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113 / 4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017

Promissory Note

113 / 4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017 | Document Parties: LINN ENERGY, LLC | LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP | US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION You are currently viewing:
This Promissory Note involves

LINN ENERGY, LLC | LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP | US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

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Title: 113 / 4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017
Governing Law: New York     Date: 5/18/2009
Industry: Oil and Gas Operations     Law Firm: Baker Hostetler     Sector: Energy

113 / 4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017, Parties: linn energy  llc , linn energy finance corp , us bank national association
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Execution Version

LINN ENERGY, LLC

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.

AND

THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HEREOF

 

11 3 / 4 % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of May 18, 2009

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

As Trustee


 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

 

 

 

 

Trust Indenture

 

Indenture

 

Act Section

 

Section

 

310(a)(1)

 

 

7.10

 

(a)(2)

 

 

7.10

 

(a)(3)

 

 

N/A

 

(a)(4)

 

 

N/A

 

(a)(5)

 

 

7.10

 

(b)

 

 

7.10

 

(c)

 

 

N/A

 

311(a)

 

 

7.11

 

(b)

 

 

7.11

 

(c)

 

 

N/A

 

312(a)

 

 

2.05

 

(b)

 

 

11.03

 

(c)

 

 

11.03

 

313(a)

 

 

7.06

 

(b)(1)

 

 

7.06

 

(b)(2)

 

 

7.06, 7.07

 

(c)

 

 

7.06, 11.02

 

(d)

 

 

7.06

 

314(a)

 

 

4.03, 4.04, 11.02

 

(b)

 

 

N/A

 

(c)(1)

 

 

11.04

 

(c)(2)

 

 

11.04

 

(c)(3)

 

 

N/A

 

(d)

 

 

N/A

 

(e)

 

 

11.05

 

(f)

 

 

N/A

 

315(a)

 

 

7.01

 

(b)

 

 

7.05, 11.02

 

(c)

 

 

7.01

 

(d)

 

 

7.01

 

(e)

 

 

6.11

 

316(a)(last sentence)

 

 

2.08

 

(a)(1)(A)

 

 

6.05

 

(a)(1)(B)

 

 

6.04

 

(a)(2)

 

 

N/A

 

(b)

 

 

6.07

 

(c)

 

 

9.04

 

317(a)(1)

 

 

6.08

 

(a)(2)

 

 

6.09

 

(b)

 

 

2.04

 

318(a)

 

 

11.01

 

(b)

 

 

N/A

 

(c)

 

 

11.01

 

 

N/A

 

means not applicable.

 

*

 

This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

i


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

 

1

 

Section 1.01 Definitions

 

 

1

 

Section 1.02 Other Definitions

 

 

32

 

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

 

 

33

 

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES

 

 

33

 

Section 2.01 Form and Dating

 

 

33

 

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication

 

 

34

 

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent

 

 

34

 

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

 

 

35

 

Section 2.05 Noteholder Lists

 

 

35

 

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange

 

 

35

 

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes

 

 

35

 

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes

 

 

36

 

Section 2.09 Temporary Notes

 

 

36

 

Section 2.10 Cancellation

 

 

36

 

Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest

 

 

37

 

Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers

 

 

37

 

Section 2.13 Issuance of Additional Notes

 

 

37

 

Section 2.14 Persons Deemed Owners

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

 

38

 

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee

 

 

38

 

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

 

 

38

 

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption

 

 

39

 

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption

 

 

40

 

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price

 

 

40

 

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part

 

 

40

 

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption

 

 

41

 

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption

 

 

42

 

Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds

 

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS

 

 

43

 

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes

 

 

43

 

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

 

44

 

Section 4.03 Reports

 

 

44

 

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate

 

 

45

 

Section 4.05 Taxes

 

 

46

 

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

 

 

46

 

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments

 

 

46

 

Section 4.08 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

 

 

50

 

ii


 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock

 

 

53

 

Section 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales

 

 

56

 

Section 4.11 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates

 

 

58

 

Section 4.12 Limitation on Liens

 

 

60

 

Section 4.13 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees

 

 

60

 

Section 4.14 Existence

 

 

60

 

Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

 

 

61

 

Section 4.16 No Partial Inducements

 

 

63

 

Section 4.17 Limitations on Finance Corp. Activities

 

 

63

 

Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

 

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS

 

 

64

 

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets

 

 

64

 

Section 5.02 Successor Substituted

 

 

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

 

67

 

Section 6.01 Events of Default

 

 

67

 

Section 6.02 Acceleration

 

 

69

 

Section 6.03 Other Remedies

 

 

69

 

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults

 

 

70

 

Section 6.05 Control by Majority

 

 

70

 

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits

 

 

70

 

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

 

 

71

 

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee

 

 

71

 

Section 6.09 Trustee is Authorized to File Proofs of Claim

 

 

71

 

Section 6.10 Priorities

 

 

71

 

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs

 

 

72

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE

 

 

72

 

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee

 

 

72

 

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee

 

 

73

 

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee

 

 

75

 

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer

 

 

75

 

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults

 

 

75

 

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes

 

 

75

 

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity

 

 

76

 

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee

 

 

77

 

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

 

 

78

 

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification

 

 

78

 

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers

 

 

78

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

 

78

 

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

 

78

 

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge

 

 

78

 

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance

 

 

79

 

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

 

 

80

 

iii


 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

 

 

81

 

Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers

 

 

81

 

Section 8.07 Reinstatement

 

 

82

 

Section 8.08 Discharge

 

 

82

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

 

83

 

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes

 

 

83

 

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes

 

 

84

 

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

 

 

86

 

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents

 

 

86

 

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes

 

 

86

 

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc

 

 

87

 

Section 9.07 Acts of Holders

 

 

87

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES OF NOTES

 

 

88

 

Section 10.01 Subsidiary Guarantees

 

 

88

 

Section 10.02 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms

 

 

89

 

Section 10.03 Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees

 

 

89

 

Section 10.04 Limitation on Guarantor Liability

 

 

90

 

Section 10.05 “Trustee” to Include Paying Agent

 

 

90

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

91

 

Section 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls

 

 

91

 

Section 11.02 Notices

 

 

91

 

Section 11.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes

 

 

92

 

Section 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

 

 

92

 

Section 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

 

 

93

 

Section 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents

 

 

94

 

Section 11.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders

 

 

94

 

Section 11.08 Governing Law

 

 

94

 

Section 11.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

 

 

94

 

Section 11.10 Successors

 

 

94

 

Section 11.11 Severability

 

 

94

 

Section 11.12 Table of Contents, Headings, etc

 

 

94

 

Section 11.13 Counterparts

 

 

95

 

Section 11.14 Benefits of Indenture

 

 

95

 

Section 11.15 Language of Notices, Etc

 

 

95

 

iv


 

APPENDIX AND ANNEXES

 

 

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

 

App. - 1

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 1 Form of Initial Note

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 2 Form of Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A Form of Supplemental Indenture

 

A - 1

 

 

 

ANNEX B Form of Registration Rights Agreement

 

B - 1

v


 

     This INDENTURE, dated as of May 18, 2009 is among LINN ENERGY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), the guarantors listed on the signature page hereof (each, a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Guarantors”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

     The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Issuers’ Initial Notes, Exchange Notes, Private Exchange Notes and Additional Notes:

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions .

     “ Additional Assets ” means:

     (1) any assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, other than Indebtedness or Capital Stock;

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

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

provided, however, that any such Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (2) or (3) is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

     “ Additional Interest ” means all Additional Interest then owing pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to in clause (1) of the definition of “Registration Rights Agreement” in the Appendix. Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references to “interest” in this Indenture or the Notes shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest.

     “ Additional Notes ” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.09 , 11 3 / 4 % Senior Notes due 2017 issued from time to time after the Initial Issuance Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 2.06 , 2.07 , 2.09 , 3.06 , 4.10 , 4.15 or 9.05 of this Indenture or Sections 2.3 or 2.4 of the Appendix and other than Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes issued pursuant to an exchange offer for Initial Notes outstanding under this Indenture).

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

     (1) the sum of:

 


 

     (a) discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal or other income taxes, as estimated by the Company in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the fiscal year of such Person for which audited financial statements are available, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue from:

     (i) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such reserve report, which reserves were not reflected in such reserve report, and

     (ii) estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices for the fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of determination),

and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue attributable to:

     (A) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report produced or disposed of since the date of such reserve report, and

     (B) reductions in the estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report since the date of such reserve report due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices for the fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of determination);

provided, however, that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (A) and (B) above, such increases and decreases shall be estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers;

     (b) the capitalized costs that are attributable to crude oil and natural gas properties of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved crude oil and natural gas reserves are attributable, based on such Person’s books

2


 

and records as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements;

     (c) the Net Working Capital of such Person as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements; and

     (d) the greater of:

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

     (ii) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (provided that such Person shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed);

      minus

     (2) the sum of:

     (a) Minority Interests;

     (b) to the extent not otherwise taken into account in determining Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, any net natural gas balancing liabilities of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Person’s latest audited financial statements;

     (c) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such Person’s year end reserve report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties;

     (d) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such Person’s year end reserve report), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

     (e) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated

3


 

Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in clause (1)(a) above, would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

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

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

     “ Agent ” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

     “ Applicable Law ,” except as the context may otherwise require, means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court or governmental or congressional agency or authority and rules, regulations, orders, licenses and permits of any United States federal, state, municipal, regional, or other governmental body, instrumentality, agency or authority.

     “ Applicable Procedures ” of a Depository means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depository, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

     “ Asset Sale ” means:

     (1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a Production Payment or a sale and leaseback transaction or mergers, consolidations or otherwise); provided, however, that the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will not be an “Asset Sale,” but will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 and/or the provisions of Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 ; and

     (2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

     (1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves properties or assets having a fair market value of less than $10.0 million;

4


 

     (2) a disposition of assets between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,

     (3) an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

     (4) any disposition of equipment, inventory, products, accounts receivable or other properties or assets in the ordinary course of business;

     (5) the disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

     (6) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 or a Permitted Investment;

     (7) the farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil or natural gas properties owned or held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or in exchange for crude oil and natural gas properties owned or held by another Person;

     (8) any trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of oil and gas properties or other properties or assets for oil and gas properties or other properties or assets owned or held by another Person, provided that the fair market value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (together with any cash) is reasonably equivalent to the fair market value of the properties or assets (together with any cash) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, and provided further that any cash received must be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10 ;

     (9) the creation or perfection of a Lien (but not, except to the extent contemplated in clause (10) below, the sale or other disposition of the properties or assets subject to such Lien);

     (10) the creation or perfection of a Permitted Lien and the exercise by any Person in whose favor a Permitted Lien is granted of any of its rights in respect of that Permitted Lien;

     (11) a surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

     (12) the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license or sublicense of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property, including without limitation licenses of seismic data; and

     (13) the disposition of oil and natural gas properties in connection with tax credit transactions complying with Section 29 of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor or analogous provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

5


 

     “ Attributable Debt ” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP. As used in the preceding sentence, the “net rental payments” under any lease for any period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

     “ Available Cash ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the LLC Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

     “ Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, as may be amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

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

     “ Board of Directors ” means:

     (1) with respect to Finance Corp., the board of directors of Finance Corp.;

     (2) with respect to the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company or any authorized committee thereof; and

     (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

     “ Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

     “ Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in Houston, Texas or in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.

6


 

     “ Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

     “ Capital Stock ” means:

     (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

     (2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

     (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

     (4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person,

but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

     “ Cash Equivalents ” means:

     (1) United States dollars;

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

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

     (4) certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

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

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     (6) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and, in each case, maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and

     (7) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

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

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

     (2) the adoption by the unitholders of the Company of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

     (3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like; or

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

     Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity, and, in either case no “person” Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity.

     “ Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, S.A., or any successor securities clearing agency.

     “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

     “ Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication:

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     (1) an amount equal to any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

     (2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

     (3) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

     (4) depreciation, depletion, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, depletion, amortization, impairment and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

     (5) unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

     (6) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business; and minus

     (7) to the extent increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and (b) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments;

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

     “ Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that:

     (1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

     (2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any

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prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members;

     (3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

     (4) any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of such Person or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any sale or leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person will be excluded;

     (5) any asset impairment writedowns on oil and gas properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines will be excluded;

     (6) unrealized losses and gains under Hedging Contracts included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation those resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 will be excluded;

     (7) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Net Income, any non-cash or nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded;

     (8) items classified as extraordinary or nonrecurring gains and losses (less all fees and expenses related thereto) and the related tax effects, in each case according to GAAP, will be excluded; and

     (9) income resulting from transfers of assets (other than cash) between such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person, on the other hand, will be excluded.

     “ Consolidated Net Worth ” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the sum of:

     (1) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date; plus

     (2) the respective amounts reported on such Person’s balance sheet as of such date with respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such preferred stock.

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     “ Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:

     (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or

     (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.

     “ Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” means the office of the Trustee in the City of New York at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, Attn: Corporate Trust Department, or such other address in the City of New York as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers, or the principal corporate trust office in the City of New York of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers).

     “ Credit Agreement ” means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2009, as amended by the First Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement effective May 15, 2009, among the Company, BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

     “ Credit Facilities ” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities or Debt Issuances, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables), letters of credit or other borrowings or Debt Issuances, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including refinancing with any capital markets transaction) in whole or in part from time to time.

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

     “ date of this Indenture ” means May 18, 2009.

     “ Debt Issuance ” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more issuances after the date of this Indenture of Indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar securities or instruments.

     “ Default ” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

     “ Depository ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

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     “ Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the final stated maturity date of the Notes. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 . The amount (or principal amount) of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

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

     “ Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

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

     “ Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) made for cash on a primary basis by the Company after the date of this Indenture.

     “ Equity Repurchase ” means the repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company pursuant to any stock repurchase plan of the Company approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and effected in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law.

     “ Euroclear ” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. or any successor securities clearing agency.

     “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     “ Exchange Notes ” has the meaning specified in the Appendix.

     “ Existing Immaterial Subsidiaries ” means, collectively, Linn Western Processing, LLC, Linn Western Operating, Inc., Mid Atlantic Well Service, Inc., Penn West Storage, LLC, Marathon 85-II Limited Partnership and Marathon 85-III Limited Partnership.

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     “ Existing Indebtedness ” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and intercompany Indebtedness, but including the Existing Senior Notes) in existence on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

     “ Existing Senior Notes ” means the $255,927,000 aggregate principal amount of 9 7 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2018 issued by the Issuers on June 27, 2008.

     “ Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

     In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

     (1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business), or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including in each case any related financing transactions and increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the applicable four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, and the Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period will be calculated giving pro forma effect to any expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the Company (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto);

     (2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

     (3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the

13


 

obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

     (4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at all times during such four-quarter period;

     (5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at any time during such four-quarter period; and

     (6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any obligations arising under any Hedging Contract applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Contract has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

     “ Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

     (1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts; plus

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

     (3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

     (4) all dividends on any series of preferred securities of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

     “ GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.

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     “ Global Note ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Government Securities ” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

     The term “ guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness or entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part). When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a correlative meaning.

     “ Guarantors ” means each of (a) the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, other than Finance Corp. and the Existing Immaterial Subsidiaries, executing this Indenture as initial Guarantors, (b) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that executes a supplement to this Indenture in accordance with Section 4.13 or 10.02 hereof and (c) the respective successors and assigns of such Restricted Subsidiaries in each case until such time as any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of its obligations pursuant to Section 4.13 , 8.02 , 8.03 or 10.04 hereof.

     “ Hedging Contracts ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

     (1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one of more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates, or to otherwise reduce the cost of borrowing of such Person or any of such Restricted Subsidiaries, with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

     (2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one of more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

     (3) any commodity futures contract, commodity swap, commodity option, commodity forward sale or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

     (4) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates,

     and in each case are entered into only in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes.

     “ Holder ” or “ Noteholder ” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

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

     “ Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

     (1) in respect of borrowed money;

     (2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

     (3) in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

     (4) representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;

     (5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

     (6) representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person (provided that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person), and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guarantees of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment, but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment).

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not constitute “Indebtedness”:

     (i) any indebtedness which has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Cash Equivalents (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens, and the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such indebtedness;

     (ii) any obligation of a Person in respect of a farm-in agreement or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of

16


 

the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or gas property; and

     (iii) any obligations arising from agreements of a Person providing for indemnification, guarantees, adjustment of purchase price, holdbacks, contingent payment obligations based on a final financial statement or performance of acquired or disposed of assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of Indebtedness), in each case, incurred or assumed by such Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets (including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise).

     The amount (or principal amount) of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

     (1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

     (2) in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date; and

     (3) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

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

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

     “ Initial Issuance Date ” means May 18, 2009.

     “ Initial Notes ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Initial Purchasers ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans, advances or extensions of credit (including guarantees or similar arrangements, but excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), or capital contributions or purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities (excluding any interest in a crude oil or natural gas leasehold to the extent constituting a security under applicable law), together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to

17


 

have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 . The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 . Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

     “ Joint Venture ” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.

     “ Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under Applicable Law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.

     “ LLC Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Linn Energy, LLC, dated as of January 19, 2006, as in effect on the date of this Indenture and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

     “ Make Whole Premium ” means, with respect to a Note at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such time of (i) the redemption price of such Note at May 15, 2013 pursuant to Section 3.07(a) plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such Note through May 15, 2013 (except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate at such time plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

     “ Measurement Date ” means June 27, 2008, the date of issuance of the Existing Senior Notes pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of June 27, 2008, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

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

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

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     “ Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

     (1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

     (2) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).

     “ Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

     (1) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, title and recording tax expenses and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale,

     (2) taxes paid or payable or required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements,

     (3) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale,

     (4) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale, and

     (5) any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be.

     “ Net Working Capital ” means (a) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, less (b) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness and any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, in each

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case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to FAS 133).

     “ Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

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

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

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

     For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.09 , in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

     “ Notes ” has the meaning specified in the Appendix.

     “ Notes Custodian ” has the meaning specified in the Appendix.

     “ Obligations ” means any principal, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), premium, if any, penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.

     “ Offering Memorandum ” means the offering memorandum of the Issuers dated May 12, 2009 relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.

     “ Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person.

     “ Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of each of the Company and Finance Corp. by two of its Officers, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company or Finance Corp., as the case may be, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof.

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     “ Oil and Gas Business ” means:

     (1) the acquisition, exploration, development, production, operation and disposition of interests in oil, gas and other Hydrocarbon properties;

     (2) the gathering, marketing, treating, processing (but not refining), storage, distribution, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties;

     (3) any business relating to exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing (but not refining), storage, transportation or marketing of oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith;

     (4) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code; and

     (5) any activity that is ancillary, complementary or incidental to or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

     “ Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

     “ Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Excess Proceeds from Asset Sales, Indebtedness of an Issuer or any Guarantor that ranks equally in right of payment with the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, and the terms of which require the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to apply such Excess Proceeds to offer to repurchase such Indebtedness.

     “ Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any other Person existing at the time (a) such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (b) such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the date such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, either

     (1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 ,

     (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction, or

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     (3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company would be greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

     “ Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business, including investments or expenditures for actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting Hydrocarbons through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risk or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including without limitation:

     (1) direct or indirect ownership of crude oil, natural gas, other restricted Hydrocarbon properties or any interest therein, gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems, or ancillary real property interests and interests therein; and

     (2) the entry into operating agreements, joint ventures, processing agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, production sharing agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business, excluding, however, Investments in corporations and publicly-traded limited partnerships.

     “ Permitted Investments ” means:

     (1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

     (2) any Investment in cash and Cash Equivalents;

     (3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

     (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

     (b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

     (4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from:

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     (a) an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 ;

     (b) pursuant to clause (8) of the items deemed not to be Asset Sales under the definition of “Asset Sale;”

     (5) any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

     (6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of, or upon satisfaction of judgments with respect to, (a) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes (including pursuant to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings) with Persons who are not Affiliates;

     (7) Hedging Contracts;

     (8) Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09 ;

     (9) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business;

     (10) Permitted Business Investments;

     (11) Investments that are in existence on the date of this Indenture;

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

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

     (14) loans or advances to officers, directors or employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary and otherwise in compliance with Section 4.11 of this Indenture;

     (15) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the date of this Indenture or of any entity merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.01 of this Indenture, the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition,

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merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

     (16) Investments received as a result of a foreclosure by, or other transfer of title to, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default; and

     (17) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (17) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $50.0 million and 1.0% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the time of such Investment.

     “ Permitted Liens ” means:

     (1) Liens securing any Indebtedness under any of the Credit Facilities;

     (2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;

     (3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

     (4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;

     (5) any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Capital Lease Obligation;

     (6) Liens on any property or asset acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, which (a) are in favor of the seller of such property or assets, in favor of the Person developing, constructing, repairing or improving such asset or property, or in favor of the Person that provided the funding for the acquisition, development, construction, repair or improvement cost, as the case may be, of such asset or property, (b) are created within 360 days after the acquisition, development, construction, repair or improvement, (c) secure the purchase price or development, construction, repair or improvement cost, as the case may be, of such asset or property in an amount up to 100% of the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company if such fair market value is $30.0 million or more) of such acquisition, construction or improvement of such asset or property, and (d) are limited to the asset or property so acquired, constructed or improved (including the proceeds thereof, accessions thereto, upgrades thereof and improvements thereto);

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     (7) Liens existing on the date of this Indenture other than Liens securing the Credit Facilities;

     (8) Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, government contracts, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

     (9) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

     (10) Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

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

     (12) Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

     (13) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases;

     (14) Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 4.09 ;

     (15) Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, and Liens securing other obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under this Indenture;

     (16) Liens to secure payment and performance of Hedging Contracts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

     (17) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

     (18) landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or like Liens arising by contract or statute in the ordinary course of business

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and with respect to amounts which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

     (19) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (A) in connection with leases, tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, government contracts, performance bonds and similar obligations, or (B) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security or similar legislation;

     (20) any attachment or judgment Lien that does not constitute an Event of Default;

     (21) survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

     (22) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained or deposited with a depositary institution; provided that (A) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (B) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to provide collateral to the depositary institution;

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

     (24) leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

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

     (26) Liens arising from the deposit of funds or securities in trust for the purpose of decreasing or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds or securities and such decreasing or defeasing of Indebtedness are permitted under Section 4.07 of this Indenture;

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     (27) Liens (other than Liens securing Indebtedness) on, or related to, assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business for the exploration, drilling, development, production, processing, transportation, marketing, storage or operation thereof;

     (28) Liens arising from royalties, overriding royalties, revenue interests, net revenue interests, net profit interests, reversionary interests, production payments, preferential rights of purchase, working interests and other similar interests, all as ordinarily exist with respect to properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or otherwise as are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

     (29) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding and secured by any Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (29) does not exceed the amount set forth in clause (15) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 of this Indenture; and

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

     “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Disqualified Stock of the Company incurred or issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, discharge, refund or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or any Disqualified Stock of the Company; provided that:

     (1) the principal amount, or in the case of Disqualified Stock, the amount thereof as determined in accordance with the definition of Disqualified Stock, of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness or amount of the Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired (plus all accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness or accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, and the amount of all fees, expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

     (2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, later than the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired;

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     (3) if the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired; and

     (4) such Indebtedness is not incurred (other than by way of a guarantee) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) if the Company is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired.

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

     “ Private Exchange ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Private Exchange Notes ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Production Payments ” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.

     “ Production Payments and Reserve Sales ” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment (whether volumetric or dollar denominated), partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

     “ Purchase Agreement ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ QIB ” means a “ qualified institutional buyer ” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

     “ Registered Exchange Offer ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Registration Rights Agreement ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Regulation S ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Reporting Default ” means a Default described in Section 6.01(d) .

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     “ Responsible Officer ,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

     “ Restricted Global Note ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

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

     “ Restricted Notes Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) of the Appendix.

     “ Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Finance Corp. shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

     “ Rule 144A ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

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

     “ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     “ Senior Debt ” means

     (1) all Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under Credit Facilities and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;

     (2) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and

     (3) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2).

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

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

     (b) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

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

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     “ Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1 , Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture.

     “ Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

     “ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

     (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

     (2) any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

     “ Subsidiary Guarantee ” means the joint and several guarantee pursuant to Article 10 hereof by a Guarantor of the Obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Notes.

     “ TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) and the rules and regulations thereunder, as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA (except as provided in Sections 9.01(i) and 9.03 hereof).

     “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

     “ Treasury Rate ” means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to May 15, 2013; provided, however, that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from

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the redemption date to May 15, 2013 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (b) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Make Whole Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

     “ Trustee ” means the party named as such in the introductory paragraph hereto until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

     “ Uniform Commercial Code ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

     “ Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

     (1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

     (2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

     (3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

     (4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

     Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 . If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 , the Company will be in default of such covenant.

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

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     “ Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

     “ Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

     (1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity or redemption, in respect of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

     (2) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions .

 

 

 

Term

 

Defined in Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

 

4.11

“Appendix”

 

2.01

“Asset Sale Offer”

 

3.09

“Change of Control Offer”

 

4.15

“Change of Control Payment”

 

4.15

“Change of Control Purchase Date”

 

4.15

“Change of Control Settlement Date”

 

4.15

“Covenant Defeasance”

 

8.03

“Discharge”

 

8.08

“Event of Default”

 

6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

 

4.10

“Incremental Funds”

 

4.07

“incur”

 

4.09

“Legal Defeasance”

 

8.02

“Offer Amount”

 

3.09

“Offer Period”

 

3.09

“Paying Agent”

 

2.03

“Payment Default”

 

6.01

“Permitted Debt”

 

4.09

“Register”

 

2.03

“Registrar”

 

2.03

“Restricted Payments”

 

4.07

“Settlement Date”

 

3.09

“Termination Date”

 

3.09

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Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

     Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. Any terms incorporated in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

     Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

     (3) “or” is not exclusive;

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

     (5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

     (7) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole (as amended or supplemented from time to time) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture; and

     (8) “including” means “including, without limitation.”

ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating .

     Provisions relating to the Initial Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Exchange Notes are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix”) which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication therefor shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication therefor shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 to the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which an Issuer is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form

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acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in the Appendix are part of the terms of this Indenture.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication .

     An Officer shall sign the Notes on behalf of each Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

     If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

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

     On the Initial Issuance Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $250,000,000 of 11 3 / 4 % Senior Notes due 2017 and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in a written order of the Issuers. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and to whom the Notes shall be registered and delivered and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.13 after the Initial Issuance Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 .

     The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent .

     The Issuers shall at all times maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency in New York, New York where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “Register”). The Issuers may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

     The Issuers shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07 . The Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

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     The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

     Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on each due date of the principal and interest on any Note, an Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Noteholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

Section 2.05 Noteholder Lists .

     The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Noteholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Noteholders.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange .

     The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer. When a Note is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. The Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.06 , 4.10 , 4.15 or 9.05 ).

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes .

     If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Issuers and the Trustee to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, the

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Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note. In the event any such Note shall have matured, instead of issuing a new Note, the Trustee may pay the same without surrender thereof upon the Holder furnishing the Issuers and the Trustee with indemnity satisfactory to them and complying with such other reasonable regulations as the Trustee may prescribe and paying such reasonable expenses as the Issuer and the Trustee may incur in connection therewith.

     Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuers.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes .

     Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as otherwise provided in TIA § 316(a), a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

     If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 , it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee, any provider of an indemnity bond and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

     If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 11:00 a.m. New York time, on a redemption date or other maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, interest, premium, and Additional Interest, if any, payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall cease to be outstanding and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on them shall cease to accrue.

Section 2.09 Temporary Notes .

     Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes.

Section 2.10 Cancellation .

     An Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, replacement or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, replacement, payment or cancellation. Upon written request, the Trustee will deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Issuers unless the Issuers direct the Trustee to deliver canceled Notes to the Issuers instead. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

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Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest .

     If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuers shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Noteholders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Noteholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers .

     The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

Section 2.13 Issuance of Additional Notes .

     The Issuers shall be entitled, subject to their compliance with Section 4.09 , to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, and any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

     With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

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

     (2) the issue price, the issue date (and the corresponding date from which interest shall accrue thereon and the first interest payment date therefor) and the CUSIP number and any corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes; provided, however, that any issuance of Additional Notes (i) is treated as part of the same issue as the Initial Notes within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.1275-1(f), (ii) is a qualified reopening of the Initial Notes within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.1275-2(k), or (iii) is otherwise fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), so that such Additional Notes will trade as part of a single class with the Initial Notes; and

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     (3) whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Initial Notes as set forth in Exhibit 1 to the Appendix or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit 2 to the Appendix.

Section 2.14 Persons Deemed Owners .

     Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on, such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any other agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee .

     If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03 , an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i


 
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