Voting Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2018, among Eclipse Resources Corporation, Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc., and the stockholders of Eclipse Resources Corporation party thereto

EX-10.2 4 d594536dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

VOTING AGREEMENT

This VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of August 25, 2018 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Eclipse Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII, L.P., EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII Co-Investors, L.P. and EnCap Energy Capital Fund IX, L.P. (collectively, the “EnCap Stockholders”). Parent, the Company, and the EnCap Stockholders are each sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

RECITALS

WHEREAS, each of the EnCap Stockholders is the beneficial or record owner of such number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (the “Parent Common Stock”) as is indicated opposite each such EnCap Stockholder’s name on Schedule A attached hereto;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, Everest Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (such agreement, as amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), that provides, among other things, for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, pursuant to which the Company will be the surviving corporation (such transaction and each other act or transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement collectively, the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, and as an inducement to Parent’s and the Company’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the EnCap Stockholders have executed and delivered to Parent and the Company a written consent approving the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “EnCap Written Consent”), which written consent constitutes the Parent Stockholder Approval;

WHEREAS, as a condition and a further inducement to Parent’s and the Company’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent and the Company have required that the EnCap Stockholders agree, and the EnCap Stockholders have agreed, to enter into this Agreement with respect to all Parent Common Stock that the EnCap Stockholders Beneficially Own (as defined below); and

WHEREAS, Parent and the Company desire that the EnCap Stockholders agree, and the EnCap Stockholders are willing to agree, subject to the limitations herein, not to Transfer (as defined below) any of their Subject Securities (as defined below), and to vote, or deliver written consents with respect to, their Subject Securities in a manner so as to facilitate consummation of the Merger.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases, and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1 or elsewhere in this Agreement.


(a) “Beneficially Own” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such Rule is actually applicable in such circumstance). For the avoidance of doubt, Beneficially Own shall also include record ownership of securities.

(b) “Beneficial Owners” shall mean Persons who Beneficially Own the referenced securities.

(c) “Expiration Time” shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Article VIII thereof, or (iii) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the Parties.

(d) “Permitted Transfer” shall mean, in each case, with respect to each EnCap Stockholder, so long as (i) such Transfer is in accordance with applicable Law and such EnCap Stockholder is, and at all times has been, in compliance with this Agreement and (ii) any Transfer of Subject Securities by the EnCap Stockholder to another Person, so long as such Person, in connection with, and prior to, such Transfer, executes a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company, pursuant to which such Person agrees to become a party to this Agreement and be subject to the restrictions and obligations applicable to such EnCap Stockholder and otherwise become a party for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that no such Transfer shall relieve the transferring EnCap Stockholder from its obligations under this Agreement (A) if less than all of such EnCap Stockholder’s Parent Common Stock is transferred, other than with respect to the Parent Common Stock transferred in accordance with the foregoing provisions, or (B) if, following the transfer of all of such EnCap Stockholder’s Parent Common Stock in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such EnCap Stockholder subsequently acquires or reacquires Beneficial Ownership of any Parent Common Stock.

(e) “Subject Securities” shall mean, collectively, shares of Parent Common Stock and New Parent Common Stock.

(f) “Transfer” means (a) any direct or indirect offer, sale, tender pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, lease, assignment, encumbrance, loan, pledge, grant of a security interest, hypothecation (including by gift or by contribution or distribution to any trust or similar instrument or to any beneficiaries of the EnCap Stockholder), disposition, or other transfer (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise by operation of law), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option, or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, tender pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, lease, assignment, encumbrance, loan, pledge, hypothecation (including by gift or by contribution or distribution to any trust or similar instrument or to any beneficiaries of the EnCap Stockholder), disposition, or other transfer (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise by operation of law ), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for such capital stock), including in each case through the transfer of any Person or any interest in any Person or (b) in respect of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock, to enter into any swap or any other agreement, transaction, or series of transactions that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of such capital stock or interest in capital stock, whether any such swap, agreement, transaction, or series of transactions is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash, or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, “capital stock” shall include interests in a partnership or limited liability company.

 

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2. Agreement to Retain Subject Securities.

(a) Transfer and Encumbrance of Subject Securities. Other than a Permitted Transfer, hereafter until the Expiration Time, each EnCap Stockholder agrees that it shall not, with respect to any Subject Securities Beneficially Owned by such EnCap Stockholder, (a) Transfer any such Subject Securities, or (b) deposit any such Subject Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to such Subject Securities or grant any proxy (except as otherwise provided herein or to grant a revocable proxy to Parent’s proxy holders to vote or cause to be voted the Subject Securities in accordance with this Agreement) or power of attorney with respect thereto.

(b) Injunction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if at any time following the date hereof and prior to the Expiration Time a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction enters an order restraining, enjoining, or otherwise prohibiting the EnCap Stockholders or their Affiliates from (a) consummating the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or (b) taking any action pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4, then (i) the obligations of each EnCap Stockholder set forth in Section 3 and the irrevocable proxy and power of attorney in Section 4 shall be of no force and effect for so long as such order is in effect and, in the case of clause (b), solely to the extent such order restrains, enjoins, or otherwise prohibits such EnCap Stockholder from taking any such action, and (ii) for so long as such order is in effect, each EnCap Stockholder shall cause the Subject Securities to not be represented in person or by proxy at any meeting at which a vote of such EnCap Stockholder on the Merger is requested. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2(b), the restrictions set forth in Section 2(a) shall continue to apply with respect to the Subject Securities until the Expiration Time.

(c) Additional Purchases; Adjustments. Each EnCap Stockholder agrees that any shares of Parent Common Stock and any other shares of capital stock or other equity of Parent that such EnCap Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires (including pursuant to a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend or distribution or any change in Parent Common Stock by reason of a merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares, or similar transaction) or with respect to which such Parent Stockholder otherwise acquires voting power after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Time (the “New Parent Common Stock”) shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Parent Common Stock, and such EnCap Stockholder shall promptly notify Parent and the Company of the existence of any New Parent Common Stock.

(d) Unpermitted Transfers; Involuntary Transfers. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Subject Securities in violation of this Section 2 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, be null and void ab initio. If any involuntary Transfer of any of such EnCap Stockholder’s Subject Securities shall occur, the transferee (which term, as used herein, shall include any and all transferees and subsequent transferees of the initial transferee) shall take and hold such Subject Securities subject to all of the restrictions, liabilities, and rights under this Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect until valid termination of this Agreement.

3. Agreement to Vote and Approve. Each EnCap Stockholder (i) confirms that it has irrevocably and unconditionally executed and delivered to Parent and the Company the EnCap Written Consent with respect to all of the shares of Parent Common Stock indicated on Schedule A hereto opposite such EnCap Stockholder’s name, and (ii) represents and warrants to Parent and the Company that the EnCap Written Consent is valid and effective as of the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by each

 

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of the parties thereto. From and after the date hereof until the Expiration Time, each EnCap Stockholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that:

(a) such EnCap Stockholder will not revoke or seek to revoke the EnCap Written Consent or take or seek to take any other action that would cause the EnCap Written Consent to be invalid or ineffective or otherwise not to constitute the Parent Stockholder Approval;

(b) at any meeting of the stockholders of Parent called with respect to any of the following matters, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, each EnCap Stockholder (A) shall appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause the Subject Securities that the EnCap Stockholder Beneficially Owns to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum and (B) shall, and shall cause each holder of record on any applicable record date to (including via proxy), vote all of the Subject Securities the EnCap Stockholder Beneficially Owns in favor of (1) the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment, and (2) any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting of stockholders of Parent to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to adopt such proposals; and

(c) at any meeting of the stockholders of Parent called with respect to any of the following matters, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on any action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of Parent with respect to any of the following matters, each EnCap Stockholder (A) shall appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause the Subject Securities that the EnCap Stockholder Beneficially Owns to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum and (B) shall, and shall cause each holder of record on any applicable record date to (including via proxy), vote the Subject Securities that the EnCap Stockholder Beneficially Owns against (1) any action or agreement that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the consummation of the Merger set forth in Article VII of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied, (2) any Parent Competing Proposal, (3) any action which could reasonably be expected to prevent, impede, interfere with, discourage, delay, postpone, or materially adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, or dilute, in any material respect, the benefit of the transactions contemplated thereby to the Company or to the Company’s stockholders, and (4) any action which could reasonably be expected to result in a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement of Parent or Merger Sub in the Merger Agreement.

4. Irrevocable Proxy. By execution of this Agreement, each EnCap Stockholder hereby appoints and constitutes the Company, until the Expiration Time (at which time this proxy shall automatically be revoked), with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as such EnCap Stockholder’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and proxy (which proxy is irrevocable and is coupled with an interest, pursuant to Section 212(e) of the DGCL), to the fullest extent of such EnCap Stockholder’s rights with respect to the Subject Securities Beneficially Owned by such EnCap Stockholder, to vote (or exercise a written consent with respect to) such Subject Securities solely with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3 hereof and each EnCap Stockholder shall retain the authority to vote its Subject Securities on all other matters; provided, however, that the foregoing shall only be effective if such EnCap Stockholder fails to be counted as present, to consent, or to vote such EnCap Stockholder’s Subject Securities, as applicable, in accordance with this Agreement.

5. Representations and Warranties of the EnCap Stockholders. Each EnCap Stockholder hereby severally, but not jointly, represents and warrants to each of Parent and the Company as follows:

(a) Due Authority. Such EnCap Stockholder has the full power and authority to make, enter into, and carry out the terms of this Agreement, to execute and deliver the EnCap Written

 

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Consent and to grant the irrevocable proxy as set forth in Section 4 hereof. This Agreement and the EnCap Written Consent have been duly authorized, and no other action on the part of such EnCap Stockholder is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the EnCap Written Consent by such EnCap Stockholder. This Agreement and the EnCap Written Consent have been validly executed and delivered by such EnCap Stockholder, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the other parties hereto, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such EnCap Stockholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

(b) Ownership of the Parent Common Stock. As of the date hereof, such EnCap Stockholder (a) Beneficially Owns the shares of Parent Common Stock indicated on Schedule A hereto opposite such EnCap Stockholder’s name, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, other than those created by this Agreement, and (b) has sole voting power over all of the shares of Parent Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such EnCap Stockholder. As of the date hereof, such EnCap Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any capital stock or other securities of Parent other than the shares of Parent Common Stock set forth on Schedule A opposite such EnCap Stockholder’s name. As of the date hereof, such EnCap Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any rights to purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock of Parent.

(c) No Conflict; Consents.

(i) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the EnCap Written Consent by such EnCap Stockholder do not, and the performance by such EnCap Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement and the compliance by such EnCap Stockholder with any provisions hereof do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such EnCap Stockholder; (ii) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or similar organizational or governing documents of the EnCap Stockholder; or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation of, or result in the creation of an Encumbrance on any of the shares of Parent Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such EnCap Stockholder pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise, or other instrument or obligation to which such EnCap Stockholder or an Affiliate is a party or by which such EnCap Stockholder or an Affiliate is bound.

(ii) No consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or registration, declaration, or filing with, any Governmental Entity or any other Person, is required by or with respect to such EnCap Stockholder or an Affiliate in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the EnCap Written Consent or the performance by such EnCap Stockholder of its obligations hereunder.

(d) Absence of Litigation. There is no Proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of such EnCap Stockholder, threatened against or affecting, such EnCap Stockholder or an Affiliate that could reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially adversely affect the ability of such EnCap Stockholder to perform such EnCap Stockholder’s obligations hereunder on a timely basis.

6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate immediately at, and shall have no further force or effect as of and following, the Expiration Time, provided, however, that the termination of this

 

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Agreement shall not relieve any Party from any liability for any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement.

7. Notice of Certain Events. Each EnCap Stockholder shall notify Parent and the Company in writing promptly of (a) any fact, event, or circumstance that would cause, or reasonably be expected to cause or constitute, a breach in any material respect of the representations and warranties of such EnCap Stockholder under this Agreement and (b) the receipt by such EnCap Stockholder of any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with this Agreement or the EnCap Written Consent; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 7 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available to any Party.

8. No Solicitation. Except as expressly permitted by Section 6.4 of the Merger Agreement, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with Article VIII thereof, each EnCap Stockholder agrees that it will not, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, propose, knowingly encourage, or knowingly facilitate any inquiry or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Parent Competing Proposal.

9. Waiver of Certain Actions. Each EnCap Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against Parent, the Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or successors (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of this Agreement, the EnCap Written Consent or the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the Closing) or (b) alleging a breach of any duty of the board of directors of the Company or of Parent in connection with the Merger Agreement, this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated thereby or hereby.

10. Miscellaneous.

(a) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the Parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business, and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

(b) Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests, or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of both of Parent and the Company. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

(c) Amendments and Modifications. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by (a) Parent, (b) the

 

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Company and (c) each of the EnCap Stockholders. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by applicable Law.

(d) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally (notice deemed given upon receipt), transmitted by email (notice deemed given upon confirmation of receipt), or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, such as Federal Express (notice deemed given upon receipt of proof of delivery), to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

(i) if to Parent, to:

Eclipse Resources Corporation

2121 Old Gatesburg Road, Suite 110

State College, Pennsylvania 16803

Attention:         General Counsel

E-mail:              ***@***

with a required copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 3600

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention:        Bryn A. Sappington

Paul S.             Conneely

E-mail:             ***@***

                          ***@***

(ii) if to the Company, to:

Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc.

122 West John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 300

Irving, Texas 75039

Attention:         General Counsel

E-mail:              ***@***

with a required copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):

Bracewell LLP

711 Louisiana Street, Suite 2300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:         Charles H. Still, Jr.

E-mail:              ***@***

(iii) if to any EnCap Stockholder, to:

EnCap Investments, L.P.

1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 4900

 

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Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:         Mark Burroughs

E-mail:              ***@***

with a required copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):

Vinson & Elkins LLP

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:         W. Matthew Strock

                Steven M. Gill

E-mail:               ***@***

                 ***@***

or to such other address as any Party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective upon receipt.

(e) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

(f) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties agrees that it shall bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if such court declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court located within the State of Delaware) (the “Chosen Courts”) and, solely in connection with such claims, (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (b) waives any objection to the laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in the Chosen Courts, (c) waives any objection that the Chosen Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party, and (d) agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 10(d) or in such other manner as may be permitted by Law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. The consent to jurisdiction set forth in this Section 10(f) shall not constitute a general consent to service of process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this Section 10(f). The Parties agree that a final judgment in any such suit, action, or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.

(g) Enforcement. The Parties agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by the Parties. Prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6, it is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case in accordance with this Section 10(g), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under the terms of this Agreement at Law or in equity.

(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the Parties any right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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(i) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MERGER AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT, OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (B) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10(i).

(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, including via facsimile or email in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form transmission, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the Company, Parent and the EnCap Stockholder, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

(l) No Agreement Until Executed. This Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to evidence a contract, agreement, arrangement, or understanding between the Parties unless and until (a) the Merger Agreement is executed and delivered by all parties thereto, and (b) this Agreement is executed and delivered by the Parties.

(m) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such cost or expense, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(n) Action in EnCap Stockholder Capacity Only. No Person executing this Agreement (or designee or Representative of such Person) who has been, is, or becomes during the term of this Agreement a director or officer of Parent shall be deemed to make any agreement or understanding in this Agreement in such Person’s capacity as a director or officer of Parent. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is entered into by the EnCap Stockholders solely in their capacity as the Beneficial Owners of shares of Parent Common Stock and nothing in this Agreement shall (a) restrict in any respect any actions taken by the EnCap Stockholders or their designees or Representatives who are a director or officer of Parent solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Parent or (b) be construed to prohibit, limit, or restrict such EnCap Stockholder or its designees or Representatives from exercising his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer of Parent. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 10(n) shall in any way modify, alter, or amend any of the terms of the Merger Agreement.

(o) Obligation to Update Schedule A. Each EnCap Stockholder agrees that in connection with any acquisitions or Transfers (to the extent permitted) of Subject Securities by such EnCap Stockholder, such EnCap Stockholder will, as promptly as practicable following the

 

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completion thereof, notify Parent and the Company in writing of such acquisition or Transfer and the Parties will update Schedule A to reflect the effect of such acquisition or Transfer.

[Signature pages follow.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

 

ECLIPSE RESOURCES CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Benjamin W. Hulburt

Name:   Benjamin W. Hulburt
Title:   Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ John K. Reinhart

Name:   John K. Reinhart
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Voting Agreement – 1 of 2]

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

 

ENCAP ENERGY CAPITAL FUND VIII, L.P.
By:  

EnCap Equity Fund VIII GP, L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ Robert L. Zorich

Name:   Robert L. Zorich
Title:   Managing Partner
ENCAP ENERGY CAPITAL FUND VIII Co-Investors, L.P.
By:  

EnCap Equity Fund VIII GP, L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ Robert L. Zorich

Name:   Robert L. Zorich
Title:   Managing Partner
ENCAP ENERGY CAPITAL FUND IX, L.P.
By:  

EnCap Equity Fund IX GP, L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ Robert L. Zorich

Name:   Robert L. Zorich
Title:   Managing Partner

[Signature Page to Voting Agreement – 2 of 2]

 


SCHEDULE A

 

Parent Stockholder

   Number of
Shares of
Parent
Common
Stock
Owned of
Record
 

EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII, L.P.

     59,687,619  

EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII Co-Investors, L.P.

     40,420,114  

EnCap Energy Capital Fund IX, L.P.

     72,847,294  

[Schedule A to Voting Agreement]

 


EXHIBIT A

Written Consent of EnCap Stockholders

(See attached)

[Exhibit A to Voting Agreement]

 


WRITTEN CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS

OF ECLIPSE RESOURCES CORPORATION

IN LIEU OF A MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

August 25, 2018

The undersigned stockholders (collectively, the “Stockholders”), being the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Eclipse Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby consent in writing, pursuant to Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”), and as authorized by Section 2.14 of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, to the following actions and adoption of the following resolutions by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders of the Company:

WHEREAS, the Company intends to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Merger Agreement”) among the Company, Everest Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger Sub”), and Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Blue Ridge”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Merger Sub will merge with and into Blue Ridge (the “Merger”), with Blue Ridge surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and, upon consummation of the Merger, each share of Blue Ridge’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (excluding any Excluded Shares or Dissenting Shares (as such terms are defined in the Merger Agreement)) will be converted into the right to receive from the Company 4.4259 validly issued, fully-paid, and nonassessable shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), subject to adjustment prior to the Effective Time to give effect to the reverse stock split contemplated by the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below) pursuant to Section 3.1(c) of the Merger Agreement (the issuances of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement being referred to herein collectively as the “Stock Issuance”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.22 of the Merger Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is to be amended and restated, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time to be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”);

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), at a meeting duly called, has unanimously: (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Stock Issuance pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders; (ii) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Stock Issuance, and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; (iii) directed that the approval of the Stock Issuance and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation be submitted to the stockholders of the Company; and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company approve


the Stock Issuance and approve and adopt the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation;

WHEREAS, the approval of the Stock Issuance by the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock is required pursuant to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”);

WHEREAS, the undersigned Stockholders are the holders of an aggregate of 172,955,027 shares of Common Stock, which comprises approximately 57.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, as of the date hereof; and

WHEREAS, the undersigned Stockholders desire to approve the Stock Issuance and approve and adopt the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Stock Issuance is hereby approved, and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby approved and adopted (subject to the Board’s authority to abandon the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation if the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms), in each case in all respects by the undersigned Stockholders, and each undersigned Stockholder hereby consents thereto with respect to all of the shares of Common Stock held by such Stockholder as of the date hereof, including, for the avoidance of doubt, for all purposes of the rules of the NYSE, including Rule 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual;

FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Written Consent shall become effective in accordance with DGCL Section 228(c) immediately at the earliest time that the following two events have both occurred: (i) the execution and delivery to the Company of this Written Consent by each of the undersigned Stockholders and (ii) the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by the Company, the Merger Sub, and Blue Ridge; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Company, or anyone appointed by them, be, and each of them with full authority to act without the others hereby is, authorized and empowered to deliver this Written Consent to the Company and to take all other actions required of the Company to effect the intent of these resolutions.

This Written Consent shall be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders of the Company and shall be treated for all purposes as action taken at a meeting of such stockholders.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

- 16 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Stockholders have executed this Written Consent as of the date first set forth above.

 

ENCAP ENERGY CAPITAL FUND VIII, L.P.
By:  

EnCap Equity Fund VIII GP, L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments L.P.,

its general partner

By:  

EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ Robert L. Zorich

Name:   Robert L. Zorich
Title:   Managing Partner
ENCAP ENERGY CAPITAL FUND VIII CO-INVESTORS, L.P.
By:   EnCap Equity Fund VIII GP, L.P.,
  its general partner
By:   EnCap Investments L.P.,
  its general partner
By:   EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Robert L. Zorich

Name:   Robert L. Zorich
Title:   Managing Partner
ENCAP ENERGY CAPITAL FUND IX, L.P.
By:   EnCap Equity Fund IX GP, L.P.,
  its general partner
By:   EnCap Investments L.P.,
  its general partner
By:   EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Robert L. Zorich

Name:   Robert L. Zorich
Title:   Managing Partner

 

[Written Consent of Stockholders]


Exhibit A

Merger Agreement

[See attached]


 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

among

ECLIPSE RESOURCES CORPORATION,

EVEREST MERGER SUB INC.

and

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, INC.

Dated as of August 25, 2018

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1

 

Certain Definitions

     2  

Section 1.2

 

Terms Defined Elsewhere

     2  

ARTICLE II THE MERGER

     4  

Section 2.1

 

The Merger

     4  

Section 2.2

 

Closing

     4  

Section 2.3

 

Effect of the Merger

     5  

Section 2.4

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation

     5  

Section 2.5

 

Board of Directors of Parent

     5  

Section 2.6

 

Officers of Parent

     6  

Section 2.7

 

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

     6  

Section 2.8

 

Tax Consequences

     6  

ARTICLE III EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND MERGER SUB; EXCHANGE

     6  

Section 3.1

 

Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock

     6  

Section 3.2

 

Treatment of Equity Compensation Awards

     7  

Section 3.3

 

Payment for Securities; Exchange

     8  

Section 3.4

 

Dissenting Stockholders

     12  

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     13  

Section 4.1

 

Organization, Standing and Power

     13  

Section 4.2

 

Capital Structure

     13  

Section 4.3

 

Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals

     14  

Section 4.4

 

Consents

     15  

Section 4.5

 

Financial Statements

     15  

Section 4.6

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

     16  

Section 4.7

 

No Undisclosed Material Liabilities

     16  

Section 4.8

 

Information Supplied

     16  

Section 4.9

 

Company Permits; Compliance with Applicable Law

     17  

Section 4.10

 

Compensation; Benefits

     17  

Section 4.11

 

Labor Matters

     19  

Section 4.12

 

Taxes

     20  

Section 4.13

 

Litigation

     22  

Section 4.14

 

Intellectual Property

     22  

Section 4.15

 

Real Property

     22  

Section 4.16

 

Rights-of-Way

     23  

Section 4.17

 

Oil and Gas Matters

     23  

Section 4.18

 

Environmental Matters

     25  

Section 4.19

 

Material Contracts

     25  

Section 4.20

 

Derivative Transactions

     27  

Section 4.21

 

Insurance

     28  

 

i


Section 4.22

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

     28  

Section 4.23

 

Brokers

     28  

Section 4.24

 

Related Party Transactions

     29  

Section 4.25

 

Regulatory Matters

     29  

Section 4.26

 

Takeover Laws

     29  

Section 4.27

 

No Additional Representations

     29  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

     30  

Section 5.1

 

Organization, Standing and Power

     30  

Section 5.2

 

Capital Structure

     31  

Section 5.3

 

Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals

     32  

Section 5.4

 

Consents

     33  

Section 5.5

 

SEC Documents; Financial Statements

     33  

Section 5.6

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

     34  

Section 5.7

 

Information Supplied

     34  

Section 5.8

 

No Undisclosed Material Liabilities

     34  

Section 5.9

 

Parent Permits; Compliance with Applicable Law

     35  

Section 5.10

 

Compensation; Benefits

     35  

Section 5.11

 

Labor Matters

     37  

Section 5.12

 

Taxes

     37  

Section 5.13

 

Litigation

     39  

Section 5.14

 

Intellectual Property

     39  

Section 5.15

 

Real Property

     40  

Section 5.16

 

Rights-of-Way

     40  

Section 5.17

 

Oil and Gas Matters

     41  

Section 5.18

 

Environmental Matters

     42  

Section 5.19

 

Material Contracts

     43  

Section 5.20

 

Derivative Transactions

     45  

Section 5.21

 

Insurance

     45  

Section 5.22

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

     46  

Section 5.23

 

Brokers

     46  

Section 5.24

 

Related Party Transactions

     46  

Section 5.25

 

Ownership of Company Common Stock

     46  

Section 5.26

 

Business Conduct

     46  

Section 5.27

 

Regulatory Matters

     46  

Section 5.28

 

No Additional Representations

     47  

ARTICLE VI COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

     47  

Section 6.1

 

Conduct of Company Business Pending the Merger

     47  

Section 6.2

 

Conduct of Parent Business Pending the Merger

     51  

Section 6.3

 

No Solicitation by the Company

     54  

Section 6.4

 

No Solicitation by Parent

     59  

Section 6.5

 

Preparation of Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and Registration Statement

     62  

Section 6.6

 

Company Consent Solicitation and Parent Stockholder Written Consent

     63  

Section 6.7

 

Access to Information

     64  

 

ii


Section 6.8

 

HSR and Other Approvals

     66  

Section 6.9

 

Employee Matters

     67  

Section 6.10

 

Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

     69  

Section 6.11

 

Transaction Litigation

     71  

Section 6.12

 

Public Announcements

     71  

Section 6.13

 

Advice of Certain Matters; Control of Business

     71  

Section 6.14

 

Transfer Taxes

     71  

Section 6.15

 

Reasonable Best Efforts; Notification

     72  

Section 6.16

 

Section 16 Matters

     72  

Section 6.17

 

Stock Exchange Listing

     72  

Section 6.18

 

Company Credit Agreement; Financing Cooperation

     72  

Section 6.19

 

Tax Matters

     73  

Section 6.20

 

Takeover Laws

     73  

Section 6.21

 

Obligations of Merger Sub

     74  

Section 6.22

 

Amendment of Parent Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

     74  

Section 6.23

 

Parent Stockholders Agreement

     74  

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     74  

Section 7.1

 

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Consummate the Merger

     74  

Section 7.2

 

Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub

     75  

Section 7.3

 

Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company

     76  

Section 7.4

 

Frustration of Closing Conditions

     76  

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION

     77  

Section 8.1

 

Termination

     77  

Section 8.2

 

Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination

     78  

Section 8.3

 

Expenses and Other Payments

     78  

ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS

     81  

Section 9.1

 

Schedule Definitions

     81  

Section 9.2

 

Survival

     81  

Section 9.3

 

Notices

     81  

Section 9.4

 

Rules of Construction

     82  

Section 9.5

 

Counterparts

     83  

Section 9.6

 

Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries

     84  

Section 9.7

 

Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial

     84  

Section 9.8

 

Severability

     85  

Section 9.9

 

Assignment

     85  

Section 9.10

 

Affiliate Liability

     85  

Section 9.11

 

Specific Performance

     86  

Section 9.12

 

Amendment

     86  

Section 9.13

 

Extension; Waiver

     86  

ANNEX A CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     A-1  

ANNEX B FORM OF COMPANY VOTING AGREEMENT

     B-1  

ANNEX C FORM OF PARENT VOTING AGREEMENT

     C-1  

 

iii


ANNEX D FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF SURVIVING CORPORATION

     D-1  

ANNEX E FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF SURVIVING CORPORATION

     E-1  

ANNEX F FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF PARENT

     F-1  

ANNEX G FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF PARENT

     G-1  

 

 

iv


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of August 25, 2018 (this “Agreement”), among Eclipse Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Everest Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), at a meeting duly called, unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”), are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (iii) directed that the adoption of this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders adopt this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent (the “Parent Board”), at a meeting duly called, unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance of the shares of common stock of Parent, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (“Parent Common Stock”), pursuant to this Agreement (the “Parent Stock Issuance”), are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Parent and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Parent Stock Issuance, (iii) directed that the approval of the Parent Stock Issuance be submitted to the stockholders of Parent, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders approve the Parent Stock Issuance;

WHEREAS, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, holders of approximately 57.2% of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock have executed and delivered a written consent approving the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment, which written consent became effective upon the execution of this Agreement in accordance with Section 228(c) of the DGCL and which constitutes the Parent Stockholder Approval;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Merger Sub (the “Merger Sub Board”) unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Merger Sub and its sole stockholder, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (iii) directed that the adoption of this Agreement be submitted to the sole stockholder of the Merger Sub, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the sole stockholder adopt this Agreement;

WHEREAS, Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, has adopted this Agreement;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, as a condition and inducement for Parent and Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company have each entered into a Voting Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex B (collectively, the “Company Voting Agreements”), whereby, among other things, such stockholders of the Company have agreed to vote the shares of Company Common Stock owned by them in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and to take certain other actions in furtherance of the Merger, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, as a condition and inducement for the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Majority Stockholders have entered into a Voting Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex C (the “Parent Voting Agreement”), whereby, among other things, the Majority Stockholders have agreed to execute the Parent Stockholder Written Consent and to take certain other actions in furtherance of the Merger, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

1


WHEREAS, Parent desires to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, it is intended that the Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Annex A or as otherwise defined elsewhere in this Agreement.

Section 1.2 Terms Defined Elsewhere. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms are defined in this Agreement as referenced in the following table:

 

Definition    Section

Agreement

   Preamble

Antitrust Authority

   6.8(b)

Antitrust Laws

   6.8(b)

Applicable Date

   4.9(a)

Book-Entry Shares

   3.3(b)(ii)

Certificate of Merger

   2.2(b)

Certificates

   3.3(b)(i)

Closing

   2.2(a)

Closing Date

   2.2(a)

Code

   Recitals

Company

   Preamble

Company 401(k) Plan

   6.9(c)

Company Affiliate

   9.10

Company Alternative Acquisition Agreement

   6.3(d)(iv)

Company Board

   Recitals

Company Board Recommendation

   4.3(a)

Company Capital Stock

   4.2(a)

Company Change of Recommendation

   6.3(d)(vii)

Company Common Stock

   3.1(b)(i)

Company Contracts

   4.19(b)

Company Disclosure Letter

   Article IV

Company Employee

   4.10(j)

Company Financial Statements

   4.5

Company Independent Petroleum Engineers

   4.17(a)(i)

Company Intellectual Property

   4.14(a)

Company Material Adverse Effect

   4.1

Company Material Leased Real Property

   4.15

Company Material Owned Real Property

   4.15

 

2


Definition    Section

Company Material Real Property Lease

   4.15

Company Permits

   4.9(a)

Company Preferred Stock

   4.2(a)

Company Related Party Transaction

   4.24

Company Reserve Report

   4.17(a)(i)

Company Stockholder Consent Deadline

   8.1(b)(iv)

Company Stock Plan

   4.2(a)

Company Tax Certificate

   6.19(b)

Company Voting Agreements

   Recitals

Competition Law Notifications

   6.8(b)

Confidentiality Agreement

   6.7(a)(iii)

Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus

   4.8(b)

Creditors’ Rights

   4.3(a)

D&O Insurance

   6.10(d)

DGCL

   2.1

Disclosure Letter

   Article IV

Dissenting Shares

   3.4

Divestiture Action

   6.8(b)

Effective Time

   2.2(b)

Eligible Share

   3.1(b)(i)

e-mail

   9.3

End Date

   8.1(b)(ii)

Exchange Agent

   3.3(a)

Exchange Fund

   3.3(a)

Exchange Ratio

   3.1(b)(i)

Excluded Share

   3.1(b)(iii)

GAAP

   4.5

HSR Act

   4.3(a)

Indemnified Liabilities

   6.10(a)

Indemnified Persons

   6.10(a)

Information Statement/Prospectus Distribution Date

   6.6(a)

Last Balance Sheet

   4.5

Letter of Transmittal

   3.3(b)(i)

Material Company Insurance Policies

   4.21

Material Parent Insurance Policies

   5.21

Merger

   Recitals

Merger Consideration

   3.1(b)(i)

Merger Sub

   Preamble

Merger Sub Board

   Recitals

Parent

   Preamble

Parent 401(k) Plan

   6.9(c)

Parent Affiliate

   9.10

Parent Alternative Acquisition Agreement

   6.4(d)(iv)

Parent Board

   Recitals

Parent Board Recommendation

   5.3(a)

Parent Capital Stock

   5.2(a)(ii)

Parent Change of Recommendation

   6.4(d)(ii)

Parent Charter Amendment

   6.22

Parent Common Stock

   Recitals

Parent Contracts

   5.19(b)

 

3


Definition    Section

Parent Disclosure Letter

   Article V

Parent Independent Petroleum Engineers

   5.17(a)(i)

Parent Intellectual Property

   5.14(a)

Parent Material Adverse Effect

   5.1

Parent Material Leased Real Property

   5.15

Parent Material Owned Real Property

   5.15

Parent Material Real Property Lease

   5.15

Parent Permits

   5.9(a)

Parent Preferred Stock

   5.2(a)(ii)

Parent Related Party Transaction

   5.24

Parent Reserve Reports

   5.17(a)(i)

Parent SEC Documents

   5.5(a)

Parent Stockholder Written Consent

   5.3(a)

Parent Stock Issuance

   Recitals

Parent Stock Plan

   5.2(a)

Parent Takeover Proposal

   6.2(b)(iv)

Parent Tax Certificate

   6.19(b)

Parent Voting Agreement

   Recitals

PSUs

   5.2(a)

Registration Statement

   4.8(a)

Regulatory Material Adverse Effect

   6.8(b)

Rights-of-Way

   4.16

RSUs

   5.2(a)

Surviving Corporation

   2.1

Tail Period

   6.10(d)

Terminable Breach

   8.1(b)(iii)

Transaction Litigation

   6.11

ARTICLE II

THE MERGER

Section 2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). As a result of the Merger, the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue its existence under the laws of the State of Delaware as the surviving corporation (in such capacity, the Company is sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”).

Section 2.2 Closing.

(a) The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”), shall take place at 9:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas time, on a date that is no later than two (2) Business Days following the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver in accordance with this Agreement of all of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than any such conditions which by their nature cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date, which shall be required to be so satisfied or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waived in accordance with this Agreement on the Closing Date) at the offices of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP in Dallas, Texas, or at such other time or on such other date or at such other place (or remotely by electronic exchange of documentation) as Parent and the Company may agree in writing. For purposes of this Agreement “Closing Date” shall mean the date on which the Closing occurs.

 

4


(b) Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the DGCL, as soon as practicable on the Closing Date after the Closing, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall cause a certificate of merger to be prepared and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL (the “Certificate of Merger”) and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later time as shall be agreed upon in writing by Parent and the Company and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the “Effective Time”).

Section 2.3 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 2.4 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of incorporation of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended and restated so as to read in its entirety as set forth on Annex D and, as so amended and restated, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until duly amended, subject to Section 6.10(b), in accordance with its terms and the DGCL, and (b) the bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended and restated in their entirety to read as set forth on Annex E, and as so amended and restated shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until duly amended, subject to Section 6.10(b), in accordance with its terms, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, and the DGCL, and the parties hereto shall take all necessary actions in order for such amendment and restatement to occur.

Section 2.5 Board of Directors of Parent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall take all actions necessary to cause the Parent Board as of and immediately following the Effective Time to consist of a total of ten directors consisting of the persons designated as follows:

(a) Parent shall designate five of such ten directors prior to the Effective Time. Of such five designees, at least three of such designees shall qualify as an “independent director” under the listing standards of the NYSE and the applicable rules of the SEC, and at least one of such independent director designees shall qualify as “independent” pursuant to Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act and shall further qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K; and

(b) The Company shall designate five of such ten directors prior to the Effective Time. Of such five designees, at least three of such designees shall qualify as an “independent director” under the listing standards of the NYSE and the applicable rules of the SEC, and (x) at least two of such independent director designees shall qualify as “independent” pursuant to Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, and (y) one of such designees shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company as of the date hereof (or, if such Person is unable to serve, another Person designated by Parent and the Company).

From and after the Effective Time, such directors shall serve as such until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or their earlier resignation or removal; provided, however, that one of the directors designated by the Company will resign on the first anniversary of the Effective Time and the Parent Board shall be reduced to consist of a total of nine directors.

 

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Section 2.6 Officers of Parent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall take all actions necessary to cause the officers of Parent as of and immediately following the Effective Time to be the individuals listed on Schedule 2.6 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, with each such individual holding the office or offices specified for such individual on Schedule 2.6 of the Parent Disclosure Letter. From and after the Effective Time, such officers shall serve until their resignation or removal from office by the Parent Board. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall take all actions necessary to cause the resignation or removal of each officer of Parent who will not be officer of Parent as of and after the Effective Time as provided in the first sentence of this Section 2.6 from all offices and other positions held by such person with Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, each such resignation or removal to be effective at the Effective Time.

Section 2.7 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.

(a) At the Effective Time, the directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be the individuals listed on Schedule 2.7(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, each to hold office in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or their earlier removal or resignation.

(b) At the Effective Time, the officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be the individuals listed on Schedule 2.7(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, each to hold office in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors are duly appointed or their earlier removal or resignation.

Section 2.8 Tax Consequences. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and this Agreement constitute and be adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations §§ 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

ARTICLE III

EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND MERGER

SUB; EXCHANGE

Section 3.1 Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company, or any holder of any shares of capital stock of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company:

(a) Capital Stock of Merger Sub. Each share of common stock, par value $0.01, per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation, which shall constitute the only outstanding share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation immediately following the Effective Time. From and after the Effective Time, the certificate representing shares of capital stock of Merger Sub shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the outstanding share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

(b) Capital Stock of the Company.

(i) Subject to the other provisions of this Article III, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding any Excluded Shares or Dissenting Shares) (the “Eligible Shares”) shall be converted into the right to receive that number of validly issued, fully-paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Merger Consideration”). As used in this Agreement, “Exchange Ratio” means 4.4259, as such number is adjusted pursuant to Section 3.1(c).

 

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(ii) All such shares of Company Common Stock, when so converted, shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and cease to exist. Each holder of a share of Company Common Stock that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive (A) the Merger Consideration, (B) any dividends or other distributions in accordance with Section 3.3(g) and (C) any cash to be paid in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock in accordance with Section 3.3(h), in each case to be issued or paid in consideration therefor upon the exchange of any Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, as applicable, in accordance with Section 3.3(a).

(iii) All shares of Company Common Stock held by the Company (as treasury shares or otherwise) or by Parent or Merger Sub or by any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time and, in each case, not held on behalf of third parties (collectively, “Excluded Shares”) shall automatically be canceled and cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and no consideration shall be paid or delivered in exchange therefor.

(c) Impact of Stock Splits, Etc. In the event of any change in (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for shares of Company Common Stock or (ii) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for shares of Parent Common Stock (including options to purchase Parent Common Stock), in each case issued and outstanding after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares, readjustment of shares or the like, the Exchange Ratio shall be equitably adjusted to reflect the effect of such change and, as so adjusted, shall from and after the date of such event, be the Merger Consideration, subject to further adjustment in accordance with this Section 3.1(c). For the avoidance of doubt, the Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted prior to the Effective Time to give effect to the reverse stock split contemplated by the Parent Charter Amendment, which adjustment shall cause the Exchange Ratio to be a number equal to (i) the Exchange Ratio otherwise in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (ii) 15 (resulting in an Exchange Ratio of 0.29506 assuming no other adjustments to the Exchange Ratio pursuant to this Section 3.1(c)). Nothing in this Section 3.1(c) shall be construed to permit the Parties to take any action except to the extent consistent with, and not otherwise prohibited by, the terms of this Agreement.

Section 3.2 Treatment of Equity Compensation Awards.

(a) Company Restricted Stock Units. No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Effective Time, each holder of an outstanding Company RSU shall make an election whether to receive (i) the Merger Consideration (including cash in lieu of fractional shares) for each share of Company Common Stock subject to each outstanding Company RSU, (ii) cash equal to the product of (A) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to a Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (B) (I) the Closing Date Stock Price multiplied by (II) the Exchange Ratio or (iii) a combination thereof, subject to withholding taxes as provided below; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the outstanding Company RSUs awarded under Company RSU Agreements that do not provide for such an election, and each holder of such Company RSUs shall receive the Merger Consideration (including cash in lieu of fractional shares) for each share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company RSUs held by such holder, after giving effect to the

 

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adjustment to the number of Company RSUs subject to applicable Company RSU Agreement in connection with the Merger pursuant to the terms thereof, subject to withholding taxes as provided below. As of the Effective Time, each outstanding Company RSU shall fully vest, and such shares of Parent Common Stock or cash, as elected by the holder thereof if applicable, shall be paid or delivered by the Company or Parent, as applicable, in accordance with the applicable Company RSU Agreement, subject to withholding taxes; provided, however, that, in connection with such delivery of shares of Parent Common Stock to each holder of a Company RSU that will receive the Merger Consideration in respect of such Company RSU in accordance with the foregoing, Parent shall withhold from such holder a number of shares of Parent Common Stock (valued at the Closing Date Stock Price) sufficient to cover any withholding taxes required in connection with such delivery in lieu of requiring such holder to pay such withholding taxes in cash. Upon the payment of such cash and/or delivery of such Parent Common Stock, each Company RSU and related Company RSU Agreement shall terminate, and the holder of such Company RSU thereof shall have no further right or claim thereunder. Upon the payment of cash or delivery of Parent Common Stock as set forth above for all outstanding Company RSUs, the Company Restricted Stock Units Plan shall terminate.

(b) Company Performance Interest Awards. No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Effective Time, the Company Board shall adopt resolutions providing that each Company PIA Holder will receive in respect of such Company PIA Holder’s Company PIA the Merger Consideration (including cash in lieu of fractional shares) for the applicable PIA Number of Shares, subject to withholding taxes as provided below. Such shares of Parent Common Stock shall be delivered by Parent in accordance with the applicable Company PIA Award Agreement; provided, however, that, in connection with such delivery, Parent shall withhold from each Company PIA Holder a number of shares of Parent Common Stock (valued at the Closing Date Stock Price) sufficient to cover any withholding taxes required in connection with such delivery in lieu of requiring such Company PIA Holder to pay such withholding taxes in cash. Upon the delivery of such Parent Common Stock, the applicable Company PIA Award Agreement shall terminate, and the Company PIA Holder shall have no further right or claim thereunder.

(c) Restricted Stock. As of the Effective Time, all shares of Company Restricted Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become fully vested and no longer be subject to restrictions; provided, however, that, in connection with such vesting, the Company or the Surviving Corporation, as applicable, shall redeem or otherwise acquire from each holder of shares Company Restricted Stock a number of shares of Company Restricted Stock (valued at the Closing Date Stock Price multiplied by the Exchange Ratio) sufficient to cover any withholding taxes required in connection with such vesting in lieu of requiring such holder to pay such withholding taxes in cash, and any shares so redeemed or acquired shall be treated as Excluded Shares. Each holder of shares of Company Restricted Stock shall receive the Merger Consideration (including cash in lieu of fractional shares) for each share of Company Restricted Stock held by such holder (subject to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence) in accordance with Section 3.1(b) and Section 3.3.

Section 3.3 Payment for Securities; Exchange.

(a) Exchange Agent; Exchange Fund. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall enter into an agreement with an exchange agent to act as exchange agent for the holders of Company Common Stock in connection with the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”) for the purpose of exchanging Certificates and Book-Entry Shares for the Merger Consideration and cash sufficient to pay cash in lieu of fractional shares, pursuant to Section 3.3(h), to which such holders shall become entitled pursuant to this Article III. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of Eligible Shares, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in respect of Eligible Shares pursuant to Section 3.1. Parent agrees to deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, from time

 

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to time as needed, cash sufficient to pay any dividends or other distributions pursuant to Section 3.3(g) and to make payments in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 3.3(h). The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, deliver the Merger Consideration contemplated to be issued in exchange for Eligible Shares pursuant to this Agreement out of the Exchange Fund. Except as contemplated by this Section 3.3(a) and Sections 3.3(g) and 3.3(h), the Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose. Any cash and shares of Parent Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent (including as payment for fractional shares in accordance with Section 3.3(h) and any dividends or other distributions in accordance with Section 3.3(g)) shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Exchange Fund.” Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Exchange Agent, in connection with the exchange of Eligible Shares pursuant to this Agreement. The cash portion of the Exchange Fund may be invested by the Exchange Agent as reasonably directed by Parent. To the extent, for any reason, the amount in the Exchange Fund is below that required to make prompt payment of the aggregate cash payments contemplated by this Article III, Parent shall promptly replace, restore or supplement the cash in the Exchange Fund so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is at all times maintained at a level sufficient for the Exchange Agent to make the payment of the aggregate cash payments contemplated by this Article III. Any interest or other income resulting from investment of the cash portion of the Exchange Fund shall become part of the Exchange Fund, and any amounts in excess of the amounts payable hereunder shall, at the discretion of Parent, be promptly returned to Parent or the Surviving Corporation.

(b) Payment Procedures.

(i) Certificates. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to deliver to each record holder, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, of an outstanding certificate or certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Eligible Shares (“Certificates”) a letter of transmittal (“Letter of Transmittal”) (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu of the Certificates as provided in Section 3.3(f)) to the Exchange Agent, and which shall be in a customary form and agreed to by Parent and the Company prior to the Closing) advising such holders of the effectiveness of the Merger and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu of the Certificates as provided in Section 3.3(f)) for payment of the Merger Consideration set forth in Section 3.1(b)(i). Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate (or an affidavit of loss in lieu of the Certificate as provided in Section 3.3(f)), together with the Letter of Transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other customary documents as may be reasonably required by the Exchange Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (A) one or more shares of Parent Common Stock (which shall be in uncertificated book-entry form) representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 3.1 (after taking into account all shares of Company Common Stock then held by such holder) and (B) a check in an amount equal to the cash payable in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(h) and dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 3.3(g).

(ii) Non-DTC Book-Entry Shares. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to deliver to each record holder, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, of Eligible Shares represented by book-entry (“Book-Entry Shares”) not held through DTC, (A) a notice advising such holders of the

 

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effectiveness of the Merger, (B) a statement reflecting the number of shares of Parent Common Stock (which shall be in uncertificated book-entry form) representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 3.1 (after taking into account all shares of Company Common Stock then held by such holder) and (C) a check in the amount equal to the cash payable in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(h) and dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 3.3(g).

(iii) DTC Book-Entry Shares. With respect to Book-Entry Shares held through DTC, Parent and the Company shall cooperate to establish procedures with the Exchange Agent and DTC to ensure that the Exchange Agent will transmit to DTC or its nominees as soon as reasonably practicable on or after the Closing Date, upon surrender of Eligible Shares held of record by DTC or its nominees in accordance with DTC’s customary surrender procedures, the Merger Consideration, cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, and any unpaid non-stock dividends and any other dividends or other distributions, in each case, that DTC has the right to receive pursuant to this Article III.

(iv) No interest shall be paid or accrued on any amount payable for Eligible Shares pursuant to this Article III.

(v) With respect to Certificates, if payment of the Merger Consideration (including any dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(g) and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(h)) is to be made to a Person other than the record holder of such Eligible Shares, it shall be a condition of payment that shares so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other Taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration to a Person other than the registered holder of such shares surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such Taxes either have been paid or are not applicable. With respect to Book-Entry Shares, payment of the Merger Consideration (including any dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(g) and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(h)) shall only be made to the Person in whose name such Book-Entry Shares are registered in the stock transfer books of the Company as of the Effective Time. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.3(b)(v), each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration payable in respect of such shares of Company Common Stock, cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(h) and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(g).

(c) Termination of Rights. All Merger Consideration (including any dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(g) and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.3(h)) paid upon the surrender of and in exchange for Eligible Shares in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation shall be closed immediately, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Company of the shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective

 

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Time. If, after the Effective Time, any Certificates formerly representing shares of Company Common Stock are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Eligible Shares previously represented by such Certificates, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(h) and any dividends or other distributions to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(g), without any interest thereon.

(d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the former common stockholders of the Company on the 180th day after the Closing Date shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any holders of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares who have not theretofore complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation and Parent, as general creditors thereof, for payment of the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(h) and any dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(g), in each case without interest thereon. Any portion of the Exchange Fund made available to the Exchange Agent in respect of any Dissenting Shares shall be returned to Parent, upon demand.

(e) No Liability. None of the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any holder of Company Common Stock for any amount of Merger Consideration properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificate has not been surrendered prior to the time that is immediately prior to the time at which Merger Consideration in respect of such Certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity, any such shares, cash, dividends or distributions in respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Parent, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

(f) Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if reasonably required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration payable in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(h) and any dividends or other distributions to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(g).

(g) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares of Parent Common Stock. No dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the whole shares of Parent Common Stock that such holder would be entitled to receive upon surrender of such Certificate and no cash payment in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be paid to any such holder, in each case until such holder shall surrender such Certificate in accordance with this Section 3.3. Following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid to such holder of whole shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) promptly after the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock and not paid, and (ii) at the

 

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appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock. For purposes of dividends or other distributions in respect of shares of Parent Common Stock, all whole shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger shall be entitled to dividends pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence as if such whole shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time.

(h) No Fractional Shares of Parent Common Stock. No certificates or scrip or book-entry notations representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the exchange of Eligible Shares and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to have any rights of a stockholder of Parent or a holder of shares of Parent Common Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of Eligible Shares exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock (after taking into account all Certificates and Book-Entry Shares held by such holder) shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without interest), rounded to the nearest whole cent, in an amount equal to the product of (i) such fractional part of a share of Parent Common Stock multiplied by (ii) the volume weighted average price of Parent Common Stock for the five consecutive trading days immediately prior to the Closing Date as reported by Bloomberg, L.P. (with appropriate adjustments to give effect to any event contemplated by Section 3.1(c)(ii) that occurs during such five trading-day period). As promptly as practicable after the determination of the amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional interests, the Exchange Agent shall so notify Parent, and Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to forward payments to such holders of fractional interests subject to and in accordance with the terms hereof.

(i) Withholding Taxes. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent, the Surviving Corporation and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts (including, for the avoidance of doubt, from shares of Parent Common Stock) otherwise payable to any holder of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement any amount required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable Law. To the extent such amounts are so properly deducted or withheld and paid over to the relevant Taxing Authority by the Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, such deducted or withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Company Common Stock to whom such amounts would have been paid absent such deduction or withholding by the Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be.

Section 3.4 Dissenting Stockholders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 3.1, shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Excluded Shares cancelled in accordance with Section 3.1(b)(iii)) and held by a holder (x) who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing, (y) who has properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights of such shares pursuant to, and who has complied in all respects with, the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL and (z) who is not prohibited from exercising (and who has not waived, is not required to waive and is not deemed to have waived) such appraisal rights pursuant to the terms of the Company Stockholders Agreement (such shares being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted into a right to receive (a) the Merger Consideration, (b) any dividends or other distributions in accordance with Section 3.3(g) or (c) any cash to be paid in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock in accordance with Section 3.3(h), but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by Section 262 of the DGCL; provided, however, that if (i) after the Effective Time, such holder fails to properly perfect or effectively waives or withdraws or otherwise loses such holder’s right to appraisal pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL or (ii) a court of

 

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competent jurisdiction shall finally determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, such shares shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive (a) the Merger Consideration, (b) any dividends or other distributions in accordance with Section 3.3(g) or (c) any cash to be paid in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock in accordance with Section 3.3(h), if any, to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Article III, without interest thereon, upon surrender of the Certificates representing such shares, as applicable, in accordance with this Article III. The Company shall provide Parent prompt written notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Common Stock, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the DGCL that relates to such demand, and Parent shall have the opportunity and right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. Except with the prior written consent of the other Party, neither the Company nor Parent shall make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands prior to the Effective Time.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as set forth in the disclosure letter dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered by the Company to Parent and Merger Sub on or prior to the date of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”), the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

Section 4.1 Organization, Standing and Power. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly organized, as the case may be, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, with all requisite entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, other than, in the case of the Company’s Subsidiaries, where the failure to be so organized or to have such power, authority or standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company (a “Company Material Adverse Effect”). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the business it is conducting, or the operation, ownership or leasing of its properties, makes such qualification or license necessary, other than where the failure to so qualify, license or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has heretofore made available to Parent complete and correct copies of its Organizational Documents and the Organizational Documents of each of its Subsidiaries, each as amended prior to the execution of this Agreement, and each as made available to Parent is in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of such Organizational Documents.

Section 4.2 Capital Structure. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter:

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 65,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Company Preferred Stock” and, together with the Company Common Stock, the “Company Capital Stock”). As of the date of this Agreement: (A) 50,924,098 shares of Company Common Stock are issued and outstanding and no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding; (B) the shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding include 325,775 shares of Company Restricted Stock; (C) 928,781 Company RSUs are outstanding and 590,767 Company RSUs remain available for issuance pursuant to the Company Restricted Stock Units Plan; and (D) the outstanding Company PIAs consist solely of those awarded under the Company PIA Award Agreements listed on Schedule 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

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(b) All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights. All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with (i) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable contracts. As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 4.2, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock of the Company (and the exercise, conversion, purchase, exchange or other similar price thereof). All outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Subsidiaries of the Company are owned by the Company, or a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, are free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Encumbrances described in Schedule 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter) and have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except, in the case of partnerships or limited liability companies, to the extent such non-assessability may be affected by applicable Law of their jurisdictions of formation or organization). Except as set forth in this Section 4.2, and except for stock grants or other awards granted in accordance with Section 6.1(b)(ii), there are outstanding: (A) no shares of Company Capital Stock, Voting Debt or other voting securities of the Company, (B) no securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Company Capital Stock, Voting Debt or other voting securities of the Company and (C) no options, warrants, subscriptions, calls, rights (including preemptive and appreciation rights), commitments or agreements to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or by which it is bound in any case obligating the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to issue, deliver, sell, purchase, redeem or acquire, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold, purchased, redeemed or acquired, additional shares of Company Capital Stock or any Voting Debt or other voting securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or obligating the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, subscription, call, right, commitment or agreement. Other than the Company Voting Agreements and the Company Stockholders Agreement, there are not any stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any shares of capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No Subsidiary of the Company owns any shares of Company Capital Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any (1) interests in a material joint venture or, directly or indirectly, equity securities or other similar equity interests in any Person or (2) obligations, whether contingent or otherwise, to consummate any material additional investment in any Person other than its Subsidiaries and its joint ventures listed on Schedule 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter.

Section 4.3 Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals.

(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, subject, only with respect to consummation of the Merger, to the Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due and valid execution of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to

 

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enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a Proceeding in equity or at law (collectively, “Creditors Rights”). The Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held, (i) unanimously determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (iii) directed that the adoption of this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company and resolved to recommend that the stockholders vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement (such recommendation described in clause (iv), the “Company Board Recommendation”). The Company Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company Capital Stock necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement and the Merger.

(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the Transactions will not (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) (i) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the Organizational Documents of the Company (assuming that the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained) or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii), except as set forth in Schedule 4.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, result in a violation of, a termination (or right of termination) of or default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any provision of any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their respective properties or assets are bound, or (iii) assuming the Consents referred to in Section 4.4 are duly and timely obtained or made and the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained, contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such contraventions, conflicts, violations, defaults, acceleration, losses, or Encumbrances that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Other than this Agreement, the Company is not party to any contract, arrangement or other commitment that would or would reasonably be expected to entitle any Person to appoint one or more directors to the Parent Board.

Section 4.4 Consents. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Consent from any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the Transactions, except for: (a) the filing of a premerger notification report by the Company under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”), and the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period with respect thereto; (b) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (c) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or Takeover Laws; and (d) any such Consent that the failure to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.5 Financial Statements. Schedule 4.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth (a) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the audited consolidated statement of operations, owners’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2017 and for the period from May 7, 2016 to December 31, 2016, of the Company’s predecessor and its Subsidiaries for the period from January 1, 2016 to May 6, 2016, and of the Company’s predecessor and its Subsidiaries for the year ended

 

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December 31, 2015, and (b) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2018 (the “Last Balance Sheet”) and the unaudited consolidated statement of operations, owners’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the six month period ended June 30, 2018 (the financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b), collectively, the “Company Financial Statements”). The Company Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis during the period involved (except as may be indicated in the Company Financial Statements or the notes thereto) and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the Company’s predecessor and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the respective dates and for the respective periods referred to in such financial statements, subject, in the case of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in the Company Financial Statements, to (i) the omission of notes thereto and (ii) normal, recurring year-end adjustments. No financial statements of any Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries are required by GAAP to be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

(a) Since December 31, 2017, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect or any event, change, effect or development that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) From December 31, 2017 through the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in Schedule 4.6 of the Company Disclosure Letter:

(i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course of business in all material respects;

(ii) there has not been any material damage, destruction or other casualty loss with respect to any material asset or property owned, leased or otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, whether or not covered by insurance; and

(iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken, or agreed, committed, arranged, authorized or entered into any understanding to take, any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would (without Parent’s prior written consent) have constituted a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.1(b)(i), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (xii) or (xviii) (solely as it relates to the foregoing Sections 6.1(b)(i), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (xii)).

Section 4.7 No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. There are no liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, other than: (a) liabilities adequately provided for on the Last Balance Sheet (including the notes thereto) contained in the Company Financial Statements; (b) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to June 30, 2018; (c) liabilities incurred in connection with the Transactions; (d) liabilities incurred as permitted under Section 6.1(b)(x); and (e) liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.8 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent pursuant to which shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in the Merger and pursuant to Section 3.2 will be registered with the SEC (including any amendments or supplements, the

 

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Registration Statement”) shall, at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or (b) the consent solicitation statement/information statement/prospectus in preliminary and definitive form (including any amendments or supplements, the “Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus”) relating to the Parent Stockholder Written Consent and which shall include a form of written consent that may be executed by the stockholders of the Company in connection with the Company Stockholder Approval will, at the date it is first mailed to stockholders of the Company and to stockholders of Parent, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; provided, however, that no representation is made by the Company with respect to statements made therein based on information supplied by Parent or Merger Sub specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

Section 4.9 Company Permits; Compliance with Applicable Law. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter:

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries hold and at all times since May 6, 2016 (the “Applicable Date”) held all permits, licenses, certifications, registrations, consents, authorizations, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises and approvals of all Governmental Entities necessary to own, lease and operate their respective properties and assets and for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses as they were or are now being conducted, as applicable (collectively, the “Company Permits”), and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, except where the failure to so hold or make such a payment would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. All Company Permits are in full force and effect and no suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of the Company Permits, except where the failure to be in full force and effect or failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries are not currently being conducted, and at no time since the Applicable Date have been conducted, in violation of any applicable Law, except for violations that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. No investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, other than those the outcome of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.10 Compensation; Benefits.

(a) Set forth on Schedule 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter is a list, as of the date hereof, of all of the material Company Plans.

(b) True, correct and complete copies of each of the material Company Plans and related trust documents and favorable determination or opinion letters, if applicable, have been furnished or made available to Parent or its Representatives, along with the most recent report filed on Form 5500 and summary plan description with respect to each Company Plan required to file a Form 5500, and all material correspondence to or from any Governmental Entity received in the last two years.

 

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(c) Each Company Plan has been maintained and administered in compliance in all respects with all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code, except for failures to comply with such Laws that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no actions, suits or claims pending (other than routine claims for benefits) or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against, or with respect to, any of the Company Plans, and there are no Proceedings by a Governmental Entity with respect to any of the Company Plans, except for such pending actions, suits, claims or Proceedings that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(e) There are no material unfunded benefit obligations that have not been properly accrued for in the Company’s financial statements, and all material contributions or other amounts payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to each Company Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP.

(f) Each Company Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred since such determination by the Internal Revenue Service that would adversely affect such qualification.

(g) There have been no “prohibited transactions” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA in connection with any Company Plan that could subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a material tax or penalty imposed under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA.

(h) No Company Plan is, and none of the Company or any member of its Aggregated Group has any liability with respect to, (i) a plan subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, (iii) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code, or (iv) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA).

(i) Except as required by applicable Law, no Company Plan provides retiree or post-employment medical, disability, life insurance or other welfare benefits to any Person, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to provide such benefits.

(j) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.10(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions could, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any individual who is employed as of the Closing Date by the Company or a Subsidiary thereof (a “Company Employee”) to severance pay or any material increase in severance pay, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or materially increase the amount of compensation due to any such Company Employee, (iii) directly or indirectly cause the Company to transfer or set aside any material amount of assets to fund any material benefits under any Company Plan, (iv) otherwise give rise to any material liability under any Company Plan, (v) limit or restrict the right to materially amend, terminate or transfer the assets of any Company Plan on or following the Effective Time or (vi) result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code.

 

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(k) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any obligation to provide, and no Company Plan or other agreement provides any individual with the right to, a gross up, indemnification, reimbursement or other payment for any excise or additional taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A or Section 4999 of the Code or due to the failure of any payment to be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.

(l) Each Company Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings, and proposed and final regulations) thereunder, except for failures to comply therewith that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(m) No Company Plan is maintained outside the jurisdiction of the United States or covers any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who resides or works outside of the United States.

Section 4.11 Labor Matters.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement and since the Applicable Date, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with any labor union, (ii) there is no pending union representation petition involving employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no activity or Proceeding of any labor organization (or representative thereof) or employee group (or representative thereof) to organize any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement and since the Applicable Date, there is no unfair labor practice, charge or grievance arising out of a collective bargaining agreement, other agreement with any labor union, or other labor-related grievance Proceeding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, other than such matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) As of the date of this Agreement and since the Applicable Date, there is no strike, dispute, slowdown, work stoppage or lockout pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than such matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since the Applicable Date have been, in compliance in all respects with all applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, and there are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any class of the foregoing, relating to any of the foregoing applicable Laws, or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of employment, wrongful termination of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship, other than any such matters described in this sentence that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the Applicable Date, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of the intent of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor or any other Governmental Entity responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment Laws to conduct an investigation with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 4.12 Taxes. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter:

(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed (taking into account extensions of time for filing) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been filed and all such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material respects. All material Taxes that are due and payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP) have been paid in full. All material withholding Tax requirements imposed on or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been satisfied in full, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all information reporting (and related withholding) and record retention requirements.

(b) There is not in force any waiver or agreement for any extension of time for the assessment or payment of any material Tax by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(c) There is no outstanding material claim, assessment or deficiency against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any Taxes that has been asserted in writing by any Governmental Entity. There are no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened regarding any material Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any material Tax allocation, sharing or indemnity contract or arrangement (not including, for the avoidance of doubt (i) an agreement or arrangement solely among the members of a group the common parent of which is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any Tax sharing or indemnification provisions contained in any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and not primarily relating to Tax). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulations § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) or as a transferee or successor by contract or under applicable Law.

(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated, or is currently participating, in a reportable transaction within the meaning of Section 6707A of the Code and Treasury Regulations § 1.6011-4(b) or a transaction that is substantially similar to a listed transaction as defined Section 6707A of the Code and Treasury Regulations § 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) as part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the Transactions.

(g) No written claim has been made by any Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not currently file a Tax Return that it is or may be subject to any material Tax in such jurisdiction, nor has any such assertion been proposed in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

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(h) The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of any private letter ruling requests, closing agreements or gain recognition agreements with respect to Taxes which has been requested or will remain in effect as of the Closing.

(i) There are no Encumbrances for material Taxes on any of the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Permitted Encumbrances.

(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any material item of income in, or to exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income in any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), installment sale under Section 453 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) or open transaction on or prior to the Closing Date, any accounting method change or agreement with any Taxing Authority under Section 481 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), any prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date, any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding provision of Law with respect to Taxes), or any election pursuant to Section 108(i) of the Code (or any similar provision of Law) made with respect to any taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date.

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “U.S. shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 951(b) of the Code) of any foreign corporation which may be required to include in income any amounts under Section 951(a) of the Code.

(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of the existence of any fact, or has taken or agreed to take any action, that would prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(m) The Company is, and has been since formation, properly classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a corporation.

(n) No rulings, requests for rulings or closing agreements (as described in Section 7121 of the Code or comparable provisions of state or local Tax laws) have been entered into with or issued by, or are pending with, any Taxing Authority with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(o) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been required to disclose on its federal income Tax Returns any position that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code.

(p) The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) did not, as of the Company’s Last Balance Sheet, materially exceed the current liability accruals for Taxes (excluding any reserves for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth in such balance sheet and (ii) do not materially exceed such current liability accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and Subsidiaries in filing their respective Tax Returns.

 

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Section 4.13 Litigation. Except for such matters as are set forth on Schedule 4.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no (a) Proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Oil and Gas Properties, or (b) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling, order, writ, stipulation, determination or award of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 4.14 Intellectual Property.

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own, license, sublicense or otherwise possess legally enforceable rights to use all Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the operation of the businesses of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted (collectively, the “Company Intellectual Property”) free and clear of all Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances, except where the failure to own, license, sublicense or otherwise possess legally enforceable rights to use the Company Intellectual Property has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The material Company Intellectual Property is subsisting and has not expired, has not been held invalid or unenforceable and has not been cancelled.

(c) To the knowledge of the Company, the use of the Company Intellectual Property by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the operation of the businesses of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any other Person, except for such matters that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures consistent with prudent industry practices to protect the confidentiality of trade secrets used in the businesses of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted, except where failure to do so has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the IT Assets owned, used, or held for use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) are sufficient for the current needs of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) have not malfunctioned or failed within the past three years and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, are free from any malicious code.

(f) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect (i) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have used commercially reasonable measures to ensure the confidentiality, privacy and security of Personal Information collected or held for use by the Company or its Subsidiaries; and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized access to or unauthorized use of any IT Assets, Personal Information or trade secrets owned or held for use by the Company or its Subsidiaries.

Section 4.15 Real Property. Except with respect to Oil and Gas Properties and Oil and Gas Leases, set forth on Schedule 4.15 of the Company Disclosure Letter is a list of all material real property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Material Owned Real Property”) and a list of all material leasehold estates in all material real property leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise occupied (whether as tenant, subtenant or pursuant to other occupancy arrangements) by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (collectively, including the improvements thereon, the “Company Material Leased Real Property”). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15 of the Company

 

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Disclosure Letter, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good, valid and defensible title to all Company Material Owned Real Property and valid leasehold estates in all Company Material Leased Real Property free and clear of all Encumbrances and defects and imperfections, except Permitted Encumbrances. Each agreement under which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is the landlord, sublandlord, tenant, subtenant, or occupant with respect to the Company Material Leased Real Property (each, a “Company Material Real Property Lease”) to the knowledge of the Company is in full force and effect and is valid and enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to Creditors’ Rights, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, has received written notice of any default under any Company Material Real Property Lease. As of the date of this Agreement, there does not exist any pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, condemnation or eminent domain proceedings that affect any of the Company’s Oil and Gas Properties, Company Material Owned Real Property or Company Material Leased Real Property.

Section 4.16 Rights-of-Way. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has such easements and rights-of-way (collectively, “Rights-of-Way”) as are sufficient to conduct its business in the manner described, except for such Rights-of-Way the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such Rights-of-Way and conducted their business in a manner that does not violate any of the Rights-of-Way and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Rights-of-Way, except for any such matters described in this sentence that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. All pipelines operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries are subject to Rights-of-Way or are located on real property owned or leased by the Company, and there are no gaps (including any gap arising as a result of any breach by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the terms of any Rights-of-Way) in the Rights-of-Way, other than any such matters described in this sentence that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.17 Oil and Gas Matters.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and except for property (i) sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business since the date of the reserve report prepared by Software Integrated Solutions Division of Schlumberger Technology Corporation (the “Company Independent Petroleum Engineers”) relating to the Company interests referred to therein as of December 31, 2017 (the “Company Reserve Report”) or (ii) reflected in the Company Reserve Report as having been sold or otherwise disposed of (other than sales or dispositions after the date hereof in accordance with Section 6.1(b)(v)), the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and defensible title to all Oil and Gas Properties forming the basis for the reserves reflected in the Company Reserve Report and in each case as attributable to interests owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, “good and defensible title” means that the Company’s or one or more of its Subsidiaries’, as applicable, title (as of the date hereof and as of the Closing) to each of the Oil and Gas Properties held or owned by them (or purported to be held or owned by them) (1) entitles the Company (or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) to receive (after satisfaction of all Production Burdens applicable thereto), not less than the net revenue interest share shown in the Company Reserve Report of all Hydrocarbons produced from such Oil and Gas Properties throughout the life of such Oil and Gas Properties, (2) obligates the Company (or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) to bear a percentage of the costs and expenses for the maintenance and development of, and operations

 

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relating to, such Oil and Gas Properties, of not greater than the working interest shown on the Company Reserve Report for such Oil and Gas Properties (other than any positive differences in such percentage) and the applicable working interest shown on the Company Reserve Report for such Oil and Gas Properties that are accompanied by a proportionate (or greater) net revenue interest in such Oil and Gas Properties and (3) is free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances).

(b) Except for any such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the factual, non-interpretive data supplied by the Company to the Company Independent Petroleum Engineers relating to the Company interests referred to in the Company Reserve Report, by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries that was material to such firm’s estimates of proved oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with the preparation of the Company Reserve Report was, as of the time provided, accurate in all respects. Except for any such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the oil and gas reserve estimates of the Company set forth in the Company Reserve Report are derived from reports that have been prepared by the Company Independent Petroleum Engineers, and such reserve estimates fairly reflect, in all respects, the oil and gas reserves of the Company at the dates indicated therein and, except as disclosed in Schedule 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter, are in accordance with SEC guidelines applicable thereto applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. Except for changes generally affecting the oil and gas exploration, development and production industry (including changes in commodity prices) and normal depletion by production, there has been no change in respect of the matters addressed in the Company Reserve Report that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except for any such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) all rentals, shut-ins and similar payments owed to any Person or individual under (or otherwise with respect to) any Oil and Gas Leases have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Leases operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of the Company) been properly and timely paid, (ii) all royalties, minimum royalties, overriding royalties and other Production Burdens with respect to any Oil and Gas Properties owned or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Properties operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of the Company) been timely and properly paid and (iii) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (and, to the Company’s knowledge, no third party operator) has violated any provision of, or taken or failed to take any act that, with or without notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of any Oil and Gas Lease (or entitle the lessor thereunder to cancel or terminate such Oil and Gas Lease) included in the Oil and Gas Properties owned or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) Except for any such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all proceeds from the sale of Hydrocarbons produced from the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are being received by them in a timely manner and are not being held in suspense (by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any third party operator thereof or any other Person) for any reason other than awaiting preparation and approval of division order title opinions for recently drilled Wells.

 

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(e) All of the Wells and all water, CO2, injection or other wells located on the Oil and Gas Leases of the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise associated with an Oil and Gas Property of the Company or its Subsidiaries have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Properties operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of the Company) been drilled, completed and operated within the limits permitted by the applicable contracts entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries related to such wells and applicable Law, and all drilling and completion (and plugging and abandonment) of such wells and all related development, production and other operations have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Properties operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of the Company) been conducted in compliance with all applicable Law, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the material Oil and Gas Properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries is subject to any preferential purchase, consent or similar right that would become operative as a result of the Transactions.

Section 4.18 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter and except for those matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(a) the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective operations and assets are in compliance with Environmental Laws;

(b) the Company and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened Proceedings under Environmental Laws;

(c) there have been no Releases of Hazardous Materials at any property currently or, to the knowledge of the Company, formerly owned, operated or otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, by any predecessors of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, which Releases are reasonably likely to result in liability to the Company under Environmental Law, and, as of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice asserting a liability or obligation under any Environmental Laws with respect to the investigation, remediation, removal, or monitoring of the Release of any Hazardous Materials at or from any property currently or formerly owned, operated, or otherwise used by the Company, or at or from any offsite location where Hazardous Materials from the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations have been sent for treatment, disposal, storage or handling; and

(d) as of the date of this Agreement, there have been no environmental investigations, studies, audits, or other analyses conducted during the past three (3) years by or on behalf of, or that are in the possession of, the Company or its Subsidiaries addressing potentially material environmental matters with respect to any property owned, operated or otherwise used by any of them that have not been delivered or otherwise made available to Parent prior to the date hereof.

Section 4.19 Material Contracts.

(a) Schedule 4.19 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of:

(i) each contract that would be required to be filed by the Company as a “material contract” pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act if such item were applicable to the Company;

 

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(ii) each contract that provides for the acquisition, disposition, license, use, distribution or outsourcing of assets, services, rights or properties (other than Oil and Gas Properties) with respect to which the Company reasonably expects that the Company and its Subsidiaries will make annual payments in excess of $250,000 or aggregate payments in excess of $1,000,000;

(iii) each contract that constitutes a commitment relating to Indebtedness or the deferred purchase price of property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) in excess of $250,000, other than agreements solely between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(iv) each contract for lease of personal property or real property (other than Oil and Gas Properties) involving payments in excess of $250,000 in any calendar year or aggregate payments in excess of $1,000,000 that are not terminable without penalty or other liability to the Company (other than any ongoing obligation pursuant to such contract that is not caused by any such termination) within 60 days, other than contracts related to drilling rigs;

(v) each contract that is a non-competition contract or other contract that (A) purports to limit in any material respect either the type of business in which the Company or its Subsidiaries (or, after the Effective Time, Parent or its Subsidiaries) may engage or the manner or locations in which any of them may so engage in any business (including any contract containing any area of mutual interest, joint bidding area, joint acquisition area, or non-compete or similar type of provision), (B) could require the disposition of any material assets or line of business of the Company or its Subsidiaries (or, after the Effective Time, Parent or its Subsidiaries) or (C) prohibits or limits the rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make, sell or distribute any products or services, or use, transfer or distribute, or enforce any of their rights with respect to, any of their material assets;

(vi) each contract involving the pending acquisition or sale of (or option to purchase or sell) any material amount of the assets or properties of the Company, taken as a whole, other than contracts involving the acquisition or sale of (or option to purchase or sell) Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business;

(vii) each contract for any Derivative Transaction;

(viii) each material partnership, joint venture or limited liability company agreement, other than any customary joint operating agreements, unit agreements or participation agreements affecting the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company;

(ix) each joint development agreement, exploration agreement, participation, farmout, farmin or program agreement or similar contract requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make expenditures from and after January 1, 2018 that would reasonably be expected to be in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate, other than customary joint operating agreements and continuous development obligations under Oil and Gas Leases;

(x) each collective bargaining agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party;

 

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(xi) each agreement under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has advanced or loaned any amount of money to: (A) any of its officers or directors; or (B) employees or consultants with a principal amount in excess of $10,000;

(xii) any contract (A) that provides for the sale by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Hydrocarbons (1) in excess of 200 barrels of oil equivalent of Hydrocarbons per day over a period of one month (calculated on a yearly average basis) or (2) for a term greater than 12 months or (B) under which the Company reasonably expects that it will make aggregate payments in excess of $250,000 in any of the next three succeeding fiscal years or $1,000,000 over the life of the contract that, in the case of (A) and (B), (x) has a remaining term of greater than 12 months and does not allow the Company or such Subsidiary to terminate it without penalty to the Company or such Subsidiary within 60 days and (y) provides for a “take-or-pay” clause or any similar prepayment obligation and acreage dedication, minimum volume commitments or capacity reservation fees to a gathering, transportation or other arrangement downstream of the wellhead, that cover, guaranty or commit volumes;

(xiii) each contract for any Company Related Party Transaction; or

(xiv) each agreement that contains any “most favored nation” or most favored customer provision, call or put option, preferential right or rights of first or last offer, negotiation or refusal, in each case other than those contained in (A) any agreement in which such provision is solely for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) customary royalty pricing provisions in Oil and Gas Leases or (C) customary preferential rights in joint operating agreements, unit agreements or participation agreements affecting the business or the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Collectively, the contracts set forth in Section 4.19(a) are herein referred to as the “Company Contracts.” A complete and correct copy of each of the Company Contracts has been made available to Parent. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, each Company Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms on the Company and each of its Subsidiaries that is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, subject, as to enforceability, to Creditors’ Rights. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material breach or default under any Company Contract nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any other party to any such Company Contract in material breach or default thereunder, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a material default thereunder by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto. There are no material disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Company Contract and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of the intention of any other party to any Company Contract to terminate for default, convenience or otherwise any Company Contract, nor to the knowledge of the Company, is any such party threatening to do so.

Section 4.20 Derivative Transactions.

(a) All Derivative Transactions entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement were entered into in accordance with applicable Laws in all material respects, and in accordance with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and were entered into with counterparties believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in consultation with their advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Transactions.

 

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(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly performed in all material respects all of their respective obligations under the Derivative Transactions to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, and there are no material breaches, violations, collateral deficiencies, requests for collateral or demands for payment, or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereunder.

(c) Schedule 4.20(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists, as of the date of this Agreement, all Derivative Transactions to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, and accurately summarizes in all material respects the outstanding positions under any Derivative Transaction of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including Hydrocarbon and financial positions under any Derivative Transaction of the Company attributable to the production and marketing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Section 4.21 Insurance. Set forth on Schedule 4.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter is a true, correct and complete list of all material insurance policies held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Material Company Insurance Policies”). Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Each of the Material Company Insurance Policies is in full force and effect on the date of this Agreement and a true, correct and complete copy of each Material Company Insurance Policy has been made available to Parent;

(b) all premiums payable under the Material Company Insurance Policies prior to the date of this Agreement have been duly paid to date and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action that (including with respect to the Transactions), with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default, or permit a termination of any of the Material Company Insurance Policies; and

(c) as of the date of this Agreement, no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any Material Company Insurance Policy.

Section 4.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company Board has received the opinion of Barclays Capital Inc. addressed to the Company Board to the effect that, based upon and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, as of the date of the opinion, the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of Eligible Shares pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. A copy of such opinion will be provided (solely for informational purposes) by the Company to Parent promptly following the execution of this Agreement (it being agreed that such opinion is for the benefit of the Company Board and may not be relied upon by Parent or Merger Sub or any other Person).

Section 4.23 Brokers. Except for the fees and expenses payable to Barclays Capital Inc., no broker, investment banker, or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.

 

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Section 4.24 Related Party Transactions. Schedule 4.24 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a complete and correct list of any transaction or arrangement involving in excess of $120,000 under which any (a) present or former executive officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of any class of the equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose status as a 5% holder is known to the Company as of the date of this Agreement or (c) Affiliate, “associate” or member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing (but only, with respect to the Persons in clause (b), to the knowledge of the Company) is a party to any actual or proposed loan, lease or other contract with or binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or has any interest in any property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, including any bond, letter of credit, guarantee, deposit, cash account, escrow, policy of insurance or other credit support instrument or security posted or delivered by any Person listed in clauses (a), (b) or (c) in connection with the operation of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each of the foregoing, a “Company Related Party Transaction”).

Section 4.25 Regulatory Matters.

(a) The Company is not (i) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 or (ii) a “holding company,” a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” an Affiliate of a “holding company,” a “public utility” or a “public-utility company,” as each such term is defined in the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005.

(b) All natural gas pipeline systems and related facilities constituting the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties are (i) “gathering facilities” that are exempt from regulation by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 4.25 of the Company Disclosure Letter, not subject to rate regulation or comprehensive nondiscriminatory access regulation under the Laws of any state or other local jurisdiction.

Section 4.26 Takeover Laws. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.24, the Company Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to this Agreement and the Transactions any Takeover Law or any anti-takeover provision in the Company’s Organizational Documents that is applicable to the Company, the shares of Company Common Stock or the Transactions.

Section 4.27 No Additional Representations.

(a) Except for the representations and warranties made in this Article IV, neither the Company nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities or conditions (financial or otherwise) in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions, and the Company hereby disclaims any such other representations or warranties. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, neither the Company nor any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty to Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives with respect to (i) any financial projection, forecast, estimate, budget or prospect information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses; or (ii) except for the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Article IV, any oral or written information presented to Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence investigation of the

 

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Company, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 4.27 shall limit Parent’s or Merger Sub’s remedies with respect to claims of fraud arising from or relating to the express representations and warranties made by the Company in this Article IV.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company acknowledges and agrees that none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person has made or is making any representations or warranties relating to Parent or its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by Parent and Merger Sub in Article V, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding Parent furnished or made available to the Company, or any of its Representatives and that the Company has not relied on any such other representation or warranty not set forth in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that no representations or warranties are made with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates, budgets or prospect information that may have been made available to the Company or any of its Representatives (including in certain “data rooms,” “virtual data rooms,” management presentations or in any other form in expectation of, or in connection with, the Merger or the other Transactions).

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Except as set forth in the disclosure letter dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub to the Company on or prior to the date of this Agreement (the “Parent Disclosure Letter”) and except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents (including all exhibits and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) filed with or furnished to the SEC and available on Edgar since December 31, 2016 and prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any disclosures set forth or referenced in any risk factor section or in any other section, in each case, to the extent they are forward-looking statements or cautionary, predictive, non-specific or forward-looking in nature), Parent and Merger Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

Section 5.1 Organization, Standing and Power. Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly organized, as the case may be, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, with all requisite entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, other than, in the case of Parent’s Subsidiaries, where the failure to be so organized or to have such power, authority or standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent (a “Parent Material Adverse Effect”). Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the business it is conducting, or the operation, ownership or leasing of its properties, makes such qualification or license necessary, other than where the failure to so qualify, license or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has heretofore made available to the Company complete and correct copies of its Organizational Documents and the Organizational Documents of each of its Subsidiaries, each as amended prior to the execution of this Agreement, and each as made available to the Company is in full force and effect, and neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of such Organizational Documents.

 

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Section 5.2 Capital Structure.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of (i) 1,000,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Parent Preferred Stock” and, together with the Parent Common Stock, the “Parent Capital Stock”). At the close of business on August 20, 2018: (A) 302,331,048 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of Parent Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding; (B) the shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding include 232,143 shares of restricted Parent Common Stock issued pursuant to Parent’s Amended and Restated 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Parent Stock Plan”); and (C) 9,070,854 shares of Parent Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Parent Stock Plan, of which (1) 3,659,311 shares of Parent Common Stock were issuable in respect of outstanding restricted stock unit awards (“RSUs”) and (2) 5,411,543 shares (assuming satisfaction of performance conditions at the maximum level) of Parent Common Stock were issuable in respect of outstanding performance stock unit awards (“PSUs”).

(b) All outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights. The Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. All outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with (i) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable contracts (including the Parent Stock Plan). The Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, when issued, will be issued in compliance in all material respects with (A) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (B) all requirements set forth in applicable contracts. As of the close of business on August 20, 2018, except as set forth in this Section 5.2, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from Parent or any of its Subsidiaries any capital stock of Parent or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock of Parent (and the exercise, conversion, purchase, exchange or other similar price thereof). All outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Subsidiaries of Parent are owned by Parent, or a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent, are free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Encumbrances described in Schedule 5.2 of the Parent Disclosure Letter) and have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except, in the case of partnerships or limited liability companies, to the extent such non-assessability may be affected by applicable Law of their jurisdictions of formation or organization). Except as set forth in this Section 5.2, and except for changes since August 20, 2018 resulting from the vesting of RSUs outstanding at such date, or stock grants or other awards granted in accordance with Section 6.2(b)(ii), there are outstanding: (1) no shares of Parent Capital Stock, Voting Debt or other voting securities of Parent; (2) no securities of Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock, Voting Debt or other voting securities of Parent, and (3) no options, warrants, subscriptions, calls, rights (including preemptive and appreciation rights), commitments or agreements to which Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent is a party or by which it is bound in any case obligating Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent to issue, deliver, sell, purchase, redeem or acquire, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold, purchased, redeemed or acquired, additional shares of capital stock or any Voting Debt or other voting securities of Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent, or obligating Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, subscription, call, right, commitment or agreement. Except for the Parent Voting Agreement, there are not any stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any shares of capital stock or other equity interest of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. No Subsidiary of

 

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Parent owns any shares of Parent Common Stock or any other shares of Parent Capital Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any (x) interest in a material joint venture, directly or indirectly, equity securities or other similar equity interests in any Person or (y) obligations, whether contingent or otherwise, to consummate any material additional investment in any Person other than its Subsidiaries and its joint ventures listed on Schedule 5.2(b)(y) of the Parent Disclosure Letter. As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of which shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent.

Section 5.3 Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals.

(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each of Parent and Merger Sub. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Parent and Merger Sub, and, assuming the due and valid execution of this Agreement by the Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and Merger Sub enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforceability to Creditors’ Rights. The Parent Board, at a meeting duly called and held, (i) unanimously determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment, (iii) directed that the approval of the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment be submitted to the stockholders of Parent, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders approve the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment (such recommendation described in clause (iv), the “Parent Board Recommendation”). In lieu of calling a meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock, Parent has obtained a written consent, dated the date of this Agreement, duly executed and delivered by the Majority Stockholders pursuant to which the Majority Stockholders approved the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment (such written consent, as duly executed and delivered, the “Parent Stockholder Written Consent”). The Parent Stockholder Written Consent constitutes receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval. The Parent Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of Parent’s capital stock necessary to approve the Parent Stock Issuance, the Parent Charter Amendment, this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions. The Merger Sub Board has by unanimous vote (A) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Merger Sub and the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, (B) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (C) directed that the adoption of this Agreement be submitted to the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, and (D) resolved to recommend that the sole stockholder adopt this Agreement. Parent, as the owner of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Merger Sub, has adopted this Agreement in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub.

(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the Transactions will not (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) (i) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the Organizational Documents of either Parent or Merger Sub, (ii) except as set forth in Schedule 5.3(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, result in a violation of, a termination (or right of termination) of or default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the properties or

 

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assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries under, any provision of any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets are bound or (iii) assuming the Consents referred to in Section 5.4 are duly and timely obtained or made, contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any Law applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, other than any such contraventions, conflicts, violations, defaults, acceleration, losses or Encumbrances that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.4 Consents. No Consent from any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub or the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Transactions, except for: (a) the filing of a premerger notification report by Parent under the HSR Act, and the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period with respect thereto; (b) the filing with the SEC of (i) the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement and (ii) such reports under Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, and such other compliance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions; (c) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (d) filings with the NYSE; (e) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws or Takeover Laws; and (f) any such Consent that the failure to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.5 SEC Documents; Financial Statements.

(a) Since January 1, 2017, Parent has filed or furnished with the SEC, on a timely basis, all forms, reports, certifications, schedules, statements and documents required to be filed or furnished under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, respectively, (such forms, reports, certifications, schedules, statements and documents, collectively, the “Parent SEC Documents”). As of their respective dates, each of the Parent SEC Documents, as amended, complied, or if not yet filed or furnished, will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Parent SEC Documents, and none of the Parent SEC Documents contained, when filed or, if amended prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date of such amendment with respect to those disclosures that are amended, or if filed with or furnished to the SEC subsequent to the date of this Agreement, will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b) The financial statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents, including all notes and schedules thereto, complied, or, in the case of Parent SEC Documents filed after the date of this Agreement, will comply in all material respects, when filed or if amended prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date of such amendment, with the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were, or, in the case of Parent SEC Documents filed after the date of this Agreement, will be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of the unaudited statements, as permitted by Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC) and fairly present in all material respects in accordance with applicable requirements of GAAP (subject, in the case of the unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments) the financial position of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and the cash flows of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein.

 

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Section 5.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

(a) Since December 31, 2017, there has not been any Parent Material Adverse Effect or any event, change, effect or development that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) From December 31, 2017 through the date of this Agreement:

(i) Parent and its Subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course of business in all material respects;

(ii) there has not been any material damage, destruction or other casualty loss with respect to any material asset or property owned, leased or otherwise used by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent and its Subsidiaries, whether or not covered by insurance; and

(iii) neither Parent nor its Subsidiaries have taken, or agreed, committed, arranged, authorized or entered into any understanding to take, any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would (without the Company’s prior written consent) have constituted a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 6.2(b)(i), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (xii) or (xviii) (solely as it relates to the foregoing Section 6.2(b)(i), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (xii)).

Section 5.7 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the Registration Statement shall, at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or (b) the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus will, at the date it is first mailed to stockholders of the Company and to stockholders of Parent, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Subject to the accuracy of the first sentence of Section 4.8, the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, respectively, and the rules and regulations thereunder; provided, however, that no representation is made by Parent with respect to statements made therein based on information supplied by the Company specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

Section 5.8 No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. There are no liabilities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, other than: (a) liabilities adequately provided for on the balance sheet of Parent dated as of December 31, 2017 (including the notes thereto) contained in Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017; (b) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to December 31, 2017; (c) liabilities incurred in connection with the Transactions; (d) liabilities incurred as permitted under Section 6.2(b)(viii); and (e) liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 5.9 Parent Permits; Compliance with Applicable Law.

(a) Parent and its Subsidiaries hold and at all times since the January 1, 2016 held all permits, licenses, certifications, registrations, consents, authorizations, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, and approvals of all Governmental Entities necessary to own, lease and operate their respective properties and assets and for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses as they were or are now being conducted, as applicable (collectively, the “Parent Permits”), and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, except where the failure to so hold or make such a payment would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. All Parent Permits are in full force and effect and no suspension or cancellation of any of the Parent Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, and Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of the Parent Permits, except where the failure to be in full force and effect or failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries are not currently being conducted, and at no time since January 1, 2016 have been conducted, in violation of any applicable Law, except for violations that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. No investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, other than those the outcome of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.10 Compensation; Benefits.

(a) Set forth on Schedule 5.10(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter is a list, as of the date hereof, of all the material Parent Plans.

(b) True, correct and complete copies of each of the material Parent Plans and related trust documents and favorable determination or opinion letters, if applicable, have been furnished or made available to the Company or its Representatives, along with the most recent report field on Form 5500 and summary plan description with respect to each Parent Plan required to file a Form 5500, and all material correspondence to or from any Governmental Entity received in the last two years.

(c) Each Parent Plan has been maintained in compliance in all respects with all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code, except for failures to comply with such Laws that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(d) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no actions, suits or claims pending (other than routine claims for benefits) or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against, or with respect to, any of the Parent Plans, and there are no Proceedings by a Governmental Entity with respect to any of the Parent Plans, except for such pending actions, suits, claims or Proceedings that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(e) There are no material unfunded benefit obligations that have not been properly accrued for in Parent’s financial statements, and all material contributions or other amounts payable by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to each Parent Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP.

 

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(f) Each Parent Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified and, to the knowledge of Parent, nothing has occurred since such determination by the Internal Revenue Service that would adversely affect such qualification.

(g) There have been no “prohibited transactions” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA in connection with any Parent Plan that could subject Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to a material tax or penalty imposed under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA.

(h) No Parent Plan is, and none of Parent or any member of its Aggregated Group has any liability with respect to, (i) a plan subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, (iii) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code, or (iv) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA).

(i) Except as required by applicable Law, no Parent Plan provides retiree or post-employment medical, disability, life insurance or other welfare benefits to any Person, and none of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to provide such benefits.

(j) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(j) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions could, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any employee of Parent to severance pay or any material increase in severance pay, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or materially increase the amount of compensation due to any such employee of Parent, (iii) directly or indirectly cause Parent to transfer or set aside any material amount of assets to fund any material benefits under any Parent Plan, (iv) otherwise give rise to any material liability under any Parent Plan, (v) limit or restrict the right to materially amend, terminate or transfer the assets of any Parent Plan on or following the Effective Time or (vi) result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code. Parent has made available to the Company true and complete copies of any Section 280G calculations prepared (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual in connection with the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(k) Neither Parent nor any Subsidiary has any obligation to provide, and no Parent Plan or other agreement provides any individual with the right to, a gross up, indemnification, reimbursement or other payment for any excise or additional taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A or Section 4999 of the Code or due to the failure of any payment to be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.

(l) Each Parent Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings, and proposed and final regulations) thereunder, except for failures to comply therewith that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(m) No Parent Plan is maintained outside the jurisdiction of the United States or covers any employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries who resides or works outside of the United States.

 

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Section 5.11 Labor Matters.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement and since January 1, 2016, (i) neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with any labor union, (ii) there is no pending union representation petition involving employees of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and (iii) to Parent’s knowledge, there is no activity or proceeding of any labor organization (or representative thereof) or employee group (or representative thereof) to organize any employees of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement and since January 1, 2016, there is no unfair labor practice, charge or grievance arising out of a collective bargaining agreement, other agreement with any labor union, or other labor-related grievance proceeding against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries pending, or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, other than such matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(c) As of the date of this Agreement and since January 1, 2016, there is no strike, dispute, slowdown, work stoppage or lockout pending, or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, against or involving Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, other than such matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Parent and its Subsidiaries are, and since January 1, 2016, have been, in compliance in all respects with all applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, and there are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any class of the foregoing, relating to any of the foregoing applicable Laws, or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of employment, wrongful termination of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship, other than any such matters described in this sentence that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Since January 1, 2017, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of the intent of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor or any other Governmental Entity responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment Laws to conduct an investigation with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.12 Taxes.

(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed (taking into account extensions of time for filing) by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries have been filed and all such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material respects. All material Taxes that are due and payable by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP) have been paid in full. All material withholding Tax requirements imposed on or with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries have been satisfied in full, and Parent and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all information reporting (and related withholding) and record retention requirements.

(b) There is not in force any waiver or agreement for any extension of time for the assessment or payment of any material Tax by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(c) There is no outstanding material claim, assessment or deficiency against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries for any Taxes that has been asserted in writing by any Governmental Entity. There are no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened regarding any material Taxes of Parent and its Subsidiaries or the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries.

(d) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any material Tax allocation, sharing or indemnity contract or arrangement (not including, for the avoidance of doubt (i) an agreement or arrangement solely among the members of a group the common parent of which is Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any Tax sharing or indemnification provisions contained in any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and not primarily relating to Tax). Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability for Taxes of any Person (other than Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulations § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) or as a transferee or successor by contract or under applicable Law.

(e) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated, or is currently participating, in a reportable transaction within the meaning of Section 6707A of the Code and Treasury Regulations § 1.6011-4(b) or a transaction that is substantially similar to a listed transaction as defined in Section 6707A of the Code and Treasury Regulations § 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(f) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) as part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the Transactions.

(g) No written claim has been made by any Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where Parent or any of its Subsidiaries does not currently file a Tax Return that it is or may be subject to any material Tax in such jurisdiction, nor has any such assertion been proposed in writing or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened.

(h) Parent has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of any private letter ruling requests, closing agreements or gain recognition agreements with respect to Taxes which has been requested or will remain in effect as of the Closing.

(i) There are no Encumbrances for material Taxes on any of the assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Permitted Encumbrances.

(j) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any material item of income in, or to exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income in any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign law), installment sale under Section 453 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) or open transaction on or prior to the Closing Date, any accounting method change or agreement with any Taxing Authority under Section 481 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), any prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date, any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding provision of Law with respect to Taxes), or any election pursuant to Section 108(i) of the Code (or any similar provision of Law) made with respect to any taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(k) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “U.S. shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 951(b) of the Code) of any foreign corporation which may be required to include in income any amounts under Section 951(a) of the Code.

(l) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of the existence of any fact, or has taken or agreed to take any action, that would prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(m) Each of Parent and Merger Sub is, and has been since formation, properly classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a corporation.

(n) No rulings, requests for rulings or closing agreements (as described in Section 7121 of the Code or comparable provisions of state or local Tax laws) have been entered into with or issued by, or are pending with, any Taxing Authority with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

(o) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has been required to disclose on its federal income Tax Returns any position that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code.

(p) The unpaid Taxes of Parent and its Subsidiaries (i) did not, as of the Parent’s latest balance sheet filed with the SEC, materially exceed the current liability accruals for Taxes (excluding any reserves for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth in such balance sheet and (ii) do not materially exceed such current liability accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of Parent and Subsidiaries in filing their respective Tax Returns.

Section 5.13 Litigation. Except for such matters as are set forth on Schedule 5.13 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, there is no (a) Proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Oil and Gas Properties, or (b) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling, order, writ, stipulation, determination or award of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 5.14 Intellectual Property.

(a) Parent and its Subsidiaries own, license, sublicense or otherwise possess legally enforceable rights to use all Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the operation of the businesses of each of Parent and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted (collectively, the “Parent Intellectual Property”) free and clear of all Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances, except where the failure to own, license, sublicense or otherwise possess legally enforceable rights to use the Parent Intellectual Property has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The material Parent Intellectual Property is subsisting and has not expired, has not been held invalid or unenforceable and has not been cancelled.

(c) To the knowledge of Parent, the use of the Parent Intellectual Property by Parent and its Subsidiaries in the operation of the business of each of Parent and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any other Person, except for such matters that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) Parent and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures consistent with prudent industry practices to protect the confidentiality of trade secrets used in the businesses of each of Parent and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted, except where failure to do so has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the IT Assets owned, used, or held for use by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (i) are sufficient for the current needs of the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries (ii) have not malfunctioned or failed within the past three years and (iii) to the knowledge of Parent, are free from any malicious code.

(f) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect (i) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have used commercially reasonable measures to ensure the confidentiality, privacy and security of Personal Information collected or held for use by Parent or its Subsidiaries; and (ii) to the knowledge of Parent, there has been no unauthorized access to or unauthorized use of any IT Assets, Personal Information or trade secrets owned or held for use by Parent or its Subsidiaries.

Section 5.15 Real Property. Except with respect to Oil and Gas Properties and Oil and Gas Leases, set forth on Schedule 5.15 of the Parent Disclosure Letter is a list of all material real property owned by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Parent Material Owned Real Property”) and a list of all material leasehold estates in all material real property leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise occupied (whether as tenant, subtenant or pursuant to other occupancy arrangements) by Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent (collectively, including the improvements thereon, the “Parent Material Leased Real Property”). Parent and its Subsidiaries have good, valid and defensible title to all Parent Material Owned Real Property and valid leasehold estates in all Parent Material Leased Real Property free and clear of all Encumbrances and defects and imperfections, except Permitted Encumbrances. Each agreement under which Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent is the landlord, sublandlord, tenant, subtenant, or occupant with respect to the Parent Material Leased Real Property (each, a “Parent Material Real Property Lease”) to the knowledge of Parent is in full force and effect and is valid and enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to Creditors’ Rights, and neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of Parent, any other party thereto, has received written notice of any default under any Parent Material Real Property Lease. As of the date of this Agreement, there does not exist any pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, condemnation or eminent domain proceedings that affect any of Parent’s Oil and Gas Properties, Parent Material Owned Real Property or Parent Material Leased Real Property.

Section 5.16 Rights-of-Way. Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries has such Rights-of-Way as are sufficient to conduct its business in the manner described, except for such Rights-of-Way the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such Rights-of-Way and conducted their business in a manner that does not violate any of the Rights-of-Way and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Rights-of-Way, except for any such matters described in this sentence that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. All pipelines operated by Parent and its Subsidiaries are subject to Rights-of-Way or are located on real property owned or leased

 

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by Parent, and there are no gaps (including any gap arising as a result of any breach by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of the terms of any Rights-of-Way) in the Rights-of-Way, other than any such matters described in this sentence that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.17 Oil and Gas Matters.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, and except for property (i) sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business since the dates of the reserve reports prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (the ”Parent Independent Petroleum Engineers”) relating to the Parent interests referred to therein as of December 31, 2017 (collectively, the “Parent Reserve Reports”) or (ii) reflected in the Parent Reserve Reports or in the Parent SEC Documents as having been sold or otherwise disposed of (other than sales or dispositions after the date hereof in accordance with Section 6.1(b)(v)), Parent and its Subsidiaries have good and defensible title to all Oil and Gas Properties forming the basis for the reserves reflected in the Parent Reserve Reports and in each case as attributable to interests owned by Parent and its Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, “good and defensible title” means that Parent’s or one or more of its Subsidiaries’, as applicable, title (as of the date hereof and as of the Closing) to each of the Oil and Gas Properties held or owned by them (or purported to be held or owned by them) (1) entitles Parent (or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) to receive (after satisfaction of all Production Burdens applicable thereto), not less than the net revenue interest share shown in the Parent Reserve Reports of all Hydrocarbons produced from such Oil and Gas Properties throughout the life of such Oil and Gas Properties, (2) obligates Parent (or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) to bear a percentage of the costs and expenses for the maintenance and development of, and operations relating to, such Oil and Gas Properties, of not greater than the working interest shown on the Parent Reserve Reports for such Oil and Gas Properties (other than any positive differences in such percentage) and the applicable working interest shown on the Parent Reserve Reports for such Oil and Gas Properties that are accompanied by a proportionate (or greater) net revenue interest in such Oil and Gas Properties and (3) is free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances).

(b) Except for any such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the factual, non-interpretive data supplied by Parent to the Parent Independent Petroleum Engineers relating to the Parent interests referred to in the Parent Reserve Reports, by or on behalf of Parent and its Subsidiaries that was material to such firm’s estimates of proved oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent and its Subsidiaries in connection with the preparation of the Parent Reserve Reports was, as of the time provided, accurate in all respects. Except for any such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, the oil and gas reserve estimates of Parent set forth in the Parent Reserve Reports are derived from reports that have been prepared by the Parent Independent Petroleum Engineers, and such reserve estimates fairly reflect, in all respects, the oil and gas reserves of Parent at the dates indicated therein and are in accordance with SEC guidelines applicable thereto applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. Except for changes generally affecting the oil and gas exploration, development and production industry (including changes in commodity prices) and normal depletion by production, there has been no change in respect of the matters addressed in the Parent Reserve Reports that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (i) all rentals, shut-ins and similar payments owed to any Person or individual under (or otherwise with respect to) any Oil and Gas Leases have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Leases operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of Parent) been properly and timely paid, (ii) all royalties, minimum royalties, overriding royalties and other Production Burdens with respect to any Oil and Gas Properties owned or held by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Properties operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of Parent) been timely and properly paid and (iii) none of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (and, to the Parent’s knowledge, no third party operator) has violated any provision of, or taken or failed to take any act that, with or without notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of any Oil and Gas Lease (or entitle the lessor thereunder to cancel or terminate such Oil and Gas Lease) included in the Oil and Gas Properties owned or held by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, all proceeds from the sale of Hydrocarbons produced from the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent and its Subsidiaries are being received by them in a timely manner and are not being held in suspense (by Parent, any of its Subsidiaries, any third party operator thereof or any other Person) for any reason other than awaiting preparation and approval of division order title opinions for recently drilled Wells.

(e) All of the Wells and all water, CO2, injection or other wells located on the Oil and Gas Leases of Parent and its Subsidiaries or otherwise associated with an Oil and Gas Property of Parent or its Subsidiaries have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Properties operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of Parent) been drilled, completed and operated within the limits permitted by the applicable contracts entered into by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries related to such wells and applicable Law, and all drilling and completion (and plugging and abandonment) of such wells and all related development, production and other operations have (in the case of such Oil and Gas Properties operated by a third party operator, to the knowledge of Parent) been conducted in compliance with all applicable Law except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.17 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, none of the material Oil and Gas Properties of Parent or its Subsidiaries is subject to any preferential purchase, consent or similar right that would become operative as a result of the Transactions.

Section 5.18 Environmental Matters. Except for those matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Parent and its Subsidiaries and their respective operations and assets are in compliance with Environmental Laws;

(b) Parent and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any pending or, to Parent’s knowledge, threatened Proceedings under Environmental Laws;

(c) there have been no Releases of Hazardous Materials at any property currently or, to the knowledge of Parent, formerly owned, operated or otherwise used by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of Parent, by any predecessors of Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent, which Releases are reasonably likely to result in liability to Parent under Environmental Law, and, as of the date of this Agreement, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice asserting a liability or obligation under any Environmental Laws with respect to

 

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the investigation, remediation, removal, or monitoring of the Release of any Hazardous Materials at or from any property currently or formerly owned, operated, or otherwise used by Parent, or at or from any offsite location where Hazardous Materials from Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations have been sent for treatment, disposal, storage or handling; and

(d) as of the date of this Agreement, there have been no environmental investigations, studies, audits, or other analyses conducted during the past three (3) years by or on behalf of, or that are in the possession of, Parent or its Subsidiaries addressing potentially material environmental matters with respect to any property owned, operated or otherwise used by any of them that have not been delivered or otherwise made available to the Company prior to the date hereof.

Section 5.19 Material Contracts.

(a) Schedule 5.19 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, together with the lists of exhibits contained in the Parent SEC Documents, sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of:

(i) each “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act);

(ii) each contract that provides for the acquisition, disposition, license, use, distribution or outsourcing of assets, services, rights or properties (other than Oil and Gas Properties) with respect to which Parent reasonably expects that Parent and its Subsidiaries will make annual payments in excess of $250,000 or aggregate payments in excess of $1,000,000;

(iii) each contract that constitutes a commitment relating to Indebtedness or the deferred purchase price of property by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) in excess of $250,000, other than agreements solely between or among Parent and its Subsidiaries;

(iv) each contract for lease of personal property or real property (other than Oil and Gas Properties) involving payments in excess of $250,000 in any calendar year or aggregate payments in excess of $1,000,000 over the life of the contract that are not terminable without penalty or other liability to Parent (other than any ongoing obligation pursuant to such contract that is not caused by any such termination) within 60 days, other than contracts related to drilling rigs;

(v) each contract that is a non-competition contract or other contract that (A) purports to limit in any material respect either the type of business in which Parent or its Subsidiaries (including, after the Effective Time, the Company and its Subsidiaries) may engage or the manner or locations in which any of them may so engage in any business (including any contract containing any area of mutual interest, joint bidding area, joint acquisition area, or non-compete or similar type of provision), (B) could require the disposition of any material assets or line of business of Parent or its Subsidiaries or (C) prohibits or limits the rights of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to make, sell or distribute any products or services, or use, transfer or distribute, or enforce any of their rights with respect to, any of their material assets;

 

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(vi) each contract involving the pending acquisition or sale of (or option to purchase or sell) any material amount of the assets or properties of Parent, taken as a whole, other than contracts involving the acquisition or sale of (or option to purchase or sell) Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business;

(vii) each contract for any Derivative Transaction;

(viii) each material partnership, joint venture or limited liability company agreement, other than any customary joint operating agreements, unit agreements or participation agreements affecting the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent;

(ix) each joint development agreement, exploration agreement, participation, farmout, farmin or program agreement or similar contract requiring Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to make expenditures from and after January 1, 2018 that would reasonably be expected to be in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate, other than customary joint operating agreements and continuous development obligations under Oil and Gas Leases;

(x) each collective bargaining agreement to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party;

(xi) each agreement under which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has advanced or loaned any amount of money to: (A) any of its officers or directors; or (B) employees or consultants with a principal amount in excess of $10,000;

(xii) any contract (A) that provides for the sale by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of Hydrocarbons (1) in excess of 200 barrels of oil equivalent of Hydrocarbons per day over a period of one month (calculated on a yearly average basis) or (2) for a term greater than 12 months or (B) under which Parent reasonably expects that it will make aggregate payments in excess of $250,000 in any of the next three succeeding fiscal years or $1,000,000 over the life of the contract that, in the case of (A) or (B), (x) has a remaining term of greater than 12 months and does not allow Parent or such Subsidiary to terminate it without penalty to Parent or such Subsidiary within 60 days and (y) provides for a “take-or-pay” clause or any similar prepayment obligation and acreage dedication, minimum volume commitments or capacity reservation fees to a gathering, transportation or other arrangement downstream of the wellhead, that cover, guaranty or commit volumes;

(xiii) each contract for any Parent Related Party Transaction; or

(xiv) each agreement that contains any “most favored nation” or most favored customer provision, call or put option, preferential right or rights of first or last offer, negotiation or refusal, in each case other than those contained in (A) any agreement in which such provision is solely for the benefit of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) customary royalty pricing provisions in Oil and Gas Leases or (C) customary preferential rights in joint operating agreements, unit agreements or participation agreements affecting the business or the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and is material to the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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(b) Collectively, the contracts set forth in Section 5.19(a) are herein referred to as the “Parent Contracts.” A complete and correct copy of each of the Parent Contracts has been made available to the Company. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, each Parent Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms on Parent and each of its Subsidiaries that is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of Parent, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, subject, as to enforceability, to Creditors’ Rights. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material breach or default under any Parent Contract nor, to the knowledge of Parent, is any other party to any such Parent Contract in material breach or default thereunder, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a material default thereunder by Parent or its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of Parent, any other party thereto. There are no material disputes pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened with respect to any Parent Contract and neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of the intention of any other party to any Parent Contract to terminate for default, convenience or otherwise any Parent Contract, nor to the knowledge of Parent, is any such party threatening to do so.

Section 5.20 Derivative Transactions.

(a) All Derivative Transactions entered into by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement were entered into in accordance with applicable Laws in all material respects, and in accordance with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by Parent and its Subsidiaries, and were entered into with counterparties believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in consultation with their advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Transactions.

(b) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have duly performed in all material respects all of their respective obligations under the Derivative Transactions to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, and there are be no material breaches, violations, collateral deficiencies, requests for collateral or demands for payment, or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Parent, any other party thereunder.

(c) Schedule 5.20(c) of the Parent Disclosure Letter lists, as of the date of this Agreement, all Derivative Transactions to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, and accurately summarizes in all material respects the outstanding positions under any Derivative Transaction of Parent and its Subsidiaries, including Hydrocarbon and financial positions under any Derivative Transaction of Parent attributable to the production and marketing of Parent and its Subsidiaries.

Section 5.21 Insurance. Set forth in Schedule 5.21 of the Parent Disclosure Letter is a true, correct and complete list of all material insurance policies held by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Material Parent Insurance Policies”). Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect:

(a) each of the Material Parent Insurance Policies is in full force and effect on the date of this Agreement and a true, correct and complete copy of each Material Parent Insurance Policy has been made available to the Company;

(b) all premiums payable under the Material Parent Insurance Policies prior to the date of this Agreement have been duly paid to date and neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action that (including with respect to the Transactions), with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default, or permit a termination of any of the Material Company Insurance Policies; and

 

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(c) as of the date of this Agreement, no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any Material Parent Insurance Policy.

Section 5.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Parent Board has received the opinion of Jefferies LLC addressed to the Parent Board to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the scope of the review undertaken by Jefferies LLC as set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio pursuant to this Agreement is fair from a financial point of view to Parent. A copy of such opinion will be provided (solely for informational purposes) by Parent to the Company promptly following the execution of this Agreement (it being agreed that such opinion is for the benefit of the Parent Board and may not be relied upon by the Company or any other Person).

Section 5.23 Brokers. Except for the fees and expenses payable to Jefferies LLC, no broker, investment banker, or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.

Section 5.24 Related Party Transactions. Schedule 5.24 of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement and except to the extent disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, a complete and correct list of any transaction or arrangement involving in excess of $120,000 under which any (a) present or former executive officer or director of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of any class of the equity securities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries whose status as a 5% holder is known to Parent as of the date of this Agreement or (c) Affiliate, “associate” or member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing (but only, with respect to the Persons in clause (b), to the knowledge of Parent) is a party to any actual or proposed loan, lease or other contract with or binding upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or has any interest in any property owned by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, including any bond, letter of credit, guarantee, deposit, cash account, escrow, policy of insurance or other credit support instrument or security posted or delivered by any Person listed in clauses (a), (b) or (c) in connection with the operation of the business of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (each of the foregoing, a “Parent Related Party Transaction”).

Section 5.25 Ownership of Company Common Stock. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries own any shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for shares of Company Common Stock).

Section 5.26 Business Conduct. Merger Sub was incorporated on August 10, 2018. Since its inception, Merger Sub has not engaged in any activity, other than such actions in connection with (a) its organization and (b) the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Transactions. Merger Sub has no operations, has not generated any revenues and has no assets or liabilities other than those incurred in connection with the foregoing and in association with the Merger as provided in this Agreement.

Section 5.27 Regulatory Matters.

(a) Parent is not (i) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 or (ii) a “holding company,” a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” an Affiliate of a “holding company,” a “public utility” or a “public-utility company,” as each such term is defined in the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005.

 

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(b) All natural gas pipeline systems and related facilities constituting Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties are (i) “gathering facilities” that are exempt from regulation by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and (ii) not subject to rate regulation or comprehensive nondiscriminatory access regulation under the Laws of any state or other local jurisdiction.

Section 5.28 No Additional Representations.

(a) Except for the representations and warranties made in this Article V, neither Parent nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Parent or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities or conditions (financial or otherwise) in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions, and Parent hereby disclaims any such other representations or warranties. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, neither Parent nor any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives with respect to (i) any financial projection, forecast, estimate, budget or prospect information relating to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses; or (ii) except for the representations and warranties made by Parent in this Article V, any oral or written information presented to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence investigation of Parent, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.28 shall limit the Company’s remedies with respect to claims of fraud arising from or relating to the express written representations and warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub in this Article V.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent acknowledges and agrees that none of the Company or any other Person has made or is making any representations or warranties relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the Company in Article IV, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the Company furnished or made available to Parent, or any of its Representatives and that neither Parent nor Merger Sub has relied on any such other representation or warranty not set forth in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent acknowledges that no representations or warranties are made with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates, budgets or prospect information that may have been made available to Parent or any of its Representatives (including in certain “data rooms,” “virtual data rooms,” management presentations or in any other form in expectation of, or in connection with, the Merger or the other Transactions).

ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

Section 6.1 Conduct of Company Business Pending the Merger.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as expressly permitted or required by this Agreement, as may be required by applicable Law or otherwise consented to by Parent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Company covenants and agrees that, until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, it shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to conduct its businesses in the ordinary course, including by using reasonable best efforts to preserve substantially intact its present business organization, goodwill and assets, to keep available the services of its current officers and employees and preserve its existing relationships with Governmental Entities and its significant customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors, lessors and others having significant business dealings with it.

 

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(b) Except as set forth on the corresponding subsection of Schedule 6.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as expressly permitted or required by this Agreement, as may be required by applicable Law or otherwise consented to by Parent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII the Company shall not, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to:

(i) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distribution in respect of any outstanding capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company; (B) split, combine or reclassify any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for equity interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (C) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, except as required by the terms of any capital stock or equity interest of a Subsidiary existing and disclosed to Parent as of the date hereof or in respect of any Company RSUs, Company PIAs or Company Restricted Stock outstanding as of the date hereof, or issued after the date hereof in accordance with this Agreement, in accordance with the terms of, as applicable, the related Company RSU Agreement, the Company Restricted Stock Units Plan, the related Company PIA Award Agreement or the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement;

(ii) offer, issue, deliver, grant or sell, or authorize or propose to offer, issue, deliver, grant or sell, any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such capital stock or equity interests, other than: (A) the delivery of Company Common Stock upon the vesting or lapse of any restrictions on any Company RSUs, Company PIAs or Company Restricted Stock outstanding on the date hereof, or issued after the date hereof in accordance with this Agreement, in accordance with the terms of, as applicable, the related Company RSU Agreement, the Company Restricted Stock Units Plan, the related Company PIA Award Agreement or the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement; (B) issuances of Company Restricted Stock or Company RSUs to members of the Company Board pursuant to the Company Director Compensation Policy to the extent described on Schedule 6.1(b)(ii)(B) of the Company Disclosure Letter; (C) issuances by a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company of such Subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests to the Company or any other wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company; and (D) shares of capital stock issued as a dividend made in accordance with Section 6.1(b)(i);

(iii) amend or propose to amend the Company’s Organizational Documents or amend or propose to amend the Organizational Documents of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

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(iv) (A) merge, consolidate, combine or amalgamate with any Person other than between wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company or, in the case of a Subsidiary of the Company, in connection with any acquisition permitted by clause (B) or (B) acquire or agree to acquire (including by merging or consolidating with, purchasing any equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, licensing, or by any other manner), any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof, other than acquisitions for which the consideration is less than $1,000,000 individually or in the aggregate;

(v) sell, lease, transfer, farmout, license, Encumber (other than Permitted Encumbrances), discontinue or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, transfer, farmout, license, Encumber (other than Permitted Encumbrances), discontinue or otherwise dispose of, any portion of its assets or properties, other than (A) sales, leases or dispositions for which the consideration is less than $2,000,000 in the aggregate or (B) the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business;

(vi) authorize, recommend, propose, enter into, adopt a plan or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than such transactions among wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

(vii) change in any material respect their material accounting principles, practices or methods that would materially affect the consolidated assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except as required by GAAP or applicable Law;

(viii) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, change an annual Tax accounting period, adopt or change any material Tax accounting method, file any material amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement with respect to material Taxes, settle any material Tax claim, audit, assessment or dispute, surrender any right to claim a material refund, agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to the assessment or determination of any material Tax, or take any action which is reasonably likely to result in a material increase in the Tax liability of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(ix) except as required by applicable Law or as required pursuant to an agreement or Company Plan existing as of the date hereof (A) grant any material increases in the compensation payable or to become payable to any of its directors, officers or employees; (B) take any action to accelerate the vesting or lapsing of restrictions or payment, or fund or in any other way secure the payment, of compensation or benefits under any Company Plan; (C) grant any new equity-based awards, other than issuances of Company Restricted Stock or Company RSUs to members of the Company Board pursuant to the Company Director Compensation Policy to the extent described on Schedule 6.1(b)(ii)(B) of the Company Disclosure Letter, or amend or modify the terms of any outstanding equity-based awards, under any Company Plan; (D) pay or agree to pay to any director, officer or employee, whether past or present, any material pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit not required by any of any Company Plan existing as of the date hereof; (E) enter into any new, or amend any existing, material employment or severance or termination agreement with any director, officer or employee making an annualized salary of more than $150,000; (F) establish any material Company Plan which was not in existence or approved by the Company Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or amend any such plan or arrangement in existence on the date of this Agreement if such amendment would have the effect of enhancing any benefits thereunder or otherwise result in increased costs to the Company; (G) hire any employee with an

 

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annualized salary of more than $150,000 or engage any independent contractor (who is a natural person) with annualized payments of more than $150,000; or (H) other than for cause, terminate the employment of any officer or any other employee with annualized salary of more than $150,000;

(x) (A) incur, create or assume any Indebtedness or guarantee any such Indebtedness of another Person or (B) create any Encumbrances on any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any Indebtedness thereof, other than Permitted Encumbrances; provided, however, that the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) shall not restrict (I) the incurrence of Indebtedness (1) under existing credit facilities, (2) by the Company that is owed to any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company or by any Subsidiary of the Company that is owed to the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, (3) additional Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed $250,000, or (4) incurred or assumed in connection with any acquisition permitted by Section 6.1(b)(iv) or (II) the creation of any Encumbrances securing any Indebtedness permitted by the foregoing clauses (1), (2), (3) or (4);

(xi) (A) enter into any contract that would be a Company Contract if it were in effect on the date of this Agreement or (B) modify, amend, terminate or assign, or waive or assign any rights under, any Company Contract (including the renewal of existing Company Contract on substantially the same terms in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), other than in each case, with respect to Sections 4.19(a)(vii), (x), and (xi) only, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(xii) cancel, modify or waive any debts or claims held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or waive any rights held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries having in each case a value in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate;

(xiii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise or offer or propose to waive, release, assign, settle or compromise, any Proceeding (excluding any audit, claim or other proceeding in respect of Taxes) other than (A) the settlement of such proceedings involving only the payment of monetary damages by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any amount not exceeding $500,000 in the aggregate and (B) as would not result in any restriction on future activity or conduct or a finding or admission of a violation of Law; provided, however, that the Company shall be permitted to settle any Transaction Litigation in accordance with Section 6.11;

(xiv) make or commit to make any capital expenditures in a given calendar quarter that are, in the aggregate greater than 15% of the quarterly budgeted amount of capital expenditures scheduled to be made in the Company’s capital expenditure budget set forth in Schedule 6.1(b)(xiv) of the Company Disclosure Letter, except for capital expenditures to repair damage resulting from insured casualty events or capital expenditures required on an emergency basis or for the safety of individuals, assets or the environment;

(xv) take any action, cause any action to be taken, knowingly fail to take any action or knowingly fail to cause any action to be taken, which action or failure to act would prevent or impede, or would be reasonably likely to prevent or impede, the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;

 

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(xvi) take any action or omit to take any action that is reasonably likely to cause any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII to not be satisfied;

(xvii) enter into any contract or consummate any transaction described in subsection (xvii) of Schedule 6.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, regardless of whether such action would otherwise be permitted under this Section 6.1(b); or

(xviii) agree to take any action that is prohibited by this Section 6.1(b).

Section 6.2 Conduct of Parent Business Pending the Merger.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.2(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, as expressly permitted or required by this Agreement, as may be required by applicable Law or otherwise consented to by the Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), Parent covenants and agrees that, until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, it shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to conduct its businesses in the ordinary course, including by using reasonable best efforts to preserve substantially intact its present business organization, goodwill and assets, to keep available the services of its current officers and employees and preserve its existing relationships with Governmental Entities and its significant customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors, lessors and others having significant business dealings with it.

(b) Except as set forth on the corresponding subsection of Schedule 6.2(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, as expressly permitted or required by this Agreement, as may be required by applicable Law or otherwise consented to by Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, Parent shall not, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to:

(i) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distribution in respect of any outstanding capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Parent or its Subsidiaries, except for dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent to Parent or another direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent; (B) split, combine or reclassify any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for equity interests in Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; or (C) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Parent, except as required by the terms of any capital stock or equity interest of a Subsidiary or as contemplated by any Parent Plan in each case existing as of the date hereof;

(ii) offer, issue, deliver, grant or sell, or authorize or propose to offer, issue, deliver, grant or sell, any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such capital stock or equity interests, other than: (A) the issuance of Parent Common Stock upon the vesting or lapse of any restrictions on any awards granted under Parent Stock Plan and outstanding on the date hereof; or (B) issuances by a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent of such Subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests to Parent or any other wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent;

 

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(iii) amend or propose to amend Parent’s Organizational Documents or amend or propose to amend the Organizational Documents of any of Parent’s Subsidiaries;

(iv) (A) merge, consolidate, combine or amalgamate with any Person other than between wholly-owned Subsidiaries of Parent or, in the case of a Subsidiary of Parent, in connection with any acquisition permitted by clause (B), or (B) acquire or agree to acquire (including by merging or consolidating with, purchasing any equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, licensing, or by any other manner), any business or assets or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof, other than acquisitions for which the consideration is less than $1,000,000 individually or in the aggregate;

(v) sell, lease, transfer, farmout, or license, Encumber (other than Permitted Encumbrance), discontinue or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, transfer, farmout, license, Encumber (other than Permitted Encumbrance), discontinue or otherwise dispose of, any portion of its assets or properties, other than (A) sales, leases or dispositions for which the cash consideration is less than $2,000,000, (B) the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business, or (C) swaps of undeveloped acreage in the ordinary course of business for no cash consideration, provided (I) that all of the acreage transferred and received by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in any such swap is located in the State of Ohio and (II) such swaps do not involve, in the aggregate, transfers by Parent and its Subsidiaries of more than 1,000 net leasehold acres;

(vi) authorize, recommend, propose, enter into, adopt a plan or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, other than such transactions among wholly owned Subsidiaries of Parent;

(vii) change in any material respect their material accounting principles, practices or methods that would materially affect the consolidated assets, liabilities or results of operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, except as required by GAAP or applicable Law;

(viii) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, change an annual Tax accounting period, adopt or change any material Tax accounting method, file any material amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement with respect to material Taxes, settle any material Tax claim, audit, assessment or dispute, surrender any right to claim a material refund, agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to the assessment or determination of any material Tax, or take any action which is reasonably likely to result in a material increase in the Tax liability of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;

(ix) except as required by applicable Law or as required pursuant to an agreement or Parent Plan existing as of the date hereof (A) grant any material increases in the compensation payable or to become payable to any of its directors, officers or employees; (B) take any action to accelerate the vesting or lapsing of restrictions or payment, or fund or in any other way secure the payment, of compensation or benefits under any Parent Plan; (C) grant any new equity-based awards, or amend or modify the terms of any outstanding equity-based awards, under any Parent Plan, or settle any RSU or PSU by payment of cash or other property other than shares of Parent Common Stock; (D) pay or agree to pay to any director, officer or employee, whether past or present, any

 

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material pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit not required by any of any Parent Plan existing as of the date hereof; (E) enter into any new, or amend any existing, material employment or severance or termination agreement with any director, officer or employee making an annualized salary of more than $150,000; (F) establish any material Parent Plan which was not in existence or approved by the Parent Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or amend any such plan or arrangement in existence on the date of this Agreement if such amendment would have the effect of enhancing any benefits thereunder or otherwise result in increased costs to Parent; (G) hire any employee with an annualized salary of more than $150,000 or engage any independent contractor (who is a natural person) with annualized payments of more than $150,000; or (H) other than for cause, terminate the employment of any officer or any other employee with annualized salary of more than $150,000;

(x) (A) retire, repay, defease, repurchase or redeem all or any portion of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of Parent’s 8.875% Senior Notes due 2023; (B) incur, create or assume any Indebtedness or guarantee any such Indebtedness of another Person or (C) create any Encumbrances on any property or assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any Indebtedness thereof, other than Permitted Encumbrances; provided, however, that the foregoing clauses (B) and (C) shall not restrict (I) the incurrence of Indebtedness under (1) existing credit facilities in the ordinary course of business (provided, however, that no such incurrence shall be permitted under this clause (1) if the aggregate principal amount outstanding under such existing credit facilities exceeds $100 million prior to such incurrence or would exceed $100 million after such incurrence unless Parent has provided advance notice of such proposed incurrence to the Company and provided the Company’s Chief Executive Officer a reasonable opportunity to discuss such proposed incurrence with senior management of Parent (including Parent’s Chief Executive Officer)), (2) by Parent that is owed to any wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent or by any Subsidiary of Parent that is owed to Parent or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent, (3) additional Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed $250,000, or (4) incurred or assumed in connection with any acquisition permitted by Section 6.2(b)(iv) or (II) the creation of any Encumbrances securing any Indebtedness permitted by the foregoing clauses (1), (2), (3) or (4);

(xi) (A) enter into any contract that would be a Parent Contract if it were in effect on the date of this Agreement or (B) modify, amend, terminate or assign, or waive or assign any rights under, any Parent Contract (including the renewal of existing Parent Contract on substantially the same terms in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), other than in each case, with respect to Sections 5.19(a)(vii), (x), and (xi) only, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(xii) cancel, modify or waive any debts or claims held by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or waive any rights held by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries having in each case a value in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate;

(xiii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise or offer or propose to waive, release, assign, settle or compromise, any Proceeding (excluding any audit, claim or other proceeding in respect of Taxes) other than (A) the settlement of such proceedings involving only the payment of monetary damages by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any amount not exceeding $500,000 in the aggregate and (B) as would not result in any restriction on future activity or conduct or a finding or admission of a violation of Law; provided, however, that Parent shall be permitted to settle any Transaction Litigation in accordance with Section 6.11;

 

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(xiv) make or commit to make any capital expenditures in a given calendar quarter that are, in the aggregate greater than 15% of the quarterly budgeted amount of capital expenditures scheduled to be made in Parent’s capital expenditure budget set forth in Schedule 6.2(b)(xiv) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, except for capital expenditures to repair damage resulting from insured casualty events or capital expenditures required on an emergency basis or for the safety of individuals, assets or the environment;

(xv) take any action, cause any action to be taken, knowingly fail to take any action or knowingly fail to cause any action to be taken, which action or failure to act would prevent or impede, or would be reasonably likely to prevent or impede, the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;

(xvi) take any action or omit to take any action that is reasonably likely to cause any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII to not be satisfied;

(xvii) enter into any contract or consummate any transaction described in subsection (xvii) of Schedule 6.2(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, regardless of whether such action would otherwise be permitted under this Section 6.2(b); or

(xviii) agree to take any action that is prohibited by this Section 6.2(b).

Section 6.3 No Solicitation by the Company.

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, the Company and its officers and directors will, and will cause the Company’s Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors to, and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the other Representatives of the Company and its Subsidiaries to, immediately cease, and cause to be terminated, any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives with respect to any inquiry, proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Competing Proposal. Within one (1) Business Days of the date of this Agreement the Company shall deliver a written notice to each Person that has received non-public information regarding the Company within the six (6) months prior to the date of this Agreement pursuant to a confidentiality agreement with the Company for purposes of evaluating any transaction that could be a Company Competing Proposal and for whom no similar notice has been delivered prior to the date of this Agreement requesting the prompt return or destruction of all confidential information concerning the Company and any of its Subsidiaries heretofore furnished to such Person. The Company will immediately terminate any physical and electronic data access related to any such potential Company Competing Proposal previously granted to such Persons.

(b) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 6.3, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, the Company and its officers and directors will not, will cause the Company’s Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors not to, and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the other Representatives of the Company and its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly:

 

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(i) initiate, solicit, propose, knowingly encourage, or knowingly facilitate any inquiry or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Company Competing Proposal;

(ii) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions with any Person with respect to or negotiations with any Person with respect to, relating to, or in furtherance of a Company Competing Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Competing Proposal;

(iii) furnish any information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries, or access to the properties, assets or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, to any Person in connection with or in response to any Company Competing Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Competing Proposal;

(iv) enter into any letter of intent or agreement in principal, or other agreement providing for a Company Competing Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement as provided in Section 6.3(e)(ii) entered into in compliance with Section 6.3(e)(ii));

(v) submit any Company Competing Proposal to the vote of the stockholders of the Company; or

(vi) resolve, agree or publicly propose to, or permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives to agree or publicly propose to take any of the actions referred to in clauses (i)(v).

(c) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, the Company shall promptly (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) notify Parent orally and in writing of the receipt by the Company (directly or indirectly) of any Company Competing Proposal or any expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer with respect to a Company Competing Proposal made on or after the date of this Agreement, any request for information or data relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries made by any Person in connection with a Company Competing Proposal or any request for discussions or negotiations with the Company or a Representative of the Company relating to a Company Competing Proposal (including the identity of such Person), and the Company shall provide to Parent promptly (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) (i) a copy of any such expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer with respect to a Company Competing Proposal made in writing provided to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) if any such expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer with respect to a Company Competing Proposal is not (or any portion thereof is not) made in writing, a written summary of the material financial and other terms thereof, including the identity of the Person making any such expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer. Thereafter the Company shall (i) keep Parent reasonably informed, on a prompt basis (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours), of any material development regarding the status or terms of any such expressions of interest, proposals or offers (including any amendments thereto) or material requests and shall promptly (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) apprise Parent of the status of any such discussions or negotiations and (ii) provide to Parent as soon as practicable after receipt or delivery thereof (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) copies of all material written correspondence and other material written materials provided to the Company or its Representatives from any Person. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall notify Parent if the Company determines to begin providing information or to engage in discussions or negotiations concerning a Company Competing Proposal, prior to providing any such information or engaging in any such discussions or negotiations.

 

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(d) Except as permitted by Section 6.3(e), the Company Board, including any committee thereof, shall not:

(i) withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify, or publicly propose or announce any intention to withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the Company Board Recommendation;

(ii) fail to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus;

(iii) approve, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose or announce any intention to approve, endorse or recommend, any Company Competing Proposal;

(iv) publicly declare advisable or publicly propose to enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement (other than a confidentiality agreement referred to in Section 6.3(e)(ii) entered into in compliance with Section 6.3(e)(ii)) relating to a Company Competing Proposal (a “Company Alternative Acquisition Agreement”);

(v) in the case of a Company Competing Proposal that is structured as a tender offer or exchange offer for outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (other than by Parent or an Affiliate of Parent), fail to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders on or prior to the earlier of (A) three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline (or promptly after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer if commenced on or after the third Business Day prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline) or (B) ten (10) business days (as such term is used in Rule 14d-9 of the Exchange Act) after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer;

(vi) if a Company Competing Proposal shall have been publicly announced or disclosed (other than pursuant to the foregoing clause (v)), fail to publicly reaffirm the Company Board Recommendation on or prior to the earlier of (A) five (5) Business Days after Parent so requests in writing or (B) three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline (or promptly after announcement or disclosure of such Company Competing Proposal if announced or disclosed on or after the third Business Day prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline); or

(vii) cause or permit the Company to enter into a Company Alternative Acquisition Agreement (together with any of the actions set forth in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi), a “Company Change of Recommendation”).

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary:

(i) the Company Board may, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, make such disclosures as the Company Board thereof determines in good faith are necessary to comply with Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided,

 

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however, that if such disclosure has the effect of withdrawing or adversely modifying the Company Board Recommendation, such disclosure shall be deemed to be a Company Change of Recommendation and Parent shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as set forth in Section 8.1(c);

(ii) prior to, but not after, the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company and its Representatives may engage in the activities prohibited by Sections 6.3(b)(ii) or 6.3(b)(iii) with any Person if (1) the Company receives an unsolicited bona fide written Company Competing Proposal from such Person and (2) such Company Competing Proposal did not arise from or in connection with a breach of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.3; provided, however, that (A) no information that is prohibited from being furnished pursuant to Section 6.3(b) may be furnished until the Company receives an executed confidentiality agreement from such Person containing limitations on the use and disclosure of non-public information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of the Company that are no less favorable to the Company in the aggregate than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement (provided, further, that such confidentiality agreement does not contain provisions which prohibit the Company from providing any information to Parent in accordance with this Section 6.3 or that otherwise prohibits the Company from complying with the provisions of this Section 6.3), (B) that any such non-public information has previously been made available to, or is made available to, Parent prior to or concurrently with (or in the case of oral non-public information only, promptly (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) after) the time such information is made available to such Person, (C) prior to taking any such actions, the Company Board or any committee thereof determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that such Company Competing Proposal is, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Superior Proposal and (D) prior to taking any such actions, the Company Board determines in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties owed by the Company Board to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law;

(iii) prior to, but not after, the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, in response to an unsolicited bona fide written Company Competing Proposal from a third party that did not arise from or in connection with a breach of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.3, if the Company Board or a committee thereof so chooses, the Company Board or a committee thereof may effect a Company Change of Recommendation or may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e); provided, however, that such a Company Change of Recommendation or termination may not be made unless and until:

(A) the Company Board determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that such Company Competing Proposal is a Company Superior Proposal;

(B) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to effect a Company Change of Recommendation in response to such Company Superior Proposal would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties owed by the Company Board to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law;

 

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(C) the Company provides Parent written notice of such proposed action and the basis thereof four (4) Business Days in advance, which notice shall set forth in writing that the Company Board intends to take such action and the basis therefor, including a copy of the available proposed Company Competing Proposal and any applicable transaction and financing documents;

(D) after giving such notice and prior to effecting such Company Change of Recommendation, the Company negotiates (and causes its officers, employees, financial advisor and outside legal counsel to negotiate) in good faith with Parent (to the extent Parent wishes to negotiate) to make such adjustments or revisions to the terms of this Agreement as would permit the Company Board not to effect a Company Change of Recommendation in response thereto;

(E) at the end of the four (4) Business Day period, prior to taking action to effect a Company Change of Recommendation, the Company Board or a committee thereof takes into account any adjustments or revisions to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in writing and any other information offered by Parent in response to the notice, and determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that the Company Competing Proposal remains a Company Superior Proposal and that the failure to effect a Company Change of Recommendation in response to such Company Superior Proposal would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties owed by the Company Board to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law; provided, however, that in the event of any amendment or modification to any Company Superior Proposal, the Company shall be required to deliver a new written notice to Parent and to comply with the requirements of this Section 6.3(e)(iii) with respect to such new written notice; and except that the advance written notice obligation set forth in this Section 6.3(e)(iii) shall be reduced to two (2) Business Days; provided, further, that any such new written notice shall in no event shorten the original four (4) Business Day notice period.

(iv) prior to, but not after, receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, in response to a Company Intervening Event that occurs or arises after the date of this Agreement and that did not arise from or in connection with a breach of this Agreement by the Company, the Company may, if the Company Board or a committee thereof so chooses, effect a Company Change of Recommendation; provided, however, that such a Company Change of Recommendation may not be made unless and until:

(A) the Company Board or a committee thereof determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that a Company Intervening Event has occurred;

(B) the Company Board or a committee thereof determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to effect a Company Change of Recommendation in response to such Company Intervening Event would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties owed by the Company Board to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law;

(C) the Company provides Parent written notice of such proposed action and the basis thereof four (4) Business Days in advance, which notice shall set forth in writing that the Company Board intends to take such action and the basis therefor, including a reasonably detailed description of the facts and circumstances of the Company Intervening Event;

 

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(D) after giving such notice and prior to effecting such Company Change of Recommendation, the Company negotiates (and causes its officers, employees, financial advisor and outside legal counsel to negotiate) in good faith with Parent (to the extent Parent wishes to negotiate) to make such adjustments or revisions to the terms of this Agreement as would permit the Company Board not to effect a Company Change of Recommendation in response thereto; and

(E) at the end of the four (4) Business Day period, prior to taking action to effect a Company Change of Recommendation, the Company Board or a committee thereof takes into account any adjustments or revisions to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in writing and any other information offered by Parent in response to the notice, and determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that the failure to effect a Company Change of Recommendation in response to such Company Intervening Event would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties owed by the Company Board to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law; provided, however, that in the event of any material changes regarding any Company Intervening Event, the Company shall be required to deliver a new written notice to Parent and to comply with the requirements of this Section 6.3(e)(iv) with respect to such new written notice.

(f) During the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, the Company shall not (and it shall cause its Subsidiaries not to) terminate, amend, modify or waive any provision of any confidentiality, “standstill” or similar agreement to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; provided, that, notwithstanding any other provision in this Section 6.3, prior to, but not after, the time the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained, if, in response to an unsolicited request from a third party to waive any “standstill” or similar provision, the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties owed by the Company Board to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law, the Company may waive any such “standstill” or similar provision solely to the extent necessary to permit a third party to make a Company Competing Proposal, on a confidential basis, to the Company Board and communicate such waiver to the applicable third party; provided, however, that the Company shall advise Parent of its intent to take such action at least two (2) Business Days prior to taking such action. The Company represents and warrants to Parent that it has not taken any action that (i) would be prohibited by this Section 6.3(f) or (ii) but for the ability to avoid actions inconsistent with the fiduciary duties owed by the Company Board to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law, would have been prohibited by this Section 6.3(f) during the 30 days prior to the date of this Agreement.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.3, any action, or failure to take action, that is taken by a Representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates that, if taken by the Company, would have been a breach of this Section 6.3 shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 6.3 by the Company.

Section 6.4 No Solicitation by Parent.

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, Parent and its officers and directors will, and will cause Parent’s Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors to, and will use

 

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their reasonable best efforts to cause the other Representatives of Parent and its Subsidiaries to, immediately cease, and cause to be terminated, any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives with respect to any inquiry, proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Parent Competing Proposal. Within one (1) Business Days of the date of this Agreement Parent shall deliver a written notice to each Person that has received non-public information regarding Parent within the six (6) months prior to the date of this Agreement pursuant to a confidentiality agreement with the Company for purposes of evaluating any transaction that could be a Parent Competing Proposal and for whom no similar notice has been delivered prior to the date of this Agreement requesting the prompt return or destruction of all confidential information concerning Parent and any of its Subsidiaries heretofore furnished to such Person. Parent will immediately terminate any physical and electronic data access related to any such potential Parent Competing Proposal previously granted to such Persons.

(b) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 6.4, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, Parent and its officers and directors will not, will cause Parent’s Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors not to, and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the other Representatives of Parent and its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, propose, knowingly encourage, or knowingly facilitate any inquiry or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Parent Competing Proposal.

(c) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or if earlier the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, Parent shall promptly (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) notify the Company orally and in writing of the receipt by Parent (directly or indirectly) of any Parent Competing Proposal or any expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer with respect to a Parent Competing Proposal made on or after the date of this Agreement, any request for information or data relating to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries made by any Person in connection with a Parent Competing Proposal or any request for discussions or negotiations with Parent or a Representative of Parent relating to a Parent Competing Proposal (including the identity of such Person), and Parent shall provide to the Company promptly (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) (i) a copy of any such expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer with respect to a Parent Competing Proposal made in writing provided to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) if any such expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer with respect to a Parent Competing Proposal is not (or any portion thereof is not) made in writing, a written summary of the material financial and other terms thereof, including the identity of the Person making any such expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer. Thereafter Parent shall (i) keep the Company reasonably informed, on a prompt basis (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours), of any material development regarding the status or terms of any such expressions of interest, proposals or offers (including any amendments thereto) or material requests and shall promptly (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) and (ii) provide to the Company as soon as practicable after receipt or delivery thereof (and in any event within the shorter of one Business Day and 48 hours) copies of all material written correspondence and other material written materials provided to Parent or its Representatives from any Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, all information and documentation provided by Parent to the Company pursuant to this Section 6.4(c) shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement, except for disclosure required by applicable Law.

(d) The Parent Board, including any committee thereof, shall not:

 

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(i) withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify, or publicly propose or announce any intention to withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify, in a manner adverse to the Company, the Parent Board Recommendation;

(ii) fail to include the Parent Board Recommendation in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus;

(iii) approve, endorse, recommend or publicly propose or announce any intention to approve, endorse or recommend, any Parent Competing Proposal;

(iv) publicly declare advisable or publicly propose to enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement relating to a Parent Competing Proposal (a “Parent Alternative Acquisition Agreement”);

(v) in the case of a Parent Competing Proposal that is structured as a tender offer or exchange offer for outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock, fail to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders on or prior to the earlier of (A) three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline (or promptly after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer if commenced on or after the third Business Day prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline) or (B) ten (10) business days (as such term is used in Rule 14d-9 of the Exchange Act) after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer;

(vi) if a Parent Competing Proposal shall have been publicly announced or disclosed (other than pursuant to the foregoing clause (v)), fail to publicly reaffirm the Parent Board Recommendation on or prior to the earlier of (A) five (5) Business Days after the Company so requests in writing or (B) three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline (or promptly after announcement or disclosure of such Parent Competing Proposal if announced or disclosed on or after the third Business Day prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline); or

(vii) cause or permit Parent to enter into a Parent Alternative Acquisition Agreement (together with any of the actions set forth in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi), a “Parent Change of Recommendation”).

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.4, any action, or failure to take action, that is taken by a Representative of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates that, if taken by Parent, would have been a breach of this Section 6.4 shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 6.4 by Parent.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parent Board may, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, make such disclosures as the Parent Board thereof determines in good faith are necessary to comply with Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

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Section 6.5 Preparation of Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and Registration Statement.

(a) Parent will promptly furnish to the Company such data and information relating to it, its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) and the holders of its capital stock, as the Company may reasonably request for the purpose of including such data and information in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto used by the Company to obtain the adoption by its stockholders of this Agreement. The Company will promptly furnish to Parent such data and information relating to it, its Subsidiaries and the holders of its capital stock, as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of including such data and information in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each of Parent and the Company will (i) furnish to each other for inclusion in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement all financial statements of such Party and its Subsidiaries required to be included in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement, and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to (A) cause such Party’s independent auditor to provide any necessary consents to the inclusion of financial statements or such independent auditor’s reports in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and in the Registration Statement, and (B) cause such Party’s independent petroleum engineers and geologists to provide any necessary consents to the inclusion of their reports with respect to estimates of reserves and future revenue in the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

(b) Promptly following the date hereof, the Company and Parent shall cooperate in preparing, and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed with the SEC, a mutually acceptable Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus relating to the Parent Stockholder Written Consent and the Company Stockholder Approval and the Registration Statement (of which the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus will be a part). The Company and Parent shall each use reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement and the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and to respond promptly to any comments of the SEC or its staff. The Company and Parent shall each use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as soon after such filing as reasonably practicable, and the Company and Parent shall each use reasonable best efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger. Parent will advise the Company promptly after it receives any request by the SEC for amendment of the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or any request by the SEC for additional information. Each of the Company and Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cause all information and documents that it has provided for inclusion in any filing with the SEC in connection with the Transactions to comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to filing the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the mailing of the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, Parent (i) will provide the Company with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document or response (including the proposed final version of such document or response), (ii) shall include in such document or response all comments reasonably and promptly proposed by the Company and (iii) shall not file or mail such document or respond to the SEC prior to receiving the approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

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(c) Parent shall make all necessary filings with respect to the Merger and the Transactions under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and applicable blue sky laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Parent will advise the Company, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order, and the suspension of the qualification of the Parent Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger or pursuant to Section 3.2 for offering or sale in any jurisdiction. Each of the Company and Parent will use reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated.

(d) If at any time prior to the Effective Time, any information relating to Parent or the Company, or any of their respective Affiliates, officers or directors, should be discovered by Parent or the Company that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus, so that such documents would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other Party and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed by Parent with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company and Parent.

Section 6.6 Company Consent Solicitation and Parent Stockholder Written Consent.

(a) The Company shall take all action necessary in accordance with applicable Laws and the Organizational Documents of the Company to distribute to the Company’s stockholders the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus, which shall include a form of written consent that may be executed by the Company’s stockholders, for the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, as promptly as reasonably practicable following (i) the clearance of the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus by the SEC, (ii) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and (iii) the provision by Parent to the Company of an electronic version of such Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus in a form that may be distributed to Company stockholders (the date of such distribution to the Company’s stockholders being the “Information Statement/Prospectus Distribution Date”) (and in any event within two (2) Business Days thereof). Except as permitted by Section 6.3, the Company Board shall recommend that the stockholders of the Company provide written consents in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Company Board shall solicit from stockholders of the Company consents in favor of the adoption of this Agreement, and the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus shall include the Company Board Recommendation. If requested by Parent, the Company shall promptly provide all written consent tabulation reports relating to the Company Stockholder Approval that have been prepared by the Company or the Company’s transfer agent, consent solicitor or other Representative, and shall otherwise keep Parent reasonably informed regarding the status of the solicitation and any material oral or written communications from or to the Company’s stockholders with respect thereto. Unless there has been a Company Change of Recommendation in accordance with Section 6.3, the Parties agree to cooperate and use their reasonable best efforts to defend against any efforts by any of the Company’s stockholders or any other Person to prevent the Company Stockholder Approval from being obtained. Once the Company has established a record date for the purpose of determining the Company’s stockholders entitled to deliver written consents with respect to the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company shall not change such record date or establish a different

 

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record date without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless required to do so by applicable Law or its Organizational Documents. Without the prior written consent of Parent or as required by applicable Law, (i) the Company Stockholder Approval shall be the only matter (other than matters of procedure) that the Company shall propose to be consented to by the stockholders of the Company and the Company shall not submit any other proposal to such stockholders in connection with the consent solicitation contemplated herein or otherwise (including any proposal inconsistent with the adoption of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions), provided, however, that such consent solicitation also may include a proposal with respect to approval by the stockholders of the Company of any “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) the Company shall not call any meeting of the stockholders of the Company.

(b) On the date of this Agreement, and as soon as practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Parties, Parent will provide the Company with a copy of the Parent Stockholder Written Consent (including by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission). In connection with the Parent Stockholder Written Consent, Parent shall take all actions necessary to comply with the DGCL, including Section 228 thereof, and the Organizational Documents of Parent. If, prior to the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, for any reason the Parent Stockholder Written Consent ceases to be valid and in full force or otherwise does not constitute the Parent Stockholder Approval, Parent shall (i) seek to obtain as promptly as practicable a written consent duly executed by the Majority Stockholders or other stockholders of Parent that constitutes the Parent Stockholder Approval and (ii) as soon as practicable after receipt by Parent of such written consent, provide the Company with a copy thereof (including by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission). In all cases, the Parent Board shall recommend that the stockholders of Parent approve the Parent Stock Issuance.

(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Company and Parent agrees that the Company’s obligation to solicit from stockholders of the Company consents in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Parent’s obligation to deliver the Parent Stockholder Written Consent or to obtain and deliver any other written consent of stockholders of Parent pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall not be affected by the making of a Company Change of Recommendation or a Parent Change of Recommendation, as applicable, and its obligations pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall not be affected by the commencement, announcement, disclosure, or communication to the Company or Parent, as applicable, of any Company Competing Proposal or Parent Competing Proposal or other proposal (including, in the case of the Company, a Company Superior Proposal) or the occurrence or disclosure of any Company Intervening Event.

Section 6.7 Access to Information.

(a) Subject to applicable Law and the other provisions of this Section 6.7, during the period prior to the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the terms of Section 8.1, the Company and Parent each shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to), upon request by the other, furnish the other with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any third party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Transactions. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and its Representatives, during the period prior to the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the terms of Section 8.1,

 

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reasonable access, at reasonable times upon reasonable prior notice, to the officers, key employees, agents, properties, offices and other facilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to their books, records, contracts and documents and shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish reasonably promptly to Parent and its Representatives such information concerning its and its Subsidiaries’ business, properties, contracts, records and personnel as may be reasonably requested, from time to time, by or on behalf of Parent. Parent and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries or otherwise cause any unreasonable interference with the prompt and timely discharge by the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries of their normal duties. Notwithstanding the foregoing:

(i) No Party shall be required to, or to cause any of its Subsidiaries to, grant access or furnish information, as applicable, to the other Party or any of its Representatives to the extent that such information is subject to an attorney/client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine or that such access or the furnishing of such information, as applicable, is prohibited by applicable Law or an existing contract or agreement (provided, however, the Company or Parent, as applicable, shall inform the other Party as to the general nature of what is being withheld and the Company and Parent shall reasonably cooperate to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure that does not suffer from any of the foregoing impediments, including through the use of commercially reasonable efforts to (A) obtain the required consent or waiver of any third party required to provide such information and (B) implement appropriate and mutually agreeable measures to permit the disclosure of such information in a manner to remove the basis for the objection, including by arrangement of appropriate clean room procedures, redaction or entry into a customary joint defense agreement with respect to any information to be so provided, if the Parties determine that doing so would reasonably permit the disclosure of such information without violating applicable Law or jeopardizing such privilege);

(ii) No Party shall have access to personnel records of the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries relating to individual performance or evaluation records, personally identifiable information, medical records or other information that in the other Party’s good faith opinion the disclosure of which could subject the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries to risk of liability;

(iii) No Party shall be permitted to conduct any sampling or analysis of any environmental media or building materials at any facility of the other Party or its Subsidiaries without the prior written consent of such other Party (granted or withheld in its sole discretion); and

(iv) No investigation or information provided pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by the Company, Parent or Merger Sub herein.

(b) The Mutual Confidentiality Agreement dated as of April 25, 2018 between Parent and the Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall apply to all information furnished thereunder or hereunder.

(c) The Parties will maintain, and continue to provide the other Party and its Representatives access to, the electronic or other virtual data rooms created by or on behalf of such Party prior to the date hereof.

 

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Section 6.8 HSR and Other Approvals.

(a) Except for the filings and notifications made pursuant to Antitrust Laws to which Sections 6.8(b), (c), (d) and (e), and not this Section 6.8(a), shall apply, promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the Parties shall proceed to prepare and file with the appropriate Governmental Entities and other third parties all authorizations, consents, notifications, certifications, registrations, declarations and filings that are necessary in order to consummate the Transactions and shall diligently and expeditiously prosecute, and shall cooperate fully with each other in the prosecution of, such matters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall either the Company or Parent or any of their respective Affiliates be required to pay any consideration to any third parties or give anything of value to obtain any such Person’s authorization, approval, consent or waiver to effectuate the Transactions, other than filing, recordation or similar fees. Subject to applicable Law relating to the exchange of information, Parent shall have the right to direct all matters with any Government Entity; provided, however, that Parent and the Company shall have the right to review in advance and, to the extent reasonably practicable, each will consult with the other on and consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, all of the information relating to Parent or the Company, as applicable, and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Transactions (including the Consent Solicitation Statement/Information Statement/Prospectus). The Company and its Subsidiaries shall not agree to any actions, restrictions or conditions with respect to obtaining any consents, registrations, approvals, permits, expirations of waiting periods or authorizations in connection with the Transactions without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent, subject to Section 6.8(b), shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not agree to any actions, restrictions or conditions with respect to obtaining any consents, registrations, approvals, permits, expirations of waiting periods or authorizations in connection with the Transactions without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent, subject to Section 6.8(b), shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(b) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the execution of this Agreement, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days following the date of this Agreement, the Parties shall make any filings required under the HSR Act. Each of Parent and the Company shall cooperate fully with each other and shall furnish to the other such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may reasonably request in connection with its preparation of any filings under any applicable Antitrust Laws. Unless otherwise agreed, Parent and the Company shall each use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the prompt expiration of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act. Parent and the Company shall each use commercially reasonable efforts to respond to and comply with any request for information from any Governmental Entity charged with enforcing, applying, administering, or investigating the HSR Act or any other Law designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions for the purpose or effect of mergers, monopolization, restraining trade or abusing a dominant position (collectively, “Antitrust Laws”), including the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, any attorney general of any state of the United States or any other competition authority of any jurisdiction (“Antitrust Authority”).

(c) Each of Parent and the Company shall, in connection with the efforts referenced in Section 6.8(b), (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private party; (ii) promptly notify the other Party of any communication concerning this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby to that Party from or with any Governmental Entity, or from any other Person alleging that the consent of such person (or another

 

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Person) is or may be required in connection with the Transactions, and consider in good faith the views of the other Party and keep the other Party reasonably informed of the status of matters related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including furnishing the other Party with any written notices or other communications received by such Party from, or given by such Party to, any Governmental Entity and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private party, in each case regarding any of the transactions contemplated hereby, except that any materials concerning one Party’s valuation of the other Party may be redacted; and (iii) permit the other Party to review in draft any proposed communication to be submitted by it to any Governmental Entity with reasonable time and opportunity to comment, and consult with each other in advance of any in-person or telephonic meeting or conference with any Governmental Entity or, in connection with any proceeding by a private party, with any other Person, and, to the extent permitted by the applicable Governmental Entity or Person, not agree to participate in any meeting or discussion with any Governmental Entity relating to any filings or investigations concerning this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby unless it consults with the other Party and its Representatives in advance and invites the other Party’s Representatives to attend in accordance with applicable Laws. The parties shall take reasonable efforts to share information protected from disclosure under the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine, joint defense privilege or any other privilege pursuant to this section so as to preserve any applicable privilege.

(d) In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each of Parent and the Company and each of their respective Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any Laws, including any Antitrust Laws; provided, however, that in no event shall Parent or any of its Affiliates or the Company or any of its Affiliates be required, under the HSR Act or any Antitrust Laws, to (i) propose, negotiate, agree to or effect, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or disposition of any material assets or material businesses of such Person, (ii) accept any condition, undertake any obligation, or take or refrain from taking any action that would materially limit such Person’s freedom of action with respect to, or its ability to own or operate, any of its material businesses or material assets; (iii) contest, resist or seek to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any governmental order or judicial order that is in effect that prohibits, prevents or materially restricts the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iv) litigate or defend against any administrative or judicial action or proceeding (including any proceeding seeking a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction) challenging any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e) Parent and Merger Sub shall not take any action that could reasonably be expected to hinder or delay in any material respect the obtaining of clearance or the expiration of the required waiting period under the HSR Act or any other applicable Antitrust Law.

Section 6.9 Employee Matters.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, as applicable, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to, take commercially reasonable efforts to credit the Company Employees for purposes of vesting, eligibility and benefit accrual under the Parent Plans (other than with respect to any “defined benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA, retiree medical benefits or disability benefits or to the extent it would result in a duplication of benefits) in which the Company Employees participate, for such Company Employees’ service with the Company and its Subsidiaries, to the same extent and for the same purposes that such service was taken into account under a corresponding Company Plan immediately prior to the Closing Date. Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, to give service credit for long term disability coverage purposes for the Company Employees’ service with the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

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(b) From and after the Effective Time, as applicable, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to, take commercially reasonable efforts to (i) waive any limitation on health and welfare coverage of any Company Employee and his or her eligible dependents due to waiting periods, active employment requirements and requirements to show evidence of good health under the applicable health and welfare Parent Plan to the extent such Company Employee and his or her eligible dependents are covered under an a Company Plan immediately prior to the Closing Date, and such conditions, periods or requirements are satisfied or waived under such Company Plan and (ii) give each Company Employee credit for the plan year in which the Closing Date occurs towards applicable deductibles and annual out-of-pocket limits for medical expenses incurred prior to the Closing Date for which payment has been made, in each case, to the extent permitted by the applicable insurance plan provider.

(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board (or the appropriate committee thereof) shall adopt resolutions and take such corporate action as is necessary to terminate the Company’s 401(k) plan (the “Company 401(k) Plan”) and to ensure that the account balances of the participants in the Company 401(k) Plan are fully vested upon such plan termination, in each case effective as of the day prior to the Closing Date. Prior to the Effective Time and thereafter (as applicable), Parent shall take commercially reasonable efforts, including adopting or causing the adoption of amendments to the tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan designated by Parent (the “Parent 401(k) Plan”) to (i) permit each Company Employee to make rollover contributions of “eligible rollover distributions” (within the meaning of Section 401(a)(31) of the Code) in the form of cash or promissory notes in an amount equal to the full account balance distributed or distributable to such Company Employee from the Company 401(k) Plan to the Parent 401(k) Plan, including any outstanding loans. Each Company Employee who satisfies the eligibility requirements for participation in the Parent 401(k) Plan (after giving effect to the service crediting provisions of Section 6.9(a)) shall become a participant in the Parent 401(k) Plan on the Closing Date (giving effect to the service crediting provisions of Section 6.9(a)), it being agreed that there shall be no gap in participation in a tax-qualified defined contribution plan.

(d) Nothing in this Agreement generally, or this Section 6.9 specifically, shall be deemed or construed to (i) constitute an amendment to, or be construed as amending, any Employee Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries, (ii) limit Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ right to amend any Employee Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries or other compensation or benefit plan or arrangement for any purpose; (iii) require Parent or its Subsidiaries to maintain any particular Employee Benefit Plan; (iv) require Parent or its Subsidiaries to continue to employ or retain the services of any particular employee or other service provider for any period after Closing; (v) create a right in any employee to employment with Parent or its Subsidiaries; or (vi) limit the right of Parent or its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment of any employee following Closing. The provisions of this Section 6.9 are for the sole benefit of the parties and nothing herein, expressed or implied, is intended or will be construed to confer upon or give to any Person (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Company Employee or other current or former employee of the Company or any of their respective Affiliates), other than the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any legal or equitable or other rights or remedies (including with respect to the matters provided for in this Section 6.9) under or by reason of any provision of this Agreement.

 

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(e) From the date of this Agreement until the Closing, (i) the Company shall provide Parent with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on all written or broad-based oral communications to employees and other individual service providers of the Company and its Subsidiaries related to the transactions contemplated hereby, including in regard to employment or compensation or benefits matters addressed in this Agreement or to be provided following the Closing; (ii) Parent shall provide the Company with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on all written or broad-based oral communications to employees and other individual service providers of Parent and its Subsidiaries related to the transactions contemplated hereby, including in regard to employment or compensation or benefits matters addressed in this Agreement or to be provided following the Closing; and (iii) the Company and Parent shall cooperate in good faith regarding any such communications.

Section 6.10 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.

(a) Without limiting any other rights that any Indemnified Person may have pursuant to any employment agreement or indemnification agreement in effect on the date hereof or otherwise, from the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date of this Agreement or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or who acts as a fiduciary under any Company Plan, in each case, when acting in such capacity (the “Indemnified Persons”) against all losses, claims, damages, costs, fines, penalties, expenses (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses), liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement, of or incurred in connection with any threatened or actual Proceeding to which such Indemnified Person is a party or is otherwise involved (including as a witness) based, in whole or in part, on or arising, in whole or in part, out of the fact that such Person is or was a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a fiduciary under any Company Plan or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a director, officer or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, Employee Benefit Plan, trust or other enterprise, as applicable, or by reason of anything done or not done by such Person in any such capacity, whether pertaining to any act or omission occurring or existing prior to or at, but not after, the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time (“Indemnified Liabilities”), including all Indemnified Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to, this Agreement or the Transactions, in each case to the same extent such Indemnified Person is indemnified as of the date of this Agreement by the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Organizational Documents of the Company or the Organizational Documents of any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable (and Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall, jointly and severally, pay expenses incurred in connection therewith in advance of the final disposition of any such Proceeding to each Indemnified Person to the same extent such Indemnified Person is indemnified as of the date of this Agreement by the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Organizational Documents of the Company or the Organizational Documents of any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable). Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any such Proceeding is brought or threatened to be brought against any Indemnified Persons (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) the Indemnified Persons may retain the Company’s regularly engaged legal counsel or other counsel satisfactory to them, and Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall, jointly and severally, pay all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Persons as promptly as statements therefor are received, and (ii) each of Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall use its best efforts to cooperate in the defense of any such matter. Any Indemnified Person wishing to claim indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Section 6.10, upon learning of any such Proceeding, shall notify Parent (but the failure so to notify shall not relieve a Party from any obligations that it may have under this Section 6.10

 

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except to the extent such failure materially prejudices such Party’s position with respect to such claims). With respect to any determination of whether any Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification by Parent or the Surviving Corporation under this Section 6.10, such Indemnified Person shall have the right, as contemplated by the DGCL, to require that such determination be made by special, independent legal counsel selected by the Indemnified Person and approved by Parent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and who has not otherwise performed material services for Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Indemnified Person within the last three (3) years.

(b) Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall not amend, repeal or otherwise modify any provision in the Organizational Documents of the Surviving Corporation in any manner that would affect (or manage the Surviving Corporation or its Subsidiaries, with the intent to or in a manner that would) adversely the rights thereunder or under the Organizational Documents of the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indemnified Person to indemnification, exculpation and advancement except to the extent required by applicable Law. Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, fulfill and honor any indemnification, expense advancement or exculpation agreements between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any of its directors, officers or employees existing and in effect prior to the date of this Agreement.

(c) Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall, jointly and severally, indemnify any Indemnified Person against all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), such amounts to be payable in advance upon request as provided in Section 6.10(a), relating to the enforcement of such Indemnified Person’s rights under this Section 6.10 or under any charter, bylaw or contract regardless of whether such Indemnified Person is ultimately determined to be entitled to indemnification hereunder or thereunder.

(d) Parent shall obtain or cause the Surviving Corporation to obtain, and Parent shall fully prepay immediately prior to the Effective Time, “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Effective Time (the “Tail Period”) from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (“D&O Insurance”) in an amount and scope at least as favorable as the Company’s existing policies with respect to matters, acts or omissions existing or occurring at or prior to, but not after, the Effective Time; provided, however, that in no event shall the aggregate cost of the D&O Insurance exceed during the Tail Period 300% of the current aggregate annual premium paid by the Company for such purpose; and provided, further, that if the cost of such insurance coverage exceeds such amount, Parent shall obtain or cause the Surviving Corporation to obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding such amount.

(e) In the event that Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assignees (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.10. Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall not sell, transfer, distribute or otherwise dispose of any of their assets in a manner that would reasonably be expected to render Parent or Surviving Corporation unable to satisfy their obligations under this Section 6.10. The provisions of this Section 6.10 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Parties and each Person entitled to indemnification or insurance coverage or expense advancement pursuant to this Section 6.10, and his heirs and Representatives. The rights of the Indemnified Persons under this Section 6.10 are in addition to any rights such Indemnified Persons may have under the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or under any applicable contracts or Law. Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall pay all expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnified Person in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided in this Section 6.10.

 

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Section 6.11 Transaction Litigation. In the event any Proceeding by any Governmental Entity or other Person is commenced or, to the knowledge of the Company or Parent, as applicable, threatened, that questions the validity or legality of the Transactions or seeks damages in connection therewith, including stockholder litigation (“Transaction Litigation”), the Company or Parent, as applicable, shall promptly notify the other Party of such Transaction Litigation and shall keep the other Party reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. Parent and the Company shall give each other a reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any Transaction Litigation and shall consider in good faith the other’s advice with respect to such Transaction Litigation; provided, however, that neither Parent nor the Company shall offer or agree to settle any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of the other.

Section 6.12 Public Announcements. The initial press release with respect to the execution of this Agreement shall be a joint press release to be reasonably agreed upon by the Parties. No Party shall, and each will cause its Representatives not to, issue any public announcements or make other public disclosures regarding this Agreement or the Transactions, without the prior written approval of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party, its Subsidiaries or their Representatives may issue a public announcement or other public disclosures (a) required by applicable Law, (b) required by the rules of any stock exchange upon which such Party’s or its Subsidiary’s capital stock is traded or (c) consistent with the final form of the joint press release announcing the Merger and the investor presentation given to investors on the morning of announcement of the Merger; provided, in each case, such Party uses reasonable best efforts to afford the other Party an opportunity to first review the content of the proposed disclosure and provide reasonable comments thereon; and provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 6.9(g), no provision this Agreement shall be deemed to restrict in any manner a Party’s ability to communicate with its or its Subsidiaries’ employees and that neither Party shall be required by any provision of this Agreement to consult with or obtain any approval from any other Party with respect to a public announcement or press release issued in connection with the receipt and existence of a Company Competing Proposal or a Parent Competing Proposal, as applicable, and matters related thereto or a Company Change of Recommendation or Parent Change of Recommendation, as applicable, other than as set forth in Section 6.3 or Section 6.4, as applicable.

Section 6.13 Advice of Certain Matters; Control of Business. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, the Company and Parent, as the case may be, shall confer on a regular basis with each other and shall promptly advise each other orally and in writing of any change or event having, or which would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect or Parent Material Adverse Effect, as the case may be. Except with respect to Antitrust Laws as provided in Section 6.8, the Company and Parent shall promptly provide each other (or their respective counsel) copies of all filings made by such Party or its Subsidiaries with the SEC or any other Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions. Without limiting in any way any Party’s rights or obligations under this Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement shall give any Party, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the other Party and their respective Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the Parties shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.

Section 6.14 Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.3(b), all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other similar Taxes and fees imposed with respect to the Merger or the transfer of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger shall be borne by Parent or the Company and expressly shall not be a liability of holders of shares of Company Common Stock. The Parties will cooperate, in good faith, in the filing of any Tax Returns with respect to Transfer Taxes and the minimization, to the extent reasonably permissible under applicable Law, of the amount of any Transfer Taxes.

 

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Section 6.15 Reasonable Best Efforts; Notification.

(a) Except to the extent that the Parties’ obligations are specifically set forth elsewhere in this Article VI, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (including Section 6.3), each of the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Party in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner reasonably practicable, the Merger and the other Transactions.

(b) Subject to applicable Law and as otherwise required by any Governmental Entity, the Company and Parent each shall keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to the consummation of the Transactions, including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices or other communications received by Parent or the Company, as applicable, or any of its Subsidiaries, from any third party or any Governmental Entity with respect to the Transactions (including those alleging that the approval or consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Transactions). The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, upon becoming aware of (i) any condition, event or circumstance that will result in any of the conditions in Sections 7.2(a) or 7.3(a) not being met, or (ii) the failure by such Party to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the Parties or the conditions to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement.

Section 6.16 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of equity securities of the Company (including derivative securities) or acquisitions of equity securities of Parent (including derivative securities) in connection with this Agreement by each individual who is or will become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Parent, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

Section 6.17 Stock Exchange Listing. Parent shall take all action necessary to cause the Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger or pursuant to Section 3.2 to be approved for listing on the NYSE prior to the Effective Time, subject to official notice of issuance.

Section 6.18 Company Credit Agreement; Financing Cooperation.

(a) On the Closing Date, Parent shall cause all outstanding Indebtedness and other obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the Company Credit Agreement to be paid in full, and the Company Credit Agreement shall be terminated (other than with respect to any provisions of the Credit Agreement that by their express terms survive such termination, which provisions shall continue in accordance with their terms). At least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Parent a payoff letter executed by the administrative agent under the Company Credit Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, which shall (a) indicate the total amount required to be paid to satisfy in full all Indebtedness and other obligations outstanding pursuant to the Company Credit Agreement as of the Closing Date (including any per diem or similar ticking fee), and (b) provide for, among other things, the release, discharge, removal and termination of all Encumbrances on the Assets of the Company and its

 

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Subsidiaries arising under the Company Credit Agreement or related agreements upon payment of the amounts set forth therein. The Company and Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to take all other actions necessary to facilitate the repayment in full and termination of the Company Credit Agreement.

(b) From and after the date of this Agreement, and through the earlier of the Effective Time and the date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, Parent and the Company shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, cooperate with each other in the arrangement of any bank debt financing (including through amendments to existing bank debt financings) or any capital markets debt financing for the purposes of financing any repayment or refinancing of debt contemplated by this Agreement (including Section 6.18(b) hereof) or required in connection with the Transactions or as otherwise mutually determined by Parent and the Company to be necessary or desirable in connection with the consummation of the Transactions (collectively, the “Debt Financing”), including providing reasonably available financial and other information to each other and to potential sources, arrangers or underwriters of the Debt Financing; provided, however, that no obligation of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries under the Debt Financing shall be effective prior to the Effective Time.

Section 6.19 Tax Matters.

(a) Each of Parent and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and will not take (and will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent any Affiliate of such Party from taking) any actions that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying, as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code. Each of Parent and the Company will comply, to the extent reasonably expected to be necessary to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code, with all representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Parent Tax Certificate and the Company Tax Certificate, respectively.

(b) Parent and the Company will cooperate with one another to facilitate the issuance of the opinions of counsel referred to in Section 7.2(d) and Section 7.3(d). In connection therewith, (i) Parent shall deliver to each such counsel a duly executed certificate containing such representations, warranties and covenants as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render the opinion described in Section 7.2(d) or Section 7.3(d), as applicable (the “Parent Tax Certificate”) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each such counsel a duly executed certificate containing such representations, warranties and covenants as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render the opinion described in Section 7.2(d) or Section 7.3(d), as applicable (the “Company Tax Certificate”), in each case dated as of the Closing Date (and, if requested, dated as of the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC), and Parent and the Company shall provide such other information as reasonably requested by each counsel for purposes of rendering the opinions described in Section 7.2(d) and Section 7.3(d).

Section 6.20 Takeover Laws. None of the Parties will take any action that would cause the Transactions to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover Laws, and each of them will take all reasonable steps within its control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the Transactions from the Takeover Laws of any state that purport to apply to this Agreement or the Transactions. Neither the Company nor Parent will take any action that would cause the Transactions to be subject to any anti-takeover provisions in the its Organizational Documents, and each of the Company and Parent will take all reasonable steps within its control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the Transactions from any anti-takeover provisions in the its Organizational Documents.

 

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Section 6.21 Obligations of Merger Sub. Parent shall take all action necessary to cause Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.

Section 6.22 Amendment of Parent Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. On the Closing Date, subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver in accordance with this Agreement of all of the conditions set forth in Article VII, Parent shall cause (a) its certificate of incorporation to be amended and restated, effective as of or immediately prior to the Effective Time, to be in the form attached hereto as Annex F (the “Parent Charter Amendment”) and (b) its bylaws to be amended and restated, effective as of or immediately prior to the Effective Time, to be in the form attached hereto as Annex G.

Section 6.23 Parent Stockholders Agreement. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall take such action as is necessary to cause the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2014, by and among Parent and the Principal Stockholders (as defined therein) to be terminated effective as of the Effective Time.

ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Consummate the Merger. The respective obligation of each Party to consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived jointly by the Parties, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(a) Stockholder Approvals. The Company Stockholder Approval and the Parent Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law and the Organizational Documents of the Company and Parent, as applicable, and shall be in full force and effect.

(b) Regulatory Approval. Any waiting period applicable to the Transactions under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall have expired.

(c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any Party shall have issued any order, decree, ruling, injunction or other action that is in effect (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and no Law shall have been adopted that makes consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibited.

(d) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order or Proceedings seeking a stop order.

(e) NYSE Listing. The shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement shall have been authorized for listing on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance.

(f) Appraisal Rights. The total number of Dissenting Shares shall not exceed twelve percent (12%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time and the time period for holders of Company Common Stock to submit a written demand for appraisal in accordance with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL shall have expired.

 

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Section 7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived exclusively by Parent, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(a) Representations and Warranties of the Company. (i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.1 (Organization, Standing and Power), Section 4.2(a) (Capital Structure), the third and fifth sentences of Section 4.2(b) (Capital Structure), Section 4.3(a) (Authority), and Section 4.6(a) (Absence of Certain Changes or Events) shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except, with respect to Section 4.2(a) and the third and fifth sentences of Section 4.2(b), for any de minimis inaccuracies) (except that representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date or period of time shall have been true and correct only as of such date or period of time), (ii) all other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 4.2(b) (Capital Structure) (except for the second sentence of Section 4.2(b)) shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date or period of time shall have been true and correct all material respects only as of such date or period of time), and (iii) all other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article IV shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date or period of time shall have been true and correct only as of such date or period of time), except, in the case of this clause (iii), where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without regard to qualification or exceptions contained therein as to “materiality”, “in all material respects” or “Company Material Adverse Effect”) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed, or complied with, in all material respects all agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Compliance Certificate. Parent shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by an executive officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, confirming that the conditions in Sections 7.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied.

(d) Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received an opinion from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, dated as of the Closing Date (and, if requested, dated as of the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC), to the effect that, on the basis of the facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering the opinion described in this Section 7.2(d), Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP shall have received and may rely upon the Parent Tax Certificate and the Company Tax Certificate and such other information reasonably requested by and provided to it by the Company or Parent for purposes of rendering such opinion.

 

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Section 7.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived exclusively by the Company, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(a) Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub. (i) The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.1 (Organization, Standing and Power), Section 5.2(a) (Capital Structure), the second sentence, fifth sentence and seventh sentence of Section 5.2(b) (Capital Structure), Section 5.3(a) (Authority), and Section 5.6(a) (Absence of Certain Changes or Events) shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except, with respect to Section 5.2(a) and the second sentence, fifth sentence and seventh sentence of Section 5.2(b) for any de minimis inaccuracies) (except that representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date or period of time shall have been true and correct only as of such date or period of time), (ii) all other representations and warranties of Parent set forth in Section 5.2(b) (Capital Structure) (except for the third sentence of Section 5.2(b)) shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date or period of time shall have been true and correct in all material respects only as of such date or period of time), and (iii) all other representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Article V shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date or period of time shall have been true and correct only as of such date or period of time), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without regard to qualification or exceptions contained therein as to “materiality”, “in all material respects” or “Parent Material Adverse Effect”) that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. Parent and Merger Sub each shall have performed, or complied with, in all material respects all agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Compliance Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate of Parent signed by an executive officer of Parent, dated the Closing Date, confirming that the conditions in Sections 7.3(a) and (b) have been satisfied.

(d) Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received an opinion from Bracewell LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date (and, if requested, dated as of the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC), to the effect that, on the basis of the facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering the opinion described in this Section 7.3(d), Bracewell LLP shall have received and may rely upon the Parent Tax Certificate and the Company Tax Certificate and such other information reasonably requested by and provided to it by the Company or Parent for purposes of rendering such opinion.

Section 7.4 Frustration of Closing Conditions. None of the Parties may rely, either as a basis for not consummating the Merger or for terminating this Agreement, on the failure of any condition set forth in Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such Party’s breach in any material respect of any provision of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION

Section 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether (except as expressly set forth below) before or after the Company Stockholder Approval or the Parent Stockholder Approval has been obtained:

(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;

(b) by either the Company or Parent:

(i) if any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any Party shall have issued any order, decree, ruling or injunction or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or injunction or other action shall have become final and nonappealable, or if there shall be adopted any Law that permanently makes consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise permanently prohibited; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any Party whose failure to fulfill any material covenant or agreement under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the action or event described in this Section 8.1(b)(i) occurring;

(ii) if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before 11:59 p.m. Texas time, on February 28, 2019; provided, however, that if on such date the condition to closing set forth in Section 7.1(b) or Section 7.1(c) (if the failure of such condition to be then satisfied is due to an Antitrust Law) shall not have been satisfied but all other conditions to Closing shall have been satisfied (or in the case of conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, shall be capable of being satisfied or waived by all parties entitled to the benefit of such conditions), such date may be extended by Parent or the Company by written notice to the other Party up to a date that is no later than May 31, 2019 (the “End Date Extension”, and such date, as it may be extended by the End Date Extension, the “End Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any Party whose failure to fulfill any material covenant or agreement under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date;

(iii) in the event of a breach by the other Party of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement which would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Sections 7.2(a) or (b) or Section 7.3(a) or (b), as applicable (and such breach is not curable prior to the End Date, or if curable prior to the End Date, has not been cured by the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after the giving of written notice to the breaching Party of such breach and (ii) two (2) Business Days prior to the End Date) (a “Terminable Breach”); provided, however, that the terminating Party is not then in Terminable Breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement;

(iv) if the Company Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained by the earlier of (A) the second Business Day before the End Date, or (B) the third Business Day following the Information Statement/Prospectus Distribution Date (such earlier time being the “Company Stockholder Consent Deadline”), provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b)(iv) shall not be available to any Party whose failure to fulfill any material covenant or agreement under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Company Stockholder Approval to have been obtained; or

 

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(v) if the total number of Dissenting Shares exceeds twelve percent (12%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.

(c) by the Company, if (i) Parent fails to deliver a copy of the Parent Stockholder Written Consent to the Company on the date of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.6(b) or (ii) for any reason the Parent Stockholder Written Consent ceases to be valid and in full force or otherwise does not constitute the Parent Stockholder Approval;

(d) by Parent, prior to, but not after, the time the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained, if the Company Board or a committee thereof shall have effected a Company Change of Recommendation (whether or not such Company Change of Recommendation is permitted by this Agreement);

(e) by the Company, prior to, but not after, the time the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained, in order to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to a Company Superior Proposal; provided, however, that the Company shall have complied with Section 6.3 in all material respects in respect of such Company Competing Proposal and shall have contemporaneously with such termination paid to Parent the Company Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.3(b); or

(f) by Parent, if the Company shall have Willfully and Materially breached the obligations set forth in Section 6.3(b) (No Solicitation by the Company).

Section 8.2 Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination.

(a) A terminating Party shall provide written notice of termination to the other Party specifying with particularity the reason for such termination and any termination shall be effective immediately upon delivery of such written notice to the other Party.

(b) In the event of termination of this Agreement by any Party as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of any Party except with respect to this Section 8.2, Section 6.7(b), Section 8.3 and Article I and Article IX (and the provisions that substantively define any related defined terms not substantively defined in Article I); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no such termination shall relieve any Party from liability for any damages for a Willful and Material Breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation hereunder or fraud.

Section 8.3 Expenses and Other Payments.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Party shall pay its own expenses incident to preparing for, entering into and carrying out this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, whether or not the Merger shall be consummated.

(b) If the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e) (Company Superior Proposal), then the Company shall pay Parent the Company Termination Fee in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Parent contemporaneously with the termination of this Agreement.

 

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(c) If Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(d) (Company Change of Recommendation) or Section 8.1(f) (No Solicitation by the Company), then the Company shall pay Parent the Company Termination Fee, in each case, in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Parent no later than three (3) Business Days after notice of termination of this Agreement.

(d) If Parent or the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iv) (Failure to Obtain Company Stockholder Approval) and the Company Board or a committee thereof has effected a Company Change of Recommendation (whether or not such Company Change of Recommendation is permitted by this Agreement), then the Company shall pay Parent the Company Termination Fee in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Parent no later than three (3) Business Days after notice of termination of this Agreement.

(e) If either the Company or Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iv) (Failure to Obtain Company Stockholder Approval), or if either the Company or Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(v) (Dissenting Shares), then the Company shall pay Parent the Parent Expenses.

(f) If the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c) (Failure to Obtain Parent Stockholder Approval), then Parent shall pay the Company the Parent Termination Fee in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company no later than three (3) Business Days after notice of termination of this Agreement.

(g) If (i) (A) Parent or the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iv) (Failure to Obtain Company Stockholder Approval) and following the execution of this Agreement and on or before the date of such termination a Company Competing Proposal shall have been publicly announced or publicly disclosed and not been publicly withdrawn without qualification at least seven (7) Business Days prior to the Company Stockholder Consent Deadline or (B) the Company or Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(ii) (End Date) or Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iii) (Company Terminable Breach) and following the execution of this Agreement and on or before the date of such termination a Company Competing Proposal shall have been announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to the Company Board and not withdrawn without qualification at least seven (7) Business Days prior to the date of such termination, and (ii) within twelve (12) months after the date of such termination, the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a Company Competing Proposal (or publicly approves or recommends to the stockholders of the Company or otherwise does not oppose, in the case of a tender or exchange offer, a Company Competing Proposal) or consummates a Company Competing Proposal, then the Company shall pay Parent the Company Termination Fee less any amount previously paid by the Company pursuant to Section 8.3(e). For purposes of this Section 8.3(g), (1) any reference in the definition of Company Competing Proposal to “20%” shall be deemed to be a reference to “more than 50%,” (2) with respect to clause (B) only, a Company Competing Proposal will not be deemed to have been “publicly withdrawn” by any Person if, within twelve (12) months of the termination of the Agreement, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will have entered into a definitive agreement with respect to, or will have consummated, or will have approved or recommended to the stockholders of the Company or otherwise not opposed, in the case of a tender offer or exchange offer, a Company Competing Proposal made by or on behalf of such Person or any of its Affiliates and (3) any Company Competing Proposal made prior to the execution of this Agreement will be deemed to have been made following the execution of this Agreement if the Company breaches its obligations under Section 6.3(a) with respect thereto.

 

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(h) If (i) the Company or Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(ii) (End Date) or the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iii) (Parent Terminable Breach) and following the execution of this Agreement and on or before the date of any such termination a Parent Competing Proposal shall have been announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to the Parent Board and not withdrawn without qualification at least seven (7) Business Days prior to the date of such termination, and (ii) within twelve (12) months after the date of such termination, Parent enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a Parent Competing Proposal (or publicly approves or recommends to the stockholders of Parent or otherwise does not oppose, in the case of a tender or exchange offer, a Parent Competing Proposal) or consummates a Parent Competing Proposal, then Parent shall pay the Company the Parent Termination Fee. For purposes of this Section 8.3(h), (1) any reference in the definition of Parent Competing Proposal to “20%” shall be deemed to be a reference to “more than 50%” and (2) a Parent Competing Proposal will not be deemed to have been “publicly withdrawn” by any Person if, within twelve (12) months of the termination of the Agreement, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries will have entered into a definitive agreement with respect to, or will have consummated, or will have approved or recommended to the stockholders of Parent or otherwise not opposed, in the case of a tender offer or exchange offer, a Parent Competing Proposal made by or on behalf of such Person or any of its Affiliates and (3) any Parent Competing Proposal made prior to the execution of this Agreement will be deemed to have been made following the execution of this Agreement if Parent breaches its obligations under Section 6.4(a) with respect thereto.

(i) In no event shall Parent be entitled to receive more than one payment of the Company Termination Fee or more than one payment of Parent Expenses. If Parent receives the Company Termination Fee, then Parent will not be entitled to also receive a payment of the Parent Expenses. In no event shall the Company be entitled to receive more than one payment of the Parent Termination Fee. If both the Company Termination Fee and the Parent Termination Fee are payable pursuant to this Section 8.3, no payment of the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee shall be required. The Parties agree that the agreements contained in this Section 8.3 are an integral part of the Transactions, and that, without these agreements, the Parties would not enter into this Agreement. If a Party fails to promptly pay the amount due by it pursuant to this Section 8.3, interest shall accrue on such amount from the date such payment was required to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement until the date of payment at the rate of 8% per annum. If, in order to obtain such payment, the other Party commences a Proceeding that results in judgment for such Party for such amount, the defaulting Party shall pay the other Party its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such Proceeding. The Parties agree that the monetary remedies set forth in this Section 8.3 and the specific performance remedies set forth in Section 9.11 shall be the sole and exclusive remedies of (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries against Parent and Merger Sub and any of their respective former, current or future directors, officers, shareholders, Representatives or Affiliates for any loss suffered as a result of the failure of the Merger to be consummated except in the case of fraud or a Willful and Material Breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation (in which case only Parent and Merger Sub shall be liable for damages for such fraud or Willful and Material Breach), and upon payment of such amount, none of Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective former, current or future directors, officers, shareholders, Representatives or Affiliates shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions, except for the liability of Parent in the case of fraud or a Willful and Material Breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation; and (ii) Parent and Merger Sub against the Company and its Subsidiaries and any of their respective former, current or future directors, officers, shareholders, Representatives or Affiliates for any loss suffered as a result of the failure of the Merger to be consummated except in the case of fraud or a Willful and Material Breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation (in which case only the Company shall be liable for damages for such fraud

 

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or Willful and Material Breach), and upon payment of such amount, none of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any of their respective former, current or future directors, officers, shareholders, Representatives or Affiliates shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions, except for the liability of the Company in the case of fraud or a Willful and Material Breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation.

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 9.1 Schedule Definitions. All capitalized terms in the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein (including in Annex A) except as otherwise defined therein.

Section 9.2 Survival. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement will survive the Closing; provided, however, that Article I (and the provisions that substantively define any related defined terms not substantively defined in Article I), this Article IX and the agreements of the Parties in Article II and III, and Section 4.27 (No Additional Representations), Section 5.28, (No Additional Representations), Section 6.9 (Employee Matters), Section 6.10 (Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance), Section 6.19 (Tax Matters) and those other covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms apply, or that are to be performed in whole or in part, after the Closing, shall survive the Closing. The Confidentiality Agreement shall (i) survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and (ii) terminate as of the Effective Time.

Section 9.3 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any Party under, or otherwise in connection with, this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) if delivered in person; (b) if transmitted by electronic mail (“e-mail”) (but only if confirmation of receipt of such e-mail is requested and received; provided, however, that each notice Party shall use reasonable best efforts to confirm receipt of any such email correspondence promptly upon receipt of such request); or (c) if transmitted by national overnight courier, in each case as addressed as follows:

 

  (i)

if to Parent or Merger Sub, to:

Eclipse Resources Corporation

2121 Old Gatesburg Road, Suite 110

State College, Pennsylvania 16803

Attention:    General Counsel

E-mail:         ***@***

with a required copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 3600

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention:    Bryn A. Sappington

                    Paul S. Conneely

E-mail:         ***@***

                     ***@***

 

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  (ii)

if to the Company, to:

Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc.

122 West John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 300

Irving, Texas 75039

Attention:    General Counsel

E-mail:         ***@***

with a required copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):

Bracewell LLP

711 Louisiana Street, Suite 2300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:    Charles H. Still, Jr.

E-mail:         ***@***

Section 9.4 Rules of Construction.

(a) Each of the Parties acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement and that it has executed the same with the advice of said independent counsel. Each Party and its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto exchanged between the Parties shall be deemed the work product of the Parties and may not be construed against any Party by reason of its preparation. Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against any Party that drafted it is of no application and is hereby expressly waived.

(b) The inclusion of any information in the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter shall not be deemed an admission or acknowledgment, in and of itself and solely by virtue of the inclusion of such information in the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter, as applicable, that such information is required to be listed in the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter, as applicable, that such items are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as the case may be, or that such items have resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Parent Material Adverse Effect. The headings, if any, of the individual sections of each of the Parent Disclosure Letter and Company Disclosure Letter are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part thereof or a part of this Agreement. The Company Disclosure Letter and Parent Disclosure Letter are arranged in sections corresponding to the Sections of this Agreement merely for convenience, and the disclosure of an item in one section of the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter, as applicable, as an exception to a particular representation or warranty shall be deemed adequately disclosed as an exception with respect to all other representations or warranties to the extent that the relevance of such item to such representations or warranties is reasonably apparent on its face, notwithstanding the presence or absence of an appropriate section of the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter with respect to such other representations or warranties or an appropriate cross reference thereto.

(c) The specification of any dollar amount in the representations and warranties or otherwise in this Agreement or in the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter is not intended and shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment of the materiality of such amounts or items, nor shall the same be used in any dispute or controversy between the Parties to determine whether any obligation, item or matter (whether or not described herein or included in any schedule) is or is not material for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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(d) All references in this Agreement to Annexes, Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Annexes, Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections or other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of such Articles, Sections, subsections or other subdivisions, and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained therein. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and “hereof” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The words “this Section,” “this subsection” and words of similar import, refer only to the Sections or subsections hereof in which such words occur. The word “including” (in its various forms) means “including, without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise expressly requires. Unless the context otherwise requires, all defined terms contained herein shall include the singular and plural and the conjunctive and disjunctive forms of such defined terms. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to a specific time shall refer to Houston, Texas time. The word “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” The term “dollars” and the symbol “$” mean United States Dollars. The words “made available” with respect to any documents to be made available to any Party means that such document was in the electronic data room relating to the Transactions maintained by the Company or Parent, as applicable, one Business Day prior to the date of execution of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.

(e) In this Agreement, except as the context may otherwise require, references to: (i) any agreement (including this Agreement), contract, statute or regulation are to the agreement, contract, statute or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time (in the case of an agreement or contract, to the extent permitted by the terms thereof and, if applicable, by the terms of this Agreement); (ii) any Governmental Entity include any successor to that Governmental Entity; (iii) any applicable Law refers to such applicable Law as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under such statute) and references to any section of any applicable Law or other law include any successor to such section; and (iv) “days” mean calendar days; when calculating the period of time within which, or following which, any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference day in calculating such period shall be excluded and if the last day of the period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next Business Day or if any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day.

Section 9.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, including via facsimile or email in “portable document format” (“pdf”) form transmission, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when two (2) or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart.

 

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Section 9.6 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (together with the Confidentiality Agreement, the Company Voting Agreements, the Parent Voting Agreement and any other documents and instruments executed pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for the provisions of (a) Article III (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the rights of the former holders of Company Common Stock and holders of Company RSUs and Company Restricted Stock and Company PIA Holders to receive the Merger Consideration or other payments pursuant to Section 3.2) but only from and after the Effective Time and (b) Section 6.10 (which from and after the Effective Time is intended for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Persons referred to therein and by their respective heirs and Representatives) but only from and after the Effective Time, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the Parties any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 9.7 Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT, AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT) THAT MAY BE BASED UPON, ARISE OUT OF RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF.

(b) THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR, IF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR THE DELAWARE SUPREME COURT DETERMINES THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 111 OF THE DGCL, THE COURT OF CHANCERY DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER SUCH MATTER, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE SOLELY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DENY OR DEFEAT SUCH PERSONAL JURISDICTION BY MOTION OR OTHER REQUEST IN ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING OR TO ASSERT THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED EXCLUSIVELY BY SUCH A DELAWARE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES AGREE NOT TO BRING ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN ANY OTHER COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SO BROUGHT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 8.3 OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF.

 

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(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.7.

Section 9.8 Severability. Each Party agrees that, should any court or other competent authority hold any provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such other term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, in response to an order from a court or other competent authority for any Party to take any action inconsistent herewith or not to take an action consistent herewith or required hereby, to the extent that a Party took an action inconsistent with this Agreement or failed to take action consistent with this Agreement or required by this Agreement pursuant to such order, such Party shall not incur any liability or obligation unless such Party did not in good faith seek to resist or object to the imposition or entering of such order.

Section 9.9 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 9.9 shall be void.

Section 9.10 Affiliate Liability. Each of the following is herein referred to as a “Company Affiliate”): (a) any direct or indirect holder of equity interests or securities in the Company (whether stockholders or otherwise), and (b) any director, officer, employee, Representative or agent of (i) the Company or (ii) any Person who controls the Company. No Company Affiliate shall have any liability or obligation to Parent or Merger Sub of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for fraud, and Parent and Merger Sub hereby waive and release all claims of any such liability and obligation, other than for fraud. Each of the following is herein referred to as a “Parent Affiliate”): (x) any direct or indirect holder of equity interests or securities in Parent (whether stockholders or otherwise), and (y) any director, officer, employee, Representative or agent of (i) Parent or (ii) any Person who controls Parent. No Parent Affiliate shall have any liability or obligation to the Company of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for fraud, and the Company hereby waive and release all claims of any such liability and obligation, other than for fraud.

 

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Section 9.11 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by the Parties. Prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, it is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case in accordance with this Section 9.11, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under the terms of this Agreement at law or in equity. Each Party accordingly agrees not to raise any objections to the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance to prevent or restrain breaches or threatened breaches of, or to enforce compliance with, the covenants and obligations of such Party under this Agreement all in accordance with the terms of this Section 9.11. Each Party further agrees that no other Party or any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 9.11, and each Party irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument. If prior to the End Date, any Party hereto brings an action to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof by any other Party, the End Date shall automatically be extended by such other time period established by the court presiding over such action.

Section 9.12 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the Parties at any time before or after adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company, but, after any such adoption, no amendment shall be made which by law would require the further approval by such stockholders without first obtaining such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties.

Section 9.13 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the Company and Parent may, to the extent legally allowed:

(a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of the other Party hereunder;

(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto; or

(c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the other Party contained herein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the Company or Parent in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder. No agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid unless set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party hereto has caused this Agreement to be signed by its respective officer thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.

 

ECLIPSE RESOURCES CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Benjamin W. Hulburt

Name:   Benjamin W. Hulburt
Title:   Chairman, President and
  Chief Executive Officer
EVEREST MERGER SUB INC.
By:  

/s/ Benjamin W. Hulburt

Name:   Benjamin W. Hulburt
Title:   Chairman, President and
  Chief Executive Officer
BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ John K. Reinhart

Name:   John K. Reinhart
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Signature Page

 


ANNEX A

Certain Definitions

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person, through one or more intermediaries or otherwise.

Aggregated Group” means all entities under common control with any Person within the meaning of Section 414(b), (k), or (m) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

beneficial ownership,” including the correlative term “beneficially owning,” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

Business Day” means a day other than a day on which banks in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

Closing Date Stock Price” means the closing price per share of the Parent Common Stock on the NYSE on the Closing Date.

Company Competing Proposal” means any contract, proposal, offer or indication of interest relating to any transaction or series of related transactions (other than transactions only with Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) involving, directly or indirectly: (a) other than in a transaction or series of related transactions permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(b), any acquisition (by asset purchase, stock purchase, merger, or otherwise) by any Person or group of any business or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including capital stock of or ownership interest in any Subsidiary) that constitute 20% or more of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets (by fair market value) or generated 20% or more of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings before interest, Taxes, depreciation and amortization for the preceding twelve months, or any license, lease or long-term supply agreement having a similar economic effect, (b) any acquisition of beneficial ownership by any Person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or any other securities entitled to vote on the election of directors or any tender or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or any other securities entitled to vote on the election of directors or (c) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Company Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement dated as of November 7, 2017 among the Company, HPS Investment Partners, LLC, as administrative agent, and the Lenders party thereto.

Company Intervening Event” means a material development or change in circumstance that occurs or arises after the date of this Agreement that was not known to or reasonably foreseeable by the Company Board as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the receipt, existence or terms of a Company Competing Proposal or any matter relating thereto or of consequence thereof constitute a Company Intervening Event.

Company PIA” means a “Performance Interest” awarded under (and as defined in) a Company PIA Award Agreement.

Company PIA Award Agreement” means each Performance Interest Award Agreement entered into by the Company and the Recipient named therein.

Company PIA Holder” means a holder of a Company PIA.

 

A-1


Company Plan” means an Employee Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained, or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or with respect to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company has or may have any liability.

Company RSU” means a restricted stock unit awarded under the Company Restricted Stock Units Plan or otherwise under a Company RSU Agreement that represents the right to receive a payment in cash or shares of Company Common Stock.

Company RSU Agreement” means each agreement entered into by the Company and the Recipient named therein providing the terms and conditions of an award of Company RSUs.

Company Restricted Stock” means restricted shares of Company Common Stock awarded under a Restricted Stock Award Agreement between the Company and the Recipient named therein.

Company Restricted Stock Units Plan” means the Blue Ridge Mountain Resources, Inc. Restricted Stock Units Plan.

Company Stockholder Approval” means (a) the adoption of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the DGCL and the Organizational Documents of the Company, whether by written consent or otherwise and (b) the prior written approval of the consummation of the Merger by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock in accordance with the Company Stockholders Agreement.

Company Stockholders Agreement” means the Stockholders Agreement dated as of May 6, 2016 by and among the Company and the holders of Company Common Stock party thereto.

Company Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written proposal that is not solicited after the date of this Agreement and is made after the date of this Agreement by any Person or group (other than Parent or any of its Affiliates) to acquire, directly or indirectly, (a) businesses or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including capital stock of or ownership interest in any Subsidiary) that account for 50% or more of the fair market value of such assets or that generated 50% or more of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings before interest, Taxes, depreciation and amortization for the preceding twelve months, respectively, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, in each case whether by way of merger, amalgamation, share exchange, tender offer, exchange offer, recapitalization, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise, that in the good faith determination of the Company Board or a committee thereof, after consultation with its financial advisors, that (i) if consummated, would result in a transaction more favorable to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view than the Merger (after taking into account the time likely to be required to consummate such proposal and any adjustments or revisions to the terms of this Agreement offered by Parent in response to such proposal or otherwise), (ii) is reasonably likely to be consummated on the terms proposed, taking into account any legal, financial, regulatory and stockholder approval requirements, the sources, availability and terms of any financing, financing market conditions and the existence of a financing contingency, the likelihood of termination, the timing of closing, the identity of the Person or Persons making the proposal and any other aspects considered relevant by the Company Board and (iii) for which, if applicable, financing is fully committed or reasonably determined to be available to the Company Board.

Company Termination Fee” means (i) if payable (A) in connection with a termination of this Agreement by Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(d) (Company Change of Recommendation) following a Company Change of Recommendation in response to a Company Intervening Event, or (B) in connection with a termination of this Agreement by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iv) and the Company has effected a Company Change of Recommendation in response to a Company Intervening Event, $18,000,000; and (ii) if payable in any other circumstance, $12,000,000.

 

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Consent” means any filing, notice, report, registration, approval, consent, ratification, permit, permission, amendment, waiver, expiration of waiting periods or authorization.

control” and its correlative terms, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Derivative Transaction” means any swap transaction, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transaction, futures transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction or collar transaction relating to one or more currencies, commodities (including, without limitation, natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and condensate), bonds, equity securities, loans, interest rates, catastrophe events, weather-related events, credit-related events or conditions or any indexes, or any other similar transaction (including any put, call or other option with respect to any of these transactions) or combination of any of these transactions, including collateralized mortgage obligations or other similar instruments or any debt or equity instruments evidencing or embedding any such types of transactions, and any related credit support, collateral or other similar arrangements related to such transactions.

DTC” means The Depositary Trust Company.

Edgar” means the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System administered by the SEC.

Employee Benefit Plan” of any Person means any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, regardless of whether such plan is subject to ERISA), and any personnel policy (oral or written), equity option, restricted equity, equity purchase plan, equity compensation plan, phantom equity or appreciation rights plan, collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award plan or arrangement, vacation or holiday pay policy, retention or severance pay plan, policy or agreement, deferred compensation agreement or arrangement, change in control, hospitalization or other medical, dental, vision, accident, disability, life or other insurance, executive compensation or supplemental income arrangement, individual consulting agreement, employment agreement, and any other employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement, program, practice, or understanding for any current or former employee, officer, manager, director, retiree, individual independent contractor or individual consultant of the Person.

Encumbrances” means liens, pledges, charges, encumbrances, claims, hypothecation, mortgages, deeds of trust, security interests, restrictions, rights of first refusal, defects in title, prior assignment, license sublicense or other burdens, options or encumbrances of any kind or any agreement, option, right or privilege (whether by Law, contract or otherwise) capable of becoming any of the foregoing (any action of correlative meaning, to “Encumber”).

Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws pertaining to prevention of pollution or protection of the environment (including, without limitation, any natural resource damages or any generation, use, storage, treatment, disposal or Release of Hazardous Materials into the indoor or outdoor environment) in effect as of the date hereof

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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Governmental Entity” means any court, governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.

group” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

Hazardous Materials” means any (a) chemical, product, substance, waste, pollutant, or contaminant that is defined or listed as hazardous or toxic or that is otherwise regulated under any Environmental Law; (b) asbestos containing materials, whether in a friable or non-friable condition, lead-containing material polychlorinated biphenyls, naturally occurring radioactive materials or radon; and (c) any Hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbons” means any hydrocarbon-containing substance, crude oil, natural gas, condensate, drip gas and natural gas liquids, coalbed gas, ethane, propane, iso-butane, nor-butane, gasoline, scrubber liquids and other liquids or gaseous hydrocarbons or other substances (including minerals or gases), or any combination thereof, produced or associated therewith.

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication: (a) indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price for any property of such Person; (c) reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of drawn letters of credit or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and other financial institutions for the account of such Person; (d) obligations of such Person under a lease to the extent such obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP; and (e) indebtedness of others as described in clauses (a) through (d) above guaranteed by such Person; but Indebtedness does not include accounts payable to trade creditors, or accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, in each case, that are not yet due and payable, or are being disputed in good faith, and the endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business.

Intellectual Property” means any and all proprietary, industrial and intellectual property rights, under the applicable Law of any jurisdiction or rights under international treaties, both statutory and common law rights, including: (a) utility models, supplementary protection certificates, invention disclosures, registrations, patents and applications for same, and extensions, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reexaminations, revisions, renewals, substitutes, and reissues thereof; (b) trademarks, service marks, certification marks, collective marks, brand names, d/b/a’s, trade names, slogans, domain names, symbols, logos, trade dress and other identifiers of source, and registrations and applications for registrations thereof and renewals of the same (including all common law rights and goodwill associated with the foregoing and symbolized thereby); (c) published and unpublished works of authorship, whether copyrightable or not, copyrights therein and thereto, together with all common law and moral rights therein, database rights, and registrations and applications for registration of the foregoing, and all renewals, extensions , restorations and reversions thereof; (d) trade secrets, know-how, and other rights in information, including designs, formulations, concepts, compilations of information, methods, techniques, procedures, and processes, whether or not patentable; (e) Internet domain names and URLs; and (f) all other intellectual property, industrial or proprietary rights.

IT Assets” means computers, software, servers, networks, workstations, routers, hubs, circuits, switches, data communications lines, and all other information technology equipment, and all associated documentation.

knowledge” means the actual knowledge of, (a) in the case of the Company, the individuals listed in Schedule 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter and (b) in the case of Parent, the individuals listed in Schedule 1.1 of the Parent Disclosure Letter.

 

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Law” means any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, judgment, order, treaty, convention, governmental directive or other legally enforceable requirement, U.S. or non-U.S., of any Governmental Entity, including common law.

Material Adverse Effect” means, when used with respect to any Party, any fact, circumstance, effect, change, event or development that (a) would prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of such Party or its Subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions or (b) has, or would have, a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, assets, properties or results of operations of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that with respect to this clause (b) only, no effect (by itself or when aggregated or taken together with any and all other effects) to the extent directly or indirectly resulting from, arising out of, attributable to, or related to any of the following shall be deemed to be or constitute a “Material Adverse Effect” or shall be taken into account when determining whether a “Material Adverse Effect” has occurred or may, would or could occur:

 

  (i)

general economic conditions (or changes in such conditions) or conditions in the global economy generally;

 

  (ii)

conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the securities markets, credit markets, currency markets or other financial markets, including (A) changes in interest rates and changes in exchange rates for the currencies of any countries and (B) any suspension of trading in securities (whether equity, debt, derivative or hybrid securities) generally on any securities exchange or over-the-counter market;

 

  (iii)

conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the oil and gas exploration, development or production industry (including changes in commodity prices, general market prices and regulatory changes affecting the industry);

 

  (iv)

political conditions (or changes in such conditions) or acts of war, sabotage or terrorism (including any escalation or general worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage or terrorism);

 

  (v)

earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions;

 

  (vi)

the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the Transactions (other than with respect to any representation or warranty that is intended to address the consequences of the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the announcement or consummation of the Transactions);

 

  (vii)

compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action expressly permitted or required by, this Agreement (except for any obligation under this Agreement to operate in the ordinary course of business (or similar obligation) pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.2, as applicable);

 

  (viii)

changes in Law or other legal or regulatory conditions, or the interpretation thereof, or changes in GAAP or other accounting standards (or the interpretation thereof), or that result from any action taken for the purpose of complying with any of the foregoing;

 

  (ix)

any changes in such Party’s stock price or the trading volume of such Party’s stock, or any failure by such Party to meet any analysts’ estimates or expectations of such Party’s revenue, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations for any period, or

 

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  any failure by such Party or any of its Subsidiaries to meet any internal budgets, plans or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such changes or failures may constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Material Adverse Effect); or

 

  (x)

any Proceedings made or brought by any of the current or former stockholders or shareholders of such Person (on their own behalf or on behalf of such Person) against the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or any of their directors or officers, arising out of the Merger or in connection with any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

provided, however, except to the extent such effects directly or indirectly resulting from, arising out of, attributable to or related to the matters described in the foregoing clauses (i) – (v) disproportionately adversely affect such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as compared to other similarly situated participants operating in the oil and gas exploration, development or production industry (in which case, such adverse effects (if any) shall be taken into account when determining whether a “Material Adverse Effect” has occurred or may, would or could occur solely to the extent they are disproportionate).

Majority Stockholders” means, collectively, EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII, L.P., EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII Co-Investors, L.P., and EnCap Energy Capital Fund IX, L.P.

NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Oil and Gas Leases” means all leases, subleases, licenses or other occupancy or similar agreements (including any series of related leases with the same lessor) under which a Person leases, subleases or licenses or otherwise acquires or obtains rights to produce Hydrocarbons from real property interests.

Oil and Gas Properties” means all interests in and rights with respect to (a) oil, gas, mineral, and similar properties of any kind and nature, including working, leasehold and mineral interests and operating rights and royalties, overriding royalties, production payments, net profit interests and other non-working interests and non-operating interests (including all Oil and Gas Leases, operating agreements, unitization and pooling agreements and orders, division orders, transfer orders, mineral deeds, royalty deeds, and in each case, interests thereunder), surface interests, fee interests, reversionary interests, reservations and concessions and (b) all Wells located on or producing from such leases and properties.

Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to a corporation, the charter, articles or certificate of incorporation, as applicable, and bylaws thereof, (b) with respect to a limited liability company, the certificate of formation or organization, as applicable, and the operating or limited liability company agreement thereof, (c) with respect to a partnership, the certificate of formation and the partnership agreement, and (d) with respect to any other Person the organizational, constituent and/or governing documents and/or instruments of such Person.

other Party” means (a) when used with respect to the Company, Parent and Merger Sub and (b) when used with respect to Parent or Merger Sub, the Company.

Parent Competing Proposal” means any contract, proposal, offer or indication of interest relating to any transaction or series of related transactions involving directly or indirectly: (a) any acquisition (by asset purchase, stock purchase, merger, or otherwise) by any Person or group of any business or assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including capital stock of or ownership interest in any Subsidiary) that constitute 20% or more of Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets (by fair market value) or generate 20% or more of Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings before interest, Taxes, depreciation and

 

A-6


amortization for the preceding twelve (12) months, or any license, lease or long-term supply agreement having a similar economic effect, (b) any acquisition of beneficial ownership by any Person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock or any other securities entitled to vote on the election of directors or any tender or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock or any other securities entitled to vote on the election of directors or (c) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving Parent.

Parent Expenses” means a cash amount equal to $3,250,000 to be paid in respect of Parent’s costs and expenses in connection with the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Transactions.

Parent Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition (by asset purchase or exchange, stock purchase, merger, or otherwise) that (a) does not require approval by the stockholders of Parent, (b) is approved by at least two-thirds of the Parent Board after its receipt of a customary fairness opinion with respect thereto from an investment bank of national standing, and (c) would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or materially delay consummation of the Merger.

Parent Plan” means an Employee Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained, or contributed to by Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent, or with respect to which Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent has or may have any liability.

Parent Stockholder Approval” means the approval of the Parent Stock Issuance and the Parent Charter Amendment by the requisite vote of the holders of outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NYSE, the DGCL and the Organizational Documents of Parent.

Parent Termination Fee” means $12,000,000.

Party” or “Parties” means a party or the parties to this Agreement, except as the context may otherwise require.

PIA Number of Shares” means, with respect to each Company PIA Holder, (a) unless otherwise determined by the Company Board as provided in clause (b), a number of shares of Company Common Stock equal to (i) the “Performance Interest Stock Value” (as defined in and determined by the Company Board under the applicable Company PIA Award Agreement) for such Company PIA Holder, divided by (ii) (A) the Closing Date Stock Price multiplied by (B) the Exchange Ratio, or (b) such other number of shares of Company Common Stock determined by the Company Board not to exceed the number of shares of Company Common Stock with respect to which such Company PIA Holder’s Company PIA represents a notional interest (as specified in the applicable Company PIA Award Agreement).

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a) to the extent not applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or otherwise waived prior to the Effective Time, preferential purchase rights, rights of first refusal, purchase options (including pursuant to any area of mutual interest or similar agreement) and similar rights granted pursuant to any contracts, including joint operating agreements, joint ownership agreements, joint development agreements, stockholders agreements, organic documents and other similar agreements and documents;

 

A-7


(b) contractual or statutory mechanic’s, materialmen’s, warehouseman’s, journeyman’s and carrier’s liens and other similar Encumbrances arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent and Encumbrances for Taxes or assessments or other governmental charges that are not yet delinquent or, in all instances, if delinquent, that are being contested in good faith in the ordinary course of business and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP by the party responsible for payment thereof;

(c) Production Burdens payable to third parties that are deducted in the calculation of discounted present value in the Company Reserve Report or the Parent Reserve Reports, as applicable, and any Production Burdens payable to third parties affecting any Oil and Gas Property that was acquired subsequent to the date of the Company Reserve Report or the dates of the Parent Reserve Reports, as applicable;

(d) Encumbrances arising in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, Oil and Gas Leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, transportation, processing or exchange of oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, development agreements, joint ownership arrangements and other agreements that are customary in the oil and gas business, provided, however, that, in each case, such Encumbrance (i) secures obligations that are not Indebtedness or a deferred purchase price and are not delinquent and (ii) would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, on the value, use or operation of the property encumbered thereby;

(e) such Encumbrances as the Company (in the case of Encumbrances with respect to properties or assets of Parent or its Subsidiaries) or Parent (in the case of Encumbrances with respect to properties or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries), as applicable, may have expressly waived in writing;

(f) all easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other similar rights in respect of surface operations, and easements for pipelines, streets, alleys, highways, telephone lines, power lines, railways and other easements and rights-of-way, on, over or in respect of any of the properties of the Company or Parent, as applicable, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, that are customarily granted in the oil and gas industry and do not materially interfere with the operation, value or use of the property or asset affected;

(g) any Encumbrances discharged at or prior to the Effective Time (including Encumbrances securing any Indebtedness that will be paid off in connection with Closing);

(h) Encumbrances imposed or promulgated by applicable Law or any Governmental Entity with respect to real property, including zoning, building or similar restrictions; or

(i) Encumbrances, exceptions, defects or irregularities in title, easements, imperfections of title, claims, charges, security interests, rights-of-way, covenants, restrictions and other similar matters that would be accepted by a reasonably prudent purchaser of oil and gas interests, that would not reduce the net revenue interest share of the Company or Parent, as applicable, or such Party’s Subsidiaries, in any Oil and Gas Lease below the net revenue interest share shown in the Company Reserve Report or Parent Reserve Reports, as applicable, with respect to such lease, or increase the working interest of the Company or Parent, as applicable, or of such Party’s Subsidiaries, in any Oil and Gas Lease above the working interest shown on the Company Reserve Report or Parent Reserve Reports, as applicable, with respect to such lease.

Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint stock company, trust, estate, joint venture, Governmental Entity, association or unincorporated organization, or any other form of business or professional entity.

 

A-8


Personal Information” means any information that, alone or in combination with other information held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, identifies or could reasonably be used to identify an individual, and any other personal information that is subject to any applicable Laws.

Proceeding” means any actual or threatened claim (including a claim of a violation of applicable Law or Environmental Law), cause of action, action, audit, demand, litigation, suit, proceeding, investigation, grievance, citation, summons, subpoena, inquiry, hearing, originating application to a tribunal, arbitration or other proceeding at law or in equity or order or ruling, in each case whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, whether in contract, in tort or otherwise, and whether or not such claim, cause of action, action, audit, demand, litigation, suit, proceeding, investigation grievance, citation, summons, subpoena, inquiry, hearing, originating application to a tribunal, arbitration or other proceeding or order or ruling results in a formal civil or criminal litigation or regulatory action.

Production Burdens” means any royalties (including lessor’s royalties), overriding royalties, production payments, net profit interests or other burdens upon, measured by or payable out of oil, gas or mineral production.

Release” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the indoor or outdoor environment.

Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, the officers, directors, managers, employees, accountants, consultants, agents, legal counsel, financial advisors and other representatives of such Person.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, any Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (a) at least 50% of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions, (b) a general partner interest or (c) a managing member interest, is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the subject Person or by one or more of its respective Subsidiaries.

Takeover Law” means any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination” or any other anti-takeover statute or similar statute enacted under applicable Law.

Tax Returns” means any return (including any information return), report, statement, schedule, notice, form election, estimated Tax filing, claim for refund or other document (including any attachments thereto or amendments thereof) filed with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Taxing Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or administration of any Taxes.

Taxes” means all (a) federal, state, local, and foreign income, profits, capital, excise, estimated, property, sales, use, turnover, value added, ad valorem, severance, production, stamp, documentary, gross receipts, goods and services, registration, transfer, withholding, employment, social security, disability, unemployment or franchise taxes and similar charges, levies or other assessments, duties, fees or charges of any kind, together with all interest, penalties, and additions to tax, imposed by any Governmental Entity, and (b) any liability in respect of any item described in clause (a) that arises by reason of a written or unwritten contract or arrangement, assumption, transferee or successor liability, or operation of law (including by reason of participation in a consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return).

 

A-9


Taxing Authority” means any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction in matters relating to Tax matters.

Transactions” means the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each other agreement to be executed and delivered in connection herewith and therewith.

Transfer Taxes” means any transfer, sales, use, stamp, registration or other similar Taxes; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, that Transfer Taxes shall not include any income, franchise or similar taxes arising from the Transactions.

Voting Debt” of a Person means bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having the right to vote (or convertible into securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of such Person may vote.

WARN Act” means the federal Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1998, and any state, local and foreign Laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

Wells” means all oil or gas wells, whether producing, operating, shut-in or temporarily abandoned, located on an Oil and Gas Lease or any pooled, communitized or unitized acreage that includes all or a part of such Oil and Gas Lease or otherwise associated with an Oil and Gas Property of the applicable Person or any of its Subsidiaries, together with all oil, gas and mineral production from such well.

Willful and Material Breach” including the correlative term “Willfully and Materially Breach,” shall mean a material breach (or the committing of a material breach) that is a consequence of an act or failure to take an act by the breaching party with the knowledge that the taking of such act (or the failure to take such act) may constitute a breach of this Agreement.

 

 

A-10


ANNEX B

Form of Company Voting Agreement

(Attached hereto)

 

 

B-1


ANNEX C

Form of Parent Voting Agreement

(Attached hereto)

 

 

C-1


ANNEX D

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation

(Attached hereto)

 

 

D-1


ANNEX E

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Surviving Corporation

(Attached hereto)

 

 

E-1


ANNEX F

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Parent

(Attached hereto)

 

 

F-1


ANNEX G

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Parent

(Attached hereto)

 

G-1


Exhibit B

Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

[See attached]


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ECLIPSE RESOURCES CORPORATION

Eclipse Resources Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “DGCL”), hereby certifies as follows:

1.    The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 13, 2014. The Corporation filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 23, 2014.

2.    This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which restates and amends the First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, has been declared advisable by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), duly adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation and duly executed and acknowledged by the officers of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 103, 242 and 245 of the DGCL.

3.    The First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Eclipse Resources Corporation.

SECOND: The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 in New Castle County, Delaware. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended.

FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,050,000,000 shares of stock, classified as (i) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), and (ii) 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”).

Upon the filing and effectiveness (the “Effective Time”) pursuant to the DGCL of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each 15 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be combined and converted into one (1) share of Common Stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash (without interest or deduction) in lieu of such fractional share interests upon the submission of a letter of transmittal by a stockholder holding the shares in book-entry form and, where shares are held in certificated form, upon the surrender of the stockholder’s Old Certificates (as defined

 

1


below), in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the closing price per share of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange as of the date of the Effective Time, by (b) the fraction of one share owned by such stockholder. Each certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Common Stock (“Old Certificates”) or book-entry then outstanding representing shares of Common Stock, shall thereafter represent that number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Common Stock represented by such Old Certificates or book-entry shall have been combined, subject to the elimination of fractional share interests as described above.

The designations and the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of Preferred Stock and Common Stock are as follows:

1.    Provisions Relating to Preferred Stock.

(a)     Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more classes or series, the shares of each class or series to have such designations and powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such class or series adopted by the Board as hereafter prescribed (a “Preferred Stock Designation”).

(b)     Authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board to authorize the issuance, without stockholder approval, of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, and with respect to each class or series of Preferred Stock, to fix and state by the resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted by the Board providing for the issuance thereof the designation and the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to each class or series of Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i)     whether or not the class or series is to have voting rights, full, special or limited, or is to be without voting rights, and whether or not such class or series is to be entitled to vote as a separate class either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock;

(ii)     the number of shares to constitute the class or series and the designations thereof;

(iii)     the preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to any class or series;

(iv)     whether or not the shares of any class or series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

(v)     whether or not the shares of a class or series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares for retirement, and, if such retirement or sinking fund or funds are to be established, the annual amount thereof, and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

 

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(vi)     the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable in cash, securities of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable, the preference to or the relation to the payment of dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock, whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall accumulate;

(vii)     the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof which the holders of any class or series thereof shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

(viii)     whether or not the shares of any class or series, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable for securities or other property of the Corporation and the conversion price or prices or ratio or ratios or the rate or rates at which such exchange may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided for in such resolution or resolutions;

(ix)     whether or not the holders of shares of any class or series shall have any preemptive rights, and the extent of any such rights; and

(x)     such other powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions with respect to any class or series as may to the Board seem advisable.

(c)     The shares of each class or series of Preferred Stock may vary from the shares of any other class or series thereof in any or all of the foregoing respects.

2.    Provisions Relating to Common Stock.

(a)     Each share of Common Stock shall have identical rights and privileges in every respect. Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of Preferred Stock and any class or series thereof. Except as may otherwise be provided in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in a Preferred Stock Designation or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share upon all questions presented to the stockholders, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and the holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders. Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law at which any matter is to be put to a vote of the holders of Common Stock.

(b)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding classes or series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected class or series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

 

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(c)     Subject to the prior rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any class or series thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them such dividends and distributions (payable in cash, securities or otherwise), if any, as may be declared thereon by the Board at any time and from time to time out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.

(d)     In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be distributed to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or any class or series thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them. A liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this paragraph (d), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of the assets of the Corporation.

(e)     The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of either Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

FIFTH: The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board. All directors shall be of one class and serve for a term ending at the annual meeting following the annual meeting at which the director was elected. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. Any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his or her predecessor. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

SIXTH: Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock with respect to such class or series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

SEVENTH: Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock with respect to such class or series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation do not have the power to call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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EIGHTH: In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation without any action on the part of the stockholders of the Corporation. The provisions of this Article Eighth notwithstanding, the bylaws of the Corporation shall not be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation except by the vote of holders of not less than 66 2/3% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. No bylaws hereafter adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment or alteration thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

NINTH: No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as it now exists. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by any amendment to the DGCL hereafter enacted that further limits the liability of a director.

Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article Ninth shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

TENTH: To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunities that are from time to time presented to any of The Hulburt Family II Limited Partnership, a Pennsylvania limited partnership, EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, EnCap Energy Capital Fund VIII Co-Investors, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, and EnCap Energy Capital Fund IX, L.P., a Texas limited partnership and their respective Affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (each, a “Sponsor” and together, the “Sponsor Group”) (or any agents, stockholders, members, partners, directors, officers or employees of the Sponsor Group) or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective agents, stockholders, members, partners, directors, officers, employees, affiliates or subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (each, a “Specified Person”), including any director or officer of the Corporation who is also a Specified Person, even if the business opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and no such person shall have any duty to communicate or offer any such business opportunity to the Corporation or be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any stockholder, including for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or controlling stockholder or otherwise, and the Corporation shall indemnify each such person against any claim that such person is liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty, by reason of the fact that such person (i) participates in, pursues or acquires any such business opportunity, (ii) directs any such business opportunity to another person or (iii) fails to present any such business opportunity, or information regarding any such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries, unless, in the case of a Specified Person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer in writing solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article Tenth, nor the adoption of any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any modification of law, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption

 

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or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

If any provision or provisions of this Article Tenth shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article Tenth (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article Tenth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article Tenth (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article Tenth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

This Article Tenth shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation or applicable law. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including this Article Tenth.

ELEVENTH: The Corporation shall not be governed by or subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL as now in effect or hereafter amended, or any successor statute thereto, as permitted under and pursuant to subsection (b)(3) thereof.

TWELFTH: The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, from time to time, to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in any manner now or hereafter provided by applicable law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment hereof are subject to such right of the Corporation.

THIRTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

FOURTEENTH: Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court or a federal court located within the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and subject to applicable jurisdictional requirements, be the sole and exclusive forum for any current or former stockholder (including any current or former beneficial owner) to bring internal corporate claims (as defined below). For purposes of this Article Fourteenth, internal corporate claims mean claims, including claims in the right of the Corporation: (a) that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder in such capacity; or (b) as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery.

 

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If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of this Article Fourteenth is filed in a court other than the Court of Chancery (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court or a federal court located within the State of Delaware) (a “foreign action”) by any current or former stockholder (including any current or former beneficial owner), such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to: (a) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (or such other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce this Article Fourteenth; and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such stockholder.

If any provision of this Article Fourteenth shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article Fourteenth (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article Fourteenth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including this Article Fourteenth.

(Signature page follows.)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this          day of             , 2018.

 

ECLIPSE RESOURCES CORPORATION
By:  

 

Name:   Benjamin W. Hulburt
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

[Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation – Eclipse Resources Corporation]