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Exhibit 4.2

ROSETTA RESOURCES INC.,

as the Issuer,

EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

 

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of May 29, 2014

TO BASE INDENTURE

Dated as of May 2, 2013

 

 

5.875% Senior Notes due 2024

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA

Section

       Indenture
Section

310 (a)(1)

   7.10

       (a)(2)

   7.10

       (a)(3)

   N.A.

       (a)(4)

   N.A.

       (a)(5)

   7.8; 7.10

       (b)

   7.3; 7.8; 7.10; 10.2

       (c)

   N.A.

311 (a)

   7.11

       (b)

   7.11

       (c)

   N.A.

312 (a)

   2.5

       (b)

   10.3

       (c)

   10.3

313 (a)

   7.6

       (b)(1)

   N.A.

       (b)(2)

   7.6

       (c)

   7.6; 10.2

       (d)

   7.6

314 (a)

   4.6; 4.8

       (b)

   N.A.

       (c)(1)

   10.4

       (c)(2)

   10.4

       (c)(3)

   N.A.

       (d)

   N.A.

       (e)

   10.5

       (f)

   N.A.

315 (a)

   7.1(b)

       (b)

   7.5

       (c)

   7.1(a)

       (d)

   7.1(c)

       (e)

   6.11

316 (a)(last sentence)

   2.9

       (a)(1)(A)

   6.5

       (a)(1)(B)

   6.4

       (a)(2)

   N.A.

       (b)

   6.7

       (c)

   9.4

317 (a)(1)

   6.8

       (a)(2)

   6.9

       (b)

   2.4

318 (a)

   10.1

       (b)

   N.A.

       (c)

   10.1

 

N.A. means Not Applicable

NOTE: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I.

  

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

  

SECTION 1.1.

   Definitions      1   

SECTION 1.2.

   Incorporation by Reference of TIA      40   

SECTION 1.3.

   Rules of Construction      41   

ARTICLE II.

  

THE NOTES

  

SECTION 2.1.

   Form and Dating      41   

SECTION 2.2.

   Execution and Authentication; Aggregate Principal Amount      42   

SECTION 2.3.

   Registrar and Paying Agent      43   

SECTION 2.4.

   Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust      44   

SECTION 2.5.

   Holder Lists      44   

SECTION 2.6.

   Transfer and Exchange      44   

SECTION 2.7.

   Replacement Notes      48   

SECTION 2.8.

   Outstanding Notes      48   

SECTION 2.9.

   Treasury Notes      49   

SECTION 2.10.  

   Temporary Notes      49   

SECTION 2.11.

   Cancellation      49   

SECTION 2.12.

   CUSIP Number      50   

SECTION 2.13.

   Deposit of Monies      50   

SECTION 2.14.

   Designation      50   

ARTICLE III.

  

REDEMPTION

  

SECTION 3.1.

   Notices to Trustee      50   

SECTION 3.2.

   Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed      50   

SECTION 3.3.

   Optional Redemption      51   

SECTION 3.4.

   [Reserved]      52   

SECTION 3.5.

   Notice of Redemption      52   

SECTION 3.6.

   Effect of Notice of Redemption      53   

SECTION 3.7.

   Deposit of Redemption Price      53   

SECTION 3.8.

   Notes Redeemed in Part      53   

 

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          Page  

ARTICLE IV.

  

COVENANTS

  

SECTION 4.1.

   Payment of Notes      53   

SECTION 4.2.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      54   

SECTION 4.3.

   Organizational Existence      54   

SECTION 4.4.

   Payment of Taxes and Other Claims      54   

SECTION 4.5.

   Maintenance of Properties and Insurance      54   

SECTION 4.6.

   Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default      55   

SECTION 4.7.

   Compliance with Laws      55   

SECTION 4.8.

   Reports to Holders      56   

SECTION 4.9.

   Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      56   

SECTION 4.10.

   Limitation on Restricted Payments      56   

SECTION 4.11.

   Limitations on Affiliate Transactions      62   

SECTION 4.12.

   Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Preferred Stock      64   

SECTION 4.13.

   Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries      68   

SECTION 4.14.

   Change of Control      72   

SECTION 4.15.

   Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock      74   

SECTION 4.16.

   Covenant Termination      78   

SECTION 4.17.

   Limitation on Liens      78   

SECTION 4.18.

   Additional Subsidiary Guarantees      79   

ARTICLE V.

  

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

  

SECTION 5.1.

   Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets      79   

SECTION 5.2.

   Successor Corporation Substituted      81   

ARTICLE VI.

  

REMEDIES

  

SECTION 6.1.

   Events of Default      81   

SECTION 6.2.

   Acceleration      84   

SECTION 6.3.

   Other Remedies      84   

SECTION 6.4.

   Waiver of Past Defaults      85   

SECTION 6.5.

   Control by Majority      85   

SECTION 6.6.

   Limitation on Suits      85   

SECTION 6.7.

   Right of Holders To Receive Payment      86   

SECTION 6.8.

   Collection Suit by Trustee      86   

SECTION 6.9.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      86   

SECTION 6.10.

   Priorities      87   

SECTION 6.11.

   Undertaking for Costs      87   

SECTION 6.12.

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies      87   

 

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          Page  

ARTICLE VII.

  

TRUSTEE

  

SECTION 7.1.

   Duties of Trustee      88   

SECTION 7.2.

   Rights of Trustee      89   

SECTION 7.3.

   Individual Rights of Trustee      90   

SECTION 7.4.

   Trustee’s Disclaimer      90   

SECTION 7.5.

   Notice of Default      91   

SECTION 7.6.

   Reports by Trustee to Holders      91   

SECTION 7.7.

   Compensation and Indemnity      91   

SECTION 7.8.

   Replacement of Trustee      92   

SECTION 7.9.

   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.      93   

SECTION 7.10.

   Eligibility; Disqualification      93   

SECTION 7.11.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer      94   

SECTION 7.12.

   Force Majeure      94   

SECTION 7.13.

   Defaults and Events of Default      94   

ARTICLE VIII.

  

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

  

SECTION 8.1.

   Termination of Issuer’s Obligations      94   

SECTION 8.2.

   Application of Trust Money      96   

SECTION 8.3.

   Repayment to the Issuer      97   

SECTION 8.4.

   Reinstatement      97   

SECTION 8.5.

   Acknowledgment of Discharge by Trustee      97   

ARTICLE IX.

  

MODIFICATION OF THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

  

SECTION 9.1.

   Without Consent of Holders      98   

SECTION 9.2.

   With Consent of Holders      98   

SECTION 9.3.

   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act      100   

SECTION 9.4.

   Revocation and Effect of Consents      100   

SECTION 9.5.

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes      100   

SECTION 9.6.

   Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc.      100   

ARTICLE X.

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

SECTION 10.1.

   TIA Controls      101   

SECTION 10.2.

   Notices      101   

SECTION 10.3.

   Communications by Holders with Other Holders      102   

SECTION 10.4.

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      102   

 

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          Page  

SECTION 10.5.

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      102   

SECTION 10.6.

   Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar      103   

SECTION 10.7.

   Legal Holidays      103   

SECTION 10.8.

   Governing Law      103   

SECTION 10.9.

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      103   

SECTION 10.10.

   No Personal Liability      103   

SECTION 10.11.

   Successors      104   

SECTION 10.12.

   Duplicate Originals      104   

SECTION 10.13.

   Severability      104   

SECTION 10.14.

   Independence of Covenants      104   

ARTICLE XI.

  

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE OF NOTES

  

SECTION 11.1.

   Unconditional Subsidiary Guarantee      104   

SECTION 11.2.

   Limitations on Subsidiary Guarantees      106   

SECTION 11.3.

   Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantee Notation      106   

SECTION 11.4.

   Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor      106   

SECTION 11.5.

   Waiver of Subrogation      107   

SECTION 11.6.

   Immediate Payment      108   

SECTION 11.7.

   No Set-Off      108   

SECTION 11.8.

   Obligations Absolute      108   

SECTION 11.9.

   Obligations Continuing      108   

SECTION 11.10.

   Obligations Not Reduced      108   

SECTION 11.11.

   Obligations Reinstated      109   

SECTION 11.12.

   Obligations Not Affected      109   

SECTION 11.13.

   Waiver      110   

SECTION 11.14.

   No Obligation To Take Action Against the Issuer      110   

SECTION 11.15.

   Dealing with the Issuer and Others      111   

SECTION 11.16.

   Default and Enforcement      111   

SECTION 11.17.

   Amendment, Etc.      111   

SECTION 11.18.

   Acknowledgment      111   

SECTION 11.19.

   Costs and Expenses      112   

SECTION 11.20.

   No Merger or Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      112   

SECTION 11.21.

   Survival of Obligations      112   

SECTION 11.22.

   Subsidiary Guarantee in Addition to Other Obligations      112   

SECTION 11.23.

   Severability      112   

SECTION 11.24.

   Successors and Assigns      113   

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Notation

 

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THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of May 29, 2014, among Rosetta Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined herein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Issuer and the Trustee have executed and delivered a base indenture, dated as of May 2, 2013 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Base Indenture”) to provide for the future issuance of the Issuer’s senior debt securities to be issued from time to time in one or more series.

The Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”) and in connection therewith, each of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture to set forth the terms and provisions of the Notes as contemplated by the Base Indenture. This Third Supplemental Indenture restates in their entirety the terms of the Base Indenture as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture and does not incorporate the terms of the Base Indenture. The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture affected by this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall only govern the terms of, the Notes, except as otherwise provided herein, and shall not apply to any other securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.

Each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.1. Definitions.

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

Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Issuer of certain producing and undeveloped oil and gas interests in the Delaware Basin in Gaines and Reeves Counties, Texas from Comstock Oil & Gas, LP pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.


Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2013, by and between Rosetta Resources Operating LP and Comstock Oil & Gas, LP.

Additional Assets” means:

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

(2) capital expenditures by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Oil and Gas Business;

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

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

provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (3) and (4), such Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

Additional Notes” means Notes, in addition to, and having identical terms (except for a date of original issuance different than the Issue Date) as, the $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued on the Issue Date, issued pursuant to Article II and in compliance with Section 4.12.

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

(a) the sum of:

(i) discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state, federal or foreign income taxes, as estimated by the Issuer in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Issuer’s most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from

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

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

 

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

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

(D) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such year-end due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated on a pretax basis and substantially in accordance with SEC guidelines,

in the case of clauses (A) through (D) utilizing prices and costs calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines as if the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding the date of determination for which such information is available to the Issuer were year end; provided, however, that in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Issuer’s petroleum engineers;

(ii) the capitalized costs that are attributable to Oil and Gas Properties of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on such Person’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements;

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

(iv) the greater of

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

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

minus

 

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(b) the sum of:

(i) Minority Interests;

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

(iii) to the extent included in (a)(i) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (but utilizing prices and costs calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines as if the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding the date of determination for which such information is available to the Issuer were year-end), attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto); and

(iv) the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenues specified in (a)(i) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto).

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

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Affiliate Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar.

Alternate Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14.

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

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

 

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(2) the excess, if any, of:

(a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the Redemption Price of such Note at June 1, 2019 (such Redemption Price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.3) plus (ii) all required interest payments (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to such Redemption Date) due on such Note through June 1, 2019 computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the principal amount of such Note.

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

Asset Disposition” means any direct or indirect sale, lease (including by means of Production Payments and Reserve Sales and a Sale/Leaseback Transaction but excluding an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business), transfer, issuance or other disposition, or a series of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions that are part of a common plan, of (A) shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.12 hereof, and directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary), (B) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding any division or line of business the assets of which are owned by an Unrestricted Subsidiary) or (C) any other assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”), in each case by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

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

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

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

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

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

(5) transactions in accordance with Section 5.1;

 

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

(7) the making of a Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment (or a disposition that would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusions from the definition thereof) permitted under Section 4.10;

(8) an Asset Swap;

(9) dispositions of assets with a Fair Market Value of less than $10.0 million;

(10) Permitted Liens;

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

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

(13) foreclosure on assets;

(14) any Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, shall have been created, Incurred, issued, assumed or Guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 60 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

(15) a disposition of oil and natural gas properties in connection with tax credit transactions complying with Section 29 or any successor or analogous provisions of the Code;

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

(17) the abandonment, farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business; and

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

Asset Disposition Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.

 

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Asset Disposition Offer Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.

Asset Disposition Offer Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.

Asset Disposition Purchase Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.

Asset Swap” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any oil or natural gas properties or assets or interests therein between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided, that any cash received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.15 as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Disposition.

Authenticating Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Authenticating Order” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

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

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

Base Indenture” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

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

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

Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, units, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity.

 

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

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States Government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof), having maturities of not more than fifteen (15) months from the date of acquisition;

(2) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within fifteen (15) months from the date of acquisition (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) and, at the time of acquisition, having a credit rating of “A” (or the equivalent thereof) or better from either S&P or Moody’s;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or bankers’ acceptances having maturities of not more than fifteen (15) months from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any commercial bank the short-term deposit of which is rated at the time of acquisition thereof at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by S&P, or “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, and having combined capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million;

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

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

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

Change of Control” means:

(1) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer

 

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(or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) (for the purposes of this clause (1), such person or group shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any Voting Stock of the Issuer held by a parent entity, if such person or group Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity);

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

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

(4) the adoption by the shareholders of the Issuer of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer.

Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or other form of entity to a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” or “groups” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity or its general partner, as applicable, and, in either case no “person” or “group” Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity or its general partner, as applicable.

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14.

Change of Control Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14.

Change of Control Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme.

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

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

 

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

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

(1) if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period and such proceeds had been applied as of such date (except that in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving Credit Facility outstanding on the date of such calculation will be deemed to be (i) the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such four fiscal quarters or such shorter period for which such facility was outstanding or (ii) if such revolving Credit Facility was created after the end of such four fiscal quarters, the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the period from the date of creation of such revolving Credit Facility to the date of such calculation, in each case, provided that such average daily balance shall take into account any repayment of Indebtedness under such revolving Credit Facility as provided in clause (b)); or

(b) has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since the beginning of the period, including with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness, that is no longer outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio involves a discharge of Indebtedness (in each case other than Indebtedness Incurred under any revolving Credit Facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and the related commitment terminated), Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such discharge of such Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;

(2) if, since the beginning of such period, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has made any Asset Disposition or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is such an Asset Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such

 

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Asset Disposition for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Issuer and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with or with the proceeds from such Asset Disposition for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Issuer and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

(3) if, since the beginning of such period, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) has made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition (or will have received a contribution) of assets, including any acquisition or contribution of assets occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, which constitutes, all or substantially all of a company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition or contribution had occurred on the first day of such period; and

(4) if, since the beginning of such period, any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) made any Asset Disposition or any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (2) or (3) above if made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Disposition or Investment or acquisition of assets had occurred on the first day of such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer; provided that such officer may in his or her discretion include any reasonably identifiable and factually supportable pro forma changes to Consolidated EBITDA, including any pro forma expenses and cost reductions, that have occurred or in the judgment of such officer are reasonably expected to occur within 12 months of the date of the applicable transaction (regardless of whether such expense or cost reduction or any other operating improvements could then be reflected properly in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the beginning of such period to the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such Interest Rate Agreement is less than 12 months, then such Interest Rate Agreement shall only be taken into account for that portion of

 

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the period equal to the remaining term thereof). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of the Issuer, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by the Issuer. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

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

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(2) Consolidated Income Taxes of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

(4) consolidated amortization expense or impairment charges of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries recorded in connection with the application of Accounting Standards Codification No. 350, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other” and Accounting Standards Codification No. 360, “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”;

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

(6) if the Issuer changes its method of accounting for Oil and Gas Properties from full cost to successful efforts or a similar method of accounting, consolidated exploration and abandonment expense of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(7) any fees or expenses relating to the Transactions,

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

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, clauses (2) through (7) relating to amounts of a Restricted Subsidiary of a Person will be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated EBITDA of such Person only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income (loss) of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated

 

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Net Income of such Person and, to the extent the amounts set forth in clauses (2) through (7) are in excess of those necessary to offset a net loss of such Restricted Subsidiary or if such Restricted Subsidiary has net income for such period included in Consolidated Net Income, only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Issuer by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary.

Consolidated Income Taxes” means, with respect to any Person for any period, taxes imposed upon such Person or other payments required to be made by such Person by any governmental authority which taxes or other payments are calculated by reference to the income, profits or capital of such Person or such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including state franchise taxes) (to the extent such income or profits were included in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period), regardless of whether such taxes or payments are required to be remitted to any governmental authority.

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

(1) interest expense attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations and the interest component of any deferred payment obligations;

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

(3) non-cash interest expense;

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

(5) the interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such Guarantee becomes payable or such Lien becomes subject to foreclosure;

(6) costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements (including amortization of fees); provided, however, that if Interest Rate Agreements result in net benefits rather than costs, such benefits shall be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to GAAP, such net benefits are otherwise reflected in Consolidated Net Income;

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

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

 

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minus, to the extent included above, write-off of deferred financing costs (and interest) attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(a) subject to the limitations contained in clauses (3), (4) and (5) below, the Issuer’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and

 

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

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

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

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

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

(7) any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification No. 815);

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

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

(10) any non-cash compensation charge arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity based awards; provided that the proceeds resulting from any such grant will be excluded from Section 4.10(c)(ii).

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

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Third Supplemental Indenture is located at 750 N. Saint Paul, Suite 1750, Dallas, Texas 75202, Attention: Corporate Trust, Municipal and Escrow Services or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

 

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

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

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

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

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.6 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend.

Depository” or “DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and successors.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in connection with an Asset Disposition that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by a senior vice president and the principal financial officer of the Issuer, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

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

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

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

 

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(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part,

in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the date (a) of the Stated Maturity of the Notes or (b) on which there are no Notes outstanding; provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, that any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale (each defined in a substantially identical manner to the corresponding definitions in this Third Supplemental Indenture) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is ratable or exchangeable) provide that (i) the Issuer may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is ratable or exchangeable) pursuant to such provision prior to compliance by the Issuer with the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture described under Section 4.14 and Section 4.15 and (ii) such repurchase or redemption will be permitted solely to the extent also permitted in accordance with the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture described under Section 4.10.

The amount of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on any date on which the amount of such Disqualified Stock is to be determined pursuant to this Third Supplemental Indenture; provided, however, that if such Disqualified Stock could not be required to be redeemed, repaid or repurchased at the time of such determination, the redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be the book value of such Disqualified Stock as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person.

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

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Eliminated Covenants” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16(a).

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

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

Euroclear” means Euroclear S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

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Excess Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.

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

Existing Senior Notes” means the Issuer’s $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625% senior notes due 2021 and $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due 2022.

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the sale value that would be obtained in an arm’s-length free market transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair Market Value of an asset or property in excess of $15.0 million shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Issuer acting in good faith, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors, and any lesser Fair Market Value may be determined by an officer of the Issuer acting in good faith.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Third Supplemental Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP. At any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to apply the accounting standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), as in effect on the first day of the period for which the Issuer is making such an election, in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided herein); provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, any calculation or determination herein that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuer’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Issuer shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes.

Global Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.6(f) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

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

(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Immaterial Subsidiary” means, as of any date, any Restricted Subsidiary whose total assets, as of the end of the most recent month for which financial statements are available, are less than $1,000,000 and whose total revenues for the most recent 12-month period for which financial statements are available do not exceed $1,000,000; provided that a Restricted Subsidiary will not be considered to be an Immaterial Subsidiary if it, directly or indirectly, Guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Issuer.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

(9) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time);

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

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

 

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Notwithstanding the preceding, “Indebtedness” shall not include:

(1) Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

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

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

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

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

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

(7) all contracts and other obligations, agreements, instruments or arrangements described in clauses (20), (21), (29)(a) or (30) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; and

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Initial Lien” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.

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

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

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of any direct or indirect advance, loan or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement, but excluding any

 

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debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit and advances or extensions of credit to customers in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments (excluding any interest in a crude oil or natural gas leasehold to the extent constituting a security under applicable law) issued by, such other Person and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that none of the following will be deemed to be an Investment:

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

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

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

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

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.10,

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

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

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than: (1) Baa3 (or the equivalent) with a stable or better outlook by Moody’s; and (2) BBB- (or the equivalent) with a stable or better outlook by S&P, or, if either such entity ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other Rating Agency.

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

 

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Issue Date” means May 29, 2014, the date of original issuance of the Notes.

Issuer” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Third Supplemental Indenture.

Joint Marketing Arrangement” means any joint venture, partnership, lease, joint marketing agreement, operating agreement or other arrangement (which may or may not include joint ownership of any Person) pursuant to which the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries arrange for the marketing, lease or sale of products and services and share in the profits therefrom.

Legal Defeasance” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

Legal Holiday” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.7.

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

Maturity Date” means June 1, 2024.

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

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

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

(1) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred, and all federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;

 

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(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness or Hedging Obligation which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

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

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

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

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

Net Working Capital” means (a) the sum of (i) all current assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business, plus (ii) the amount of revolving credit borrowings available to be Incurred under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement, less (b) all current liabilities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities (i) associated with asset retirement obligations relating to Oil and Gas Properties, (ii) included in Indebtedness and (iii) any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Issuer prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness of a Person:

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

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

 

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

Notes” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Third Supplemental Indenture.

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

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

Oil and Gas Business” means: (1) the business of acquiring, exploring, exploiting, developing, producing, operating and disposing of interests in oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas and other Hydrocarbon and mineral properties or products produced in association with any of the foregoing; (2) the business of gathering, marketing, distributing, treating, processing, storing, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties and products produced in association therewith and the marketing of oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals obtained from unrelated Persons; (3) any other related energy business, including power generation and electrical transmission business, directly or indirectly, from oil, natural gas and other Hydrocarbons and minerals produced substantially from properties in which the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, participates; (4) any business relating to oil field sales and service; and (5) any business or activity relating to, arising from, or necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

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

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

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes.

Pari Passu Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.

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

Paying Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

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

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

(2) of a Person that was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that was not Incurred in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation; provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged, consolidated and amalgamated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto, (a) the Restricted Subsidiary or the Issuer, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Coverage Ratio test described under Section 4.12 or (b) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Issuer would be greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Issuer immediately prior to such transaction.

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

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

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

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

 

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

(1) the Issuer, a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is the Oil and Gas Business;

(2) another Person whose primary business is the Oil and Gas Business if as a result of such Investment such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided, that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;

(3) cash and Cash Equivalents;

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

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

(6) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary;

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

(8) Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.15;

(9) Investments in existence on the Issue Date;

(10) Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and related Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations are Incurred in compliance with Section 4.12;

(11) Guarantees issued in accordance with Section 4.12;

(12) Permitted Business Investments;

 

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

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

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

(16) Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause (16) after April 15, 2010, in an aggregate amount outstanding at the time of such Investment not to exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 2.0% of the Issuer’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (with the Fair Market Value of such Investment being measured at the time such Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

Permitted Joint Venture Investment” means an Investment by such Person in any other Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business (a) over which such Person is responsible (either directly or through a services agreement) for day-to-day operations or otherwise has operational and managerial control of such other Person, or veto power over significant management decisions affecting such other Person, and (b) of which at least 30% of the outstanding Equity Interests of such other Person are at the time owned directly or indirectly by such Person.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations under, and related Hedging Obligations and Liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries securing Guarantees of Indebtedness and other obligations of the Issuer under, any Credit Facility permitted to be Incurred under this Third Supplemental Indenture under the provisions described in clause (1) of the second paragraph of Section 4.12;

(2) pledges or deposits by such Person under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws, social security or old age pension laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits (which may be secured by a Lien) to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person including letters of credit and bank guarantees required or requested by the United States, any State thereof or any foreign government or any subdivision, department, agency,

 

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organization or instrumentality of any of the foregoing in connection with any contract or statute (including lessee or operator obligations under statutes, governmental regulations, contracts or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals on State, Federal or foreign lands or waters), or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure indemnity performance, surety or appeal bonds or other similar bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

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

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

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

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

(7) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness, if any, is, and is permitted to be under this Third Supplemental Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligation;

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

(9) prejudgment Liens and judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default;

 

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(10) Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capitalized Lease Obligations Incurred under clause (4) or (7) of the second paragraph of Section 4.12, purchase money obligations or other payments Incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(13) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

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

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

 

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(16) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

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

(18) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured, provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property or assets that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

(19) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligation or operating lease;

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

(21) Liens arising under oil and gas leases or subleases, assignments, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of Hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, operating agreements, royalties, working interests, net profits interests, joint interest billing arrangements, participation agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, licenses, sublicenses and other agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; provided, however, in all instances that such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract;

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

(23) Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time, added together with all other Indebtedness secured by Liens Incurred pursuant to this clause (23), not to exceed the greater of $25.0 million and 1.0% of the Issuer’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as determined on the date of Incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom;

(24) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

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

 

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

(27) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.12; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

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

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

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

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

(32) Liens arising from the deposit of funds or securities in trust for the purpose of decreasing or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds or securities and such decreasing or defeasing of Indebtedness are permitted under Section 4.10;

(33) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (9) of the second paragraph of Section 4.12; provided that such Liens extend only to the assets of Foreign Subsidiaries; and

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

 

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

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

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

principal” of any Indebtedness (including the Notes) means the principal amount of such Indebtedness.

pro forma” means, with respect to any calculation made or required to be made pursuant to the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture, a calculation in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Issuer in consultation with its independent public accountants.

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

Property” means, with respect to any Person, any interests of such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, Capital Stock, partnership interests and other equity or ownership interests in any other Person.

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

Record Date” means the record dates specified in the Notes.

Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes.

 

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Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the price fixed for such redemption, including principal and premium, if any, pursuant to this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes.

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

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

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

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

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

Registrar” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Issuer to file with the SEC and make available or otherwise deliver to the Trustee and each Holder of Notes, within the time periods specified in Section 4.8 (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the periodic reports, information, documents or other reports which the Issuer may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to such provision.

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

 

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Restricted Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10.

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

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

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

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Senior Indebtedness” means any unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred under the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is Incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, “Senior Indebtedness” will not include:

(a) any intercompany Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries to the Issuer or any of its Affiliates; or

(b) any Indebtedness that is Incurred in violation of this Third Supplemental Indenture.

For the avoidance of doubt, “Senior Indebtedness” will not include any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Senior Secured Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Senior Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 9, 2009 among the Issuer, as Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (as successor-in-interest to BNP Paribas), as Administrative Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Union Bank Of California, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agents, Compass Bank and Bank Of Montreal, as Co-Documentation Agents and the lenders parties thereto from time to time, any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, notes, bonds, debentures, credit facilities, commercial paper facilities or similar securities or instruments with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted in Section 4.12).

 

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

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

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

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

Subsidiary Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Notes by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture, and, collectively, all such Guarantees. Each such Subsidiary Guarantee will be in the form prescribed by this Third Supplemental Indenture.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a guarantor of the Notes, including any Person that is required after the Issue Date to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.18, in each case until a successor replaces such Person pursuant to the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor.

Successor Issuer” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1

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

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Third Supplemental Indenture; provided that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

Transactions” means (i) the Acquisition, (ii) the offering of the Company’s $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625% senior notes due 2021, (iii) an offering of 8,050,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, which closed on April 29, 2013 and (iv) all other transactions consummated in connection therewith.

 

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Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to June 1, 2019; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to June 1, 2019 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the Redemption Date to June 1, 2019 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Issuer will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate as of the second Business Day preceding the applicable Redemption Date and (b) prior to such Redemption Date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

Trust Officer” means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office including any Vice President, Managing Director, Director, Assistant Vice President, Associate, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge and familiarity with the particular subject, or in the case of a successor trustee, an officer assigned to the department, division or group performing the corporation trust work of such successor and assigned to administer this Third Supplemental Indenture.

Trustee” means the party named as such in this Third Supplemental Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture and thereafter means such successor.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

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

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

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

 

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

(3) on the date of such designation, such designation and the Investment of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in such Subsidiary complies with Section 4.10;

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

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

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

(5) such Subsidiary, either alone or in the aggregate with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; and

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

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the foregoing conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred as of such date.

The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and the Issuer could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the first paragraph of Section 4.12 on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with

 

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respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.

U.S. Legal Tender” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

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

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

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

SECTION 1.2. Incorporation by Reference of TIA.

Whenever this Third Supplemental Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, such provision is incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this Third Supplemental Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Third Supplemental Indenture have the following meanings:

indenture securities” means the Notes;

indenture security holder” means a Holder;

indenture to be qualified” means this Third Supplemental Indenture;

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee;

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other obligor on the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees.

All other TIA terms used in this Third Supplemental Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.

 

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SECTION 1.3. Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

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

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

(6) “including” means “including, without limitation”; and

(7) any reference to a statute, law or regulation means that statute, law or regulation as amended and in effect from time to time and includes any successor statute, law or regulation; provided, however, that any reference to the Bankruptcy Law shall mean the Bankruptcy Law as applicable to the relevant case.

In addition, this Third Supplemental Indenture restates in their entirety the terms of the Base Indenture as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture and does not incorporate the terms of the Base Indenture. The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall only govern the terms of, the Notes, except as otherwise provided herein, and shall not apply to any other securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.

ARTICLE II.

THE NOTES

In accordance with Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture, the Issuer hereby creates the Notes as a series of its Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) issued pursuant to this Third Supplemental Indenture. In accordance with Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture, the Notes shall be known and designated as the “5.875% Senior Notes due 2024” of the Issuer.

SECTION 2.1. Form and Dating.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication relating thereto shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or depository rule or usage. The Issuer shall approve the form of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on them. Each Note shall be dated the date of its issuance and shall show the date of its authentication.

 

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The terms and provisions contained in the Notes, a form of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit A, shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Third Supplemental Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A (the “Global Note”) attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon). Each Global Note shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.6 hereof.

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

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.14 hereof or an Asset Disposition Offer as provided under Section 4.15 hereof. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article III.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Notes issued on the Issue Date may be created and issued from time to time by the Issuer without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Notes issued on the Issue Date and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Notes issued on the Issue Date; provided that the Issuer’s ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuer’s compliance with Section 4.12 hereof. Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 2.2. Execution and Authentication; Aggregate Principal Amount.

At least one Officer shall execute the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note or a Subsidiary Guarantee was an Officer at the time of such execution but no longer holds that office or position at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually or by facsimile signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

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The Trustee shall authenticate (i) Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000,000 and (ii) subject to Section 4.12, Additional Notes, in each case, upon a written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate (an “Authentication Order”). Each such Authentication Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, whether the Notes are to be Notes or Additional Notes and whether the Notes are to be issued as Definitive Notes or Global Notes or such other information as the Trustee may reasonably request. Any Additional Notes shall be part of the same issue as the Notes being issued on the Issue Date and will vote on all matters as one class with the Notes being issued on the Issue Date, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions, Change of Control Offers and Asset Disposition Offers. For the purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture, except for Section 4.12, references to the Notes include Additional Notes, if any. In addition, with respect to authentication pursuant to clause (ii) of the first sentence of this paragraph, the first such Authentication Order from the Issuer shall be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel of the Issuer in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that the issuance of the Additional Notes complies with this Third Supplemental Indenture and has been duly authorized by the Issuer.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. Unless otherwise provided in the appointment, an Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Third Supplemental Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Issuer or with any Affiliate of the Issuer.

The Notes shall be issuable in fully registered form only, without coupons, in denominations of at least $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

SECTION 2.3. Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where (a) Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”), (b) Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”) and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer, upon prior written notice to the Trustee, may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional Paying Agent. The Issuer may act as Paying Agent, except that, for the purposes of payments on the Notes pursuant to Sections 4.14 and 4.15, neither the Issuer nor any Affiliate of the Issuer may act as Paying Agent.

The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Third Supplemental Indenture, which agreement shall incorporate the provisions of the TIA and implement the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee, in advance, of the name and address of any such Agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.

 

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The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and agent for service of demands and notices in connection with the Notes, until such time as the Trustee has resigned or a successor has been appointed. Any of the Registrar, the Paying Agent or any other agent may resign upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Issuer.

SECTION 2.4. Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust.

The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, or interest on, the Notes (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes), and the Issuer and the Paying Agent shall notify the Trustee of any Default by the Issuer (or any other obligor on the Notes) in making any such payment. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and account for any assets disbursed and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment Default, upon written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and to account for any assets distributed. If the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all assets held by it as Paying Agent. Upon distribution to the Trustee of all assets that shall have been delivered by the Issuer to the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer) shall have no further liability for such assets.

SECTION 2.5. Holder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of the Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish or cause the Registrar to furnish to the Trustee before each Record Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list as of such date and in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders, which list may be conclusively relied upon by the Trustee.

SECTION 2.6. Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository, by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or to another nominee of the Depository, or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes if:

(i) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depository that the Depository is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depository or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depository is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depository;

 

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(ii) the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or

(iii) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, and the Depository has notified the Issuer and the Trustee of its desire to exchange the Global Notes for Definitive Notes.

Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depository shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, pursuant to this Section 2.6 or Section 2.7 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.6 or Section 2.7 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.6(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.6(b) or (c) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.6(b) and Section 2.6(d) hereof.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.6(b) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.6(g) hereof, and the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.6(c) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depository and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are registered.

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

 

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(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.6(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.6(e). A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note.

(f) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITORY (AS DEFINED IN THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6(g) OF THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6(a) OF THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

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(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.7, 2.10, 3.8, 4.14, 4.15 and 9.5 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

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

(v) The Issuer shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.2 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

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

(vii) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or otherwise deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(viii) At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the replacement Global Notes or Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.6 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

SECTION 2.7. Replacement Notes.

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute a Subsidiary Guarantee thereon if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such Holder must provide an indemnity bond or other indemnity of reasonable tenor, sufficient in the reasonable judgment of the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, to protect the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. Every replacement Note shall constitute an additional obligation of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

SECTION 2.8. Outstanding Notes.

Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee except those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section 2.8 as not outstanding. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.9, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or any of its Affiliates holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser for value. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.7.

 

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If on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay all of the principal, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes payable on that date and is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders thereof pursuant to the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed not to be outstanding and interest on them shall cease to accrue.

SECTION 2.9. Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Notes owned by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so considered. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee, in writing, when, to its knowledge, any of its Affiliates repurchase or otherwise acquire Notes, of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes so repurchased or otherwise acquired and such other information as the Trustee may reasonably request and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely thereon.

SECTION 2.10. Temporary Notes.

Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order. The Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of temporary Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the temporary Notes are to be authenticated. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes and so indicate in the Officers’ Certificate. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare, the Trustee shall authenticate and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute Subsidiary Guarantees on, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation.

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee, or at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent, and no one else, shall cancel and, at the written direction of the Issuer, shall dispose, in its customary manner, of all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation. The Trustee shall maintain a record of all canceled Notes. Subject to Section 2.7, the Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. If the Issuer acquires any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.11.

 

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SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Number.

The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use a “CUSIP” number, and, if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that no representation is hereby deemed to be made by the Trustee as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Notes, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP number.

SECTION 2.13. Deposit of Monies.

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on each Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date and Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Issuer shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money sufficient to make cash payments, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date and Asset Disposition Purchase Date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders on such Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date and Asset Disposition Purchase Date, as the case may be.

SECTION 2.14. Designation.

The Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees is hereby irrevocably designated as “senior indebtedness” or such other term denoting seniority for the purposes of any other existing or future Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, which the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, makes subordinate to any senior (or such other term denoting seniority) indebtedness of such Person.

ARTICLE III.

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.1. Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Notes, it shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed.

The Issuer shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.1 60 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee, as evidenced in a writing signed on behalf of the Trustee), together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such redemption shall comply with the conditions contained herein and in the Notes.

SECTION 3.2. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of such Notes, or portions thereof, for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed

 

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or, if the Notes are not then listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem fair and appropriate. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Notice of redemption shall be sent at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the applicable Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption unless the Issuer shall default in payment thereof.

SECTION 3.3. Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.3(b) and (c), the Issuer will not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option prior to June 1, 2019. The Notes will be redeemable, at the Issuer’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on and after June 1, 2019, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on June 1 of the years set forth below, plus, in each case, unpaid accrued interest thereon to the Redemption Date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2019

     102.938

2020

     101.958

2021

     100.979

2022 and thereafter

     100.000

(b) At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to June 1, 2017, the Issuer may, at its option, use an amount of cash not greater than the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under this Third Supplemental Indenture at a Redemption Price equal to 105.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date; provided, that: (1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Third Supplemental Indenture on the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such redemption; and (2) the Issuer makes such redemption not more than 120 days after the consummation of any such Equity Offering.

(c) In addition, the Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to June 1, 2019 at the option of the Issuer upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice sent to each Holder at its registered address, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

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SECTION 3.4. [Reserved].

SECTION 3.5. Notice of Redemption.

In connection with a redemption pursuant to Section 3.3, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, the Issuer shall send or cause to be sent a notice of redemption to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address, with a copy to the Trustee and any Paying Agent. At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. The Issuer shall provide such notices of redemption to the Trustee at least three Business Days before the intended delivery date.

Each notice of redemption shall identify (including the CUSIP number) the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price and the amount of unpaid accrued interest, if any, to be paid;

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

(4) the subparagraph of the Notes pursuant to which such redemption is being made;

(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest, if any;

(6) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making the redemption payment, interest on Notes or applicable portions thereof called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest as of the Redemption Date, if any, upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

(7) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, and upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in the aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued; and

(8) if fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Notes (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption.

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the purchase of Notes.

 

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SECTION 3.6. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.5, such notice of redemption shall be irrevocable and Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, as of such date. Upon surrender to the Trustee or Paying Agent, such Notes called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest thereon to the Redemption Date, but installments of interest, the maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date, shall be payable to Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to in the Notes. Interest shall accrue on or after the Redemption Date and shall be payable only if the Issuer defaults in payment of the Redemption Price.

SECTION 3.7. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or before the Redemption Date and in accordance with Section 2.13, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent U.S. Legal Tender sufficient to pay the Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, of all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any U.S. Legal Tender so deposited which is not required for that purpose, except with respect to monies owed as obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article VII.

Unless the Issuer fails to comply with the preceding paragraph and defaults in the payment of such Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, interest on the Notes to be redeemed will cease to accrue on and after the applicable Redemption Date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment.

SECTION 3.8. Notes Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is to be redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Note or Notes equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

ARTICLE IV.

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.1. Payment of Notes.

(a) The Issuer shall pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Third Supplemental Indenture.

(b) An installment of principal of or interest on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Trustee or Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or any of its Affiliates) holds, prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on that date, U.S. Legal Tender designated for and sufficient to pay the installment in full and is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders pursuant to the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Third Supplemental Indenture, the Issuer may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 4.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuer shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.3. The Issuer shall give prior written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 10.2.

SECTION 4.3. Organizational Existence.

Except as otherwise permitted by Article V, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done, at its own cost and expense, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence and the organizational existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the respective organizational documents of the Issuer and each such Restricted Subsidiary and the material rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Issuer and each such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve, with respect to itself, any material right or franchise and, with respect to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any such existence, material right or franchise, if the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall determine in good faith that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

SECTION 4.4. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

The Issuer shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges (including withholding taxes and any penalties, interest and additions to taxes) levied or imposed upon it or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or properties of it or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate negotiations or proceedings properly instituted and diligently conducted for which adequate reserves, to the extent required under GAAP, have been taken.

SECTION 4.5. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance.

(a) The Issuer shall, and shall cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition (subject to ordinary wear and tear) and make all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, betterments and improvements thereto and actively conduct and carry on its business; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.5 shall prevent the Issuer or any of the

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any of its properties, if such discontinuance is (i) in the ordinary course of business pursuant to customary business terms or (ii) in the good faith judgment of the respective Boards of Directors or other governing body of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, desirable in the conduct of their respective businesses and is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

(b) The Issuer shall provide or cause to be provided, for itself and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the kinds that, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, are adequate and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in a prudent manner, with reputable insurers or with the government of the United States of America, Canada or an agency or instrumentality thereof, in such amounts, with such deductibles, and by such methods as shall be customary, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, for companies similarly situated in the industry.

SECTION 4.6. Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.

(a) The Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor (to the extent that such Subsidiary Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each of their fiscal years, an Officers’ Certificate (provided, however, that one of the signatories to each such Officers’ Certificate must state that he or she is the Issuer’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer), as to such Officers’ knowledge, without independent investigation, of the Issuer’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Third Supplemental Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Third Supplemental Indenture) and in the event any Default under this Third Supplemental Indenture exists, such Officers shall specify the nature of such Default. Each such Officers’ Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the Issuer elect to change the manner in which it fixes its fiscal year end.

(b) (i) If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) if any Holder seeks to exercise any remedy under this Third Supplemental Indenture with respect to a claimed Default under this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, at its address set forth in Section 10.2 hereof, by registered or certified mail or by facsimile transmission followed by hard copy by registered or certified mail an Officers’ Certificate specifying such event, notice or other action within 30 days of the occurrence thereof.

SECTION 4.7. Compliance with Laws.

The Issuer shall comply, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of the United States of America, all states and municipalities thereof, and of any governmental department, commission, board, regulatory authority, bureau, agency and instrumentality of the foregoing, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties, except for such noncompliance as could not singly or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

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SECTION 4.8. Reports to Holders.

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

(b) If the Issuer has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the financial information required shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in any accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

(c) The availability of the foregoing materials on the SEC’s website or on a freely accessible page on the Issuer’s website shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery obligations.

SECTION 4.9. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

The Issuer and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Issuer from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Third Supplemental Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Issuer and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:

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

 

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

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

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

(3) purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations (other than (x) Indebtedness permitted under clause (3) of the second paragraph of Section 4.12 or (y) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement); or

(4) make any Restricted Investment in any Person;

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

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

(b) the Issuer is not able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 4.12 after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or

(c) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments declared or made subsequent to April 15, 2010 would exceed the sum of:

(i) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from January 1, 2010 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which internal financial statements are in existence (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit);

 

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(ii) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and the Fair Market Value of property or securities other than cash (including Capital Stock of Persons engaged primarily in the Oil and Gas Business or assets used in the Oil and Gas Business), in each case received by the Issuer from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or other capital contributions subsequent to April 15, 2010 (other than Net Cash Proceeds received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to (x) management, employees, directors or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds have been used to make a Restricted Payment pursuant to clause (5)(a) of the next succeeding paragraph, (y) a Subsidiary of the Issuer or (z) an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust (to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or Guaranteed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination));

(iii) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred on or after April 15, 2010 is reduced on the Issuer’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Issuer) subsequent to April 15, 2010 of any Indebtedness of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property (other than such Capital Stock), distributed by the Issuer upon such conversion or exchange), together with the net proceeds, if any, received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon such conversion or exchange; and

(iv) the amount equal to the aggregate net reduction in Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person after April 15, 2010 resulting from:

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

(B) the redesignation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case as provided in the definition of “Investment”) not to exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments previously made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

 

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

which amount in each case under this clause (iv) was included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; provided, however, that no amount will be included under this clause (iv) to the extent it is already included in Consolidated Net Income.

The provisions of the preceding paragraph will not prohibit:

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

(2) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations of the Issuer or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Subordinated Obligations of the Issuer or any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Guarantor Subordinated Obligations made by exchange for or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Guarantor Subordinated Obligations that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.12; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(3) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant Section 4.12; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(4) dividends paid or distributions made within 60 days after the date of declaration if at such date of declaration such dividend or distribution would have complied with this Section 4.10; provided, however, that such dividends and distributions will be

 

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included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments; and provided further, however, that for purposes of clarification, this clause (4) shall not include cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares included in clause (9) below;

(5) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, (a) the repurchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock (including options, warrants, equity appreciation rights or other rights to purchase or acquire Capital Stock) of the Issuer held by any existing or former employees, management or directors of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or their assigns, estates or heirs, in each case pursuant to the repurchase or other acquisition provisions under employee stock option or stock purchase plans or agreements or other agreements to compensate management, employees or directors, in each case approved by the Issuer’s Board of Directors; provided that such repurchases or other acquisitions pursuant to this subclause (a) during any calendar year will not exceed $3.0 million in the aggregate (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years; provided further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed (A) the cash proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of Capital Stock of the Issuer to members of management or directors of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that occurs after April 15, 2010 (to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of the clause (c) of the preceding paragraph), plus (B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after April 15, 2010, less (C) the amount of any Restricted Payments made pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (5)(a); provided further, however, that the amount of any such repurchase or other acquisition under this subclause (a) will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and the proceeds received from any such transaction will be excluded from clause (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; and

(b) loans or advances to employees or directors of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer, in each case as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the proceeds of which are used to purchase Capital Stock of the Issuer, or to refinance loans or advances made pursuant to this clause (5)(b), in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $3.0 million at any one time outstanding; provided, however, that the amount of such loans and advances will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(6) purchases, repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value of (i) restricted Capital Stock issued to existing or former employees, management or directors of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or their assigns, estates or heirs, in each case pursuant to the repurchase or other acquisition provisions under employee stock option or stock purchase plans or agreements or other agreements to compensate management, employees or directors, in each case approved by the Issuer’s Board of Directors and (ii) Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants, rights to acquire Capital Stock or other convertible securities, in each case if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof, and any purchases, repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value of Capital Stock made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any issuance, exercise or exchange of warrants, options or rights to acquire Capital Stock; provided, however, that such acquisitions or retirements will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

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(7) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Obligation (i) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligation in the event of a Change of Control in accordance with provisions similar to Section 4.14 or (ii) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof in accordance with provisions similar to Section 4.15; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Issuer has made the Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, as applicable, as provided in such section with respect to the Notes and has completed the repurchase or redemption of all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer; provided, however, that such repurchases will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(8) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law or in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of legal claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets; provided, however, that any payment pursuant to this clause (8) shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

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

(10) the declaration and payment of scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class of or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued on or after April 15, 2010 in accordance with Section 4.12 to the extent such dividends are included in Consolidated Interest Expense; provided, however, that any payment pursuant to this clause (10) shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(11) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (11) that are at the time outstanding (after giving effect to any dividends, return of capital and subsequent reduction in the amount of any Investments made pursuant to this clause (11) as a result of the repayment or other disposition thereof, or upon designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value of such Subsidiary to the extent the Investment in such Subsidiary was made pursuant to this clause (11), in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Investments previously made pursuant to this clause (11)) not to exceed 2.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that any Investment pursuant to this clause (11) shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; and

 

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(12) Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed $40.0 million in the aggregate since April 15, 2010; provided, however, that the amount of such Restricted Payments will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any cash Restricted Payment shall be its face amount and the Fair Market Value of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined in accordance with the definition of that term.

In the event that a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the exceptions described in (1) through (12) above, is entitled to be made pursuant to the first paragraph above or meets the description of one or more Permitted Investments, the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, be permitted to divide or classify (or if made pursuant to one or more of the exceptions described in (1) through (12) above or a Permitted Investment, later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part such Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment among such clauses).

As of the Issue Date, each of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purpose of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investment.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.10 or under clause (12) of the second paragraph of this Section 4.10, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 4.11. Limitations on Affiliate Transactions.

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

(1) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate or, if in the good faith judgment of the Issuer’s Board of Directors, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

 

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(2) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer having no personal stake in such transaction, if any (and such majority determines that such Affiliate Transaction satisfies the criteria in clause (1) above).

The preceding paragraph will not apply to:

(1) any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.10;

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

(3) loans or advances to employees, officers or directors in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

(5) any transaction between the Issuer and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries and Guarantees issued by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary for the benefit of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, permitted under Section 4.12;

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(14) transactions in which the Board of Directors of the Issuer has received a written opinion from an independent investment banking, accounting, engineering or appraisal firm of nationally recognized standing that such Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial standpoint, to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or is not materially less favorable than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate.

SECTION 4.12. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Preferred Stock.

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

 

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

(2) no Default would occur as a consequence of, and no Event of Default would be continuing following, Incurring the Indebtedness or transactions relating to such Incurrence.

The first paragraph of this Section 4.12 will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness:

(1) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor Incurred pursuant to one or more Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $900.0 million or (ii) an amount equal to the sum of $150.0 million and 30.0% of the Issuer’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving effect to the application of the proceeds therefrom;

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

(3) Indebtedness of the Issuer owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that (a) if the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor of such Indebtedness and the obligee is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Notes or all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be and (b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause;

(4) Indebtedness represented by (a) the Notes issued on the Issue Date and all Subsidiary Guarantees, (b) the Existing Senior Notes and any other Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2) and 4(a)) outstanding on the Issue Date and (c) any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of any Indebtedness described in this clause (4) or clause (5) or (7) or Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.12;

 

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(5) Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

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

(7) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations (whether or not incurred pursuant to Sale/Leaseback Transactions) or other Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement or development of real or personal, movable or immovable, property, in each case Incurred for the purpose of financing, refinancing, renewing, defeasing or refunding all or any part of the purchase price or cost of acquisition, construction, improvement or development of property used in the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate principal amount incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (7) and any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred under clause (4)(c) above to refinance any Indebtedness originally Incurred under this clause (7) outstanding at any time shall not exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 2.0% of the Issuer’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and provided further that the principal amount of any Indebtedness permitted under this clause (7) did not in each case at the time of Incurrence exceed the Fair Market Value, as determined in accordance with the definition of such term, of the acquired or constructed asset or improvement so financed;

(8) Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors;

(9) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries if, at the time of Incurrence and after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries Incurred pursuant to this clause (9) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of $30.0 million and an amount equal to 10% of the total assets of such Foreign Subsidiaries; and

(10) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (9) above, Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiary Guarantors in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (10) and then outstanding, will not at any time exceed the greater of $120.0 million or 5.0% of the Issuer’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of the date of Incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving effect to such Incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 4.12:

(1) in the event an item of that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs of this Section 4.12, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, will be permitted to divide and classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence and, subject to clause (2) below may later classify, reclassify or redivide all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.12;

(2) all Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Third Supplemental Indenture under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement shall be deemed Incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of the second paragraph of this Section 4.12;

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

(4) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are Incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility and are being treated as Incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the second paragraph above and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included;

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

(6) Indebtedness permitted by this Section 4.12 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 4.12 permitting such Indebtedness; and

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

Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the amortization of debt discount or the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and unrealized losses, charges or other similar obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification No. 815) will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.12. The Issuer will not permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Incur any Indebtedness, or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock, other than Non-Recourse Debt.

 

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If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this Section 4.12, the Issuer shall be in Default of this Section 4.12).

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.12, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.12 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

This Third Supplemental Indenture will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

SECTION 4.13. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

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

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

 

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

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

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

(ii) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Person pursuant to or by reason of an agreement relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred by a Person on or before the date on which such Person was acquired by the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person was acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or in contemplation of the transaction) and outstanding on such date; provided, that any such encumbrance or restriction shall not extend to any assets or property of the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property so acquired;

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

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

(v) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was Incurred if either (1) the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such Indebtedness or agreement or (2) the Issuer determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, whose determination shall be conclusive;

(vi) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement effecting a refunding, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clauses (i) through (v) or clause (xii) of this paragraph or this clause (vi) or contained in any amendment, restatement,

 

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modification, renewal, supplemental, refunding, replacement or refinancing of an agreement referred to in clauses (i) through (v) or clause (xii) of this paragraph or this clause (vi); provided that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement taken as a whole are no less favorable in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refunded, replaced or refinanced;

(vii) in the case of clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.13, any encumbrance or restriction:

(a) that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease (including leases governing leasehold interests or farm-in agreements or farm-out agreements relating to leasehold interests in Oil and Gas Properties), license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease (including leases governing leasehold interests or farm-in agreements or farm-out agreements relating to leasehold interests in Oil and Gas Properties), license (including, without limitation, licenses of intellectual property) or other contract;

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

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

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

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

(viii) any encumbrance or restriction contained in (a) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations permitted under this Third Supplemental Indenture, in each case, that impose encumbrances or restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.13 on the property so acquired;

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

 

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

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

(xii) encumbrances or restrictions contained in agreements governing Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with Section 4.12; provided that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness are not materially less favorable to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith, than the provisions contained in the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and in this Third Supplemental Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date;

(xiii) the issuance of Preferred Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such Preferred Stock is permitted pursuant to Section 4.12 and the terms of such Preferred Stock do not expressly restrict the ability of a Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such Preferred Stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

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

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

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

(xvii) any encumbrance or restriction that is no more restrictive than any encumbrance or restriction in the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and that is contained in any agreement creating Hedging Obligations permitted from time to time hereunder.

 

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SECTION 4.14. Change of Control.

If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.3, each Holder will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.3, the Issuer will send a notice (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, stating:

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

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

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

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

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

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Notes, provided that the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the 30th day following the date of the Change of Control notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(7) that if the Issuer is repurchasing less than all of the Notes, the Holders of the remaining Notes will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; and

 

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(8) the procedures determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Third Supplemental Indenture, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes repurchased.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful:

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

(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered and not properly withdrawn; and

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

The paying agent will promptly mail or deliver to each Holder properly tendered and not properly withdrawn the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

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

The Change of Control provisions described above will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, this Third Supplemental Indenture does not contain provisions that permit the Holders to require that the Issuer repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Third Supplemental Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer, (2) notice of redemption of all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to Section 3.3 unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable Redemption Price, or (3) in connection with or in contemplation of any Change of Control, the Issuer has made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of such Alternate Offer.

 

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

The Issuer will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture, or compliance with the Change of Control provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture would constitute a violation of any such laws or regulations, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Third Supplemental Indenture by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer as described above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described above, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a Redemption Price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

SECTION 4.15. Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

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

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

(3) except as provided in the next paragraph, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition is applied, within 365 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash, by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be:

 

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(a) to prepay, repay, redeem or purchase Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement, any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor that is secured by a Lien permitted to be Incurred under this Third Supplemental Indenture or Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Stock) of any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case, excluding Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer); provided, however, that, in connection with any prepayment, repayment, redemption or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (a), the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid, redeemed or purchased;

(b) to invest in or acquire Additional Assets; or

(c) to prepay, repay, redeem or purchase any other Senior Indebtedness (and to correspondingly reduce commitments, if any, with respect thereto); provided, however, that the Issuer shall equally and ratably reduce prepay, repay, redeem or purchase Notes, through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid.

Pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with clauses (a) through (c) above, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce Indebtedness or otherwise invest such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by this Third Supplemental Indenture.

Any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that is not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” Not later than the 366th day from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the Issuer will be required to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) to all Holders and, to the extent required by the terms of other Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of other Pari Passu Indebtedness outstanding with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to make an offer to purchase such Pari Passu Indebtedness with the proceeds from any Asset Disposition (“Pari Passu Notes”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and any such Pari Passu Notes to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Issuer was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof) of the Notes and Pari Passu Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, (or in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Indebtedness) to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Third Supplemental Indenture or the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes, as applicable, in each case in minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof and holders of other Pari Passu Notes

 

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surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Notes (and when the Notes and Pari Passu Notes are in the form of one or more global notes, in as near a pro rata basis in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC). To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to the other covenants contained in this Third Supplemental Indenture. Upon completion of such Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

The Asset Disposition Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the Issuer will purchase the principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes required to be purchased pursuant to this Section 4.15 (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Notes and Pari Passu Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn in response to the Asset Disposition Offer.

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

On or before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes or portions of Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, or if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, in each case in minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.15 and, in addition, the Issuer will deliver all certificates and notes required, if any, by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. The Issuer or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder or holder or lender of Pari Passu Notes, as the case may be, an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes or Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn by such holder or lender, as the case may be, and accepted by the Issuer for purchase, and the Issuer will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon delivery of an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuer, will authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. In addition, the Issuer will take any

 

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and all other actions required by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. Any Note not so accepted will be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer will publicly announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date.

The Issuer will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.15, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

For the purposes of clause (2) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.15, the following will be deemed to be cash:

(1) the assumption by the transferee of any liabilities, as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, including liabilities with respect to plugging and abandonment (other than Subordinated Obligations, Disqualified Stock, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations or Disqualified Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor) and the release of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from all such liability in connection with such Asset Disposition in which case the Issuer will, without further action, be deemed to have applied such deemed cash to Indebtedness in accordance with clause (3)(a) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.15;

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

(3) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in an Asset Disposition having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (3) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 3.0% of the Issuer’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 75% limitation referred to in clause (2) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.15 shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any Asset Disposition in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the foregoing provision on an after-tax basis, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Disposition complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.

 

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The requirement of clause (3)(b) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.15 above shall be deemed to be satisfied if an agreement (including a lease, whether a capital lease or an operating lease) committing to make the investments, acquisitions or expenditures referred to therein is entered into by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiary within the specified time period and such Net Available Cash is subsequently applied in accordance with such agreement within six months following such agreement.

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any Asset Swaps, unless:

(1) at the time of entering into such Asset Swap and immediately after giving effect to such Asset Swap, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and

(2) in the event such Asset Swap involves the transfer by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets having an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $20.0 million, the terms of such Asset Swap have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

SECTION 4.16. Covenant Termination.

(a) From and after the occurrence of an Investment Grade Rating Event, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture described in Sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15 and clause (3) of Section 5.1 hereof (collectively the “Eliminated Covenants”).

(b) After the date on which the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Eliminated Covenants pursuant to Section 4.16(a), the Issuer may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

SECTION 4.17. Limitation on Liens.

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

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

 

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SECTION 4.18. Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

If (a) any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor other than a Foreign Subsidiary guarantees any Indebtedness under a Credit Facility or (b) any other Domestic Subsidiary that is not already a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, then the Issuer shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes an Immaterial Subsidiary need not become a Subsidiary Guarantor until such time as it ceases to be an Immaterial Subsidiary. If required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, such transferee or acquired or other Restricted Subsidiary shall within 30 days of such guarantee:

(1) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture on the terms set forth in this Third Supplemental Indenture; and

(2) deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary and constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary. Thereafter, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE V.

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

SECTION 5.1. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.

The Issuer will not consolidate with or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person), or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person, unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Issuer”) will be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and the Successor Issuer (if not the Issuer) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture;

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

 

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(3) either (A) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Successor Issuer would be able to Incur at least an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 4.12 or (B) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four quarter period, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Issuer is equal to or greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately before such transaction;

(4) each Subsidiary Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions above, in which case clause (1) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations in respect of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes and that its Guarantee shall continue to be in effect; and

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

For purposes of this Section 5.1, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer, which properties and assets, if held by the Issuer instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer.

The Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Third Supplemental Indenture; and its predecessor Issuer, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, will be released from all obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture and from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes.

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

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

(1) (a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person will be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and

 

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such Person (if not such Subsidiary Guarantor) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee and (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by such Person or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.15 and Section 11.4; and

(3) the Issuer will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplement indenture (if any) comply with this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 5.2. Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, combination or merger or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in accordance with Section 5.1, in which the Issuer is not the continuing corporation, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such surviving entity had been named as such.

ARTICLE VI.

REMEDIES

SECTION 6.1. Events of Default.

An “Event of Default” means any of the following events:

(1) default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days;

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

(3) failure by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its obligations under Section 5.1;

(4) failure by the Issuer to comply for 30 days after notice as provided below with any of its obligations under Sections 4.8, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.17 or 4.18 above (in each case, other than a failure to purchase Notes which will constitute an Event of Default under clause (2) above);

 

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(5) failure by the Issuer to comply for 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after notice as provided below with its other agreements contained in this Third Supplemental Indenture;

(6) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Third Supplemental Indenture, which default:

(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (and any extensions of any grace period) (“payment default”); or

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity (the “cross acceleration provision”);

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more;

(7) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(a) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(b) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law;

(c) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(e) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

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

 

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(a) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries), in a proceeding in which the Issuer or any such Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(b) appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any such Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

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

(9) failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid or discharged, and there shall be any period of 60 consecutive days following entry of such final judgment or decree during which a stay of enforcement of such final judgment or decree, by reason of pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect (the “judgment default provision”); or

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

However, a default under clauses (4) and (5) of this paragraph will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuer in writing and, in the case of a notice given by the Holders, the Trustee of the Default and the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in clauses (4) and (5) of this paragraph after receipt of such notice.

 

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SECTION 6.2. Acceleration.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.1) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.1 occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may waive all past defaults (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, premium, or interest, if any) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (6) of Section 6.1 shall have occurred and be continuing, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration (to the extent not in violation of any applicable law or in conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be automatically rescinded if (i) the Indebtedness that is the subject of such Event of Default has been repaid or (ii) if the default relating to such Indebtedness is waived by the Holders of such Indebtedness or cured and if such Indebtedness has been accelerated, then the Holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness, in each case within 20 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto, and (iii) any other existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

SECTION 6.3. Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of the principal of, premium, or interest, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture.

All rights of action and claims under this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes may be enforced by the Trustee even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

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SECTION 6.4. Waiver of Past Defaults.

At any time prior to the declaration of acceleration of the Notes, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Third Supplemental Indenture, except a Default or Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(1) or (2) or in respect of any provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder so affected pursuant to Section 9.2. When a Default or Event of Default is so waived, it shall be deemed cured and shall cease to exist. This Section 6.4 shall be in lieu of § 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA and such § 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA.

SECTION 6.5. Control by Majority.

Holders of the Notes may not enforce this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Article VI and under the TIA. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, provided, however, that the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction (a) that conflicts with any rule of law or this Third Supplemental Indenture, (b) that the Trustee reasonably determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder, or (c) that may expose the Trustee to personal liability for which reasonable indemnity provided to the Trustee against such liability shall be deemed inadequate by the Trustee; provided, further, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction or this Third Supplemental Indenture. This Section 6.5 shall be in lieu of § 316(a)(1)(A) of the TIA, and such § 316(a)(1)(A) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA.

SECTION 6.6. Limitation on Suits.

Subject to the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Third Supplemental Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holder has offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

 

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(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not waived such Event of Default or otherwise given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

A Holder may not use this Third Supplemental Indenture to prejudice the rights of any other Holders or to obtain priority or preference over such other Holders.

SECTION 6.7. Right of Holders To Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Third Supplemental Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the respective due dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.

SECTION 6.8. Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.1 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer, or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount of the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate per annum provided for by the Notes and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

SECTION 6.9. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents, counsel, accountants and experts) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceedings is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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SECTION 6.10. Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article VI it shall pay out such money in the following order:

First: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.7;

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

Third: to Holders for the principal amounts (including any premium) owing under the Notes, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for the principal (including any premium); and

Fourth: the balance, if any, to the Issuer.

The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Issuer, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Third Supplemental Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may in its discretion require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to any suit by the Trustee, any suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7, or a suit by a Holder or Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

SECTION 6.12. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Third Supplemental Indenture or any Note and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions under this Third Supplemental Indenture, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

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ARTICLE VII.

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.1. Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred, of which the Trustee is deemed to have notice, and is continuing, the Trustee may exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Third Supplemental Indenture and shall use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in this Third Supplemental Indenture and no covenants or obligations shall be implied in this Third Supplemental Indenture that are adverse to the Trustee. The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Third Supplemental Indenture shall not be construed as a duty.

(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Third Supplemental Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Third Supplemental Indenture.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1.

(2) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is conclusively determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

(3) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.2, 6.4 or 6.5.

(d) No provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties under this Third Supplemental Indenture or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

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(e) Every provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.1 and Section 7.2.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money or assets received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other assets except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.2. Rights of Trustee.

Subject to Section 7.1:

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person or Persons or to have been prepared and furnished pursuant to any of the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture; and the Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may consult with counsel of its selection and may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to Sections 10.4 and 10.5. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such advice or such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

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

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

(e) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled, upon reasonable notice to the Issuer, to examine the books, records, and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney and to consult with the officers and representatives of the Issuer, including the Issuer’s accountants and attorneys.

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Third Supplemental Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture,

 

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unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with such request, order or direction.

(g) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

(h) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 4.8 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants under this Third Supplemental Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

(i) Other than a consent revoked in accordance with Section 9.4, any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Third Supplemental Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is a Holder shall be conclusive and binding upon every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the requesting or consenting Holder’s Note.

(j) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Issuer’s covenants in Article IV hereof.

SECTION 7.3. Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer, any of its respective Subsidiaries, or its respective Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.4. Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, and it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer in this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee for the Holders and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the Holders and the Issuer having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Third Supplemental Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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SECTION 7.5. Notice of Default.

If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, of which the Trustee is deemed to have notice, the Trustee shall send to each Holder notice of the uncured Default or Event of Default within 90 days after obtaining knowledge thereof. Except in the case of a Default or an Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on, any Note, including an accelerated payment, a Default in payment on the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer and a Default in compliance with Article V hereof, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its Board of Directors, the executive committee of its Board of Directors or a committee of its directors and/or Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders. The foregoing sentence of this Section 7.5 shall be in lieu of the proviso to § 315(b) of the TIA and such proviso to § 315(b) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA.

SECTION 7.6. Reports by Trustee to Holders.

Within 60 days after May 15 of each year beginning with 2014 and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall, to the extent that any of the events described in TIA § 313(a) occurred within the previous twelve months, but not otherwise, send to each Holder a brief report dated as of such date that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA §§ 313(b), (c) and (d).

A copy of each report at the time of its delivery to Holders shall be mailed to the Issuer.

The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee if the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and the Trustee shall comply with TIA § 313(d).

SECTION 7.7. Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as has been agreed to in writing signed by the Issuer and the Trustee. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it in connection with the performance of its duties under this Third Supplemental Indenture. Such expenses shall include the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts.

The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall indemnify each of the Trustee (or any predecessor Trustee) and its agents, employees, stockholders, Affiliates and directors and officers for, and hold them each harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred by them except for such actions to the extent caused by any negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Third Supplemental Indenture including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection

 

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with the exercise or performance of any of their rights, powers or duties under this Third Supplemental Indenture. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim asserted against the Trustee for which it may seek indemnity, provided, however, that the failure of the Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer’s and Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations to indemnify the Trustee as provided herein. At the Trustee’s sole discretion, the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate and may participate in the defense; provided, however, that any settlement of a claim shall be approved in writing by the Trustee if such settlement would result in an admission of liability by the Trustee or if such settlement would not be accompanied by a full release of the Trustee for all liability arising out of the events giving rise to such claim. Alternatively, the Trustee may at its option have separate counsel of its own choosing and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.

To secure the Issuer’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.7, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all assets or money held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except assets or money held in trust to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on particular Notes.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(7), (8) or (9) occurs, such expenses and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section 7.7 shall survive the termination of this Third Supplemental Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 7.8. Replacement of Trustee.

The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with the Issuer’s consent, by so notifying the Issuer and the Trustee. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall notify each Holder of such event and shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

 

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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Third Supplemental Indenture. The Issuer shall send notice of such successor Trustee’s appointment to each Holder.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 45 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

Notwithstanding any resignation or replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.9. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall, if such resulting, surviving or transferee corporation is otherwise eligible under this Third Supplemental Indenture, be the successor Trustee; provided, however, that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VII.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

This Third Supplemental Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirement of TIA §§ 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee (or, in the case of a Trustee that is a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the related bank holding company) shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $150 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition and have a Corporate Trust Office in the City of New York. In addition, if the Trustee is a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the Trustee, independently of such bank holding company, shall meet the capital requirements of TIA § 310(a)(2). The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other securities, of the Issuer are outstanding, if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met. The provisions of TIA § 310 shall apply to the Issuer, as obligor of the Notes.

 

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SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer.

The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. The provisions of TIA § 311 shall apply to the Issuer, as obligor on the Notes.

SECTION 7.12. Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture because of circumstances beyond the Trustee’s control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 7.13. Defaults and Events of Default.

The Trustee shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any Default, except failure of the Issuer to cause to be made any of the payments required to be made to the Trustee, unless the Trustee shall be specifically notified by a writing of such Default by the Issuer or by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of all Notes then outstanding delivered to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and, in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Trustee may conclusively assume no Default exists.

ARTICLE VIII.

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.1. Termination of Issuer’s Obligations.

This Third Supplemental Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in this Third Supplemental Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when (a) either (i) all the Notes, theretofore authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (ii) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for such purpose, cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of maturity or redemption together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the

 

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payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; (b) the Issuer has paid all other sums payable under this Third Supplemental Indenture by the Issuer; and (c) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Third Supplemental Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Third Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; provided, however, that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the Issuer.

The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its obligations and the corresponding obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees (“Legal Defeasance”). Such Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, and satisfied all of its obligations with respect to the Notes, except for: (1) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due, (2) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments, (3) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith and (4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Section 8.1. In addition, the Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to terminate its obligations with respect to covenants contained in Sections 4.4, 4.5, 4.8 and 4.10 through 4.18 and the operation of clauses (6), (7) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), (8) (with respect to only to Significant Subsidiaries ), (9) and (10) of Section 6.1 and the limitations described in clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 5.1 (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. The Issuer may exercise its Legal Defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance option. In the event of Legal Defeasance, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. In the event of Covenant Defeasance, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clause (4), (5), (6), (7) (with respect to only to Significant Subsidiaries), (8) (with respect to only to Significant Subsidiaries ), (9) or (10) of Section 6.1 or because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 5.1.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(1) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (a) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the date of this Third Supplemental Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize

 

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income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default or Event of Default, of which the Trustee is deemed to have notice, shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default under Section 6.1(7), (8) or (9) from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under this Third Supplemental Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;

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

(7) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with; provided, however, that such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, on a certificate or certificates of officers of the Issuer.

SECTION 8.2. Application of Trust Money.

The Trustee or Paying Agent shall hold in trust U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.1, and shall apply the deposited U.S. Legal Tender and the money from U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Third Supplemental Indenture to the payment of the principal of, premium, and interest, if any, on the Notes. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to invest said U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations except as it may agree in writing with the Issuer.

The Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall pay jointly and severally and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.1 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of outstanding Notes.

 

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SECTION 8.3. Repayment to the Issuer.

Subject to Section 8.1, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuer upon request any excess U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time and thereupon shall be relieved from all liability with respect to such money. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, interest or premium, that remains unclaimed for one year; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any payment, shall, at the written direction and expense of the Issuer cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York or send to each Holder entitled to such money notice that such money remains unclaimed and that after a date specified therein which shall be at least 30 days from the date of such publication or delivery any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer. After payment to the Issuer, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors unless an applicable law designates another Person.

SECTION 8.4. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Issuer has made any payment of interest, if any, or premium, on or principal of any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

SECTION 8.5. Acknowledgment of Discharge by Trustee.

After (i) the conditions of Section 8.1 have been satisfied, (ii) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under this Third Supplemental Indenture by the Issuer and (iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent referred to in clause (i) of this Section 8.5 relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Third Supplemental Indenture have been complied with, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Issuer’s obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture except for those surviving obligations specified in Section 8.1, provided the legal counsel delivering such Opinion of Counsel may rely as to matters of fact on one or more Officers’ Certificates of the Issuer.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

MODIFICATION OF THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SECTION 9.1. Without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holder, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes to:

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

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

(3) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);

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

(5) secure the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees;

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

(7) make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder; provided, however, that any change to conform this Third Supplemental Indenture to the “Description of notes” contained in the prospectus supplement of the Issuer dated May 21, 2014 relating to the offering of the Notes will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(8) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Third Supplemental Indenture under the TIA; or

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

SECTION 9.2. With Consent of Holders.

All other modifications and amendments of this Third Supplemental Indenture may be made, subject to certain exceptions, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including without limitation, consents obtained in

 

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connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) and, subject to certain exceptions, any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes). However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no amendment may, among other things:

(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

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

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

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note pursuant to Section 3.3, or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.3, or make any change relative to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control described in Section 4.14 after (but not before) the occurrence of a Change of Control;

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

(6) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of, premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(7) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions;

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

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

The consent of the Holders is not necessary under this Third Supplemental Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. A consent to any amendment or waiver under this Third Supplemental Indenture by any Holder given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender. After an amendment under this Third Supplemental Indenture becomes effective, the Issuer is required to send to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

 

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SECTION 9.3. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment, waiver or supplement of this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect; provided, however, that this Section 9.3 shall not of itself require that this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Trustee be qualified under the TIA or constitute any admission or acknowledgment by any party hereto that any such qualification is required prior to the time this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Trustee are required by the TIA to be so qualified.

SECTION 9.4. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, waiver or supplement becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. Subject to the following paragraph, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to such Holder’s Note or portion of such Note by notice to the Trustee or the Issuer received before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented (and not theretofore revoked such consent) to the amendment, supplement or waiver. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective upon receipt by the Trustee of such Officers’ Certificate and evidence of consent by the Holders of the requisite percentage in principal amount of outstanding Notes.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a Record Date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver, which Record Date shall be at least 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent. If a Record Date is fixed, then notwithstanding the second sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such Record Date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such Record Date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such Record Date unless consents from Holders of the requisite percentage in principal amount of outstanding Notes required under this Third Supplemental Indenture for the effectiveness of such consents shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.

SECTION 9.5. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of such Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms.

SECTION 9.6. Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc.

The Trustee shall execute any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX; provided, however, that the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects the Trustee’s own rights,

 

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duties or immunities under this Third Supplemental Indenture. In executing such supplement or waiver the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer, stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by this Third Supplemental Indenture, provided the legal counsel delivering such Opinion of Counsel may rely as to matters of fact on one or more Officers’ Certificates of the Issuer. Such Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Trustee.

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.1. TIA Controls.

If any provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Third Supplemental Indenture by the TIA, the required provision shall control; provided, however, that this Section 10.1 shall not of itself require that this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Trustee be qualified under the TIA or constitute any admission or acknowledgment by any party hereto that any such qualification is required prior to the time this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Trustee are required by the TIA to be so qualified.

SECTION 10.2. Notices.

Any notices or other communications required or permitted under this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if made by hand delivery, by telex, by telecopier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

c/o Rosetta Resources Inc.

1111 Bagby Street, Suite 1600

Houston, TX 77002

Facsimile Number: (713) 481-8561

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

if to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75202

Facsimile Number: (214) 756-7401

Attn: Corporate Trust, Municipal and Escrow Services

 

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The Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee by written notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for notices to such Person. Any notice or communication to the Issuer or the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if hand delivered; when receipt is acknowledged, if faxed; and five (5) calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee).

Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to him by first class mail or other equivalent means at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar ten (10) days prior to such mailing and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed. As long as the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes, any notice or communication shall be sent to the Holders pursuant to the applicable procedures of DTC, and any such notice or communication shall be sufficiently given to him if sent to him in accordance with such procedures.

Any notice or communication shall also be so sent to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA.

Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

SECTION 10.3. Communications by Holders with Other Holders.

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

SECTION 10.4. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Third Supplemental Indenture, the Issuer and/or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officers’ Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to be performed by the Issuer, if any, provided for in this Third Supplemental Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent to be performed by the Issuer, if any, provided for in this Third Supplemental Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with (which counsel, as to factual matters, may rely on an Officers’ Certificate).

SECTION 10.5. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Third Supplemental Indenture, other than the Officers’ Certificate required by Section 4.6, shall comply with TIA § 314(e) and include:

 

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(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 10.6. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules in accordance with the Trustee’s customary practices for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Paying Agent or Registrar may make reasonable rules for its functions.

SECTION 10.7. Legal Holidays.

A “Legal Holiday” used with respect to a particular place of payment is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York or Houston, Texas or at such place of payment are authorized or required by law to close. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at such place, payment may be made at such place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

SECTION 10.8. Governing Law.

THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Each of the parties hereto agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 10.9. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Third Supplemental Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or any of its respective Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 10.10. No Personal Liability.

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member, partner or trustee of the Issuer or director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes,

 

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the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Third Supplemental Indenture or any claim based on, in respect of, by reason of, these obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

SECTION 10.11. Successors.

All agreements of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Third Supplemental Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall bind their successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Third Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 10.12. Duplicate Originals.

All parties may sign any number of copies of this Third Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together shall represent the same agreement.

SECTION 10.13. Severability.

In case any one or more of the provisions in this Third Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the provisions hereof shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

SECTION 10.14. Independence of Covenants.

All covenants and agreements in this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be given independent effect so that if any particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.

ARTICLE XI.

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE OF NOTES

SECTION 11.1. Unconditional Subsidiary Guarantee.

Subject to the provisions of this Article XI, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, on an unsecured senior basis to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Third Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee under this Third Supplemental Indenture or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, premium, and interest on the Notes shall be duly and punctually paid in full when

 

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due, whether at maturity, upon redemption at the option of Holders pursuant to the provisions of the Notes relating thereto, by acceleration or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and (to the extent permitted by law) interest, if any, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee under this Third Supplemental Indenture or thereunder (including amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 hereof) and all other obligations shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed, or failing performance of any other obligation of the Issuer to the Holders under this Third Supplemental Indenture or under the Notes, for whatever reason, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be obligated to pay, or to perform or cause the performance of, the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders of Notes to accelerate the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Third Supplemental Indenture in the same manner and to the same extent as the obligations of the Issuer.

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, any release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same, whether or not a Subsidiary Guarantee is affixed to any particular Note, or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby waives the benefit of diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, this Third Supplemental Indenture and this Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantee is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer or to any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Subsidiary Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders of Notes and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) subject to this Article XI, the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (b) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantors for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee.

No stockholder, member, officer, director, employee, partner or incorporator, past, present or future, or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any personal liability under the Subsidiary Guarantees by reason of his, her or its status as such stockholder, member, officer, director, employee, partner or incorporator.

 

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SECTION 11.2. Limitations on Subsidiary Guarantees.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture, will result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.

SECTION 11.3. Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantee Notation.

To further evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 11.1, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee, substantially in the form of Exhibit B herein, shall be endorsed on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Such notation shall be executed on behalf of each Subsidiary Guarantor by either manual or facsimile signature of one Officer of each Subsidiary Guarantor, who, in each case, shall have been duly authorized to so execute by all requisite corporate action. The validity and enforceability of any Subsidiary Guarantee shall not be affected by the fact that such notation is not affixed to any particular Note.

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 11.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee.

If an Officer of a Subsidiary Guarantor whose signature is on this Third Supplemental Indenture or on a notation of a Subsidiary Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which such notation is endorsed or at any time thereafter, such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee of such Note shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof under this Third Supplemental Indenture, shall constitute due delivery of any Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this Third Supplemental Indenture on behalf of each Subsidiary Guarantor.

SECTION 11.4. Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(a) If no Default exists or would exist under this Third Supplemental Indenture, (i) upon the sale or disposition of all of the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor by either Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Issuer in a transaction constituting an Asset Disposition in accordance with Section 4.15, or upon the consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into any Person in compliance with Article V (in each case, other than to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary), or (ii) upon the designation of a Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the second paragraph of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” or in connection with any Legal Defeasance or

 

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satisfaction and discharge of the Notes as provided in Section 8.1, such Subsidiary Guarantor and each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary Guarantor that is also a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from all obligations under this Article XI without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder; provided, however, that each such Subsidiary Guarantor is sold or disposed of or designated in accordance with this Third Supplemental Indenture. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not so released or the entity surviving such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall remain or be liable under its Subsidiary Guarantee as provided in this Article XI.

(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor upon receipt of a request by the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying as to the compliance with this Section 11.4, provided the legal counsel delivering such Opinion of Counsel may rely as to matters of fact on one or more Officers’ Certificates of the Issuer.

The Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor in order to evidence the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed on the Notes and under this Article XI.

Except as set forth in Articles Four and Five and this Section 11.4, nothing contained in this Third Supplemental Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Subsidiary Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor.

SECTION 11.5. Waiver of Subrogation.

Until this Third Supplemental Indenture is discharged and all of the Notes are discharged and paid in full, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to exercise any claim or other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the Issuer that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and this Third Supplemental Indenture, in any such instance including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Holders against the Issuer, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from the Issuer, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to any Subsidiary Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and any amounts owing to the Trustee or the Holders of Notes under the Notes, this Third Supplemental Indenture, or any other document or instrument delivered under or in connection with such agreements or instruments, shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall have been deemed to have been paid to such Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Trustee or the Holders and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of itself or such Holders to be credited and applied to the obligations in favor of the Trustee or the Holders, as the case may be, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture. Each Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Third Supplemental Indenture and that the waiver set forth in this Section 11.5 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

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SECTION 11.6. Immediate Payment.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to make immediate payment to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders of all obligations under the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture owing or payable to the respective Holders upon receipt of a demand for payment therefor by the Trustee to such Subsidiary Guarantor in writing.

SECTION 11.7. No Set-Off.

Each payment to be made by a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture in respect of the obligations under the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be payable in the currency or currencies in which such obligations are denominated, and shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

SECTION 11.8. Obligations Absolute.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture are and shall be absolute and unconditional and any monies or amounts expressed to be owing or payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture which may not be recoverable from such Subsidiary Guarantor on the basis of a Subsidiary Guarantee shall be recoverable from such Subsidiary Guarantor as a primary obligor and principal debtor in respect thereof.

SECTION 11.9. Obligations Continuing.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be continuing and shall remain in full force and effect until all the obligations have been paid and satisfied in full. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees with the Trustee that it will from time to time deliver to the Trustee suitable acknowledgments of this continued liability under this Third Supplemental Indenture and under any other instrument or instruments in such form as counsel to the Trustee may advise and as will prevent any action brought against it in respect of any default under this Third Supplemental Indenture being barred by any statute of limitations now or hereafter in force and, in the event of the failure of a Subsidiary Guarantor so to do, it hereby irrevocably appoints the Trustee the attorney and agent of such Subsidiary Guarantor to make, execute and deliver such written acknowledgment or acknowledgments or other instruments as may from time to time become necessary or advisable, in the judgment of the Trustee on the advice of counsel, to fully maintain and keep in force the liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 11.10. Obligations Not Reduced.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture shall not be satisfied, reduced or discharged solely by the payment of such principal, premium, if any, interest, fees and other monies or amounts as may at any time prior to discharge of this Third Supplemental Indenture pursuant to Article VIII be or become owing or payable under or by virtue of or otherwise in connection with the Notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

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SECTION 11.11. Obligations Reinstated.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment which would otherwise have reduced the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture (whether such payment shall have been made by or on behalf of the Issuer or by or on behalf of a Subsidiary Guarantor) is rescinded or reclaimed from any of the Holders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If demand for, or acceleration of the time for, payment by the Issuer is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer, all such Indebtedness otherwise subject to demand for payment or acceleration shall nonetheless be payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor as provided herein.

SECTION 11.12. Obligations Not Affected.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture shall not be affected, impaired or diminished in any way by any act, omission, matter or thing whatsoever, occurring before, upon or after any demand for payment under this Third Supplemental Indenture (and whether or not known or consented to by any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of the Holders) which, but for this provision, might constitute a whole or partial defense to a claim against any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture or might operate to release or otherwise exonerate any Subsidiary Guarantor from any of its obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture or otherwise affect such obligations, whether occasioned by default of any of the Holders or otherwise, including, without limitation:

(a) any limitation of status or power, disability, incapacity or other circumstance relating to the Issuer or any other person, including any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition, dissolution, winding up or other proceeding involving or affecting the Issuer or any other person;

(b) any irregularity, defect, unenforceability or invalidity in respect of any Indebtedness or other obligation of the Issuer or any other person under this Third Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or any other document or instrument;

(c) any failure of the Issuer, whether or not without fault on its part, to perform or comply with any of the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, or to give notice thereof to a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(d) the taking or enforcing or exercising or the refusal or neglect to take or enforce or exercise any right or remedy from or against the Issuer or any other person or their respective assets or the release or discharge of any such right or remedy;

 

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(e) the granting of time, renewals, extensions, compromises, concessions, waivers, releases, discharges and other indulgences to the Issuer or any other Person;

(f) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, any of the Notes, or any other amendment, variation, supplement, replacement or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, any of the Notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture, including, without limitation, any increase or decrease in the principal amount of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes;

(g) any change in the ownership, control, name, objects, businesses, assets, capital structure or constitution of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(h) any merger or amalgamation of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor with any Person or Persons;

(i) the occurrence of any change in the laws, rules, regulations or ordinances of any jurisdiction by any present or future action of any governmental authority or court amending, varying, reducing or otherwise affecting, or purporting to amend, vary, reduce or otherwise affect, any of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture or the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee; and

(j) any other circumstance (other than by complete, irrevocable payment), including release of any other Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.4, that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Issuer under this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or of a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 11.13. Waiver.

Without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 11.1 hereof, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance hereof, notice of any liability of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture, notice or proof of reliance by the Holders upon the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture, and diligence, presentment, demand for payment on the Issuer, protest, notice of dishonor or non-payment of any of the Issuer’s obligations, under the notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture, or other notice or formalities to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor of any kind whatsoever.

SECTION 11.14. No Obligation To Take Action Against the Issuer.

Neither the Trustee nor any other Person shall have any obligation to enforce or exhaust any rights or remedies or to take any other steps under any security for the Issuer’s obligations under the notes or this Third Supplemental Indenture, or against the Issuer or any other Person or any Property of the Issuer or any other Person before the Trustee is entitled to demand payment and performance by any or all Subsidiary Guarantors of their liabilities and obligations under their Subsidiary Guarantees or under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

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SECTION 11.15. Dealing with the Issuer and Others.

The Holders, without releasing, discharging, limiting or otherwise affecting in whole or in part the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture and without the consent of or notice to any Subsidiary Guarantor, may

(a) grant time, renewals, extensions, compromises, concessions, waivers, releases, discharges and other indulgences to the Issuer or any other Person;

(b) take or abstain from taking security or collateral from the Issuer or from perfecting security or collateral of the Issuer;

(c) release, discharge, compromise, realize, enforce or otherwise deal with or do any act or thing in respect of (with or without consideration) any and all collateral, mortgages or other security given by the Issuer or any third party with respect to the obligations or matters contemplated by this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes;

(d) accept compromises or arrangements from the Issuer;

(e) apply all monies at any time received from the Issuer or from any security upon such part of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture as the Holders may see fit or change any such application in whole or in part from time to time as the Holders may see fit; and

(f) otherwise deal with, or waive or modify their right to deal with, the Issuer and all other Persons and any security as the Holders or the Trustee may see fit.

SECTION 11.16. Default and Enforcement.

If any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to pay in accordance with Section 11.6 hereof, the Trustee may proceed in its name as trustee under this Third Supplemental Indenture in the enforcement of the Subsidiary Guarantee of any such Subsidiary Guarantor and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations thereunder and under this Third Supplemental Indenture by any remedy provided by law, whether by legal proceedings or otherwise, and to recover from such Subsidiary Guarantor its obligations thereunder and under this Third Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 11.17. Amendment, Etc.

No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture relating to any Subsidiary Guarantor or consent to any departure by any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person from any such provision will in any event be effective unless it is signed by such Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee.

SECTION 11.18. Acknowledgment.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges communication of the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes and consents to and approves of the same.

 

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SECTION 11.19. Costs and Expenses.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall pay on demand by the Trustee any and all reasonable costs, fees and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees on a solicitor and client basis) incurred by the Trustee, its agents, advisors and counsel or any of the Holders in enforcing any of their rights under any Subsidiary Guarantee.

SECTION 11.20. No Merger or Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

No Subsidiary Guarantee shall operate by way of merger of any of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under any other agreement, including, without limitation, this Third Supplemental Indenture. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Trustee or the Holders, any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges in the Subsidiary Guarantee and under this Third Supplemental Indenture, the Notes and any other document or instrument between a Subsidiary Guarantor and/or the Issuer and the Trustee are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privilege provided by law.

SECTION 11.21. Survival of Obligations.

Without prejudice to the survival of any of the other obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under this Third Supplemental Indenture, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 11.1 shall survive the payment in full of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture and shall be enforceable against such Subsidiary Guarantor without regard to and without giving effect to any defense, right of offset or counterclaim available to or which may be asserted by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

SECTION 11.22. Subsidiary Guarantee in Addition to Other Obligations.

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee and this Third Supplemental Indenture are in addition to and not in substitution for any other obligations to the Trustee or to any of the Holders in relation to this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes and any guarantees or security at any time held by or for the benefit of any of them.

SECTION 11.23. Severability.

Any provision of this Article XI which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate the remaining provisions and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction unless its removal would substantially defeat the basic intent, spirit and purpose of this Third Supplemental Indenture and this Article XI.

 

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SECTION 11.24. Successors and Assigns.

Each Subsidiary Guarantee shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee and the other Holders and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except that no Subsidiary Guarantor may assign any of its obligations under this Third Supplemental Indenture or thereunder.

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.

 

ROSETTA RESOURCES INC.
By:  

/s/ Don O. McCormack

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer
GUARANTORS:
ROSETTA RESOURCES OFFSHORE, LLC
By:  

/s/ Don O. McCormack

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer
ROSETTA RESOURCES HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Don O. McCormack

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer
ROSETTA RESOURCES OPERATING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Don O. McCormack

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer

 

S-1


ROSETTA RESOURCES OPERATING LP
By:   Rosetta Resources Operating GP, LLC
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Don O. McCormack

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer
ROSETTA RESOURCES MICHIGAN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Rosetta Resources Operating LP,
  its general partner
By:   Rosetta Resources Operating GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Don O. McCormack

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer

 

S-2


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Patrick T. Giordano

  Name:   Patrick T. Giordano
  Title:   Vice President

 

S-3


EXHIBIT A

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Third Supplemental Indenture]

CUSIP / ISIN No.: 777779 AF6 / US777779AF62

ROSETTA RESOURCES INC.

5.875% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2024

 

No. [            ]    $[            ]

ROSETTA RESOURCES INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer,” which term includes any successor entities), for value received promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns the principal sum of [            ] Dollar (or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto) on June 1, 2024.

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2014.

Record Dates: May 15 and November 15.

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.

 

ROSETTA RESOURCES INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: May 29, 2014

 

A-2


Certificate of Authentication

This is one of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 referred to in the within-mentioned Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Date of Authentication: May 29, 2014

 

A-3


(REVERSE OF SECURITY)

5.875% Senior Note due 2024

(1) Interest. ROSETTA RESOURCES INC. (the “Issuer”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above and otherwise in accordance with the Third Supplemental Indenture referred to below. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from May 29, 2014. The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing December 1, 2014. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed.

(2) Method of Payment. The Issuer shall pay interest, if any, on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date even if the Notes are canceled on registration of transfer or registration of exchange after such Record Date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal, premium, and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts (“U.S. Legal Tender”). The Issuer may deliver any such interest payment to the Paying Agent or to a Holder at the Holder’s registered address.

(3) Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice to the Holders.

(4) Indenture. The Issuer issued the Notes under the Base Indenture, dated May 2, 2013 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 29, 2014 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Issuer designated as its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”). The Notes include any Additional Notes. The Notes and any Additional Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Third Supplemental Indenture. Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Third Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Third Supplemental Indenture and those made part of the Third Supplemental Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”), as in effect on the date of the Third Supplemental Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Notes are referred to the Third Supplemental Indenture and said Act for a statement of them. The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Issuer. Payment on each Note is guaranteed on a senior basis by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article XI of the Third Supplemental Indenture. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Third Supplemental Indenture, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

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(5) Optional Redemption. (a) Except as described in subparagraphs (b) and (c) below, the Issuer will not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option prior to June 1, 2019. The Notes will be redeemable, at the Issuer’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on and after June 1, 2019, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on June 1 of the years set forth below, plus, in each case, unpaid accrued interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2019

     102.938

2020

     101.958

2021

     100.979

2022 and thereafter

     100.000

(b) At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to June 1, 2017, the Issuer may, at its option, use an amount of cash not greater than the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Third Supplemental Indenture at a Redemption Price equal to 105.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date; provided, that: (1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Third Supplemental Indenture on the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such redemption; and (2) the Issuer makes such redemption not more than 120 days after the consummation of any such Equity Offering.

(c) In addition, the Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to June 1, 2019 at the option of the Issuer upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice sent to each Holder at its registered address, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(6) Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part.

Except as set forth in the Third Supplemental Indenture, if monies for the redemption of the Notes called for redemption shall have been deposited with the Paying Agent for redemption on such Redemption Date, then, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of such Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest, if any, the Notes called for redemption will cease to bear interest from and after such Redemption Date and the only right of the Holders of such Notes will be to receive payment of the Redemption Price plus unpaid accrued interest, if any.

(7) Offers to Purchase. Sections 4.14 and 4.15 of the Third Supplemental Indenture provide that, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control and after certain Asset Dispositions, and subject to further limitations contained therein, the Issuer will make an offer to purchase certain amounts of the Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

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(8) Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, and (except Notes issued as payment of interest) in denominations of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. A Holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Third Supplemental Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Third Supplemental Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Notes or portions thereof selected for redemption.

(9) Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

(10) Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for one year, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Issuer. After that, all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

(11) Discharge Prior to Redemption or Maturity. If the Issuer at any time deposits with the Trustee U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity and comply with the other provisions of the Third Supplemental Indenture relating thereto, the Issuer will be discharged from certain provisions of the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes (including certain covenants, but including, under certain circumstances, its obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes but without affecting the rights of the Holders to receive such amounts from such deposits).

(12) Amendment; Supplement; Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any past Default or Event of Default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, comply with any requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Third Supplemental Indenture under the TIA or comply with Article V of the Third Supplemental Indenture or make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Note.

(13) Restrictive Covenants. The Third Supplemental Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional Indebtedness, make payments in respect of their Capital Stock or certain Indebtedness, make certain Investments, create or incur liens, enter into transactions with Affiliates,

 

A-6


create dividend or other payment restrictions affecting Restricted Subsidiaries, issue Preferred Stock of their Restricted Subsidiaries, and on the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ assets or adopt a plan of liquidation. Such limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. Pursuant to Section 4.6 of the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Issuer must annually report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

(14) Successors. When a successor assumes, in accordance with the Third Supplemental Indenture, all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Third Supplemental Indenture, the predecessor, subject to certain exceptions, will be released from those obligations.

(15) Defaults and Remedies. Except as set forth in the Third Supplemental Indenture, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of Notes then outstanding may declare all the Notes to be due and payable in the manner, at the time and with the effect provided in the Third Supplemental Indenture. Holders of Notes may not enforce the Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Third Supplemental Indenture. The Trustee is not obligated to enforce the Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes unless it has received indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it. The Third Supplemental Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default in payment of principal, premium, or interest when due, for any reason or a Default in compliance with Article V of the Third Supplemental Indenture) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

(16) Trustee Dealings with Issuer. The Trustee under the Third Supplemental Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer, its respective Subsidiaries or its respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

(17) No Recourse Against Others. No partner, director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, the Third Supplemental Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

(18) Subsidiary Guarantees. This Note will be entitled to the benefits of certain Subsidiary Guarantees, if any, made for the benefit of the Holders. Reference is hereby made to the Third Supplemental Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations thereunder of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders.

(19) Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or Authenticating Agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on this Note.

 

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(20) Governing Law. This Note and the Third Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note.

(21) Abbreviations and Defined Terms. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

(22) CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder of a Note upon written request and without charge a copy of the Third Supplemental Indenture, which has the text of this Note. Requests may be made to: Rosetta Resources Inc., 1111 Bagby Street, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77002, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

If you the Holder want to assign this Note, fill in the form below and have your signature guaranteed:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type name, address and zip code and

social security or tax ID number of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                   , agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Dated:                                                                                            Signed:                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                     (Sign exactly as your name appears

                                                                                                                     on the other side of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                                                            

 

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[OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE]

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.14 or Section 4.15 of the Third Supplemental Indenture, check the appropriate box:

Section 4.14 [        ]             Change of Control Offer

Section 4.15 [        ]             Asset Disposition Offer

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.14 or Section 4.15 of the Third Supplemental Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                                             

 

Dated:  

 

    

 

       NOTICE: The signature on this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever and be guaranteed.

Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                   

 

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SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN GLOBAL NOTE*

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  

Amount of decrease in

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

  

Amount of increase in

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

  

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

following such

decrease (or increase)

  

Signature of

authorized signatory of

Trustee

 

 

*  Insert in Global Notes only.

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE NOTATION

For value received, each Subsidiary Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Third Supplemental Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Third Supplemental Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 29, 2014 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), to the Base Indenture dated as of May 2, 2013, among Rosetta Resources Inc., as the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), the cash payments in United States dollars of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note in the amounts and at the times when due, if lawful, and the payment or performance of all other obligations of the Issuer under the Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, to the Holder of this Note and the Trustee, all in accordance with and subject to the terms and limitations of this Note, Article XI of the Third Supplemental Indenture and this Subsidiary Guarantee. The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantee and the Third Supplemental Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XI of the Third Supplemental Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Third Supplemental Indenture for the precise terms of the Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions.

THIS NOTATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Subsidiary Guarantee.

The Subsidiary Guarantee is subject to release upon the terms set forth in the Third Supplemental Indenture.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

B-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Subsidiary Guarantor has caused its Subsidiary Guarantee to be duly executed.

Date: May 29, 2014

 

ROSETTA RESOURCES OFFSHORE, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer
ROSETTA RESOURCES HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer
ROSETTA RESOURCES OPERATING GP, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer
ROSETTA RESOURCES OPERATING LP
By:   Rosetta Resources Operating GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

 

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer

 

B-2


ROSETTA RESOURCES MICHIGAN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Rosetta Resources Operating LP,
  its general partner
By:   Rosetta Resources Operating GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

 

  Name:   Don O. McCormack
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Accounting Officer

 

B-3