Exhibit 10.7
Execution Version
$120,000,000
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT
AGREEMENT
Among
CANO PETROLEUM,
INC.
as Borrower,
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM
TIME TO TIME
as Lenders,
and
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
N.A.
as Administrative Agent and as Issuing
Lender
December 17, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
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1
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Section 1.01
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Certain Defined Terms
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1
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Section 1.02
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Computation of Time
Periods
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20
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Section 1.03
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Accounting Terms; Changes in
GAAP
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20
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Section 1.04
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Types of Advances
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20
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Section 1.05
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Miscellaneous
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21
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ARTICLE II
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CREDIT FACILITIES
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21
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Section 2.01
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Commitment for Advances
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21
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Section 2.02
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Borrowing Base
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22
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Section 2.03
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Method of Borrowing
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24
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Section 2.04
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Reduction of the
Commitments
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27
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Section 2.05
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Prepayment of Advances
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27
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Section 2.06
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Repayment of Advances
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30
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Section 2.07
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Letters of Credit
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30
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Section 2.08
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Fees
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34
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Section 2.09
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Interest
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35
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Section 2.10
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Payments and Computations
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36
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Section 2.11
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Sharing of Payments, Etc.
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37
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Section 2.12
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Breakage Costs
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38
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Section 2.13
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Increased Costs
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38
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Section 2.14
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Taxes
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39
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Section 2.15
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Replacement of Lender
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41
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ARTICLE III
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CONDITIONS OF LENDING
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42
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Section 3.01
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Conditions Precedent to
Effectiveness
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42
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Section 3.02
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Conditions Precedent to All
Borrowings
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45
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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46
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Section 4.01
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Existence; Subsidiaries
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46
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Section 4.02
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Power
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46
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Section 4.03
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Authorization and
Approvals
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47
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Section 4.04
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Enforceable Obligations
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47
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Section 4.05
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Financial Statements
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47
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Section 4.06
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True and Complete
Disclosure
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48
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Section 4.07
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Litigation; Compliance with
Laws
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48
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Section 4.08
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Use of Proceeds
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48
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Section 4.09
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Investment Company Act
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48
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Section 4.10
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Federal Power Act
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49
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Section 4.11
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Taxes
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49
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Section 4.12
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Pension Plans
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49
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i
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Section 4.13
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Condition of Property;
Casualties
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50
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Section 4.14
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No Burdensome Restrictions; No
Defaults
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50
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Section 4.15
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Environmental Condition
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50
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Section 4.16
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Permits, Licenses, Etc.
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51
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Section 4.17
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Gas Contracts
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51
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Section 4.18
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Liens; Titles, Leases,
Etc.
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52
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Section 4.19
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Solvency and Insurance
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52
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Section 4.20
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Hedging Agreements
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52
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Section 4.21
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Material Agreements
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52
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ARTICLE V
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AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
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53
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Section 5.01
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Compliance with Laws,
Etc.
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53
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Section 5.02
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Maintenance of Insurance
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53
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Section 5.03
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Preservation of Corporate Existence,
Etc.
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54
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Section 5.04
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Payment of Taxes, Etc.
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54
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Section 5.05
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Visitation Rights
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54
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Section 5.06
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Reporting Requirements
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54
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Section 5.07
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Maintenance of Property
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58
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Section 5.08
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Agreement to Pledge
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58
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Section 5.09
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Use of Proceeds
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58
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Section 5.10
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Title Evidence and
Opinions
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58
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Section 5.11
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Further Assurances; Cure of Title
Defects
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59
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Section 5.12
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Hedging Arrangements
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59
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Section 5.13
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Bank Accounts
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59
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ARTICLE VI
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NEGATIVE COVENANTS
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60
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Section 6.01
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Liens, Etc.
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60
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Section 6.02
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Debts, Guaranties, and Other
Obligations
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61
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Section 6.03
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Agreements Restricting Liens and
Distributions
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62
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Section 6.04
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Merger or Consolidation; Asset
Sales
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62
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Section 6.05
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Restricted Payments
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63
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Section 6.06
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Investments
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63
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Section 6.07
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Affiliate Transactions
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64
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Section 6.08
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Compliance with ERISA
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64
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Section 6.09
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Sale-and-Leaseback
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65
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Section 6.10
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Change of Business
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65
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Section 6.11
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Organizational Documents, Name
Change
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65
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Section 6.12
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Use of Proceeds; Letters of
Credit
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65
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Section 6.13
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Gas Imbalances, Take-or-Pay or Other
Prepayments
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65
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Section 6.14
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Limitation on Speculative
Hedging
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66
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Section 6.15
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Additional Subsidiaries; Additional
Oil and Gas Properties
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66
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Section 6.16
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Account Payables
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66
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Section 6.17
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Current Ratio
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66
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Section 6.18
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Leverage Ratio
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67
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Section 6.19
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Interest Coverage Ratio
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67
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Section 6.20
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Subordinated Debt
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67
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ii
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Section 6.21
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Non-Guarantor Subsidiary
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67
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Section 6.22
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Equity Issuance
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67
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ARTICLE VII
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES
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67
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Section 7.01
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Events of Default
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67
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Section 7.02
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Optional Acceleration of
Maturity
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70
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Section 7.03
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Automatic Acceleration of
Maturity
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71
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Section 7.04
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Right of Set-off
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71
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Section 7.05
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Non-exclusivity of
Remedies
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71
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Section 7.06
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Application of Proceeds
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71
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ARTICLE VIII
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THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE ISSUING
LENDER
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72
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Section 8.01
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Authorization and Action
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72
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Section 8.02
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Administrative Agent’s
Reliance, Etc.
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72
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Section 8.03
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The Administrative Agent and Its
Affiliates
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73
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Section 8.04
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Lender Credit Decision
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73
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Section 8.05
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Indemnification
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73
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Section 8.06
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Successor Administrative Agent and
Issuing Lender
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74
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Section 8.07
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Collateral Matters
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75
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ARTICLE IX
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MISCELLANEOUS
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76
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Section 9.01
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Amendments, Etc.
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76
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Section 9.02
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Notices, Etc.
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77
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Section 9.03
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No Waiver; Remedies
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77
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Section 9.04
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Costs and Expenses
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77
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Section 9.05
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Binding Effect
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78
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Section 9.06
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Lender Assignments and
Participations
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78
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Section 9.07
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Indemnification; Waiver
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80
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Section 9.08
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Execution in Counterparts
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81
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Section 9.09
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Survival of Representations,
Etc.
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81
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Section 9.10
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Severability
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81
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Section 9.11
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Business Loans
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81
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Section 9.12
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Governing Law; Submission to
Jurisdiction
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82
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Section 9.13
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Subordination and Intercreditor
Agreement
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82
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Section 9.14
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USA Patriot Act
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82
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Section 9.15
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WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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83
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Section 9.16
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ORAL AGREEMENTS
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83
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EXHIBITS:
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Exhibit A
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Form of Assignment and
Acceptance
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Exhibit B
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Form of Compliance Certificate
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Exhibit C
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Form of Guaranty
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Exhibit D
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Form of Mortgage
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Exhibit E
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Form of Note
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Exhibit F
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Form of Notice of Borrowing
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iii
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Exhibit G
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Form of Notice of Conversion or
Continuation
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Exhibit H
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Form of Pledge Agreement
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Exhibit I
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Form of Security Agreement
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Exhibit J
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Form of Transfer Letters
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Exhibit K
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Form of Borrower’s Counsel
Opinion
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SCHEDULES:
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Schedule I
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Pricing Grid
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Schedule II
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Notice Information and Commitments
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Schedule 4.01 -
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Subsidiaries of Borrower
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Schedule 4.05 -
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Existing Debt
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Schedule 4.07 -
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Litigation
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Schedule 4.14(a) -
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MAC Documents
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Schedule 4.20 -
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Hedging Contracts
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Schedule 4.21 -
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Material Agreements
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iv
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT
AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of December 17, 2008 is among Cano
Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Borrower”), the lenders party hereto from time to
time (“Lenders”), and Union Bank of California, N.A.,
as administrative agent for such Lenders (in such capacity, the
“Administrative Agent”) and as issuing lender for such
Lenders (in such capacity, the “Issuing
Lender”).
RECITALS
A.
The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, and the
Lenders have previously executed and delivered that certain Credit
Agreement dated as of November 29, 2005, as heretofore amended
(as so amended, the “ Restated Agreement
”).
B.
The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, and the
Lenders desire to amend and restate (but not extinguish) the
Restated Agreement in its entirety as hereinafter set forth through
the execution of this Agreement.
C.
It is the intention of the parties hereto that this Agreement is an
amendment and restatement of the Restated Agreement, not a new or
substitute credit agreement or novation of the Restated
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein
contained, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing
Lender, and the Lenders, (i) do hereby agree that the Restated
Agreement is amended and restated (but not substituted or
extinguished) in its entirety as set forth herein, and (ii) do
hereby further agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING
TERMS
Section 1.01
Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the
terms defined above shall have the meanings set forth therein and
the following terms shall have the following meanings (unless
otherwise indicated, such meanings to be equally applicable to both
the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
“ Acceptable Security
Interest ” in any Property means a Lien which
(a) exists in favor of the Administrative Agent for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, (b) is superior to all Liens
or rights of any other Person in the Property encumbered thereby,
other than Permitted Prior Liens, (c) secures the Obligations,
and (d) is perfected and enforceable.
“ Acquisition ”
means the purchase by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of
any business, including the purchase of all or substantially all
the associated assets or operations or of stock (or other ownership
interests) of a Person (other than of a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Borrower).
“ Adjusted Reference
Rate ” means, for any day, the fluctuating rate per annum
of interest equal to the greatest of (a) the Reference Rate in
effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on
such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Eurodollar Rate for
an Interest Period of one month which begins on such day plus
1.50%.
“ Administrative Agent
” means Union Bank of California, N.A., in its capacity as
agent pursuant to Article VIII, and any successor agent
pursuant to Section 8.06.
“ Advance ” means
an advance by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.01(a) as part of a Borrowing and refers to a
Reference Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance.
“ Affiliate ”
means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person or any
Subsidiary of such Person. The term “control”
(including the terms “controlled by” or “under
common control with”) means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of a
Control Percentage, by contract, or otherwise. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed
to be controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses,
directly or indirectly, the power to vote 10% or more of the
securities having ordinary voting power for the election of
directors, managing general partners or the equivalent.
“ Agreement ”
means this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as the same may
be further amended, supplemented, restated, and otherwise modified
from time to time.
“ Applicable Margin
” means, with respect to any Advance, (a) during any
time when an Event of Default exists, 3% per annum plus the rate
per annum set forth in the Pricing Grid for the relevant Type of
such Advance based on the present Utilization Level applicable from
time to time, and (b) at any other time, the rate per annum
set forth in the Pricing Grid for the relevant Type of such Advance
based on the relevant Utilization Level applicable from time to
time. The Applicable Margin for any Advance shall change when
and as the relevant Utilization Level changes and when and as any
such Event of Default commences or terminates.
“ Assignment and
Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance entered
into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by the
Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of the attached
Exhibit A.
“ Borrowing ”
means a borrowing consisting of Advances made on the same day by
the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“ Borrowing Base
” means at any particular time, the Dollar amount determined
in accordance with Section 2.02 on account of Proven Reserves
attributable to Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries subject to an Acceptable Security Interest and
described in the most recent Independent Engineering Report or
Internal Engineering Report, as applicable, delivered to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to
Section 2.02.
“ Business Day ”
means a day of the year on which banks are not required or
authorized to close in Dallas, Texas and Los Angeles, California
and, if the applicable Business Day relates to
2
any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings
are carried on by banks in the London interbank market.
“ Capital Leases
” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any Property
by such Person as lessee which would, in accordance with GAAP, be
required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on
the balance sheet of such Person.
“ Cash Collateral
Account ” means a special interest bearing cash
collateral account pledged by the Borrower to the Issuing Lender
containing cash deposited pursuant to Sections 2.05(b), 7.02(b), or
7.03(b) to be maintained with the Issuing Lender in accordance
with Section 2.07(g) and bear interest or be invested in
the Issuing Lender’s reasonable discretion.
“ CERCLA ” means
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended, state and local analogs, and all
rules and regulations and requirements thereunder in each case
as now or hereafter in effect.
“ Certificate of
Designation ” means the Certificate of Designations,
Preferences and Rights of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
of Cano Petroleum, Inc. which is filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware on August 31, 2006 and which has been
acknowledged by the Administrative Agent on August 25,
2006.
“ Change in Control
” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) the Borrower ceases to own, either directly or indirectly,
100% of the Equity Interest in any Subsidiary other than as a
result of a sale of assets or merger permitted under
Section 6.04, (b) any “person” or
“group” (as such terms are used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
other than a Permitted Holder becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group
shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all
securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such
right, an “option right”), whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time),
directly or indirectly, of 33% or more of the Equity Interest of
the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors
or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted
basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person
or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right), or
(c) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of
the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing
body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals
(i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing
body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or
nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved
by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at
the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that
board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or
nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was
approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and
(ii) above constituting at the time of such election or
nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent
governing body. For purposes of this definition,
“Permitted Holder” means any of the following:
(A) any Person that is the “beneficial owner” (as
referred to above) of an Equity Interest in the Borrower on the
date hereof, (B) any such Person’s estate, spouse and
lineal descendants and the legal representative of any of the
foregoing, (C) the trustees of any bona fide trusts of which
any of the foregoing are the sole beneficiaries and grantors, and
(D) any corporation, limited
3
partnership, limited liability company, or
similar entity, all of the Voting Securities of which is owned by
any of the foregoing.
“ Code ” means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor
statute.
“ Collateral ”
means (a) all “Collateral”, “Pledged
Collateral” and “Mortgaged Properties” (as
defined in each of the Mortgages, the Security Agreements, and the
Pledge Agreement, as applicable) or similar terms used in the
Security Instruments, and (b) all amounts contained in the
Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ bank
accounts.
“ Commitment ”
means the amount set opposite such Lender’s name on the
Schedule II hereof as its Commitment, or if such Lender has entered
into any Assignment and Acceptance, as set forth for such Lender as
its Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative
Agent pursuant to Section 9.06(c), as such amount may be
reduced or terminated pursuant to Section 2.04 or
Article VII or otherwise under this Agreement. The
aggregate amount of the Commitments on the date hereof is
$120,000,000.00.
“ Commitment Fee Rate
” means the per annum commitment fee rate set forth on the
Pricing Grid applicable from time to time. The Commitment Fee
Rate shall change when and as the relevant Utilization Level
changes.
“ Commitment Termination
Date ” means the earlier of (a) the Maturity Date
and (b) the earlier termination in whole of the Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.04 or Article VII.
“ Compliance
Certificate ” means a compliance certificate in the form
of the attached Exhibit B signed by a Responsible Officer of
the Borrower.
“ Consolidated Net
Income ” means, with respect to the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries, for any period, the net income for such
period after taxes, as determined in accordance with GAAP,
excluding, however, (a) extraordinary items, including
(i) any net non-cash gain or loss during such period arising
from the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of capital
assets (such term to include all fixed assets and all securities)
other than in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) any
write-up or write-down of assets and (b) the cumulative effect
of any change in GAAP.
“ Control Percentage
” means, with respect to any Person, the percentage of the
outstanding Equity Interest (including any options, warrants or
similar rights to purchase such Equity Interest) of such Person
having ordinary voting power which gives the direct or indirect
holder of such Equity Interest the power to elect a majority of the
board of directors (or other applicable governing body) of such
Person.
“ Controlled Group
” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and
all businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control
which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single employer
under Section 414 of the Code.
“ Convert ,”
“ Conversion ,” and “ Converted
” each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into
Advances of another Type pursuant to
Section 2.03(b).
4
“ Credit Extensions
” means (a) an Advance made by any Lender, and
(b) the issuance, increase or extension of any Letter of
Credit by the Issuing Lender.
“ Debt ,” for any
Person, means without duplication:
(a)
indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;
(b)
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
other similar instruments;
(c)
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of
Property or services (including, without limitation, obligations
that are non-recourse to the credit of such Person but are secured
by the assets of such Person, but excluding trade accounts
payable);
(d)
obligations of such Person as lessee under Capital Leases and
obligations of such Person in respect of synthetic
leases;
(e)
obligations of such Person under letters of credit and agreements
relating to the issuance of letters of credit or acceptance
financing
(f)
obligations of such Person under any Hedge Contract;
(g)
obligations of such Person owing in respect of redeemable preferred
stock or other preferred Equity Interest of such Person;
(h)
any obligations of such Person owing in connection with any
volumetric or production prepayments;
(i)
obligations of such Person under direct or indirect guaranties in
respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such
Person to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a
creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of
others of the kinds referred to in
clauses (a) through (h) above;
(j)
indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in
clauses (a) through (i) above secured by any
Lien on or in respect of any Property of such Person;
and
(k)
all liabilities of such Person in respect of unfunded vested
benefits under any Plan.
“ Debt Issuance ”
means the issuance by the Borrower of Debt in the form of
convertible notes.
“ Debt Issuance
Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Debt Issuance, all
cash and cash equivalent investments received by the Borrower from
such Debt Issuance after payment of, or provision for, all
underwriter fees and expenses, SEC and blue sky fees, printing
costs, fees and expenses of accountants, lawyers and other
professional advisors, brokerage commissions and other
out-of-pocket fees and expenses actually incurred in connection
with such Debt Issuance.
5
“ Default ” means
(a) an Event of Default or (b) any event or condition
which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of
Default.
“ Defaulting Lender
” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund its Pro
Rata Share of any Advance or participation in Letter of Credit
Obligations required to be funded by it hereunder within one
Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder
unless such failure has been cured within three Business Days (or
such longer time period accepted by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent), (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to
the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount
required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the
date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless
such failure has been cured within three Business Days (or such
longer time period accepted by the Administrative Agent or such
other Lender, as applicable), or (c) has, or has an Affiliate
that has, been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a
bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
“ Dollars ” and
“ $ ” means lawful money of the United States of
America.
“ EBITDA ” means,
for any period, without duplication, (a) Consolidated Net
Income for such period plus (b) to the extent deducted
in determining Consolidated Net Income, Interest Expense, taxes,
depreciation, amortization, depletion and other non-cash charges
for such period (including any provision for the reduction in the
carrying value of assets recorded in accordance with GAAP and
including non-cash charges resulting from the requirements of SFAS
133 or 143) for such period minus (c) all non-cash
items of income which were included in determining such
Consolidated Net Income (including non-cash income resulting from
the requirements of SFAS 133 or 143) plus (d) the net
gain on the Pantwist Sale; provided that this clause (d) shall
only apply for the financial covenant ratios calculated at, and as
of, the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2008,
March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009 and September 30,
2009, plus (e) without duplication, any items provided
for in clause (a), (b) and (c) above associated with
Pantwist, LLC for any period that such Person was a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that, such EBITDA shall
be subject to pro forma adjustments for the Acquisition and for
acquisitions and non-ordinary course asset sales assuming that such
transactions had occurred on the first day of the determination
period, which adjustments shall be made in accordance with the
guidelines for pro forma presentations set forth by the SEC or in a
manner otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“ Effective Date
” means December 17, 2008.
“ Eligible Assignee
” means (a) any Lender, (b) any Subsidiary or
Affiliate of a Lender, and (c) any commercial bank or other
financial institution (i) approved by the Administrative Agent
and the Issuing Lender in their sole discretion, and
(ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, reasonably acceptable to the Borrower.
“ Engineering Report
” means either an Independent Engineering Report or an
Internal Engineering Report.
“ Environment ”
or “ Environmental ” shall have the meanings set
forth in 42 U.S.C. 9601(8) (1988).
6
“ Environmental Claim
” means any third party (including governmental agencies and
employees) action, lawsuit, claim, demand, regulatory action or
proceeding, order, decree, consent agreement or notice of potential
or actual responsibility or violation (including claims or
proceedings under the Occupational Safety and Health Acts or
similar laws or requirements relating to health or safety of
employees) which seeks to impose liability under any Environmental
Law.
“ Environmental Law
” means, as to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, all Legal
Requirements or common law theories applicable to the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries arising from, relating to, or in connection with
the Environment, health, or safety, including without limitation
CERCLA, relating to (a) pollution, contamination, injury,
destruction, loss, protection, cleanup, reclamation or restoration
of the air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface
strata, or other natural resources; (b) solid, gaseous or
liquid waste generation, treatment, processing, recycling,
reclamation, cleanup, storage, disposal or transportation;
(c) exposure to pollutants, contaminants, hazardous, or toxic
substances, materials or wastes; (d) the safety or health of
employees; or (e) the manufacture, processing, handling,
transportation, distribution in commerce, use, storage or disposal
of hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes.
“ Environmental Permit
” means any permit, license, order, approval, registration or
other authorization under Environmental Law.
“ Equity Interest
” means with respect to any Person, any shares, interests,
participation, or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock, membership interests or partnership interests (or
any other ownership interests) of such Person.
“ Equity Issuance
” means any issuance of equity securities or any other Equity
Interests (including any preferred equity securities) by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries other than equity securities
issued (i) to the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries,
(ii) pursuant to employee or director and officer stock option
plans in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) the
conversion of previously issued preferred, convertible Equity
Interests or convertible notes to the extent such Equity Interests
and notes were issued in compliance with the terms
hereof.
“ Equity Issuance
Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Equity Issuance,
all cash and cash equivalent investments received by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries from such Equity Issuance after payment
of, or provision for, all underwriter fees and expenses, SEC and
blue sky fees, printing costs, fees and expenses of accountants,
lawyers and other professional advisors, brokerage commissions and
other out-of-pocket fees and expenses actually incurred in
connection with such Equity Issuance.
“ ERISA ” means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
from time to time.
“ Eurocurrency
Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to that term in
Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board (or any successor),
as in effect from time to time.
“ Eurodollar Rate
” means, for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate
Advance comprising the same Borrowing, the interest rate per annum
(rounded upward to the nearest
7
whole multiple of 1/100 of 1% per annum) set
forth on the Reuters Reference LIBOR01 as the London Interbank
Offered Rate, for deposits in Dollars at 11:00 a.m. (London,
England time) two Business Days before the first day of such
Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period;
provided that, if no such quotation appears on the Reuters
Reference LIBOR01, the Eurodollar Rate shall be an interest rate
per annum equal to the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars
are offered by the principal office of Union Bank of California,
N.A. in London, England to prime banks in the London
interbank market at 11:00 a.m. (London, England time)
two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in
an amount substantially equal to the Eurodollar Rate Advance to be
maintained by the Lender that is the Administrative Agent in
respect of such Borrowing and for a period equal to such Interest
Period.
“ Eurodollar Rate
Advance ” means an Advance which bears interest as
provided in Section 2.09(b).
“ Eurodollar Rate Reserve
Percentage ” of any Lender for the Interest Period for
any Eurodollar Rate Advance means the reserve percentage applicable
during such Interest Period (or if more than one such percentage
shall be so applicable, the daily average of such percentages for
those days in such Interest Period during which any such percentage
shall be so applicable) under regulations issued from time to time
by the Federal Reserve Board for determining the maximum reserve
requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency,
supplemental, or other marginal reserve requirement) for such
Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or
including Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such
Interest Period.
“ Event of Default
” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
“ Existing Letters of
Credit ” means the letters of credit issued by Union Bank
of California, N.A., as the issuing lender under the Restated
Agreement and which have not been terminated or expired as of the
Effective Date.
“ Expiration Date
” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the date on
which such Letter of Credit will expire or terminate in accordance
with its terms.
“ Federal Funds Rate
” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per
annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average
of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members
of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as
published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for
the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations for any such day on
such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three
Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by
it.
“ Federal Reserve Board
” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
or any of its successors.
“ Fee Letter ”
means that certain letter agreement dated November 19, 2008
from Union Bank of California, N.A. to the Borrower.
8
“ Financial Statements
” means the financial statements included in the
Form 10-KSB filed by the Borrower with the SEC on
September 11, 2008, including the audited consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of
fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, and the related audited
consolidated statements of income, cash flow, and retained earnings
of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal
year then ended, copies of which have been delivered to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
“ Fire Litigation
” means those certain lawsuits and claims now pending or
hereafter filed against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries related
to or arising from fires beginning on March 12, 2006 in the
Texas panhandle.
“ GAAP ” means
United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the
requirements of Section 1.03.
“ Governmental
Authority ” means, as to any Person in connection with
any subject, any foreign, national, state or provincial
governmental authority, or any political subdivision of any state
thereof, or any agency, department, commission, board, authority or
instrumentality, bureau or court, in each case having jurisdiction
over such Person or such Person’s Property in connection with
such subject.
“ Guarantor ”
means each Subsidiary of the Borrower executing a
Guaranty.
“ Guaranty ”
means a Guaranty in substantially the form of the attached
Exhibit C and executed by a Guarantor, and “
Guaranties ” shall mean all such guaranties
collectively.
“ Hazardous Substance
” means the substances identified as such pursuant to CERCLA
and those regulated under any other Environmental Law, including
without limitation pollutants, contaminants, petroleum, petroleum
products, radionuclides, radioactive materials, and medical and
infectious waste.
“ Hazardous Waste
” means the substances regulated as such pursuant to any
Environmental Law.
“ Hedge Contract
” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis
swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions,
puts, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity
contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond
price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward
bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate
options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions,
floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap
transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency
options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any
combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter
into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is
governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any
and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations,
which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by,
any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps
and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign
Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such
master agreement, together with any related schedules, a
“Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or
liabilities under any Master Agreement; provided that, a
“Hedge Contract” shall not include any “Master
Agreement” that
9
provides solely for the sale by the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries of physical Hydrocarbons in exchange for cash in
the ordinary course of its business.
“ Hydrocarbon Hedge
Agreement ” means a Hedge Contract which is intended to
reduce or eliminate the risk of fluctuations in the price of
Hydrocarbons.
“ Hydrocarbons ”
means oil, gas, coal seam gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline,
natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, and all other liquid and
gaseous hydrocarbons produced or to be produced in conjunction
therewith from a well bore and all products, by-products, and other
substances derived therefrom or the processing thereof, and all
other minerals and substances produced in conjunction with such
substances, including, but not limited to, sulfur, geothermal
steam, water, carbon dioxide, helium, and any and all minerals,
ores, or substances of value and the products and proceeds
therefrom.
“ Independent Engineer
” means (a) Forest Garb & Associates,
(b) Miller and Lents, Ltd., (c) Netherland,
Sewell & Associates, Inc. or (d) any other
engineering firm acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“ Independent Engineering
Report ” means a report, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders,
prepared by an Independent Engineer, addressed to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Oil and
Gas Properties owned by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (or to be
acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable)
which are or are to be included in the Borrowing Base, which report
shall (a) specify the location, quantity, and type of the
estimated Proven Reserves attributable to such Oil and Gas
Properties, (b) contain a projection of the rate of production
of such Oil and Gas Properties, (c) contain an estimate of the
net operating revenues to be derived from the production and sale
of Hydrocarbons from such Proven Reserves based on product price
and cost escalation assumptions specified by the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, and (d) contain such other information
as is customarily obtained from and provided in such reports or is
otherwise reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender.
“ Interest Expense
” means, for the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries
for any period, total interest, letter of credit fees, and other
fees and expenses incurred in connection with any Debt for such
period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation,
(i) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed
with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance
financing, imputed interest under Capital Leases, and net costs
under Interest Hedge Agreements, all as determined in conformity
with GAAP, and (ii) all interests, dividends, distributions,
or other payments made in respect of preferred Equity Interests or
Debt Issuances; but excluding (A) dividends payable solely in
Equity Interests of the Borrower made in respect of preferred
Equity Interests and (B) the expensing of deferred amortized
costs pertaining to the payment in full of the Subordinated Debt
and pertaining to the Obligations.
“ Interest Hedge
Agreement ” means a Hedge Contract between the Borrower
and one or more financial institutions providing for the exchange
of nominal interest obligations between the Borrower and such
financial institution or the cap of the interest rate on any Debt
of the Borrower.
10
“ Interest Period
” means, for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of
the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such
Eurodollar Rate Advance or the date of the Conversion of any
Reference Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Rate Advance and ending on
the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the
provisions below and Section 2.03 and, thereafter, each
subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately
preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period
selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and
Section 2.03. The duration of each such Interest Period
shall be one, two, three, or six months, or if available, nine or
twelve months, in each case as the Borrower may, upon notice
received by the Administrative Agent not later than
10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) / 8:00 a.m. (Los
Angeles, California time) on the third Business Day prior to the
first day of such Interest Period, select; provided ,
however , that:
(a)
the Borrower may not select any Interest Period which ends after
the Commitment Termination Date;
(b)
Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Advances
comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same
duration;
(c)
whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur
on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest
Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business
Day, provided that if such extension would cause the last
day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar
month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next
preceding Business Day; and
(d)
any Interest Period which begins on the last Business Day of a
calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month in
which it would have ended if there were a numerically corresponding
day in such calendar month.
“ Interim Financial
Statements ” means the financial statements included in
the Form 10-Q filed by the Borrower with the SEC on
November 10, 2008 including the unaudited consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries dated
September 30, 2008, and the related unaudited consolidated
statements of income, cash flow, and retained earnings of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the three months
then ended, copies of which have been delivered to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
“ Internal Engineering
Report ” means a report, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, prepared
by the Borrower and certified by a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries (or to be acquired by the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) which are or are to be included
in the Borrowing Base, which report shall (a) specify the
location, quantity, and type of the estimated Proven Reserves
attributable to such Oil and Gas Properties, (b) contain a
projection of the rate of production of such Oil and Gas
Properties, (c) contain an estimate of the net operating
revenues to be derived from the production and sale of Hydrocarbons
from such Proven Reserves based on product price and cost
escalation assumptions specified by the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders, and (d) contain such other information as is
customarily obtained from and
11
provided in such reports or is otherwise
reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender.
“ Issuing Lender
” means Union Bank of California, N.A., and any successor
issuing bank pursuant to Section 8.06.
“ Junior Capital
Issuance ” means either (a) an Equity Issuance
permitted under Section 6.22 or (b) a Debt
Issuance.
“ Leases ” means
all oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, oil, gas and
casinghead gas leases or any other instruments, agreements, or
conveyances under and pursuant to which the owner thereof has or
obtains the right to enter upon lands and explore for, drill, and
develop such lands for the production of Hydrocarbons.
“ Legal Requirement
” means, as to any Person, any law, statute, ordinance,
decree, requirement, order, judgment, rule, regulation (or official
interpretation of any of the foregoing) of, and the terms of any
license or permit issued by, any Governmental Authority, including,
but not limited to, Regulations D, T, U, and X, which is
applicable to such Person.
“ Lenders ” means
a party hereto that (a) is a lender listed on the signature
pages of this Agreement on the date hereof or (b) is an
Eligible Assignee that became a lender under this Agreement
pursuant to Section 2.15 or 9.06.
“ Lending Office
” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such
Lender described as such in such Lender’s administrative
questionnaire requested by the Administrative Agent, or such other
office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“ Letter of Credit
” means, individually, any standby letter of credit issued or
deemed issued by the Issuing Lender for the account of the Borrower
in connection with the Commitments and that is subject to this
Agreement, including the Existing Letters of Credit, and “
Letters of Credit ” means all such letters of credit
collectively.
“ Letter of Credit
Application ” means the Issuing Lender’s standard
form letter of credit application for standby letters of credit
that has been executed by the Borrower and accepted by the Issuing
Lender in connection with the issuance of a Letter of
Credit.
“ Letter of Credit
Documents ” means all Letters of Credit, Letter of Credit
Applications, and agreements, documents, and instruments entered
into in connection with or relating thereto.
“ Letter of Credit
Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the
aggregate undrawn maximum face amount of each Letter of Credit at
such time plus (b) the aggregate unpaid amount of all
Reimbursement Obligations at such time.
“ Letter of Credit
Obligations ” means any obligations of the Borrower under
this Agreement in connection with the Letters of Credit, including
the Reimbursement Obligations.
12
“ Leverage Ratio
” means, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of
(a) the consolidated Debt of the Borrower (other than
obligations under Hedge Contracts) as of such fiscal quarter end to
(b) the consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the four
fiscal quarter period then ended.
“ Lien ” means
any mortgage, lien, pledge, assignment, charge, deed of trust,
security interest, hypothecation, preference, deposit arrangement
or encumbrance (or other type of arrangement having the practical
effect of the foregoing) to secure or provide for the payment of
any obligation of any Person, whether arising by contract,
operation of law, or otherwise (including, without limitation, the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale
agreement, synthetic lease, Capital Lease, or other title retention
agreement).
“ Liquid Investments
” means:
(a)
direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest
on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States
maturing within 180 days from the date of any acquisition
thereof;
(b)
(i) negotiable or nonnegotiable certificates of deposit, time
deposits, or other similar banking arrangements maturing within 180
days from the date of acquisition thereof (“bank debt
securities”), issued by (A) any Lender (or any Affiliate
of any Lender) or (B) any other bank or trust company so long
as such certificate of deposit is pledged to secure the
Borrower’s or any Subsidiaries’ ordinary course of
business bonding requirements, or any other bank or trust company
which has primary capital of not less than $500,000,000, if at the
time of deposit or purchase, such bank debt securities are rated
not less than “AA” (or the then equivalent) by the
rating service of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or
of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and
(ii) commercial paper issued by (A) any Lender (or any
Affiliate of any Lender) or (B) any other Person if at the
time of purchase such commercial paper is rated not less than
“A-1” (or the then equivalent) by the rating service of
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or not less than
“P-1” (or the then equivalent) by the rating service of
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or upon the
discontinuance of both of such services, such other nationally
recognized rating service or services, as the case may be, as shall
be selected by the Borrower with the consent of the Majority
Lenders;
(c)
deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in investments
described in clauses (a) and (b) above;
(d)
repurchase agreements relating to investments described in clauses
(a) and (b) above with a market value at least equal to
the consideration paid in connection therewith, with any Person who
regularly engages in the business of entering into repurchase
agreements and has a combined capital surplus and undivided profit
of not less than $500,000,000, if at the time of entering into such
agreement the debt securities of such Person are rated not less
than “AA” (or the then equivalent) by the rating
service of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or of
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.; and
13
(e)
such other instruments (within the meaning of Article 9 of the
Texas Business and Commerce Code) as the Borrower may request and
the Administrative Agent may approve in writing.
“ Liquidity Deposit
Amount ” means, at the time determination, the aggregate
amount of Equity Issuance Proceeds and Debt Issuance Proceeds which
have been deposited into a deposit account with the Administrative
Agent or any Lender or any other depository bank that has executed
an account control agreement reasonably acceptable in form and
substance to the Administrative Agent, as required under
Section 5.13, regardless of whether such proceeds are, at such
time, held in such deposit account.
“ Loan Documents
” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Letter of Credit
Documents, the Guaranties, the Security Instruments, the Fee
Letter, the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, and each
other agreement, instrument, or document executed by the Borrower,
any Guarantor, or any of the Borrower’s or a
Guarantor’s Subsidiaries or any of their officers at any time
in connection with this Agreement.
“ Majority Lenders
” means, (a) at any time when there are more than two
Lenders, Lenders holding at least 66 2 /
3 % of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount
of the Notes and outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations held by
the Lenders at such time (with the aggregate amount of each
Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in
Letter of Credit Obligations being deemed to be “held”
by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided
that, if no such principal amount or Letter of Credit Obligation is
then outstanding, “Majority Lenders” shall mean Lenders
having at least 66 2
/ 3 % of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments at such time and (b) at
any time when there are one or two Lenders, all of the Lenders;
provided further that, if there are two or more Lenders, the
Commitment of, and the portion of the Advances and Letter of Credit
Exposure held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be
excluded for purposes of making a determination of Majority
Lenders.
“ Material Adverse
Change ” means (a) a material adverse change in the
business, assets (including the Oil and Gas Properties of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), condition (financial or
otherwise), or results of operations of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) a material adverse
effect on the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s ability to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, any Note, any
Guaranty, or any other Loan Document.
“ Maturity Date ”
means December 17, 2012.
“ Maximum Rate ”
means the maximum nonusurious interest rate under applicable law
(determined under such laws after giving effect to any items which
are required by such laws to be construed as interest in making
such determination, including without limitation if required by
such laws, certain fees and other costs).
“ Mortgage ”
means each of the Mortgages, Deeds of Trust, Security Agreements,
Assignment of Liens and Security Interests, Financing Statements
and Assignments of Production or any other mortgage or deed of
trust executed by any one or more of the Borrower, a Guarantor or
any of their respective Subsidiaries in favor of the Administrative
Agent for the
14
ratable benefit of the Secured Parties in
substantially the form of the attached Exhibit D or such other
form as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, together with
any assumptions or assignments of the obligations thereunder by the
Borrower, any Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries,
and “ Mortgages ” shall mean all of such
Mortgages collectively.
“ Multiemployer Plan
” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“ Note ” means a
promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Lender,
in substantially the form of the attached Exhibit E,
evidencing indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting
from Advances owing to such Lender.
“ Notice of Borrowing
” means a notice of borrowing in the form of the attached
Exhibit F signed by a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower.
“ Notice of Conversion or
Continuation ” means a notice of conversion or
continuation in the form of the attached Exhibit G signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“ Obligations ”
means (a) all principal, interest, fees, reimbursements,
indemnifications, and other amounts payable by the Borrower, any
Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries to the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Lenders under the
Loan Documents, including without limitation, the Letter of Credit
Obligations, (b) all obligations of the Borrower, any
Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries owing to any Swap
Counterparty under any Hedge Contract, and (c) all obligations
of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any of their respective
Subsidiaries owing to any Lender or any Affiliate thereof in
connection with any letter of credit issued by such Lender or its
Affiliate for the account of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any of
their respective Subsidiaries; provided that, (i) when
any Swap Counterparty assigns or otherwise transfers any interest
held by it under any Hedge Contract to any other Person pursuant to
the terms of such agreement, the obligations thereunder shall
constitute Obligations only if such assignee or transferee is also
then a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender and (ii) if a Swap
Counterparty ceases to be a Lender hereunder or an Affiliate of a
Lender hereunder, obligations owing to such Swap Counterparty shall
be included as Obligations only to the extent such obligations
arise from transactions under such individual Hedge Contracts (and
not the Master Agreement between such parties) entered into at the
time such Swap Counterparty was a Lender hereunder or an Affiliate
of a Lender hereunder (or lender under the Restated Agreement, or
an Affiliate thereof, at the time such Hedge Contract was entered
into), without giving effect to any extension, increases, or
modifications thereof which are made after such Swap Counterparty
ceases to be a Lender hereunder or an Affiliate of a Lender
hereunder.
“ Oil and Gas
Properties ” means fee mineral interests, term mineral
interests, Leases, subleases, farm-outs, royalties, overriding
royalties, net profit interests, carried interests, production
payments and similar mineral interests, and all unsevered and
unextracted Hydrocarbons in, under, or attributable to such oil and
gas Properties and interests.
“ Pantwist Sale ”
means the sale of 100% of the Equity Interest held by the Borrower
in Pantwist LLC pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale
Agreement dated as of September
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5, 2008 among the Borrower, Pantwist LLC and
Legacy Reserves Operating LP without giving effect to any
amendments, modification or supplements thereto.
“ Patriot Act ”
means the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into
law October 26, 2001)).
“ PBGC ” means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding
to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
“ Permit ” means
any approval, certificate of occupancy, consent, waiver, exemption,
variance, franchise, order, permit, authorization, right or license
of or from any Governmental Authority, including without
limitation, an Environmental Permit.
“ Permitted Liens
” means the Liens permitted under
Section 6.01.
“ Permitted Prior Liens
” means the Liens permitted under paragraphs (c) through
(i) of Section 6.01.
“ Person ” means
an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business
trust), joint stock company, limited liability corporation or
company, limited liability partnership, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any
political subdivision or agency thereof or any trustee, receiver,
custodian or similar official.
“ Plan ” means an
employee benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) maintained
for employees of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group
and covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum
funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.
“ Pledge Agreement
” means a Pledge Agreement in substantially the form of the
attached Exhibit H, executed by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of the Guarantors.
“ Pricing Grid ”
means the pricing information set forth in Schedule I.
“ Property ” of
any Person means any property or assets (whether real, personal, or
mixed, tangible or intangible) of such Person.
“ Proven Reserves
” means, at any particular time, the estimated quantities of
Hydrocarbons which geological and engineering data demonstrate with
reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known
reservoirs attributable to Oil and Gas Properties included or to be
included in the Borrowing Base under then existing economic and
operating conditions (i.e., prices and costs as of the date the
estimate is made).
“ Pro Rata Share
” means, with respect to any Lender, the ratio (expressed as
a percentage) of aggregate Commitments of such Lender to the
aggregate Commitments of all the Lenders (or if such Commitments
have been terminated, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of
outstanding Advances owing to such Lender to the aggregate
outstanding Advances owing to all such Lenders.
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“ Reference Rate
” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum as shall be in
effect from time to time equal to the rate of interest publicly
announced by Union Bank of California, N.A., as its reference rate,
whether or not the Borrower has notice thereof.
“ Reference Rate
Advance ” means an Advance which bears interest as
provided in Section 2.09(a).
“ Register ” has
the meaning set forth in paragraph (c) of
Section 9.06.
“ Regulations D, T, U, and
X ” mean Regulations D, T, U, and X of the Federal
Reserve Board, as the same is from time to time in effect, and all
official rulings and interpretations thereunder or
thereof.
“ Reimbursement
Obligations ” means all of the obligations of the
Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender for amounts paid by the
Issuing Lender under Letters of Credit as established by the Letter
of Credit Applications and Section 2.07(d).
“ Release ” shall
have the meaning set forth in CERCLA or under any other
Environmental Law.
“ Response ”
shall have the meaning set forth in CERCLA or under any other
Environmental Law.
“ Responsible Officer
” means (a) with respect to any Person that is a
corporation, such Person’s Chief Executive Officer,
President, Chief Financial Officer, or Vice President,
(b) with respect to any Person that is a limited liability
company, a manager or the Responsible Officer of such
Person’s managing member or manager, and (c) with
respect to any Person that is a general partnership or a limited
liability partnership, the Responsible Officer of such
Person’s general partner or partners.
“ Restricted Payment
” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any direct or
indirect dividend or distribution (whether in cash, securities or
other Property) or any direct or indirect payment of any kind or
character (whether in cash, securities or other Property) in
consideration for or otherwise in connection with any retirement,
purchase, redemption or other acquisition of any Equity Interest of
such Person, or any options, warrants or rights to purchase or
acquire any such Equity Interest of such Person or
(b) principal or interest payments (in cash, Property or
otherwise) on, or redemptions of, subordinated debt of such
Person; provided that the term “Restricted
Payment” shall not include any dividend or distribution
payable solely in Equity Interests of the Borrower or warrants,
options or other rights to purchase such Equity
Interests.
“ SEC ” means the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Secured Parties
” means the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing
Lender, and the Swap Counterparties.
“ Security Agreements
” means the Security Agreements, each in substantially the
form of the attached Exhibit I, executed by the Borrower, any
of its Subsidiaries, or any of the Guarantors.
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“ Security Instruments
” means, collectively, (a) the Mortgages, (b) the
Transfer Letters, (c) the Pledge Agreements, (d) the
Security Agreements, (e) each other agreement, instrument or
document executed at any time in connection with the Pledge
Agreements, the Security Agreements, or the Mortgages,
(f) each agreement, instrument or document executed in
connection with the Cash Collateral Account; and (g) each
other agreement, instrument or document executed at any time in
connection with securing the Obligations.
“ Series D Preferred
Shares ” means the convertible, preferred Equity
Interests of the Borrower known as the “Series D
Convertible Preferred Stock” issued on August 25, 2006
and maturing on August 25, 2011, the terms of which are as set
forth in the Certificate of Designation.
“ Solvent ”
means, with respect to any Person as of the date of any
determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the
Property of such Person (both at fair valuation and at present fair
saleable value) is greater than the total liabilities, including
contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair
saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the
amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such
Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured,
(c) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its
debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations, and other
commitments as they mature in the normal course of business,
(d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that
it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s
ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and
(e) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction,
and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which
such Person’s Property would constitute unreasonably small
capital after giving due consideration to current and anticipated
future capital requirements and current and anticipated future
business conduct and the prevailing practice in the industry in
which such Person is engaged. In computing the amount of
contingent liabilities at any time, such liabilities shall be
computed at the amount which, in light of the facts and
circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can
reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured
liability.
“ Subordinated Agent
” means UnionBanCal Equities Inc., or such other Subordinated
Lender serving in the capacity as the “subordinated
agent” under the Subordinated credit Agreement to the extent
permitted under the Subordinated Credit Agreement and the
Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement.
“ Subordinated Credit
Agreement ” means the Subordinated Credit Agreement dated
as of December 17, 2008 among the Borrower, the Subordinated
Agent and the Subordinated Lenders, as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified but only to the extent permitted
under the terms of the Subordination and Intercreditor
Agreement.
“ Subordinated Debt
” means the “Obligations” as defined in the
Subordinated Credit Agreement.
“ Subordinated Debt
Maturity Date ” means the “Maturity Date” as
defined in the Subordinated Credit Agreement.
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“ Subordinated Lenders
” means the lenders party to the Subordinated Credit
Agreement from time to time.
“ Subordinated Loan
Documents ” means the Subordinated Credit Agreement, the
promissory notes executed and delivered pursuant to the
Subordinated Credit Agreement, and each other agreement,
instrument, or document executed by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their Responsible Officers in connection
with the Subordinated Credit Agreement.
“ Subordination and
Intercreditor Agreement ” means that certain
Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, which shall be in a form
acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, dated as of
the Effective Date among the Administrative Agent, the Borrower,
the Guarantors, the Lenders, the Subordinated Agent and the
Subordinated Lenders.
“ Subsidiary ”
means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent
”) at any date, any other Person the accounts of which would
be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s
consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were
prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any
Person, a majority of whose outstanding Voting Securities (other
than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at any time be owned
by such parent or one or more Subsidiaries of such parent.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a
“Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall
refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided
that Tri-Flow shall not be considered a Subsidiary of the Borrower
or any Guarantor.
“ Swap Counterparty
” means (a) any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that is
a counterparty to any Hedge Contract with the Borrower or any
Subsidiary listed on Schedule 4.20 and (b) any counterparty to
any other Hedge Contract with the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
provided that such counterparty is a Lender or an Affiliate of a
Lender at the time such Hedge Contract is entered into. For
the avoidance of doubt, “Swap Counterparty” shall not
include any participant of a Lender pursuant to
Section 9.06(e) other than to the extent such participant
is otherwise a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.
“ Termination Event
” means (a) a Reportable Event described in
Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder
(other than a Reportable Event not subject to the provision for
30-day notice to the PBGC under such regulations), (b) the
withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates from a Plan
during a plan year in which it was a “substantial
employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA, (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a
Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under
Section 4041 of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings
to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or
condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of
ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Plan.
“ Transfer Letters
” means, collectively, the letters in lieu of transfer orders
in substantially the form of the attached Exhibit J and
executed by the Borrower, any Guarantor or any of their respective
Subsidiaries executing a Mortgage.
“ Tri-Flow ”
means Tri-Flow, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation.
“ Type ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 1.04.
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“ Unused Commitment
Amount ” means, with respect to a Lender at any time, the
lesser of (a) such Lender’s Commitment at such time and
(b) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Borrowing Base
then in effect at such time minus , in each case the
sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all
Advances owed to such Lender at such time plus
(ii) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate
Letter of Credit Exposure at such time.
“ Utilization Level
” means the applicable category (being Level I, Level II,
Level III or Level IV) of pricing criteria contained in Schedule I,
which is based on at any time of its determination on the
percentage obtained by dividing (a) the outstanding principal
amount of the Advances and the Letter of Credit Exposure at such
time by (b) the lesser of the Commitments and the Borrowing
Base at such time.
“ Voting Securities
” means (a) with respect to any corporation (including
any unlimited liability company), capital stock of such corporation
having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect
directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time
stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have
special voting power or rights by reason of the happening of any
contingency), (b) with respect to any partnership, any
partnership interest or other ownership interest having general
voting power to elect the general partner or other management of
the partnership or other Person, and (c) with respect to any
limited liability company, membership certificates or interests
having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect
managers of such limited liability company.
Section 1.02
Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement, with
respect to the computation of periods of time from a specified date
to a later specified date, the word “from” means
“from and including” and the words “to” and
“until” each means “to but
excluding”.
Section 1.03
Accounting Terms; Changes in GAAP . Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms used
herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and
certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be
delivered to the Lenders hereunder shall (unless otherwise
disclosed to the Lenders in writing at the time of delivery
thereof) be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis
consistent with those used in the preparation of the latest
financial statements furnished to the Lenders hereunder (which
prior to the delivery of the first financial statements under
Section 5.06 hereof, shall mean the Financial Statements and
the Interim Financial Statements). All calculations made for
the purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement shall
(except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be made by
application of GAAP applied on a basis consistent with those used
in the preparation of the annual or quarterly financial statements
furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.06 hereof most
recently delivered prior to or concurrently with such calculations
(or, prior to the delivery of the first financial statements under
Section 5.06 hereof, used in the preparation of the Financial
Statements and the Interim Financial Statements). In
addition, all calculations and defined accounting terms used herein
shall, unless expressly provided otherwise, when referring to any
Person, refer to such Person on a consolidated basis and mean such
Person and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Section 1.04
Types of Advances . Advances are distinguished by
“Type.” The “Type” of an Advance
refers to the determination whether such Advance is a Eurodollar
Rate Advance or Reference Rate Advance.
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Section 1.05
Miscellaneous . Article, Section, Schedule, and
Exhibit references are to Articles and Sections of and
Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement, unless otherwise
specified. All references to instruments, documents,
contracts, and agreements are references to such instruments,
documents, contracts, and agreements as the same may be amended,
supplemented, and otherwise modified from time to time, unless
otherwise specified. The words “hereof”,
“herein”, and “hereunder” and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. The term “including” means
“including, without limitation,”. Paragraph
headings have been inserted in this Agreement as a matter of
convenience for reference only and it is agreed that such paragraph
headings are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in
the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
CREDIT FACILITIES
Section 2.01
Commitment for Advances .
(a)
Advances . Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make Advances to the
Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period
from the date of this Agreement until the Commitment Termination
Date in an amount for each Lender not to exceed such Lender’s
Unused Commitment Amount. Each Borrowing shall, in the case
of Borrowings consisting of Reference Rate Advances, be in an
aggregate amount not less than $250,000 and in integral multiples
of $100,000 in excess thereof, and in the case of Borrowings
consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, be in an aggregate amount
not less than $500,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in
excess thereof, and in each case shall consist of Advances of the
same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to
their respective Commitments. Within the limits of each
Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Borrower may from time to time borrow, prepay, and
reborrow Advances.
(b)
Outstanding Advances under the Restated Agreement .
Without any further action on the part of the Borrower or the
Lenders, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, effective
as of the date hereof, (i) all outstanding
“Advances” which are “Eurodollar Rate
Advances” under the Restated Agreement shall be automatically
deemed to be outstanding as Eurodollar Rate Advances under this
Agreement with the same Interest Period but adjusted for the
Lenders’ pro rata share thereof based on the Lenders’
Commitments under this Agreement and (b) all outstanding
“Advances” which are “Reference Rate
Advances” under the Restated Agreement shall be automatically
deemed to be outstanding as Reference Rate Advances under this
Agreement but adjusted for the Lenders’ pro rata share
thereof based on the Lenders’ Commitments under this
Agreement. Such advances under the Restated Agreement shall
be assigned, renewed, extended, and rearranged pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement and the Notes and shall, for all purposes,
be deemed a Borrowing hereunder. The Lenders shall make all
appropriate adjustments and payments between and among themselves
to account for the revised Pro Rata Shares resulting from the
Lenders’ Commitments under this Agreement.
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(c)
Notes . The indebtedness of the Borrower to each
Lender resulting from the Advances owing to such Lender shall be
evidenced by a Note of the Borrower payable to the order of such
Lender.
Section 2.02
Borrowing Base .
(a)
Borrowing Base . The initial Borrowing Base in effect
as of Effective Date has been set by the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders and acknowledged by the Borrower as $60,000,000.
Such initial Borrowing Base shall remain in effect until the next
redetermination made pursuant to this Section 2.02. The
Borrowing Base shall be determined in accordance with the standards
set forth in Section 2.02(d) and is subject to periodic
redetermination pursuant to Sections 2.02(b), 2.02(c) and
2.02(e).
(b)
Calculation of Borrowing Base .
(i)
The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each of
the Lenders on or before each September 30, beginning
September 30, 2009, an Independent Engineering Report dated
effective as of the immediately preceding July 1, and such
other information as may be reasonably requested by any Lender with
respect to the Oil and Gas Properties included or to be included in
the Borrowing Base. Within 30 days after the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders’ receipt of such Independent
Engineering Report and other information, the Administrative Agent
shall deliver to each Lender the Administrative Agent’s
recommendation for the redetermined Borrowing Base. Within 15
days after the Lenders’ receipt of the Administrative
Agent’s recommendation, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders shall redetermine the Borrowing Base in accordance with
Section 2.02(d), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify the Borrower in writing of the amount of the Borrowing Base
as so redetermined.
(ii)
The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender (A) on or prior to May 1, 2009, and (B) on or
before each March 31, beginning March 31, 2010, an
Internal Engineering Report dated effective as of the immediately
preceding January 1 and such other information as may be
reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with
respect to the Oil and Gas Properties included or to be included in
the Borrowing Base. Within 30 days after the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders’ receipt of such Internal Engineering
Report and other information, the Administrative Agent shall
deliver to each Lender the Administrative Agent’s
recommendation for the redetermined Borrowing Base. Within 15
days after the Lenders’ receipt of the Administrative
Agent’s recommendation, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders shall redetermine the Borrowing Base in accordance with
Section 2.02(d), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify the Borrower in writing of the amount of the Borrowing Base
as so redetermined.
(iii)
In the event that the Borrower does not furnish to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders the Independent Engineering
Report, Internal Engineering Report or other information specified
in clauses (i) and (ii) above by the date specified
therein, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may nonetheless
redetermine the Borrowing Base and redesignate the Borrowing Base
from time-to-time thereafter in their sole discretion until the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders receive the relevant
Independent Engineering Report,
22
Internal Engineering Report, or other
information, as applicable, whereupon the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders shall redetermine the Borrowing Base as otherwise
specified in this Section 2.02.
(iv)
Each delivery of an Engineering Report by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders that (A) the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, as applicable, own the Oil and Gas Properties
specified therein subject to an Acceptable Security Interest and
free and clear of any Liens (except Permitted Liens), (B) on
and as of the date of such Engineering Report each Oil and Gas
Property described as “proved developed” therein was
developed for oil and gas, and the wells pertaining to such Oil and
Gas Properties that are described therein as producing wells
(“Wells”), were each producing oil and gas in paying
quantities, except for Wells that were utilized as water or gas
injection wells, carbon dioxide wells or as water disposal wells
(each as noted in such Engineering Report), (C) the
descriptions of quantum and nature of the record title interests of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, set forth in such
Engineering Report include the entire record title interests of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries in such Oil and Gas Properties, are
complete and accurate in all respects, and take into account all
Permitted Liens, (D) there are no “back-in” or
“reversionary” interests held by third parties which
could reduce the interests of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries in such Oil and Gas Properties as set forth in
Engineering Report, and (E) no operating or other agreement to
which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is bound affecting
any part of such Oil and Gas Properties requires the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries to bear any of the costs relating to such
Oil and Gas Properties greater than the record title interest of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in such portion of the such
Oil and Gas Properties as set forth in such Engineering Report,
except in the event the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is
obligated under an operating agreement to assume a portion of a
defaulting party’s share of costs.
(c)
Interim Redetermination . In addition to the Borrowing
Base redeterminations provided for in Section 2.02(b), the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders may, either in their sole
discretion or at the request of the Borrower and based on such
information as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders deem
relevant (but in accordance with Section 2.02(d)), make one
additional redetermination of the Borrowing Base during any
six-month period between scheduled redetermination.
Additionally, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may request
an additional redetermination in connection with any sale or
proposed sale of Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries having a market value of $500,000 or more to the
extent any such sale is permitted by this Agreement. The
party requesting the redetermination shall give the other party at
least 10 days’ prior written notice that a redetermination of
the Borrowing Base pursuant to this paragraph (c) is to be
performed. In connection with any redetermination of the
Borrowing Base under this Section 2.02(c), the Borrower shall
provide the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with such
information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries’
business (including, without limitation, its Oil and Gas
Properties, the Proven Reserves, and production relating thereto)
as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may request, including,
in the case of requests for an increase to the Borrowing Base of
$1,000,000 or more, an updated Independent Engineering
Report. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
Borrower in writing of each redetermination of
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the Borrowing Base pursuant to this
Section 2.02(c) and the amount of the Borrowing Base as
so redetermined.
(d)
Standards for Redetermination . Each redetermination
of the Borrowing Base by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall be made (i) in the
sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (but in
accordance with the other provisions of this Section 2.02(d)),
(ii) in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s and
the Lenders’ customary internal standards and practices for
valuing and redetermining the value of Oil and Gas Properties in
connection with reserve based oil and gas loan transactions,
(iii) in conjunction with the most recent Independent
Engineering Report or Internal Engineering Report, as applicable,
or other information received by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders relating to the Proven Reserves of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, and (iv) based upon the estimated value of the
Proven Reserves owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. In
valuing and redetermining the Borrowing Base, the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders may also consider the business, financial
condition, and Debt obligations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and such other factors as the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders customarily deem appropriate. In that regard, the
Borrower acknowledges that the determination of the Borrowing Base
contains an equity cushion (market value in excess of loan value),
which is essential for the adequate protection of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders. No Proven Reserves
shall be included or considered for inclusion in the Borrowing Base
unless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have
received, at the Borrower’s expense, evidence of title
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative
Agent that the Administrative Agent has an Acceptable Security
Interest in the Oil and Gas Properties relating thereto pursuant to
the Security Instruments. At all times after the
Administrative Agent has given the Borrower notification of a
redetermination of the Borrowing Base under this Section 2.02,
the Borrowing Base shall be equal to the redetermined amount or
such lesser amount designated by the Borrower and disclosed in
writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders until the
Borrowing Base is subsequently redetermined in accordance with this
Section 2.02.
(e)
In addition to the Borrowing Base redeterminations provided for in
Section 2.02(b) and Section 2.02(c), the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders may in their sole discretion
and based on such information as the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders deem relevant (but in accordance with
Section 2.02(d)), redetermine the Borrowing Base upon a Junior
Capital Issuance by the Borrower.
Section 2.03
Method of Borrowing .
(a)
Notice . Each Borrowing shall be made pursuant to a
Notice of Borrowing (or by telephone notice promptly confirmed in
writing by a Notice of Borrowing), given not later than
10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) / 8:00 a.m. (Los
Angeles, California time) (i) on the third Business Day before
the date of the proposed Borrowing, in the case of a Borrowing
comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances or (ii) on the Business
Day of the proposed Borrowing, in the case of a Borrowing comprised
of Reference Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent, which shall in turn give to each Lender prompt notice of
such proposed Borrowing by telecopier or telex. Each Notice
of a Borrowing shall be given by telecopier or telex, confirmed
immediately in writing, specifying the information required
therein. In the case of a proposed
24
Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances,
the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the
applicable interest rate under Section 2.09(b). Each
Lender shall, before 12:00 p.m. (Dallas, Texas time) /
10:00 a.m. (Los Angeles, California time) on the date of such
Borrowing, make available for the account of its Lending Office to
the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in
Section 9.02, or such other location as the Administrative
Agent may specify by notice to the Lenders, in same day funds, in
the case of a Borrowing, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such
Borrowing. After the Administrative Agent’s receipt of
such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set
forth in Article III, the Administrative Agent shall make such
funds available to the Borrower at its account with the
Administrative Agent.
(b)
Conversions and Continuations . The Borrower may elect
to Convert or continue any Borrowing under this Section 2.03
by delivering an irrevocable Notice of Conversion or Continuation
to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s
office no later than 10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) /
8:00 a.m. (Los Angeles, California time) (i) on the date
which is at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed
Conversion or continuation date in the case of a Conversion to or a
continuation of a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances
and (ii) on the Business Day of the proposed Conversion in the
case of a Conversion to a Borrowing comprised of Reference Rate
Advances. Each such Notice of Conversion or Continuation
shall be in writing or by telex or telecopier confirmed immediately
in writing specifying the information required therein.
Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Conversion or Continuation
under this Section, the Administrative Agent shall provide each
Lender with a copy thereof and, in the case of a Conversion to or a
continuation of a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances,
notify each Lender of the applicable interest rate under
Section 2.09(b).
(c)
Certain Limitations . Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in paragraphs (a) and
(b) above:
(i)
at no time shall there be more than six Interest Periods applicable
to outstanding Eurodollar Rate Advances and the Borrower may not
select Eurodollar Rate Advances for any Borrowing at any time that
a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(ii)
if any Lender shall, at least one Business Day before the date of
any requested Borrowing, Conversion, or continuation, notify the
Administrative Agent that the introduction of or any change in or
in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful,
or that any central bank or other Governmental Authority asserts
that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its Lending Office to
perform its obligations under this Agreement to make Eurodollar
Rate Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances, the
right of the Borrower to select Eurodollar Rate Advances from such
Lender shall be suspended until such Lender shall notify the
Administrative Agent that the circumstances causing such suspension
no longer exist, and the Advance made by such Lender in respect of
such Borrowing, Conversion, or continuation shall be a Reference
Rate Advance;
(iii)
if the Administrative Agent is unable to determine the Eurodollar
Rate for Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising any requested
Borrowing, the right of the Borrower to select Eurodollar Rate
Advances for such Borrowing or for any subsequent Borrowing shall
be
25
suspended until the Administrative Agent shall
notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing
such suspension no longer exist, and each Advance comprising such
Borrowing shall be a Reference Rate Advance;
(iv)
if the Majority Lenders shall, at least one Business Day before the
date of any requested Borrowing, notify the Administrative Agent
that the Eurodollar Rate for Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising
such Borrowing will not adequately reflect the cost to such Lenders
of making or funding their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances, as
the case may be, for such Borrowing, the right of the Borrower to
select Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Borrowing or for any
subsequent Borrowing shall be suspended until the Administrative
Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and each
Advance comprising such Borrowing shall be a Reference Rate
Advance; and
(v)
if the Borrower shall fail to select the duration or continuation
of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advances in
accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of
“Interest Period” in Section 1.01 and
paragraph (b) above, the Administrative Agent shall
forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders and such Advances
shall be made available to the Borrower on the date of such
Borrowing as Reference Rate Advances or, if an existing Advance,
Convert into Reference Rate Advances.
(d)
Notices Irrevocable . Each Notice of Borrowing and
Notice of Conversion or Continuation shall be irrevocable and
binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing for
which the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised
of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each
Lender against any loss, out-of-pocket cost, or expense incurred by
such Lender as a result of any failure by the Borrower to fulfill
on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for
such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III including, without limitation, any loss (including
any loss of anticipated profits), cost, or expense incurred by
reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other
funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by
such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a
result of such failure, is not made on such date.
(e)
Administrative Agent Reliance . Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender
before the date of any Borrowing that such Lender shall not make
available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata
Share of a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such
Lender has made its Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing available to
the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section 2.03
and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption,
make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding
amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have
so made its Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree
to immediately repay to the Administrative Agent on demand such
corresponding amount, together with interest on such amount, for
each day from the date such amount is made available to the
Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative
Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate
applicable on such day to Advances comprising such Borrowing and
(ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate for
such day. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative
Agent such corresponding amount and interest as provided above,
such corresponding amount so
26
repaid shall constitute such Lender’s
Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement
even though not made on the same day as the other Advances
comprising such Borrowing.
(f)
Lender Obligations Several . The failure of any Lender
to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall
not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, to make its
Advance on the date of such Borrowing. No Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance
to be made by such other Lender on the date of any
Borrowing.
Section 2.04
Reduction of the Commitments .
(a)
The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business
Days’ irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, to
terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused portion of
the Commitments; provided that each partial reduction shall
be in the aggregate amount of $500,000 or in integral multiples of
$100,000 in excess thereof.
(b)
Other than as provided in Section 2.04(c) below, any
reduction and termination of the Commitments pursuant to this
Section 2.04 shall be applied ratably to each Lender’s
Commitment and shall be permanent, with no obligation of the
Lenders to reinstate such Commitments.
(c)
In the event of a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower, at the
Borrower’s election may (with the consent of the
Administrative Agent) elect to terminate such Defaulting
Lender’s Commitment hereunder; provided that
(i) such termination must be of the Defaulting Lender’s
entire Commitment, (ii) the Borrower shall pay all amounts
owed by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement
and under the other Loan Documents (including principal of and
interest on the Advances owed to such Defaulting Lender, accrued
commitment fees, and letter of credit fees but specifically
excluding any amounts owing under Section 2.12 as result of
such payment of Advances) and shall deposit with the Administrative
Agent into the Cash Collateral Account cash collateral in the
amount equal to such Defaulting Lender’s ratable share of the
Letter of Credit Exposure, (iii) a Defaulting Lender’s
Commitment may be terminated by the Borrower under this
Section 2.04(c) if and only if at such time, the
Borrower has elected, or is then electing, to terminate the
Commitments of all then existing Defaulting Lenders. Upon
written notice to the Defaulting Lender and Administrative Agent of
the Borrower’s election to terminate a Defaulting
Lender’s Commitment pursuant to this clause (c) and the
payment and deposit of amounts required to be made by the Borrower
under clause (ii) above, (A) such Defaulting Lender shall
cease to be a “Lender” hereunder for all purposes
except that such Lender’s rights under Sections 2.13, 2.14,
and 9.07 shall continue with respect to events and occurrences
occurring before or concurrently with its ceasing to be a
“Lender” hereunder, (B) such Defaulting
Lender’s Commitment shall be deemed terminated, and
(C) such Defaulting Lender shall be relieved of its
obligations hereunder.
Section 2.05
Prepayment of Advances .
(a)
Optional . The Borrower may prepay the Advances, after
giving by 10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) /
8:00 a.m. (Los Angeles, California time) (i) in the case
of Eurodollar Rate
27
Advances, at least three Business Days’ or
(ii) in the case of Reference Rate Advances, same Business
Day’s, irrevocable prior written notice to the Administrative
Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of
such prepayment. If any such notice is given, the Borrower
shall prepay the Advances in whole or ratably in part in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the amount specified in such
notice, together with accrued interest to the date of such
prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and amounts, if
any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.12 as a result
of such prepayment being made on such date; provided ,
however, that each partial prepayment with respect to:
(A) any amounts prepaid in respect of Eurodollar Rate Advances
shall be applied to Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the
same Borrowing; (B) any prepayments made in respect of
Reference Rate Advances shall be made in a minimum amounts of
$250,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof,
and (C) any prepayments made in respect of any Borrowing
comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be made in an aggregate
principal amount of at least $500,000 and in integral multiples of
$100,000 in excess thereof, and in an aggregate principal amount
such that after giving effect thereto such Borrowing shall have a
remaining principal amount outstanding with respect to such
Borrowing of at least $500,000. Full prepayments of any
Borrowing are permitted without restriction of amounts.
(b)
Borrowing Base Deficiency . If the aggregate
outstanding amount of the Advances plus the Letter of Credit
Exposure ever exceeds the lesser of the (i) Borrowing Base and
(ii) the aggregate Commitments, the Borrower shall, after
receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent regarding
such deficiency, deliver to the Administrative Agent within ten
days of receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent, a
written response indicating which of the following actions it
intends to take to remedy the Borrowing Base deficiency (and the
failure of the Borrower to deliver such election notice or to
perform the action chosen to remedy such Borrowing Base deficiency
shall constitute an Event of Default):
(i)
prepay Advances or, if the Advances have been repaid in full, make
deposits into the Cash Collateral Account to provide cash
collateral for the Letter of Credit Exposure, such that the
Borrowing Base deficiency is cured within 10 Business Days after
the date such deficiency notice is received by the Borrower from
the Administrative Agent;
(ii)
pledge as Collateral for the Obligations additional Oil and Gas
Properties acceptable to the Administrative Agent and each of
Lenders such that the Borrowing Base deficiency is cured within 30
days after the date such deficiency notice is received by the
Borrower from the Administrative Agent; or
(iii)
(A) deliver, within 10 Business Days after the date such
deficiency notice is received by the Borrower from the
Administrative Agent, written notice to the Administrative Agent
indicating the Borrower’s election to repay the Advances and
make deposits into the Cash Collateral Account to provide cash
collateral for the Letters of Credit, each in six monthly
installments equal to one-sixth of such Borrowing Base deficiency
with the first such installment due 30 days after the date such
deficiency notice is received by the Borrower from the
Administrative Agent and each following installment due 30 days
after the preceding installment and (B) make such payments and
deposits within such time periods.
28
Each prepayment pursuant to this
Section 2.05(b) shall be accompanied by accrued interest
on the amount prepaid to the date of such prepayment and amounts,
if any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.12 as a
result of such prepayment being made on such date. Each
prepayment under clauses (i) and (iii) of this
Section 2.05(b) shall be applied to the Advances as
determined by the Administrative Agent and agreed to by the Lenders
in their sole discretion.
(c)
Reduction of Commitments . On the date of each
reduction of the aggregate Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.04, the Borrower agrees to make a prepayment in
respect of the outstanding amount of the Advances to the extent, if
any, that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Advances
plus the Letter of Credit Exposure exceeds the lesser of
(A) the aggregate Commitments, as so reduced and (B) the
Borrowing Base. Each prepayment pursuant to this
Section 2.05(c) shall be accompanied by accrued interest
on the amount prepaid to the date of such prepayment and amounts,
if any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.12 as a
result of such prepayment being made on such date. Each
prepayment under this Section 2.05(c) shall be applied to
the Advances as determined by the Administrative Agent and agreed
to by the Lenders in their sole discretion; provided that,
outstanding Reference Rate Advances, if any, shall be paid in full
first before any such prepayments are applied to outstanding
Eurodollar Rate Advances.
(d)
Illegality . If any Lender shall notify the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the introduction of or
any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation
makes it unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental
Authority asserts that it is unlawful for such Lender or its
Lending Office to perform its obligations under this Agreement to
maintain any Eurodollar Rate Advances of such Lender then
outstanding hereunder, (i) the Borrower shall, no later than
10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) / 8:00 a.m. (Los
Angeles, California time) (A) if not prohibited by law, on the
last day of the Interest Period for each outstanding Eurodollar
Rate Advance made by such Lender or (B) if required by such
notice, on the second Business Day following its receipt of such
notice, prepay all of the Eurodollar Rate Advances made by such
Lender then outstanding, together with accrued interest on the
principal amount prepaid to the date of such prepayment and
amounts, if any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.12
as a result of such prepayment being made on such date,
(ii) such Lender shall simultaneously make a Reference Rate
Advance to the Borrower on such date in an amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Rate Advances prepaid
to such Lender, and (iii) the right of the Borrower to select
Eurodollar Rate Advances from such Lender for any subsequent
Borrowing shall be suspended until such Lender gives notice
referred to above shall notify the Administrative Agent that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
(e)
No Additional Right; Ratable Prepayment . The Borrower
shall have no right to prepay any principal amount of any Advance
except as provided in Section 2.04(c) and in this
Section 2.05, and all notices given pursuant to this
Section 2.05 shall be irrevocable and binding upon the
Borrower. Each payment of any Advance pursuant to this
Section 2.05 shall be made in a manner such that all Advances
comprising part of the same Borrowing are paid in whole or ratably
in part.
(f)
Debt Issuance . If the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower receives Debt Issuance Proceeds, then immediately upon
receipt of such proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay the Advances
or, if the Advances have been repaid in full, make deposits into
the Cash Collateral
29
Account to provide cash collateral for the
Letter of Credit Exposure, in an amount equal to (A) 100% of
such Debt Issuance Proceeds minus (B) the amount
applied to satisfy outstanding Subordinated Debt minus
(C) the amount, if any, necessary to cause the Liquidity
Deposit Amount at the time of such Debt Issuance to equal
$2,500,000. The prepayment required pursuant to this
Section 2.05(f) shall be accompanied by accrued interest
on the amount prepaid to the date of such prepayment and amounts,
if any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.12 as a
result of such prepayment being made on such date. Such
prepayment shall be applied to the Advances as determined by the
Administrative Agent and agreed to by the Lenders in their sole
discretion.
(g)
Equity Issuance . If the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower receives Equity Issuance Proceeds, then immediately
upon receipt of such proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay the
Advances or, if the Advances have been repaid in full, make
deposits into the Cash Collateral Account to provide cash
collateral for the Letter of Credit Exposure, in an amount equal to
(A) 100% of such Equity Issuance Proceeds minus
(B) the amount applied to satisfy outstanding Subordinated
Debt minus (C) the amount, if any, necessary to cause
the Liquidity Deposit Amount at the time of such Equity Issuance to
equal $2,500,000. The prepayment required pursuant to this
Section 2.05(g) shall be accompanied by accrued interest
on the amount prepaid to the date of such prepayment and amounts,
if any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.12 as a
result of such prepayment being made on such date. Such
prepayment shall be applied to the Advances as determined by the
Administrative Agent and agreed to by the Lenders in their sole
discretion.
Section 2.06
Repayment of Advances . The Borrower shall repay to
the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders the
outstanding principal amount of each Advance, together with any
accrued interest thereon, on the Maturity Date or such earlier date
pursuant to Section 7.02 or Section 7.03.
Section 2.07
Letters of Credit .
(a)
Commitment . From time to time from the date of this
Agreement until 30 days prior to the Maturity Date, at the request
of the Borrower, the Issuing Lender shall, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth, issue, increase, or extend the
Expiration Date of, Letters of Credit for the account of the
Borrower on any Business Day. No Letter of Credit will be
issued, increased, or extended:
(i)
if such issuance, increase, or extension would cause the Letter of
Credit Exposure to exceed the lesser of (A) $3,000,000 and
(B) the aggregate Unused Commitment Amounts of the
Lenders;
(ii)
if such Letter of Credit has an Expiration Date later than the
earlier of (A) one year after the date of issuance thereof and
(B) the Maturity Date;
(iii)
unless such Letter of Credit Documents are in form and substance
acceptable to the Issuing Lender in its sole discretion;
(iv)
unless such Letter of Credit is a standby letter of credit not
supporting the repayment of indebtedness for borrowed money of any
Person;
30
(v)
unless the Borrower has delivered to the Issuing Lender a completed
and executed Letter of Credit Application; provided that, if the
terms of any such Letter of Credit Application conflicts with the
terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall
control;
(vi)
unless such Letter of Credit is governed by (A) the Uniform
Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (2007 Revision),
International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600, or
(B) the International Standby Practices (ISP98), International
Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590, in either case,
including any subsequent revisions thereof approved by a Congress
of the International Chamber of Commerce and adhered to by the
Issuing Lender;
(vii)
if any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or
arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the
Issuing Lender from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Legal
Requirement applicable to the Issuing Lender or any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any
Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Issuing Lender
shall prohibit, or request that the Issuing Lender refrain from,
the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of
Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Lender with
respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or
capital requirement (for which the Issuing Lender is not otherwise
compensated hereunder) not in effect on the date hereof, or shall
impose upon the Issuing Lender any unreimbursed loss, cost or
expense which was not applicable on the date hereof and which the
Issuing Lender in good faith deems material to it;
(viii)
if the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more
policies of the Issuing Lender applicable to letters of credit
generally;
(ix)
except as otherwise agreed by the Issuing Lender, if Letter of
Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;
or
(x)
a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under
Section 2.07(d) exists or any Lender is at such time a
Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the Issuing Lender has entered
into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender to
eliminate the Issuing Lender’s risk with respect to such
Lender.
(b)
Participations . Upon (i) the date of the
issuance or increase of a Letter of Credit, and (ii) the
Effective Date as to the deemed issuance of the Existing Letters of
Credit under Section 2.07(h), the Issuing Lender shall be
deemed to have sold to each other Lender having a Commitment and
each other Lender having a Commitment shall have been deemed to
have purchased from the Issuing Lender a participation in the
related Letter of Credit Obligations equal to such Lender’s
Pro Rata Share at such date and such sale and purchase shall
otherwise be in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
The Issuing Lender shall promptly notify each such participant
Lender having a Commitment by telephone or telecopy of each Letter
of Credit issued, increased, or extended or converted and the
actual dollar amount of such Lender’s participation in such
Letter of Credit.
31
(c)
Issuing . Each Letter of Credit shall be issued,
increased, or extended pursuant to a Letter of Credit Application
(or by telephone notice promptly confirmed in writing by a Letter
of Credit Application), given not later than 10:00 a.m.
(Dallas, Texas time) / 8:00 a.m. (Los Angeles, California
time) on the fifth Business Day before the date of the proposed
issuance, increase, or extension of the Letter of Credit, and the
Issuing Lender shall give to each other Lender prompt notice
thereof by telex, telephone, or telecopy. Each Letter of
Credit Application shall be delivered by facsimile or by mail
specifying the information required therein; provided that if such
Letter of Credit Application is delivered by facsimile, the
Borrower shall follow such facsimile with an original by
mail. After the Issuing Lender’s receipt of such Letter
of Credit Application (by facsimile or by mail) and upon
fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, the Issuing Lender shall issue, increase, or
extend such Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower.
Each Letter of Credit Application shall be irrevocable and binding
on the Borrower.
(d)
Reimbursement . The Borrower hereby agrees to pay on
demand to the Issuing Lender an amount equal to any amount paid by
the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit. In the event
the Issuing Lender makes a payment pursuant to a request for draw
presented under a Letter of Credit and such payment is not promptly
reimbursed by the Borrower upon demand, the Issuing Lender shall
give the Administrative Agent notice of the Borrower’s
failure to make such reimbursement and the Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify each Lender having a Commitment of the amount
necessary to reimburse the Issuing Lender. Upon such notice
from the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall promptly reimburse
the Issuing Lender for such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such
amount, and such reimbursement shall be deemed for all purposes of
this Agreement to be an Advance to the Borrower transferred at the
Borrower’s request to the Issuing Lender. If such
reimbursement is not made by any Lender to the Issuing Lender on
the same day on which the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender
to make reimbursement to the Issuing Lender hereunder, such Lender
shall pay interest on its Pro Rata Share thereof to the Issuing
Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.
The Borrower hereby unconditionally and irrevocably authorizes,
empowers, and directs the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to
record and otherwise treat such reimbursements to the Issuing
Lender as Reference Rate Advances under a Borrowing requested by
the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender which have been
transferred to the Issuing Lender at the Borrower’s
request.
(e)
Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of the
Borrower under this Agreement in respect of each Letter of Credit
shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all
circumstances, including, without limitation, the following
circumstances:
(i)
any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit
Documents;
(ii)
any amendment or waiver of, or any consent to or departure from,
any Letter of Credit Documents;
(iii)
the existence of any claim, set-off, defense, or other right which
the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or
transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any
such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the
Issuing
32
Lender, or any other person or entity, whether
in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement or in any Letter of Credit Documents, or any
unrelated transaction;
(iv)
any statement or any other document presented under such Letter of
Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid, or insufficient
in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate
in any respect;
(v)
payment by the Issuing Lender under such Letter of Credit against
presentation of a draft or certificate which does not comply with
the terms of such Letter of Credit; or
(vi)
any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not
similar to any of the foregoing.
provided , however , that nothing contained in
this paragraph (e) shall be deemed to constitute a waiver
of any remedies of the Borrower in connection with the Letters of
Credit or the Borrower’s rights under
Section 2.07(f) below.
(f)
Liability of Issuing Lender . The Borrower assumes all
risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of
any Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Letter of
Credit. Neither the Issuing Lender nor any of its officers or
directors shall be liable or responsible for:
(i)
the use which may be made of any Letter of Credit or any acts or
omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection
therewith;
(ii)
the validity, sufficiency, or genuineness of documents, or of any
endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in
any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent, or
forged;
(iii)
payment by the Issuing Lender against presentation of documents
which do not comply with the terms of a Letter of Credit, including
failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate
reference to the relevant Letter of Credit; or
(iv)
any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make
payment under any Letter of Credit (INCLUDING THE ISSUING
LENDER’S OWN NEGLIGENCE) ,
except that the Borrower shall have a claim against the
Issuing Lender, and the Issuing Lender shall be liable to the
Borrower, to the extent of any direct, as opposed to consequential,
damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were
caused by the Issuing Lender’s willful misconduct or
gross negligence in determining whether documents presented under a
Letter of Credit comply with the terms of such Letter of
Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the
foregoing, the Issuing Lender may accept documents that appear on
their face to be in order, without responsibility for further
investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the
contrary.
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(g)
Cash Collateral Account .
(i)
If the Borrower is required to deposit funds in the Cash Collateral
Account pursuant to Sections 2.04(c), 2.05(b), 7.02(b), or
7.03(b), then the Borrower and the Issuing Lender shall establish
the Cash Collateral Account and the Borrower shall execute any
documents and agreements, including the Issuing Lender’s
standard form assignment of deposit accounts, that the Issuing
Lender requests in connection therewith to establish the Cash
Collateral Account and grant the Issuing Lender a first priority
security interest in such account and the funds therein. The
Borrower hereby pledges to the Issuing Lender and grants the
Issuing Lender a security interest in the Cash Collateral Account,
whenever established, all funds held in the Cash Collateral Account
from time to time, and all proceeds thereof as security for the
payment of the Obligations.
(ii)
So long as no Default exists, (A) the Issuing Lender may apply
the funds held in the Cash Collateral Account only to the
reimbursement of any Letter of Credit Obligations, and (B) the
Issuing Lender shall release to the Borrower at the
Borrower’s written request any funds held in the Cash
Collateral Account in an amount up to but not exceeding the excess,
if any (immediately prior to the release of any such funds), of the
total amount of funds held in the Cash Collateral Account over the
Letter of Credit Exposure. During the existence of any
Default, the Issuing Lender may apply any funds held in the Cash
Collateral Account to the Obligations in any order determined by
the Issuing Lender, regardless of any Letter of Credit Exposure
that may remain outstanding. The Issuing Lender may in its
sole discretion at any time release to the Borrower any funds held
in the Cash Collateral Account.
(iii)
The Issuing Lender shall exercise reasonable care in the custody
and preservation of any funds held in the Cash Collateral Account
and shall be deemed to have exercised such care if such funds are
accorded treatment substantially equivalent to that which the
Issuing Lender accords its own Property, it being understood that
the Issuing Lender shall not have any responsibility for taking any
necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect
to any such funds.
(h)
Existing Letters of Credit . The Issuing Lender, the Lenders
and the Borrower agree that effective as of the Effective Date, the
Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued and
maintained under, and to be governed by the terms and conditions
of, this Agreement.
Section 2.08
Fees .
(a)
Commitment Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment
fee at a per annum rate equal to the Commitment Fee Rate on the
daily Unused Commitment Amount of such Lender, from the Effective
Date until the Commitment Termination Date; provided that, no
Commitment Fee shall accrue on the Commitment of a Defaulting
Lender during the period such Lender remains a Defaulting
Lender. The commitment fees shall be due and payable
quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June,
September, and December commencing on December 31, 2008
and continuing thereafter through and including the Commitment
Termination Date.
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(b)
Letter of Credit Fees .
(i)
The Borrower agrees to pay (A) to the Administrative Agent for
the pro rata benefit of the Lenders a per annum letter of credit
fee for each Letter of Credit issued hereunder in an amount equal
to the greater of (1) the Applicable Margin then in effect for
Eurodollar Rate Advances times the daily maximum amount available
to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and (2) $1,000, and
(B) to the Issuing Lender, a fronting fee for each Letter of
Credit equal to the greater of (y) .125% per annum times the
daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit and (z) $500.00, each payable quarterly in arrears on
the last day of each March, June, September, and
December commencing on December 31, 2008 and continuing
thereafter through and including the Commitment Termination
Date.
(ii)
The Borrower also agrees to pay to the Issuing Lender such other
usual and customary fees associated with any transfers, amendments,
drawings, negotiations or reissuances of any Letters of
Credit.
(c)
Other Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay to Union Bank
of California, N.A. the fees provided for in the Fee
Letter.
(d)
Borrowing Base Increase Fees . The Borrower agrees to
pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in
connection with any increase of the Borrowing Base, a borrowing
base increase fee on the amount of such increase. The
borrowing base increase fee shall be in an amount equal to 0.50%
multiplied by the amount of the increase and shall be due and
payable on the date of the initial Advance of such additional
Borrowing Base.
Section 2.09
Interest . The Borrower shall pay interest on the
unpaid principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender from
the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid
in full, at the following rates per annum:
(a)
Reference Rate Advances . If such Advance is a
Reference Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the
Adjusted Reference Rate in effect from time to time plus the
Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable monthly in
arrears on the last day of each month and on the date such
Reference Rate Advance shall be paid in full.
(b)
Eurodollar Rate Advances . If such Advance is a
Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during
the Interest Period for such Advance to the Eurodollar Rate for
such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin in effect
from time to time, payable on the last day of such Interest Period,
and, in the case of six, nine or twelve month Interest Periods, on
(i) the day which occurs during such Interest Period three
months from the first day of such Interest Period, (ii) the
day which occurs during such Interest Period six months from the
first day of such Interest Period, and (iii) the day which
occurs during such Interest Period nine months from the first day
of such Interest Period.
(c)
Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances . The
Borrower shall pay to each Lender, so long as any such Lender shall
be required under regulations of the Federal Reserve Board to
maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting
of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional interest on
the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Advance of such
Lender, from the effective date of such Advance until such
principal
35
amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per
annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting
(i) the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for such
Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such
Eurodollar Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar
Rate Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period,
payable on each date on which interest is payable on such
Advance. Such additional interest payable to any Lender shall
be determined by such Lender and notified to the Borrower through
the Administrative Agent (such notice to include the calculation of
such additional interest, which calculation shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error).
(d)
Usury Recapture .
(i)
If, with respect to any Lender, the effective rate of interest
contracted for under the Loan Documents, including the stated rates
of interest and fees contracted for hereunder and any other amounts
contracted for under the Loan Documents which are deemed to be
interest, at any time exceeds the Maximum Rate, then the
outstanding principal amount of the loans made by such Lender
hereunder shall bear interest at a rate which would make the
effective rate of interest for such Lender under the Loan Documents
equal the Maximum Rate until the difference between the amounts
which would have been due at the stated rates and the amounts which
were due at the Maximum Rate (the “Lost Interest”) has
been recaptured by such Lender.
(ii)
If, when the loans made hereunder are repaid in full, the Lost
Interest has not been fully recaptured by such Lender pursuant to
the preceding paragraph, then, to the extent permitted by law, for
the loans made hereunder by such Lender the interest rates charged
under Section 2.09 hereunder shall be retroactively increased
such that the effective rate of interest under the Loan Documents
was at the Maximum Rate since the effectiveness of this Agreement
to the extent necessary to recapture the Lost Interest not
recaptured pursuant to the preceding sentence and, to the extent
allowed by law, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender the amount of
the Lost Interest remaining to be recaptured by such
Lender.
(iii)
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING OR ANY OTHER TERM IN THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE LOAN DOCUMENTS TO THE CONTRARY, IT IS THE
INTENTION OF EACH LENDER AND THE BORROWER TO CONFORM STRICTLY
TO ANY APPLICABLE USURY LAWS. ACCORDINGLY, IF ANY LENDER
CONTRACTS FOR, CHARGES, OR RECEIVES ANY CONSIDERATION WHICH
CONSTITUTES INTEREST IN EXCESS OF THE MAXIMUM RATE, THEN ANY SUCH
EXCESS SHALL BE CANCELED AUTOMATICALLY AND, IF PREVIOUSLY PAID,
SHALL AT SUCH LENDER’S OPTION BE APPLIED TO THE OUTSTANDING
AMOUNT OF THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER BY SUCH LENDER OR BE REFUNDED TO
THE BORROWER .
Section 2.10
Payments and Computations .
(a)
Payment Procedures . The Borrower shall make each
payment under this Agreement and under the Notes not later than
10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) / 8:00 a.m. (Los
Angeles, California time) on the day when due in Dollars to the
Administrative Agent at the location referred to in the Notes (or
such other location as the Administrative Agent shall designate in
writing to the Borrower) in same day funds without deduction,
setoff, or
36
counterclaim of any kind, except as may be
applicable to any Defaulting Lender. The Administrative Agent
shall promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds
relating to the payment of principal, interest or fees ratably
(other than amounts payable solely to the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Lender, or a specific Lender pursuant to
Section 2.08(c), 2.09(c), 2.09(d), 2.12, 2.13, 2.14, 8.05, or
9.07, but after taking into account payments effected pursuant to
Section 9.04) in accordance with each Lender’s Pro Rata
Share to the Lenders for the account of their respective Lending
Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount
payable to any Lender or the Issuing Lender to such Lender for the
account of its Lending Office, in each case to be applied in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b)
Computations . All computations of interest based on
the Reference Rate and of fees shall be made by the Administrative
Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may
be, and all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate
and the Federal Funds Rate shall be made by the Administrative
Agent, on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the
actual number of days (including the first day, but excluding the
last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees
are payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent
of an interest rate or fee shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes, absent manifest error.
(c)
Non-Business Day Payments . Whenever any payment shall
be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation
of payment of interest or fees, as the case may be; provided
, however, that if such extension would cause payment of interest
on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in the next
following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next
preceding Business Day.
(d)
Administrative Agent Reliance . Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from the
Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the
Lenders that the Borrower shall not make such payment in full, the
Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such
payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the
Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause
to be distributed to each Lender on such date an amount equal to
the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent the
Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the
Administrative Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative
Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender,
together with interest, for each day from the date such amount is
distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such
amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for
such day.
Section 2.11
Sharing of Payments, Etc . If any Lender shall obtain
any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise
of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Advances
or Letter of Credit Obligations made by it in excess of its Pro
Rata Share of payments on account of the Advances or Letter of
Credit Obligations obtained by all the Lenders (other than as a
result of a termination of a Defaulting Lender’s Commitment
under Section 2.04(c)), such Lender shall notify the
Administrative Agent and forthwith purchase from the other Lenders
such participations in the Advances made by them or Letter of
Credit Obligations held by them as shall be necessary to cause such
purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of
them; provided , however, that if all or any portion of
such
37
excess payment is thereafter recovered from such
purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be
rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the
purchase price to the extent of such Lender’s ratable share
(according to the proportion of (a) the amount of the
participation sold by such Lender to the purchasing Lender as a
result of such excess payment to (b) the total amount of such
excess payment) of such recovery, together with an amount equal to
such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of
(i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to
the purchasing Lender to (ii) the total amount of all such
required repayments to the purchasing Lender) of any interest or
other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of
the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any
Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant
to this Section 2.11 may, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of
set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such
Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of
such participation. If a Lender fails to make an Advance with
respect to a Borrowing as and when required hereunder and the
Borrower subsequently makes a repayment of any Advances, such
repayment shall be split among the non-defaulting Lenders ratably
in accordance with their respective Commitment percentages until
each Lender (including the Defaulting Lender) has its percentage of
all of the outstanding Advances and the balance of such repayment
shall be applied among the Lenders in accordance with their Pro
Rata Share.
Section 2.12
Breakage Costs . If (a) any payment of principal
of any Eurodollar Rate Advance is made other than on the last day
of the Interest Period for such Advance, whether as a result of any
payment pursuant to Section 2.05, the acceleration of the
maturity of the Notes pursuant to Article VII, or otherwise,
or (b) the Borrower fails to make a principal or interest
payment with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advance on the date
such payment is due and payable, the Borrower shall, within 10 days
of any written demand sent by any Lender to the Borrower through
the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such
Lender for any additional losses, out-of-pocket costs or expenses
which it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or
nonpayment, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss
of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by
any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance.
Section 2.13
Increased Costs .
(a)
Eurodollar Rate Advances . If, due to either
(i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change
by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements included
in the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage) in or in the
interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance
with any guideline or request from any central bank or other
Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law),
there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing
to make or making, funding, or maintaining Eurodollar Rate
Advances, then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by
such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative
Agent), immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such
Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to the
amount of such increased cost and detailing the calculation of such
cost submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such
Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
38
(b)
Capital Adequacy . If any Lender or the Issuing Lender
determines in good faith that compliance with any law or regulation
adopted or changed after the date hereof or any guideline or
request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority
(whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect
the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such
Lender or the Issuing Lender or any corporation controlling such
Lender or the Issuing Lender and that the amount of such capital is
increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender’s
commitment to lend or the Issuing Lender’s commitment to
issue the Letters of Credit and other commitments of this type,
then, upon 30 days’ prior written notice by such Lender or
the Issuing Lender (with a copy of any such demand to the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall immediately pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender or to the
Issuing Lender, as the case may be, from time to time as specified
by such Lender or the Issuing Lender, additional amounts sufficient
to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender, in light of such
circumstances, (i) with respect to such Lender, to the extent
that such Lender reasonably determines such increase in capital to
be allocable to the existence of such Lender’s commitment to
lend under this Agreement and (ii) with respect to the Issuing
Lender, to the extent that the Issuing Lender reasonably determines
such increase in capital to be allocable to the issuance or
maintenance of the Letters of Credit. A certificate as to
such amounts and detailing the calculation of such amounts
submitted to the Borrower by such Lender or the Issuing Lender
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error.
(c)
Letters of Credit . If any change adopted after the
date hereof in any law or regulation or in the interpretation
thereof by any court or administrative or Governmental Authority
charged with the administration thereof shall either
(i) impose, modify, or deem applicable any reserve, special
deposit, or similar requirement against letters of credit issued
by, or assets held by, or deposits in or for the account of, the
Issuing Lender or (ii) impose on the Issuing Lender any other
condition regarding the provisions of this Agreement relating to
the Letters of Credit or any Letter of Credit Obligations, and the
result of any event referred to in the preceding
clause (i) or (ii) shall be to increase the cost to
the Issuing Lender of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit
(which increase in cost shall be determined by the Issuing
Lender’s reasonable allocation of the aggregate of such cost
increases resulting from such event), then, upon demand by the
Issuing Lender, the Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Lender, from
time to time as specified by the Issuing Lender, additional amounts
which shall be sufficient to compensate the Issuing Lender for such
increased cost. A certificate as to such increased cost
incurred by the Issuing Lender, as a result of any event mentioned
in clause (i) or (ii) above, and detailing the
calculation of such increased costs submitted by the Issuing Lender
to the Borrower, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes,
absent manifest error.
(d)
Mitigation . Each Lender claiming compensation
pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall designate a different
Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or
reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the sole
discretion of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such
Lender.
Section 2.14
Taxes .
(a)
No Deduction for Certain Taxes . Any and all payments
by the Borrower shall be made, in accordance with
Section 2.10, free and clear of and without deduction for any
and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges or withholdings, and all liabilities
39
with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of
each Lender, the Issuing Lender, and the Administrative Agent,
taxes imposed on its income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by
the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender, the Issuing
Lender, or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is
organized or any political subdivision of the jurisdiction (all
such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges,
withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as
“Taxes”) and, in the case of each Lender and the
Issuing Lender, Taxes by the jurisdiction of such Lender’s
Lending Office or any political subdivision of such
jurisdiction. If the Borrower shall be required by law to
deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable to any
Lender, the Issuing Lender, or the Administrative Agent,
(i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so
that, after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this
Section 2.14), such Lender, the Issuing Lender, or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal
to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made;
provided , however, that if the Borrower’s obligation
to deduct or withhold Taxes is caused solely by such
Lender’s, the Issuing Lender’s, or the Administrative
Agent’s failure to provide the forms described in
paragraph (d) of this Section 2.14 and such Lender,
the Issuing Lender, or the Administrative Agent could have provided
such forms, no such increase shall be required; (ii) the
Borrower shall make such deductions; and (iii) the Borrower
shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation
authority or other authority in accordance with applicable
law.
(b)
Other Taxes . In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay
any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other
excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise
from any payment made or from the execution, delivery or
registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, the
Notes, or the other Loan Documents (hereinafter referred to as
“Other Taxes”).
(c)
Indemnification . THE BORROWER INDEMNIFIES EACH
LENDER, THE ISSUING LENDER, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE
FULL AMOUNT OF TAXES OR OTHER TAXES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
ANY TAXES OR OTHER TAXES IMPOSED BY ANY JURISDICTION ON AMOUNTS
PAYABLE UNDER THIS SECTION 2.14) PAID BY SUCH LENDER, THE
ISSUING LENDER, OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (AS THE CASE
MAY BE) AND ANY LIABILITY (INCLUDING INTEREST AND EXPENSES)
ARISING THEREFROM OR WITH RESPECT THERETO, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH
TAXES OR OTHER TAXES WERE CORRECTLY OR LEGALLY ASSERTED. EACH
PAYMENT REQUIRED TO BE MADE BY THE BORROWER IN RESPECT OF THIS
INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE MADE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF ANY PARTY CLAIMING SUCH INDEMNIFICATION WITHIN 30 DAYS
FROM THE DATE THE BORROWER RECEIVES WRITTEN DEMAND THEREFOR FROM
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AS ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT, THE ISSUING LENDER, OR ANY SUCH LENDER. IF ANY LENDER,
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, OR THE ISSUING LENDER RECEIVES A REFUND
IN RESPECT OF ANY TAXES PAID BY THE BORROWER UNDER THIS
PARAGRAPH (C), SUCH LENDER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, OR THE
ISSUING LENDER, AS THE CASE MAY BE, SHALL PROMPTLY PAY TO THE
BORROWER THE BORROWER’S SHARE OF SUCH REFUND.
40
(d)
Foreign Lender Withholding Exemption . Each Lender and
Issuing Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the
United States of America or a state thereof agrees that it shall
deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (i) two
duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service
Form W8-ECI or W8-BEN or successor applicable form, as the
case may be, certifying in each case that such Lender is entitled
to receive payments under this Agreement and the Notes payable to
it, without deduction or withholding of any United States federal
income taxes, (ii) if applicable, an Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8 or W-9 or successor applicable form, as the case may
be, to establish an exemption from United States backup withholding
tax, and (iii) any other governmental forms which are
necessary or required under an applicable tax treaty or otherwise
by law to reduce or eliminate any withholding tax, which have been
reasonably requested by the Borrower. Each Lender which
delivers to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a
Form W8-ECI or W8-BEN and Form W-8 or W-9 pursuant to the
next preceding sentence further undertakes to deliver to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent two further copies of the
said letter and Form W8-ECI or W8-BEN and Form W-8 or W-9
, or successor applicable forms, or other manner of certification,
as the case may be, on or before the date that any such letter or
form expires or becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any
event requiring a change in the most recent letter and form
previously delivered by it to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, and such extensions or renewals thereof as may reasonably be
requested by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent certifying
in the case of a Form W8-ECI or W8-BEN that such Lender is
entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction
or withholding of any United States federal income taxes. If
an event (including without limitation any change in treaty, law or
regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any delivery
required by the preceding sentence would otherwise be required
which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent
any Lender from duly completing and delivering any such letter or
form with respect to it and such Lender advises the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent that it is not capable of receiving
payments without any deduction or withholding of United States
federal income tax, and in the case of a Form W-8 or W-9,
establishing an exemption from United States backup withholding
tax, such Lender shall not be required to deliver such letter or
forms. The Borrower shall withhold tax at the rate and in the
manner required by the laws of the United States with respect to
payments made to a Lender failing to timely provide the requisite
Internal Revenue Service forms.
Section 2.15
Replacement of Lender . If (i) any Lender
requests compensation under Section 2.13(a) or (b),
(ii) any Lender suspends its obligation to continue, or
Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances pursuant to
Section 2.03(c)(ii) or Section 2.11, or
(iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender (any such Lender,
a “ Subject Lender ”), then (A) in the case
of a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent may, upon notice
to the Subject Lender and the Borrower, require such Subject Lender
to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and
subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by,
Section 9.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations
under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible
Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Eligible
Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
assignment) and (B) in the case of any Subject Lender,
including a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may, upon notice to the
Subject Lender and the Administrative Agent and at the
Borrower’s sole cost and expense, require such Subject Lender
to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
restrictions contained in, and consents required by,
Section 9.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations
under this
41
Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an
assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be
another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided
that:
(A)
as to assignments required by the
Borrower, the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent
the assignment fee specified in Section 9.06;
(B)
such Subject Lender shall have
received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of
its Advances and participations in outstanding Letter of Credit
Obligations, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other
amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents
(including any amounts under Section 2.12) from the assignee
(to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest
and fees) or the Applicable Borrower (in the case of all other
amounts);
(C)
in the case of any such assignment
resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.13,
such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or
payments thereafter; and
(D)
such assignment does not conflict
with applicable Legal Requirements.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such
assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver
by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the
Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to
apply. Solely for purposes of effecting the assignment
required for a Defaulting Lender under this Section 2.15 and
to the extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, each
Lender hereby designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as
true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and
authority, for and on behalf of and in the name of such Lender to
execute, acknowledge and deliver the Assignment and Acceptance
required hereunder if such Lender was a Defaulting Lender and such
Lender shall be bound thereby as fully and effectively as if such
Lender had personally executed, acknowledged and delivered the
same. In lieu of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent
replacing a Defaulting Lender as provided in this
Section 2.15, the Borrower may terminate such Defaulting
Lender’s Commitment as provided in
Section 2.04.
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS OF
LENDING
Section 3.01
Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. The
effectiveness of this Agreement and the amendment and restatement
of the Existing Credit Agreement is subject to the conditions
precedent that:
(a)
Documentation . The Administrative Agent shall have
received the following duly executed by all the parties thereto, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Lender and the Lenders, and, where applicable, in
sufficient copies for each Lender:
(i)
this Agreement, a Note payable to the order of each Lender in the
amount of its Commitment, the Guaranties, the Pledge Agreement, the
Security Agreements, and Mortgages encumbering substantially all of
the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ Proven
Reserves
42
and Oil and Gas Properties in connection
therewith, and each of the other Loan Documents, and all
attached exhibits and schedules;
(ii)
a favorable opinion of the Borrower’s, its
Subsidiaries’ and the Guarantors’ counsel dated as of
the date of this Agreement and substantially in the form of the
attached Exhibit K covering the matters discussed in such
Exhibit and such other matters as any Lender through the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request;
(iii)
copies, certified as of the date of this Agreement by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower of (A) the resolutions of the Board of
Directors of the Borrower approving the Loan Documents to which the
Borrower is a party, (B) the certificate of incorporation of
the Borrower, (C) the bylaws of the Borrower and (D) all
other documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and
governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement, the
Note, and the other Loan Documents;
(iv)
certificates of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying
the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower
authorized to sign this Agreement, the Notes, Notices of Borrowing,
Notices of Conversion or Continuation, and the other Loan Documents
to which the Borrower is a party;
(v)
copies, certified as of the date of this Agreement by a Responsible
Officer or the secretary or an assistant secretary of each
Guarantor of (A) the resolutions of the Board of Directors (or
other applicable governing body) of such Guarantor approving the
Loan Documents to which it is a party, (B) the articles or
certificate (as applicable) of incorporation (or organization) and
bylaws of such Guarantor, and (C) all other documents
evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental
approvals, if any, with respect to the Guaranty, the Security
Instruments, and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor
is a party;
(vi)
a certificate of the secretary or an assistant secretary of each
Guarantor certifying the names and true signatures of officers of
such Guarantor authorized to sign the Guaranty, Security
Instruments and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is
a party;
(vii)
a certificate dated as of the date of this Agreement from the
Responsible Officer of the Borrower stating that the conditions in
this Section 3.01 have been met;
(viii)
appropriate UCC-1 and UCC-3, as applicable, Financing Statements
covering the Collateral for filing with the appropriate authorities
and any other documents, agreements or instruments necessary to
create an Acceptable Security Interest in such
Collateral;
(ix)
stock certificates required in connection with the Pledge
Agreements and stock powers executed in blank for each such stock
certificate;
(x)
insurance certificates naming the Administrative Agent loss payee
or additional insured, as applicable, and evidencing insurance
which meets the requirements of this Agreement and the Security
Instruments, and which is otherwise satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent;
43
(xi)
the initial Independent Engineer’s Report dated effective as
of a date acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(xii)
the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement;
(xiii)
such other documents, governmental certificates, agreements and
lien searches as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
reasonably request.
(b)
Payment of Fees . On the date of this Agreement, the
Borrower shall have paid the fees required by
Section 2.08(c) and all costs and expenses that have been
invoiced and are payable pursuant to Section 9.04.
(c)
Delivery of Financial Statements . The Administrative
Agent and the Lenders shall have received true and correct copies
of (i) the Financial Statements, (ii) the Interim
Financial Statements and (iii) such other financial
information as the Lenders may reasonably request.
(d)
Security Instruments . The Administrative Agent shall
have received all appropriate evidence required by the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders in their sole discretion
necessary to determine that the Administrative Agent (for its
benefit and the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have an
Acceptable Security Interest in the Collateral and that all actions
or filings necessary to protect, preserve and validly perfect such
Liens have been made, taken or obtained, as the case may be, and
are in full force and effect.
(e)
Title . The Administrative Agent shall be satisfied in
its sole discretion with the title to the Oil and Gas Properties
included in the Borrowing Base and that such Oil and Gas Properties
constitute a percentage of such Collateral reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent.
(f)
Environmental . The Administrative Agent shall have
received such Phase I environmental assessments or other reports as
it may reasonably require and shall be satisfied with the condition
of the Oil and Gas Properties with respect to the Borrower’s
and its Subsidiaries’ compliance with Environmental
Laws.
(g)
No Default . No Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
(h)
Representations and Warranties . The representations
and warranties contained in Article IV hereof and in each
other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material
respects.
(i)
Material Adverse Change . No event or circumstance
that could cause a Material Adverse Change shall have
occurred.
(j)
No Proceeding or Litigation; No Injunctive Relief . No
action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including, without
limitation, the enactment or promulgation of a statute or rule) by
or before any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority shall be
threatened or pending and no preliminary or permanent injunction or
order by a state or federal court shall have been entered
(i) in connection with this Agreement or any transaction
contemplated hereby or (ii)
44
which, in any case, in the judgment of the
Administrative Agent, could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Change (other than the developments under the
litigation proceedings set forth on Schedule 4.07 which have been
disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective
Date).
(k)
Consents, Licenses, Approvals, etc . The
Administrative Agent shall have received true copies (certified to
be such by the Borrower or other appropriate party) of all
consents, licenses and approvals required in accordance with
applicable law, or in accordance with any document, agreement,
instrument or arrangement to which the Borrower, the Guarantors and
their respective Subsidiaries is a party, in connection with the
execution, delivery, performance, validity and enforceability of
this Agreement, and the other Loan Documents. In addition,
the Borrower, the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries
shall have all such material consents, licenses and approvals
required in connection with the continued operation of the
Borrower, the Guarantors and respective Subsidiaries, and such
approvals shall be in full force and effect, and all applicable
waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken
or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain,
prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on this Agreement
and the actions contemplated hereby.
(l)
Hedging Arrangements . The Borrower shall have entered
into the Hydrocarbon Hedge Agreements required by
Section 5.12.
(m)
Material Contracts . The Borrower shall have delivered
to the Administrative Agent copies of all material contracts,
agreements or instruments listed on the attached Schedule
4.21.
(n)
Subordinated Debt . The Borrower shall have entered
into the Subordinated Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions
thereof shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders and the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 3.01 of the Subordinated Credit Agreement shall
contemporaneously herewith have been satisfied or waived in writing
as of the date hereof. The Borrower shall have delivered
copies of the Subordinated Credit Agreement and each other
agreement, instrument, or document executed by the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries or any of their Responsible Officers at any
time in connection with the Subordinated Credit Agreement on or
before the date hereof.
(o)
USA Patriot Act . The Borrower has delivered to each
Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act such information
requested by such Lender in order to comply with the Patriot
Act.
Section 3.02
Conditions Precedent to All Borrowings . The
obligation of each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of
each Borrowing and of the Issuing Lender to issue, increase, or
extend any Letter of Credit shall be subject to the further
conditions precedent that on the date of such Borrowing or the date
of the issuance, increase, or extension of such Letter of
Credit:
(a)
the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of
the applicable Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion or
Continuation, or Letter of Credit Application and the acceptance by
the Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or the issuance,
increase, or extension of such Letter of Credit shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrower
45
that on the date of such Borrowing or on the
date of such issuance, increase, or extension of such Letter of
Credit, as applicable, such statements are true):
(i)
the representations and warranties contained in Article IV of
this Agreement and the representations and warranties contained in
the Security Instruments, the Guaranties, and each of the other
Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and
as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of the issuance,
increase, or extension of such Letter of Credit, before and after
giving effect to such Borrowing or to the issuance, increase, or
extension of such Letter of Credit and to the application of the
proceeds from such Borrowing, as though made on and as of such date
except to the extent that any such representation or warranty
expressly relates solely to an earlier date, in which case it shall
have been true and correct in all material respects as of such
earlier date; and
(ii)
no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such
Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, or
would result from the issuance, increase, or extension of such
Letter of Credit; and
(b)
the Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals,
opinions, or documents reasonably deemed necessary or desirable by
any Lender as a result of circumstances occurring after the date of
this Agreement, as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may
reasonably request.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants
as follows:
Section 4.01
Existence; Subsidiaries . The Borrower is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of Delaware and in good standing and qualified to do
business in each other jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of
Property or conduct of its business requires such qualification
except where the failure to be so qualified could not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Change. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower is duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of
its jurisdiction of formation and in good standing and qualified to
do business in each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of
Property or conduct of its business requires such qualification
except where the failure to be so qualified could not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Change. As of the date hereof, the Borrower has no
Subsidiaries other than those listed identified in Schedule
4.01.
Section 4.02
Power . The execution, delivery, and performance by
the Borrower of this Agreement, the Notes, and the other Loan
Documents to which it is a party and by the Guarantors of the
Guaranties and the other Loan Documents to which they are a party
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (a) are within the Borrower’s and such
Guarantors’ governing powers, (b) have been duly
authorized by all necessary governing action, (c) do not
contravene (i) the Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s
certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, limited liability
company agreement, or other similar
46
governance documents or (ii) any law or any
contractual restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower or any
Guarantor, and (d) will not result in or require the creation
or imposition of any Lien prohibited by this Agreement. At
the time of each Advance and the issuance, extension or increase of
a Letter of Credit, such Advance and such Letter of Credit, and the
use of the proceeds of such Advance and such Letter of Credit, will
be within the Borrower’s governing powers, will have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, will not
contravene (i) the Borrower’s certificate of
incorporation and bylaws or other organizational documents or
(ii) any law or any contractual restriction binding on or
affecting the Borrower and will not result in or require the
creation or imposition of any Lien prohibited by this
Agreement.
Section 4.03
Authorization and Approvals . No consent, order,
authorization, or approval or other action by, and no notice to or
filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is
required for the due execution, delivery, and performance by the
Borrower of this Agreement, the Notes, or the other Loan Documents
to which the Borrower is a party or by each Guarantor of its
Guaranty or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby. At the
time of each Borrowing and each issuance, increase or extension of
a Letter of Credit, no authorization or approval or other action
by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority
will be required for such Borrowing or such issuance, increase or
extension of such Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds of
such Borrowing or such Letter of Credit.
Section 4.04
Enforceable Obligations . This Agreement, the Notes,
and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party have
been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and the Guaranties
and the other Loan Documents to which each Guarantor is a party
have been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantors. Each
Loan Document is the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the
Borrower and each Guarantor which is a party to it enforceable
against the Borrower and each such Guarantor in accordance with its
terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or
similar law affecting creditors’ rights generally and by
general principles of equity.
Section 4.05
Financial Statements .
(a)
The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders copies of the Financial Statements and the Interim
Financial Statements, and the Financial Statements and the Interim
Financial Statements are accurate and complete in all material
respects and present fairly the financial condition of Borrower and
its consolidated Subsidiaries for their respective period in
accordance with GAAP. As of the date of the Financial
Statements, there were no material contingent obligations,
liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments, or
unrealized or anticipated losses of the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
except as disclosed therein and adequate reserves for such items
have been made in accordance with GAAP.
(b)
Since the date of the Financial Statements, no event or
circumstance that could cause a Material Adverse Change has
occurred.
47
(c)
As of the date hereof, the Borrower, the Guarantors and their
respective Subsidiaries have no Debt other than the Debt listed on
Schedule 4.05.
Section 4.06
True and Complete Disclosure . All factual information
(excluding estimates) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by
or on behalf of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors in writing to
any Lender or the Administrative Agent for purposes of or in
connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any
transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is, and all other such
factual information hereafter furnished by or on behalf of the
Borrower and the Guarantors in writing to the Administrative Agent
or any of the Lenders was or shall be, true and accurate in all
material respects on the date as of which such information was or
is dated or certified and did not or does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading
at such time. All projections, estimates, and pro forma
financial information furnished by the Borrower were prepared on
the basis of assumptions, data, information, tests, or conditions
believed to be reasonable at the time such projections, estimates,
and pro forma financial information were furnished.
Section 4.07
Litigation; Compliance with Laws .
(a)
There is no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened action or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of
the Guarantors before any court, Governmental Authority or
arbitrator which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Change other than as set forth in Schedule 4.07 or which
purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement, any Note, or any other Loan
Document. Additionally, there is no pending or, to the best
of the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened action or proceeding
instituted against the Borrower or any of the Guarantors which
seeks to adjudicate the Borrower or any of the Guarantors as
bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or
composition of it or its debts under any law relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or
seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a
receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or for any
substantial part of its Property.
(b)
The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material
respects with all material statutes, rules, regulations, orders and
restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
the conduct of their respective businesses or the ownership of
their respective Property
Section 4.08
Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Advances will be
used by the Borrower for the purposes described in
Section 5.09. The Borrower is not engaged in the
business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying margin stock (within the meaning of
Regulation U). No proceeds of any Advance will be used
to purchase or carry any margin stock in violation of
Regulation T, U or X.
Section 4.09
Investment Company Act . Neither the Borrower nor any
of the Guarantors is an “investment company” or a
company “controlled” by an “investment
company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
48
Section 4.10
Federal Power Act . Neither the Administrative Agent,
the Issuing Lender nor any of the Lenders, solely by virtue of the
execution, delivery and performance of, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by, the Loan Documents shall be or become
subject to regulation (a) under the Federal Power Act, as
amended, (b) as a “public utility” or
“public service corporation” or the equivalent under
the applicable law of any state, or (c) under the applicable
laws of any state relating to public utilities or public service
corporations.
Section 4.11
Taxes .
(a)
Reports and Payments . All Returns (as defined below
in clause (c) of this Section) required to be filed by or on
behalf of the Borrower, the Guarantors, or any member of the
Controlled Group (hereafter collectively called the “Tax
Group”) have been duly filed on a timely basis or appropriate
extensions have been obtained and such Returns are and will be
true, complete and correct, except where the failure to so file
would not be reasonably expected to cause a Material Adverse
Change; and all Taxes shown to be payable on the Returns or on
subsequent assessments with respect thereto will have been paid in
full on a timely basis, and no other Taxes will be payable by the
Tax Group with respect to items or periods covered by such Returns,
except in each case to the extent of (i) reserves reflected in
the Financial Statements and the Interim Financial Statements, or
(ii) taxes that are being contested in good faith. The
reserves for accrued Taxes reflected in the financial statements
delivered to the Lenders under this Agreement are adequate in the
aggregate for the payment of all unpaid Taxes, whether or not
disputed, for the period ended as of the date thereof and for any
period prior thereto, and for which the Tax Group may be liable in
its own right, as withholding agent or as a transferee of the
assets of, or successor to, any Person.
(b)
Taxes Definition . “Taxes” in this
Section 4.11 shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies, or
other assessments imposed by any federal, state, local, or foreign
taxing authority, including without limitation, income, gross
receipts, excise, real or personal property, sales, occupation,
use, service, leasing, environmental, value added, transfer,
payroll, and franchise taxes (and including any interest,
penalties, or additions to tax attributable to or imposed on with
respect to any such assessment).
(c)
Returns Definition . “Returns” in this
Section 4.11 shall mean any federal, state, local, or foreign
report, estimate, declaration of estimated Tax, information
statement or return relating to, or required to be filed in
connection with, any Taxes, including any information return or
report with respect to backup withholding or other payments of
third parties.
Section 4.12
Pension Plans . All Plans are in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA. No
Termination Event has occurred with respect to any Plan, and each
Plan has complied with and been administered in all material
respects in accordance with applicable provisions of ERISA and the
Code. No “accumulated funding deficiency” (as
defined in Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred and there has
been no excise tax imposed under Section 4971 of the
Code. No Reportable Event under Section 4043 of ERISA
and the regulations issued thereunder has occurred with respect to
any Multiemployer Plan, and each Multiemployer Plan has complied
with and been administered in all material respects with applicable
provisions of ERISA and the Code. The present value of all
benefits vested under each Plan (based on the assumptions used to
fund such Plan) did not, as of the last annual
49
valuation date applicable thereto, exceed the
value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such vested
benefits. Neither the Borrower nor any member of the
Controlled Group has had a complete or partial withdrawal from any
Multiemployer Plan for which there is any withdrawal
liability. As of the most recent valuation date applicable
thereto, neither the Borrower nor any member of the Controlled
Group would become subject to any liability under ERISA if the
Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group has received notice
that any Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in
reorganization. Based upon GAAP existing as of the date of
this Agreement and current factual circumstances, the Borrower has
no reason to believe that the annual cost during the term of this
Agreement to the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group for
post-retirement benefits to be provided to the current and former
employees of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group
under Plans that are welfare benefit plans (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA) could, in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse
Change.
Section 4.13
Condition of Property; Casualties . Each of the
Borrower and the Guarantors has good and marketable title to all of
its Oil and Gas Properties as is customary in the oil and gas
industry in all material respects, free and clear of all Liens
except for Permitted Liens. Each of the Borrower and the
Guarantors has good and indefeasible title to all of its other
Properties, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted
Liens. The material Properties used or to be used in the
continuing operations of the Borrower and each of the Guarantors
are in good repair, working order and condition. Since the
date of the Financial Statements, neither the business nor the
material Properties of the Borrower and each of the Guarantors,
taken as a whole, has been materially and adversely affected as a
result of any fire, explosion, earthquake, flood, drought,
windstorm, accident, strike or other labor disturbance, embargo,
requisition or taking of Property or cancellation of contracts,
Permits, or concessions by a Governmental Authority, riot,
activities of armed forces, or acts of God or of any public
enemy.
Section 4.14
No Burdensome Restrictions; No Defaults .
(a)
Other than those identified on Schedule 4.14(a), neither the
Borrower nor any Guarantor is a party to any indenture, loan, or
credit agreement or any lease or other agreement or instrument or
subject to any charter or corporate restriction or provision of
applicable law or governmental regulation that could reasonably be
expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. Neither the
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under or with
respect to any contract, agreement, lease, or other instrument to
which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party and which could
reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change or under
any agreement in connection with any Debt, including, without
limitation, the Subordinated Loan Documents. Neither the
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of
default under any material contract, agreement, lease, or other
instrument to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary is a party a
copy of which has not been delivered to the Administrative
Agent.
(b)
No Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 4.15
Environmental Condition .
(a)
Permits, Etc . The Borrower and the Guarantors
(i) have obtained all Environmental Permits necessary for the
ownership and operation of their respective Properties
50
and the conduct of their respective businesses;
(ii) have at all times been and are in material compliance
with all terms and conditions of such Permits and with all other
material requirements of applicable Environmental Laws;
(iii) have not received notice of any material violation or
alleged violation of any Environmental Law or Permit; and
(iv) are not subject to any actual or contingent Environmental
Claim, which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Change.
(b)
Certain Liabilities . To the Borrower’s actual
knowledge, none of the present or previously owned or operated
Property of the Borrower or any Guarantor or of any of their former
Subsidiaries, wherever located, (i) has been placed on or
proposed to be placed on the National Priorities List, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability
Information System list, or their state or local analogs, or have
been otherwise investigated, designated, listed, or identified as a
potential site for removal, remediation, cleanup, closure,
restoration, reclamation, or other response activity under any
Environmental Laws; (ii) is subject to a Lien, arising under
or in connection with any Environmental Laws, that attaches to any
revenues or to any Property owned or operated by the Borrower or
any of the Guarantors, wherever located, which could reasonably be
expected to cause a Material Adverse Change; or (iii) has been
the site of any Release of Hazardous Substances or Hazardous Wastes
from present or past operations which has caused at the site or at
any third-party site any condition that has resulted in or could
reasonably be expected to result in the need for Response that
would cause a Material Adverse Change.
(c)
Certain Actions . Without limiting the foregoing,
(i) all necessary notices have been properly filed, and no
further action is required under current Environmental Law as to
each Response or other restoration or remedial project undertaken
by the Borrower or the Guarantors or any of their former
Subsidiaries on any of their presently or formerly owned or
operated Property and (ii) the present and, to the
Borrower’s best knowledge, future liability, if any, of the
Borrower and the Guarantors which could reasonably be expected to
arise in connection with requirements under Environmental Laws will
not result in a Material Adverse Change.
Section 4.16
Permits, Licenses, Etc . The Borrower and the
Guarantors possess all authorizations, Permits, licenses, patents,
patent rights or licenses, trademarks, trademark rights, trade
names rights and copyrights which are material to the conduct of
their business. The Borrower and the Guarantors manage and
operate their business in all material respects in accordance with
all applicable Legal Requirements and good industry
practices.
Section 4.17
Gas Contracts . Neither the Borrower nor any of the
Guarantors, as of the date hereof, (a) is obligated in any
material respect by virtue of any prepayment made under any
contract containing a “take-or-pay” or
“prepayment” provision or under any similar agreement
to deliver hydrocarbons produced from or allocated to any of the
Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties
at some future date without receiving full payment therefor at the
time of delivery, or (b) except as has been disclosed to the
Administrative Agent, has produced gas, in any material amount,
subject to, and none of the Borrower’s and the
Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties is subject to, balancing
rights of third parties or subject to balancing duties under
governmental requirements.
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Section 4.18
Liens; Titles, Leases, Etc . None of the Property of
the Borrower or any of the Guarantors is subject to any Lien other
than Permitted Liens. On the date of this Agreement, all
governmental actions and all other filings, recordings,
registrations, third party consents and other actions which are
necessary to create and perfect the Liens provided for in the
Security Instruments will have been made, obtained and taken in all
relevant jurisdictions. All leases and agreements for the
conduct of business of the Borrower and the Guarantors are valid
and subsisting, in full force and effect and there exists no
default or event of default or circumstance which with the giving
of notice or lapse of time or both would give rise to a default
under any such leases or agreements which could reasonably be
expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. Neither the
Borrower nor any of the Guarantors is a party to any agreement or
arrangement (other than this Agreement and the Security
Instruments), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree,
which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant
Liens to secure the Obligations against their respective assets or
Properties.
Section 4.19
Solvency and Insurance . Before and after giving
effect to the making of the initial Advances (or deemed issuance
thereof under Section 2.01(b)), each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries is Solvent. Additionally, each of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries carry insurance required under
Section 5.02 of this Agreement.
Section 4.20
Hedging Agreements . Schedule 4.20 sets forth, as of
the date hereof, a true and complete list of all Interest Hedge
Agreements, Hydrocarbon Hedge Agreements, and Hedge Contracts of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the material terms thereof
(including the type, term, effective date, termination date and
notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value thereof,
all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any
margin required or supplied), and the counterparty to each such
agreement.
Section 4.21
Material Agreements . Schedule 4.21 sets forth a
complete and correct list of all material agreements, leases,
indentures, purchase agreements, obligations in respect of letters
of credit, guarantees, joint venture agreements, and other
instruments in effect or to be in effect as of the date hereof
(other than the agreements set forth in Schedule 4.20) providing
for, evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to any Debt of the
Borrower or any of the Guarantors, and all obligations of the
Borrower or any of the Guarantors to issuers of surety or appeal
bonds issued for account of the Borrower or any such Guarantor, and
such list correctly sets forth the names of the debtor or lessee
and creditor or lessor with respect to the Debt or lease
obligations outstanding or to be outstanding and the Property
subject to any Lien securing such Debt or lease obligation.
Also set forth on Schedule 4.21 hereto is a complete and correct
list of all material agreements and other instruments of the
Borrower and the Guarantors relating to the purchase,
transportation by pipeline, gas processing, marketing, sale and
supply of natural gas and other Hydrocarbons. The Borrower
has heretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders a complete and correct copy of all such material credit
agreements, indentures, purchase agreements, contracts, letters of
credit, guarantees, joint venture agreements, or other instruments,
including any modifications or supplements thereto, as in effect on
the date hereof.
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ARTICLE V
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
So long as any Note or any amount
under any Loan Document shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit
shall remain outstanding, or any Lender shall have any Commitment
hereunder, the Borrower agrees, unless the Majority Lenders shall
otherwise consent in writing, to comply with the following
covenants.
Section 5.01
Compliance with Laws, Etc . The Borrower shall comply,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material
respects with all material Legal Requirements. Without
limiting the generality and coverage of the foregoing, the Borrower
shall comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply,
in all material respects, with all material Environmental Laws and
all laws, regulations, or directives with respect to equal
employment opportunity and employee safety in all jurisdictions in
which the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries do business;
provided , however, that this Section 5.01 shall not
prevent the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from, in good faith
and with reasonable diligence, contesting the validity or
application of any such laws or regulations by appropriate legal
proceedings. Without limitation of the foregoing, the
Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
(a) maintain and possess all authorizations, Permits,
licenses, trademarks, trade names, rights and copyrights which are
necessary to the conduct of its business and (b) obtain, as
soon as practicable, all consents or approvals required from any
states of the United States (or other Governmental Authorities)
necessary to grant the Administrative Agent an Acceptable Security
Interest in the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ Oil
and Gas Properties.
Section 5.02
Maintenance of Insurance .
(a)
The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
procure and maintain or shall cause to be procured and maintained
continuously in effect policies of insurance in form and amounts
and issued by companies, associations or organizations reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent covering such casualties,
risks, perils, liabilities and other hazards reasonably required by
the Administrative Agent. In addition, the Borrower shall,
and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all
requirements regarding insurance contained in the Security
Instruments.
(b)
All certified copies of policies or certificates thereof, and
endorsements and renewals thereof shall be delivered to and
retained by the Administrative Agent. All policies of
insurance shall either have attached thereto a Lender’s loss
payable endorsement for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as
loss payee in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent or shall name the Administrative Agent as an additional
insured, as applicable. The Borrower shall furnish the
Administrative Agent with a certificate of insurance or a certified
copy of all policies of insurance required. All policies or
certificates of insurance shall set forth the coverage, the limits
of liability, the name of the carrier, the policy number, and the
period of coverage. In addition, all policies of insurance
required under the terms hereof shall contain an endorsement or
agreement by the insurer that any loss shall be payable in
accordance with the terms of such policy notwithstanding any act of
negligence of the Borrower, or a Subsidiary or any party holding
under the Borrower or a Subsidiary which might otherwise result in
a forfeiture of the insurance and the further agreement of the
insurer waiving all rights of setoff, counterclaim or deductions
against the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. All such policies
shall contain a provision that notwithstanding any contrary
agreements between the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and the
applicable insurance company, such policies will not be canceled,
allowed
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to lapse without renewal, surrendered or amended
(which provision shall include any reduction in the scope or limits
of coverage) without at least 30 days’ prior written notice
to the Administrative Agent. In the event that,
notwithstanding the “lender’s loss payable
endorsement” requirement of this Section 5.02, the
proceeds of any insurance policy described above are paid to the
Borrower or a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall deliver such proceeds
to the Administrative Agent immediately upon receipt.
Section 5.03
Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc . The
Borrower shall preserve and maintain, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain, its corporate or limited
liability company, as applicable, existence, rights, franchises,
and privileges in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization, as applicable, and qualify and remain qualified, and
cause each such Subsidiary to qualify and remain qualified, as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which qualification is
necessary or desirable in view of its business and operations or
the ownership of its Properties, and, in each case, where failure
to qualify or preserve and maintain its rights and franchises could
reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse
Change.
Section 5.04
Payment of Taxes, Etc . The Borrower shall pay and
discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge,
before the same shall become delinquent, (a) all taxes,
assessments, and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or
upon its income or profits or Property that are material in amount,
prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto and
(b) all lawful claims that are material in amount which, if
unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its Property;
provided , however, that neither the Borrower nor any such
Subsidiary shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax,
assessment, charge, levy, or claim which is being contested in good
faith and by appropriate proceedings, and with respect to which
reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided.
Section 5.05
Visitation Rights . At any reasonable time and from
time to time, upon reasonable notice, the Borrower shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries to, permit the Administrative Agent and any
Lender or any of their respective agents or representatives
thereof, to (a) examine and make copies of and abstracts from
the records and books of account of, and visit and inspect at their
reasonable discretion the Properties of, the Borrower and any such
Subsidiary, and (b) discuss the affairs, finances and accounts
of the Borrower and any such Subsidiary with any of their
respective officers or directors.
Section 5.06
Reporting Requirements . The Borrower shall furnish to
the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a)
Annual Financials . As soon as available and in any
event not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of
the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, commencing with
fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, (i) to the extent not
otherwise provided in the Form 10-K filed by the Borrower with
the SEC for such fiscal year end, a copy of the annual audit report
for such year for the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries,
including therein the Borrower’s and its consolidated
Subsidiaries’ balance sheets as of the end of such fiscal
year and the Borrower’s and its consolidated
Subsidiaries’ statements of income, cash flows, and retained
earnings, in each case certified by an independent certified public
accountants of national standing reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent and including any management letters delivered
by such accountants to the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection
with such
54
audit, (ii) any management letters
delivered by such accountants to the Borrower, (iii) the
Form 10-K filed with the SEC for such fiscal year end,
(iv) a Compliance Certificate executed by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower and (v) a copy of the unaudited annual
consolidating financial statements of each of its Subsidiaries,
including therein such Subsidiary’s balance sheet and
statements of income, cash flows, and retained earnings for such
fiscal year;
(b)
Quarterly Financials . As soon as available and in any
event not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first
three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries, commencing with the fiscal quarter
ending December 31, 2008, (i) to the extent not otherwise
provided in the Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter end, the
unaudited balance sheet and the statements of income, cash flows,
and retained earnings of each such Person for the period commencing
at the end of the previous year and ending with the end of such
fiscal quarter, all in reasonable detail and duly certified with
respect to such consolidated statements (subject to year-end audit
adjustments) by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as having
been prepared in accordance with GAAP, (ii) the Form 10-Q
filed with the SEC for such fiscal quarter end, and (iii) a
Compliance Certificate executed by the Responsible Officer of the
Borrower;
(c)
Oil and Gas Reserve Reports .
(i)
As soon as available but in any event on or before each
September 30 of each year, an Independent Engineering Report
dated effective as of July 1 for such year;
(ii)
As soon as available but in any event on or before
(A) May 1, 2009 and (B) March 31 of each year,
commencing with March 31, 2010, an Internal Engineering Report
dated effective as of the immediately preceding
January 1;
(iii)
Such other information as may be reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to the Oil and Gas
Properties included or to be included in the Borrowing
Base;
With the delivery of each Engineering Report, a
certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying
that, to the best of his knowledge and in all material respects:
(A) the information contained in the Engineering Report and
any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and
correct, (B) the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable,
owns good and marketable title to the Oil and Gas Properties
evaluated in such Engineering Report, as is customary in the oil
and gas industry, and such Oil and Gas Properties are subject to an
Acceptable Se