27

 

 

Section 4.04.

Non-receipt of Funds by the Agent.

27

 

 

Section 4.05.

Set-off, Sharing of Payments, Etc.

27

 

 

Section 4.06.

Taxes.

28

 

 

Section 4.07.

Disposition of Proceeds.

30

 

ARTICLE V. Capital Adequacy and Additional Costs

31

   

 

Section 5.01.

Capital Adequacy and Additional Costs.

31

 

 

Section 5.02.

Limitation on LIBOR Loans.

32

 

 

Section 5.03.

Illegality.

33

 

 

Section 5.04.

Base Rate Loans Pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 and 5.03.

33

 

 

Section 5.05.

Compensation.

33

 

 

Section 5.06.

Replacement Lenders.

33

 

ARTICLE VI. Conditions Precedent

34

   

 

Section 6.01.

Initial Funding.

34

 

 

Section 6.02.

Initial and Subsequent Loans and Letters of Credit.

38

 

 

Section 6.03.

Conditions Precedent for the Benefit of Lenders.

38

 

 

Section 6.04.

No Waiver.

38

 

ARTICLE VII. Representations and Warranties

39

   

 

Section 7.01.

Corporate Existence.

39

 

 

Section 7.02.

Financial Condition.

39

 

 

Section 7.03.

Litigation and Judgments.

39

 

 

Section 7.04.

No Breach.

39

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

Page

 

 

 

Section 7.05.

Authority.

40

 

 

Section 7.06.

Approvals.

40

 

 

Section 7.07.

Use of Loans.

40

 

 

Section 7.08.

ERISA.

40

 

 

Section 7.09.

Taxes.

41

 

 

Section 7.10.

Titles, Etc.

41

 

 

Section 7.11.

No Material Misstatements.

42

 

 

Section 7.12.

Investment Company Act.

42

 

 

Section 7.13.

Reserved.

42

 

 

Section 7.14.

Subsidiaries.

42

 

 

Section 7.15.

Location of Business and Offices.

42

 

 

Section 7.16.

Defaults.

42

 

 

Section 7.17.

Environmental Matters.

42

 

 

Section 7.18.

Compliance with the Law.

43

 

 

Section 7.19.

Insurance.

44

 

 

Section 7.20.

Hedging Agreements.

44

 

 

Section 7.21.

Restriction on Liens.

44

 

 

Section 7.22.

Material Agreements.

44

 

 

Section 7.23.

Solvency.

45

 

 

Section 7.24.

Gas Imbalances.

45

 

 

Section 7.25.

Madisonville.

45

 

 

Section 7.26.

Intentionally Omitted.

45

 

 

Section 7.27.

Name Changes.

45

 

 

Section 7.28.

Taxpayer Identification Number.

45

 

 

Section 7.29.

State of Formation.

45

 

ARTICLE VIII. Affirmative Covenants

46

   

 

Section 8.01.

Reporting Requirements.

46

 

 

Section 8.02.

Litigation.

48

 

 

Section 8.03.

Maintenance, Etc.

48

 

 

Section 8.04.

Environmental Matters.

50

 

 

Section 8.05.

Further Assurances.

50

 

 

Section 8.06.

Performance of Obligations.

51

 

 

Section 8.07.

Engineering Reports.

51

 

 

Section 8.08.

Title Information and Mortgage Coverage.

52

 

 

Section 8.09.

Collateral.

52

 

 

Section 8.10.

Cash Collateral Account Agreement.

53

 

 

Section 8.11.

[Reserved.]

53

 

 

Section 8.12.

ERISA Information and Compliance.

53

 

 

Section 8.13.

Joinder and Guaranty Agreements.

54

 

ARTICLE IX. Negative Covenants

54

   

 

Section 9.01.

Debt.

54

 

 

Section 9.02.

Liens.

55

 

 

Section 9.03.

Investments, Loans and Advances.

56

 

 

Section 9.04.

Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions.

56

 

 

Section 9.05.

Sales and Leasebacks.

56

 

 

Section 9.06.

Nature of Business.

57

 

 

Section 9.07.

Limitation on Leases.

57

 

 

Section 9.08.

Mergers, Acquisitions, Etc.

57

 

 

ii

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

Page

 

 

 

Section 9.09.

Proceeds of Notes; Letters of Credit.

57

 

 

Section 9.10.

ERISA Compliance.

57

 

 

Section 9.11.

Sale or Discount of Receivables.

58

 

 

Section 9.12.

Capital Expenditures.

59

 

 

Section 9.13.

Current Ratio.

59

 

 

Section 9.14.

Leverage Ratio.

59

 

 

Section 9.15.

Interest Coverage Ratio.

59

 

 

Section 9.16.

Sale of Mortgaged Properties.

59

 

 

Section 9.17.

Sale of Oil and Gas Properties.

59

 

 

Section 9.18.

Environmental Matters.

60

 

 

Section 9.19.

Transactions with Affiliates.

60

 

 

Section 9.20.

Subsidiaries.

60

 

 

Section 9.21.

Negative Pledge Agreements.

60

 

 

Section 9.22.

Take-or-Pay or Other Prepayments.

60

 

 

Section 9.23.

Ownership of Subsidiaries.

60

 

 

Section 9.24.

Change in Borrower’s, any of its Subsidiaries’ or any Guarantor’s Name or State of Formation.                                                                                                                       60

   

 

Section 9.25.

Intentionally Omitted.

61

 

 

Section 9.26.

Intentionally Omitted.

61

 

 

Section 9.27.

[Reserved].

61

 

 

Section 9.28.

Limitation on Hedging.

61

 

 

Section 9.29.

Maintenance of First Lien Priority; Modification of Second Lien Loan Documents.                                                                                                                                 61

   

ARTICLE X. Events of Default; Remedies

62

   

 

Section 10.01.

Events of Default.

62

 

 

Section 10.02.

Remedies.

64

 

ARTICLE XI. The Agent

64

   

 

Section 11.01.

Appointment, Powers and Immunities.

64

 

 

Section 11.02.

Reliance by Agent.

65

 

 

Section 11.03.

Defaults.

65

 

 

Section 11.04.

Rights as a Lender.

65

 

 

Section 11.05.

Indemnification.

65

 

 

Section 11.06.

Non-Reliance on Agent and other Lenders.

66

 

 

Section 11.07.

Action by Agent.

66

 

 

Section 11.08.

Resignation or Removal of Agent.

66

 

 

Section 11.09.

Other Agents; Lead Managers.

67

 

 

Section 11.10.

Hedging Arrangements.

67

 

ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous

67

   

 

Section 12.01.

Waiver.

67

 

 

Section 12.02.

Notices.

67

 

 

Section 12.03.

Payment of Expenses, Indemnities, Etc.

67

 

 

Section 12.04.

Amendments, Etc.

69

 

 

Section 12.05.

Successors and Assigns.

69

 

 

Section 12.06.

Assignments and Participations.

69

 

 

Section 12.07.

Invalidity.

71

 

 

Section 12.08.

Counterparts.

71

 

 

Section 12.09.

References; Use of Word “Including”.

71

 

 

iii

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

Page

 

 

 

Section 12.10.

Survival.

71

 

 

Section 12.11.

Captions.

72

 

 

Section 12.12.

NO ORAL AGREEMENTS.

72

 

 

Section 12.13.

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.

72

 

 

Section 12.14.

Interest.

73

 

 

Section 12.15.

Confidentiality.

73

 

 

Section 12.16.

Effectiveness; Termination; Collateral Matters.

74

 

 

Section 12.17.

Renewal and Continuation of Existing Indebtedness.

74

 

 

Section 12.18.

EXCULPATION PROVISIONS.

75

 

 

Section 12.19.

USA PATRIOT Act Notices.

75

 

 

 

iv

 


ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

Annex I

- List of Percentage Shares and Maximum Credit Amounts

Exhibit A

- Form of Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit B

- Form of Borrowing, Continuation and Conversion Request

Exhibit C

- Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit D

- List of Security Instruments

Exhibit E

- Form of Assignment Agreement

Exhibit F

- Intentionally Deleted

Exhibit G

- Joinder Agreement

Exhibit H

- Guaranty Agreement

Schedule 7.02

- Liabilities

Schedule 7.03

- Litigation and Judgments

Schedule 7.09

- Taxes

Schedule 7.10

- Titles, etc.

Schedule 7.14

- Subsidiaries, Partnerships, Locations, Jurisdictions, Taxpayer I.D. Numbers

Schedule 7.17

- Environmental Matters

Schedule 7.19

- Insurance

Schedule 7.20

- Hedging Agreements

Schedule 7.22

- Material Agreements

Schedule 7.24

- Gas Imbalances

Schedule 7.27

- Name Changes

Schedule 7.28

- Guarantors Tax I.D. Numbers and State of Formation

Schedule 9.01

- Debt

Schedule 9.02

- Liens

Schedule 9.03

- Investments, Loans and Advances

 


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 8, 2007 is among CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”); each of the lenders that is a signatory hereto or which becomes a signatory hereto as provided in Section 12.06 (individually, together with its successors and assigns, a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”); WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND plc, as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity each an “Arranger” and collectively the “Arrangers”) and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (in its individual capacity, “Wells Fargo”), as Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Agent”).

R E C I T A L S

A.           The Borrower, certain of the Lenders and the Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 15, 2005, as such Credit Agreement has been amended or modified prior to the date hereof (the “Existing Credit Agreement”);

B.            The Borrower, Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc. (“CEOI”), Southern G Holdings, LLC (“Southern G”) and EXCO Resources, Inc. (the “Seller”) entered into that certain Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of May 8, 2007 (the “Acquisition Agreement”), pursuant to which CEOI will acquire from the Seller (the “Acquisition”) all of the outstanding membership interest in Southern G Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Acquired Assets”);

C.            The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, including a letter of credit subfacility, for the purpose of financing the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement, repaying or refinancing certain existing indebtedness, financing other permitted acquisitions, providing for the working capital and other general corporate purpose needs of the Borrower, and paying related fees and expenses;

D.           The Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety to provide such revolving credit facility and to rearrange, renew, extend and continue all indebtedness evidenced by and outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and the hereinafter defined Existing Loan Documents (the “Existing Indebtedness”) and to modify the commitments of the lenders who are parties to the Existing Credit Agreement; and

E.            The amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement is not intended by the parties hereto to constitute a novation, or discharge or a satisfaction of the Existing Indebtedness, which indebtedness shall remain outstanding hereunder pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;

F.            NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and of the loans, extensions of credit and commitments hereinafter referred to, the parties hereto agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

Definitions and Accounting Matters

Section 1.01.     Terms Defined Above. As used in this Agreement, the terms defined in the opening paragraph and the Recitals above shall have the meanings indicated therein.

 


Section 1.02.     Certain Defined Terms. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings (all terms defined in this Article I or in other provisions of this Agreement in the singular to have equivalent meanings when used in the plural and vice versa):

Acquisition Documentsshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 6.01(q).

Act shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.19.

Active Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Inactive Subsidiary.

Additional Costs shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.01(c).

Affected Loans shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.04.

Affiliate of any Person shall mean (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlled by, controlling or under common control with such first Person, (ii) any director or officer of such first Person or of any Person referred to in clause (i) above and (iii) if any Person in clause (i) above is an individual, any member of the immediate family (including parents, spouse and children) of such individual and any trust whose principal beneficiary is such individual or one or more members of such immediate family and any Person who is controlled by any such member or trust. For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns directly or indirectly 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of a corporation or 10% or more of the partnership or other ownership interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be deemed to “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) such corporation or other Person.

Agreement shall mean this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as the same may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts at any time shall equal the sum of the Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts of the Lenders, as the same may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.03(b). As of the Closing Date, the Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts equal $ 400,000,000.00.

Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments at any time shall equal the amount calculated in accordance with Section 2.03.

Applicable Lending Office shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the lending office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or such other offices of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.

Applicable Margin shall mean the applicable per annum percentage set forth at the appropriate intersection in the table shown below, based on the Borrowing Base Utilization as in effect from time to time:

Borrowing Base Utilization

Applicable Margin

 

 

LIBOR Loans

Base Rate Loans

Revolving Credit
Commitment Fee

Less than 50%

1.25%

0.000%

.375%

 

 

 

2

 


 

Greater than or equal to 50%, but less than 75%

1.50%

0.125%

.375%

Greater than or equal to 75%, but less than 90%

1.75%

0.250%

.375%

Greater than or equal to 90%

2.00%

0.500%

.375%

 

 

 

 

Each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Borrowing Base Utilization shall take effect on the day such change in the Borrowing Base Utilization occurs.

Assignment shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 12.06(b).

Base Rate shall mean, with respect to any Base Rate Loan, for any day, the higher of (i) the Federal Funds Rate for any such day plus 1/2 of 1% or (ii) the Prime Rate for such day. Each change in any interest rate provided for herein based upon the Base Rate resulting from a change in the Base Rate shall take effect at the time of such change in the Base Rate.

Base Rate Loans shall mean Loans that bear interest at rates based upon the Base Rate.

Beneficiaries” shall mean the Agent, the Lenders, each Issuing Bank and each Affiliate of a Lender that is a party to a Hedge Agreement with the Borrower.

Board of Directors shall mean the Board of Directors of the Borrower, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

Borrowing Base shall mean at any time an amount equal to the amount determined in accordance with Section 2.08.

Borrowing Base Utilization shall mean the sum of (i)(a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans plus (b) the aggregate face amount of all undrawn and uncancelled Letters of Credit, plus (c) the aggregate of all amounts drawn under all Letters of Credit and not yet reimbursed, divided by (ii) the Borrowing Base.

Business Day shall mean any day other than a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close in Houston Texas, and, where such term is used in the definition of “Quarterly Date” or if such day relates to a borrowing or continuation of, a payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, or a conversion of or into, or the Interest Period for, a LIBOR Loan or a notice by the Borrower with respect to any such borrowing or continuation, payment, prepayment, conversion or Interest Period, any day which is also a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in the London interbank market.

Cash Collateral Account Agreement shall mean that certain Cash Collateral Account Agreement, if any, between the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and the Agent and/or other depository bank, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent covering and granting a perfected, first priority security interest to the Agent in the cash collateral, and subject only to Liens or any other encumbrances satisfactory to Agent.

Cash Management Agreement” shall mean any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

Closing Date shall mean May 8, 2007.

 

 

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Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

Commitment shall mean, for any Lender, its obligation to make Loans and to participate in the Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.01 up to the lesser of (i) such Lender’s Maximum Revolving Credit Amount and (ii) the Lender’s Percentage Share of the amount equal to the then effective Borrowing Base.

Consolidated Net Income shall mean with respect to the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries after allowances for taxes for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein) the following: (i) the net income of any Person in which the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary has an interest (which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to be consolidated with the net income of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid in such period by such other Person to the Borrower or to a Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be; (ii) the net income (but not loss) of any Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions or transfers or loans by that Consolidated Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or Governmental Requirement applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary, or is otherwise restricted or prohibited in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; (iii) the net income (or loss) of any Person acquired in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such transaction; (iv) any extraordinary gains or losses, including gains or losses attributable to Property sales not in the ordinary course of business; and (v) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and any gains or losses attributable to writeups or write downs of assets.

Consolidated Subsidiaries shall mean each Subsidiary of a Person (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP. Unless otherwise indicated, each reference to the term “Consolidated Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary consolidated with the Borrower.

Continuing Directors shall mean, as of any date of determination, any member of the board of directors of the Borrower: (a) who was a member of the Board of Directors on the Closing Date, (b) whose nomination for election to the Board of Directors was made with the approval of, or whose election to the Board of Directors was ratified by, at least two-thirds of the directors who were members of the Board of Directors on the Closing Date or who were so elected to the Board of Directors thereafter, or (c) whose membership on the Board of Directors was consented to by the Majority Lenders.

Current Assets shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.13.

Current Liabilities shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.13.

Debt shall mean, for any Person the sum of the following (without duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including principal, interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, (iii) all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of bankers’ acceptances, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (iv) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than for borrowed money); (v) all obligations under leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect of which such Person is liable (whether contingent or otherwise); (vi) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others secured by a Lien on

 

 

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any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person; (vii) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the debtor or obligations of others; (viii) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase the Debt or Property of others; (ix) obligations to deliver goods or services including Hydrocarbons in consideration of advance payments, except as permitted by Section 9.22 and disclosed by Section 8.07(c); (x) obligations to pay for goods or services whether or not such goods or services are actually received or utilized by such Person; (xi) any capital stock of such Person in which such Person has a mandatory obligation to redeem such stock; (xii) any Debt of a Special Entity for which such Person is liable either by agreement or because of a Governmental Requirement; (xiii) the undischarged balance of any production payment created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment; and (xiv) all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements excluding Hedging Agreements with Agent or any other Lender.

Default shall mean an Event of Default or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default.

Deficiency” shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.07(b).

Dollars and $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

EBITDAX shall mean, for any period, the sum of Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following expenses or charges to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net Income in such period: interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and exploration expense; and all other non-cash items (including hedging gains and losses under FAS 133, non-cash asset writedowns or FAS 143 charges and/or any non-cash share based payment charges under FAS 123R).

Effective Date shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 12.16.

Engineering Reports shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.08.

Environmental Laws shall mean any and all Governmental Requirements pertaining to health, safety or the environment in effect in any and all jurisdictions, including nations (and states), and international waters, in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is conducting or at any time has conducted business, or where any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located, including without limitation, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C.A. § 2701 et seq. (“OPA”), as amended, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.A. § 7401 et seq., as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 {Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (“SARA”)}, 42 U.S.C.A. § 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”), as amended, the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C.A. § 1451 et seq. (“CZMA”), as amended, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.A. § 11001 et seq. (“EPCRTKA”), as amended, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C.A. § 1531 et seq. (“ESA”), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (“FWPCA”), as amended, the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.A. § 1251 et seq. (“CWA”), as amended, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, 42 U.S.C.A. § 2014 et seq. (“LLRWPA”), as amended, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1361-62, 1371-89, 1401-07, 1411-18, 1421-21h, et seq. (“MMPA”), as amended, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (Ocean Dumping), 33 U.S.C.A. § 1401 et seq. (“MPRSA”), as amended, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, 33 U.S.C.A. § 1901 et seq. (“APPS”), as amended, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C.A. § 4321 et seq. (“NEPA”), as amended, the Noise Control Act of 1972, 42 U.S.C.A. § 4901 et seq. (“NCA”), as amended, the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, 16 U.S.C.A. § 4701 et seq. (“NANPCA”), as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (“OSHA”), as amended, the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.A. § 13101 et seq. (“PPA”), as amended, the Public Health Service Act (“PHSA”) {Safe Drinking Water Act

 

 

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(“SDWA”)}, 42 U.S.C.A. § 300f et seq., as amended, the Shore Protection Act of 1988, 33 U.S.C.A. § 2601 et seq. (“SPA”), as amended, the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, 16 U.S.C.A. § 2001 et seq. (“SWRCA”), as amended, the Solid Waste Disposal Act (“SWDA”) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”), 42 U.S.C.A. § 6901 et seq., as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 2601 et seq. (“TSCA”), as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, Pub.L. 93-633, 88 Stat. 2156 (“HMTA”), as amended, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. § 136, et seq. (“FIFRA”), as amended, the United States Public Vessel Medical Waste Anti-Dumping Act of 1988, 33 U.S.C.A. § 2501 et seq. (“USPVMWADA”), as amended, and any corresponding international, national, state or local laws or ordinances and regulations, rules, guidelines, or standards promulgated pursuant to such laws, statutes and regulations, including specifically those relating to hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, toxic substances, asbestos, lead paint, lead in water supply, mold and biological hazards, radon or radioactive materials, insecticide, herbicide, rodenticide, and fungicide, as such laws, treaties, statutes, regulations, rules, guidelines, and standards are amended from time to time, and other environmental, health, safety, conservation or protection laws. The term “oil” shall have the meaning specified in OPA, the terms “hazardous substance” and “release” (or “threatened release”) have the meanings specified in CERCLA, and the terms “solid waste” and “disposal” (or “disposed”) have the meanings specified in RCRA; provided, however, that (i) in the event either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined thereby, such broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective date of such amendment and (ii) to the extent the laws of the state or jurisdiction in which any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located establish a meaning for “oil,” “hazardous substance,” “release,” “solid waste” or “disposal” which is broader than that specified in either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply. The term “hazardous substance” shall also include any substance, product, waste, or other material that any person, their employees and agents, and their equipment and property may come into contact with or be exposed to, which is or becomes listed, regulated, or addressed as being polluting, flammable, toxic, corrosive or hazardous, including toxic or hazardous wastes or substances, carcinogens, pollutants (including, but not limited to, any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant), smoke, vapor, soot, fumes or smells, mold, fungus, noises, vibrations, electromagnetic and ionizing radiation, changes in temperature, any other sensory phenomena, or other materials of any and all kinds and character, whether at the Property, from a neighboring site, or along and/or across a route to or from the Property, which material(s) or substance(s), due to quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristic, may cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious, irreversible, or incapacitatingly irreversible illness or pose a substantial present or potential harm to human health or the environment when improperly used, treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed, has the ability to cause injury to biologic tissue, or otherwise has the ability to cause a health threat or similarly harmful substance under any Environmental Law, including without limitation: (i) polychlorinated biphenyls; (ii) petroleum products; (iii) underground storage tanks, whether empty, filled or partially filled with any substance; (iv) any radioactive materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, radon; and (v) any other chemical, material or substance the exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Authority on the basis that such chemical, material or substance is toxic, hazardous or harmful to human health or the environment. The presence of any one of the following criteria establishes a substance as a hazardous substance: 1) ignitability (posing fire hazard); 2) corrosivity (ability to corrode standard containers); 3) reactivity (instability with a tendency to explode or react violently); or 4) EP toxicity (presence of certain toxic chemicals at levels greater than specified in RCRA regulations). Said definition of the terms defined herein also includes all applicable definitions in the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and those of any state or nation (including common law, whether state, national, or international) in the broadest sense, including several hundred processed wastes and chemicals listed in the US-EPA regulations, or which exhibit the characteristics of toxicity, corrosivity, ignitability, and/or reactivity, as referred to above. In case of conflict in any of the Environmental Laws, the most stringent definition shall apply.

ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

 

 

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ERISA Affiliate shall mean each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event shall mean (i) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC or (v) any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

Event of Default shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 10.01.

Excepted Liens shall mean: (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained; (ii) Liens in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iii) operators’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, mechanics’, workmen’s, materialmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties or statutory landlord’s liens, each of which is in respect of obligations that have not been outstanding more than ninety (90) days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iv) any Liens reserved in leases or farmout agreements for rent or royalties and for compliance with the terms of the farmout agreements or leases in the case of leasehold estates, to the extent that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair the use of the Property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such Property is held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (v) encumbrances (other than to secure the payment of borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of Property or services), easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations in any rights of way or other Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment, and defects, irregularities, zoning restrictions and deficiencies in title of any rights of way or other Property which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such rights of way or other Property for the purposes of which such rights of way and other Property are held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (vi) deposits of cash or securities to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than obligations under Hedging Agreements); (vii) Liens permitted by the Security Instruments; (viii) preferential rights to purchase and similar contractual provisions affecting an Oil and Gas Property; (ix) all lessors’ royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests, carried interests, production payments, reversionary interests and other burdens on or deductions from the proceeds of production with respect to each Oil and Gas Property (in each case) that do not operate to reduce the net revenue interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report or increase the working interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Mortgage or Reserve Report without a corresponding increase in the corresponding net revenue interest; (x) production sales contracts; division orders; contracts for sale, purchase, or exchange of oil or gas; operating agreements; area of mutual interest agreements; and production handling agreements; in each case to the extent the same: (a) are ordinary and customary to the oil, gas and other mineral exploration, development, processing or extraction business, (b) do not otherwise cause any other express representation or warranty of the Borrower in any of the Loan Documents to be untrue, and (c) do not operate to reduce the net revenue

 

 

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interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report, or increase the working interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report without a corresponding increase in the corresponding net revenue interest; (xi) all defects and irregularities affecting an Oil and Gas Property that do not operate to reduce the net revenue interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report, or increase the working interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report without a corresponding increase in the corresponding net revenue interest or otherwise interfere materially with the operation, value or use of such Oil and Gas Property; and (xii) judgment Liens arising by operation of law or as the result of the abstracting of a judgment or similar action under the laws of any jurisdiction and not giving rise to an Event of Default, in respect of judgments that are not final and non-appealable judgments so long as any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired.

Existing LC Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.17.

Existing Letters of Credit” shall mean all “Letters of Credit” as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement which are issued and outstanding on the Closing Date.

Existing Loan Documents” shall mean all promissory notes, mortgages, guaranties, security agreements, financing statements, and other documents, instruments, and agreements executed or delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement.

Federal Funds Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with a member of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if the date for which such rate is to be determined is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to the Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Agent.

Financial Statements shall mean the financial statement or statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries described or referred to in Section 7.02.

GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time; provided that if there occurs after the date of this Agreement any change in GAAP that affects the calculation of any covenant contained in Article IX, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the Closing Date until the Agent and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that relate to the calculation of such covenants with the intent of having the respective positions of the Lenders and the Borrower after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the date of this Agreement.

Governmental Authority shall include the country, the state, county, city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such Person’s Property is located or which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property, and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them including monetary authorities which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein shall mean a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over, where applicable, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their Property or the Agent, any Lender or any Applicable Lending Office, including jurisdiction over the Environmental Laws.

 

 

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Governmental Requirement shall mean any law, treaty, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, standard, guideline, or other directive or requirement, including those found in common law (whether international, national, state, or local), whether now existing or hereafter in effect (whether or not having the force of law), including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy regulations and occupational, safety, health, and industrial hygiene standards or controls, and personnel licensing and certifications, or environmental conditions on, under, above, around, within, for, or about any Person or such Person’s Property, of any Governmental Authority.

Guarantor shall mean, individually and collectively, each and every Active Subsidiary of Borrower and all of their Active Subsidiaries (and so on and so forth) existing as of the date hereof; and each and every Active Subsidiary and all of their Active Subsidiaries (and so on and so forth) hereafter created, acquired or otherwise owned by Borrower, and shall include, without limitation, CEOI and Southern G.

Guaranty Agreement shall mean any agreement executed by any Guarantor in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent guarantying, unconditionally, payment of the Obligations, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Hedging Agreements shall mean any commodity, interest rate or currency swap, cap, floor, collar, forward agreement or other exchange or protection agreements or any option with respect to any such transaction.

Highest Lawful Rate shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Notes or on any other Obligations under laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.

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

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

Inactive Subsidiary shall mean LTW Pipeline Co., a Texas corporation, and any other Subsidiary of the Borrower: (i) that has assets with a fair market value of less than $1,000,000.00; (ii) that no longer actively does business; and (iii) that has been designated in writing to the Agent by the Borrower as an Inactive Subsidiary and approved in writing by the Agent as an Inactive Subsidiary; provided that no Subsidiary may be so designated as an Inactive Subsidiary if after giving effect thereto, the aggregate fair market value of the assets of all Inactive Subsidiaries would exceed $3,000,000.00.

Indemnified Parties shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 12.03(a)(ii).

Indemnity Matters shall mean any and all actions, suits, proceedings (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries), claims, demands and causes of action made or threatened against a Person and, in connection therewith, all losses, liabilities, damages (including, without limitation, consequential damages) or reasonable costs and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by such Person whether caused by the sole or concurrent negligence of such Person seeking indemnification.

Initial Funding shall mean the funding of the initial Loans or issuance of the initial Letters of Credit upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01 and 6.02.

 

 

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Initial Reserve Reports shall mean the report of Pressler Engineering Consultants dated February 14, 2007 with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than Southern G as of January 1, 2007, and the final audit report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. dated April 27, 2007 with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G as of January 1, 2007, copies of which have been delivered to the Agent.

Intercreditor Agreement shall mean that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of May __, 2007, by and among, Agent, as agent for itself and the Lenders, Credit Suisse, as agent for itself and the other lenders party from time to time to the Second Lien Loan Agreement, and the Borrower, as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented, restated and/or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with such Intercreditor Agreement.

Interest Coverage Ratio shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.15.

Interest Period shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is made and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the first, second, third or sixth calendar month thereafter, as the Borrower may select as provided in Section 2.02 (or such longer period as may be requested by the Borrower and agreed to by the Majority Lenders), except that each Interest Period which commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on any day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar month) shall end on the last Business Day of the appropriate subsequent calendar month.

Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) no Interest Period may end after the Revolving Credit Termination Date; (ii) no Interest Period for any LIBOR Loan may end after the due date of any installment, if any, provided for in Section 2.07(b) to the extent that such LIBOR Loan would need to be prepaid prior to the end of such Interest Period in order for such installment to be paid when due; (iii) each Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (or, if such next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, on the next preceding Business Day); (iv) no Interest Period shall have a duration of less than one month and, if the Interest Period for any LIBOR Loans would otherwise be for a shorter period, such Loans shall not be available hereunder; and (v) no Interest Period shall have a duration of more than one month for any LIBOR Loan requested during the period of time commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier to occur of (x) the date which is sixty days after the Closing Date and (y) the date Agent shall have delivered written notice to Borrower that the primary syndication of the credit facility provided hereunder has been successfully completed.

Issuing Bank shall mean Wells Fargo.

LC Commitment at any time shall mean $5,000,000.00.

LC Exposure at any time shall mean the difference between (i) the aggregate face amount of all undrawn and uncancelled Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all amounts drawn under all Letters of Credit and not yet reimbursed, minus (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash securing outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.10(b).

LC Obligations” at any time shall mean the aggregate face amount of all undrawn and uncancelled Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all amounts drawn under all Letters of Credit and not yet reimbursed.

Lender Affiliate shall mean, (a) with respect to any Lender, (i) an Affiliate of such Lender or (ii) any Person that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and is administered or managed by a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender and (b) with respect to any Lender that is a fund which invests in

 

 

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bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit and is managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

Lender Termination Date shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.06(c).

Letter of Credit Agreements shall mean the written agreements of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with the Issuing Bank, as issuing lender for any Letter of Credit, executed in connection with the issuance by the Issuing Bank of the Letters of Credit, such agreements to be on the Issuing Bank’s customary form for letters of credit of comparable amount and purpose as from time to time in effect or as otherwise agreed to by the Borrower and the Issuing Bank.

Letters of Credit shall mean the Existing Letters of Credit and the letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and all reimbursement obligations pertaining to any such letters of credit, and “Letter of Credit” shall mean any one of the Letters of Credit and the reimbursement obligations pertaining thereto.

Letter of Credit Application shall mean a letter of credit application, in form and substance satisfactory to the Issuing Bank, delivered to the Agent requesting the issuance, reissuance, extension or renewal of any Letter of Credit and containing the information set forth in Section 2.02.

Leverage Ratio” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14.

LIBORshall mean, for each Interest Period for any LIBOR borrowing, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16th of 1%) equal to the average of the offered quotations appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or if such Telerate Page shall not be available, any successor or similar service as may be selected by Agent and Borrower) as of 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time (or, as soon thereafter as practicable) two (2) LIBOR Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for deposits in Dollars having a term comparable to such Interest Period and in an amount comparable to the principal amount of the LIBOR borrowing to which such Interest Period relates. If none of such Telerate Page 3750 nor any successor or similar service is available, then “LIBOR” shall mean, with respect to any Interest Period for any applicable LIBOR borrowing, the rate of interest per annum, rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16th of 1%, quoted by Agent at or before 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time (or, as soon thereafter as practicable), two (2) LIBOR Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, to be the arithmetic average of the prevailing rates per annum at the time of determination and in accordance with the then existing practice in the applicable market, for the offering to Agent by one or more prime banks selected by Agent in its sole discretion, in the London interbank market, of deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period and having a maturity equal (or as nearly equal as may be) to the length of such Interest Period and in an amount equal (or as nearly equal as may be) to the LIBOR borrowing to which such Interest Period relates. Each determination by Agent of LIBOR shall be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error, and may be computed using any reasonable averaging and attribution method.

LIBOR Loans shall mean Loans the interest rates on which are determined on the basis of rates referred to in the definition of “LIBOR Rate”.

LIBOR Rate shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16 of 1%) determined by the Agent to be equal to the quotient of (i) LIBOR for such Loan for the Interest Period for such Loan divided by (ii) 1 minus the Reserve Requirement for such Loan for such Interest Period.

Lien shall mean any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or

 

 

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contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to (i) the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes or (ii) production payments and the like payable out of Oil and Gas Properties. The term “Lien” shall include reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty Agreements, all Letters of Credit, all Letter of Credit Agreements, all Letter of Credit Applications, the Security Instruments, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Existing Loan Documents.

Loans shall mean the loans as provided for by Section 2.01.

Lockboxshall mean the lockbox, if any, established pursuant to the Cash Collateral Account Agreement and subject to the Lockbox Agreement.

Lockbox Agreement shall mean that certain Lockbox Agreement, if any, between the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to Agent which shall grant a security interest in the contents therein and shall include a financing statement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent covering the contents therein.

Madisonvilleshall mean The Madisonville Project, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership and its successors and assigns.

Majority Lenders shall mean, at any time while no Loans are outstanding, Lenders having more than fifty percent (50%) of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and, at any time while Loans are outstanding, Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Loans (without regard to any sale by a Lender of a participation in any Loan under Section 12.06(c)); provided, however, that the foregoing percentages shall be increased to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) when determining the Majority Lenders for purposes of (i) redeterminations of the Borrower Base pursuant to Section 2.08, and (ii) effecting any waiver, modification or amendment of Section 9.16 or Section 9.17; provided further, however for all purposes hereunder, including, without limitation, the approval of any redetermined Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.08, Agent alone, shall constitute the Majority Lenders at any time that Agent is the sole Lender hereunder and if there are two or more Lenders, it shall take at least two Lenders holding the foregoing required percentages, including the Agent at any time that the Agent is a Lender hereunder with at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and, at any time while Loans are outstanding, holding at least twenty-five (25%) of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans (without regard to any sale by the Agent of a participation in any Loan under Section 12.06), to constitute the “Majority Lenders.”

Material Adverse Effect shall mean any set of circumstances or events that (i) has or could reasonably be expected to have any material and adverse effect whatsoever upon, or result in or reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in, (a) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, operations or affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole different from those reflected in the Financial Statements or from the facts represented or warranted in any Loan Document, or (b) the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to carry out their business as at the Closing Date or as proposed as of the Closing Date to be conducted or meet their obligations under the Loan Documents on a timely basis, (ii) impairs materially or could be reasonably

 

 

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expected to impair materially the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to duly and punctually pay and perform their obligations under the Loan Documents or (iii) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Agent or any of the Lenders, to the extent permitted, to enforce its legal remedies pursuant to the Loan Documents.

Material Agreements shall mean all agreements listed on Schedule 7.22.

Maximum Revolving Credit Amount shall mean, as to each Lender, the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Annex I under the caption “Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts” (as the same may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.03(b) pro rata to each Lender based on its Percentage Share), as modified from time to time to reflect any assignments permitted by Section 12.06(b).

Mortgage shall mean, whether one or more, each Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement executed by the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant hereto, and granting a Lien in favor of the Agent to secure the Obligations in the Oil and Gas Properties, now owned or hereafter existing, of the Borrower and the Guarantors, as the same from time to time may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified.

Mortgaged Property shall mean the Property owned by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors and which is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Security Instruments and/or Mortgages.

Multiemployer Plan shall mean a Plan defined as such in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Notes shall mean the Notes provided for by Section 2.06, together with any and all renewals, extensions for any period, increases, rearrangements, modifications, consolidations, substitutions, amendments, and/or modifications thereof.

Notice of Termination shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.06(a).

Obligations shall mean all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any of the Lenders, any of the Lenders’ Affiliates, the Agent, or the Issuing Bank, individually or collectively, existing on the date of this Agreement or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising or incurred under any Hedging Agreement or Cash Management Agreement entered into by the Borrower or any Guarantor with any Lender (or a Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement) or any Affiliate of such Lender, or this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement obligations incurred or any of the Notes, Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof, including interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition or other action concerning bankruptcy or other similar proceedings, overdrafts to the Agent or ACH obligations to the Agent, or any other obligations incurred under this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments and all renewals, extensions, refinancings and replacements for the foregoing.

Oil and Gas Properties shall mean Hydrocarbon Interests; the Properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests; all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks,

 

 

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the lands covered thereby and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and Properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests; and all Properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all Property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or Property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells (including those used for either environmental sampling or remedial purposes), buildings, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

OPA shall mean the Oil Pollution Act which can be found at 33 U.S.C. § 27.01 et seq.

Other Taxes shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.06(b).

PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions.

Percentage Share shall mean (with respect to any Lender) the percentage of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments to be provided by such Lender under this Agreement as indicated on Annex I hereto, as modified from time to time to reflect any assignments permitted by Section 12.06(b).

Person shall mean any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.

Plan shall mean any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which (i) is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or (ii) was at any time during the preceding six calendar years sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.

Post-Default Rate shall mean, in respect of any principal of any Loan or any other amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, a rate per annum during the period commencing on the date of occurrence of an Event of Default until such amount is paid in full or all Events of Default are cured or waived equal to two percent (2%) per annum above the Base Rate as in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Margin (if any), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate; provided, however, for a LIBOR Loan, the “Post-Default Rate” for such principal shall be, for the period commencing on the date of occurrence of an Event of Default and ending on the earlier to occur of the last day of the Interest Period therefor or the date all Events of Default are cured or waived, two percent (2%) per annum above the interest rate for such Loan as provided in Section 3.02(a)(ii), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

Prime Rate” shall mean the variable per annum rate of interest then most recently announced within Wells Fargo at its principal office in San Francisco, California, as its “prime rate”, with the understanding that Wells Fargo’s “prime rate” is one of its base rates and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or publications as Wells Fargo may designate. Each change in any interest rate provided for herein based upon the Prime Rate resulting from

 

 

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a change in the Prime Rate shall take effect on the day the change is announced within Wells Fargo for all Prime Rate-based loans without notice to the Borrower at the time of such change in the Prime Rate.

Principal Office shall mean the principal office of the Agent, presently located at 1000 Louisiana, Ninth Floor, Houston, Texas, 77002.

Property or Properties shall mean any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

Quarterly Dates shall mean the last day of each June, September, December, and March, in each year, the first of which shall be June 30, 2007; provided, however, that if any such day is not a Business Day, such Quarterly Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

Redetermination Date shall mean the date that the redetermined Borrowing Base becomes effective subject to the notice requirements specified in Section 2.08(e) both for scheduled redeterminations and unscheduled redeterminations.

Regulation D shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Regulatory Change shall mean, with respect to any Lender, any change after the Closing Date in any Governmental Requirement (including Regulation D) or the adoption or making after such date of any interpretations, directives or requests applying to a class of lenders (including such Lender or its Applicable Lending Office) of or under any Governmental Requirement (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof.

Reliance Letters shall mean letters satisfactory to the Agent and addressed to the Agent from the title attorneys, land brokers, environmental consultants or similar professionals who are not providing supplemental title opinions or environmental assessments, as applicable for certain Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries which allow the Agent to rely on their prior opinions or assessments, as applicable for such Oil and Gas Properties in extending credit to the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries.

Replacement Lenders shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.06(b).

Required Payment shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.04.

Reserve Report shall mean a report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, setting forth, as of each January 1 and September 1 (or such other date in the event of an unscheduled redetermination); (i) the oil and gas reserves attributable to the Borrower’s and its Active Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the pricing assumptions determined by Agent at the time and (ii) such other information as the Agent may reasonably request. The term “Reserve Report” shall also include the Initial Reserve Reports and the information to be provided by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.07(a).

Reserve Requirement shall mean, for any Interest Period for any LIBOR Loan, the average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal, supplemental or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained during such Interest Period under Regulation D by member banks of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding one billion Dollars against “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is used in Regulation D). Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks by reason of any Regulatory Change against (i) any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which LIBOR is to be determined as provided in the definition of “LIBOR” or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include a LIBOR Loan.

 

 

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Responsible Officer shall mean, as to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of such Person and, with respect to financial matters, the term “Responsible Officer” shall include the Chief Financial Officer of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein shall mean a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Revolving Credit Commitment shall mean, for any Lender, its obligation to make Loans and participate in the issuance of Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.01 up to the lesser of (i) such Lender’s Maximum Revolving Credit Amount and (ii) such Lender’s Percentage Share of the then effective Borrowing Base.

Revolving Credit Loans shall mean Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Revolving Credit Notes shall mean the promissory note or notes (whether one or more) of the Borrower described in Section 2.06 and being in the form of Exhibit A.

Revolving Credit Period shall mean the period from the Closing Date to and ending on the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

Revolving Credit Termination Date shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) May 8, 2011 or (ii) the date that the Commitments are sooner terminated pursuant to Sections 2.03(b) or 10.02.

Scheduled Redetermination Date shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.08(d).

SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.

Second Lien Loan shall mean any Debt incurred pursuant to Section 9.01(k) and all Debt and other obligations under the Second Lien Loan Documents.

Second Lien Loan Agreementshall mean that certain Second Lien Credit Agreement dated as of May __, 2007, by and between Credit Suisse as agent, the lenders from time to time party to such Second Lien Credit Agreement, and the Borrower, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated, and/or otherwise modified or replaced or refinanced from time to time.

Second Lien Loan Documents means the Second Lien Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement) as the same shall be amended, supplemented, restated, and/or otherwise modified or replaced or refinanced from time to time.

Security Instruments shall mean the Letters of Credit, the Letter of Credit Agreements, the agreements or instruments described or referred to in Exhibit D, the “Security Instruments” as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, and any and all other agreements or instruments now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Person (other than participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor with respect to any Obligations pursuant to this Agreement) in connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of, any of the Obligations, as such agreements may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Southern Gshall mean Southern G Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Special Entity shall mean any joint venture, limited liability company or partnership, general or limited partnership or any other type of partnership or company other than a corporation in which a Person or one or more of its other Subsidiaries is a member, owner, partner or joint venturer and owns, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the equity of such entity or controls such entity, but excluding any tax partnerships that are not classified as partnerships under state law. For purposes of this definition,

 

 

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any Person which owns directly or indirectly an equity investment in another Person which allows the first Person to manage or elect managers who manage the normal activities of such second Person will be deemed to “control” such second Person (e.g., a sole general partner controls a limited partnership).

Subsidiary shall mean (i) any corporation or other legally formed entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding shares of stock or other ownership interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock or any other ownership interest of any other class or classes of such entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any Special Entity. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each reference to the term “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Taxes shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.06(a).

Terminated Lender shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.06(a).

Type shall mean, with respect to any Loan, a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

Wells Fargo shall mean Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association.

Section 1.03        Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 7.02 (except for changes concurred with by the Borrower’s independent public accountants).

Commitments

 

Section 2.01.

Loans and Letters of Credit.

(a)           Revolving Credit Loans. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to make loans to the Borrower during the period from and including (i) the Closing Date or (ii) such later date that such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement as provided in Section 12.06(b), to and up to, but excluding, the Revolving Credit Termination Date in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding up to, but not exceeding, the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment as then in effect; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of all such Loans by all Lenders hereunder at any one time outstanding together with the LC Obligations shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the period from the Closing Date to and up to, but excluding, the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow the amount described in this Section 2.01(a). All “Loans” as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement outstanding on the Closing Date shall be and be deemed to be Loans hereunder of the same Type and with the same Interest Period.

(b)           Letters of Credit. During the period from and including the Closing Date to, but excluding, the date which is 10 days prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Issuing Bank, as issuing bank for the Lenders, agrees to extend credit for the account of the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary at any time and from time to time by issuing, renewing, extending or

 

 

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reissuing Letters of Credit; provided, however, the LC Obligations at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the LC Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments, as then in effect, minus the aggregate principal amount of all Loans then outstanding. The Lenders shall participate in such Letters of Credit according to their respective Percentage Shares. Each of the Letters of Credit shall (i) be issued by the Issuing Bank, (ii) contain such terms and provisions as are reasonably required by the Issuing Bank, (iii) be for the account of the Borrower or an Active Subsidiary and (iv) expire not later than ten (10) days before the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

(c)           Limitation on Types of Loans. Subject to the other terms and provisions of this Agreement, at the option of the Borrower, the Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans; provided that, without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, no more than [six (6)] LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at any time.

 

Section 2.02.

Borrowings, Continuations and Conversions, Letters of Credit.

(a)           Borrowings. The Borrower shall give the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) advance notice as hereinafter provided of each borrowing hereunder, which shall specify (i) the aggregate amount of such borrowing, (ii) the Type and (iii) the date (which shall be a Business Day) of the Loans to be borrowed, and (iv) (in the case of LIBOR Loans) the duration of the Interest Period therefor.

(b)           Minimum Amounts. All Base Rate Loan borrowings shall be in amounts of at least $200,000.00 or the remaining balance of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments, if less, or any whole multiple of $100,000.00 in excess thereof, and all LIBOR Loans shall be in amounts of at least $2,000,000.00 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000.00 in excess thereof.

(c)           Notices. All borrowings, continuations and conversions shall require advance written notice to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) in the form of Exhibit B (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed by such a written notice), which in each case shall be irrevocable, from the Borrower to be received by the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time at least one Business Day prior to the date of each Base Rate Loan borrowing and three Business Days prior to the date of each LIBOR Loan borrowing, continuation or conversion. Without in any way limiting the Borrower’s obligation to confirm in writing any telephonic notice, the Agent may act without liability upon the basis of telephonic notice believed by the Agent in good faith to be from the Borrower prior to receipt of written confirmation. In each such case, the Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the Agent’s record of the terms of such telephonic notice except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Agent.

(d)           Continuation Options. Subject to the provisions made in this Section 2.02(d), the Borrower may elect to continue all or any part of any LIBOR Loan beyond the expiration of the then current Interest Period relating thereto by giving advance notice as provided in Section 2.02(c) to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of such election, specifying the amount of such Loan to be continued and the Interest Period therefor. In the absence of such a timely and proper election, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.02(e). All or any part of any LIBOR Loan may be continued as provided herein, provided that (i) any continuation of any such Loan shall be (as to each Loan as continued for an applicable Interest Period) in amounts of at least $2,000,000.00 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000.00 in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each LIBOR Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

 

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(e)           Conversion Options. The Borrower may elect to convert all or any part of any LIBOR Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period relating thereto to a Base Rate Loan by giving advance notice to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of such election. Subject to the provisions made in this Section 2.02(e), the Borrower may elect to convert all or any part of any Base Rate Loan at any time and from time to time to a LIBOR Loan by giving advance notice as provided in Section 2.02(c) to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of such election. All or any part of any outstanding Loan may be converted as provided herein, provided that (i) any conversion of any Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan shall be (as to each such Loan into which there is a conversion for an applicable Interest Period) in amounts of at least $2,000,000.00 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000.00 in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no Base Rate Loan may be converted into a LIBOR Loan.

(f)           Advances. Not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time on the date specified for each borrowing hereunder, each Lender shall make available the amount of the Loan to be made by it on such date to the Agent, to an account which the Agent shall specify, in immediately available funds, for the account of the Borrower. The amounts so received by the Agent shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be made available to the Borrower by depositing the same, in immediately available funds, in an account of the Borrower, designated by the Borrower and maintained at the Principal Office.

(g)           Letters of Credit. The Borrower shall give the Issuing Bank (which shall promptly notify the Lenders of such request and their Percentage Share of such Letter of Credit), a Letter of Credit Application to be received by the Issuing Bank not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time not less than three (3) Business Days prior thereto of each request for the issuance, and at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the date of the renewal or extension, of a Letter of Credit hereunder which request shall specify (i) the amount of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the date (which shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be issued, renewed or extended, (iii) the duration thereof, (iv) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, (v) the form and type of the Letter of Credit and (vi) such other information as the Issuing Bank may reasonably request, all of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the date specified for the issuance, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall issue, renew or extend such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof.

In conjunction with the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower and the Active Subsidiary, if the account party, shall execute a Letter of Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between any provision of a Letter of Credit Agreement and this Agreement, the Borrower, the Issuing Bank, the Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.

The Issuing Bank will send to the Borrower and each Lender, immediately upon issuance of any Letter of Credit, or an amendment thereto, a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit, or such amendment thereto.

 

Section 2.03.

Changes of Commitments.

(a)           The Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments shall at all times be equal to the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts after adjustments resulting from reductions pursuant to Section 2.03(b) or (ii) the Borrowing Base as determined from time to time.

(b)           The Borrower shall have the right to terminate or to reduce the amount of the Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts at any time, or from time to time, upon not less

 

 

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than three (3) Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of each such termination or reduction, which notice shall specify the effective date thereof and the amount of any such reduction (which shall not be less than $5,000,000.00 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000.00 in excess thereof) and shall be irrevocable and effective only upon receipt by the Agent.

(c)           The Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts once terminated or reduced may not be reinstated.

 

Section 2.04.

Fees.

(a)           Revolving Credit Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a Revolving Credit Commitment fee on the daily average unused amount of the Borrowing Base for the period from and including the Closing Date up to, but excluding, the Revolving Credit Termination Date at a rate per annum equal to the amount reflected on the appropriate intersection in the table set forth in the definition of “Applicable Margin.” Accrued Revolving Credit Commitment fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

(b)

Intentionally Deleted.

 

(c)

Letter of Credit Fees.

(i)            The Borrower agrees to pay the Agent, for the account of each Lender, commissions for issuing the Letters of Credit on the daily average outstanding of the maximum liability of the Issuing Bank existing from time to time under such Letter of Credit (calculated separately for each Letter of Credit) at the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans determined on the date of issuance of the applicable Letter of Credit. Each Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding up to the full face amount of the Letter of Credit until the Issuing Bank has received the canceled Letter of Credit or a written cancellation of the Letter of Credit from the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit in form and substance acceptable to the Issuing Bank, or for any reductions in the amount of the Letter of Credit (other than from a drawing), written notification from the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit. Such commissions are payable in advance at issuance of the Letter of Credit for the first year thereof and thereafter, quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and upon cancellation or expiration of each such Letter of Credit.

(ii)          The Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee equal to the greater of: (x) .125% per annum of the Letter of Credit, and (y) $500.00.

(iii)         Upon each amendment, transfer, or negotiation of any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall pay the Issuing Bank, for its own account, such fees that are in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s then-current fee policy.

(d)           Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for its account such other fees as are set forth in the fee letter from the Lender to the Borrower on the dates specified therein to the extent not paid prior to the Closing Date.

Section 2.05.      Several Obligations. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan to be made by it or to provide funds for disbursements or reimbursements under Letters of Credit on the date specified therefor shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation to make its Loan or provide funds on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make a Loan to be made by such other Lender or to provide funds to be provided by such other Lender.

 

 

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Section 2.06.      Notes. The Revolving Credit Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by a single promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit A, dated (i) the Closing Date or (ii) the effective date of an Assignment pursuant to Section 12.06(b), payable to the order of such Lender in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Revolving Credit Amount as originally in effect and otherwise duly completed and such substitute Notes as required by Section 12.06(b). The date, amount, Type, interest rate and Interest Period of each Loan made by each Lender, and all payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by such Lender on its books for its Note, and, prior to any transfer may be endorsed by such Lender on the schedule attached to such Note or any continuation thereof or on any separate record maintained by such Lender. Failure to make any such notation or to attach a schedule shall not affect any Lender’s or the Borrower’s rights or obligations in respect of such Loans or affect the validity of such transfer by any Lender of its Note.

 

Section 2.07.

Prepayments.

(a)           Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower may prepay the Base Rate Loans upon not less than one (1) Business Day’s prior notice to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), which notice shall specify the prepayment date (which shall be a Business Day) and the amount of the prepayment (which shall be at least $500,000.00 and a multiple of $100,000.00 or the remaining aggregate principal balance outstanding on the Notes) and shall be irrevocable and effective only upon receipt by the Agent, provided that interest on the principal prepaid, accrued to the prepayment date, shall be paid on the prepayment date. The Borrower may prepay LIBOR Loans on the same conditions as for Base Rate Loans (except that prior notice to the Agent shall be not less than three (3) Business Days for LIBOR Loans) and in addition such prepayments of LIBOR Loans shall be subject to the terms of Section 5.05 and shall be in an amount equal to all of the LIBOR Loans for the Interest Period prepaid.

 

(b)

Mandatory Prepayments.

(i)            If, after giving effect to any termination or reduction of the Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(b), the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans plus the LC Obligations exceeds the Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts, the Borrower shall (i) prepay the Revolving Credit Loans on the date of such termination or reduction in an aggregate principal amount equal to the excess, together with interest on the principal amount paid accrued to the date of such prepayment and (ii) if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Revolving Credit Loans because of LC Obligations, pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders an amount equal to the excess to be held as cash collateral as provided in Section 2.10(b) hereof.

(ii)          Upon any redetermination of the amount of the Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 2.08, if the redetermined Borrowing Base is less than the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans plus the LC Obligations (a “Deficiency”), then the Borrower shall within thirty (30) days of such Borrowing Base redetermination do one or any combination of the following: (i) prepay the Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess, together with interest on the principal amount paid accrued to the date of such prepayment, (ii) notify the Agent that Borrower will prepay, in five (5) equal monthly installments commencing thirty (30) days after such Borrowing Base redetermination and continuing on the same day the next four months (unless there is no corresponding day, in which event, it will be paid on the last day of such month), the Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess, together with interest on the principal amount paid accrued to the date of such prepayment; or (iii) provide additional collateral acceptable to the Agent to increase the Borrowing Base to an amount at least equal to the aggregate outstanding principal

 

 

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amounts of the Loans, and if a Deficiency remains after prepaying all of the Revolving Credit Loans because of LC Obligations, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders an amount equal to such Deficiency to be held as cash collateral as provided in Section 2.10(b).

(c)           Generally. Prepayments permitted or required under this Section 2.07 shall be without premium or penalty, except as required under Section 5.05 for prepayment of LIBOR Loans. Any prepayments on the Revolving Credit Loans may be reborrowed subject to the then effective Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments.

 

Section 2.08.

Borrowing Base.

(a)           The Borrowing Base shall be determined in accordance with Section 2.08(b) by the Agent with the concurrence of the Majority Lenders and is subject to redetermination in accordance with Section 2.08(d). Upon any redetermination of the Borrowing Base, such redetermination shall remain in effect until the next successive Redetermination Date. So long as any of the Commitments are in effect or any LC Exposure or Loans are outstanding hereunder, this facility shall be governed by the then effective Borrowing Base. During the period from and after the Closing Date, until the first redetermination pursuant to Section 2.08(d) or adjustment pursuant to Section 8.08(c), the amount of the Borrowing Base shall be $200,000,000.00.

(b)           Upon receipt of the reports required by Section 8.07 and such other reports, data and supplemental information as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Agent (the “Engineering Reports”), the Agent will redetermine the Borrowing Base. Such redetermination will be made by the Agent and the applicable number of required Lenders, as provided below, in accordance with their normal and customary procedures for evaluating oil and gas reserves and other related assets as such exist at that particular time. The Agent, in its sole discretion, may make adjustments to the rates, volumes and prices and other assumptions set forth therein in accordance with its normal and customary procedures for evaluating oil and gas reserves and other related assets as such exist at that particular time. The Agent shall propose to the Lenders a new Borrowing Base within twenty (20) days following receipt by the Agent and the Lenders of the Engineering Reports. Lenders holding 100% of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments must approve increases to the Borrowing Base, while the approval of the Majority Lenders is required to approve a decrease in, or maintain, the Borrowing Base. After having received notice of such proposal by the Agent, all of the Lenders shall have ten (10) days to agree or disagree with such proposal. If at the end of the ten (10) days, any Lender shall have not communicated its approval or disapproval, such silence shall be deemed to be an approval of the Agent’s proposal, and the Agent’s proposal shall be the new Borrowing Base. If however, within the time prescribed by the preceding sentence, (i) all the Lenders have not approved (or have not been deemed to have approved) the Agent’s proposal with respect to an increase in the Borrowing Base, or (ii) the Majority Lenders have not approved (or have not been deemed to have approved) the Agent’s proposal with respect to a decrease in, or maintenance of, the Borrowing Base, the Agent and, as applicable, either all the Lenders (with respect to an increase in the Borrowing Base) or the Majority Lenders (with respect to a decrease in, or maintenance of, the Borrowing Base) shall, within an additional ten (10) days, agree upon a new Borrowing Base.

If the Agent and, as applicable, either all the Lenders or the Majority Lenders cannot otherwise agree on a redetermination of the Borrowing Base within such additional ten (10) day period then no later than five days after the end of such ten (10) day period, the Lenders shall submit to the Agent in writing, and/or the Agent shall poll the Lenders, for their individual recommendations for such redetermined Borrowing Base in accordance with their respective customary practices and standards for oil and gas loans, whereupon the Agent shall designate the Borrowing Base at the largest amount approved by all of the Lenders (for any increase) or by the Majority Lenders (for maintenance of the Borrowing Base at its

 

 

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current level or for any decrease). However, the amount of the Borrowing Base shall never be increased at any time without the unanimous consent of the Lenders, notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary.

(c)           The Agent may exclude any Oil and Gas Property or portion of production therefrom or any income from any other Property from the Borrowing Base, at any time, because title information is not satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion exercised in good faith.

(d)           So long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of all Loans and satisfaction of the LC Obligations hereunder, on or around the first Business Day of each November and May, commencing November 1, 2007 (each being a “Scheduled Redetermination Date”), the Lenders shall redetermine the amount of the Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 2.08(b). In addition, (i) the Borrower may initiate a redetermination of the Borrowing Base at any other time as it so elects by specifying in writing to the Agent (who will promptly notify the Lenders) the date by which the Borrower will furnish to the Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report in accordance with Section 8.07(b) and the date by which such redetermination is requested to occur; provided, however, that the Borrower may initiate only one such unscheduled redetermination between Scheduled Redetermination Dates and (ii) the Agent may initiate a redetermination of the Borrowing Base at any other time as it so elects by specifying in writing to the Borrower the date by which the Borrower is to furnish a Reserve Report in accordance with Section 8.07(b) and the date on which such redetermination is to occur; provided, however, that the Agent may initiate only one such unscheduled redetermination between Scheduled Redetermination Dates.

(e)           The Agent shall promptly notify in writing the Borrower and the Lenders of the new Borrowing Base. Any redetermination of the Borrowing Base shall not be in effect until written notice is given to the Borrower.

Section 2.09.      Assumption of Risks. The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any transferee thereof with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit. Neither the Issuing Bank (except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank or any of its employees), its correspondents nor any Lender shall be responsible for the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of certificates or other documents or any endorsements thereon, even if such certificates or other documents should in fact prove to be invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; for errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmissions or delivery of any messages by mail, telex, or otherwise, whether or not they be in code; for errors in translation or for errors in interpretation of technical terms; the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; the failure of any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon any Letter of Credit; or for any other consequences arising from causes beyond the Issuing Bank’s control or the control of the Issuing Bank’s correspondents. In addition, neither the Issuing Bank, the Agent nor any Lender shall be responsible for any error, neglect, or default of any of the Issuing Bank’s correspondents; and none of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of any of the Issuing Bank’s, the Agent’s or any Lender’s rights or powers hereunder or under the Letter of Credit Agreements, all of which rights shall be cumulative. The Issuing Bank and its correspondents may accept certificates or other documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation of any matter contained therein regardless of any notice or information to the contrary. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing provisions, the Borrower agrees that any action, inaction or omission taken or not taken by the Issuing Bank or by any correspondent for the Issuing Bank in good faith in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any related drafts, certificates, documents or instruments, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not put the Issuing Bank or its correspondents under any resulting liability to the Borrower.

 

 

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Section 2.10.

Obligation to Reimburse and to Prepay.

(a)           If a disbursement by the Issuing Bank is made under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent within two (2) Business Days after notice of any such disbursement is received by the Borrower, the amount of each such disbursement made by the Issuing Bank under the Letter of Credit (if such payment is not sooner effected as may be required under this Section 2.10 or under other provisions of the Letter of Credit), together with interest on the amount disbursed from and including the date of disbursement until payment in full of such disbursed amount at a varying rate per annum equal to (i) the then applicable interest rate for Base Rate Loans through the second Business Day after notice of such disbursement is received by the Borrower and (ii) thereafter, the Post-Default Rate for Base Rate Loans (but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate) for the period from and including the third Business Day following the date of such disbursement to and including the date of repayment in full of such disbursed amount. The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement with respect to each Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid or performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation, but only to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the following circumstances: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any of the Security Instruments; (ii) any amendment or waiver of (including any default), or any consent to departure from this Agreement (except to the extent permitted by any amendment or waiver), any Letter of Credit or any of the Security Instruments; (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other rights which the Borrower may have at any time against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Bank, the Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the Security Instruments, the transactions contemplated hereby or any unrelated transaction; (iv) any statement, certificate, draft, notice or any other document presented under any Letter of Credit proves to have been forged, fraudulent, insufficient or invalid in any respect or any statement therein proves to have been untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; (v) payment by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate which appears on its face to comply, but does not comply, with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and (vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Borrower will not be liable for payment or performance that results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank, except where the Borrower or any Subsidiary actually recovers the proceeds for itself or the Issuing Bank of any payment made by the Issuing Bank in connection with such gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(b)           In the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default, a payment or prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(b) or the maturity of the Notes, whether by acceleration or otherwise, an amount equal to the LC Exposure (or the excess in the case of Section 2.07(b)) shall be deemed to be forthwith due and owing by the Borrower to the Issuing Bank, the Agent and the Lenders as of the date of any such occurrence; and the Borrower’s obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional, without regard to whether any beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit has attempted to draw down all or a portion of such amount under the terms of a Letter of Credit, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be subject to any defense or be affected by a right of set-off, counterclaim or recoupment which the Borrower may now or hereafter have against any such beneficiary, the Issuing Bank, the Agent, the Lenders or any other Person for any reason whatsoever. Such payments shall be held by the Agent on behalf of the Issuing Bank and the Lenders as cash collateral securing the LC Obligations in an account or accounts at the Principal Office; and the Borrower hereby grants to and by its deposit with the

 

 

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Agent grants to the Agent a security interest in such cash collateral. Upon request by the Agent, the Borrower shall immediately execute and deliver to the Agent the Cash Collateral Account Agreement. In the event of any such payment by the Borrower of amounts contingently owing under outstanding Letters of Credit and in the event that thereafter drafts or other demands for payment complying with the terms of such Letters of Credit are not made prior to the respective expiration dates thereof, the Agent agrees, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or if no other amounts are outstanding under this Agreement, the Notes or the Security Instruments, to remit to the Borrower amounts for which the contingent obligations evidenced by the Letters of Credit have ceased.

(c)           Each Lender severally and unconditionally agrees that it shall promptly reimburse the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Lender’s Percentage Share of any disbursement made by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit that is not reimbursed according to this Section 2.10.

(d)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if no Default exists and subject to availability under the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments (after reduction for LC Obligations), to the extent the Borrower has not reimbursed the Issuing Bank for any drawn upon Letter of Credit within one (1) Business Day after notice of such disbursement has been delivered to the Borrower, the amount of such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation shall automatically be funded by the Lenders as a Revolving Credit Loan hereunder and used by the Lenders to pay such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if the funding of such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation as a Revolving Credit Loan would cause the aggregate amount of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding to exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments (after reduction for LC Obligations), such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation shall not be funded as a Revolving Credit Loan, but instead shall accrue interest as provided in Section 2.10(a).

Section 2.11.     Lending Offices. The Loans of each Type made by each Lender shall be made and maintained at such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office for Loans of such Type.

Payments of Principal and Interest

 

Section 3.01.

Repayment of Loans.

(a)           Revolving Credit Loans. On the Revolving Credit Termination Date the Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Notes.

(b)          Generally. The Borrower will pay to the Agent, for the account of each Lender, the principal payments required by this Section 3.01.

 

Section 3.02.

Interest.

(a)           Interest Rates. The Borrower will pay to the Agent, for the account of each Lender, interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan made by such Lender for the period commencing on the date such Loan is made to, but excluding, the date such Loan shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

(i)           if such a Loan is a Base Rate Loan, the Base Rate (as in effect from time to time) plus the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate; and

 

 

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(ii)          if such a Loan is a LIBOR Loan, for each Interest Period relating thereto, the LIBOR Rate for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin (as in effect at the date such Loan is requested by the Borrower) except that if such Loan is converted to a Base Rate Loan or continued beyond the initial Interest Period, then the Applicable Margin shall be that Applicable Margin as in effect from time to time during the relevant Interest Period, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(b)           Post-Default Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower will pay to the Agent, for the account of each Lender interest at the applicable Post-Default Rate on any principal of any Loan made by such Lender, and (to the fullest extent permitted by law) on any other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder, under any Loan Document or under any Note held by such Lender to or for account of such Lender, for the period commencing on the date of an Event of Default until the same is paid in full or all Events of Default are cured or waived.

(c)           Due Dates. Accrued interest on Base Rate Loans shall be payable monthly on the last day of each month commencing on the last day of May, 2007, and accrued interest on each LIBOR Loan shall be payable on the last day of the Interest Period therefor and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months at three-month intervals following the first day of such Interest Period, except that interest payable at the Post-Default Rate shall be payable from time to time on demand and interest on any LIBOR Loan that is converted into a Base Rate Loan (pursuant to Section 5.04) shall be payable on the date of conversion (but only to the extent so converted). Any accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving Credit Loans on the Revolving Credit Termination Date shall be paid on such date.

(d)           Determination of Rates. Promptly after the determination of any interest rate provided for herein or any change therein, the Agent shall notify the Lenders to which such interest is payable and the Borrower thereof. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall, except in cases of manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding on the parties.

Payments; Pro Rata Treatment; Computations; Etc.

Section 4.01.     Payments. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, all payments of principal, interest and other amounts to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement, the Notes, and the Letter of Credit Agreements shall be made in Dollars, in immediately available funds, to the Agent at such account as the Agent shall specify by notice to the Borrower from time to time, not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time on the date on which such payments shall become due (each such payment made after such time on such due date to be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day). Such payments shall be made without (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) defense, set-off or counterclaim and in connection therewith, the Borrower and each Guarantor hereby waives (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) all defenses, rights of set-off and counterclaims it may have with respect to such payments. Each payment received by the Agent under this Agreement or any Note for account of a Lender shall be paid promptly to such Lender in immediately available funds. Except as otherwise provided in the definition of “Interest Period”, if the due date of any payment under this Agreement or any Note would otherwise fall on a day which is not a Business Day such date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and interest shall be payable for any principal so extended for the period of such extension. At the time of each payment to the Agent of any principal of or interest on any borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Agent of the Loans to which such payment shall apply. In the absence of such notice the Agent may specify the Loans to which such payment shall apply, but to the extent possible such payment or prepayment will be applied first to the Loans comprised of Base Rate Loans.

 

 

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Section 4.02.      Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein each Lender agrees that: (i) each borrowing from the Lenders under Section 2.01 and each continuation and conversion under Section 2.02 shall be made from the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Share, each payment of commitment fee or other fees under Section 2.04 shall be made for account of the Agent or the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Share, and each termination or reduction of the amount of the Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts under Section 2.03(b) shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender, pro rata according to the amounts of its respective Revolving Credit Commitment; (ii) each payment of principal of Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amount of the Loans held by the Lenders; and (iii) each payment of interest on Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest due and payable to the respective Lenders; and (iv) each reimbursement by the Borrower of disbursements under Letters of Credit shall be made for account of the Issuing Bank or, if funded by the Lenders, pro rata for the account of the Lenders, in accordance with the amounts of reimbursement obligations due and payable to each respective Lender.

Section 4.03.      Computations. Interest on LIBOR Loans and fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable, unless such calculation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be calculated on the per annum basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be. Interest on Base Rate Loans, and the commitment fee, Letter of Credit fees and other fees under Section 2.04 shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable.

Section 4.04.      Non-receipt of Funds by the Agent. Unless the Agent shall have been notified by a Lender or the Borrower prior to the date on which such notifying party is scheduled to make payment to the Agent (in the case of a Lender) of the proceeds of a Loan or a payment under a Letter of Credit to be made by it hereunder or (in the case of the Borrower) a payment to the Agent for account of one or more of the Lenders hereunder (such payment being herein called the “Required Payment”), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that it does not intend to make the Required Payment to the Agent, the Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made and may, in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be required to), make the amount thereof available to the intended recipient(s) on such date and, if such Lender or the Borrower (as the case may be) has not in fact made the Required Payment to the Agent, the recipient(s) of such payment shall, on demand, repay to the Agent the amount so made available together with interest thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by the Agent until, but excluding, the date the Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum which, for any Lender as recipient, will be equal to the Federal Funds Rate, and for the Borrower as recipient, will be equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

 

Section 4.05.

Set-off, Sharing of Payments, Etc.

(a)           The Borrower agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of set-off, bankers’ lien or counterclaim a Lender may otherwise have, each Lender shall have the right and be entitled (after consultation with the Agent), at its option, to offset balances held by it or by any of its Affiliates for account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at any of its offices, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any principal of or interest on any of such Lender’s Loans, or any other amount payable to such Lender hereunder, which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to the Borrower), in which case it shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent thereof, provided that such Lender’s failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

(b)           If any Lender shall obtain payment of any principal of or interest on any Loan made by it to the Borrower under this Agreement (or reimbursement as to any Letter of Credit)

 

 

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through the exercise of any right of set-off, banker’s lien or counterclaim or similar right or otherwise, and, as a result of such payment, such Lender shall have received a greater percentage of the principal or interest (or reimbursement) then due hereunder by the Borrower to such Lender than the percentage received by any other Lenders, it shall promptly (i) notify the Agent and each other Lender thereof and (ii) purchase from such other Lenders participation in (or, if and to the extent specified by such Lender, direct interests in) the Loans (or participations in Letters of Credit) made by such other Lenders (or in interest due thereon, as the case may be) in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time as shall be equitable, to the end that all the Lenders shall share the benefit of such excess payment (net of any expenses which may be incurred by such Lender in obtaining or preserving such excess payment) pro rata in accordance with the unpaid principal and/or interest on the Loans held by each of the Lenders (or reimbursements of Letters of Credit). To such end all the Lenders shall make appropriate adjustments among themselves (by the resale of participations sold or otherwise) if such payment is rescinded or must otherwise be restored. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation (or direct interest) in the Loans made by other Lenders (or in interest due thereon, as the case may be) may exercise all rights of set-off, banker’s lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct holder of Loans (or Letters of Credit) in the amount of such participation. Nothing contained herein shall require any Lender to exercise any such right or shall affect the right of any Lender to exercise, and retain the benefits of exercising, any such right with respect to any other indebtedness or obligation of the Borrower. If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a set-off to which this Section 4.05 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this Section 4.05 to share the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

 

Section 4.06.

Taxes.

(a)           Payments Free and Clear. Any and all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 4.01, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender, the Issuing Bank and the Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise or similar taxes imposed on it, by (i) any jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) of which the Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender, as the case may be, is a citizen or resident or in which such Lender has an Applicable Lending Office, (ii) the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) in which the Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender is organized, or (iii) any jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) in which such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent is presently doing business which taxes are imposed solely as a result of doing business in such jurisdiction (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or the Agent (i) the sum payable shall be increased by the amount necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 4.06) such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent (as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b)           Other Taxes. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from the

 

 

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execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, any Assignment or any Security Instrument (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c)           Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower will indemnify each Lender and the Issuing Bank and the Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including, but not limited to, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority on amounts payable under this Section 4.06) paid by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent (on their behalf or on behalf of any Lender), as the case may be, and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted unless the payment of such Taxes was not correctly or legally asserted and such Lender’s payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes was the result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Any payment pursuant to such indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days after the date any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent, as the case may be, makes written demand therefor. If any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent receives a refund or credit in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes for which such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Agent has received payment from the Borrower it shall promptly notify the Borrower of such refund or credit and shall, if no Default has occurred and is continuing, within thirty (30) days after receipt of a request by the Borrower (or promptly upon receipt, if the Borrower has requested application for such refund or credit pursuant hereto), pay an amount equal to such refund or credit to the Borrower without interest (but with any interest so refunded or credited), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent, agrees to return such refund or credit (plus penalties, interest or other charges) to such Lender or the Agent in the event such Lender or the Agent is required to repay such refund or credit.

 

(d)

Lender Representations.

(i)            Each Lender represents that it is either (1) a banking association or corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or (2) it is entitled to complete exemption from United States withholding tax imposed on or with respect to any payments, including fees, to be made to it pursuant to this Agreement (a) under an applicable provision of a tax convention to which the United States of America is a party or (b) because it is acting through a branch, agency or office in the United States of America and any payment to be received by it hereunder is effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States of America. Each Lender that is not a banking association or corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof agrees to provide to the Borrower and the Agent on the Closing Date, or on the date of its delivery of the Assignment pursuant to which it becomes a Lender, and at such other times as required by United States law or as the Borrower or the Agent shall reasonably request, two accurate and complete original signed copies of either (a) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or successor form) certifying that all payments to be made to it hereunder will be effectively connected to a United States trade or business (the “Form W-8ECI Certification”) or (b) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or successor form) certifying that it is entitled to the benefit of a provision of a tax convention to which the United States of America is a party which completely exempts from United States withholding tax all payments to be made to it hereunder (the “Form W-8BEN Certification”). In addition, each Lender agrees that if it previously filed a Form W-8ECI Certification, it will deliver to the Borrower and the Agent a new Form W-8ECI Certification prior to the first payment date occurring in each of its subsequent taxable years; and if it previously filed a Form W-8BEN Certification, it will deliver to the Borrower and the Agent a new certification prior to the first payment date falling in the third year following the previous filing of such certification. Each Lender also agrees to deliver to the Borrower and the Agent such

 

 

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other or supplemental forms as may at any time be required as a result of changes in applicable law or regulation in order to confirm or maintain in effect its entitlement to exemption from United States withholding tax on any payments hereunder, provided that the circumstances of such Lender at the relevant time and applicable laws permit it to do so. If a Lender determines, as a result of any change in either (i) a Governmental Requirement or (ii) its circumstances, that it is unable to submit any form or certificate that it is obligated to submit pursuant to this Section 4.06, or that it is required to withdraw or cancel any such form or certificate previously submitted, it shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent of such fact. If a Lender is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States of America, unless the Borrower and the Agent have received a Form W-8BEN Certification or Form W-8ECI Certification satisfactory to them indicating that all payments to be made to such Lender hereunder are not subject to United States withholding tax, the Borrower shall withhold taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate. Each Lender agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Borrower or Agent, as applicable, from any United States taxes, penalties, interest and other expenses, costs and losses incurred or payable by (i) the Agent as a result of such Lender’s failure to submit any form or certificate that it is required to provide pursuant to this Section 4.06 or (ii) the Borrower or the Agent as a result of their reliance on any such form or certificate which such Lender has provided to them pursuant to this Section 4.06.

(ii)          For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with the form required pursuant to this Section 4.06, if any, (other than if such failure is due to a change in a Governmental Requirement occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 4.06 with respect to taxes imposed by the United States which taxes would not have been imposed but for such failure to provide such forms; provided, however, that if a Lender, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, becomes subject to taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such taxes.

(iii)         Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 4.06 shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to file any certificate or document requested by the Borrower or the Agent or to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office or to contest any tax imposed if the making of such a filing or change or contesting such tax would avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

Section 4.07.      Disposition of Proceeds. The Mortgage contains an assignment by the Borrower unto and in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of all production and all proceeds attributable thereto which may be produced from or allocated to the Mortgaged Property, and the Mortgage further provides in general for the application of such proceeds to the satisfaction of the Obligations and other indebtedness, liabilities and obligations described therein and secured thereby. Notwithstanding the assignment contained in the Mortgage, until the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Lenders agree that they will neither notify the purchaser or purchasers of such production nor take any other action to cause such proceeds to be remitted to the Lenders, but the Lenders will instead permit such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower.

 

 

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Capital Adequacy and Additional Costs

 

Section 5.01.

Capital Adequacy and Additional Costs.

(a)           The Borrower shall pay directly to each Lender from time to time on request such amounts as such Lender may determine to be necessary to compensate such Lender or its parent or holding company for any costs which it determines are attributable to the maintenance by such Lender or its parent or holding company, pursuant to any change in, or the introduction, adoption, reinterpretation or phase-in of, any Governmental Requirement after the Closing Date, of capital in respect of its Commitment or making, funding or maintaining any Loans or Letters of Credit (such compensation to include, without limitation, an amount equal to any reduction of the rate of return on assets or equity of such Lender or its parent or holding company to a level below that which such Lender or its parent or holding company could have achieved but for such Governmental Requirement). Each Lender will notify the Borrower that it is entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(a) as promptly as practicable after it determines to request such compensation.

(b)           Determinations and allocations by any Lender for purposes of this Article V shall be conclusive, absent manifest error and provided that such determinations and allocations are made on a reasonable basis.

(c)           LIBOR Regulations, etc. The Borrower shall pay directly to each Lender from time to time such amounts as such Lender may determine to be necessary to compensate such Lender for any costs which it determines are attributable to its making or maintaining of any LIBOR Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit hereunder or its obligation to make any LIBOR Loans or issue or participate in any Letters of Credit hereunder, or any reduction in any amount receivable by such Lender hereunder in respect of any of such LIBOR Loans, Letters of Credit or such obligation (such increases in costs and reductions in amounts receivable being herein called “Additional Costs”), resulting from any Regulatory Change which: (i) changes the basis of taxation of any amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement or any Note in respect of any of such LIBOR Loans or Letters of Credit (other than taxes imposed on the overall net income of such Lender or of its Applicable Lending Office for any of such LIBOR Loans by the jurisdiction in which such Lender has its principal office or Applicable Lending Office); or (ii) imposes or modifies any reserve, special deposit, insurance, minimum capital, capital ratio or similar requirements relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities of such Lender, or the Commitment or Loans of such Lender or the LIBOR interbank market; or (iii) imposes any other condition affecting this Agreement or any Note (or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities) or such Lender’s Commitment or Loans. Each Lender will notify the Agent and the Borrower of any event occurring after the Closing Date which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(c) as promptly as practicable after it obtains knowledge thereof and determines to request such compensation, and will designate a different Applicable Lending Office for the Loans of such Lender affected by such event if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the sole opinion of such Lender, be disadvantageous to such Lender, provided that such Lender shall have no obligation to so designate an Applicable Lending Office located in the United States. If any Lender requests compensation from the Borrower under this Section 5.01(c), the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender, suspend the obligation of such Lender to make additional Loans of the Type with respect to which such compensation is requested until the Regulatory Change giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

 

 

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(d)           Regulatory Change. Without limiting the effect of the provisions of Section 5.01(c), in the event that at any time (by reason of any Regulatory Change or any other circumstances arising after the Closing Date affecting (a) any Lender, (b) the LIBOR interbank market or (c) such Lender’s position in such market), the LIBOR Rate, as determined in good faith by such Lender, will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of funding its LIBOR Loans, then, if such Lender so elects, by notice to the Borrower and the Agent, the obligation of such Lender to make additional LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such Regulatory Change or other circumstances ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

(e)           Capital Adequacy. Without limiting the effect of the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.01 (but without duplication), the Borrower shall pay directly to any Lender from time to time on request such amounts as such Lender may reasonably determine to be necessary to compensate such Lender or its parent or holding company for any costs which it determines are attributable to the maintenance by such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office), pursuant to any Governmental Requirement following any Regulatory Change, of capital in respect of its Commitment, its Note, or its Loans or any interest held by it in any Letter of Credit, such compensation to include, without limitation, an amount equal to any reduction of the rate of return on assets or equity of such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office) to a level below that which such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office) could have achieved but for such Governmental Requirement. Such Lender will notify the Borrower that it is entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(e) as promptly as practicable after it determines to request such compensation.

(f)           Compensation Procedure. Any Lender notifying the Borrower of the incurrence of Additional Costs under this Section 5.01 shall in such notice to the Borrower and the Agent set forth in reasonable detail the basis and amount of its request for compensation. Determinations and allocations by each Lender for purposes of this Section 5.01 of the effect of any Regulatory Change pursuant to Section 5.01(c) or (d), or of the effect of capital maintained pursuant to Section 5.01(e), on its costs or rate of return of maintaining Loans or its obligation to make Loans or issue Letters of Credit, or on amounts receivable by it in respect of Loans or Letters of Credit, and of the amounts required to compensate such Lender under this Section 5.01, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error, provided that such determinations and allocations are made on a reasonable basis. Any request for additional compensation under this Section 5.01 shall be paid by the Borrower within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Borrower of the notice described in this Section 5.01(f).

Section 5.02.      Limitation on LIBOR Loans. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, on or prior to the determination of any LIBOR Rate for any Interest Period:

(i)            the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that quotations of interest rates for the relevant deposits referred to in the definition of “LIBOR Rate” in Section 1.02 are not being provided in the relevant amounts or for the relevant maturities for purposes of determining rates of interest for LIBOR Loans as provided herein; or

(ii)          the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that the relevant rates of interest referred to in the definition of “LIBOR Rate” in Section 1.02 upon the basis of which the rate of interest for LIBOR Loans for such Interest Period is to be determined are not sufficient to adequately cover the cost to the Lenders of making or maintaining LIBOR Loans;

 

 

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then the Agent shall give the Borrower prompt notice thereof, and so long as such condition remains in effect, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to make additional LIBOR Loans.

Section 5.03.      Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to honor its obligation to make or maintain LIBOR Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and such Lender’s obligation to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such time as such Lender may again make and maintain LIBOR Loans (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

Section 5.04.      Base Rate Loans Pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 and 5.03. If the obligation of any Lender to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 or 5.03 (“Affected Loans”), all Affected Loans which would otherwise be made by such Lender shall be made instead as Base Rate Loans (and, if an event referred to in Section 5.01 or Section 5.03 has occurred and such Lender so requests by notice to the Borrower, all Affected Loans of such Lender then outstanding shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the date specified by such Lender in such notice) and, to the extent that Affected Loans are so made as (or converted into) Base Rate Loans, all payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Affected Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans.

Section 5.05.      Compensation. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender within thirty (30) days of receipt of written request of such Lender (which request shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for requesting such amounts and which shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error and provided that such determinations are made on a reasonable basis), such amount or amounts as shall compensate it for any actual loss, cost, expense or liability which such Lender determines are attributable to:

(i)            any payment, prepayment or conversion of a LIBOR Loan properly made by such Lender or the Borrower for any reason (including, without limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.01) on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or

(ii)          any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including but not limited to, the failure of any of the conditions precedent specified in Article VI to be satisfied) to borrow, continue or convert a LIBOR Loan from such Lender on the date for such borrowing, continuation or conversion specified in the relevant notice given pursuant to Section 2.02(c).

 

Section 5.06.

Replacement Lenders.

(a)           If (i) any Lender has notified the Borrower and the Agent of its incurring Additional Costs under Section 5.01, (ii) any Lender has required the Borrower to make payments for Taxes under Section 4.06, or (iii) any Lender refuses to consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Document requested by the Borrower that requires the consent of a greater percentage of the Lenders than the Majority Lenders and such amendment, waiver or other modification is consented to by the Majority Lenders, then the Borrower may, in whole but not in part, terminate the Commitment of any such Lender (other than the Agent) (the “Terminated Lender”) at any time upon five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Terminated Lender and the Agent (such notice referred to herein as a “Notice of Termination”); provided however, that, if prior to any such transfer and assignment the circumstances or event that resulted in such Lender’s claim for Additional Costs under Section 5.01 or Taxes under Section 4.06, as the case may be, cease to cause such Lender to incur Additional Costs, or cease to result in amounts being payable under Section 4.06, as the case may be, or if such Lender shall waive its right to claim Additional Costs under Section 5.01 in respect of such circumstances or

 

 

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event, or shall waive its right to require further payments under Section 4.06 in respect of such circumstances or event, or shall consent to the proposed amendment, waiver, consent or other modification, as the case may be, then such Lender shall not thereafter be required to make any such transfer and assignment hereunder.

(b)           In order to effect the termination of the Commitment of the Terminated Lender, the Borrower shall: (i) obtain an agreement with one or more Lenders to increase their Commitment or Commitments and/or (ii) request any one or more other banking institutions to become parties to this Agreement in place and instead of such Terminated Lender and agree to accept a Commitment or Commitments; provided, however, that such one or more other banking institutions are reasonably acceptable to the Agent and become parties by executing an Assignment (the Lenders or other banking institutions that agree to accept in whole or in part the Commitment of the Terminated Lender being referred to herein as the “Replacement Lenders”), such that the aggregate increased and/or accepted Commitments of the Replacement Lenders under clauses (i) and (ii) above equal the Commitment of the Terminated Lender.

(c)           The Notice of Termination shall include the name of the Terminated Lender, the date the termination will occur (the “Lender Termination Date”), and the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders to which the Terminated Lender will assign its Commitment and, if there will be more than one Replacement Lender, the portion of the Terminated Lender’s Commitment to be assigned to each Replacement Lender.

(d)           On the Lender Termination Date, (i) the Terminated Lender shall by execution and delivery of an Assignment assign its Commitment to the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders (pro rata, if there is more than one Replacement Lender, in proportion to the portion of the Terminated Lender’s Commitment to be assigned to each Replacement Lender) indicated in the Notice of Termination and shall assign to the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders each of its Loans (if any) then outstanding and participation interests in Letters of Credit (if any) then outstanding pro rata as aforesaid), (ii) the Terminated Lender shall endorse its Note, payable without recourse, representation or warranty to the order of the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders (pro rata as aforesaid), (iii) the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders shall purchase the Note held by the Terminated Lender (pro rata as aforesaid) at a price equal to the unpaid principal amount thereof plus interest and facility and other fees accrued and unpaid to the Lender Termination Date, and (iv) the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders will thereupon (pro rata as aforesaid) succeed to and be substituted in all respects for the Terminated Lender with like effect as if becoming a Lender pursuant to the terms of Section 12.06(b), and the Terminated Lender will have the rights and benefits of an assignor under Section 12.06(b). To the extent not in conflict, the terms of Section 12.06(b) shall supplement the provisions of this Section 5.06(d). For each assignment made under this Section 5.06, the Replacement Lender shall pay to the Agent the processing fee provided for in Section 12.06(b). The Borrower will be responsible for the payment of any actual breakage costs associated with termination and Replacement Lenders, as set forth in Section 5.05.

Conditions Precedent

Section 6.01.      Initial Funding. The obligation of the Lenders to make the Initial Funding is subject to the receipt by the Agent and the Lenders of all fees payable pursuant to Section 2.04 on or before the Closing Date and the receipt by the Agent of the following documents (in sufficient original counterparts, other than the Notes, for each Lender) and satisfaction of the other conditions provided in this Section 6.01, each of which shall be satisfactory to the Agent in form and substance:

 

 

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(a)           A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors with respect to the authorization of the Borrower to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of the Borrower (y) who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party and (z) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of the authorized officers, and (iv) the articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Borrower, certified as being true and complete. The Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Agent receives notice in writing from the Borrower to the contrary. Such certificate shall be accompanied by an incumbency certificate signed by another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary executing such certificate.

(b)           A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each Guarantor setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors with respect to the authorization of such Guarantor to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of such Guarantor (y) who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which Guarantor is a party and (z) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of the authorized officers, and (iv) the articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws of such Guarantor, certified as being true and complete. The Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until they receive notice in writing from such Guarantor to the contrary. Such certificate shall be accompanied by an incumbency certificate signed by another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary executing such certificate.

 

(c)

[Reserved.]

(d)           Certificates of the appropriate state agencies with respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of the Borrower and Guarantor(s)/Subsidiaries.

(e)           A compliance certificate which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly and properly executed by a Responsible Officer and dated as of the date of the Initial Funding.

 

(f)

The Notes, duly completed and executed.

(g)           The Security Instruments, including those described on Exhibit D, duly completed and executed in sufficient number of counterparts for recording, if necessary.

(h)           An opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Texas counsel (and Liskow & Lewis, A PLC and such other out of state counsel as Agent shall require) to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and Guarantors in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, as to such matters incident to the transactions herein contemplated as the Agent and its counsel may request, including, without limitation, the enforceability of the Mortgages and other Security Instruments and the validity and means of perfection of the liens created thereby.

(i)            A certificate of insurance coverage of the Borrower evidencing that the Borrower its Subsidiaries, and the Guarantors are carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.19.

 

 

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(j)            Title information as the Agent may require satisfactory to the Agent setting forth the status of title to at least 80% of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties included in the Initial Reserve Reports, including, without limitation, the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G.

 

(k)

[Reserved.]

 

(l)

[Reserved.]

 

(m)

[Reserved.]

(n)           The Agent shall have received, at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Act.

(o)           All consents in form and substance satisfactory to all Lenders of all Persons required by the Lenders, where the failure to obtain any such consents would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(p)           Agent shall have received, reviewed, and be satisfied, in Agent’s sole discretion, with:

(i)            the annual and most recent interim financial statements described in Section 7.02;

 

(ii)

the Initial Reserve Reports;

(iii)         such lien searches as the Agent shall require covering Mortgaged Property; and

(iv)         other material documents and agreements (including, without limitation, all: (1) Material Agreements listed on Schedule 7.22, and (2) all other material documents and agreements, as the Agent shall have requested).

(q)           Other than with respect to delivery of the cash Closing Payment and the shares of Crimson Parent Common Stock that comprise the Stock Purchase Price (as such terms are defined in the Acquisition Agreement), all conditions precedent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement shall have been satisfied (without the waiver or amendment of any material condition unless consented to in writing by the Agent), and each of the parties thereto shall have complied in all material respects with all covenants set forth in the Acquisition Agreement to be complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date (without the waiver or amendment of any of the material terms thereof unless consented to in writing by the Agent) and Borrower shall have delivered to Agent and the Lenders certified copies of the Acquisition Agreement and all other documents, assignments, instruments, and other agreements, executed and delivered in connection therewith (collectively, the “Acquisition Documents”).

(r)           All obligations and indebtedness under the “Second Lien Loan Documents” as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been paid in full, all commitments (if any) in respect thereof terminated and all guaranties thereof and security therefor discharged and released or assigned, rearranged and renewed as the “Second Lien Loan Documents” defined herein on terms and provisions satisfactory to the Agent. After giving effect to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the Second Lien Loan Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries

 

 

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shall have no indebtedness other than (i) Debt outstanding hereunder and under the Second Lien Loan Agreement and (ii) Debt set forth in Schedule 9.01.

(s)           The Second Lien Loan Agreement shall have been executed and delivered and the transactions contemplated thereby shall have been consummated and Borrower shall have furnished to Agent and the Lenders (i) evidence that Borrower has received, in immediately available funds, gross cash proceeds from the Second Lien Loan of $150,000,000, and (ii) certified copies of the Second Lien Loan Agreement and the Second Lien Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Intercreditor Agreement, fully executed by all parties thereto, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

(t)            Agent and the Lenders shall have received (i) satisfactory evidence of Borrower’s receipt from the Seller of unencumbered title to 100% of the equity interests of Southern G and that Southern G has good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties acquired in connection with the Acquisition, subject only to Excepted Liens and other Liens permitted by Section 9.02, (ii) such financial statements and other information in respect of the Acquired Assets, including lease operating expense statements in respect of the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G for the 2005 and 2006 years and other operating and financial information, as is reasonably available to the Borrower, which information shall not be materially inconsistent with the information previously provided to the Agent or any Lender, and (iii) satisfactory evidence that Southern G has no Debt (other than Debt arising under the Loan Documents and the Second Lien Loan Documents) and has conducted no business activities or operations other than those relating to ownership of Oil and Gas Properties acquired by it pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement by and among Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko E & P Company LP, Howell Petroleum Corporation and Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, as Seller, and Exco Resources Inc. and Southern G, as Purchaser dated as of February 1, 2007.

(u)           The Lenders shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower as of and for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most recently completed four-fiscal quarter period ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, prepared after giving effect to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the Second Lien Loan Agreement as if such transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such other financial statements), which pro forma financial statements shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Majority Lenders.

(v)           The Agent shall have received a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, from the chief financial officer of the Borrower certifying that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the Second Lien Loan Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby, are solvent.

(w)          All requisite Governmental Authorities and third parties shall have approved or consented to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets (except for any such consents routinely obtained on a post-closing basis in transactions similar to the Acquisition) and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the Second Lien Loan Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby to the extent required, all applicable appeal periods shall have expired and there shall be no litigation, governmental, administrative or judicial action, actual or threatened, that could reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent or impose burdensome conditions on any of such transactions.

 

 

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(x)           The Borrower shall have entered into Hedging Agreements establishing a commodity price hedging program consistent with the pricing assumptions contained in the financial models of the Borrower previously provided to the Lenders, such Hedging Agreements to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, and with Lenders or affiliates of Lenders or any other counterparty or counterparties acceptable to, the Agent, covering not less than 75% of the anticipated production as of the Closing Date from proved, developed, producing Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Guarantors including the Oil and Gas Properties acquired in the Acquisition through December 31, 2011.

(y)           Such other documents, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, as the Agent or any Lender or special counsel to the Agent may reasonably request, including, without limitation, (i) documentation of all environmental and title matters relating to each of the Borrower’s, each of the Guarantor’s and each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties including, without limitation, the Oil and Gas Properties of Southern G and any other Mortgaged Properties and (ii) all Material Agreements.

Section 6.02.      Initial and Subsequent Loans and Letters of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to make Loans to the Borrower upon the occasion of each borrowing hereunder and to issue, renew, extend or reissue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower and for the account of any Active Subsidiary of the Borrower (including the Initial Funding) is subject to the further conditions precedent that, as of the date of such Loans and after giving effect thereto:

 

(a)

no Default shall exist;

(b)           the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Article VII and in the Security Instruments shall be true on and as of the date of the making of such Loans or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date and following such new borrowing, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date or the Majority Lenders may expressly consent in writing to the contrary; and

(c)           after giving effect to the requested borrowing or borrowings, no Default will exist and no Default as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement will exist.

Each request for a borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a certification by the Borrower to the effect set forth in Section 6.02(b) and Section 6.02(c) (both as of the date of such notice and, unless the Borrower otherwise notifies the Agent prior to the date of and immediately following such borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit as of the date thereof).

Section 6.03.     Conditions Precedent for the Benefit of Lenders. All conditions precedent to the obligations of the Lenders to make any Loan are imposed hereby solely for the benefit of the Lenders, and no other Person may require satisfaction of any such condition precedent or be entitled to assume that the Lenders will refuse to make any Loan in the absence of strict compliance with such conditions precedent.

Section 6.04.      No Waiver. No waiver of any condition precedent shall preclude the Agent or the Lenders from requiring such condition to be met prior to making any subsequent Loan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

 

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Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that (each representation and warranty herein is given as of the Closing Date and shall be deemed repeated and reaffirmed on the dates of each borrowing and issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit as provided in Section 6.02):

Section 7.01.      Corporate Existence. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary: (i) is a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, legally existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; (ii) has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary to own its assets and carry on its business as now being or as proposed to be conducted; and (iii) is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary and where failure so to qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.02.     Financial Condition. The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statement of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended on said date, with the opinion thereon of Grant Thornton LLP heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders, are complete and correct and fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at said date and the results of its operations for such fiscal year, all in accordance with GAAP, as applied on a consistent basis (subject, in the case of the interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes). Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has on the Closing Date any material Debt, contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in the Financial Statements or in Schedule 7.02. Since the later of December 31, 2006 or the end of the most recent fiscal year for which financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.01(a), there has been no change or event having a Material Adverse Effect. Since the later of December 31, 2006 or the end of the most recent fiscal year for which financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.01(a), neither the business nor the Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have been materially and adversely affected as a result of any fire, explosion, earthquake, flood, drought, windstorm, accident, strike or other labor disturbance, embargo, requisition or taking of Property or cancellation of contracts, permits or concessions by any Governmental Authority, riot, activities of armed forces or acts of God or of any public enemy.

Section 7.03.      Litigation and Judgments. Except as disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 7.03 hereto: (i) there is no litigation, legal, administrative or arbitral proceeding, investigation or other action of any nature pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor which involves the possibility of any judgment or liability against the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor not fully covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles) or which could result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) there are no outstanding judgments against the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor.

Section 7.04.      No Breach. Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent which has not been obtained as of the Closing Date under, the respective charter, by-laws, or limited liability company agreement of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Governmental Requirement or any Material Agreement, or constitute a default under any such agreement, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the revenues or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any such agreement or instrument other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents.

 

 

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Section 7.05.      Authority. The Borrower and each Subsidiary have all necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part; and the Loan Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

Section 7.06.      Approvals. No authorizations, approvals or consents of, and no filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or any Person are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Loan Documents or for the validity or enforceability thereof, except for the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as required by this Agreement.

Section 7.07.

Use of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the Borrower to:

(a)           fund the purchase of the Acquired Assets pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement and to fund other acquisitions; and

(b)           provide for the working capital and general corporate purpose needs of the Borrower and its Active Subsidiaries.

Neither the Borrower, any Guarantor, nor any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and no part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used to buy or carry any margin stock.

 

Section 7.08.

ERISA.

(a)           The Borrower, each Subsidiary and each ERISA Affiliate have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.

(b)           Each Plan is, and has been, maintained in substantial compliance with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.

(c)           No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result in imposition on the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under Section 409 of ERISA.

(d)           No Plan (other than a defined contribution plan) or any trust created under any such Plan has been terminated since September 2, 1974. No liability to the PBGC (other than for the payment of current premiums which are not past due) by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has been or is expected by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan. No ERISA Event with respect to any Plan has occurred.

(e)           Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan, and no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to any Plan.

(f)           The actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA does not, as of the end of the Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal

 

 

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year, exceed the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4041 of ERISA.

(g)           None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without any material liability.

(h)           None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the preceding six calendar years, sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any Multiemployer Plan.

(i)            None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code due to a Plan amendment that results in an increase in current liability for the Plan.

Section 7.09.      Taxes. Except as set out in Schedule 7.09, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all material taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Borrower, adequate. No tax lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.

 

Section 7.10.

Titles, Etc.

(a)           Except as set out in Schedule 7.10, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good and defensible title to its material (individually or in the aggregate) Properties, including, without limitation, the Acquired Assets, free and clear of all Liens, except Liens permitted by Section 9.02. Except as set forth in Schedule 7.10, after giving full effect to the Excepted Liens, the Borrower owns the net interests in production attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report and the ownership of such Properties shall not in any material respect obligate the Borrower to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of each such Property in an amount in excess of the working interest of each Property set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve Report without a proportional increase in the associated net revenue interest.

(b)           All leases and agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect (including as to depths) and there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, and to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default by a third party, under any such lease or leases, which would affect in any material respect the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(c)           The rights, Properties and other assets presently owned, leased or licensed by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights, Properties and other assets necessary to permit the Borrower and its

 

 

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Subsidiaries to conduct their business in all material respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted prior to the Closing Date.

(d)           All of the assets and Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are reasonably necessary for the operation of its business are in operable working condition and are maintained in accordance with prudent business standards.

Section 7.11.     No Material Misstatements. No written information, statement, exhibit, certificate, document or report furnished to the Agent and the Lenders (or any of them) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statement contained therein not materially misleading in the light of the circumstances in which made and with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. To the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, there is no fact peculiar to the Borrower or any Subsidiary which has a Material Adverse Effect or in the future could have (so far as the Borrower can now foresee) a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been set forth in this Agreement or the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary prior to, or on, the Closing Date in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 7.12.     Investment Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Section 7.13.

Reserved.

Section 7.14.

Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.14, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries.

Section 7.15.      Location of Business and Offices. The Borrower’s principal place of business and chief executive offices are located at the address stated on the signature page of this Agreement. The principal place of business and chief executive office of each Subsidiary are located at the addresses stated on Schedule 7.14.

Section 7.16.      Defaults. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, and to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, no event or circumstance has occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default by a third party under any Material Agreement or instrument to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound which default could have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default hereunder has occurred and is continuing.

Section 7.17.      Environmental Matters. Except (i) as provided in Schedule 7.17 or (ii) as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (or with respect to (c), (d) and (e) below, where the failure to take such actions would not have a Material Adverse Effect):

(a)           Neither any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the operations conducted thereon, or any failure to act, violate any order or requirement of any court or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws;

(b)           Without limitation of clause (a) above, no Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the operations currently conducted thereon, or any failure to act, or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, by any prior owner or operator of such Property or operation, are in violation of or subject to any existing, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or

 

 

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proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or to any remedial obligations under Environmental Laws;

(c)           All notices, permits, licenses or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of any and all Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, including without limitation past or present treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous substance or solid waste into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and the Borrower and each Subsidiary are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar authorizations;

(d)           All hazardous substances, solid waste, and oil and gas exploration and production wastes, if any, generated at any and all Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have in the past been transported, treated and disposed of in accordance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, all such transport carriers and treatment and disposal facilities have been and are operating in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and are not the subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental Laws;

(e)           The Borrower has taken all steps reasonably necessary to determine and has determined that no hazardous substances, solid waste, or oil and gas exploration and production wastes, have been disposed of or otherwise released and there has been no threatened release of any hazardous substances on or to any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except in material compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment;

(f)           To the extent applicable, all Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary currently satisfies all design, operation, and equipment requirements imposed by the OPA or scheduled as of the Closing Date to be imposed by OPA during the term of this Agreement, and the Borrower does not have any reason to believe that such Property, to the extent subject to OPA, will not be able to maintain compliance with the OPA requirements during the term of this Agreement; and

(g)           Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any known contingent liability in connection with any generation, storage, release or threatened release, transportation, or disposal of any oil, hazardous substance or solid waste into the environment.

Section 7.18.      Compliance with the Law. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has violated any Governmental Requirement or failed to obtain any license, permit, franchise or other governmental authorization necessary for the ownership of any of its Properties or the conduct of its business, which violation or failure would have (in the event such violation or failure were asserted by any Person through appropriate action) a Material Adverse Effect. Except for such acts or failures to act as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (and properties unitized therewith) have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all applicable laws and all rules, regulations and orders of all duly constituted authorities having jurisdiction and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Hydrocarbon Interests and other contracts and agreements forming a part of such Oil and Gas Properties; specifically in this connection, (i) after the Closing Date, no such Oil and Gas Property is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) prior to the Closing Date and (ii) none of the wells comprising a part of such Oil and Gas Properties (or properties unitized therewith) are deviated from the vertical more than the

 

 

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maximum permitted by applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders, and such wells are, in fact, bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, such Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on properties unitized therewith, such unitized properties).

Section 7.19.      Insurance. Schedule 7.19 attached hereto contains an accurate and complete description of all material policies of fire, liability, workmen’s compensation and other forms of insurance owned or held by the Borrower and each Subsidiary. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect thereto covering all periods up to and including the Closing Date have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any such policy. Such policies are sufficient for compliance with all requirements of law and of all agreements to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party; are valid, outstanding and enforceable policies; provide adequate insurance coverage in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Borrower and each Subsidiary; will remain in full force and effect through the respective dates set forth in Schedule 7.19 without the payment of additional premiums; and will not in any way be affected by, or terminate or lapse by reason of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Schedule 7.19 identifies all material risks, if any, which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective Board of Directors or officers have designated as being self insured, including any potential environmental liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether for property damage, personal injury, remediation, or enforcement matters. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has been refused any insurance with respect to its assets or operations, nor has its coverage been limited below usual and customary policy limits, by an insurance carrier to which it has applied for any such insurance or with which it has carried insurance during the last three years. All such policies name Agent as additional insured, loss payee, and contain endorsements for no cancellation thereof without thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Agent and the Lenders on all such policies.

Section 7.20.     Hedging Agreements. Schedule 7.20 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value thereof, all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied), and the counter party to each such agreement.

Section 7.21.      Restriction on Liens. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or arrangement (other than the Second Lien Loan Agreement, the Loan Documents (as defined in such agreement), this Agreement and the Security Instruments), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to other Persons on or in respect of their respective assets or Properties, except such restrictions in favor of the holders of Debt secured by Liens described in Sections 9.01(d), 9.01(e), or 9.01(k) but only insofar as such restrictions pertain to the Property encumbered thereby.

Section 7.22.      Material Agreements. Set forth on Schedule 7.22 hereto is a complete and correct list of all material agreements, leases (other than Hydrocarbon Interests), indentures, purchase agreements, obligations in respect of letters of credit, guarantees, joint venture agreements, and other instruments in effect or to be in effect as of the Closing Date (other than Hedging Agreements) providing for, evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to any Debt of the Borrower, the Guarantors or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, and all obligations of the Borrower, the Guarantors or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries to issuers of surety or appeal bonds issued for account of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, and such list correctly sets forth the names of the debtor or lessee and creditor or lessor with respect to the Debt or lease obligations outstanding or to be outstanding and the Property subject to any Lien securing such Debt or lease obligation. Also set forth on Schedule 7.22 hereto is a complete and correct list of all material agreements and other instruments of the Borrower, the Guarantors and

 

 

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Borrower’s Subsidiaries relating to the purchase, transportation by pipeline, gas processing, marketing, sale and supply of natural gas and other Hydrocarbons, but in any event, any such agreement or other instrument that will account for more than 10% of the consolidated sales of the Borrower, the Guarantors and any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries during the Borrower’s current fiscal year and which is not cancelable on thirty (30) or fewer days notice.

Section 7.23.      Solvency. Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and each of the Guarantors and with respect to its Subsidiaries and the Guarantors, after taking into account each Subsidiary’s and Guarantor’s rights of contribution, on an individual and a consolidated basis, are not insolvent; Borrower’s, its Subsidiaries’ and each of the Guarantors’ assets and with respect to its Subsidiaries and the Guarantors, after taking into account each Subsidiary’s and Guarantor’s rights of contribution on an individual and a consolidated basis, exceed their liabilities, and neither Borrower, the Guarantors, nor any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Guarantors and with respect to its Subsidiaries and the Guarantors, after taking into account each Subsidiary’s and Guarantor’s rights of contribution will be rendered insolvent by the execution and performance of this Agreement and the Loan Documents.

Section 7.24.      Gas Imbalances. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.24 or on the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.07(c), on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which (taken together with the imbalances, take or pay, or other prepayments on Schedule 7.24 or such certificate) would require the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to deliver, in the aggregate, after netting all over-production and under-production, three percent (3%) or more of the total volumes of proved, producing reserves of Hydrocarbons (calculated on an mcf equivalent basis with each barrel of oil being equivalent to six mcf of natural gas) reflected in the Initial Reserve Reports or the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 8.07, as the case may be, from the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor.

Section 7.25.      Madisonville. The Initial Reserve Reports do not (nor will any future Reserve Report) include Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries through its or their interests in Madisonville.

 

Section 7.26.

Intentionally Omitted.

Section 7.27.    Name Changes. Borrower’s official name as recorded on its currently effective organizational documents which are filed with the Secretary of State of its State of organization is the same as found on the signature page of this Agreement. Borrower has not, during the preceding five years, entered into any contract, agreement, security instrument or other document using a name other than, or been known by or otherwise used any name other than, the name used by Borrower herein and as set forth on Schedule 7.27 attached hereto.

Section 7.28.      Taxpayer Identification Number. Borrower’s Taxpayer Identification No. is 87-0444770 and each Subsidiary’s Taxpayer Identification No. is set forth on Schedule 7.14. Each Guarantor’s Taxpayer Identification No. is as set forth on Schedule 7.28.

Section 7.29.      State of Formation. Borrower is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Subsidiaries are corporations, limited liability corporations, or partnerships organized under the laws of the states set forth on Schedule 7.14. Each Guarantor’s state of organization is as set forth on Schedule 7.28.

 

 

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Affirmative Covenants

The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of all Loans hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder:

Section 8.01.      Reporting Requirements. The Borrower shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to the Agent with sufficient copies of each for the Lenders:

(a)           Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, changes in financial position and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, and the related consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year, and accompanied by the related unqualified opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing acceptable to the Agent, which opinion shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for, such fiscal year and that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for such changes in such principles with which the independent public accountants shall have concurred and such opinion shall not contain a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, accompanied by the certificate of a Responsible Officer, which certificate shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, as at the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments), together with calculations confirming the Borrower’s compliance with all financial covenants, certified by a senior financial officer of Borrower.

(b)           Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarterly periods of each fiscal year of the Borrower, consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, changes in financial position and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period and for the period from the beginning of the respective fiscal year to the end of such period, and the related consolidated balance sheets as at the end of such period, and setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by the certificate of a Responsible Officer, which certificate shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, as at the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments), together with calculations confirming the Borrower’s compliance with all financial covenants, certified by a senior financial officer of Borrower.

(c)           Capital Plan and Operating Budget. As soon as available and in any event within seventy-five (75) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, the Borrower’s capital plan and operating budget for the succeeding fiscal year.

(d)           Notice of Default, Etc. Promptly after the Borrower knows that any Default or any Material Adverse Effect has occurred, a notice of such Default or Material Adverse Effect, describing the same in reasonable detail and the action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

 

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(e)           Other Accounting Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each other report or letter submitted to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including any reference to environmental matters, and a copy of any response by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or the Board of Directors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, to such letter or report.

(f)           SEC Filings, Etc. Promptly upon its becoming available, each financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Borrower to stockholders generally and each regular or periodic report and any registration statement, prospectus or written communication (other than transmittal letters) in respect thereof filed by the Borrower with or received by the Borrower in connection therewith from any securities exchange or the SEC or any successor agency.

(g)           Notices Under Other Loan Agreements. Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement, report or notice furnished to any Person pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or other similar agreement, other than this Agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 8.01.

(h)           Production Reports. As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter, a quarterly production report including volumes, revenue, and lease operating expenses attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base.

(i)            Hedging Agreements. As soon as available and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the last day of each calendar quarter, a report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, setting forth as of the last Business Day of such calendar quarter a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value therefor.

(j)            Other Matters. From time to time such other information regarding the business, affairs or financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and any reports or other information required to be filed under ERISA) as any Lender or the Agent may reasonably request.

(k)           Electronic Delivery. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and (f) of this Section 8.01 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent); provided, however, that (x) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Agent or such Lender and (y) the Borrower shall notify the Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the compliance certificates required by paragraph (1) of this Section 8.01 to the Agent.

 

 

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(l)            The Borrower will furnish to the Agent, at the time it furnishes each set of financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C executed by a Responsible Officer (i) certifying as to the matters set forth therein and stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if any Default has occurred and is continuing, describing the same in reasonable detail), and (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail the computations necessary to determine whether the Borrower is in compliance with Sections 9.12, 9.13, 9.14, and 9.15, as of the end of the respective fiscal quarter or fiscal year.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (i) the Agent may make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Company Materials”) by posting the Company Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (ii) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Company Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Company Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Agent and the Lenders to treat such Company Materials as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws; (y) all Company Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat Company Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

Section 8.02.      Litigation. The Borrower shall promptly give to the Agent notice of: (i) all legal or arbitral proceedings, and of all proceedings before any Governmental Authority to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party and to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, all legal or arbitral proceedings and all proceedings before any Governmental Authority affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except proceedings which, if adversely determined, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) of any litigation or proceeding against or adversely affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary in which the amount involved is not covered in full by insurance (subject to normal and customary deductibles and for which the insurer has not assumed the defense), or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly notify the Agent and each of the Lenders of all claims, judgments, Liens or other encumbrances affecting any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary if the value of the claims, judgments, Liens, or other encumbrances affecting such Property shall exceed $2,500,000.00 in the aggregate.

 

Section 8.03.

Maintenance, Etc.

(a)           Generally. The Borrower shall and shall cause each Subsidiary to: preserve and maintain its corporate existence and all of its material rights, privileges and franchises; keep books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or transactions in relation to its business and activities; comply with all Governmental Requirements if failure to comply with such requirements will have a Material Adverse Effect; pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or on any of its Property prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained; upon reasonable notice, permit representatives of the Agent or any Lender, during normal business hours, to examine, copy and make extracts from its books and records, to inspect its Properties, and to discuss its business and affairs with its officers, all to the extent reasonably requested by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be); and keep, or cause to be kept, insured by financially sound and reputable insurers all Property of a character usually insured by

 

 

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Persons engaged in the same or similar business similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against by such Persons and carry such other insurance as is usually carried by such Persons including, without limitation, environmental risk insurance to the extent reasonably available, or provide adequate reserves for self-insurance for any contingent environmental liability. The Borrower shall promptly obtain endorsements to such insurance policies naming “Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent for the Lenders” as joint loss payee, additional insured, and containing provisions that such policies will not be canceled without 30 days’ prior written notice having been given by the insurance company to the Agent (and not that the insurance company will merely endeavor to give the Agent 30 days’ prior written notice prior to cancellation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower shall be allowed to dissolve and liquidate any Inactive Subsidiary; provided that any assets available for distribution following such dissolution and liquidation are distributed to the Borrower or an Active Subsidiary. No assets can be transferred to any Inactive Subsidiary once it reaches inactive status without the prior written consent of the Agent, nor can any Inactive Subsidiary, once it reaches inactive status, make any investments, loans, or advances.

(b)           Proof of Insurance. Contemporaneously with the delivery of the financial statements required by Section 8.01(a) to be delivered for each year, the Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent and the Lenders a certificate of insurance coverage from the insurer in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and, if requested, will furnish the Agent and the Lenders copies of the applicable policies.

(c)           Operation of Properties. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to operate its Properties or cause such Properties to be operated in a safe, careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry, in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements, including the Environmental Laws.

(d)           Oil and Gas Properties. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to, at its own expense, do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency all of its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities, and from time to time will make all the reasonably necessary repairs, renewals and replacements so that at all times the state and condition of its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties will be fully preserved and maintained, except to the extent a portion of such Properties is no longer capable of producing Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to promptly: (i) pay and discharge, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all delay rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Oil and Gas Properties, (ii) perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties, (iii) cause each Subsidiary to do all other things necessary to keep unimpaired, except for Liens described in Section 9.02, its rights with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties and prevent any forfeiture thereof or a default thereunder, except to the extent a portion of such Properties is no longer capable of producing Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts and except for dispositions permitted by Sections 9.16 and 9.17. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties or cause or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties to be operated in a safe, careful, and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts

 

 

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and agreements and in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements, including the Environmental Laws.

 

Section 8.04.

Environmental Matters.

(a)           Establishment of Procedures. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to assure that any failure of the following does not have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) all Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the operations conducted thereon and other activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with and do not violate the requirements of any Environmental Laws, (ii) no oil, hazardous substances or solid wastes are disposed of or otherwise released on or to any Property owned by any such party except in compliance with Environmental Laws, (iii) no hazardous substance will be released on or to any such Property in a quantity equal to or exceeding that quantity which requires reporting pursuant to Section 103 of CERCLA, and (iv) no oil, oil and gas exploration and production wastes or hazardous substance is released on or to any such Property so as to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment. Upon request from the Agent, the Borrower will notify the Agent and the Lenders in writing of such environmental procedures as are in effect for each Property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis.

(b)           Notice of Action. The Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and the Lenders in writing within 30 days of such notice of any threatened action, investigation or inquiry against or of the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary by any Governmental Authority of which the Borrower has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws and which, if resolved adversely to the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary, could have a Material Adverse Effect, excluding routine testing, but including corrective action.

(c)           Cure of Environmental Noncompliance. The Borrower shall cure any material environmental noncompliance or exceptions to any of the Mortgaged Properties or, if requested by Agent, substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties with no environmental noncompliance of an equivalent value by the execution of documents in form and substance satisfactory to Agent (together with evidence satisfactory to Agent of a first priority deed of trust lien and security interest in such Mortgaged Properties, which may include opinions of counsel at the request of Agent), within 30 days after a request by the Agent or the Lenders to cure such defects or exceptions.

(d)           Future Acquisitions. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to obtain such Phase I environmental audits as would a reasonable and prudent purchaser of oil and gas properties in the vicinity of the Oil and Gas Properties being acquired in connection with any future acquisitions of material Oil and Gas Properties or other material Properties. Such environmental audits shall be performed by scientifically trained USA-graduate professional engineers and professional geologists who are licensed in one or more states of the USA, and shall be performed in accordance with applicable best professional standards, including the American Society for Testing Material standards, and, in addition to CERCLA, shall also address all hazardous substances under all other Environmental Laws.

Section 8.05.      Further Assurances. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to cure promptly any defects in the creation and issuance of the Notes and the execution and delivery of the Security Instruments and this Agreement. The Borrower at its expense will and will cause each Subsidiary to promptly execute and deliver to the Agent upon request all such other documents, agreements and instruments to comply with or accomplish the covenants and agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, in the Security Instruments and this Agreement, or to further evidence and more fully describe the collateral intended as security for the Notes, or to correct any omissions in the Security Instruments, or to state more fully the security obligations set out herein or in any of the Security

 

 

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Instruments, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to any of the Security Instruments, or to make any recordings, to file any notices or obtain any consents, all as may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith.

Section 8.06.      Performance of Obligations. The Borrower will pay the Notes according to the reading, tenor and effect thereof; and the Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to do and perform every act and discharge all of the obligations to be performed and discharged by them under the Security Instruments and this Agreement, at the time or times and in the manner specified.

 

Section 8.07.

Engineering Reports.

(a)           Not less than forty-five (45) days prior to each Scheduled Redetermination Date, commencing with the Scheduled Redetermination Date to occur on November 1, 2007, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report. The Reserve Report for the May 1 redetermination shall be prepared by certified independent petroleum engineers or other independent petroleum consultant(s) acceptable to the Agent and the Reserve Report for the November 1 redetermination shall be prepared by or under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower who shall certify such Reserve Report to be true and accurate and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately proceeding May 1 Reserve Report. Within 45 days after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report prepared by Netherland Sewell & Associates, Inc. or other independent petroleum consultant(s) acceptable to the Agent with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G as of January 1, 2007, which Reserve Report shall update and supplement the audit report on such Oil and Gas Properties described in the definition of Initial Reserve Reports and provide information with respect to such Oil and Gas Properties consistent with that to be provided in the Reserve Report for each May 1 redetermination. In addition, Borrower shall furnish to the Agent and the Lenders all Engineering Reports (as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement) required to be delivered under the Second Lien Loan Agreement, concurrently with the delivery of such Engineering Reports to the Administrative Agent under the Second Lien Loan Agreement.

(b)           In the event of an unscheduled redetermination, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report prepared by or under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower who shall certify such Reserve Report to be true and accurate and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding Reserve Report. For any unscheduled redetermination requested by the Majority Lenders or the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.08(d), the Borrower shall provide such Reserve Report with an “as of” date as required by the Agent as soon as possible, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days following the receipt of the request by the Agent.

(c)           With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Agent and the Lenders, a certificate from a Responsible Officer certifying that, to the best of his knowledge and in all material respects: (i) the historical information delivered in connection therewith to the preparers of such report is true and correct, (ii) the Borrower and the Active Subsidiaries own good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report and such Properties are free of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 9.02, and such Properties comply with all Environmental Laws except for Environmental Matters permitted by Section 7.17, (iii) except as set forth on an Exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report which would require the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (iv) none of its Oil and Gas Properties have been sold since the date of the last Borrowing Base determination except as set

 

 

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forth on an Exhibit to the certificate, which certificate shall list all of its Oil and Gas Properties sold and in such detail as reasonably required by the Agent, (v) attached to the certificate is a list of its Oil and Gas Properties added to and deleted from the immediately prior Reserve Report and a list showing any change in working interest or net revenue interest in its Oil and Gas Properties occurring and the reason for such change, (vi) attached to the certificate is a list of all Persons disbursing proceeds to the Borrower from its Oil and Gas Properties and (vii) except as set forth on a schedule attached to the certificate all of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report are Mortgaged Property.

 

Section 8.08.

Title Information and Mortgage Coverage.

(a)           Delivery. On or before the delivery to the Agent and the Lenders of each Reserve Report required by Section 8.07(a), the Borrower will deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the Agent covering enough of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that were not included in the immediately preceding Reserve Report, so that the Agent shall have received together with title information previously delivered to the Agent, satisfactory title information on at least eighty percent (80%) of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report.

(b)           Cure of Title Defects. The Borrower shall cure any title defects or exceptions which are not Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 9.02 raised by such information, or substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties with no title defects or exceptions except for Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 9.02 covering Mortgaged Properties of an equivalent value, within 90 days after a request by the Agent or the Lenders to cure such defects or exceptions.

(c)           Failure to Cure Title Defects. If the Borrower is unable to cure any title defect requested by the Agent or the Lenders to be cured within the 90-day period or the Borrower does not comply with the requirements to provide acceptable title information covering eighty percent (80%) of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report, such default shall not be a Default or an Event of Default, but instead the Agent and the Lenders shall have the right to exercise the following remedy in their sole discretion from time to time, and any failure to so exercise this remedy at any time shall not be a waiver as to future exercise of the remedy by the Agent or the Lenders. To the extent that the Agent or the Lenders are not satisfied with title to any Mortgaged Property after the time period in Section 8.08(b) has elapsed, such unacceptable Mortgaged Property shall not count towards the eighty percent (80%) requirement, and the Agent may send a notice to the Borrower and the Lenders that the then outstanding Borrowing Base shall be reduced by an amount as determined by all of the Lenders to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the requirement to provide acceptable title information on eighty percent (80%) of the value of such proved Oil and Gas Properties. This new Borrowing Base shall become effective immediately after receipt of such notice.

 

Section 8.09.

Collateral.

(a)           Collateral. The Obligations shall be secured by a perfected first priority Lien (subject only to Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 9.02) granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Beneficiaries in substantially all of the proved Oil and Gas Properties currently owned and hereafter acquired by the Borrower and/or any of its Active Subsidiaries plus all other assets, exclusive of certificated vehicles, of the Borrower and/or any of its Active Subsidiaries now owned or hereafter acquired.

(b)           Lien in Acquired Oil and Gas Properties. Should the Borrower or any of its Active Subsidiaries acquire any additional Oil and Gas Properties or additional interests in its

 

 

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existing Oil and Gas Properties, to the extent required by Section 8.09(a), the Borrower or such Subsidiary will grant to the Agent as security for the Obligations a first-priority Lien interest (subject only to Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 9.02) on the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s interest in the proved Oil and Gas Properties acquired, which Lien will be created and perfected by and in accordance with the provisions of mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements and financing statements, or other Security Instruments, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion exercised in good faith and in sufficient executed (and acknowledged where necessary or appropriate) counterparts for recording purposes.

(c)           Title Information. Concurrently with the granting of the Lien or other action referred to in Section 8.09(b) above, if requested by the Agent, the Borrower will provide to the Agent title information in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion exercised in good faith with respect to the Borrower’s interests in such Oil and Gas Properties.

(d)           Legal Opinions. Also, promptly after the filing of any new Security Instrument in any state, upon the request of the Agent, the Borrower will provide to the Agent an opinion addressed to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and Agent’s counsel in their sole discretion, from counsel acceptable to Agent and Agent’s counsel, stating that the Security Instrument creates a valid Lien and is valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms in legally sufficient form for such jurisdiction, and the means by which to perfect the Lien created by such Security Instruments.

Section 8.10.      Cash Collateral Account Agreement. Upon the occurrence of a Default, the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries shall cause all proceeds arising from its Oil and Gas Properties, including without limitation from the sale of Hydrocarbons, to be directed to a Lockbox (and in connection therewith, Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries shall execute a Lockbox Agreement and financing statements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) pursuant to letters acceptable to the Agent stating that such directions may not be changed without the written consent of the Agent. The Cash Collateral Account Agreement and the Liens and security interests established in such Cash Collateral Account Agreement will continue until all the Obligations under this Agreement are paid in full and this Agreement is terminated.

Section 8.11.

[Reserved.]

Section 8.12.      ERISA Information and Compliance. The Borrower will promptly furnish and will cause the Subsidiaries and any ERISA Affiliate to promptly furnish to the Agent with sufficient copies to the Lenders (i) promptly after the filing thereof with the United States Secretary of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC, copies of each annual and other report with respect to each Plan or any trust created thereunder, (ii) immediately upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any ERISA Event or of any “prohibited transaction,” as described in Section 406 of ERISA or in Section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder, a written notice signed by a Responsible Officer specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, the Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto, and (iii) immediately upon receipt thereof, copies of any notice of the PBGC’s intention to terminate or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan. With respect to each Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan), the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary and ERISA Affiliate to, (i) satisfy in full and in a timely manner, without incurring any late payment or underpayment charge or penalty and without giving rise to any lien, all of the contribution and funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code (determined without regard to subsections (d), (e), (f) and (k) thereof) and of Section 302 of ERISA (determined without regard to sections 303, 304 and 306 of ERISA), and (ii) pay, or cause to be paid, to the PBGC in a timely manner,

 

 

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without incurring any late payment or underpayment charge or penalty, all premiums required pursuant to sections 4006 and 4007 of ERISA.

Section 8.13.      Joinder and Guaranty Agreements. The Borrower and each of its Active Subsidiaries will cause each of their Active Subsidiaries, whether newly formed, hereafter acquired, or otherwise existing, upon the creation or acquisition thereof, to become a Guarantor hereunder by way of a Joinder Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit G, a Guaranty Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit H, a Contribution Agreement by and among the Borrower and all Guarantors, and the execution of mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, pledges, and any other instruments in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and in Agent’s sole discretion covering all of such Subsidiaries’ assets as security for the Obligations, together with evidence satisfactory to the Agent, in Agent’s sole discretion, that all such collateral will be subject to a perfected first Lien on such collateral, exclusive of certificated vehicles, in favor of the Agent, with only such Liens or other encumbrances of any kind on such collateral permitted by Section 9.02 or otherwise permitted by the Agent.

Negative Covenants

The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of Loans hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders:

Section 9.01.      Debt. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Debt, except (with respect to the Borrower and any Active Subsidiary):

(a)           the Notes or other Obligations or any guaranty of or suretyship arrangement for the Notes or other Obligations (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit any Inactive Subsidiary from executing a guaranty of, or entering a suretyship arrangement for, the Notes or other Obligations);

(b)           Debt of the Borrower or a Subsidiary (other than Southern G) existing on the Closing Date which is reflected in the Financial Statements or is disclosed in Schedule 9.01, and any renewals or extensions (but not increases) thereof;

(c)           accounts payable (for the deferred purchase price of Property or services), amounts owed to operators of the Hydrocarbon Interests under applicable joint operating agreements or other extensions of credit from suppliers or contractors from time to time incurred in the ordinary course of business which, if greater than 90 days past the invoice or billing date, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if reserves adequate under GAAP shall have been established therefor;

(d)           purchase money Debt of the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary and Debt under capital leases (as required to be reported on the financial statements of the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary pursuant to GAAP) not to exceed $5,000,000.00 in the aggregate;

(e)           Debt associated with bonds or surety obligations required by Governmental Requirements in connection with the operation of the Oil and Gas Properties, not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate;

(f)           Debt of the Borrower and its Active Subsidiaries under Hedging Agreements, but only if (i) such Hedging Agreement is not a speculative hedge and is otherwise permitted under Section 9.28; (ii) the provider of the Hedging Agreements is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an unsecured counterparty acceptable to the Agent;

 

 

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(g)           Debt among the Borrower and its Active Subsidiaries, or among the Active Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent permitted under Section 9.03(g), in the form of intercompany advances not evidenced by notes or other instruments, in each case as long as such Active Subsidiary is a Guarantor under this Agreement;

 

(h)

Accrued FAS 143 asset retirement obligations;

(i)            Revenue suspense accounts with respect to the Borrower’s or any Active Subsidiary’s Hydrocarbon Interests;

(j)            Debt not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.01, which does not exceed at any time an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000.00; and

(k)           Debt incurred by the Borrower pursuant to the Second Lien Loan Agreement and any guarantees thereof by any of the Guarantors; provided that, unless otherwise consented to by all of the Lenders, (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Debt shall not exceed an amount equal to $150,000,000.00 less any prepayments of principal made with respect thereto (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to permit any payment or prepayment of such Debt which is prohibited under Section 9.29 of this Agreement), (ii) the maturity date of any debt due thereunder shall be at least twelve months following the Revolving Credit Termination Date, (iii) such Debt and the holders thereof shall at all times be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iv) such Debt shall not have any principal amortization prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

Section 9.02.      Liens. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired), except (with respect to the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary):

(a)           Liens securing the payment of any Obligations (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit any Inactive Subsidiary from granting Liens to secure the Obligations);

(b)           Excepted Liens (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit any Inactive Subsidiary from creating, incurring, assuming, or permitting to exist any Excepted Liens on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired));

(c)           Liens securing purchase money Debt permitted by Section 9.01(d) only to the extent such Liens encumber the Property for which such purchase money Debt was incurred, and Liens filed as precautionary financing statements in connection with leases allowed under Section 9.01(d) but only on the Property under the Lease, or filed as precautionary financing statements in connection with operating leases, but only on the Property under lease;

 

(d)

Liens disclosed on Schedule 9.02;

(e)           Liens on cash or securities of the Borrower securing the Debt described in Section 9.01(e); and

(f)           Liens securing the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors under the Second Lien Loan Agreement and the other Second Lien Loan Documents; provided that, such Liens shall not encumber any Property that is not subject to a first priority Lien in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Lenders to secure the Obligations, and such Liens shall be subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to Liens in favor of the Lenders to secure the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

 

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Section 9.03.      Investments, Loans and Advances. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will make or permit to remain outstanding any loans or advances to or investments in any Person, except that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (with respect to the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary):

(a)           investments, loans or advances reflected in the Financial Statements or which are disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 9.03;

 

(b)

accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;

(c)           direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof, or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in each case maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof;

(d)           commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof rated in the highest grade by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.;

(e)           deposits maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, any Lender or any office located in the United States of any other bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $500,000,000 (as of the date of such Lender’s or bank or trust company’s most recent financial reports) and has a short term deposit rating of no lower than A2 or P2, as such rating is set forth from time to time, by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., respectively;

(f)           deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in investments described in Section 9.03(c), 9.03(d) or 9.03(e);

(g)          investments, loans or advances made by the Borrower in or to its Active Subsidiaries and investments, loans or advances made by any Active Subsidiary in or to the Borrower or another Active Subsidiary, in each case as long as such Active Subsidiary is a Guarantor under this Agreement.

(h)           advances to employees of the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary for the payment of expenses in the ordinary course of business, not to exceed $100,000.00 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(i)           other investments, loans or advances not to exceed $5,000,000.00 in the aggregate at any time; and

 

(j)

Hedging Agreements permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 9.01(f).

(k)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, on or after the date hereof neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will make any additional loans or advances to or investments in Madisonville or any Inactive Subsidiary.

Section 9.04.      Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions. The Borrower will not declare or pay any dividend, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value any of its stock now or hereafter outstanding (excluding dividends payable solely in shares of capital stock and cashless exercise of warrants or stock options), return any capital to its stockholders or make any distribution of its assets to its stockholders.

Section 9.05.     Sales and Leasebacks. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and whereby the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall then or thereafter rent or lease as lessee such Property or any part thereof or other

 

 

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Property which the Borrower or any Subsidiary intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property sold or transferred.

Section 9.06.      Nature of Business. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will allow any material change to be made in the character of its business as an oil and gas exploration and production company.

Section 9.07.      Limitation on Leases. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any obligation for the payment of rent or hire of Property of any kind whatsoever (real or personal, but excluding capital leases, leases of Hydrocarbon Interests, and other leases of oil and gas field production equipment entered into in the ordinary course of business), under leases or lease agreements which would cause the aggregate amount of all payments made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to all such lease or lease agreements to exceed $2,500,000 in any period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months during the life of such leases.

Section 9.08.      Mergers, Acquisitions, Etc. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will acquire assets or all or any part of any other Person, or merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person unless (x) the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall be the surviving entity in such transaction; (y) substantially all of the assets of such Person shall consist of domestic undeveloped Hydrocarbon Interests or domestic developed Oil and Gas Properties; and (z) no Event of Default under Section 10.01(l) shall result therefrom, or sell, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property or assets to any other Person other than the Borrower or an Active Subsidiary; provided, however, nothing shall prohibit Borrower or any Active Subsidiary from: (i) acquiring (a) any domestic undeveloped Hydrocarbon Interests, (b) domestic developed Oil and Gas Properties or (c) all of the outstanding capital stock of a Person, substantially all of the Property of which consists of domestic undeveloped Hydrocarbon Interests or domestic developed Oil and Gas Properties, so long as Borrower or such Active Subsidiary pledges and/or mortgages to the Lenders substantially all such developed Oil and Gas Properties or all capital stock acquired pursuant thereto by execution of documents in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion, granting perfected, first priority Liens and security interests in such Oil and Gas Properties subject only to Excepted Liens, Liens otherwise permitted by Section 9.02 and other Liens acceptable to the Majority Lenders; or (ii) merging (after having given Agent thirty (30) days prior written notice) (a) any Active or Inactive Subsidiary into another Active Subsidiary or (b) any Guarantor into Borrower. Notwithstanding the preceding, any transaction pursuant to this Section 9.08 shall not be permitted unless at the time of such transaction (A) both before and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (B) the Borrower would be in compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 9.13, Section 9.14 and Section 9.15 as of the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to such transaction for which the financial statements required by Section 8.01(a) or (b), as the case may be have been delivered or for which comparable financial statements have been filed with the SEC, after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and to any other event occurring after the commencement of such period as to which pro forma recalculation is appropriate as if such transaction had occurred as of the first day of such period.

Section 9.09.      Proceeds of Notes; Letters of Credit. The Borrower will not permit the proceeds of the Notes or Letters of Credit to be used for any purpose other than those permitted by Section 7.07. Neither the Borrower nor any Person acting on behalf of the Borrower has taken or will take any action which might cause any of the Loan Documents to violate Regulation T, U or X or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation thereunder, in each case as now in effect or as the same may hereinafter be in effect.

Section 9.10.

ERISA Compliance. The Borrower will not at any time:

 

 

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(a)           Engage in, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to engage in, any transaction in connection with which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;

(b)           Terminate, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to terminate, any Plan in a manner, or take any other action with respect to any Plan, which could result in any liability to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC;

(c)           Fail to make, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to fail to make, full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto;

(d)           Permit to exist, or allow any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to permit to exist, any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, with respect to any Plan;

(e)           Permit, or allow any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to permit, the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under any Plan maintained by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate which is regulated under Title IV of ERISA to exceed the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4041 of ERISA;

(f)           Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, any Multiemployer Plan;

(g)           Acquire, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to acquire, an interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA Affiliate with respect to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate if such Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the six-year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, (1) any Multiemployer Plan, or (2) any other Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA under which the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under such Plan exceeds the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities;

(h)           Incur, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to incur, a liability to or on account of a Plan under sections 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA;

(i)            Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time without any material liability; or

(j)            Amend or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to amend, a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability such that the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.

Section 9.11.      Sale or Discount of Receivables. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will discount or sell (with or without recourse) any of its notes receivable or accounts receivable (other than a settlement on an account receivable in the ordinary course of business).

 

 

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Section 9.12.      Capital Expenditures. The Borrower will not make (or permit any Subsidiaries to make) any expenditures for fixed or capital assets unless: (a) in the ordinary course of business and (b) it does not violate the provisions of Section 9.08.

Section 9.13.      Current Ratio. The Borrower will not permit its ratio of (i) consolidated Current Assets (including, without limitation, Borrowing Base availability for general corporate purposes) to (ii) consolidated Current Liabilities (excluding current maturities of the Notes) to be less than 1.00 to 1.00 at any time. The current ratio shall be calculated and tested quarterly as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of Borrower, beginning with the quarter ending June 30, 2007. As used in this Section 9.13, “Current Assets” shall have the meaning of such term as defined by GAAP, except any availability under the Borrowing Base shall be included in the definition of Current Assets and “Current Liabilities” shall have the meaning of such term as defined by GAAP, except that current maturities of the Notes shall be excluded from Current Liabilities. Current asset or liability accounts associated with Hedging Agreements will be excluded from calculations of the current ratio.

Section 9.14.      Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit its Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower (calculated quarterly at the end of each fiscal quarter commencing with fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007) to be greater than (i) for the fiscal quarters ending on or before December 31, 2007, 3.50 to 1.00, (ii) for the fiscal quarters ending after December 31, 2007 and ending on or before after June 30, 2008, 3.25 to 1.00, and (iii) for the fiscal quarters ending after June 30, 2008, 2.75 to 1.00. For the purposes of this Section 9.14, “Leverage Ratio” shall mean the ratio of (i) total Debt as of such date of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, to (ii) EBITDAX of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarters ending on such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.14, EBITDAX as of June 30, 2007 shall be calculated as EBITDAX for the two-quarter period ending on such date multiplied by two (2); and EBITDAX as of September 30, 2007, shall be calculated as EBITDAX for the three-quarter period ending on such date multiplied by four (4) and divided by three (3).

Section 9.15.      Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit its Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower (calculated quarterly at the end of each fiscal quarter commencing with fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007) to be less than 3.00 to 1.00. For the purposes of this Section 9.15, “Interest Coverage Ratio” shall mean the ratio of (i) EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarters ending on such date to (ii) interest expense for such four fiscal quarters of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.15, EBITDAX and interest expense as of June 30, 2007, shall be calculated as EBITDAX and interest expense for the quarter ending on such date multiplied by four (4); EBITDAX and interest expense as of September 30, 2007, shall be calculated as EBITDAX and interest expense for the two-quarter period ending on such date multiplied by two (2); and EBITDAX and interest expense as of December 31, 2007, shall be calculated as EBITDAX and interest expense for the three-quarter period ending on such date multiplied by four (4) and divided by three (3).

Section 9.16.      Sale of Mortgaged Properties. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, convey or otherwise transfer any Mortgaged Property or any interest in any Mortgaged Property, except for Mortgaged Property for which the Borrower has given the Agent at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of the proposed transfer and which shall not exceed $5,000,000.00 in the aggregate in between any two consecutive Redetermination Dates.

Section 9.17.      Sale of Oil and Gas Properties. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, farm-out, convey or otherwise transfer any Oil and Gas Property or any interest in any Oil and Gas Property except for (i) the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business; (ii) farmouts of undeveloped acreage and assignments in connection with such farmouts; (iii) the sale or transfer of equipment that is no longer necessary for the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or is contemporaneously replaced by equipment of at least comparable value and use and (iv) sales in the

 

 

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ordinary course of business of Oil and Gas Properties that are not Mortgaged Properties, which shall not exceed $1,000,000.00 in the aggregate in between any two consecutive Redetermination Dates.

Section 9.18.      Environmental Matters. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will cause or permit any of its Property to be in violation of, or do anything or permit anything to be done which will cause from any Property any actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, release, escape, emission, transportation, disposal, seepage, exposure, consumption, or contact (collectively, “Releases”) of, with, to, or from any hazardous substance under any Environmental Laws, subject any Property to any enforcement action under any Environmental Laws by any Governmental Authority or lawsuit at any Property relating to hazardous substances, or subject any such Property to any remedial obligations by any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Laws, assuming disclosure to the applicable Governmental Authority of all relevant facts, conditions and circumstances, if any, pertaining to such Property where such Releases, violations or remedial obligations would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 9.19.      Transactions with Affiliates. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate unless such transactions are otherwise permitted under this Agreement, are in the ordinary course of its business and are upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to it than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

Section 9.20.      Subsidiaries. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, create any additional Subsidiaries except in compliance with Sections 8.13 and 9.24. The Borrower shall not and shall not permit any Subsidiary to sell or to issue any stock or ownership interest of a Subsidiary, except to the Borrower or any Guarantor and except in compliance with Section 9.03.

Section 9.21.      Negative Pledge Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any contract, agreement or understanding (other than this Agreement, the Security Instruments, the Second Lien Loan Agreement and the Second Lien Loan Documents) which in any way prohibits or restricts the granting, conveying, creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its Property or restricts any Subsidiary from paying dividends to the Borrower, or which requires the consent of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith, except such restrictions in favor of the holders of Debt secured by Liens described in Sections 9.01(d), 9.01(e) and 9.01(k), but only insofar as such restrictions pertain to the Property encumbered thereby.

Section 9.22.      Take-or-Pay or Other Prepayments. The Borrower will not enter into any take-or-pay agreements with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor which would require the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any Guarantor to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from its Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor in an amount which would result in the failure of the representation and warranty set forth in Section 7.24 to be true and correct at all times.

Section 9.23.      Ownership of Subsidiaries. The Borrower shall not fail to pledge, assign, deliver, and transfer to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, and grant to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing security interest in one hundred percent (100%) of the stock or other ownership interests in the Subsidiaries existing as of the date hereof and any Subsidiaries the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall create, acquire or otherwise own hereafter.

Section 9.24.     Change in Borrower’s, any of its Subsidiaries’ or any Guarantor’s Name or State of Formation. Without the prior written approval of Agent, (a) Borrower will not (nor permit any Subsidiary or Guarantor to) change its name, identity or place of organization and (b) Borrower will not (nor permit any Subsidiary or Guarantor to) engage in any other business or transaction under any name other than Borrower’s, any Guarantor, or each Subsidiary’s name, respectively, hereunder. Should Agent approve,

 

 

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prior to doing any of the aforesaid, Borrower shall provide (or cause each Subsidiary or Guarantor to provide) to Agent all assignments, certificates, financing statements, financing statement amendments or other documents determined necessary in Agent’s sole judgment to protect and continue Agent’s interest in the collateral pledged by Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, any Guarantor, or any other party to secure the Obligations.

 

Section 9.25.

Intentionally Omitted.

 

Section 9.26.

Intentionally Omitted.

 

Section 9.27.

[Reserved].

Section 9.28.      Limitation on Hedging. The total notional volume attributable to any Hedging Agreement with respect to Hydrocarbon Interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed more than eighty percent (80%) of estimated proved producing net production quantities from such Hydrocarbon Interests as of the most recent Reserve Report in any period. If the Hedging Agreement is an interest rate hedge, the notional principal amount shall not exceed more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the sum of Loans and Second Lien Loans outstanding to the Borrower.

Section 9.29.       Maintenance of First Lien Priority; Modification of Second Lien Loan Documents.

(a)           The Borrower agrees that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, grant a Lien on any Property to secure the indebtedness under the Second Lien Loan Documents or guarantee the repayment of any indebtedness under the Second Lien Loan Documents, in each case without first (i) giving fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice to the Agent of such action and (ii) granting to the Agent to secure the Obligations a first-priority, perfected Lien on this same Property or entering into a similar guarantee of the Obligations in favor of the Agent and the Lenders, as applicable, pursuant to Security Instruments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. Any security instruments or other documents and agreements drafted in connection with the Second Lien Loan shall be expressly subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In connection therewith, the Borrower shall, or shall cause its Subsidiaries to, execute and deliver such other additional closing documents, certificates and legal opinions as shall reasonably be requested by the Agent.

(b)           The Borrower shall not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to prepay, redeem, repurchase or defease all or any portion of the Second Lien Loan or any other indebtedness arising under the Second Lien Loan Documents, except that so long as no Default, Event of Default or Deficiency then exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make any mandatory prepayments from “Net Cash Proceeds” (as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date) required pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or Section 2.13(b) of the Second Lien Loan Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date so long as no Default, Event of Default or Deficiency then exists or would result therefrom (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to permit any sale or disposition of assets, incurrence of Debt, or other transaction by the Borrower or any Subsidiary resulting in any such “Net Cash Proceeds” which is otherwise prohibited under the terms of this Agreement).

(c)           The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, amend, supplement, permit a waiver of or otherwise modify any of the Second Lien Loan Documents in any manner other than as expressly permitted under Section 7.01(b) of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

 

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Events of Default; Remedies

Section 10.01.   Events of Default. One or more of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

(a)           the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the payment or prepayment when due of (i) any principal of any Loan, (ii) any reimbursement obligation for a disbursement made under any Letter of Credit within the period allowed by Section 2.10(a), or (iii) interest on any Loan, or any fees or other amount payable by it hereunder or under any Security Instrument and, solely with respect to any such default described in this clause (iii), such default shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days; or

(b)           the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the payment when due of any principal of or interest on any of its other Debt aggregating $5,000,000.00 or more, or any event specified in any note, agreement, indenture or other document evidencing or relating to any such Debt shall occur if the effect of such event is to cause, or (with the giving of any notice or the lapse of time or both) to permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or a trustee or Agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity; or

(c)           any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made herein or in any Security Instrument by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor, or any certificate furnished to any Lender or the Agent pursuant to the provisions hereof or any Security Instrument, shall prove to have been false or misleading as of the time made or furnished in any material respect; or

(d)           the Borrower shall default in the performance of any of its obligations under Article IX (other than as specifically excepted in this subsection); or the Borrower shall default in the performance of any of its obligations under Article VIII or any other Article of this Agreement (other than as specifically excepted in this subsection) or the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the performance of their obligations under Section 9.18 as to those Oil and Gas Properties not operated by the Borrower nor any Subsidiary and which have an aggregate value of $5,000,000.00 or more as determined by the latest Engineering Reports provided to the Lender pursuant to Section 2.08 of this Agreement, or the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the performance of their obligations under any Security Instrument (other than the payment of amounts due which shall be governed by Section 10.01(a)) and any such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier to occur of (i) notice thereof to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender (through the Agent), or (ii) the Borrower otherwise becoming aware of such default; or

(e)           the Borrower shall admit in writing its inability to, or be generally unable to, pay its debts as such debts become due; or

(f)           the Borrower shall (i) apply for or consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property, (ii) make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iii) commence a voluntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect), (iv) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any other law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, liquidation or composition or readjustment of debts, (v) fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate manner, or acquiesce in writing to, any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, or (vi) take any corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

 

 

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(g)           a proceeding or case shall be commenced, without the application or consent of the Borrower, in any court of competent jurisdiction, seeking (i) its liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding-up, or the composition or readjustment of its debts, (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like of the Borrower of all or any substantial part of its assets, or (iii) similar relief in respect of the Borrower under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, or composition or adjustment of debts, and such proceeding or case shall continue undismissed, or an order, judgment or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered and continue unstayed and in effect, for a period of 60 days; or (iv) an order for relief against the Borrower shall be entered in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code; or

(h)           a judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of $1,000,000.00 in the aggregate shall be rendered by a court against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and the same shall not be discharged (or provision shall not be made for such discharge), or a stay of execution thereof shall not be procured, within thirty (30) days from the date of entry thereof and the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall not, within said period of 30 days, or such longer period during which execution of the same shall have been stayed, appeal therefrom and cause the execution thereof to be stayed during such appeal; or

(i)            the Loan Documents after delivery thereof shall for any reason, except to the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to be in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms, or cease to create a valid and perfected Lien of the priority required thereby on any of the collateral in excess of $1,000,000.00 in the aggregate at any one time purported to be covered thereby, except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement, or the Borrower shall so state in writing, or the Intercreditor Agreement shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of any Debt under the Second Lien Loan Agreement; or

(j)            any Letter of Credit becomes the subject matter of any order, judgment, injunction or any other such determination, or if the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, any Guarantor, or any other Person shall petition or apply for or obtain any order restricting payment by the Agent under any Letter of Credit or extending the Lenders’ liability under any Letter of Credit beyond the expiration date stated therein or otherwise agreed to by the Agent; or

 

(k)

[Reserved.]

(l)            the Borrower, or any of its Active Subsidiaries, discontinues its usual business, or any Person other than Oaktree Capital Management LLC or its Affiliates shall acquire 50.1% or more than a majority of the Borrower’s outstanding securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, or any Change in Control (as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement) shall occur; or

(m)         fewer than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are Continuing Directors; provided however, that this section shall not constitute an Event of Default if, within the 60 days following such event, Persons are appointed as members of the Board of Directors such that more than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are Continuing Directors; or

(n)           any Guarantor takes, suffers or permits to exist any of the events or conditions referred to in paragraphs (e), (f) or (g) or if any provision of any guaranty agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on any such Guarantor or if any such Guarantor shall so state in writing; or

 

 

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(o)          if the Borrower, any Guarantor, or any Subsidiary terminates or liquidates or an event occurs which results in an early termination of any hedge or transaction under a Hedging Agreement required pursuant to Section 6.01(x) without the prior written consent of the Agent; or

(p)           any Event of Default (as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement) shall have occurred pursuant to the Second Lien Loan Agreement or any other Second Lien Loan Document.

 

Section 10.02.

Remedies.

(a)           In the case of an Event of Default other than one referred to in clauses (e), (f) or (g) of Section 10.01 or in clauses (m) or (n) to the extent it relates to clauses (e), (f) or (g), the Agent, upon request of the Majority Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, cancel the Commitments (in whole or part) and/or declare the principal amount then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the Notes (including without limitation the payment of cash collateral to secure the LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.10(b)) to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such amounts shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

(b)           In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default referred to in clauses (e), (f) or (g) of Section 10.01 or in clauses (m) or (n) to the extent it relates to clauses (e), (f) or (g), the Commitments shall be automatically canceled and the principal amount then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the Notes (including without limitation the payment of cash collateral to secure the LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.10(b)) shall become automatically immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

(c)           All proceeds received after maturity of the Notes, whether by acceleration or otherwise shall be applied first to reimbursement of expenses and indemnities provided for in this Agreement and the Security Instruments; second to accrued interest on the Notes; third to fees; fourth pro rata to principal outstanding on the Notes and any other Obligations and to serve as cash collateral to be held by the Agent to secure the LC Obligations; and any excess shall be paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required by any Governmental Requirement.

The Agent

Section 11.01.   Appointment, Powers and Immunities. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to act as its Agent hereunder and under the Security Instruments with such powers as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the Security Instruments, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Agent (which term as used in this sentence and in Section 11.05 and the first sentence of Section 11.06 shall include reference to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, attorneys, accountants, experts and Agents): (i) shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, and shall not by reason of the Loan Documents be a trustee or fiduciary for any Lender; (ii) makes no representation or warranty to any Lender and shall not be responsible to the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement, or in any certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, this Agreement, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, execution, effectiveness, legality, enforceability or

 

 

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sufficiency of this Agreement, any Note or any other document referred to or provided for herein or for any failure by the Borrower or any other Person (other than the Agent) to perform any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or for the existence, value, perfection or priority of any collateral security or the financial or other condition of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any other obligor or guarantor; (iii) except pursuant to Section 11.07 shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection proceedings hereunder; and (iv) shall not be responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or in connection herewith including its own ordinary negligence, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Agent may employ agents, accountants, attorneys and experts and shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents, accountants, attorneys or experts selected by it in good faith or any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such agents, accountants, attorneys or experts. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof permitted hereunder shall have been filed with the Agent. The Agent is authorized to release any collateral, or subordinate any Lien on any collateral, that is permitted to be sold or otherwise disposed of or released pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents.

Section 11.02.   Reliance by Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice or other communication (including any thereof by telephone, telex, telecopier, telegram or cable) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by the Agent.

Section 11.03.   Defaults. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of the occurrence of a Default (other than the non-payment of principal of or interest on Loans or of fees or failure to reimburse for Letter of Credit drawings) unless the Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower specifying such Default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default.” In the event that the Agent receives such a notice of the occurrence of a Default, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. In the event of a payment Default, the Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of each such payment Default.

Section 11.04.   Rights as a Lender. With respect to its Commitments and the Loans made by it and its participation in the issuance of Letters of Credit, Wells Fargo (and any successor acting as Agent) in its capacity as a Lender hereunder shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as the Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. Wells Fargo (and any successor acting as Agent) and its Affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Lender) accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with the Borrower (and any of its Affiliates) as if it were not acting as the Agent, and Wells Fargo and its Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders.

Section 11.05.   Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent and the Issuing Bank ratably in accordance with their Percentage Shares for the Indemnity Matters as described in Section 12.03 to the extent not indemnified or reimbursed by the Borrower under Section 12.03, but without limiting the obligations of the Borrower under said Section 12.03 and for any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent or the Issuing Bank in any way relating to or arising out of: (i) this Agreement, the Security Instruments or any other documents contemplated by or referred to herein or the transactions contemplated hereby, but excluding, unless a Default has occurred and is continuing, normal administrative costs and expenses incident to the performance of its agency duties hereunder or (ii) the enforcement of any of the terms of this Agreement, any Security

 

 

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Instrument or of any such other documents; whether or not any of the foregoing specified in this Section 11.05 arises from the sole or concurrent negligence of the Agent or the Issuing Bank, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent.

Section 11.06.    Non-Reliance on Agent and other Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of the Borrower and its decision to enter into this Agreement, and that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. The Agent shall not be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Instruments or any other document referred to or provided for herein or to inspect the properties or books of the Borrower. Except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Borrower (or any of its Affiliates) which may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its Affiliates. In this regard, each Lender acknowledges that Haynes and Boone, LLP is acting in this transaction as special counsel to the Agent only, except to the extent otherwise expressly stated in any legal opinion or any Loan Document. Each Lender will consult with its own legal counsel to the extent that it deems necessary in connection with the Loan Documents and the matters contemplated therein. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank further acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement, authorizing the Agent to enter into the same, and agrees to be bound by its terms.

Section 11.07.   Action by Agent. Except for action or other matters expressly required of the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder unless it shall (i) receive written instructions from the Majority Lenders (or all of the Lenders as expressly required by Section 12.04) specifying the action to be taken, and (ii) be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expenses which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The instructions of the Majority Lenders (or all of the Lenders as expressly required by Section 12.04) and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto by the Agent shall be binding on all of the Lenders. If a Default has occurred and is continuing, the Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default as shall be directed by the Majority Lenders (or all of the Lenders as required by Section 12.04) in the written instructions (with indemnities) described in this Section 11.07, provided that, unless and until the Agent shall have received such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders. In no event, however, shall the Agent be required to take any action which exposes the Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement and the Security Instruments or applicable law.

Section 11.08.   Resignation or Removal of Agent. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided below, the Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent. Upon the acceptance of such appointment hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article XI and Section 12.03 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Agent.

 

 

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Section 11.09.   Other Agents; Lead Managers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation agent,” “co-agent,” “joint bookrunner” or “co-lead manager” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with Agent or any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

Section 11.10.    Hedging Arrangements. To the extent any Affiliate of a Lender is a party to a Hedging Agreement with Borrower or any Guarantor, such Affiliate shall be deemed to appoint the Administrative Agent its nominee and agent, and to act for and on behalf of such Affiliate in connection with the Security Instruments and to be bound by this Article XI.

Miscellaneous

Section 12.01.   Waiver. No failure on the part of the Agent or any Lender to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

Section 12.02.    Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, any modifications of, or waivers or consents under, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents) shall be given or made by telex, telecopy, courier or U.S. Mail or in writing and telexed, telecopied, mailed or delivered to the intended recipient at the “Address for Notices” specified below its name on the signature pages hereof or in the Loan Documents or, as to any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a notice to each other party. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, all such communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when transmitted, if transmitted before 1:00 p.m. local time on a Business Day (otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day) by telex or telecopier and evidence or confirmation of receipt is obtained, or personally delivered or, in the case of a mailed notice, three (3) Business Days after the date deposited in the mails, postage prepaid, in each case given or addressed as aforesaid.

 

Section 12.03.

Payment of Expenses, Indemnities, Etc.

 

(a)

The Borrower agrees:

(i)            whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay all expenses of the Agent in the administration (both before and after the execution hereof and including advice of counsel as to the rights and duties of the Agent and the Lenders with respect thereto) of, and in connection with the negotiation, syndication, investigation, preparation, execution and delivery of, recording or filing of, preservation of rights under, enforcement of, and refinancing, renegotiation or restructuring of, the Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver or consent relating thereto (including, without limitation, travel, photocopy, mailing, courier, telephone and other similar expenses of the Agent, the cost of environmental audits, surveys and appraisals at reasonable intervals, the fees and disbursements of counsel and other outside consultants for the Agent and, in the case of enforcement, the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agent and any of the Lenders); and promptly reimburse the Agent for all amounts

 

 

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expended, advanced or incurred by the Agent or the Lenders to satisfy any obligation of the Borrower under this Agreement or any Security Instrument, including without limitation, all costs and expenses of foreclosure;

(ii)          to indemnify the Agent and each Lender and each of their Affiliates and each of their officers, directors, employees, representatives, Agents, attorneys, accountants and experts (“Indemnified Parties”) from, hold each of them harmless against and promptly upon demand pay or reimburse each of them for, the Indemnity Matters which may be incurred by or asserted against or involve any of them (whether or not any of them is designated a party thereto) as a result of, arising out of or in any way related to (i) any actual or proposed use by the Borrower of the proceeds of any of the Loans or Letters of Credit, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents, (iii) the operations of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (iv) the failure of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to comply with the terms of any Security Instrument or this Agreement, or with any Governmental Requirement, (v) any inaccuracy of any representation or any breach of any warranty of the Borrower or any Guarantor set forth in any of the Loan Documents (vi) the issuance, execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or failure to pay under any Letter of Credit, or (vii) the payment of a drawing under any Letter of Credit notwithstanding the non-compliance, non-delivery or other improper presentation of the manually executed draft(s) and certification(s), (viii) any assertion that the Lenders were not entitled to receive the proceeds received pursuant to the Security Instruments or (ix) any other aspect of the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel and all other expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, suit, proceeding (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries) or claim and including all Indemnity Matters arising by reason of the ordinary negligence of any Indemnified Party, but excluding all Indemnity Matters arising solely by reason of claims between the Lenders or any Lender and the Agent or a Lender’s shareholders against the Agent or Lender or by reason of the gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents, attorneys, accountants or experts; and

(iii)         to indemnify and hold harmless from time to time the Indemnified Parties from and against any and all losses, claims, cost recovery actions, administrative orders or proceedings, damages and liabilities to which any such Person may or is alleged to become subject: (i) under any Environmental Law applicable to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their Properties, including without limitation, the treatment or disposal of hazardous substances on any of their Properties, (ii) as a result of the breach or non-compliance, or alleged breach or non-compliance, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with any Environmental Law applicable to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iii) due to past ownership by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any of their Properties or past activity on any of their Properties which, though lawful and fully permissible at the time, could result in present liability, (iv) the presence, use, release, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposal of hazardous substances on or at any of the Properties owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (v) any other environmental, health or safety condition in connection with the Loan Documents; provided, however, no indemnity shall be afforded under this Section 12.03(a)(iii) in respect of any Property for any occurrence arising from the acts or omissions of the Agent or any Lender or any purchaser at foreclosure or pursuant to a deed-in-lieu thereof during the period after which such Person, its successors or assigns shall have obtained

 

 

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possession of such Property (whether by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure, as mortgagee-in-possession or otherwise).

(b)           No Indemnified Party may settle any claim to be indemnified without the consent of the indemnitor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; provided, that the indemnitor may not reasonably withhold consent to any settlement that an Indemnified Party proposes, if the indemnitor does not have the financial ability to pay all its obligations outstanding and asserted against the indemnitor at that time, including the maximum potential claims against the Indemnified Party to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 12.03.

(c)           In the case of any indemnification hereunder, the Agent or Lender, as appropriate shall give notice to the Borrower of any such claim or demand being made against the Indemnified Party and the Borrower shall have the non-exclusive right to join in the defense against any such claim or demand provided that if the Borrower provides a defense, the Indemnified Party shall bear its own cost of defense unless there is a conflict between the Borrower and such Indemnified Party.

(d)           The foregoing indemnities shall extend to the Indemnified Parties notwithstanding the sole or concurrent negligence of every kind or character whatsoever, whether active or passive, whether an affirmative act or an omission, including without limitation, all types of negligent conduct identified in the restatement (second) of torts of one or more of the Indemnified Parties or by reason of strict liability imposed without fault on any one or more of the Indemnified Parties; provided, however, that to the extent that an Indemnified Party is found to have committed an act of gross negligence or willful misconduct, this contractual obligation of indemnification shall continue but shall only extend to the portion of the claim that is deemed to have occurred by reason of events other than the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Party.

(e)           The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 12.03 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Notes and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect.

(f)           The Borrower shall pay any amounts due under this Section 12.03 within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Borrower of notice of the amount due.

Section 12.04.    Amendments, Etc. Any provision of this Agreement or any Security Instrument may be amended, modified or waived with the Borrower’s and the Majority Lenders’ prior written consent; provided that (i) no amendment, modification or waiver which extends the final maturity of the Loans, increases the Aggregate Maximum Revolving Credit Amounts, increases the Borrowing Base, forgives the principal amount of any Obligations outstanding under this Agreement, releases any guarantor of any Obligations or releases all or substantially all of the collateral, reduces the interest rate applicable to the Loans or the fees payable to the Lenders generally, affects Section 2.03(a), this Section 12.04 or Section 12.06(a) or modifies the definition of “Majority Lenders” shall be effective without consent of all Lenders; (ii) no amendment, modification or waiver which increases the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount of any Lender shall be effective without the consent of such Lender; and (iii) no amendment, modification or waiver which modifies the rights, duties or obligations of the Agent or the Issuing Bank shall be effective without the consent of the Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable.

Section 12.05.    Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 12.06.

Assignments and Participations.

 

 

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(a)           The Borrower may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder or under the Notes or any Letters of Credit without the prior consent of all of the Lenders and the Agent.

(b)           Any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to an Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E (an “Assignment”); provided, however, that (i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or a Lender Affiliate, such assignment shall require the written consent of the Agent and, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or a Lender Affiliate, any such assignment shall be in the amount of at least $5,000,000.00 or such lesser amount to which the Borrower and the Agent have consented and if the assigning Lender has assigned less than all of its Percentage Share of the Loans, such assigning Lender shall retain a Percentage Share of the Loans equating to at least $5,000,000.00 or such lesser amount to which the Borrower and the Agent have consented and (iii) the assignee or assignor shall pay to the Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,000.00 for each assignment. Any such assignment will become effective upon the execution and delivery to the Agent of the Assignment, payment of the recordation fee and, if required, the consent of the Agent and the Borrower. Promptly after receipt of an executed Assignment, the Agent shall send to the Borrower a copy of such executed Assignment. Upon receipt of such executed Assignment, the Borrower, will, at its own expense, execute and deliver new Notes to the assignor and/or assignee, as appropriate, in accordance with their respective interests as they appear. Upon the effectiveness of any assignment pursuant to this Section 12.06(b), the assignee will become a “Lender,” if not already a “Lender,” for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The assignor shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder to the extent of such assignment (and if the assigning Lender no longer holds any rights or obligations under this Agreement, such assigning Lender shall cease to be a “Lender” hereunder except that its rights under Sections 4.06, 5.01, 5.05 and 12.03 shall not be affected). The Agent will prepare on the last Business Day of each month during which an assignment has become effective pursuant to this Section 12.06(b), a new Annex I giving effect to all such assignments effected during such month, and will promptly provide the same to the Borrower and each of the Lenders. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 12.06(b) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 12.06(c).

(c)           Each Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Agent or the Issuing Bank, transfer, grant or assign participations in all or any part of such Lender’s interests hereunder pursuant to this Section 12.06(c) to any Person, provided that: (i) such Lender shall remain a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement and the transferee of such participation shall not constitute a “Lender” hereunder, (ii) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iv) the Borrower, the Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that would (x) forgive any principal owing on any Obligations or extend the final maturity of the Loans, (y) reduce the interest rate (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increases in interest rates) or fees applicable to any of the Commitments or Loans or Letters of Credit in which such participant is participating, or postpone the payment of any thereof, or (z) release any guarantor of the Obligations or release all or substantially all of the collateral (except as provided in the Loan Documents) supporting any of

 

 

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the Commitments or Loans or Letters of Credit in which such participant is participating. In the case of any such participation, the participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments (the participant’s rights against the granting Lender in respect of such participation to be those set forth in the agreement with such Lender creating such participation), and all amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation, provided that such participant shall be entitled to receive additional amounts under Article V on the same basis as if it were a Lender and be indemnified under Section 12.03 as if it were a Lender. In addition, each agreement creating any participation must include an agreement by the participant to be bound by the provisions of Section 12.15.

(d)           The Lenders may furnish any information concerning the Borrower in the possession of the Lenders from time to time to assignees and participants (including prospective assignees and participants); provided that, such Persons agree to be bound by the provisions of Section 12.15.

(e)           Notwithstanding anything in this Section 12.06 to the contrary, any Lender may assign and pledge its Note to any Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment and/or pledge shall release the assigning and/or pledging Lender from its obligations hereunder.

(f)           Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 12.06, no transfer or assignment of the interests or obligations of any Lender or any grant of participations therein shall be permitted if such transfer, assignment or grant would require the Borrower to file a registration statement with the SEC or to qualify the Loans under the “Blue Sky” laws of any state.

Section 12.07.   Invalidity. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in any of the Loan Documents or the Letters of Credit, the Letter of Credit Agreements shall, for any reason, be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the Notes, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Section 12.08.   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.

 

Section 12.09.

References; Use of Word “Including”.

The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other words of similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole, and not to any particular article, Section or subsection. Any reference herein to a Section or Article shall be deemed to refer to the applicable Section or Article of this Agreement unless otherwise stated herein. Any reference herein to an exhibit, schedule, or other attachment shall be deemed to refer to the applicable exhibit, schedule, or other attachment attached hereto unless otherwise stated herein. The word “including”, “includes” and words of similar import means “including, without limitation”.

Section 12.10.    Survival. The obligations of the parties under Section 4.06, Article V, and Sections 11.05, 12.03, and 12.15 shall survive the repayment of the Loans and the termination of the Commitments. To the extent that any payments on the Obligations or proceeds of any collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or equitable cause, then to such extent, the Obligations so satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been received and the Agent’s and the Lenders’ Liens, security interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each Security Instrument shall continue in full force and effect. In such event,

 

 

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each Security Instrument shall be automatically reinstated and the Borrower shall take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Agent and the Lenders to effect such reinstatement.

Section 12.11.  Captions. Captions and Section headings appearing herein are included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

Section 12.12.    NO ORAL AGREEMENTS. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS EMBODY THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDE ALL OTHER AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN SUCH PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

 

Section 12.13.

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.

(a)           This Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents (except the Intercreditor Agreement) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas, except to the extent (i) otherwise expressly provided in any Mortgage and (ii) that United States federal law permits any Lender to charge interest at the rate allowed by the laws of the state where such Lender is located. Ch. 346 of the Texas Finance Code (which regulates certain revolving credit loan accounts and revolving tri-party accounts) shall not apply to this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document. All environmentally related activities or omissions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States of America, and where applicable, any U.S. treaty, or the laws (including common law) of the state or jurisdiction where any Property is located, including those located in any foreign country, or in international waters. In case of conflict with respect to, and only with respect to, environmentally related activities or omissions, the more stringent requirement shall govern.

(b)           Any legal action or proceeding with respect to the Loan Documents shall be brought in the courts of the State of Texas or of the United States of America for the Southern District of Texas, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Borrower hereby accepts for itself and (to the extent permitted by law) in respect of its Property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. The Borrower hereby irrevocably waives any objection, including, without limitation, any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens, which it may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in such respective jurisdictions. This submission to jurisdiction is non-exclusive and does not preclude the Agent or any Lender from obtaining jurisdiction over the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor in any court otherwise having jurisdiction.

(c)           The Borrower hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Borrower at its said address, such service to become effective thirty (30) days after such mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Agent, any Lender or any holder of a Note to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against the Borrower or its Properties in any other jurisdiction.

(d)           The Borrower, the Agent and each Lender hereby (i) irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any Loan Document and for any counterclaim therein; (ii) irrevocably waive, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to

 

 

72

 


claim or recover in any such litigation any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages, or damages other than, or in addition to, actual damages; (iii) certify that no party hereto nor any representative, agent or counsel for any party hereto has represented, expressly or otherwise, or implied that such party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers, and (iv) acknowledge that it has been induced to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications contained in this Section 12.13.

Section 12.14.    Interest. It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious as to any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any of the Loan Documents or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Notes, it is agreed as follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Lender under any of the Loan Documents or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Notes shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and any excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower); and (ii) in the event that the maturity of the Notes is accelerated by reason of an election of the holder thereof resulting from any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be canceled automatically by such Lender as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable to such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of the Loans evidenced by the Notes until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law. If at any time and from time to time (i) the amount of interest payable to any Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender pursuant to this Section 12.14 and (ii) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to such Lender would be less than the amount of interest payable to such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender until the total amount of interest payable to such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have been payable to such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section 12.14. To the extent that Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code is relevant for the purpose of determining the Highest Lawful Rate, such Lender elects to determine the applicable rate ceiling under such Chapter by the indicated weekly rate ceiling from time to time in effect.

Section 12.15.   Confidentiality. In the event that the Borrower provides to the Agent or the Lenders written non-public information belonging to the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall thereafter maintain such information in confidence in accordance with the standards of care and diligence that each utilizes in maintaining its own confidential information. This obligation of confidence shall not apply to such portions of the information which (i) are in the public domain, (ii) hereafter become part of the public domain without the Agent or the Lenders breaching their obligation of confidence to the Borrower, (iii) are previously known by the Agent or the Lenders from some source other than the Borrower, (iv) are

 

 

73

 


hereafter developed by the Agent or the Lenders without using the Borrower’s information, (v) are hereafter obtained by or available to the Agent or the Lenders from a third party who owes no obligation of confidence to the Borrower with respect to such information or through any other means other than through disclosure by the Borrower, (vi) are disclosed with the Borrower’s consent, (vii) must be disclosed either pursuant to any Governmental Requirement, including compliance under any Environmental Laws, or to Persons regulating the activities of the Agent or the Lenders, or (viii) as may be required by law or regulation or order of any Governmental Authority in any judicial, arbitration or governmental proceeding. Further, the Agent or a Lender may disclose any such information to any other Lender, any independent petroleum engineers or consultants, any independent certified public accountants, any legal counsel employed by such Person in connection with this Agreement or any Security Instrument, including without limitation, the enforcement or exercise of all rights and remedies thereunder, or any assignee or participant (including prospective assignees and participants) in the Loans; provided, however, that the Agent or the Lenders shall receive a confidentiality agreement from the Person to whom such information is disclosed such that said Person shall have the same obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such information as is imposed upon the Agent or the Lenders hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, this obligation of confidence shall cease three (3) years from the date the information was furnished, unless the Borrower requests in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of such three year period, to maintain the confidentiality of such information for an additional three year period. The Borrower waives any and all other rights it may have to confidentiality as against the Agent and the Lenders arising by contract, agreement, statute or law except as expressly stated in this Section 12.15.

Section 12.16.   Effectiveness; Termination; Collateral Matters. This Agreement shall not be effective until the date (the “Effective Date”) that it is delivered to the Agent in the State of Texas, accepted by the Lenders in such State, and executed by the Agent in such State. If the Obligations are finally and indefeasibly paid and satisfied in full, including, without limitation, all such Obligations arising under Hedging Agreements and/or Cash Management Agreements, all Commitments of the Lenders have been terminated and are no longer in effect and this Agreement is terminated, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such instruments of satisfaction and reassignment as may be appropriate in order to release all liens and security interests created by the Security Instruments; provided, however, that in lieu of terminating and repaying any such Obligations arising under any Hedging Agreement with any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, the Borrower may provide substitute credit support under a standard form ISDA Credit Support Annex or other credit support documents acceptable to such Lender (or its Affiliate), in its sole discretion, to cover its then current exposure under such Hedging Agreement and such Lender (and its Affiliate, if applicable) shall have provided written notice to Agent to the effect that such substitute credit support has been provided to it and that such Lender (and its Affiliate, if applicable) no longer claim any right, title or interest in any collateral security arising under the Loan Documents to secure any obligations and indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries arising under or related to such Hedging Agreement, whether then existing or thereafter arising. The benefits of the Mortgage and Security Instruments, and of the provisions of this Agreement relating to any collateral securing the Obligations, shall also extend to and be available to those Lenders or their Affiliates which are counterparties to any Hedging Agreement or Cash Management Agreement with Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on a pro rata basis in respect of any obligations of Borrower or such Subsidiary which arise under any such Hedging Agreement or Cash Management Agreement, such benefits extending while such Person or its Affiliate is a Lender, but only while such Person or its Affiliate is a Lender, including any Hedging Agreements or Cash Management Agreement between such Persons in existence prior to the date hereof. No Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender shall have any voting rights under any Loan Documents as a result of the existence of obligations owed to it under any such Hedging Agreements or Cash Management Agreements.

Section 12.17.   Renewal and Continuation of Existing Indebtedness. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, all of the Existing Indebtedness outstanding on such date shall hereby be restructured,

 

 

74

 


rearranged, renewed, extended and continued as provided in this Agreement and all Letters of Credit outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall become Letters of Credit outstanding hereunder.

In connection herewith, on the Closing Date all Loans outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be and be deemed to be prepaid from proceeds of the Initial Funding hereunder and the Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have sold, assigned, transferred and conveyed, and the Lenders party to this Agreement shall have purchased and accepted, and hereby purchase and accept, that portion of the Existing Indebtedness related to the obligations of the Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement to reimburse the Issuing Bank for draws under any Existing Letter of Credit (the “Existing LC Obligations”) such that each Lender’s percentage of such Existing LC Obligations, as restructured, rearranged, renewed, extended and continued pursuant to this Agreement, shall be equal to such Lender’s Percentage Share upon the effectiveness of this Agreement. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement within thirty (30) days of receipt of written request of such Lender (which request shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for requesting such amounts and which shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error and provided that such determinations are made on a reasonable basis), such amount or amounts as shall compensate it for any actual loss, cost, expense or liability which such Lender determines are attributable to changes in the applicable LIBOR Rate for any existing LIBOR Loans under the Existing Credit Agreement being so prepaid from the proceeds of the Initial Funding hereunder. The Lenders acknowledge and agree that the assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Existing LC Obligations is without recourse to the Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement and without any warranties whatsoever by any Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement.

Section 12.18.   EXCULPATION PROVISIONS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO SPECIFICALLY AGREES THAT IT HAS A DUTY TO READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS AND AGREES THAT IT IS CHARGED WITH NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS; THAT IT HAS IN FACT READ THIS AGREEMENT AND IS FULLY INFORMED AND HAS FULL NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS, CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT; THAT IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS PRECEDING ITS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS; AND HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS; AND THAT IT RECOGNIZES THAT CERTAIN OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS RESULT IN ONE PARTY ASSUMING THE LIABILITY INHERENT IN SOME ASPECTS OF THE TRANSACTION AND RELIEVING THE OTHER PARTY OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH LIABILITY. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT CONTEST THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY EXCULPATORY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS ON THE BASIS THAT THE PARTY HAD NO NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH PROVISION OR THAT THE PROVISION IS NOT "CONSPICUOUS.”

Section 12.19.   USA PATRIOT Act Notices. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower and each Guarantor, which information includes the name and address of Borrower and each Guarantor and other information that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify Borrower and each Guarantor in accordance with the Act.

[SIGNATURES BEGIN ON NEXT PAGE]

 

 

75

 


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

BORROWER:

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

By: /s/ E. Joseph Grady  

E. Joseph Grady

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

Crimson Exploration Inc.

717 Texas Ave., Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

Telecopier No.: (713) 236-7474

Telephone No.: (713) 236-7400

Attention: E. Joseph Grady

 

 

 

S-1

 


 

LENDER AND AGENT:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

By: /s/ Richard A. Gould  

Richard A. Gould

Vice President

 

 

 

Lending Office for Base Rate and LIBOR Loans:

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

1000 Louisiana, Ninth Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

 

 

 

Telecopier No.: (713) 739-1087

Telephone No.: (713) 319-1343

Attention: Richard Gould

 

 

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

1000 Louisiana, Ninth Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

 

 

 

Telecopier No.: (713) 739-1087

Telephone No.: (713) 319-1343

Attention: Richard Gould

 

 

 

With copy to:

 

 

 

Haynes and Boone, LLP

One Houston Center

1221 McKinney Street, Suite 2100

Houston, Texas 77010

Telecopier No.: (713) 236-5577

Telephone No.: (713) 547-2077

Attention: Bernard F. Clark, Jr.

 

 

 

S-2

 


 

LENDERS:

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND plc

 

 

 

By:  

Robert E. Poirrier, Jr.

Vice President

 

 

 

Lending Office for Base Rate Loans, LIBOR Loans and Address for Notices as set forth on the Administrative Details Form on file with the Agent in accordance with its customary practices as in effect from time to time

 

 

 

 

 

 

S-3

 


 

 

 

EX-10 5 ex10_4.htm EXHIBIT 10.4

EXHIBIT 10.4

SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of May 8, 2007

 

among

 

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.

 

AS BORROWER

 

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

 

and

 

CREDIT SUISSE,

 

AS AGENT

 

 

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

 

AS SOLE BOOKRUNNER AND SOLE LEAD ARRANGER

 

WELLS FARGO ENERGY CAPITAL, INC.

 

AND

 

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND plc,

 

AS CO-ARRANGERS

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

 

AS SYNDICATION AGENT

 

RBS SECURITIES INC.,

 

AS DOCUMENTATION AGENT

 

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of May 8, 2007 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among the Borrower, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as First Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Credit Suisse, as Second Lien Agent (as defined therein). Each Lender hereunder (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (c) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (d) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the First Lien Credit Agreement to permit the incurrence of Debt under the Second Lien Credit Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

ARTICLE I. Definitions and Accounting Matters

1

   

 

Section 1.01.

Terms Defined Above.

1

 

 

Section 1.02.

Certain Defined Terms.

1

 

 

Section 1.03.

Accounting Terms and Determinations.

18

 

 

Section 1.04.

Classification of Loans and Borrowings.

18

 

ARTICLE II. The Credits

18

   

 

Section 2.01.

Commitments.

18

 

 

Section 2.02.

Loans.

18

 

 

Section 2.03.

Borrowing Procedure.

19

 

 

Section 2.04.

Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans.

20

 

 

Section 2.05.

Fees.

20

 

 

Section 2.06.

Interest on Loans.

21

 

 

Section 2.07.

Default Interest.

21

 

 

Section 2.08.

Alternate Rate of Interest.

21

 

 

Section 2.09.

Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

22

 

 

Section 2.10.

Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings.

22

 

 

Section 2.11.

Repayment of Term Borrowings.

23

 

 

Section 2.12.

Optional Prepayment.

23

 

 

Section 2.13.

Mandatory Prepayments.

24

 

 

Section 2.14.

Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances.

25

 

 

Section 2.15.

Change in Legality.

26

 

 

Section 2.16.

Indemnity.

26

 

 

Section 2.17.

Pro Rata Treatment.

27

 

 

Section 2.18.

Sharing of Setoffs.

27

 

 

Section 2.19.

Payments.

27

 

 

Section 2.20.

Taxes.

28

 

 

Section 2.21.

Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate.                                                                                                                                                   28

   

ARTICLE III. Conditions Precedent

29

   

 

Section 3.01.

Initial Funding.

29

 

 

Section 3.02.

Conditions Precedent for the Benefit of Lenders.

33

 

 

Section 3.03.

No Waiver.

33

 

ARTICLE IV. Representations and Warranties

34

   

 

Section 4.01.

Corporate Existence.

34

 

 

Section 4.02.

Financial Condition.

34

 

 

Section 4.03.

Litigation and Judgments.

34

 

 

Section 4.04.

No Breach.

34

 

 

Section 4.05.

Authority.

35

 

 

Section 4.06.

Approvals.

35

 

 

Section 4.07.

Use of Loans.

35

 

 

Section 4.08.

ERISA.

35

 

 

Section 4.09.

Taxes.

36

 

 

Section 4.10.

Titles, Etc.

36

 

 

Section 4.11.

No Material Misstatements.

37

 

 

Section 4.12.

Investment Company Act.

37

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

Page

 

 

 

Section 4.13.

Reserved.

37

 

 

Section 4.14.

Subsidiaries.

37

 

 

Section 4.15.

Location of Business and Offices.

37

 

 

Section 4.16.

Defaults.

37

 

 

Section 4.17.

Environmental Matters.

37

 

 

Section 4.18.

Compliance with the Law.

38

 

 

Section 4.19.

Insurance.

39

 

 

Section 4.20.

Hedging Agreements.

39

 

 

Section 4.21.

Restriction on Liens.

39

 

 

Section 4.22.

Material Agreements.

39

 

 

Section 4.23.

Solvency.

40

 

 

Section 4.24.

Gas Imbalances.

40

 

 

Section 4.25.

Madisonville.

40

 

 

Section 4.26.

Intentionally Omitted.

40

 

 

Section 4.27.

Name Changes.

40

 

 

Section 4.28.

Taxpayer Identification Number.

40

 

 

Section 4.29.

State of Formation.

40

 

ARTICLE V. Affirmative Covenants

41

   

 

Section 5.01.

Reporting Requirements.

41

 

 

Section 5.02.

Litigation.

43

 

 

Section 5.03.

Maintenance, Etc.

43

 

 

Section 5.04.

Environmental Matters.

45

 

 

Section 5.05.

Further Assurances.

45

 

 

Section 5.06.

Performance of Obligations.

46

 

 

Section 5.07.

Engineering Reports.

46

 

 

Section 5.08.

Title Information and Mortgage Coverage.

47

 

 

Section 5.09.

Collateral.

48

 

 

Section 5.10.

Cash Collateral Account Agreement.

48

 

 

Section 5.11.

[Reserved]

48

 

 

Section 5.12.

ERISA Information and Compliance.

49

 

 

Section 5.13.

Joinder and Guaranty Agreements.

49

 

 

Section 5.14.

[Reserved].

49

 

 

Section 5.15.

[Reserved]

49

 

 

Section 5.16.

Minimum Hedging.

49

 

ARTICLE VI. Negative Covenants

49

   

 

Section 6.01.

Debt.

49

 

 

Section 6.02.

Liens.

51

 

 

Section 6.03.

Investments, Loans and Advances.

51

 

 

Section 6.04.

Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions.

52

 

 

Section 6.05.

Sales and Leasebacks.

52

 

 

Section 6.06.

Nature of Business.

52

 

 

Section 6.07.

Limitation on Leases.

52

 

 

Section 6.08.

Mergers, Acquisitions, Etc.

53

 

 

Section 6.09.

Proceeds of Notes; Letters of Credit.

53

 

 

Section 6.10.

ERISA Compliance.

53

 

 

Section 6.11.

Sale or Discount of Receivables.

54

 

 

Section 6.12.

[Reserved]

54

 

 

Section 6.13.

Leverage Ratio.

54

 

 

ii

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

Page

 

 

 

Section 6.14.

PV-10 Ratio.

55

 

 

Section 6.15.

Sale of Mortgaged Properties.

55

 

 

Section 6.16.

Sale of Other Properties.

55

 

 

Section 6.17.

Environmental Matters.

55

 

 

Section 6.18.

Transactions with Affiliates.

55

 

 

Section 6.19.

Subsidiaries.

56

 

 

Section 6.20.

Negative Pledge Agreements.

56

 

 

Section 6.21.

Take-or-Pay or Other Prepayments.

56

 

 

Section 6.22.

Ownership of Subsidiaries.

56

 

 

Section 6.23.

Change in Borrower’s, any of its Subsidiaries’ or any Guarantor’s Name or State of Formation.                                                                                                                       56

   

 

Section 6.24.

[Reserved]

56

 

 

Section 6.25.

[Reserved]

56

 

 

Section 6.26.

[Reserved]

56

 

 

Section 6.27.

Limitation on Hedging.

56

 

 

Section 6.28.

Maintenance of Lien Priority; Modification of First Lien Loan Documents.                                                                                                                                             57

   

ARTICLE VII. Events of Default; Remedies

57

   

 

Section 7.01.

Events of Default.

57

 

 

Section 7.02.

Remedies.

59

 

ARTICLE VIII. The Agent

60

   

ARTICLE IX. Miscellaneous

61

   

 

Section 9.01.

Notices.

61

 

 

Section 9.02.

Survival of Agreement.

62

 

 

Section 9.03.

Binding Effect.

62

 

 

Section 9.04.

Successors and Assigns.

62

 

 

Section 9.05.

Expenses; Indemnity.

65

 

 

Section 9.06.

Right of Setoff.

66

 

 

Section 9.07.

Applicable Law.

66

 

 

Section 9.08.

Waivers; Amendment.

67

 

 

Section 9.09.

Interest Rate Limitation.

67

 

 

Section 9.10.

Entire Agreement.

68

 

 

Section 9.11.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

68

 

 

Section 9.12.

Severability.

68

 

 

Section 9.13.

Counterparts.

68

 

 

Section 9.14.

Headings.

68

 

 

Section 9.15.

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

68

 

 

Section 9.16.

Confidentiality.

69

 

 

Section 9.17.

USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

69

 

 

 

iii

 


EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

Exhibit A

- Administrative Questionnaire

Exhibit B

- Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit C

- Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit D

- List of Security Instruments

Exhibit E

- Borrowing Request

Exhibit F

- Intentionally Deleted

Exhibit G

- Joinder Agreement

Exhibit H

- Second Lien Guaranty Agreement

Schedule 2.01

- Lenders and Commitments

Schedule 4.02

- Liabilities

Schedule 4.03

- Litigation and Judgments

Schedule 4.09

- Taxes

Schedule 4.10

- Titles, etc.

Schedule 4.14

- Subsidiaries, Partnerships, Locations, Jurisdictions, Taxpayer I.D. Numbers

Schedule 4.17

- Environmental Matters

Schedule 4.19

- Insurance

Schedule 4.20

- Hedging Agreements

Schedule 4.22

- Material Agreements

Schedule 4.24

- Gas Imbalances

Schedule 4.27

- Name Changes

Schedule 4.28

- Guarantors Tax I.D. Numbers and State of Formation

Schedule 6.01

- Debt

Schedule 6.02

- Liens

Schedule 6.03

- Investments, Loans and Advances

 


SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 8, 2007 is among CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower); the Lenders (as defined in Article I) and CREDIT SUISSE, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) and as collateral agent (in such capacity, the Collateral Agent and together with the Administrative Agent, the Agent).

R E C I T A L S

A.           The Borrower, Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc. (CEOI), a Delaware corporation, Southern G Holdings, LLC (Southern G), a Delaware limited liability company, and EXCO Resources, Inc. (the Seller) entered into that certain Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of May 8, 2007 (the Acquisition Agreement), pursuant to which CEOI will acquire from the Seller (the Acquisition) all of the outstanding membership interests in Southern G (the Acquired Assets);

B.            The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide term loans for the purpose of financing the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement, repaying or refinancing certain existing indebtedness and paying related fees and expenses;

C.            The Lenders are willing to extend credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Definitions and Accounting Matters

Section 1.01.      Terms Defined Above. As used in this Agreement, the terms defined in the opening paragraph and the Recitals above shall have the meanings indicated therein.

Section 1.02.     Certain Defined Terms. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings (all terms defined in this Article I or in other provisions of this Agreement in the singular to have equivalent meanings when used in the plural and vice versa):

ABR, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Act shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01(z).

Active Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Inactive Subsidiary.

Acquisition Documentsshall have the meaning assigned such term in 3.01(q).

Administrative Questionnaire shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit A, or such other form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

Adjusted Base Rate” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance

 


with the terms of the definition thereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, as the case may be.

Adjusted LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the product of (a) the LIBO Rate in effect for such Interest Period and (b) Statutory Reserves.

Administrative Agent Feesshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.05(b).

Affiliate of any Person shall mean (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlled by, controlling or under common control with such first Person, (ii) any director or officer of such first Person or of any Person referred to in clause (i) above and (iii) if any Person in clause (i) above is an individual, any member of the immediate family (including parents, spouse and children) of such individual and any trust whose principal beneficiary is such individual or one or more members of such immediate family and any Person who is controlled by any such member or trust. For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns directly or indirectly 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of a corporation or 10% or more of the partnership or other ownership interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be deemed to “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) such corporation or other Person.

Agents shall have the meaning assigned such term in Article VIII.

Agreement shall mean this Second Lien Credit Agreement, as the same may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

Alternate Base Rate shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, as the case may be.

Applicable Percentage” shall mean, for any day (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, 5.25% per annum, and (b) with respect to any ABR Loan, 4.25% per annum; provided, however, that if the Borrower does not obtain gross proceeds of at least $25,000,000 from the issuance of common Equity Interests and/or Qualifying Preferred Stock within 150 days of the Closing Date (the One Hundred Fifty Days), “Applicable Percentage” shall mean, for any day after the One Hundred Fifty Days (x) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, 5.75% per annum, and (y) with respect to any ABR Loan, 4.75% per annum.

Asset Sale” shall mean the sale, transfer or other disposition (by way of merger, casualty, condemnation or otherwise) by the Borrower or any of the Guarantors to any Person other than the Borrower or any Guarantor of (a) any Equity Interests of any of the Guarantors (other than directors’ qualifying shares) or (b) any other assets of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors (other than (i) inventory, damaged, obsolete or worn out assets, scrap and Permitted Investments , in each case disposed

 

 

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of in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any sale, transfer or other disposition or series of related sales, transfers or other dispositions having a value not in excess of $250,000).

Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Acquisition Documents” shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.01(q).

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Board of Directors shall mean the Board of Directors of the Borrower, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

Borrowing” shall mean Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Request” shall mean a request by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit E, or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Breakage Eventshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.16.

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Cash Collateral Account Agreement shall mean that certain Cash Collateral Account Agreement, if any, between the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, the Agent and a depository bank, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent covering and granting a perfected, first priority security interest to the Agent in the cash collateral, and subject only to Liens or any other encumbrances satisfactory to Agent.

Cash Management Agreement” shall mean any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

Cash Paid Preferred shall mean Qualifying Preferred Stock which requires the payment of dividends in cash prior to the earlier of (i) the first anniversary after the Term Loan Maturity Date and (ii) a Change in Control.

A Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (a)  any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the date hereof), other than Permitted Investors, shall own, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, shares representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of Borrower, provided, however, that no “Change in Control” under this clause (a) shall be deemed to have occurred if, and for so long as, Permitted Investors own, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, shares representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of Borrower, (b) a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of Borrower shall at any time be occupied by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated, or (c) any change in control (or similar event, however denominated) with respect to the Borrower shall occur under and as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement.

 

 

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Change in Law shall mean (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.14, by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

Chargesshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.09.

Closing Date shall mean May 8, 2007.

Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

Commitment shall mean, for any Lender, such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment.

Company Materialsshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.01.

Consolidated Net Income shall mean with respect to the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries after allowances for taxes for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein) the following: (i) the net income of any Person in which the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary has an interest (which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to be consolidated with the net income of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid in such period by such other Person to the Borrower or to a Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be; (ii) the net income (but not loss) of any Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions or transfers or loans by that Consolidated Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or Governmental Requirement applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary, or is otherwise restricted or prohibited in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; (iii) the net income (or loss) of any Person acquired in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such transaction; (iv) any extraordinary gains or losses, including gains or losses attributable to Property sales not in the ordinary course of business; and (v) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and any gains or losses attributable to writeups or write downs of assets.

Consolidated Subsidiaries shall mean each Subsidiary of a Person (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP. Unless otherwise indicated, each reference to the term “Consolidated Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary consolidated with the Borrower.

Debt shall mean, for any Person the sum of the following (without duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including principal, interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, (iii) all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of bankers’ acceptances, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (iv) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than for borrowed money); (v) all obligations under leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect of which such Person is liable (whether contingent or otherwise); (vi) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person; (vii) all Debt (as described

 

 

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in the other clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the debtor or obligations of others; (viii) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase the Debt or Property of others; (ix) obligations to pay for goods or services whether or not such goods or services are actually received or utilized by such Person; (xi) any capital stock of such Person in which such Person has a mandatory obligation to redeem such stock; (xii) any Debt of a Special Entity for which such Person is liable either by agreement or because of a Governmental Requirement; (xiii) the undischarged balance of any production payment created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment; (xiv) all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements excluding Hedging Agreements with the Agent (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) or any other Lender (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement); and (xv) the liquidation preference of, and all other obligations of such Person in respect of, Disqualified Stock and Cash Paid Preferred of such Person.

Declined Proceeds shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(d).

Default shall mean an Event of Default or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default.

Disqualified Stock shall mean any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, in each case at any time on or prior to earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the Term Loan Maturity Date or (ii) the occurrence of a Change in Control, or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Equity Interest referred to in clause (a) above, in each case prior to the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the Term Loan Maturity Date and (ii) the occurrence of a Change in Control.

Dollars and $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

EBITDAX shall mean, for any period, the sum of Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following expenses or charges to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net Income in such period: interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and exploration expense; and all other non-cash items (including hedging gains and losses under FAS 133, non-cash asset writedowns or FAS 143 charges and/or any non-cash share based payment charges under FAS 123R).

Engineering Reports shall mean the reports required by Section 5.07 and such other reports, data and supplemental information as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Agent.

Environmental Laws shall mean any and all Governmental Requirements pertaining to health, safety or the environment in effect in any and all jurisdictions, including nations (and states), and international waters, in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is conducting or at any time has conducted business, or where any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located, including without limitation, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C.A. § 2701 et seq. (“OPA”), as amended, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.A. § 7401 et seq., as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 {Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (“SARA”)}, 42 U.S.C.A. § 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”), as amended, the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C.A. § 1451 et seq. (“CZMA”), as amended, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.A. § 11001 et seq. (“EPCRTKA”), as amended, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C.A. § 1531 et seq. (“ESA”), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (“FWPCA”), as amended, the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.A. § 1251 et seq. (“CWA”), as amended, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, 42 U.S.C.A. § 2014 et seq. (“LLRWPA”), as

 

 

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amended, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1361-62, 1371-89, 1401-07, 1411-18, 1421-21h, et seq. (“MMPA”), as amended, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (Ocean Dumping), 33 U.S.C.A. § 1401 et seq. (“MPRSA”), as amended, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, 33 U.S.C.A. § 1901 et seq. (“APPS”), as amended, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C.A. § 4321 et seq. (“NEPA”), as amended, the Noise Control Act of 1972, 42 U.S.C.A. § 4901 et seq. (“NCA”), as amended, the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, 16 U.S.C.A. § 4701 et seq. (“NANPCA”), as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (“OSHA”), as amended, the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.A. § 13101 et seq. (“PPA”), as amended, the Public Health Service Act (“PHSA”) {Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”)}, 42 U.S.C.A. § 300f et seq., as amended, the Shore Protection Act of 1988, 33 U.S.C.A. § 2601 et seq. (“SPA”), as amended, the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, 16 U.S.C.A. § 2001 et seq. (“SWRCA”), as amended, the Solid Waste Disposal Act (“SWDA”) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”), 42 U.S.C.A. § 6901 et seq., as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 2601 et seq. (“TSCA”), as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, Pub.L. 93-633, 88 Stat. 2156 (“HMTA”), as amended, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. § 136, et seq. (“FIFRA”), as amended, the United States Public Vessel Medical Waste Anti-Dumping Act of 1988, 33 U.S.C.A. § 2501 et seq. (“USPVMWADA”), as amended, and any corresponding international, national, state or local laws or ordinances and regulations, rules, guidelines, or standards promulgated pursuant to such laws, statutes and regulations, including specifically those relating to hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, toxic substances, asbestos, lead paint, lead in water supply, mold and biological hazards, radon or radioactive materials, insecticide, herbicide, rodenticide, and fungicide, as such laws, treaties, statutes, regulations, rules, guidelines, and standards are amended from time to time, and other environmental, health, safety, conservation or protection laws. The term “oil” shall have the meaning specified in OPA, the terms “hazardous substance” and “release” (or “threatened release”) have the meanings specified in CERCLA, and the terms “solid waste” and “disposal” (or “disposed”) have the meanings specified in RCRA; provided, however, that (i) in the event either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined thereby, such broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective date of such amendment and (ii) to the extent the laws of the state or jurisdiction in which any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located establish a meaning for “oil,” “hazardous substance,” “release,” “solid waste” or “disposal” which is broader than that specified in either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply. The term “hazardous substance” shall also include any substance, product, waste, or other material that any Person, their employees and agents, and their equipment and property may come into contact with or be exposed to, which is or becomes listed, regulated, or addressed as being polluting, flammable, toxic, corrosive or hazardous, including toxic or hazardous wastes or substances, carcinogens, pollutants (including, but not limited to, any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant), smoke, vapor, soot, fumes or smells, mold, fungus, noises, vibrations, electromagnetic and ionizing radiation, changes in temperature, any other sensory phenomena, or other materials of any and all kinds and character, whether at the Property, from a neighboring site, or along and/or across a route to or from the Property, which material(s) or substance(s), due to quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristic, may cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious, irreversible, or incapacitatingly irreversible illness or pose a substantial present or potential harm to human health or the environment when improperly used, treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed, has the ability to cause injury to biologic tissue, or otherwise has the ability to cause a health threat or similarly harmful substance under any Environmental Law, including without limitation: (i) polychlorinated biphenyls; (ii) petroleum products; (iii) underground storage tanks, whether empty, filled or partially filled with any substance; (iv) any radioactive materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, radon; and (v) any other chemical, material or substance the exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Authority on the basis that such chemical, material or substance is toxic, hazardous or harmful to human health or the environment. The presence of any one of the following criteria establishes a substance as a hazardous substance: 1) ignitability (posing fire hazard); 2) corrosivity (ability to corrode standard containers); 3) reactivity (instability with a tendency to explode or react violently); or 4) EP toxicity (presence of certain toxic chemicals at levels

 

 

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greater than specified in RCRA regulations). Said definition of the terms defined herein also includes all applicable definitions in the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and those of any state or nation (including common law, whether state, national, or international) in the broadest sense, including several hundred processed wastes and chemicals listed in the US-EPA regulations, or which exhibit the characteristics of toxicity, corrosivity, ignitability, and/or reactivity, as referred to above. In case of conflict in any of the Environmental Laws, the most stringent definition shall apply.

ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

ERISA Affiliate shall mean each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event shall mean (i) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC or (v) any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

Equity Interests” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any Person.

Eurodollar, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 7.01.

Excepted Liens shall mean: (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained; (ii) Liens in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iii) operators’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, mechanics’, workmen’s, materialmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties or statutory landlord’s liens, each of which is in respect of obligations that have not been outstanding more than ninety (90) days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iv) any Liens reserved in leases or farmout agreements for rent or royalties and for compliance with the terms of the farmout agreements or leases in the case of leasehold estates, to the extent that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair the use of the Property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such Property is held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (v) encumbrances (other than to secure the payment of borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of Property or services), easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations in any rights of way or other Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment, and defects, irregularities, zoning restrictions and deficiencies in title of any rights of way or other Property which in the aggregate do not

 

 

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materially impair the use of such rights of way or other Property for the purposes of which such rights of way and other Property are held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (vi) deposits of cash or securities to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than obligations under Hedging Agreements); (vii) Liens permitted by the Security Instruments; (viii) preferential rights to purchase and similar contractual provisions affecting an Oil and Gas Property; (ix) all lessors’ royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests, carried interests, production payments, reversionary interests and other burdens on or deductions from the proceeds of production with respect to each Oil and Gas Property (in each case) that do not operate to reduce the net revenue interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report or increase the working interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Mortgage or Reserve Report without a corresponding increase in the corresponding net revenue interest; (x) production sales contracts; division orders; contracts for sale, purchase, or exchange of oil or gas; operating agreements; area of mutual interest agreements; and production handling agreements; in each case to the extent the same: (a) are ordinary and customary to the oil, gas and other mineral exploration, development, processing or extraction business, (b) do not otherwise cause any other express representation or warranty of the Borrower in any of the Loan Documents to be untrue, and (c) do not operate to reduce the net revenue interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report, or increase the working interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report without a corresponding increase in the corresponding net revenue interest; (xi) all defects and irregularities affecting an Oil and Gas Property that do not operate to reduce the net revenue interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report, or increase the working interest for such Oil and Gas Property (if any) as reflected in any Reserve Report without a corresponding increase in the corresponding net revenue interest or otherwise interfere materially with the operation, value or use of such Oil and Gas Property; and (xii) judgment Liens arising by operation of law or as the result of the abstracting of a judgment or similar action under the laws of any jurisdiction and not giving rise to an Event of Default, in respect of judgments that are not final and non-appealable judgments so long as any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired.

Excluded Taxes shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction described in clause (a) above and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.21(a)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.20(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.20(a).

Existing Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 15, 2005, as amended or modified prior to the Closing Date, among the Borrower, the lenders thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations

 

 

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for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letter” shall mean the Fee Letter dated April 19, 2007, between the Borrower, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Credit Suisse, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Energy Capital, Inc., The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and RBS Securities Inc.

Fees” shall mean the Administrative Agent Fees.

Financial Statements shall mean the financial statement or statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries described or referred to in Section 4.02.

First Lien Event of Default shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 7.01(p).

First Lien Loan” shall mean any Debt incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(k) and all Debt and other obligations under the First Lien Loan Documents.

First Lien Loan Agreement” shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 8, 2007, among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo, as agent for the lenders, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated, and/or otherwise modified or replaced or refinanced from time to time.

First Lien Loan Documents” means the First Lien Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) as the same shall be amended, supplemented, restated, and/or otherwise modified or replaced or refinanced from time to time.

Foreign Lender shall mean any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

GAAP shall mean the generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, applied on a consistent basis; provided that if there occurs after the date of this Agreement any change in GAAP that affects the calculation of any covenant contained in Article VI, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the Closing Date until the Agent and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that relate to the calculation of such covenants with the intent of having the respective positions of the Lenders and the Borrower after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the date of this Agreement.

Governmental Authority shall include the country, the state, county, city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such Person’s Property is located or which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property, and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them including monetary authorities which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein shall mean a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over, where applicable, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their Property or the Agent, any Lender or any applicable lending office of a Lender or its Affiliates, including jurisdiction over the Environmental Laws.

Governmental Requirement shall mean any law, treaty, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, standard, guideline, or other directive or requirement, including those found in common law (whether international, national, state, or local), whether now existing or hereafter in effect (whether or not having the force of law), including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy regulations

 

 

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and occupational, safety, health, and industrial hygiene standards or controls, and personnel licensing and certifications, or environmental conditions on, under, above, around, within, for, or about any Person or such Person’s Property, of any Governmental Authority.

Granting Lendershall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.04(i).

Guarantor shall mean, individually and collectively, each and every Active Subsidiary of Borrower and all of their Active Subsidiaries (and so on and so forth) existing as of the date hereof; and each and every Active Subsidiary and all of their Active Subsidiaries (and so on and so forth) hereafter created, acquired or otherwise owned by Borrower, and shall include, without limitation, CEOI and Southern G.

Guaranty Agreement shall mean any agreement executed by any Guarantor in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent guarantying, unconditionally, payment of the Obligations, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Hedging Agreements shall mean any commodity, interest rate or currency swap, cap, floor, collar, forward agreement or other exchange or protection agreements or any option with respect to any such transaction.

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

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

Inactive Subsidiary shall mean LTW Pipeline Co., a Texas corporation, and any other Subsidiary of the Borrower: (i) that has assets with a fair market value of less than $1,000,000.00; (ii) that no longer actively does business; and (iii) that has been designated in writing to the Agent by the Borrower as an Inactive Subsidiary and approved in writing by the Agent as an Inactive Subsidiary; provided that no Subsidiary may be so designated as an Inactive Subsidiary if after giving effect thereto, the aggregate fair market value of the assets of all Inactive Subsidiaries would exceed $3,000,000.

Indemnified Taxes shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemniteeshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.05(b).

Information shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.16.

Initial Funding shall mean the funding of the initial Loans upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.01.

Initial Reserve Reports shall mean the report of Pressler Engineering Consultants dated February 14, 2007 with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than Southern G as of January 1, 2007, and the final audit report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. dated April 27, 2007 with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G as of January 1, 2007, copies of which have been delivered to the Agent.

Intercreditor Agreement shall mean that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of May 8, 2007, by and among, Agent, as agent for itself and the Lenders, Wells Fargo, National Association, as agent for itself and the other lenders party from time to time to the First Lien Loan Agreement, and the

 

 

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Borrower, as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented, restated and/or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with such Intercreditor Agreement.

Interest Payment Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing.

Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is 1, 2, 3 or 6 months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect (provided that for a Borrowing on the Closing Date, the Borrower may only elect a 1 month Interest Period); provided, however, that if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day. Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Lender Affiliate shall mean, (a) with respect to any Lender, (i) an Affiliate of such Lender or (ii) any Person that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and is administered or managed by a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender and (b) with respect to any Lender that is a fund which invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit and is managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

Lenders” shall mean (a) the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 (other than any such Person that has ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance) and (b) any Person that has become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.

Leverage Ratio shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.13.

LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date that is two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period by reference to the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in dollars (as set forth by any service selected by the Administrative Agent that has been nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates) for a period equal to such Interest Period; provided, however, that, to the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition, the “LIBO Rate” shall be the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in dollars are offered for such relevant Interest Period to major banks in the London interbank market in London, England by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date that is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period.

Lien shall mean any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to (i) the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement,

 

 

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conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes or (ii) production payments and the like payable out of Oil and Gas Properties. The term “Lien” shall include reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty Agreements, the Security Instruments and the Intercreditor Agreement.

Loan Parties shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.

Loans shall mean the Term Loans.

Lockboxshall mean the lockbox, if any, established pursuant to the Cash Collateral Account Agreement and subject to the Lockbox Agreement.

Lockbox Agreement shall mean that certain Lockbox Agreement, if any, between the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to Agent which shall grant a security interest in the contents therein and shall include a financing statement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent covering the contents therein.

Madisonvilleshall mean The Madisonville Project, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership and its successors and assigns.

Material Adverse Effect shall mean any set of circumstances or events that (i) has or could reasonably be expected to have any material and adverse effect whatsoever upon, or result in or reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in, (a) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, operations or affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole different from those reflected in the Financial Statements or from the facts represented or warranted in any Loan Document, or (b) the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to carry out their business as at the Closing Date or as proposed as of the Closing Date to be conducted or meet their obligations under the Loan Documents on a timely basis, (ii) impairs materially or could be reasonably expected to impair materially the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to duly and punctually pay and perform their obligations under the Loan Documents or (iii) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Agent or any of the Lenders, to the extent permitted, to enforce its legal remedies pursuant to the Loan Documents.

Material Agreements shall mean all agreements listed on Schedule 4.22.

Maximum Rateshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.09.

Mortgage shall mean, whether one or more, each Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement executed by the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant hereto, and granting a Lien in favor of the Agent to secure the Obligations in the Oil and Gas Properties, now owned or hereafter existing, of the Borrower and the Guarantors, as the same from time to time may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified.

Mortgaged Property shall mean the Property owned by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors and which is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Security Instruments and/or Mortgages.

 

 

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Multiemployer Plan shall mean a Plan defined as such in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the cash proceeds (including cash proceeds subsequently received (as and when received) in respect of noncash consideration initially received), net of (i) selling expenses (including reasonable broker’s fees or commissions, legal fees, transfer and similar taxes, Hedging Agreement termination costs and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of income taxes actually paid or payable in connection with such sale), (ii) amounts provided as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities under any indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustment associated with such Asset Sale (provided that, to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds) and (iii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Debt for borrowed money which is secured by the asset sold in such Asset Sale and which is required to be repaid with such proceeds (other than any such Debt assumed by the purchaser of such asset); provided, however, that, if (x) the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of its chief financial officer to the Administrative Agent at the time of receipt thereof setting forth the Borrower’s intent to reinvest such proceeds to acquire, maintain, explore, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries within 180 days of receipt of such proceeds and (y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing at the time of such certificate or at the proposed time of the application of such proceeds, such proceeds shall not constitute Net Cash Proceeds except to the extent not so used at the end of such 180 day period, at which time such proceeds shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds; and (b) with respect to any issuance or incurrence of Debt, the cash proceeds thereof, net of all taxes and customary fees, commissions, costs and other expenses incurred in connection therewith.

Non-Cash Paid Preferred shall mean Qualifying Preferred Stock which does not require the payment of dividends (other than dividends payable solely in Equity Interests which do not otherwise constitute Cash Paid Preferred or Disqualified Stock) prior to the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the Term Loan Maturity Date and (ii) a Change in Control.

Notes shall mean the promissory notes provided for by Section 2.04(e), together with any and all renewals, extensions for any period, increases, rearrangements, modifications, consolidations, substitutions, amendments, and/or modifications thereof.

Obligations shall mean all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any of the Lenders, any of the Lenders’ Affiliates or the Agent, individually or collectively, existing on the date of this Agreement or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement obligations incurred or any of the Notes or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof, including interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition or other action concerning bankruptcy or other similar proceedings, or any other obligations incurred under this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments and all renewals, extensions, refinancings and replacements for the foregoing.

Oil and Gas Properties shall mean Hydrocarbon Interests; the Properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests; all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, the lands covered thereby and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and

 

 

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Properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests; and all Properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all Property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or Property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells (including those used for either environmental sampling or remedial purposes), buildings, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

OPA shall mean the Oil Pollution Act which can be found at 33 U.S.C. § 27.01 et seq.

Other Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions.

Person shall mean any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.

Permitted Investors” shall mean Oaktree Capital Management and/or any of its Affiliates.

Permitted Subordinated Debt shall mean unsecured subordinated notes issued by the Borrower, (i) which is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Lenders than those customarily found in senior subordinated notes issued under Rule 144A of the Securities Act or in a public offering, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, (ii) the terms of which do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is 180 days after the Term Loan Maturity Date (as in effect on the Closing Date), (iii) the covenants, events of default, Guarantor guarantees and other terms of which (other than interest rate and redemption premiums), taken as a whole, are not more restrictive of the Borrower and the Guarantors than those in this Agreement and (iv) of which no Subsidiary is an obligor that is not a Guarantor.

Plan shall mean any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which (i) is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or (ii) was at any time during the preceding six calendar years sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.

Platform shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.01.

Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest per annum determined from time to time by Credit Suisse as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City and notified to the Borrower.

Pro Forma Financial Covenant Compliance” shall mean, with respect to the incurrence of either any Permitted Subordinated Debt or any Cash Paid Preferred, in each case pursuant to Section 6.01(l), that the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in

 

 

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Section 6.13 and Section 6.14 (calculated as if such Debt had been incurred at the beginning of the relevant four consecutive fiscal quarter period and, if such Debt has a floating rate, calculated based on an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Debt as at the relevant date of determination, and calculated to give pro forma effect to any acquisition financed, or refinanced with the proceeds thereof as if such acquisition and if applicable, refinancing had been consummated on the first day of such period).

Property or Properties shall mean any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

Public Lender shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.01.

Put Date shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.13(e).

PV-10 Ratio shall mean, on any date of determination, the ratio of PV-10 Value on such date to Total Net Debt on such date; provided that if the PV-10 Value calculated using only the estimated future revenues to be generated from proved developed producing reserves (the “PDP Component”) is less than 60% of the otherwise calculated total PV-10 Value, then for purposes of calculating the PV-10 Ratio, PV-10 Value shall be deemed to be the quotient of the PDP Component divided by 0.60.

PV-10 Value shall mean, as of any date of determination, the present value of estimated future revenues less severance and ad valorem taxes, operating, gathering, transportation and marketing expenses and capital expenditures from the production of proved reserves on the Borrower’s and the Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties as set forth in the most recent Reserve Reports delivered pursuant hereto, calculated in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines and using the Three-Year Strip Price for crude oil (WTI Cushing) and natural gas (Henry Hub), quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange (or its successor) on such date of determination, adjusted for any basis differential, quality and gravity, using prices and costs as of the date of estimation without future escalation, without giving effect to non-property related expenses such as general and administrative expenses, debt service, future income tax expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization, and discounted using an annual discount rate of 10%. PV-10 Value shall be adjusted to give effect to the Hedging Agreements of the Borrower and the Guarantors then in effect.

Qualifying Preferred Stock shall mean, as applied to the Equity Interests of any Person, Equity Interests of any class or series (however designated) that is preferred with respect to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over Equity Interests of any other class or series of Equity Interests of such Person; provided, however, that such class or series of Equity Interests (i) is not Disqualified Stock, (ii) neither matures, nor provides for mandatory redemption, or redemption at the holder’s option, prior to the earlier of (x) the first anniversary after the Term Loan Maturity Date and (y) the occurrence of a Change in Control and (iii) is not convertible into or exchangeable for Debt or Disqualified Stock; and provided further, however, the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent reasonably prior to the issuance of such Equity Interests and of the principal terms thereof and the Administrative Agent shall have approved of such terms to the extent the Administrative Agent’s approval thereof is contemplated by this definition of “Qualifying Preferred Stock”.

Regulation D shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

 

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Releasesshall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 6.17.

Reliance Letters shall mean letters satisfactory to the Agent and addressed to the Agent from the title attorneys, land brokers, environmental consultants or similar professionals who are not providing supplemental title opinions or environmental assessments, as applicable for certain Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries which allow the Agent to rely on their prior opinions or assessments, as applicable for such Oil and Gas Properties in extending credit to the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries.

Required Lenders shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Loans and unused Term Loan Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of all Loans outstanding and unused Term Loan Commitments at such time.

Reserve Reports shall mean the reports delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.07(a). Until the Reserve Report dated as of June 30, 2007 is delivered to the Agent, “Reserve Report” shall mean the Initial Reserve Reports.

Reserve Requirement shall mean, for any Interest Period for any LIBOR Loan, the average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal, supplemental or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained during such Interest Period under Regulation D by member banks of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding one billion Dollars against “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is used in Regulation D). Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks by reason of any Regulatory Change against (i) any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which LIBOR is to be determined as provided in the definition of “LIBOR” or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include a LIBOR Loan.

Responsible Officer shall mean, as to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of such Person and, with respect to financial matters, the term “Responsible Officer” shall include the Chief Financial Officer of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein shall mean a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Scheduled Redetermination Date” shall mean so long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of all Loans hereunder, each first Business Day of each November and May, commencing November 1, 2007.

SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.

Secured Partiesshall mean (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) the Collateral Agent, (d) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by the Borrower or any Guarantor Party under any Loan Document and (e) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

Security Instruments shall mean the agreements or instruments described or referred to in Exhibit D and any and all other agreements or instruments now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Person (other than participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor with respect to any Obligations pursuant to this Agreement) in connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of, any of the Obligations, as such agreements may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

SPC shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 9.04(i).

Special Entity shall mean any joint venture, limited liability company or partnership, general or limited partnership or any other type of partnership or company other than a corporation in which a Person or one or more of its other Subsidiaries is a member, owner, partner or joint venturer and owns,

 

 

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directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the equity of such entity or controls such entity, but excluding any tax partnerships that are not classified as partnerships under state law. For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns directly or indirectly an equity investment in another Person which allows the first Person to manage or elect managers who manage the normal activities of such second Person will be deemed to “control” such second Person (e.g., a sole general partner controls a limited partnership).

Statutory Reserves shall mean a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board and any other banking authority, domestic or foreign, to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject for Eurocurrency Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board). Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency Liabilities (as defined in Regulation D of the Board) and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Subsidiary shall mean (i) any corporation or other legally formed entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding shares of stock or other ownership interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock or any other ownership interest of any other class or classes of such entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any Special Entity. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each reference to the term “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Taxes shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.06(a).

Term Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans.

Term Lender” shall mean a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

Term Loan Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Term Loans hereunder as set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed its Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.

Term Loan Maturity Date” shall mean May 8, 2012.

Term Loans” shall mean the term loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01.

Three-Year Strip Price shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) for the 36-month period commencing with the month immediately following the month in which the date of determination occurs, the monthly futures contract prices for crude oil and natural gas for the 36 succeeding months as quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange (or its successor) and (b) for periods after such 36-month period, the average of such quoted prices for the period from and including the 25th month in such 36-month period though the 36th month in such period.

 

 

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Total Net Debt shall mean, at any time, (i) the total Debt of the Borrower and the Guarantors at such time less (ii) the amount of the Borrower’s and the Guarantors’ aggregate unrestricted cash on hand and the current fair market value of unrestricted cash equivalents meeting the criteria for permitted investments described in Section 6.03(c), (d), (e) or (f).

Transactionsshall mean collectively (i) the Acquisition, (ii) the obtainment of the revolving facility pursuant to the First Lien Loan Agreement, (iii) the obtainment of the term facility pursuant to this Agreement and (iv) the refinancing of certain existing indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Type”, when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to the Rate by reference to which interest on such Term Loan or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, the term Rate shall mean the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Alternate Base Rate.

Wells Fargo shall mean Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association.

Section 1.03.     Accounting Terms and Determinations.Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 4.02 (except for changes concurred with by the Borrower’s independent public accountants).

Section 1.04.      Classification of Loans and Borrowings.For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Term Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Term Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Term Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Term Borrowing”).

 

The Credits

Section 2.01.      Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make a Term Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount not to exceed its Term Loan Commitment. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

Section 2.02.

Loans.

(a)           Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their applicable Commitments; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender to make any Loan shall not in itself relieve any other Lender of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to be made by such other Lender). The Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (i) an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 or (ii) equal to the remaining available balance of the applicable Commitments.

(b)           Subject to 2.08 and 2.15, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.03. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not

 

 

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affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Borrowing that, if made, would result in more than five Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding hereunder at any time. For purposes of the foregoing, Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

(c)           Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account in New York City as the Administrative Agent may designate not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly credit the amounts so received to an account designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

(d)           Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (c) above and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, a rate determined by the Administrative Agent to represent its cost of overnight or short-term funds (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error). If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

Section 2.03.     Borrowing Procedure. In order to request the Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than noon, New York City time, three Business Days before such proposed Borrowing, and (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, one Business Day before such proposed Borrowing. Such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable, and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or fax to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request and shall specify the following information: (i) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the number and location of the account to which funds are to be disbursed; (iv) the amount of such Borrowing; and (v) if such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any contrary specification in any Borrowing Request, each requested Borrowing shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 2.02. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the applicable Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.03 (and the contents thereof), and of each Lender’s portion of the requested Borrowing.

 

Section 2.04.

Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans.

 

 

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(a)           The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section 2.11.

(b)           Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(c)           The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and, if applicable, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower or any Guarantor and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d)           The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligations of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with their terms.

(e)           Any Lender may request that Loans made by it hereunder be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender and its registered assigns and in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event any Lender shall request and receive such a promissory note, the interests represented by such note shall at all times (including after any assignment of all or part of such interests pursuant to Section 6.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes payable to the payee named therein or its registered assigns.

 

Section 2.05.

Fees.

 

(a)

[Reserved]

(b)           The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, the administrative fees set forth in the Fee Letter at the times and in the amounts specified therein (the Administrative Agent Fees).

 

(c)

[Reserved]

(d)           All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the Lenders. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances.

 

Section 2.06.

Interest on Loans.

(a)           Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when the Alternate Base Rate is determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times and calculated from and including the date of such Borrowing to but excluding the date of repayment thereof) at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time.

 

 

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(b)           Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time.

(c)           Interest on each Loan shall be payable on the Interest Payment Dates applicable to such Loan except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate for each Interest Period or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Section 2.07.      Default Interest. If the Borrower shall default in the payment of any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount due hereunder, by acceleration or otherwise, or under any other Loan Document, then, if after the expiration of any applicable grace period such default continues, until such defaulted amount shall have been paid in full, to the extent permitted by law, all amounts outstanding under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall bear interest (after as well as before judgment), payable on demand, (a) in the case of principal, at the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan pursuant to Section 2.06 plus 2.00% per annum and (b) in all other cases, at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times) equal to the rate that would be applicable to an ABR Loan plus 2.00% per annum.

Section 2.08.      Alternate Rate of Interest. In the event, and on each occasion, that on the day two Business Days prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing the Administrative Agent shall have determined that dollar deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising such Borrowing are not generally available in the London interbank market, or that the rates at which such dollar deposits are being offered will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to any Lender of making or maintaining its Eurodollar Loan during such Interest Period, or that reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Administrative Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give written or fax notice of such determination to the Borrower and the Lenders. In the event of any such determination, until the Administrative Agent shall have advised the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.03 or Section 2.10 shall be deemed to be a request for an ABR Borrowing. Each determination by the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.08 shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

Section 2.09.

Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a)           The Term Loan Commitments shall automatically terminate upon the making of the Term Loans on the Closing Date.

(b)           Upon at least three Business Days’ prior irrevocable written or fax notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may at any time in whole permanently terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce, the Term Loan Commitments; provided, however, that each partial reduction of the Term Loan Commitments shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000.

(c)           Each reduction in the Term Loan Commitments hereunder shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments.

Section 2.10.      Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings. The Borrower shall have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent (a) not later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, one Business Day prior to conversion, to convert any Eurodollar Borrowing into an ABR

 

 

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Borrowing, (b) not later than noon, New York City time, three Business Days prior to conversion or continuation, to convert any ABR Borrowing into a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing as a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period, and (c) not later than noon, New York City time, three Business Days prior to conversion, to convert the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing to another permissible Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:

(i) each conversion or continuation shall be made pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Borrowing;

(ii) if less than all the outstanding principal amount of any Borrowing shall be converted or continued, then each resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the limitations specified in Sections 2.02(a) and 2.02(b) regarding the principal amount and maximum number of Borrowings of the relevant Type;

(iii) each conversion shall be effected by each Lender and the Administrative Agent by recording for the account of such Lender the new Loan of such Lender resulting from such conversion and reducing the Loan (or portion thereof) of such Lender being converted by an equivalent principal amount; accrued interest on any Eurodollar Loan (or portion thereof) being converted shall be paid by the Borrower at the time of conversion;

(iv) if any Eurodollar Borrowing is converted at a time other than the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall pay, upon demand, any amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.16;

(v) any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(vi) any portion of a Eurodollar Borrowing that cannot be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing by reason of the immediately preceding clause shall be automatically converted at the end of the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing;

(vii) no Interest Period may be selected for any Eurodollar Borrowing that would end later than the Term Loan Maturity Date; and

(viii) upon notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent given at the request of the Required Lenders, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, no outstanding Loan may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Loan.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be irrevocable and shall refer to this Agreement and specify (i) the identity and amount of the Borrowing that the Borrower requests be converted or continued, (ii) whether such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing, (iii) if such notice requests a conversion, the date of such conversion (which shall be a Business Day) and (iv) if such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.10 and of each Lender’s portion of any converted or continued Borrowing. If the Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to continue any Borrowing into a subsequent Interest Period (and shall not otherwise have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to convert such Borrowing), such Borrowing shall, at the end of the Interest Period

 

 

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applicable thereto (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof), automatically be continued into an ABR Borrowing.

 

Section 2.11.

Repayment of Term Borrowings.

 

(a)

[Reserved]

 

(b)

[Reserved]

(c)           To the extent not previously paid, all Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Loan Maturity Date together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of payment.

(d)           All repayments pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.

 

Section 2.12.

Optional Prepayment.

(a)           The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, upon at least three Business Days’ prior written or fax notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or fax notice) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, or written or fax notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or fax notice) at least one Business Day prior to the date of prepayment in the case of ABR Loans, to the Administrative Agent before noon, New York City time; provided, however, that each partial prepayment shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000.

(b)           Optional prepayments of Term Loans at any time during the applicable periods set forth in this Section 2.12(b) shall be accompanied by a payment of a prepayment fee in an amount (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Loans to be repaid) equal to (i) 2.00%, if such prepayment occurs on or prior to the date that is the first anniversary of the Closing Date, and (ii) 1.00%, if such prepayment occurs after the date that is the first anniversary of the Closing Date, but on or prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date.

(c)           Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid, shall be irrevocable and shall commit the Borrower to prepay such Borrowing by the amount stated therein on the date stated therein. All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be subject to Section 2.16 but otherwise without premium or penalty, except as provided in Section 2.12(b). All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment.

 

Section 2.13.

Mandatory Prepayments.

(a)           Not later than the third Business Day following the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale, the Borrower shall apply 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received with respect thereto to prepay outstanding Loans; provided that such Net Cash Proceeds shall only be required to be applied to the extent (if any) that such Net Cash Proceeds remain after any mandatory prepayments required by the First Lien Loan Agreement (or any waiver, consent, amendment or modification thereof entered into in order to permit such Asset Sale) shall have been made in accordance with the terms thereof.

(b)           In the event that any Loan Party or any subsidiary of a Loan Party shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance or incurrence of Debt for money borrowed of any Loan

 

 

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Party or any subsidiary of a Loan Party (other than any cash proceeds from (i) borrowings under the First Lien Loan Agreement or (ii) the issuance of either (A) Permitted Subordinated Debt or (B) Cash Paid Preferred, in each case, permitted pursuant to Section 6.01), the Borrower shall, substantially simultaneously with (and in any event not later than the third Business Day next following) the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds by such Loan Party or such subsidiary, apply an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds to prepay outstanding Loans.

(c)           The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, at the time of each prepayment required under this Section 2.13, (i) a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount of such prepayment and (ii) to the extent practicable, at least three Business Days prior written notice of such prepayment. Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date, the Type of each Loan being prepaid and the principal amount of each Loan (or portion thereof) to be prepaid. All prepayments of Borrowings under this Section 2.13 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment.

(d)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Term Lender may elect, by written notice to the Administrative Agent at least two Business Days prior to the applicable prepayment date (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent), to decline all (but not less than all) of any mandatory prepayment of its Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.13 (such declined amounts, the Declined Proceeds). Any Declined Proceeds shall be offered to the Term Lenders not so declining such prepayment (with such Term Lenders having the right to decline any prepayment with Declined Proceeds in the same manner provided for in the previous sentence). To the extent such Term Lenders elect to decline their pro rata shares of such Declined Proceeds, such remaining Declined Proceeds may be retained by the Borrower. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall limit the Borrower’s ability to make optional prepayments in accordance with Section 2.12.

(e)           The Borrower shall notify the Agent of the occurrence of a Change in Control within one Business Day thereof, and the Agent shall promptly thereafter notify the Lenders thereof. At any time prior to the 30th day following delivery of the notice by the Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence (the Put Date), each Lender shall have the right, by notice to the Borrower and the Agent, to require the Borrower, one Business Day after the Put Date, to prepay in full (but not in part) the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount thereof to but excluding the date of payment, and all other amounts then due to such Lender (including amounts payable under Section 2.16) under the Loan Documents.

 

Section 2.14.

Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances.

(a)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of or credit extended by any Lender (except any such reserve requirement which is reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or shall impose on such Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender, and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then the Borrower will pay to such Lender upon demand such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

 

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(b)           If any Lender shall have determined that any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender pursuant hereto to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)           A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of the same.

(d)           Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation for any increased costs or reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) above with respect to increased costs or reductions with respect to any period prior to the date that is 120 days prior to such request if such Lender knew or could reasonably have been expected to know of the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the fact that such circumstances would result in a claim for increased compensation by reason of such increased costs or reductions; provided further that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any increased costs or reductions arising out of the retroactive application of any Change in Law within such 120-day period. The protection of this Section 2.14 shall be available to each Lender regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the Change in Law that shall have occurred or been imposed.

 

Section 2.15.

Change in Legality.

(a)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent:

such Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods) and ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such duration) be converted into Eurodollar Loans, whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing (or to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period) shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to convert a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be), unless such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

such Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans as of the effective date of such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below.

 

 

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In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of, such Eurodollar Loans.

(b)           For purposes of this Section 2.15, a notice to the Borrower by any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period then applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrower.

Section 2.16.     Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) any event, other than a default by such Lender in the performance of its obligations hereunder, which results in (i) such Lender receiving or being deemed to receive any amount on account of the principal of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect therefor, (ii) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan to an ABR Loan, or the conversion of the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, in each case other than on the last day of the Interest Period in effect therefor, or (iii) any Eurodollar Loan to be made by such Lender (including any Eurodollar Loan to be made pursuant to a conversion or continuation under Section 2.10) not being made after notice of such Loan shall have been given by the Borrower hereunder (any of the events referred to in this clause (a) being called a Breakage Event) or (b) any default in the making of any payment or prepayment required to be made hereunder. In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss shall include an amount equal to the excess, as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (i) its cost of obtaining funds for the Eurodollar Loan that is the subject of such Breakage Event for the period from the date of such Breakage Event to the last day of the Interest Period in effect (or that would have been in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of interest likely to be realized by such Lender in redeploying the funds released or not utilized by reason of such Breakage Event for such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Section 2.17.      Pro Rata Treatment. Except as required under Section 2.15, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each reduction of the Term Loan Commitments and each conversion of any Borrowing to or continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments (or, if such Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans). Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.

Section 2.18.      Sharing of Setoffs. Each Lender agrees that if it shall, through the exercise of a right of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Loan or Loans as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of its Loans shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Loans of any other Lender, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Lender at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other Lender the purchase price for, a participation in the Loans of such other Lender, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans and participations in Loans held by each Lender shall be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans then outstanding as the principal amount of its Loans prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all Loans outstanding prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or

 

 

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counterclaim or other event; provided, however, that if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.18 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored without interest. The Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees that any Lender holding a participation in a Loan deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by the Borrower to such Lender by reason thereof as fully as if such Lender had made a Loan directly to the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

Section 2.19.

Payments.

(a)           The Borrower shall make each payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder and under any other Loan Document not later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, on the date when due in immediately available dollars, without setoff, defense or counterclaim. Each such payment shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010. The Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender any payments received by the Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender.

(b)           Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever any payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or Fees, if applicable.

 

Section 2.20.

Taxes.

(a)           Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided, however, that if the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.20) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower or such Loan Party shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower or such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b)           In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c)           The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.20) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

 

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(d)           As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower or any Guarantor to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e)           Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

Section 2.21.      Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate.

(a)           In the event (i) any Lender delivers a certificate requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender delivers a notice described in Section 2.15, (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.20 or (iv) any Lender refuses to consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Document requested by the Borrower that requires the consent of a greater percentage of the Lenders than the Required Lenders and such amendment, waiver or other modification is consented to by the Required Lenders, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort (including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 6.04(b)), upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to transfer and assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 6.04), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such assigned obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided, however, that (x) such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (y) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, and (z) the Borrower or such assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender in immediately available funds an amount equal to the sum of the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the outstanding Loans of such Lender plus all Fees and other amounts accrued for the account of such Lender with respect thereto (including any amounts under Sections 2.14 and 2.16 and, if applicable, the prepayment fee pursuant to Section 2.12(b) (with such assignment being deemed to be an optional prepayment for purposes of determining the applicability of Section 2.12(b), such amount to be payable by the Borrower)); provided further, however, that, if prior to any such transfer and assignment the circumstances or event that resulted in such Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 2.14, notice under Section 2.15 or the amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, cease to cause such Lender to suffer increased costs or reductions in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital, or cease to have the consequences specified in Section 2.15, or cease to result in amounts being payable under Section 2.20, as the case may be (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender pursuant to paragraph (b) below), or if such Lender shall waive its right to claim further compensation under Section 2.14 in respect of such circumstances or event or shall withdraw its notice under Section 2.15 or shall waive its right to further payments under Section 2.20 in respect of such circumstances or event or shall consent to the proposed amendment, waiver, consent or other modification, as the case may be, then such Lender shall not thereafter be required to make any such transfer and assignment hereunder. Each Lender hereby grants to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable power of attorney (which power is coupled

 

 

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with an interest) to execute and deliver, on behalf of such Lender as assignor, any Assignment and Acceptance necessary to effectuate any assignment of such Lender’s interests hereunder in the circumstances contemplated by this Section 2.21(a).

(b)           If (i) any Lender shall request compensation under Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender delivers a notice described in Section 2.15 or (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender, pursuant to Section 2.20, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts (which shall not require such Lender to incur an unreimbursed loss or unreimbursed cost or expense or otherwise take any action inconsistent with its internal policies or legal or regulatory restrictions or suffer any disadvantage or burden deemed by it to be significant) (x) to file any certificate or document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or (y) to assign its rights and delegate and transfer its obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if such filing or assignment would reduce its claims for compensation under Section 2.14 or enable it to withdraw its notice pursuant to Section 2.15 or would reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, in the future. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such filing or assignment, delegation and transfer.

Conditions Precedent

Section 3.01.      Initial Funding. The obligation of the Lenders to make the Initial Funding is subject to the receipt by the Agent and the Lenders of all fees payable pursuant to Section 2.04 on or before the Closing Date and the receipt by the Agent of the following documents (in sufficient original counterparts, other than the Notes, for each Lender) and satisfaction of the other conditions provided in this Section 3.01, each of which shall be satisfactory to the Agent in form and substance:

(a)           A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors with respect to the authorization of the Borrower to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of the Borrower (y) who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party and (z) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of the authorized officers, and (iv) the articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Borrower, certified as being true and complete. The Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Agent receives notice in writing from the Borrower to the contrary. Such certificate shall be accompanied by an incumbency certificate signed by another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary executing such certificate.

(b)           A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each Guarantor setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors with respect to the authorization of such Guarantor to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of such Guarantor (y) who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which Guarantor is a party and (z) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of the authorized officers, and (iv) the articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws of such Guarantor, certified as being true and complete. The Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until they receive notice in writing from such Guarantor to the contrary.

 

 

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Such certificate shall be accompanied by an incumbency certificate signed by another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary executing such certificate.

 

(c)

[Reserved]

(d)           Certificates of the appropriate state agencies with respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of the Borrower and Guarantor(s)/Subsidiaries.

(e)           A compliance certificate which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly and properly executed by a Responsible Officer and dated as of the date of the Initial Funding.

 

(f)

The Notes, if any, duly completed and executed.

(g)           The Security Instruments, including those described on Exhibit D, duly completed and executed in sufficient number of counterparts for recording, if necessary.

(h)           An opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Texas counsel (and Liskow & Lewis, A PLC and such other out of state counsel as Agent shall require) to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and Guarantors in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, as to such matters incident to the transactions herein contemplated as the Agent and its counsel may request, including, without limitation, the enforceability of the Mortgages and other Security Instruments and the validity and means of perfection of the liens created thereby.

(i)            A certificate of insurance coverage of the Borrower evidencing that the Borrower its Subsidiaries, and the Guarantors are carrying insurance in accordance with Section 4.19.

(j)            Title information as the Agent may require satisfactory to the Agent setting forth the status of title to at least 80% of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties included in the Initial Reserve Reports, including, without limitation, the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G.

 

(k)

[Reserved]

 

(l)

[Reserved]

 

(m)

[Reserved]

 

(n)

[Reserved]

 

(o)

[Reserved]

(p)           Agent shall have received, reviewed, and be satisfied, in Agent’s sole discretion, with:

(i) the annual and most recent interim financial statements described in Section 4.02;

(ii) the Initial Reserve Reports;

(iii) such lien searches as the Agent shall require covering Mortgaged Property; and

 

 

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(iv) other material documents and agreements (including, without limitation, all: (1) Material Agreements listed on Schedule 4.22, and (2) all other material documents and agreements as the Agent shall have requested).

(q)           Other than with respect to delivery of the cash Closing Payment and the shares of Crimson Parent Common Stock that comprise the Stock Purchase Price (as such terms are defined in the Acquisition Agreement), all conditions precedent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement shall have been satisfied (or, if consented to in writing by the Agent, waived), and Borrower shall have delivered to Agent copies of the Acquisition Agreement and all other documents, assignments, instruments, and other agreements, executed and delivered in connection therewith (collectively, the “Acquisition Documents”).

(r)           All obligations and indebtedness under the “Second Lien Loan Documents” as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been paid in full, all commitments (if any) in respect thereof terminated and all guaranties thereof and security therefor discharged and released or assigned on terms and provisions satisfactory to the Agent. After giving effect to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the First Lien Loan Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have no indebtedness other than (i) Debt outstanding hereunder and under the First Lien Loan Agreement and (ii) Debt set forth in Schedule 6.01.

(s)           The First Lien Loan Agreement shall have been executed and delivered and the transactions contemplated thereby shall have been consummated and Borrower shall have furnished to Agent copies of the First Lien Loan Agreement and the First Lien Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, fully executed by all parties thereto, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

(t)            Agent shall have received (i) satisfactory evidence of Borrower’s receipt from the Seller of unencumbered title to 100% of the equity interests of Southern G and that Southern G has good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties acquired in connection with the Acquisition, subject only to Excepted Liens, and other Liens permitted by Section 6.02, (ii) such financial statements and other information in respect of the Acquired Assets, including lease operating expense statements in respect of the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G for the 2005 and 2006 years and other operating and financial information, as is reasonably available to the Borrower, which information shall not be materially inconsistent with the information previously provided to the Agent or any Lender, and (iii) satisfactory evidence that Southern G has no Debt (other than Debt arising under the Loan Documents and the Second Lien Loan Documents) and has conducted no business activities or operations other than those relating to ownership of Oil and Gas Properties acquired by it pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement by and among Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko E & P Company LP, Howell Petroleum Corporation and Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, as Seller, and Exco Resources Inc. and Southern G as Purchaser dated as of February 1, 2007.

(u)           The Agent shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower as of and for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most recently completed four-fiscal quarter period ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, prepared after giving effect to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the First Lien Loan Agreement as if such transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such other financial statements), which pro forma financial statements shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

 

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(v)           The Agent shall have received a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, from the chief financial officer of the Borrower certifying that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the First Lien Loan Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby, are solvent.

(w)          All requisite Governmental Authorities and third parties shall have approved or consented to the acquisition of the Acquired Assets (except for any such consents routinely obtained on a post-closing basis in transactions similar to the Acquisition or with respect to which the failure to have been obtained would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if not obtained) and the related incurrence of Debt hereunder and under the First Lien Loan Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby to the extent required, all applicable appeal periods shall have expired and there shall be no litigation, governmental, administrative or judicial action, actual or threatened, that could reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent or impose burdensome conditions on any of such transactions.

(x)           The Borrower shall have entered into Hedging Agreements establishing a commodity price hedging program consistent with the pricing assumptions contained in the financial models of the Borrower previously provided to the Agent, such Hedging Agreements to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, and with Lenders (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) or affiliates of such Lenders or any other counterparty or counterparties acceptable to, the Agent, covering not less than 75% of the anticipated production as of the Closing Date from proved, developed, producing Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Guarantors including the Oil and Gas Properties acquired in the Acquisition through December 31, 2011.

 

(y)

[Reserved]

(z)           The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least five business days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the Act).

(aa)         Such other documents, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, as the Agent or any Lender or special counsel to the Agent may reasonably request, including, without limitation, (i) documentation of all environmental and title matters relating to each of the Borrower’s, each of the Guarantor’s and each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties including, without limitation, the Oil and Gas Properties of Southern G and any other Mortgaged Properties and (ii) all Material Agreements.

(i) The obligation of the Lenders to make Loans to the Borrower on the Closing Date is subject to the further conditions precedent that, as of the date of such Loans and after giving effect thereto:

(ii) no Default shall exist;

(iii) no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since December 31, 2006;

(iv) the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Article IV and in the Security Instruments shall be true on and as of the date of the making of such Loans with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date and following such new borrowing, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly limited

 

 

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to an earlier date or the Required Lenders may expressly consent in writing to the contrary; and

(v) after giving effect to the requested borrowing or borrowings, no Default will exist and no Default (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) will exist.

Each request for a borrowing by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a certification by the Borrower to the effect set forth in Section 3.01(aa)(iv) and Section 3.01(aa)(v) (both as of the date of such notice and, unless the Borrower otherwise notifies the Agent prior to the date of and immediately following such borrowing as of the date thereof).

Section 3.02.     Conditions Precedent for the Benefit of Lenders. All conditions precedent to the obligations of the Lenders to make any Loan are imposed hereby solely for the benefit of the Lenders, and no other Person may require satisfaction of any such condition precedent or be entitled to assume that the Lenders will refuse to make any Loan in the absence of strict compliance with such conditions precedent.

Section 3.03.     No Waiver. No waiver of any condition precedent shall preclude the Agent or the Lenders from requiring such condition to be met prior to making any subsequent Loan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that (each representation and warranty herein is given as of the Closing Date and shall be deemed repeated and reaffirmed on the dates of each borrowing as provided in Section 3.01(aa)(iv)):

Section 4.01.      Corporate Existence. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary: (i) is a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, legally existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; (ii) has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary to own its assets and carry on its business as now being or as proposed to be conducted; and (iii) is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary and where failure so to qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.02.      Financial Condition. The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statement of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended on said date, with the opinion thereon of Grant Thornton LLP heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders, are complete and correct and fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at said date and the results of its operations for such fiscal year, all in accordance with GAAP, as applied on a consistent basis (subject, in the case of the interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes). Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has on the Closing Date any material Debt, contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in the Financial Statements or in Schedule 4.02. Since the later of December 31, 2006 or the end of the most recent fiscal year for which financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01(a), there has been no change or event having a Material Adverse Effect. Since the later of December 31, 2006 or the end of the most recent fiscal year for which financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01(a), neither the business nor the Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have been materially

 

 

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and adversely affected as a result of any fire, explosion, earthquake, flood, drought, windstorm, accident, strike or other labor disturbance, embargo, requisition or taking of Property or cancellation of contracts, permits or concessions by any Governmental Authority, riot, activities of armed forces or acts of God or of any public enemy.

Section 4.03.      Litigation and Judgments. Except as disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 4.03 hereto: (i) there is no litigation, legal, administrative or arbitral proceeding, investigation or other action of any nature pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor which involves the possibility of any judgment or liability against the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor not fully covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles) or which could result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) there are no outstanding judgments against the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor.

Section 4.04.      No Breach. Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent which has not been obtained as of the Closing Date under, the respective charter, by-laws, or limited liability company agreement of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Governmental Requirement or any Material Agreement, or constitute a default under any such agreement, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the revenues or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any such agreement or instrument other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents.

Section 4.05.      Authority. The Borrower and each Subsidiary have all necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part; and the Loan Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

Section 4.06.      Approvals. No authorizations, approvals or consents of, and no filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or any Person are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Loan Documents or for the validity or enforceability thereof, except for the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as required by this Agreement.

Section 4.07.

Use of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the Borrower to:

(a)           fund the purchase of the Acquired Assets pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the repayment of existing debt and fees and expenses incident to the preceding.

(b)           provide for the working capital and general corporate purpose needs of the Borrower and its Active Subsidiaries.

Neither the Borrower, any Guarantor, nor any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and no part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used to buy or carry any margin stock.

 

Section 4.08.

ERISA.

(a)           The Borrower, each Subsidiary and each ERISA Affiliate have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.

(b)           Each Plan is, and has been, maintained in substantial compliance with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.

 

 

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(c)           No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result in imposition on the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under Section 409 of ERISA.

(d)           No Plan (other than a defined contribution plan) or any trust created under any such Plan has been terminated since September 2, 1974. No liability to the PBGC (other than for the payment of current premiums which are not past due) by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has been or is expected by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan. No ERISA Event with respect to any Plan has occurred.

(e)           Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan, and no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to any Plan.

(f)           The actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA does not, as of the end of the Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal year, exceed the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4041 of ERISA.

(g)           None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without any material liability.

(h)           None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the preceding six calendar years, sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any Multiemployer Plan.

(i)            None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code due to a Plan amendment that results in an increase in current liability for the Plan.

Section 4.09.      Taxes. Except as set out in Schedule 4.09, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all material taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Borrower, adequate. No tax lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.

 

Section 4.10.

Titles, Etc.

(a)           Except as set out in Schedule 4.10, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good and defensible title to its material (individually or in the aggregate) Properties, including, without limitation, the Acquired Assets, free and clear of all Liens, except Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and Liens incident to the First Lien Loan Agreement. Except as set forth in

 

 

35

 


Schedule 4.10, after giving full effect to the Excepted Liens, the Borrower owns the net interests in production attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report and the ownership of such Properties shall not in any material respect obligate the Borrower to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of each such Property in an amount in excess of the working interest of each Property set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve Report without a proportional increase in the associated net revenue interest.

(b)           All leases and agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect (including as to depths) and there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, and to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default by a third party, under any such lease or leases, which would affect in any material respect the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(c)           The rights, Properties and other assets presently owned, leased or licensed by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights, Properties and other assets necessary to permit the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to conduct their business in all material respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted prior to the Closing Date.

(d)           All of the assets and Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are reasonably necessary for the operation of its business are in operable working condition and are maintained in accordance with prudent business standards.

Section 4.11.     No Material Misstatements. No written information, statement, exhibit, certificate, document or report furnished to the Agent and the Lenders (or any of them) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statement contained therein not materially misleading in the light of the circumstances in which made and with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. To the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, there is no fact peculiar to the Borrower or any Subsidiary which has a Material Adverse Effect or in the future could have (so far as the Borrower can now foresee) a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been set forth in this Agreement or the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary prior to, or on, the Closing Date in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 4.12.     Investment Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Section 4.13.

Reserved.

Section 4.14.

Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.14, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries.

Section 4.15.      Location of Business and Offices. The Borrower’s principal place of business and chief executive offices are located at the address stated on the signature page of this Agreement. The principal place of business and chief executive office of each Subsidiary are located at the addresses stated on Schedule 4.14.

 

 

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Section 4.16.      Defaults. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, and to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, no event or circumstance has occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default by a third party under any Material Agreement or instrument to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound which default could have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default hereunder has occurred and is continuing.

Section 4.17.      Environmental Matters. Except (i) as provided in Schedule 4.17 or (ii) as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (or with respect to (c), (d) and (e) below, where the failure to take such actions would not have a Material Adverse Effect):

(a)           Neither any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the operations conducted thereon, or any failure to act, violate any order or requirement of any court or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws;

(b)           Without limitation of clause (a) above, no Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the operations currently conducted thereon, or any failure to act, or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, by any prior owner or operator of such Property or operation, are in violation of or subject to any existing, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or to any remedial obligations under Environmental Laws;

(c)           All notices, permits, licenses or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of any and all Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, including without limitation past or present treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous substance or solid waste into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and the Borrower and each Subsidiary are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar authorizations;

(d)           All hazardous substances, solid waste, and oil and gas exploration and production wastes, if any, generated at any and all Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have in the past been transported, treated and disposed of in accordance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, all such transport carriers and treatment and disposal facilities have been and are operating in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and are not the subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental Laws;

(e)           The Borrower has taken all steps reasonably necessary to determine and has determined that no hazardous substances, solid waste, or oil and gas exploration and production wastes, have been disposed of or otherwise released and there has been no threatened release of any hazardous substances on or to any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except in material compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment;

(f)           To the extent applicable, all Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary currently satisfies all design, operation, and equipment requirements imposed by the OPA or scheduled as of the Closing Date to be imposed by OPA during the term of this Agreement, and the Borrower does not have any reason to believe that such Property, to the extent subject to

 

 

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OPA, will not be able to maintain compliance with the OPA requirements during the term of this Agreement; and

(g)           Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any known contingent liability in connection with any generation, storage, release or threatened release, transportation, or disposal of any oil, hazardous substance or solid waste into the environment.

Section 4.18.      Compliance with the Law. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has violated any Governmental Requirement or failed to obtain any license, permit, franchise or other governmental authorization necessary for the ownership of any of its Properties or the conduct of its business, which violation or failure would have (in the event such violation or failure were asserted by any Person through appropriate action) a Material Adverse Effect. Except for such acts or failures to act as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (and properties unitized therewith) have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all applicable laws and all rules, regulations and orders of all duly constituted authorities having jurisdiction and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Hydrocarbon Interests and other contracts and agreements forming a part of such Oil and Gas Properties; specifically in this connection, (i) after the Closing Date, no such Oil and Gas Property is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) prior to the Closing Date and (ii) none of the wells comprising a part of such Oil and Gas Properties (or properties unitized therewith) are deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders, and such wells are, in fact, bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, such Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on properties unitized therewith, such unitized properties).

Section 4.19.      Insurance. Schedule 4.19 attached hereto contains an accurate and complete description of all material policies of fire, liability, workmen’s compensation and other forms of insurance owned or held by the Borrower and each Subsidiary. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect thereto covering all periods up to and including the Closing Date have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any such policy. Such policies are sufficient for compliance with all requirements of law and of all agreements to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party; are valid, outstanding and enforceable policies; provide adequate insurance coverage in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Borrower and each Subsidiary; will remain in full force and effect through the respective dates set forth in Schedule 4.19 without the payment of additional premiums; and will not in any way be affected by, or terminate or lapse by reason of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Schedule 4.19 identifies all material risks, if any, which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective Board of Directors or officers have designated as being self insured, including any potential environmental liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether for property damage, personal injury, remediation, or enforcement matters. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has been refused any insurance with respect to its assets or operations, nor has its coverage been limited below usual and customary policy limits, by an insurance carrier to which it has applied for any such insurance or with which it has carried insurance during the last three years. All such policies name Agent as additional insured, loss payee, and contain endorsements for no cancellation thereof without thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Agent and the Lenders on all such policies.

Section 4.20.     Hedging Agreements. Schedule 4.20 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market

 

 

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value thereof, all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied), and the counter party to each such agreement.

Section 4.21.      Restriction on Liens. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or arrangement (other than the First Lien Loan Agreement, the Loan Documents (as defined in such agreement), this Agreement and the Security Instruments), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to other Persons on or in respect of their respective assets or Properties, except such restrictions in favor of the holders of Debt secured by Liens described in Sections 6.01(d), 6.01(e), or 6.01(k) but only insofar as such restrictions pertain to the Property encumbered thereby.

Section 4.22.      Material Agreements. Set forth on Schedule 4.22 hereto is a complete and correct list of all material agreements, leases (other than Hydrocarbon Interests), indentures, purchase agreements, obligations in respect of letters of credit, guarantees, joint venture agreements, and other instruments in effect or to be in effect as of the Closing Date (other than Hedging Agreements) providing for, evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to any Debt of the Borrower, the Guarantors or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, and all obligations of the Borrower, the Guarantors or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries to issuers of surety or appeal bonds issued for account of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, and such list correctly sets forth the names of the debtor or lessee and creditor or lessor with respect to the Debt or lease obligations outstanding or to be outstanding and the Property subject to any Lien securing such Debt or lease obligation. Also set forth on Schedule 4.22 hereto is a complete and correct list of all material agreements and other instruments of the Borrower, the Guarantors and Borrower’s Subsidiaries relating to the purchase, transportation by pipeline, gas processing, marketing, sale and supply of natural gas and other Hydrocarbons, but in any event, any such agreement or other instrument that will account for more than 10% of the consolidated sales of the Borrower, the Guarantors and any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries during the Borrower’s current fiscal year and which is not cancelable on thirty (30) or fewer days notice.

Section 4.23.      Solvency. Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and each of the Guarantors and with respect to its Subsidiaries and the Guarantors, after taking into account each Subsidiary’s and Guarantor’s rights of contribution, on an individual and a consolidated basis, are not insolvent; Borrower’s, its Subsidiaries’ and each of the Guarantors’ assets and with respect to its Subsidiaries and the Guarantors, after taking into account each Subsidiary’s and Guarantor’s rights of contribution on an individual and a consolidated basis, exceed their liabilities, and neither Borrower, the Guarantors, nor any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Guarantors and with respect to its Subsidiaries and the Guarantors, after taking into account each Subsidiary’s and Guarantor’s rights of contribution will be rendered insolvent by the execution and performance of this Agreement and the Loan Documents.

Section 4.24.      Gas Imbalances. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.24 or on the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.07(c), on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which (taken together with the imbalances, take or pay, or other prepayments on Schedule 4.24 or such certificate) would require the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to deliver, in the aggregate, after netting all over-production and under-production, three percent (3%) or more of the total volumes of proved, producing reserves of Hydrocarbons (calculated on an mcf equivalent basis with each barrel of oil being equivalent to six mcf of natural gas) reflected in the Initial Reserve Reports or the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 5.07, as the case may be, from the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor.

Section 4.25.      Madisonville. The Initial Reserve Reports do not (nor will any future Reserve Report) include Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries through its or their interests in Madisonville.

 

 

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Section 4.26.

Intentionally Omitted.

Section 4.27.     Name Changes. Borrower’s official name as recorded on its currently effective organizational documents which are filed with the Secretary of State of its State of organization is the same as found on the signature page of this Agreement. Borrower has not, during the preceding five years, entered into any contract, agreement, security instrument or other document using a name other than, or been known by or otherwise used any name other than, the name used by Borrower herein and as set forth on Schedule 4.27 attached hereto.

Section 4.28.      Taxpayer Identification Number. Borrower’s Taxpayer Identification No. is 87-0444770 and each Subsidiary’s Taxpayer Identification No. is set forth on Schedule 4.14. Each Guarantor’s Taxpayer Identification No. is as set forth on Schedule 4.28.

Section 4.29.      State of Formation. Borrower is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Subsidiaries are corporations, limited liability corporations, or partnerships organized under the laws of the states set forth on Schedule 4.14. Each Guarantor’s state of organization is as set forth on Schedule 4.28.

Affirmative Covenants

The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of all Loans hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder:

Section 5.01.      Reporting Requirements. The Borrower shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to the Agent with sufficient copies of each for the Lenders:

(a)           Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, changes in financial position and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, and the related consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year, and accompanied by the related unqualified opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing acceptable to the Agent, which opinion shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for, such fiscal year and that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for such changes in such principles with which the independent public accountants shall have concurred and such opinion shall not contain a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, accompanied by the certificate of a Responsible Officer, which certificate shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, as at the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments), together with calculations confirming the Borrower’s compliance with all financial covenants, certified by a senior financial officer of Borrower.

(b)           Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarterly periods of each fiscal year of the Borrower, consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, changes in financial position and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period and for the period from the beginning of the respective fiscal year to the end of such period, and the related

 

 

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consolidated balance sheets as at the end of such period, and setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by the certificate of a Responsible Officer, which certificate shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, as at the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments), together with calculations confirming the Borrower’s compliance with all financial covenants, certified by a senior financial officer of Borrower.

(c)           Capital Plan and Operating Budget. As soon as available and in any event concurrent with the delivery of the annual financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a), the Borrower’s capital plan and operating budget for the fiscal year after the fiscal year for which financials are delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a).

(d)           Notice of Default, Etc. Promptly after the Borrower knows that any Default or any Material Adverse Effect has occurred, a notice of such Default or Material Adverse Effect, describing the same in reasonable detail and the action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.

(e)           Other Accounting Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each other report or letter submitted to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including any reference to environmental matters, and a copy of any response by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or the Board of Directors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, to such letter or report.

(f)           SEC Filings, Etc. Promptly upon its becoming available, each financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Borrower to stockholders generally and each regular or periodic report and any registration statement, prospectus or written communication (other than transmittal letters) in respect thereof filed by the Borrower with or received by the Borrower in connection therewith from any securities exchange or the SEC or any successor agency.

(g)           Notices Under Other Loan Agreements. Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement, report or notice furnished to any Person pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or other similar agreement, other than this Agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 5.01.

(h)           Production Reports. As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter, a quarterly production report including volumes, revenue, and lease operating expenses attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties included in the most recently delivered Reserve Report.

(i)            Hedging Agreements. Concurrent with any financial statements delivered pursuant to either Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), a report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, setting forth as of the last Business Day of such calendar quarter a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value therefor.

 

 

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(j)            Other Matters. From time to time such other information regarding the business, affairs or financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and any reports or other information required to be filed under ERISA) as any Lender or the Agent may reasonably request.

(k)           Electronic Delivery. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and (f) of this Section 5.01 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent); provided, however, that (x) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Agent or such Lender and (y) the Borrower shall notify the Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the compliance certificates required by paragraph (l) of this Section 5.01 to the Agent.

(l)            The Borrower will furnish to the Agent, at the time it furnishes each set of financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C executed by a Responsible Officer (i) certifying as to the matters set forth therein and stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if any Default has occurred and is continuing, describing the same in reasonable detail), and (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail the computations necessary to determine whether the Borrower is in compliance with Sections 6.13, and Section 6.14, as of the end of the respective fiscal quarter or fiscal year.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (i) the Administrative Agent may make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, Company Materials) by posting the Company Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the Platform) and (ii) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a Public Lender). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Company Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Company Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Company Materials as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws; (y) all Company Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat Company Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

Section 5.02.     Litigation. The Borrower shall promptly give to the Agent notice of: (i) all legal or arbitral proceedings, and of all proceedings before any Governmental Authority to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party and to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, all legal or arbitral proceedings and all proceedings before any Governmental Authority affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except proceedings which, if adversely determined, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) of any litigation or proceeding against or adversely affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary in which the amount involved is not covered in full by insurance (subject to normal and customary deductibles and for

 

 

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which the insurer has not assumed the defense), or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly notify the Agent and each of the Lenders of all claims, judgments, Liens or other encumbrances affecting any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary if the value of the claims, judgments, Liens, or other encumbrances affecting such Property shall exceed $3,750,000 in the aggregate.

 

Section 5.03.

Maintenance, Etc.

(a)           Generally. The Borrower shall and shall cause each Subsidiary to: preserve and maintain its corporate existence and all of its material rights, privileges and franchises; keep books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or transactions in relation to its business and activities; comply with all Governmental Requirements if failure to comply with such requirements will have a Material Adverse Effect; pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or on any of its Property prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained; upon reasonable notice, permit representatives of the Agent or any Lender, during normal business hours, to examine, copy and make extracts from its books and records, to inspect its Properties, and to discuss its business and affairs with its officers, all to the extent reasonably requested by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be); and keep, or cause to be kept, insured by financially sound and reputable insurers all Property of a character usually insured by Persons engaged in the same or similar business similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against by such Persons and carry such other insurance as is usually carried by such Persons including, without limitation, environmental risk insurance to the extent reasonably available, or provide adequate reserves for self-insurance for any contingent environmental liability. The Borrower shall promptly obtain endorsements to such insurance policies naming “Credit Suisse, as Agent for the Lenders” as joint loss payee, additional insured, and containing provisions that such policies will not be canceled without 30 days’ prior written notice having been given by the insurance company to the Agent (and not that the insurance company will merely endeavor to give the Agent 30 days’ prior written notice prior to cancellation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower shall be allowed to dissolve and liquidate any Inactive Subsidiary; provided that any assets available for distribution following such dissolution and liquidation are distributed to the Borrower or an Active Subsidiary. No assets can be transferred to any Inactive Subsidiary once it reaches inactive status without the prior written consent of the Agent, nor can any Inactive Subsidiary, once it reaches inactive status, make any investments, loans, or advances.

(b)           Proof of Insurance. Contemporaneously with the delivery of the financial statements required by Section 5.01(a) to be delivered for each year, the Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent a certificate of insurance coverage from the insurer in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and, if requested, will furnish the Agent copies of the applicable policies.

(c)           Operation of Properties. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to operate its Properties or cause such Properties to be operated in a safe, careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry, in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements, including the Environmental Laws.

(d)           Oil and Gas Properties. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to, at its own expense, do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency all of its Oil and Gas Properties and other material

 

 

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Properties including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities, and from time to time will make all the reasonably necessary repairs, renewals and replacements so that at all times the state and condition of its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties will be fully preserved and maintained, except to the extent a portion of such Properties is no longer capable of producing Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to promptly: (i) pay and discharge, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all delay rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Oil and Gas Properties, (ii) perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties, (iii) cause each Subsidiary to do all other things necessary to keep unimpaired, except for Liens described in Section 6.02, its rights with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties and prevent any forfeiture thereof or a default thereunder, except to the extent a portion of such Properties is no longer capable of producing Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts and except for dispositions permitted by Sections 6.15 and 6.16. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties or cause or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties to be operated in a safe, careful, and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements, including the Environmental Laws.

 

Section 5.04.

Environmental Matters.

(a)           Establishment of Procedures. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to assure that any failure of the following does not have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) all Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the operations conducted thereon and other activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with and do not violate the requirements of any Environmental Laws, (ii) no oil, hazardous substances or solid wastes are disposed of or otherwise released on or to any Property owned by any such party except in compliance with Environmental Laws, (iii) no hazardous substance will be released on or to any such Property in a quantity equal to or exceeding that quantity which requires reporting pursuant to Section 103 of CERCLA, and (iv) no oil, oil and gas exploration and production wastes or hazardous substance is released on or to any such Property so as to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment. Upon request from the Agent, the Borrower will notify the Agent and the Lenders in writing of such environmental procedures as are in effect for each Property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis.

(b)           Notice of Action. The Borrower will promptly notify the Agent in writing within 30 days of such notice of any threatened action, investigation or inquiry against or of the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary by any Governmental Authority of which the Borrower has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws and which, if resolved adversely to the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary, could have a Material Adverse Effect, excluding routine testing, but including corrective action.

(c)           Cure of Environmental Noncompliance. The Borrower shall cure any material environmental noncompliance or exceptions to any of the Mortgaged Properties or, if requested by Agent, substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties with no environmental noncompliance of an equivalent value by the execution of documents in form and substance satisfactory to Agent (together with evidence satisfactory to Agent of a first priority deed of trust lien and security interest in such Mortgaged Properties, which may include opinions of counsel at the request of

 

 

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Agent), within 30 days after a request by the Agent or the Lenders to cure such defects or exceptions.

(d)           Future Acquisitions. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to obtain such Phase I environmental audits as would a reasonable and prudent purchaser of oil and gas properties in the vicinity of the Oil and Gas Properties being acquired in connection with any future acquisitions of material Oil and Gas Properties or other material Properties. Such environmental audits shall be performed by scientifically trained USA-graduate professional engineers and professional geologists who are licensed in one or more states of the USA, and shall be performed in accordance with applicable best professional standards, including the American Society for Testing Material standards, and, in addition to CERCLA, shall also address all hazardous substances under all other Environmental Laws.

Section 5.05.      Further Assurances. The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to cure promptly any defects in the creation and issuance of the Notes and the execution and delivery of the Security Instruments and this Agreement. The Borrower at its expense will and will cause each Subsidiary to promptly execute and deliver to the Agent upon request all such other documents, agreements and instruments to comply with or accomplish the covenants and agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, in the Security Instruments and this Agreement, or to further evidence and more fully describe the collateral intended as security for the Notes, or to correct any omissions in the Security Instruments, or to state more fully the security obligations set out herein or in any of the Security Instruments, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to any of the Security Instruments, or to make any recordings, to file any notices or obtain any consents, all as may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith.

Section 5.06.      Performance of Obligations. The Borrower will pay the Loans and Obligations according to Article II; and the Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to do and perform every act and discharge all of the obligations to be performed and discharged by them under the Security Instruments and this Agreement, at the time or times and in the manner specified.

 

Section 5.07.

Engineering Reports.

(a)           The Borrower shall deliver reports, in form and detail reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (i) determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter and delivered prior or concurrent with the financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a) and (b), (ii) setting forth as of the date of determination (x) the proved reserves, the proved developed producing reserves, and probable reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Borrower and the Guarantors, and (y) a projection of the rate of production and pre-tax income of such reserves, all in accordance with the guidelines published by the SEC (but utilizing the pricing parameters set forth in the definition of the term PV-10 Value) and (iii) meeting the additional requirements specified in the table below for the fiscal quarter for which the report is delivered in conjunction with:

Fiscal Quarter Ending:

Additional Requirements

December 31

Such report shall be prepared by an independent, third-party engineering firm selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

March 31

Such report shall be prepared based on the prior report delivered pursuant to this Section 5.07(a), as adjusted for actual production, operating costs, and dispositions and acquisitions of proved, proved developed producing and probable reserves since such prior report.

June 30

Such report shall be prepared by the Borrower’s chief engineer.

 

 

 

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September 30

Such report shall be prepared based on the prior report delivered pursuant to this Section 5.07(a), as adjusted for actual production, operating costs, and dispositions and acquisitions of proved, proved developed producing and probable reserves since such prior report.

 

(b)           In the event of an unscheduled redetermination of the borrowing base under the First Lien Loan Agreement requested by the Majority Lenders (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) or the Borrower, the Borrower shall concurrently furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall furnish to each Lender) the Reserve Report (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) delivered to the Agent (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement). In addition, the Borrower shall concurrently furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall furnish to each Lender) the report required to be delivered within 45 days after the Closing Date with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Southern G as of January 1, 2007 pursuant to Section 8.07(a) of the First Lien Loan Agreement.

(c)           With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Agent and the Lenders, a certificate from a Responsible Officer certifying that, to the best of his knowledge and in all material respects: (i) the historical information delivered in connection therewith to the preparers of such report is true and correct, (ii) the Borrower and the Active Subsidiaries own good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report and such Properties are free of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02, and such Properties comply with all Environmental Laws except for Environmental Matters permitted by Section 4.17, (iii) except as set forth on an Exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report which would require the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (iv) none of its Oil and Gas Properties have been sold since the date of the last Borrowing Base determination except as set forth on an Exhibit to the certificate, which certificate shall list all of its Oil and Gas Properties sold and in such detail as reasonably required by the Agent, (v) attached to the certificate is a list of its Oil and Gas Properties added to and deleted from the immediately prior Reserve Report and a list showing any change in working interest or net revenue interest in its Oil and Gas Properties occurring and the reason for such change, (vi) attached to the certificate is a list of all Persons disbursing proceeds to the Borrower from its Oil and Gas Properties and (vii) except as set forth on a schedule attached to the certificate all of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report are Mortgaged Property.

 

Section 5.08.

Title Information and Mortgage Coverage.

(a)           Delivery. On or before the delivery to the Agent and the Lenders of each Reserve Report required by Section 5.07(a), the Borrower will deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the Agent covering enough of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that were not included in the immediately preceding Reserve Report, so that the Agent shall have received together with title information previously delivered to the Agent, satisfactory title information on at least eighty percent (80%) of the value of such Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report.

(b)           Cure of Title Defects. The Borrower shall cure any title defects or exceptions which are not Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 6.02 raised by such

 

 

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information, or substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties with no title defects or exceptions except for Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 6.02 covering Mortgaged Properties of an equivalent value, within 90 days after a request by the Agent or the Lenders to cure such defects or exceptions.

(c)           Failure to Cure Title Defects. If the Borrower is unable to cure any title defect requested by the Agent or the Lenders to be cured within the 90-day period or the Borrower does not comply with the requirements to provide acceptable title information covering eighty percent (80%) of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report, such default shall not be a Default or an Event of Default, but instead the Agent and the Lenders shall have the right to exercise the following remedy in their sole discretion from time to time, and any failure to so exercise this remedy at any time shall not be a waiver as to future exercise of the remedy by the Agent or the Lenders. To the extent that the Agent or the Lenders are not satisfied with title to any Mortgaged Property after the time period in Section 5.08(b) has elapsed, such unacceptable Mortgaged Property shall not count towards the eighty percent (80%) requirement, and the Agent may send a notice to the Borrower and the Lenders that the then outstanding Borrowing Base shall be reduced by an amount as determined by all of the Lenders to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the requirement to provide acceptable title information on eighty percent (80%) of the value of such proved Oil and Gas Properties. This new Borrowing Base shall become effective immediately after receipt of such notice.

 

Section 5.09.

Collateral.

(a)           Collateral. The Obligations shall be secured by a perfected first priority Lien (subject only to Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 6.02) granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in substantially all of the proved Oil and Gas Properties currently owned and hereafter acquired by the Borrower and/or any of its Active Subsidiaries plus all other assets, exclusive of certificated vehicles, of the Borrower and/or any of its Active Subsidiaries now owned or hereafter acquired.

(b)           Lien in Acquired Oil and Gas Properties. Should the Borrower or any of its Active Subsidiaries acquire any additional Oil and Gas Properties or additional interests in its existing Oil and Gas Properties, to the extent required by Section 5.09(a), the Borrower or such Subsidiary will grant to the Agent as security for the Obligations a first-priority Lien interest (subject only to Excepted Liens or Liens otherwise permitted by Section 9.02 and to the Lien priorities set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement) on the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s interest in the proved Oil and Gas Properties acquired, which Lien will be created and perfected by and in accordance with the provisions of mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements and financing statements, or other Security Instruments, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion exercised in good faith and in sufficient executed (and acknowledged where necessary or appropriate) counterparts for recording purposes.

(c)           Title Information. Concurrently with the granting of the Lien or other action referred to in Section 5.09(b) above, if requested by the Agent, the Borrower will provide to the Agent title information in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion exercised in good faith with respect to the Borrower’s interests in such Oil and Gas Properties.

(d)           Legal Opinions. Also, promptly after the filing of any new Security Instrument in any state, upon the request of the Agent, the Borrower will provide to the Agent an opinion addressed to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and Agent’s counsel in their sole discretion, from counsel acceptable to Agent and Agent’s counsel, stating that the Security Instrument creates a valid Lien and is valid, binding, and

 

 

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enforceable in accordance with its terms in legally sufficient form for such jurisdiction, and the means by which to perfect the Lien created by such Security Instruments.

Section 5.10.      Cash Collateral Account Agreement. Upon the occurrence of a Default, the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries shall cause all proceeds arising from its Oil and Gas Properties, including without limitation from the sale of Hydrocarbons, to be directed to a Lockbox (and in connection therewith, Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries shall execute a Lockbox Agreement and financing statements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) pursuant to letters acceptable to the Agent stating that such directions may not be changed without the written consent of the Agent. The Cash Collateral Account Agreement and the Liens and security interests established in such Cash Collateral Account Agreement will continue until all the Obligations under this Agreement are paid in full and this Agreement is terminated.

Section 5.11.

[Reserved]

Section 5.12.      ERISA Information and Compliance. The Borrower will promptly furnish and will cause the Subsidiaries and any ERISA Affiliate to promptly furnish to the Agent with sufficient copies to the Lenders (i) promptly after the filing thereof with the United States Secretary of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC, copies of each annual and other report with respect to each Plan or any trust created thereunder, (ii) immediately upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any ERISA Event or of any “prohibited transaction,” as described in Section 406 of ERISA or in Section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder, a written notice signed by a Responsible Officer specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, the Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto, and (iii) immediately upon receipt thereof, copies of any notice of the PBGC’s intention to terminate or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan. With respect to each Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan), the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary and ERISA Affiliate to, (i) satisfy in full and in a timely manner, without incurring any late payment or underpayment charge or penalty and without giving rise to any lien, all of the contribution and funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code (determined without regard to subsections (d), (e), (f) and (k) thereof) and of Section 302 of ERISA (determined without regard to sections 303, 304 and 306 of ERISA), and (ii) pay, or cause to be paid, to the PBGC in a timely manner, without incurring any late payment or underpayment charge or penalty, all premiums required pursuant to sections 4006 and 4007 of ERISA.

Section 5.13.      Joinder and Guaranty Agreements. The Borrower and each of its Active Subsidiaries will cause each of their Active Subsidiaries, whether newly formed, hereafter acquired, or otherwise existing, upon the creation or acquisition thereof, to become a Guarantor hereunder by way of a Joinder Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit G, a Guaranty Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit H, a Contribution Agreement by and among the Borrower and all Guarantors, and the execution of mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, pledges, and any other instruments in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and in Agent’s sole discretion covering all of such Subsidiaries’ assets as security for the Obligations, together with evidence satisfactory to the Agent, in Agent’s sole discretion, that all such collateral will be subject to a perfected first Lien on such collateral, exclusive of certificated vehicles, in favor of the Agent, with only such Liens or other encumbrances of any kind on such collateral permitted by Section 6.02 or otherwise permitted by the Agent.

 

Section 5.14.

[Reserved].

Section 5.15.

[Reserved]

Section 5.16.      Minimum Hedging. If at any time of determination the PV-10 Ratio is less than 1.80 to 1.00, then the total notional volume attributable to any Hedging Agreement with respect to Hydrocarbon

 

 

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Interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be at least forty percent (40%) of estimated proved developed producing reserves net production quantities for the following twelve-month period from such Hydrocarbon Interests as of the most recent Reserve Report.

Negative Covenants

The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of Loans hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders:

Section 6.01.      Debt. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Debt, except (with respect to the Borrower and any Active Subsidiary):

(a)           the Loans or other Obligations or any guaranty of or suretyship arrangement for the Loans or other Obligations (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit any Inactive Subsidiary from executing a guaranty of, or entering a suretyship arrangement for, the Loans or other Obligations);

(b)           Debt of the Borrower or a Subsidiary (other than Southern G) existing on the Closing Date which is reflected in the Financial Statements or is disclosed in Schedule 6.01, and any renewals or extensions (but not increases) thereof;

(c)           accounts payable (for the deferred purchase price of Property or services), amounts owed to operators of the Hydrocarbon Interests under applicable joint operating agreements or other extensions of credit from suppliers or contractors from time to time incurred in the ordinary course of business which, if greater than 90 days past the invoice or billing date, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if reserves adequate under GAAP shall have been established therefor;

(d)           purchase money Debt of the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary and Debt under capital leases (as required to be reported on the financial statements of the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary pursuant to GAAP) not to exceed $7,500,000.00 in the aggregate;

(e)           Debt associated with bonds or surety obligations required by Governmental Requirements in connection with the operation of the Oil and Gas Properties, not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate;

(f)           Debt of the Borrower and its Active Subsidiaries under Hedging Agreements, but only if such Hedging Agreement is not a speculative hedge and is otherwise permitted under Section 6.27 or required under Section 5.16;

(g)           Debt among the Borrower and its Active Subsidiaries, or among the Active Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 6.03(g), in the form of intercompany advances not evidenced by notes or other instruments, in each case so long as such Active Subsidiary is a Guarantor under this Agreement;

 

(h)

Accrued FAS 143 asset retirement obligations;

(i)            Revenue suspense accounts with respect to the Borrower’s or any Active Subsidiary’s Hydrocarbon Interests;

(j)            Debt not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.01, which does not exceed at any time an aggregate principal amount of $15,000,000.00;

 

 

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(k)           Debt under the First Lien Loan Agreement and any Debt incurred to Refinance (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) such Debt and any guarantees thereof by any of the Guarantors; provided, however, that (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Debt shall not exceed the amount permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the Liens securing such Debt shall at all times be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement;

(l)            Permitted Subordinated Debt and Cash Paid Preferred, in each case incurred by the Borrower; provided that (i) in each case, at the time of the incurrence of such Permitted Subordinated Debt or such Cash Paid Preferred, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and the Borrower shall be in Pro Forma Financial Covenant Compliance, (ii) a senior financial officer of the Borrower shall have delivered an officer’s certificate demonstrating the calculation of such Pro Forma Financial Covenant Compliance in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (iii) the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent reasonably prior to the issuance of such Permitted Subordinated Debt or such Cash Paid Preferred and of the principal terms thereof and the Administrative Agent shall have approved of such terms to the extent the Administrative Agent’s approval thereof is contemplated by the definition of the term “Permitted Subordinated Debt” and “Qualifying Preferred Stock”.

Section 6.02.      Liens. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired), except (with respect to the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary):

(a)           Liens securing the payment of any Obligations (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit any Inactive Subsidiary from granting Liens to secure the Obligations);

(b)           Excepted Liens (provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit any Inactive Subsidiary from creating, incurring, assuming, or permitting to exist any Excepted Liens on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired));

(c)           Liens securing purchase money Debt permitted by Section 6.01(d) only to the extent such Liens encumber the Property for which such purchase money Debt was incurred, and Liens filed as precautionary financing statements in connection with leases allowed under Section 6.01(d) but only on the Property under the Lease, or filed as precautionary financing statements in connection with operating leases, but only on the Property under lease;

 

(d)

Liens disclosed on Schedule 6.02;

(e)           Liens on cash or securities of the Borrower securing the Debt described in Section 6.01(e); and

(f)           Liens securing the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors under the First Lien Loan Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents; provided that such Liens shall not encumber any Property that is not subject to a first priority Lien (subject to priorities set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Lenders to secure the Obligations.

Section 6.03.      Investments, Loans and Advances. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will make or permit to remain outstanding any loans or advances to or investments in any Person, except that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (with respect to the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary):

(a)           investments, loans or advances reflected in the Financial Statements or which are disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 6.03;

 

 

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(b)

accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;

(c)           direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof, or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in each case maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof;

(d)           commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof rated in the highest grade by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.;

(e)           deposits maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, any Lender or any office located in the United States of any other bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $500,000,000 (as of the date of such Lender’s or bank or trust company’s most recent financial reports) and has a short term deposit rating of no lower than A2 or P2, as such rating is set forth from time to time, by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., respectively;

(f)           deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in investments described in Sections 6.03(c), (d) or (e);

(g)          investments, loans or advances made by the Borrower in or to its Active Subsidiaries and investments, loans or advances made by any Active Subsidiary in or to the Borrower or another Active Subsidiary, in each case as long as such Active Subsidiary is a Guarantor under this Agreement.

(h)           advances to employees of the Borrower or any Active Subsidiary for the payment of expenses in the ordinary course of business, not to exceed $150,000.00 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(i)           other investments, loans or advances not to exceed $7,500,000.00 in the aggregate at any time; and

 

(j)

Hedging Agreements permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(f).

(k)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, on or after the Closing Date neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will make any additional loans or advances to or investments in Madisonville or any Inactive Subsidiary.

Section 6.04.      Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions. The Borrower will not declare or pay any dividend, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value any of its stock now or hereafter outstanding (excluding cash dividends paid on Cash Paid Preferred and dividends payable solely in shares of capital stock and cashless exercise of warrants or stock options), return any capital to its stockholders or make any distribution of its assets to its stockholders.

Section 6.05.     Sales and Leasebacks. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and whereby the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall then or thereafter rent or lease as lessee such Property or any part thereof or other Property which the Borrower or any Subsidiary intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property sold or transferred.

Section 6.06.      Nature of Business. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will allow any material change to be made in the character of its business as an oil and gas exploration and production company.

 

 

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Section 6.07.      Limitation on Leases. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any obligation for the payment of rent or hire of Property of any kind whatsoever (real or personal, but excluding capital leases, leases of Hydrocarbon Interests, and other leases of oil and gas field production equipment entered into in the ordinary course of business), under leases or lease agreements which would cause the aggregate amount of all payments made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to all such lease or lease agreements to exceed $3,750,000 in any period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months during the life of such leases.

Section 6.08.      Mergers, Acquisitions, Etc. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will acquire assets or all or any part of any other Person, or merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person unless (x) the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall be the surviving entity in such transaction; and (y) substantially all of the assets of such Person shall consist of domestic undeveloped Hydrocarbon Interests or domestic developed Oil and Gas Properties; or sell, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property or assets to any other Person other than the Borrower or an Active Subsidiary; provided, however, nothing shall prohibit Borrower or any Active Subsidiary from: (i) acquiring (a) any domestic undeveloped Hydrocarbon Interests, (b) domestic developed Oil and Gas Properties or (c) all of the outstanding capital stock of a Person, substantially all of the Property of which consists of domestic undeveloped Hydrocarbon Interests or domestic developed Oil and Gas Properties, so long as Borrower or such Active Subsidiary pledges and/or mortgages to the Lenders substantially all such developed Oil and Gas Properties or all capital stock acquired pursuant thereto by execution of documents in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion, granting perfected, first priority Liens (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) and security interests in such Oil and Gas Properties subject only to Excepted Liens, Liens otherwise permitted by Section 6.02 and other Liens acceptable to the Required Lenders; or (ii) merging (after having given Agent thirty (30) days prior written notice) (a) any Active or Inactive Subsidiary into another Active Subsidiary or (b) any Guarantor into Borrower. Notwithstanding the preceding, any transaction pursuant to this Section 6.08 shall not be permitted unless at the time of such transaction (A) both before and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (B) the Borrower would be in compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.13 and Section 6.14 as of the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to such transaction for which the financial statements required by Sections 5.01(a) or (b), as the case may be have been delivered or for which comparable financial statements have been filed with the SEC, after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and to any other event occurring after the commencement of such period as to which pro forma recalculation is appropriate as if such transaction had occurred as of the first day of such period.

Section 6.09.      Proceeds of Notes; Letters of Credit. The Borrower will not permit the proceeds of the Loans to be used for any purpose other than those permitted by Section 4.07. Neither the Borrower nor any Person acting on behalf of the Borrower has taken or will take any action which might cause any of the Loan Documents to violate Regulation T, U or X or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation thereunder, in each case as now in effect or as the same may hereinafter be in effect.

Section 6.10.

ERISA Compliance. The Borrower will not at any time:

(a)           Engage in, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to engage in, any transaction in connection with which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;

(b)           Terminate, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to terminate, any Plan in a manner, or take any other action with respect to any Plan, which could result in any liability to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC;

 

 

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(c)           Fail to make, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to fail to make, full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto;

(d)           Permit to exist, or allow any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to permit to exist, any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, with respect to any Plan;

(e)           Permit, or allow any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to permit, the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under any Plan maintained by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate which is regulated under Title IV of ERISA to exceed the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4041 of ERISA;

(f)           Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, any Multiemployer Plan;

(g)           Acquire, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to acquire, an interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA Affiliate with respect to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate if such Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the six-year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, (1) any Multiemployer Plan, or (2) any other Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA under which the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under such Plan exceeds the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities;

(h)           Incur, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to incur, a liability to or on account of a Plan under sections 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA;

(i)            Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time without any material liability; or

(j)            Amend or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to amend, a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability such that the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.

Section 6.11.      Sale or Discount of Receivables. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will discount or sell (with or without recourse) any of its notes receivable or accounts receivable (other than a settlement on an account receivable in the ordinary course of business).

Section 6.12.

[Reserved]

Section 6.13.      Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit its Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower (calculated quarterly at the end of each fiscal quarter commencing with fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007) to be greater than (i) for the fiscal quarters ending on or before December 31, 2007, 4.00 to 1.00, (ii) for the fiscal quarters ending after December 31, 2007 and ending on or before after June 30, 2008, 3.50 to 1.00, and (iii) for the fiscal quarters ending after June 30, 2008, 3.00 to 1.00. For the purposes of this Section 6.13, Leverage Ratio shall mean the ratio of (i) Total

 

 

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Net Debt as of such date of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries to (ii) EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarters ending on such date for the Borrower and the Guarantors, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.13, EBITDAX as of June 30, 2007, shall be calculated as EBITDAX for the two-quarter period ending on such date multiplied by two (2); and EBITDAX as of September 30, 2007, shall be calculated as EBITDAX for the three-quarter period ending on such date multiplied by four (4) and divided by three (3).

Section 6.14.      PV-10 Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the PV-10 Ratio (calculated quarterly based on the Reserve Report delivered for the most recent fiscal quarter) to be less than the ratio set forth opposite the period covering such fiscal quarter below:

Period

Ratio

June 30, 2007 to December 31, 2007

1.25x

January 1, 2008 to thereafter

1.50x

 

Section 6.15.      Sale of Mortgaged Properties. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, convey or otherwise transfer any Mortgaged Property or any interest in any Mortgaged Property, except for Mortgaged Property for which (i) the Borrower has given the Agent at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of the proposed transfer, (ii) is for consideration at least 75% of which is cash, (iii) such consideration is at least equal to the fair market value of the assets being sold, transferred, leased or disposed of and (iv) the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred, leased or disposed of pursuant to this Section 6.15 and Section 6.16 during any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to 10.0% of the PV-10 Value as of the end of the fiscal year most recently ended prior to the date of such sale, transfer, lease or disposition for which a Reserve Report has been delivered, calculated on a pro forma basis for acquisitions consummated since the end of such fiscal year.

Section 6.16.      Sale of Other Properties. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, farm-out, convey or otherwise transfer any Oil and Gas Property or any interest in any Oil and Gas Property except for (i) the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business; (ii) farmouts of undeveloped acreage and assignments in connection with such farmouts; (iii) the sale or transfer of equipment that is no longer necessary for the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or is contemporaneously replaced by equipment of at least comparable value and use and (iv) sales in the ordinary course of business of Oil and Gas Properties that are not Mortgaged Properties. Notwithstanding the preceding, any transaction pursuant to clause (iv) of this Section 6.16 shall not be permitted unless such transaction (i) is for consideration at least 75% of which is cash, (ii) such consideration is at least equal to the fair market value of the assets being sold, transferred, leased or disposed of and (iii) the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred, leased or disposed of pursuant to Section 6.15 and clause (iv) of this Section 6.16 during any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to 10.0% of the PV-10 Value as of the end of the fiscal year most recently ended prior to the date of such sale, transfer, lease or disposition for which a Reserve Report has been delivered, calculated on a pro forma basis for acquisitions consummated since the end of such fiscal year.

Section 6.17.      Environmental Matters. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will cause or permit any of its Property to be in violation of, or do anything or permit anything to be done which will cause from any Property any actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, release, escape, emission, transportation, disposal, seepage, exposure, consumption, or contact (collectively, “Releases”) of, with, to, or from any hazardous substance under any Environmental Laws, subject any Property to any enforcement action under any Environmental Laws by any Governmental Authority or lawsuit at any Property relating to hazardous substances, or subject any such Property to any remedial obligations by any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Laws, assuming disclosure to the applicable Governmental Authority of all relevant facts, conditions and circumstances, if any, pertaining to such Property where such Releases, violations or remedial obligations would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

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Section 6.18.      Transactions with Affiliates. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate unless such transactions are otherwise permitted under this Agreement, are in the ordinary course of its business and are upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to it than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

Section 6.19.      Subsidiaries. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, create any additional Subsidiaries except in compliance with Section 5.13 and Section 6.23. The Borrower shall not and shall not permit any Subsidiary to sell or to issue any stock or ownership interest of a Subsidiary, except to the Borrower or any Guarantor and except in compliance with Section 6.03.

Section 6.20.      Negative Pledge Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any contract, agreement or understanding (other than this Agreement, the Security Instruments, the First Lien Loan Agreement and the Loan Documents (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement)) which in any way prohibits or restricts the granting, conveying, creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its Property or restricts any Subsidiary from paying dividends to the Borrower, or which requires the consent of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith, except such restrictions in favor of the holders of Debt secured by Liens described in Sections 6.01(d), (e) and (k), but only insofar as such restrictions pertain to the Property encumbered thereby.

Section 6.21.      Take-or-Pay or Other Prepayments. The Borrower will not enter into any take-or-pay agreements with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor which would require the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any Guarantor to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from its Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor in an amount which would result in the failure of the representation and warranty set forth in Section 4.24 to be true and correct at all times.

Section 6.22.      Ownership of Subsidiaries. The Borrower shall not fail to pledge, assign, deliver, and transfer to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, and grant to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing security interest in one hundred percent (100%) of the stock or other ownership interests in the Subsidiaries existing as of the date hereof and any Subsidiaries the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall create, acquire or otherwise own hereafter.

Section 6.23.     Change in Borrower’s, any of its Subsidiaries’ or any Guarantor’s Name or State of Formation. Without the prior written approval of Agent, (a) Borrower will not (nor permit any Subsidiary or Guarantor to) change its name, identity or place of organization and (b) Borrower will not (nor permit any Subsidiary or Guarantor to) engage in any other business or transaction under any name other than Borrower’s, any Guarantor, or each Subsidiary’s name, respectively, hereunder. Should Agent approve, prior to doing any of the aforesaid, Borrower shall provide (or cause each Subsidiary or Guarantor to provide) to Agent all assignments, certificates, financing statements, financing statement amendments or other documents determined necessary in Agent’s sole judgment to protect and continue Agent’s interest in the collateral pledged by Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, any Guarantor, or any other party to secure the Obligations.

 

Section 6.24.

[Reserved]

 

Section 6.25.

[Reserved]

 

Section 6.26.

[Reserved]

Section 6.27.      Limitation on Hedging. The total notional volume attributable to any Hedging Agreement with respect to Hydrocarbon Interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed

 

 

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more than eighty percent (80%) of estimated proved producing net production quantities from such Hydrocarbon Interests as of the most recent Reserve Report in any period. If the Hedging Agreement is an interest rate hedge, the notional principal amount shall not exceed more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the sum of Loans and loans under the First Lien Loan Agreement outstanding to the Borrower.

Section 6.28.     Maintenance of Lien Priority; Modification of First Lien Loan Documents.

(a)           The Borrower agrees that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, grant a Lien on any Property to secure the indebtedness under the First Lien Loan Documents without first (i) giving fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice to the Agent of such action and (ii) granting to the Agent to secure the Obligations a first-priority, perfected Lien (subject to the priorities set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement) on this same Property pursuant to Security Instruments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. Any security instruments or other documents and agreements drafted in connection with this Agreement shall be expressly subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In connection therewith, the Borrower shall, or shall cause its Subsidiaries to, execute and deliver such other additional closing documents, certificates and legal opinions as shall reasonably be requested by the Agent.

 

(b)

[Reserved]

(c)           If not otherwise permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, amend, supplement, permit a waiver of or otherwise modify any of the First Lien Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Required Lenders if the effect of such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification would (i) increase the principal amount of such First Lien Loan to an amount in excess of that permitted under Section 6.01(k), or (ii) impose rates of interest, prepayment charges, premiums, closing fees or other fees or other amounts that are greater than the respective amounts thereof in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification, waiver or supplement, or (iii) impose any additional mandatory prepayments or more restrictive covenants on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than as provided in the terms and provisions of the First Lien Loan Documents as in effect on the date hereof.

Events of Default; Remedies

Section 7.01.      Events of Default. One or more of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

(a)           the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the payment or prepayment when due of (i) any principal of any Loan or (ii) interest on any Loan, or any fees or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Security Instrument and, solely with respect to any such default described in this clause (ii), such default shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days; or

(b)           other than for an Event of Default (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) and as governed by Section 7.01(p), the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the payment when due of any principal of or interest on any of its other Debt aggregating $7,500,000 or more, or any event specified in any note, agreement, indenture or other document evidencing or relating to any such Debt shall occur if the effect of such event is to cause, or (with the giving of any notice or the lapse of time or both) to permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or a trustee or Agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity; or

 

 

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(c)           any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made herein or in any Security Instrument by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor, or any certificate furnished to any Lender or the Agent pursuant to the provisions hereof or any Security Instrument, shall prove to have been false or misleading as of the time made or furnished in any material respect; or

(d)           the Borrower shall default in the performance of any of its obligations under Article VI (other than as specifically excepted in this subsection); or the Borrower shall default in the performance of any of its obligations under Article V or any other Article of this Agreement (other than as specifically excepted in this subsection) or the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the performance of their obligations under Section  6.17 as to those Oil and Gas Properties not operated by the Borrower nor any Subsidiary and which have an aggregate value of $7,500,000.00 or more as determined by the latest Engineering Report or Reserve Report provided to the Lender pursuant to Section 5.07 of this Agreement, or the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor shall default in the performance of their obligations under any Security Instrument (other than the payment of amounts due which shall be governed by Section 7.01(a)) and any such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier to occur of (i) notice thereof to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender (through the Agent), or (ii) the Borrower otherwise becoming aware of such default; or

(e)           the Borrower shall admit in writing its inability to, or be generally unable to, pay its debts as such debts become due; or

(f)           the Borrower shall (i) apply for or consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property, (ii) make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iii) commence a voluntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect), (iv) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any other law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, liquidation or composition or readjustment of debts, (v) fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate manner, or acquiesce in writing to, any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, or (vi) take any corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

(g)           a proceeding or case shall be commenced, without the application or consent of the Borrower, in any court of competent jurisdiction, seeking (i) its liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding-up, or the composition or readjustment of its debts, (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like of the Borrower of all or any substantial part of its assets, or (iii) similar relief in respect of the Borrower under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, or composition or adjustment of debts, and such proceeding or case shall continue undismissed, or an order, judgment or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered and continue unstayed and in effect, for a period of 60 days; or (iv) an order for relief against the Borrower shall be entered in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code; or

(h)           a judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of $1,500,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered by a court against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and the same shall not be discharged (or provision shall not be made for such discharge), or a stay of execution thereof shall not be procured, within thirty (30) days from the date of entry thereof and the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall not, within said period of 30 days, or such longer period during which execution of the same shall have been stayed, appeal therefrom and cause the execution thereof to be stayed during such appeal; or

 

 

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(i)            the Loan Documents after delivery thereof shall for any reason, except to the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to be in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms, or cease to create a valid and perfected Lien of the priority required thereby on any of the collateral in excess of $1,500,000 in the aggregate at any one time purported to be covered thereby, except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement, or the Borrower shall so state in writing; or

 

(j)

[Reserved]; or

 

(k)

[Reserved]; or

 

(l)

[Reserved]; or

 

(m)

[Reserved]; or

(n)           any Guarantor takes, suffers or permits to exist any of the events or conditions referred to in paragraphs (e), (f) or (g) or if any provision of any guaranty agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on any such Guarantor or if any such Guarantor shall so state in writing; or

(o)          if the Borrower, any Guarantor, or any Subsidiary terminates or liquidates or an event occurs which results in an early termination of any hedge or transaction under a Hedging Agreement required pursuant to Section 5.16 without the prior written consent of the Agent; or

(p)           any Event of Default (as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement) shall have occurred pursuant to the First Lien Loan Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document; provided, however, that an Event of Default under and as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement (a First Lien Event of Default) shall not in and of itself constitute an Event of Default under this paragraph until the earlier to occur of (x) a period of 45 days has elapsed following notice of such First Lien Event of Default from the administrative agent or any lender under the First Lien Loan Agreement to the Borrower, or from the Borrower to such administrative agent or any such lender, and (y) the acceleration of the maturity of any of the loans or the termination of any of the commitments under the First Lien Loan Agreement in connection with such First Lien Event of Default or the exercise of any remedies by the lenders or the administrative agent under the First Lien Loan Agreement in connection with such First Lien Event of Default.

 

Section 7.02.

Remedies.

(a)           In the case of an Event of Default other than one referred to in clauses (d), (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 or in clause (n) to the extent it relates to clauses (d), (e) or (f), the Agent, upon request of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, cancel the Term Loan Commitments (in whole or part) and/or declare the principal amount then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Term Loans and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the Term Loans to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such amounts shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

(b)           In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default referred to in clauses (d), (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 or in clause (n) to the extent it relates to clauses (d), (e) or (f), the Term Loan Commitments shall be automatically canceled and the principal amount then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Term Loans and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the Term Loans shall become automatically immediately due and payable

 

 

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without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

(c)           All proceeds received after maturity of the Term Loans, whether by acceleration or otherwise shall be applied first to reimbursement of expenses and indemnities provided for in this Agreement and the Security Instruments; second to accrued interest on the Term Loans; third to fees; fourth pro rata to principal outstanding on the Term Loans and any other Obligations; and any excess shall be paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required by any Governmental Requirement.

 

The Agent

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (for purposes of this Article VIII, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are referred to collectively as the Agents) its agent and authorizes the Agents to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to such Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agents are hereby expressly authorized to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Guaranty Agreements and Security Instruments.

The bank serving as the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not an Agent hereunder.

Neither Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) neither Agent shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) neither Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that such Agent is instructed in writing to exercise by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.08), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, neither Agent shall have any duty to disclose, nor shall it be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Neither Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.08) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Neither Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to such Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and neither Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent.

 

 

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Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. Each Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Each Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by it. Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of each Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the term loan facilities provided for by this Agreement as well as activities as Agent.

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided below, either Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After an Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while acting as Agent.

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

Miscellaneous

Section 9.01.      Notices. Notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax, as follows:

(a)           if to the Borrower, to it at 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900, Houston, TX 77002, Attention of E. Joseph Grady  (Fax No. (713) 236-7474);

(b)          if to the Administrative Agent, to Credit Suisse, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, Attention of Agency Group (Fax No. (212) 325-8304); and

 

 

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(c)           if to a Lender, to it at its address (or fax number) set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender shall have become a party hereto.

All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by fax or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01. As agreed to among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lenders from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable Person provided from time to time by such Person.

Section 9.02.      Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Term Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Term Loan Commitments have not been terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.16, 2.20 and Section 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Term Loans, the expiration of the Term Loan Commitments, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, or any Lender.

Section 9.03.      Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.

 

Section 9.04.

Successors and Assigns.

(a)           Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, or the Lenders that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

(b)           Each Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it), with notice to the Borrower and the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that (i) the aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitment or Term Loans of the assigning Lender and such Lender's concurrently assigning Affiliates subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall be in an integral multiple of, and not less than, $1,000,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining amount of such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment or Term Loans), (ii) the parties to each such assignment shall (A) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or, if previously agreed with the Agent, manually), and (B) shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), (iii) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall

 

 

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deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and all applicable tax forms. Upon acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 9.04, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (A) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.16, 2.20 and Section 9.05, as well as to any fees accrued for its account and not yet paid).

(c)           By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows:  (i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Term Loan Commitment and the outstanding balance of its Term Loans without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 5.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, respectively, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(d)           The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Term Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

 

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(e)           Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the assignee (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent and, if required, any applicable tax forms, the Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).

(f)           Each Lender may without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other persons in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Term Loan Commitment and the Term Loans owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the participating banks or other Persons shall be entitled to the benefit of the cost protection provisions contained in Sections 2.14, 2.16 and 2.20 to the same extent as if they were Lenders (but, with respect to any particular participant, to no greater extent than the Lender that sold the participation to such participant) and (iv) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Borrower relating to the Term Loans and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement (other than amendments, modifications or waivers decreasing any fees payable to such participating bank or Person hereunder or the amount of principal of or the rate at which interest is payable on the Term Loans in which such participating bank or Person has an interest, extending any scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for the payment of interest on the Term Loans in which such participating bank or Person has an interest, increasing or extending the Term Loan Commitments in which such participating bank or Person has an interest or releasing any Guarantor (other than in connection with the sale of such Guarantor in a transaction permitted by Article VI) or all or substantially all of the Collateral).

(g)           Any Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 9.04, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided, however, that prior to any such disclosure of information designated by the Borrower as confidential, each such assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall execute an agreement whereby such assignee or participant shall agree (subject to customary exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of such confidential information on terms no less restrictive than those applicable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 9.16.

(h)           Any Lender may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure extensions of credit to such Lender or in support of obligations owed by such Lender; provided, however, that no such assignment shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(i)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a Granting Lender) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an SPC), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Term Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Term Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to

 

 

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provide all or any part of such Term Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Term Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Term Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Term Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Term Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Term Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Term Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(j)            The Borrower shall not assign or delegate any of its rights or duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be null and void.

 

Section 9.05.

Expenses; Indemnity.

(a)           The Borrower agrees to pay all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in connection with the syndication of the term loan facilities provided for by this Agreement and the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions hereby or thereby contemplated shall be consummated) or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with the Term Loans made hereunder, including the fees, charges and disbursements of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, and, in connection with any such enforcement or protection, the fees, charges and disbursements of any other counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender.

(b)           The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated thereby (including the syndication of the term loan facilities provided for by this Agreement), (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Term Loans, (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto (and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by a third party or by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates), or (iv) any actual or alleged presence or release of hazardous substance on any property currently or formerly owned

 

 

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or operated by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or any liability under Environmental Laws related in any way to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party thereof.

(c)           To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 9.05, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided, however, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the sum of the outstanding Term Loans and unused Term Loan Commitments at the time.

(d)           To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Term Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.

(e)           The provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Term Loans, the expiration of the Term Loan Commitments, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 9.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

Section 9.06.      Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, except to the extent prohibited by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and other Loan Documents held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section 9.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

Section 9.07.     Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 9.08.

Waivers; Amendment.  

(a)           No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender in exercising any power or right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other

 

 

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or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower or any Guarantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b)           Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders; provided, however, that no such agreement shall (i) decrease the principal amount of, or extend the maturity of or any scheduled principal payment date or date for the payment of any interest on any or waive or excuse any such payment or any part thereof, or decrease the rate of interest on any Term Loan, without the prior written consent of each Lender directly adversely affected thereby, (ii) increase or extend the Term Loan Commitment or decrease or extend the date for payment of any fees of any Lender without the prior written consent of such Lender, (iii) amend or modify the pro rata requirements of Section 2.17, the provisions of Section 9.04(j) or the provisions of this Section or release any Guarantor (other than in connection with the sale of such Guarantor in a transaction permitted by Article VI) or all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the prior written consent of each Lender, (iv) modify the protections afforded to an SPC pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.04(i) without the written consent of such SPC or (v) reduce the percentage contained in the definition of the term “Required Lenders” without the prior written consent of each Lender (it being understood that with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Term Loan Commitments on the date hereof); provided further, however, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

Section 9.09.      Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Term Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Term Loan under applicable law (collectively the Charges), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the Maximum Rate) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Term Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Term Loan, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Term Loan or participation but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section 9.09 shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Term Loans or participations or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

Section 9.10.     Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Fee Letter and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relative to the subject matter hereof. Any other previous agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto and thereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereunder and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related

 

 

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Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders) any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

Section 9.11.      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.11.

Section 9.12.      Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

Section 9.13.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.03. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 9.14.      Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 9.15.

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

(a)           The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents against the Borrower or the Guarantors or their respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(b)           The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement

 

 

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or the other Loan Documents in any New York State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(c)           Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 9.16.      Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ officers, directors, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or quasi-regulatory authority (such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or any suit, action or proceeding relating to the enforcement of its rights hereunder or thereunder, (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 9.16, to (i) any actual or prospective assignee of or participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective obligations, (f) with the consent of the Borrower or (g) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.16. For the purposes of this Section, Information shall mean all information received from the Borrower and related to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that was available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure by the Borrower; provided, however, that in the case of Information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 9.16 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord its own confidential information.

Section 9.17.      USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

[SIGNATURES BEGIN ON NEXT PAGE]

 

 

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

BORROWER:

CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

By: /s/ E. Joseph Grady

E. Joseph Grady

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

Crimson Exploration Inc

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

Telecopier No.: (713) 236-7474

Telephone No.: (713) 236-7400

Attention: E. Joseph Grady

 

 

 

[Second Lien Credit Agreement]

 


 

LENDER AND AGENT:

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

 

 

 

By: /s/ James Moran

James Moran

Managing Director

 

 

 

By: /s/ Nupur Kumar

Nupur Kumar

Associate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Second Lien Credit Agreement]

 


 

LENDER:

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND plc

 

 

 

By: /s/ Robert E. Poirrier, Jr.

Robert E. Poirrier, Jr.

Vice President

 

 

 

 

[Second Lien Credit Agreement]

 

 


 

LENDER:

WELLS FARGO ENERGY CAPITAL, INC.

 

 

 

By: /s/ William B. Wiener III

William B. Wiener III

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Second Lien Credit Agreement]

 


 

 

 

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