SENIORUNSECURED TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT datedas of December 8,2008, among EXCOOPERATING COMPANY, LP, as Borrower CERTAINSUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER, as Guarantors TheLenders Party Hereto JPMORGANCHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent J.P.MORGAN SECURITIES INC., as Sole Bookrunner and Lead Arranger $300,000,000Senior Unsecured Term Facility

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-10.1 2 a08-29589_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

SENIOR UNSECURED TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

December 8, 2008,

 

among

 

EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP,
as Borrower

 

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER,
as Guarantors

 

The Lenders Party Hereto

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
as Sole Bookrunner and Lead Arranger

 

$300,000,000 Senior Unsecured Term Facility

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1

 

 

 

Section 1.01.

Defined Terms

1

 

 

 

Section 1.02.

Types of Loans and Borrowings

18

 

 

 

Section 1.03.

Terms Generally

18

 

 

 

Section 1.04.

Accounting Terms; GAAP

19

 

 

 

Section 1.05.

Oil and Gas Definitions

19

 

 

 

Section 1.06.

Time of Day

19

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

19

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

Commitments

19

 

 

 

Section 2.02.

Repayment of Loans

20

 

 

 

Section 2.03.

[Reserved]

20

 

 

 

Section 2.04.

Requests for Borrowings

20

 

 

 

Section 2.05.

[Reserved]

20

 

 

 

Section 2.06.

Funding of Borrowings

20

 

 

 

Section 2.07.

Interest Elections

21

 

 

 

Section 2.08.

Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

22

 

 

 

Section 2.09.

Optional Prepayment of Loans

23

 

 

 

Section 2.10.

Mandatory Prepayment of Loans

24

 

 

 

Section 2.11.

Fees

24

 

 

 

Section 2.12.

Interest

25

 

 

 

Section 2.13.

Alternate Rate of Interest

26

 

 

 

Section 2.14.

Increased Costs

26

 

 

 

Section 2.15.

Break Funding Payments

27

 

 

 

Section 2.16.

Taxes

27

 

 

 

Section 2.17.

Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

29

 

 

 

Section 2.18.

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

30

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

[RESERVED]

32

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

32

 

 

 

Section 4.01.

Organization; Powers

32

 

 

 

Section 4.02.

Authorization; Enforceability

32

 

i



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 4.03.

Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

32

 

 

 

Section 4.04.

Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

32

 

 

 

Section 4.05.

Properties

33

 

 

 

Section 4.06.

Litigation and Environmental Matters

33

 

 

 

Section 4.07.

Compliance with Laws and Agreements

34

 

 

 

Section 4.08.

Investment Company Status

34

 

 

 

Section 4.09.

Taxes

34

 

 

 

Section 4.10.

ERISA

34

 

 

 

Section 4.11.

Disclosure

34

 

 

 

Section 4.12.

Labor Matters

35

 

 

 

Section 4.13.

Capitalization and Credit Party Information

35

 

 

 

Section 4.14.

Margin Stock

35

 

 

 

Section 4.15.

Oil and Gas Interests

35

 

 

 

Section 4.16.

Insurance

35

 

 

 

Section 4.17.

Solvency

36

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS

36

 

 

 

Section 5.01.

Effective Date

36

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

39

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

Financial Statements; Other Information

39

 

 

 

Section 6.02.

Notices of Material Events

41

 

 

 

Section 6.03.

Existence; Conduct of Business

41

 

 

 

Section 6.04.

Payment of Obligations

42

 

 

 

Section 6.05.

Maintenance of Properties; Insurance

42

 

 

 

Section 6.06.

Books and Records; Inspection Rights

42

 

 

 

Section 6.07.

Compliance with Laws

42

 

 

 

Section 6.08.

Use of Proceeds

42

 

 

 

Section 6.09.

[Reserved]

43

 

 

 

Section 6.10.

[Reserved]

43

 

 

 

Section 6.11.

Swap Agreements

43

 

 

 

Section 6.12.

Operation of Oil and Gas Interests

43

 

 

 

Section 6.13.

Restricted Subsidiaries

43

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

44

 

ii



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 7.01.

Indebtedness

44

 

 

 

Section 7.02.

Liens

45

 

 

 

Section 7.03.

Fundamental Changes

46

 

 

 

Section 7.04.

Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

47

 

 

 

Section 7.05.

Swap Agreements

47

 

 

 

Section 7.06.

Restricted Payments

48

 

 

 

Section 7.07.

Transactions with Affiliates

48

 

 

 

Section 7.08.

Restrictive Agreements

48

 

 

 

Section 7.09.

Disqualified Stock; Fiscal Year

48

 

 

 

Section 7.10.

Amendments to Organizational Documents and Certain Liens and Guarantees

49

 

 

 

Section 7.11.

Financial Covenants

49

 

 

 

Section 7.12.

Sale and Leaseback Transactions and other Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities

49

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

GUARANTEE OF OBLIGATIONS

49

 

 

 

Section 8.01.

Guarantee of Payment

49

 

 

 

Section 8.02.

Guarantee Absolute

50

 

 

 

Section 8.03.

Guarantee Irrevocable

50

 

 

 

Section 8.04.

Reinstatement

50

 

 

 

Section 8.05.

Subrogation

50

 

 

 

Section 8.06.

Subordination

51

 

 

 

Section 8.07.

Payments Generally

51

 

 

 

Section 8.08.

Setoff

51

 

 

 

Section 8.09.

Formalities

52

 

 

 

Section 8.10.

Limitations on Guarantee

52

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

52

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

54

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

56

 

 

 

Section 11.01.

Notices

56

 

 

 

Section 11.02.

Waivers; Amendments

57

 

 

 

Section 11.03.

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

58

 

 

 

Section 11.04.

Successors and Assigns

59

 

 

 

Section 11.05.

Survival

63

 

iii



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 11.06.

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

63

 

 

 

Section 11.07.

Severability

63

 

 

 

Section 11.08.

Right of Setoff

63

 

 

 

Section 11.09.

GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

64

 

 

 

Section 11.10.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

64

 

 

 

Section 11.11.

Headings

65

 

 

 

Section 11.12.

Confidentiality

65

 

 

 

Section 11.13.

Interest Rate Limitation

65

 

 

 

Section 11.14.

USA PATRIOT Act

66

 

iv



 

SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule 2.01 – Applicable Percentages and Initial Commitments

Schedule 4.06 – Disclosed Matters

Schedule 4.13 – Capitalization and Credit Party Information

Schedule 7.01 – Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 7.02 – Existing Liens

Schedule 7.07 – Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 7.08 – Existing Restrictions

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B – Form of Opinion of Borrower’s Counsel

Exhibit C – Form of Counterpart Agreement

Exhibit D – Form of Solvency Certificate

Exhibit E – Form of Note

 

v



 

SENIOR UNSECURED TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 8, 2008, among EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP, as Borrower, CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER, as Guarantors, the LENDERS party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Article I

 

Definitions

 

Section 1.01.                             Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan is, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

 

Acquisition” means, the acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether by purchase, merger (and, in the case of a merger with any such Person, with such Person being the surviving corporation) or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the Equity Interest of, or the business, property or fixed assets of or business line or unit or a division of, any other Person primarily engaged in the business of producing oil or natural gas or the acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of property or assets consisting of Oil and Gas Interests.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (i) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (ii) the Statutory Reserve Rate and (b) with respect to any ABR Borrowing for any day, an interest rate per annum equal to (i) the LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) multiplied by (ii) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as contractual representative of the Lenders hereunder pursuant to Article X and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor agent appointed pursuant to Article X.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

Advance Payment Contract” means any contract whereby any Credit Party either (a) receives or becomes entitled to receive (either directly or indirectly) any payment (an “Advance Payment”) to be applied toward payment of the purchase price of Hydrocarbons produced or to be produced from Oil and Gas Interests owned by any Credit Party and which Advance Payment is, or is to be, paid in advance of actual delivery of such production to or for the account of the purchaser regardless of such production, or (b) grants an option or right of

 



 

refusal to the purchaser to take delivery of such production in lieu of payment, and, in either of the foregoing instances, the Advance Payment is, or is to be, applied as payment in full for such production when sold and delivered or is, or is to be, applied as payment for a portion only of the purchase price thereof or of a percentage or share of such production; provided that inclusion of the standard “take or pay” provision in any gas sales or purchase contract or any other similar contract shall not, in and of itself, constitute such contract as an Advance Payment Contract for the purposes hereof.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

Agreement” means this Senior Unsecured Term Credit Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2008, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus one-half of one percent (½ of 1%) and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate plus one percent (1%); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on the Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750 (or on any successor or substitute page of such service) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day.  Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.

 

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage of the aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time or, from and after the Effective Date, of the aggregate outstanding Loans represented by such Lender’s outstanding Loans.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Applicable Percentage is as set forth on Schedule 2.01.

 

Applicable Margin” means, for any day, (i) with respect to any ABR Loan, five percent (5.00%) and (i) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, six percent (6.00%).

 

Approved Counterparty” means, at any time and from time to time, (i) any Person engaged in the business of writing Swap Agreements for commodity, interest rate or currency risk that is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and has (or the credit support provider of such Person has), at the time Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into a Swap Agreement with such Person, a long term senior unsecured debt credit rating of BBB+ or better from S&P or Baa1 or better from Moody’s and (ii) any Lender Counterparty.

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.04.

 

Arranger” means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., in its capacity as sole bookrunner and lead arranger.

 

2



 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

Board of Directors” means (1) with respect to a corporation, the Board of Directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; (2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; (3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and (4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

Borrower” means EXCO Operating Company, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and its successors and permitted assigns.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

Borrowing” means Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04.

 

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Dallas, Texas are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

 

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

 

Change of Control” means (a) the acquisition of greater than fifty percent (50%) of the voting or economic interest in the General Partner by any Person other than a wholly

 

3



 

owned direct or indirect Subsidiary of EXCO; (b) the General Partner shall cease to own and control, of record, beneficially and directly, one hundred percent (100%) of the general partnership interest of the Borrower or cease to be the sole managing partner of the Borrower; or (c) the occurrence of a “Change of Control” as such term is defined in the EXCO Credit Agreement.

 

Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.13.

 

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

 

Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower on the Effective Date in the aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01.  The amount of each Lender’s Commitment (which amount is such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Commitments) is set forth in Schedule 2.01.  The aggregate amount of the Commitments is $300,000,000.

 

Consolidated Current Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the total of (i) the consolidated current assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP as of such date and calculated on a combined basis, plus, all Unused Commitments (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) as of such date, (ii) less any non-cash assets required to be included in consolidated current assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of the application of FASB Statement 133 as of such date.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, the total of (i) consolidated current liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance with GAAP as of such date, (ii) less current maturities of the Revolving Loans, (iii) less any non-cash obligations required to be included in consolidated current liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of the application of FASB Statement 133 as of such date.

 

Consolidated Current Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of Consolidated Current Assets to Consolidated Current Liabilities as of such date.

 

Consolidated EBITDAX” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) income or franchise Taxes paid or accrued; (b) Consolidated Interest Expense; (c) amortization, depletion and depreciation expense; (d) any non-cash losses or charges on any Swap Agreement resulting from the requirements of FASB Statement 133 for that period; (e) oil and gas exploration expenses (including all drilling, completion, geological and geophysical costs) for such period; (f) losses from sales or other dispositions of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business) and other extraordinary or non-recurring losses; (g) workover expenses for such period, (h) cash payments made during such period as a result of the early termination of any Swap Agreement (giving effect to any netting agreements), and (i) other non-cash charges (excluding accruals for cash expenses made in the ordinary course of business); minus, to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated Net

 

4



 

Income for such period; (j) the sum of (1) any non-cash gains on any Swap Agreements resulting from the requirements of FASB Statement 133 for that period; (2) extraordinary or non-recurring gains; and (3) gains from sales or other dispositions of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business); provided that, with respect to the determination of Borrower’s compliance with the leverage ratio set forth in Section 7.11(b) for any period, Consolidated EBITDAX shall be adjusted to give effect, on a pro forma basis, to any Acquisitions made during such period as if such Acquisitions were made at the beginning of such period.

 

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date and without duplication, Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the type described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of the definition of Indebtedness, minus Surplus Cash.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means for any period, without duplication, the aggregate of all interest paid or accrued by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, in respect of Indebtedness of any such Person, on a consolidated basis, including all interest, fees and costs payable with respect to the obligations related to such Indebtedness (other than fees and costs which may be capitalized as transaction costs in accordance with GAAP) and the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as applicable, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower, or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as applicable, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person in which any other Person (other than the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) has an Equity Interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower, to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Consolidated Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or by any law applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiaries” means, for any Person, any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

 

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Counterpart Agreement” means a Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C delivered by a Guarantor pursuant to Section 6.13.

 

5



 

Credit Parties” means collectively, Borrower, and each Guarantor and each individually, a “Credit Party”.

 

Crude Oil” means all crude oil and condensate.

 

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 4.06.

 

Disqualified Stock” means any Equity Interest, which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change in control or asset sale), in whole or in part, on or prior to the Maturity Date.

 

Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 5.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 11.02).

 

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that qualifies as an assignee pursuant to Section 11.04(b)(i); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

Engagement Letter” means that certain engagement letter, dated as of December 5, 2008, among Arranger, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Borrower.

 

Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Credit Party directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity

 

6



 

ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

 

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

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Credit Party, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan is, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article IX.

 

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.16(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was

 

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entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.16(a).

 

EXCO” means EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation, and its successors and assigns.

 

EXCO Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2007, among EXCO, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of EXCO, as guarantors, the financial institutions from time to time a party thereto, as lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Existing Swap Agreements” means any Swap Agreement between any Credit Party and any Approved Counterparty in effect on the Effective Date.

 

FASB” means Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which any Credit Party is located.  For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

General Partner” means EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity properly exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Guarantee” of or by any Person (in this definition, the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment

 

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of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

Guaranteed Liabilities” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary that is a party hereto or hereafter executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a Counterpart Agreement pursuant to Section 6.13 or otherwise.

 

Hazardous Materials”  means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

Hydrocarbons” means all Crude Oil and Natural Gas produced from or attributable to the Oil and Gas Interests of the Credit Parties.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.03.

 

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Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.12.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

 

Interest Payment Date” means with respect to any ABR Loan or any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each calendar month.

 

Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.  For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made.

 

Lender Counterparty” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the greater of (i) the rate appearing on Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750 (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period and (ii) four percent (4.00%) per annum.  In the event that such rate described in clause (i) is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any

 

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of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes executed in connection herewith, the Engagement Letter and any other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments executed in connection with this Agreement.

 

Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower on the Effective Date pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the assets or properties, financial condition, businesses or operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Credit Party to carry out its business as of the date of this Agreement or as proposed at the date of this Agreement to be conducted, (c) the ability of any Credit Party to perform fully and on a timely basis its respective obligations under any of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, or (d) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(h) and any other Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of the Borrower or any one or more of the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000,000.  For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Guarantor would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Maturity Date” means January 15, 2010.

 

Maximum Liability” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.10.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.13.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Natural Gas” means all natural gas, distillate or sulphur, natural gas liquids and all products recovered in the processing of natural gas (other than condensate) including, without limitation, natural gasoline, coalbed methane gas, casinghead gas, iso-butane, normal butane, propane and ethane (including such methane allowable in commercial ethane).

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any assets by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any Oil and Gas Interests, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum of cash and cash equivalents received in connection with such sale, but only as and when so received, over (b) the sum of (i) the principal

 

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amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by such asset and that is required to be repaid in connection with the sale thereof (other than the Revolving Loans), (ii) the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such sale, (iii) all legal, title and recording tax expense and all federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP as a consequence of such sale, (iv) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such sale, (v) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the property or other assets disposed of in such sale and retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after such sale, (vi) cash payments made to satisfy obligations resulting from early terminations of Swap Agreements in connection with or as a result of any such sale or other disposition of Oil and Gas Interests, (vii) the principal amount of the Revolving Loans that the Borrower is required to prepay as a result of such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition and (viii) any portion of the purchase price from such sale placed in escrow, whether as a reserve for adjustment of the purchase price, for satisfaction of indemnities in respect of such sale or otherwise in connection with such sale; provided however, that upon the termination of that escrow, Net Cash Proceeds will be increased by any portion of funds in the escrow that are released to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Net Working Capital” means, on any date of determination, the sum of (a) Consolidated Current Assets as of such date (calculated without including Unused Commitments (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) as of such date) minus (b) Consolidated Current Liabilities as of such date.

 

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(c).

 

Obligations” means any and all obligations of every nature, contingent or otherwise, whether now existing or hereafter arising, of any Credit Party from time to time owed to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any of them arising under or in connection with any Loan Document, whether for principal, interest, funding indemnification amounts, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Liability” of a Person means (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (ii) any liability under any Sale and Leaseback Transaction which is not a Capital Lease Obligation, (iii) any liability under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such Person, (iv) any Advance Payment Contract, or (v) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheets of such Person, but excluding from the foregoing clauses (iii) through (v) operating leases and usual and customary oil, gas and mineral leases.

 

Oil and Gas Interest(s)” means: (a) direct and indirect interests in and rights with respect to oil, gas, mineral and related properties and assets of any kind and nature, direct or indirect, including, without limitation, wellbore interests, working, royalty and overriding royalty interests, mineral interests, leasehold interests, production payments, operating rights, net profits interests, other non-working interests, contractual interests, non-operating interests and rights in

 

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any pooled, unitized or communitized acreage by virtue of such interest being a part thereof; (b) interests in and rights with respect to Hydrocarbons other minerals or revenues therefrom and contracts and agreements in connection therewith and claims and rights thereto (including oil and gas leases, operating agreements, unitization, communitization and pooling agreements and orders, division orders, transfer orders, mineral deeds, royalty deeds, oil and gas sales, exchange and processing contracts and agreements and, in each case, interests thereunder), and surface interests, fee interests, reversionary interests, reservations and concessions related to any of the foregoing; (c) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, permits, leases, and other interests associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the operation of any of the foregoing; (d) interests in oil, gas, water, disposal and injection wells, equipment and machinery (including well equipment and machinery), oil and gas production, gathering, transmission, compression, treating, processing and storage facilities (including tanks, tank batteries, pipelines and gathering systems), pumps, water plants, electric plants, gasoline and gas processing plants, refineries and other tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, real or personal property and fixtures located on, associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the operation of any of the foregoing; and (e) all seismic, geological, geophysical and engineering records, data, information, maps, licenses and interpretations.

 

Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, (b) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership, as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (c) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as amended, and (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its certificate of formation or articles of organization, as amended, and its limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, as amended.

 

Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

 

Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.04.

 

Payment Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)                                  Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.04;

 

(b)                                 carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, and contractual Liens granted to operators and non-operators under oil and gas operating agreements, in each case, arising in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Interests

 

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and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.04;

 

(c)                                  pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

(d)                                 deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)                                  judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article IX;

 

(f)                                    easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases, and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of any Credit Party;

 

(g)                                 royalties, overriding royalties, reversionary interests and similar burdens with respect to the Oil and Gas Interests owned by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, if the net cumulative effect of such burdens does not operate to deprive the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any material right in respect of its assets or properties (except for rights customarily granted with respect to such interests);

 

(h)                                 Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business covering the property under the lease; and

 

(i)                                     preferential rights to purchase, and provisions requiring a third party’s consent prior to assignment and similar restraints on alienation, in each case, granted pursuant to an oil and gas operating agreement and arising in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Interests; provided such right, requirement or restraint does not material affect the value of such Oil and Gas Interests;

 

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness (other than contractual Liens described in the foregoing clause (b) granted to operators and non-operators under oil and gas operating agreements to the extent the obligations secured by such Liens constitute Indebtedness).

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

(a)                                  U.S. Government Securities;

 

(b)                                 investments in demand and time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the

 

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United States of America, any State thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated “A” (or such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) or any money-market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;

 

(c)                                  investments in deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank that is organized under the laws of any country in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains an office or is engaged in the oil and gas business; provided, however, that (i) all such deposits have been made in such accounts in the ordinary course of business and (ii) such deposits do not at any one time exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

(d)                                 repurchase obligations with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above;

 

(e)                                  investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than ninety (90) days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate or the Borrower) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s or “A-l” (or higher) according to S&P;

 

(f)                                    investments in securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least “A” by S&P or “A” by Moody’s; and

 

(g)                                 investments in money market funds that invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (f) above

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Platform” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City, each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such

 

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change is publicly announced as being effective.  THE PRIME RATE IS A REFERENCE RATE AND MAY NOT BE JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.’S LOWEST RATE.

 

Prior Term Loan Credit Agreement” means that certain Senior Unsecured Term Credit Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2008, among Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of Borrower, as Guarantors, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Projections” means the Borrower’s forecasted (a) balance sheets, (b) profit and loss statements, and (c) cash flow statements, all prepared on a basis consistent with the historical financial statements described in Section 4.04 and after giving effect to the Transactions, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders and for the period from the Effective Date through December 31, 2013.

 

Public Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.04.

 

Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding.

 

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Credit Party.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Credit Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Credit Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Credit Party.

 

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in any Credit Party, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in any Credit Party or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in any Credit Party.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of any Credit Party.

 

Revolving Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as contractual representative of the financial institutions and other Persons from time to time a party to the Revolving Facility and any successor agent appointed pursuant to the terms of the Revolving Facility Documents.

 

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Revolving Commitment” means the Aggregate Commitment as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement from time to time.

 

Revolving Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 2007, by and among Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Revolving Credit Exposure” means the Aggregate Credit Exposure as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement from time to time.

 

Revolving Facility” means the revolving loan facility evidenced by the Revolving Facility Documents.

 

Revolving Facility Documents” means the Revolving Credit Agreement and any promissory notes executed in connection therewith, security instruments and any other agreements, documents and certificates executed in connection with such Revolving Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Revolving Loans” means the revolving loans made under the Revolving Facility.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Corporation.

 

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any sale or other transfer of any property by any Person with the intent to lease such property as lessee.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board).  Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.  Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such

 

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date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, references herein to a “Subsidiary” refer to a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Surplus Cash” means the lesser of (i) cash and cash equivalents of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis that constitute Permitted Investments and (ii) the amount by which Net Working Capital exceeds zero ($0.00).

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Credit Parties shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

 

Transactions” means the (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Credit Parties of this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (ii) the borrowing of Loans on the Effective Date, and (iii) the use of the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 6.08.

 

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

 

U.S. Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof.

 

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Section 1.02.                             Types of Loans and Borrowings.  For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan” or an “ABR Loan”) and Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing” or an “ABR Borrowing”).

 

Section 1.03.                             Terms Generally.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without

 

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limitation”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

Section 1.04.                             Accounting Terms; GAAP.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower request an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until  such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision  amended in accordance herewith.

 

Section 1.05.                             Oil and Gas Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “proved or proven reserves,” “proved developed reserves,” “proved or proven undeveloped reserves,” “proved or proven developed nonproducing reserves” and “proved or proven developed producing reserves,” have the meaning given such terms from time to time and at the time in question by the Society of Petroleum Engineers of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.

 

Section 1.06.                             Time of Day.  Unless otherwise specified, all references to times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

Article II

 

The Credits

 

Section 2.01.                             Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make a Loan to the Borrower on the Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of the Commitment of such Lender.  The Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.04 and 2.07.  Amounts of Loans repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

 

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Section 2.02.                             Repayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall repay the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Loans on the Maturity Date.

 

Section 2.03.                             [Reserved].

 

Section 2.04.                             Requests for Borrowings.  To request that the Lenders make Loans on the Effective Date, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Eurodollar Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed ABR Borrowing.  Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.  Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information:

 

(i)                           the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

(ii)                        the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii)                     whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

 

(iv)                    in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 

(v)                       the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06.

 

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing.  If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.  Promptly following receipt of the Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

Section 2.05.                             [Reserved]

 

Section 2.06.                             Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a)                                  Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the Effective Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.

 

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(b)                                 Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the Effective Date that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing to be made on the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

Section 2.07.                             Interest Elections.

 

(a)                                  The Borrowing to be made on the Effective Date shall be an ABR Borrowing; provided that the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing requested on the Effective Date and during the thirty (30) day period following the Effective Date pursuant to an Interest Election Request shall be of one (1) month’s duration, unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Loans to a different Type or to continue such Loans and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section.  The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the Loans, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

 

(b)                                 To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.04 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.  Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

 

(c)                                  Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information:

 

(i)                           the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the

 

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information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

 

(ii)                        the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii)                     whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

 

(iv)                    if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.

 

(d)                                 Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e)                                  If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

(f)                                    All conversions and continuations of Eurodollar Loans shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000.  All conversions and continuations of ABR Loans shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $100,000.  Loans of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of four (4) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

 

Section 2.08.                             Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)                                 Borrower and each surety, endorser, guarantor and other party ever liable for payment of any sums of money payable under this Agreement, jointly and severally waive presentment and demand for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the

 

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maturity, protest, notice of protest and nonpayment, as to the payments due under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and as to each and all installments hereunder and thereunder, and agree that their liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall not be affected by any renewal or extension in the time of payment hereof, or in any indulgences, or by any release or change in any security for the payment of the Obligations, and hereby consent to any and all such renewals, extensions, indulgences, releases or changes.

 

(c)                                  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(e)                                  The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    Any Lender or Participant may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note.  In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender or Participant a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender or Participant (or, if requested by such Lender or Participant, to such Lender or Participant and its registered assigns) and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.  Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 11.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

Section 2.09.                             Optional Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay the Loans, in whole and or in part in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000, without premium or penalty, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of Eurodollar Loans, not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days before the date of

 

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prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Loan, not later than 11:00 a.m. one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of the Loans or portion thereof to be prepaid.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to the Loans, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of the Loans shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of conversion or continuation of the same Type as provided in Section 2.07(f).  Each prepayment of the Loans shall be applied ratably to the Loans outstanding.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12 and shall be subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by Section 2.15.

 

Section 2.10.                             Mandatory Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall prepay the Loans as provided in Section 7.03(a).

 

(b)                                 Amounts applied to the prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section shall be first applied ratably to ABR Loans then outstanding and, upon payment in full of all outstanding ABR Loans, second, to Eurodollar Loans then outstanding, and if more than one Eurodollar Borrowing is then outstanding, to each such Eurodollar Borrowing beginning with the Eurodollar Borrowing with the least number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto and ending with the Eurodollar Borrowing with the most number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by Section 2.15 but without penalty or premium.

 

Section 2.11.                             Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Engagement Letter.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, on the Effective Date, an upfront fee in an amount equal to seven percent (7.00%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans made to the Borrower on the Effective Date.

 

(c)                                  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, (i) an initial duration fee in an amount equal to five percent (5.00%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding under this Agreement on June 15, 2009, which initial duration fee shall be payable on such date and (ii) an additional duration fee in an amount equal to three percent (3.00%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding under this Agreement on September 15, 2009, which additional duration fee shall be payable on such date.

 

(d)                                 All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent.  All fees paid pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 2.11 shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent ratably among the Lenders

 

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party to this Agreement on the Effective Date.  All fees paid pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 2.11 shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent ratably among the Lenders party to this Agreement on the date such duration fee is paid by the Borrower.  Subject to Section 11.13, fees paid pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

Section 2.12.                             Interest.

 

(a)                                  The ABR Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the interest rate for any ABR Loan shall never be less than ten percent (10%).

 

(b)                                 The Eurodollar Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Loans plus the Applicable Margin; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the interest rate for any Eurodollar Loan shall never be less than ten percent (10%).

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) so long as any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section, and (ii) if any interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower or any other Credit Party hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

 

(d)                                 Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and on the Maturity Date; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(e)                                  All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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Section 2.13.                             Alternate Rate of Interest.  If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

 

(b)                                 the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective.

 

Section 2.14.                             Increased Costs.

 

(a)                                    If any Change in Law shall:

 

 (i)                                    impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

 

 (ii)                                 impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                 If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c)                                  A certificate of a Lender setting forth (i) the amount or amounts reasonably necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, (ii)  the factual basis for such compensation and (iii) the manner in which such amount or amounts were calculated shall be delivered to the Borrower. Such certificate shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                 Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the one hundred eighty (180) day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

Section 2.15.                             Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

Section 2.16.                             Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified

 

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Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b)                                 In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c)                                  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, setting forth (i) the amount of such payment or liability reasonably necessary to compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, (ii) the factual basis for such compensation and (iii) the manner in which such amount or amounts were calculated, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)                                 As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)                                  Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

 

(f)                                    If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the

 

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Borrower under this Section 2.16 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

Section 2.17.                             Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, Section 2.15 or Section 2.16, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at JPMorgan Loan Services, 21 South Clark St., 19th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603-2003, except as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Section 2.14, Section 2.15, Section 2.16 and Section 11.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

 

(b)                                 If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent and to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

(c)                                  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that

 

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the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).  The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(d)                                 Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

(e)                                  If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 2.17(d) or Section 11.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

 

Section 2.18.                             Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)                                  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14 or Section 2.16, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such

 

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Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                 If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 11.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

(c)                                  If in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any of the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document as contemplated by Section 11.02, the consent of Required Lenders shall have been obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”) whose consent is required has not been obtained; then, the Borrower may elect to replace such Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by Section 11.04; provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

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Article III

 

[Reserved]

 

Article IV

 

Representations and Warranties

 

Each Credit Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that: (it being understood and agreed that with respect to the Effective Date such representations and warranties are deemed to be made concurrently with and after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions):

 

Section 4.01.                             Organization; Powers. Each Credit Party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

 

Section 4.02.                             Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Credit Party’s corporate, limited liability company or partnership powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

Section 4.03.                             Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and, after the Effective Date, in the case of EXCO, the filing of this Agreement and related Loan Documents by EXCO with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other Organizational Documents of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument evidencing Material Indebtedness, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted under Section 7.02.

 

Section 4.04.                             Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for (i) the twelve (12) month period ending

 

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December 31, 2007 and (ii) the nine (9) month period ending September 30, 2008.  Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absences of footnotes.

 

(b)                                 Since December 31, 2007, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (it being understood that changes in commodity prices for Hydrocarbons affecting the oil and gas industry as a whole do not constitute a material adverse change).

 

Section 4.05.                             Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.15 with respect to proved reserves included in the Oil and Gas Interests of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all such real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and such Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.06.                             Litigation and Environmental Matters.

 

(a)                                  There are no actions, suits, investigations, or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

 

(b)                                 Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower’s knowledge (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

 

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(c)                                  Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.07.                             Compliance with Laws and Agreements. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Section 4.08.                             Investment Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Section 4.09.                             Taxes. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.10.                             ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of FASB Statement 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of FASB Statement 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $25,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

 

Section 4.11.                             Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any Restricted Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to the Projections, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based on assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

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Section 4.12.                             Labor Matters. There are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other Law dealing with such matters to the extent that such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.13.                             Capitalization and Credit Party Information. Schedule 4.13 lists, as of the Effective Date for the Borrower and for each Restricted Subsidiary, its full legal name, its jurisdiction of organization, its organizational identification number, its federal tax identification number, the number of shares of capital stock or other Equity Interests outstanding and the owner(s) of such Equity Interests.

 

Section 4.14.                             Margin Stock. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board), and no part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

 

Section 4.15.                             Oil and Gas Interests. Each Credit Party has good and defensible title to substantially all of the proved reserves included in its Oil and Gas Interests (for purposes of this Section 4.15, “proved Oil and Gas Interests”), free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.02.  All such proved Oil and Gas Interests are valid, subsisting, and in full force and effect, and all rentals, royalties, and other amounts due and payable in respect thereof have been duly paid. Each well drilled in respect of proved producing Oil and Gas Interests (1) is capable of, and is presently, either producing Hydrocarbons in commercially profitable quantities or in the process of being worked over or enhanced, and the Credit Party that owns such proved producing Oil and Gas Interests is currently receiving payments for its share of production, with no funds in respect of any thereof being presently held in suspense, other than any such funds being held in suspense pending delivery of appropriate division orders, and (2) has been drilled, bottomed, completed, and operated in compliance with all applicable laws, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), except where any failure to satisfy clause (1) or to comply with clause (2) would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such well which is currently producing Hydrocarbons is subject to any penalty in production by reason of such well having produced in excess of its allowable production.

 

Section 4.16.                             Insurance. The certificate signed by the Responsible Officer that attests to the existence and adequacy of, and summarizes, the property and casualty insurance program maintained by the Credit Parties that has been furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as of the Effective Date, is complete and accurate in all material respects as of the Effective Date and demonstrates the Borrower’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ compliance with Section 6.05.

 

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Section 4.17.         Solvency.

 

(a)           Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions and immediately following the making of the Loans on the Effective Date and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds thereof, (1) the fair value of the assets of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis; (2) the present fair saleable value of the real and personal property of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (3) the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (4) the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted after the date hereof.

 

(b)           The Credit Parties do not intend to, and do not believe that they will, incur debts beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness.

 

Article V

 

Conditions

 

Section 5.01.         Effective Date.  The obligations of the Lenders to make the Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 11.02):

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

 

(b)           The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Haynes and Boone, LLP, counsel for the Credit Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, and covering such other matters relating to the Credit Parties, and this Agreement as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request.  The Credit Parties hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinion.

 

(c)           The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of each Credit Party, the authorization of

 

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the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Credit Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(d)           The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming that the Borrower has (i) complied with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (j), (k), (q) and (r) of this Section 5.01 and (ii) complied with the covenants set forth in Section 6.05 (and demonstrating such compliance by the attachment of an insurance summary and insurance certificates evidencing the coverage described in such summary).

 

(e)           The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arranger shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, and, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, including all fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Effective Date.

 

(f)            The Administrative Agent shall have received promissory notes duly executed by the Borrower for each Lender that has requested the delivery of a promissory note pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.08(f).

 

(g)           On or prior to the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request acceptable to the Administrative Agent setting forth the Loans requested by the Borrower on the Effective Date, the Type and amount of each Loan and the accounts to which such Loans are to be funded; provided that all Borrowings on the Effective Date shall be ABR Borrowings.

 

(h)           The Administrative Agent shall have received a Solvency Certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, dated the Effective Date, and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

(i)            The Lenders shall have received from the Borrower (i) a pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries based on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2008 and reflecting the consummation of the Transactions, the related financings and other transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents to occur on or prior to the Effective Date, which pro forma balance sheet shall be prepared consistent in all respects with the information previously provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) a pro forma statement of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the twelve month period ending as of the date of the pro forma balance sheet described in the immediately preceding clause (i) and (iii) the Projections.

 

(j)            Each Credit Party shall have obtained all approvals required from any Governmental Authority and all consents of other Persons, in each case that are necessary

 

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or advisable in connection with the Transactions and each of the foregoing shall be in full force and effect and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  All applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or the financing thereof and no action, request for stay, petition for review or rehearing, reconsideration, or appeal with respect to any of the foregoing shall be pending, and the time for any applicable agency to take action to set aside its consent on its own motion shall have expired.

 

(k)           There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding or other legal or regulatory developments, pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that, in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent, singly or in the aggregate, materially impairs the Transactions, the financing thereof or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(l)            All partnership, corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the Transactions and all documents incidental thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative Agent and its counsel, and Administrative Agent and such counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified copies of such documents as Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

(m)          The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received the unaudited financial statements described in Section 4.04(a).

 

(n)           The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a description of the sources and uses of funding for the Transactions that is consistent with the terms of the Loan Documents and otherwise satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and the capitalization, structure and equity ownership of the Borrower after the Transactions shall be satisfactory to the Lenders in all respects.

 

(o)           The Revolving Agent, the Credit Parties and the lenders party to the Revolving Facility (or at least the required percentage thereof) shall have executed and delivered the Third Amendment to the Revolving Facility and a duly executed copy thereof shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

(p)           The Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that contemporaneous with the funding of the Loans on the Effective Date, the Prior Term Loan Credit Agreement will be terminated and all obligations owing to any lender, agent or any other Person thereunder shall have been paid in full and all commitments of any lender, agent or any other Person thereunder to make any future loans shall have been terminated.

 

(q)           The representations and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date.

 

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(r)            At the time of and immediately after giving effect to the Loans made on the Effective Date, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make the Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 11.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m. on December 12, 2008.

 

Article VI

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, each Credit Party covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

Section 6.01.         Financial Statements; Other Information.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)           within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited consolidated (and unaudited consolidating) balance sheet and related consolidated (and with respect to statements of operations, consolidating) statements of operations, partners’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by a firm of independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

 

(b)           within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the consolidated (and unaudited consolidating) balance sheet and related consolidated (and with respect to statements of operations, consolidating) statements of operations, partners’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Responsible Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)           concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate in a form reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent signed

 

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by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, and (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 7.11;

 

(d)           promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

 

(e)           promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of any Credit Party, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address identified in Section 11.01 on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.01(c) to the Administrative Agent.  Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”).  The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean

 

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that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws; (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat Borrower’s Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

 

Section 6.02.         Notices of Material Events.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a)           the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)           the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)           the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $25,000,000;

 

(d)           any written notice or written claim to the effect that any Credit Party is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by any Credit Party, or any other Person of any Hazardous Materials into the environment, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(e)           any written notice alleging any violation of any Environmental Law by any Credit Party, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(f)            the receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any management letter or comparable analysis prepared by the auditors for the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(g)           any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

Section 6.03.         Existence; Conduct of Business.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep

 

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in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 7.03.

 

Section 6.04.         Payment of Obligations.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 6.05.         Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each operator of its Oil and Gas Interests to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.  On or prior to the Effective Date and thereafter, upon request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent from time to time a summary of the respective insurance coverage of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and, if requested, will furnish the Administrative Agent copies of the applicable policies.  Upon demand by Administrative Agent, the Borrower will cause any insurance policies covering any such property to be endorsed (a) to provide that such policies may not be cancelled, reduced or affected in any manner for any reason without fifteen (15) days prior notice to Administrative Agent, and (b) to provide for such other matters as the Lenders may reasonably require.

 

Section 6.06.         Books and Records; Inspection Rights.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and, provided an officer of the Borrower has the reasonable opportunity to participate, its independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

 

Section 6.07.         Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 6.08.         Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans will be used only to repay in full the outstanding principal amount of the indebtedness under the Prior Term Loan Credit

 

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Agreement.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, to purchase or carry any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U issued by the Board).

 

Section 6.09.         [Reserved].

 

Section 6.10.         [Reserved].

 

Section 6.11.         Swap Agreements.  Except for Swap Agreements for which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may exercise early termination rights as a result of any breach by the Approved Counterparty party thereto, the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain the Existing Swap Agreements.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall, within thirty (30) days of such request, provide to the Administrative Agent and each Lender copies of all agreements, documents and instruments evidencing the Swap Agreements not previously delivered to the Administrative Agent and Lenders, certified as true and correct by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, and such other information regarding such Swap Agreements as the Administrative Agent and Lenders may reasonably request.

 

Section 6.12.         Operation of Oil and Gas Interests.

 

(a)           Each Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain, develop and operate its Oil and Gas Interests in a good and workmanlike manner, and observe and comply with all of the terms and provisions, express or implied, of all oil and gas leases relating to such Oil and Gas Interests so long as such Oil and Gas Interests are capable of producing Hydrocarbons and accompanying elements in paying quantities, except where such failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply in all respects with all contracts and agreements applicable to or relating to its Oil and Gas Interests or the production and sale of Hydrocarbons and accompanying elements therefrom, except to the extent a failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 6.13.         Restricted Subsidiaries.  In the event any Person is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, Borrower will (a) promptly take all such action and execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent all such documents, opinions, instruments, agreements, and certificates similar to those described in Section 5.01(b) and Section 5.01(c) that the Administrative Agent may request, and (b) promptly cause such Restricted Subsidiary to become a party to this Agreement and Guarantee the Obligations by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Counterpart Agreement in the form of Exhibit C.  Upon delivery of any such Counterpart Agreement to the Administrative Agent, notice of which is hereby waived by each Credit Party, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Restricted Subsidiary were an original signatory hereto.  Each Credit Party expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Credit Party hereunder.  This Agreement shall be fully effective as to any Credit Party that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Credit Party

 

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hereunder.  With respect to each such Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall promptly send to the Administrative Agent written notice setting forth with respect to such Person the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, and supplement the data required to be set forth in the Schedules to this Agreement as a result of the acquisition or creation of such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such supplemental data must be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and Required Lenders.

 

Article VII

 

Negative Covenants

 

Until the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full, each Credit Party covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

Section 7.01.         Indebtedness.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)           the Obligations;

 

(b)           Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 7.01 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

(c)           Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Guarantor and of any Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Guarantor; provided, that (i) all such Indebtedness shall be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the payment in full of all of the Obligations as provided in Section 8.06 and (ii) all such Indebtedness is evidenced by promissory notes in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(d)           Guarantees of the Obligations;

 

(e)           Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(f)            Indebtedness incurred or deposits made by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary (i) under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or (ii) in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Credit Party is a party, (iii) to secure public or statutory obligations of such Credit Party, and (iv) of cash or U.S.

 

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Government Securities made to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds to which such Credit Party is a party in connection with the operation of the Oil and Gas Interests, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)           Indebtedness of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under Swap Agreements to the extent permitted under Section 7.05;

 

(h)           Indebtedness under the Revolving Facility in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $1,300,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

 

(i)            other unsecured Indebtedness of the Credit Parties in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $25,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

Section 7.02.         Liens.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)           Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(b)           any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 7.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

(c)           any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.01(e), (ii) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, (iii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and (iv) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; and

 

(d)           Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens, secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

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(e)           Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by clause (h) of Section 7.01.

 

Section 7.03.         Fundamental Changes.

 

(a)           The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets, or any of its Oil and Gas Interests (including any contribution or transfer of Oil and Gas Interests in connection with the formation of any joint venture or partnership with any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary) or any of the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, (i) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell Hydrocarbons produced from its Oil and Gas Interests in the ordinary course of business, and if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving entity, (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into any other Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary, (v) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, (vi) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of equipment and related items in the ordinary course of business, that are obsolete or no longer necessary in the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that is being replaced by equipment of comparable value and utility, and (vii) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any of its Oil and Gas Interests and the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) the consideration received in respect of such sale or other disposition shall be equal to or greater than the fair market value of such assets subject to the sale or other disposition (as reasonably determined by, in the case of any sale or disposition of assets with a value equal to or greater than $15,000,000, the Board of Directors of the Borrower and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying to that effect), (B) 100% of the consideration for such sale or other disposition shall be in the form of cash or Permitted Investments and (C) to the extent that the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds from all such sales or other dispositions since the Effective Date exceed $10,000,000, no later than one Business Day after the receipt by Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Cash Proceeds, Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Loans to the extent required to cause the Revolving Commitment to exceed the Revolving Credit Exposure by an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the Revolving Commitment and use all of the remaining Net Cash Proceeds to prepay the Loans to the extent permitted under the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

(b)           The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type

 

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conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and after giving effect to the Transactions and businesses reasonably related thereto.

 

Section 7.04.         Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any Indebtedness of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

 

(a)           Permitted Investments;

 

(b)           investments by the Borrower in the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(c)           investments by the Borrower or Guarantor consisting of intercompany Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(c);

 

(d)           Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.01;

 

(e)           investments by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are (1) customary in the oil and gas business, (2) made in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s business, and (3) made in the form of, or pursuant to, oil, gas and mineral leases, operating agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, unitization agreements, joint bidding agreements, services contracts and other similar agreements that a reasonable and prudent oil and gas industry owner or operator would find acceptable (excluding, however, any joint venture or partnership with any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary);

 

(f)            investments consisting of Swap Agreements to the extent permitted under Section 7.05; and

 

(g)           other investments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, on the date any such other investment is made, the amount of such investment, together with all other investments made pursuant to this clause (g) of Section 7.04 (in each case determined based on the cost of such investment) since the Effective Date, does not exceed in the aggregate, $10,000,000.

 

Section 7.05.         Swap Agreements.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or maintain any Swap Agreement, except the Existing Swap Agreements and Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business with Approved Counterparties and not for speculative purposes to (a) hedge or mitigate Crude Oil and Natural Gas price risks to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has actual exposure and (b) effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one

 

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floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of any Credit Party.

 

Section 7.06.         Restricted Payments.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that (a) the Borrower may declare and make Restricted Payments with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), (b) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year, and (c) any Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor; provided that no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the making of such Restricted Payment.

 

Section 7.07.         Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) transactions described on Schedule 7.07, and (d) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.06.

 

Section 7.08.         Restrictive Agreements.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions set forth in the Revolving Facility Documents, (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 7.08 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement (other than the Revolving Facility) if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.

 

Section 7.09.         Disqualified Stock; Fiscal Year.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Stock nor will it change its fiscal year.

 

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Section 7.10.         Amendments to Organizational Documents and Certain Liens and Guarantees.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit any material modification or amendment of, or waive any material right or obligation of any Person under its Organizational Documents.  The Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary to Guarantee all or any part of the Indebtedness under the Revolving Facility Documents unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor.

 

Section 7.11.         Financial Covenants.

 

(a)           Consolidated Current Ratio.  The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Current Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending on or after December 31, 2008 and on or before September 30, 2009 to be less than 1.00 to 1.00; provided that for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.11(a), the calculation of Consolidated Current Liabilities as of the end of any such fiscal quarter shall not include any Indebtedness of the Borrower under this Agreement.

 

(b)           Leverage Ratio.  The Borrower will not permit the ratio, determined as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending on or after December 31, 2008 and on or before September 30, 2009, of (A) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of the end of such fiscal quarter to (B) Consolidated EBITDAX for the trailing four fiscal quarter period ending on such date, to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00.

 

(c)           Interest Coverage Ratio.  The Borrower will not permit the ratio, determined as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending on or after December 31, 2008 and on or before September 30, 2009, of (A) Consolidated EBITDAX for the trailing four fiscal quarter period ending on such date, to (B) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarter period to be less than 2.50 to 1.00.

 

Section 7.12.         Sale and Leaseback Transactions and other Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into or suffer to exist any (i) Sale and Leaseback Transaction or (ii) any other transaction pursuant to which it incurs or has incurred Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities, except for Swap Agreements permitted under the terms of Section 7.05 and Advance Payment Contracts; provided, that the aggregate amount of all Advance Payments received by any Credit Party that have not been satisfied by delivery of production at any time does not exceed, in the aggregate $25,000,000.

 

Article VIII

 

Guarantee of Obligations

 

Section 8.01.          Guarantee of Payment.  Each Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, the punctual payment of all Obligations now or which may in the future be owing by the Borrower under the Loan Documents (the “Guaranteed Liabilities”).  This Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection only.  The Administrative Agent shall not be required to exhaust any right or remedy or take any action against the Borrower or any other Person or any collateral.  The Guaranteed

 

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Liabilities include interest accruing after the commencement of a proceeding under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws of any jurisdiction at the rate or rates provided in the Loan Documents, regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim.  Each Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantor and the Administrative Agent, the Guaranteed Liabilities may be declared to be due and payable for the purposes of this Guarantee notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition which may prevent, delay or vitiate any declaration as regards the Borrower or any other Guarantor and that in the event of a declaration or attempted declaration, the Guaranteed Liabilities shall immediately become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purposes of this Guarantee.

 

Section 8.02.         Guarantee Absolute.  Each Guarantor guarantees that the Guaranteed Liabilities shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  The liability of each Guarantor hereunder is absolute and unconditional irrespective of:  (a) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Loan Documents or the Guaranteed Liabilities, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any of the terms of any Loan Document or Guaranteed Liability, including any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon; (b) any release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any other guaranty or support document, or any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, for all or any of the Loan Documents or Guaranteed Liabilities; (c) any present or future law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction (whether of right or in fact) or of any agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend, restructure or otherwise affect any term of any Loan Document or Guaranteed Liability; (d) without being limited by the foregoing, any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or Guaranteed Liability; and (e) any other setoff, defense or counterclaim whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory) with respect to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby which might constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of, the Borrower or a Guarantor.

 

Section 8.03.         Guarantee Irrevocable.  This Guarantee is a continuing guaranty of the payment of all Guaranteed Liabilities now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all Guaranteed Liabilities and other amounts payable hereunder and until this Agreement is no longer in effect or, if earlier, when the Guarantor has given the Administrative Agent written notice that this Guarantee has been revoked; provided that any notice under this Section shall not release the revoking Guarantor from any Guaranteed Liability, absolute or contingent, existing prior to the Administrative Agent’s actual receipt of the notice at its branches or departments responsible for this Agreement and reasonable opportunity to act upon such notice.

 

Section 8.04.         Reinstatement.  This Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Liabilities is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by Administrative Agent or any Lender on the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, or any other Credit Party, or otherwise, all as though the payment had not been made.

 

Section 8.05.         Subrogation.  No Guarantor shall exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation, by any payment made under this Guarantee or otherwise, until all the Guaranteed Liabilities have been paid in full and this Agreement is no longer in effect.  If any

 

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amount is paid to the Guarantor on account of subrogation rights under this Guarantee at any time when all the Guaranteed Liabilities have not been paid in full, the amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Lenders and shall be promptly paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Liabilities, whether matured or unmatured or absolute or contingent, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Guarantor makes payment to the Administrative Agent or any Lender of all or any part of the Guaranteed Liabilities and all the Guaranteed Liabilities are paid in full and this Agreement is no longer in effect, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall, at such Guarantor’s request, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Guaranteed Liabilities resulting from the payment.

 

Section 8.06.                           Subordination. Without limiting the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under any other agreement, any liabilities owed by the Borrower to any Guarantor in connection with any extension of credit or financial accommodation by any Guarantor to or for the account of the Borrower, including but not limited to interest accruing at the agreed contract rate after the commencement of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, are hereby subordinated to the Guaranteed Liabilities, and such liabilities of the Borrower to such Guarantor, if the Administrative Agent so requests, shall be collected, enforced and received by any Guarantor as trustee for the Administrative Agent and shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent on account of the Guaranteed Liabilities but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guarantee.

 

Section 8.07.                           Payments Generally. All payments by the Guarantors shall be made in the manner, at the place and in the currency (the “Payment Currency”) required by the Loan Documents; provided, however, that (if the Payment Currency is other than Dollars) any Guarantor may, at its option (or, if for any reason whatsoever any Guarantor is unable to effect payments in the foregoing manner, such Guarantor shall be obligated to) pay to the Administrative Agent at its principal office the equivalent amount in Dollars computed at the selling rate of the Administrative Agent or a selling rate chosen by the Administrative Agent, most recently in effect on or prior to the date the Guaranteed Liability becomes due, for cable transfers of the Payment Currency to the place where the Guaranteed Liability is payable. In any case in which any Guarantor makes or is obligated to make payment in Dollars, the Guarantor shall hold the Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from any loss incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising from any change in the value of Dollars in relation to the Payment Currency between the date the Guaranteed Liability becomes due and the date the Administrative Agent or such Lender is actually able, following the conversion of the Dollars paid by such Guarantor into the Payment Currency and remittance of such Payment Currency to the place where such Guaranteed Liability is payable, to apply such Payment Currency to such Guaranteed Liability.

 

Section 8.08.                           Setoff. Each Guarantor agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have, the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be entitled, at its option, to offset balances (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) held by it for the account of any Guarantor at any office of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any amount payable by such Guarantor under this Guarantee

 

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which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to such Guarantor), in which case it shall promptly notify such Guarantor thereof; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

 

Section 8.09.                           Formalities. Each Guarantor waives presentment, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of acceptance of this Guarantee or incurrence of any Guaranteed Liability and any other formality with respect to any of the Guaranteed Liabilities or this Guarantee.

 

Section 8.10.                           Limitations on Guarantee. The provisions of the Guarantee under this Article VIII are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Guarantor’s liability under this Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Guarantor’s “Maximum Liability”). This Section 8.10 with respect to the Maximum Liability of the Guarantors is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent and Lenders hereunder to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Guarantor nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section 8.10 with respect to the Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that none of the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder shall be rendered voidable under applicable law.

 

Article IX

 

Events of Default

 

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 

(b)                                 the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) days;

 

(c)                                  any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder or in any Loan Document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment

 

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or modification thereof or waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

(d)                                 the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 2.10, Section 6.01, Section 6.02, Section 6.03 (with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary’s existence), Section 6.05 (with respect to insurance), Section 6.08, or in Article VII;

 

(e)                                  the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article) or any Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

 

(f)                                    the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

 

(g)                                 any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(h)                                 an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(i)                                     the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

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(j)                                     the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(k)                                  one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

 

(l)                                     an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(m)                               the delivery by any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent of written notice that its Guarantee under Article VIII has been revoked or is otherwise declared invalid or unenforceable;

 

(n)                                 a Change of Control shall occur;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

 

Article X

 

The Administrative Agent

 

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from,

 

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lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with any Credit Party or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 11.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Credit Party that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 11.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

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Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in Chicago, Illinois or New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

Article XI

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 11.01.                     Notices.

 

(a)                                  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

(i)                                     if to the Borrower, to EXCO Operating Company, LP, c/o EXCO Resources, Inc., 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75251, Attention: Douglas H. Miller, Chief Executive Officer and Attention: J. Douglas Ramsey, Chief Financial Officer, Telecopy No.  ###-###-####;

 

(ii)                                  if to the Administrative Agent to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., JPMorgan Loan Services, 21 South Clark St., 19th Floor, Chicago, Illinois

 

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60603-2003, Telecopy No.: (312) 385-7096, Attention: Claudia Kech, with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 2200 Ross Avenue, 3rd Floor, TX1-2448, Dallas, Texas 75201, Telecopy No.  ###-###-####, Attention: Wm. Mark Cranmer, Senior Vice President; and

 

(iii)                               if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(b)                                 Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

(c)                                  Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

 

Section 11.02.                     Waivers; Amendments.

 

(a)                                  No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

(b)                                 Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Credit Parties and the Required Lenders or by the Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (1) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (2) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (3) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan

 

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or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the Maturity Date, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (4) change Section 2.17(b) or Section 2.17(c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (5) release any Credit Party from its obligations under the Loan Documents, except in connection with any sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions permitted in Section 7.03, or (6) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 11.03.                     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

 

(b)                                 THE CREDIT PARTIES SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER, AND EACH RELATED PARTY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PERSONS (EACH SUCH PERSON BEING CALLED AN “INDEMNITEE”) AGAINST, AND HOLD EACH INDEMNITEE HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE FEES, CHARGES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY COUNSEL FOR ANY INDEMNITEE, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF (I) THE EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, THE PERFORMANCE BY THE PARTIES HERETO OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, (II) ANY LOAN OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM, (III) ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR

 

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OPERATED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, OR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, OR (IV) ANY ACTUAL OR PROSPECTIVE CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE.

 

(c)                                  To the extent that any Credit Party fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (in each case, determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such.

 

(d)                                 TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE CREDIT PARTIES SHALL NOT ASSERT, AND HEREBY WAIVE, ANY CLAIM AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (AS OPPOSED TO DIRECT OR ACTUAL DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, THE TRANSACTIONS, ANY LOAN OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREOF.

 

(e)                                  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) days after written demand therefor.

 

Section 11.04.                     Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) no Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by such Credit Party without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated

 

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hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)

 

(i)                                     Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

 

(A)                              the Borrower, provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, a Federal Reserve Bank, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and
 
(B)                                the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.
 

(ii)                                  Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)                              except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Loans, the amount of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
 
(B)                                each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of such Lender’s Loans under this Agreement;
 
(C)                                the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and
 
(D)                               the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
 

For the purposes of this Section 11.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

 

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Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

(iii)          Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14, Section 2.15, Section 2.16 and Section 11.03).  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 11.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section except that any attempted assignment or transfer by any Lender that does not comply with clause (C) of Section 11.04(b)(ii) shall be null and void.

 

(iv)          The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the principal amount of the Loans owing to each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Credit Parties and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v)           Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section, and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 2.17(d) or Section 11.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the

 

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Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon.  No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(c)

 

(i)            Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 11.02(b) that affects such Participant.  Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14, Section 2.15 and Section 2.16 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender.

 

(ii)           A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.14 or Section 2.16 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the prior written consent of the Borrower.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.16(e) as though it were a Lender.

 

(d)          Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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Section 11.05.       Survival.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid.  The provisions of Section 2.14, Section 2.15, Section 2.16 and Section 11.03 and Article X shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

Section 11.06.       Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.  Except as provided in Section 5.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.07.       Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 11.08.       Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of any Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each

 

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Lender under this Section and Section 8.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

 

Section 11.09.       GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS.

 

(a)           THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)           EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)           EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.01.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

Section 11.10.       WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT

 

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IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 11.11.       Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 11.12.       Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or any self-regulatory authority or agency possessing investigative powers and the ability to sanction members for non-compliance, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as, or otherwise consistent with, those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii)  any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Credit Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than a Credit Party.  For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Credit Party relating to any Credit Party or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party; provided that, in the case of information received from any Credit Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Section 11.13.       Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be

 

65



 

contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.  Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code (which regulates certain revolving credit accounts (formerly TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. Art. 5069, Ch. 15)) shall not apply to this Agreement or to any Loan, nor shall this Agreement or any Loan be governed by or be subject to the provisions of such Chapter 346 in any manner whatsoever.

 

Section 11.14.       USA PATRIOT Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) hereby notifies each Credit Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the Act.  The Borrower shall, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requires to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP

 

(formerly known as EXCO Partners Operating

 

Partnership, LP)

 

 

By:

EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC

 

 

its sole general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey

 

Name:

J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

 

Title:

Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer

 

 

 

GUARANTORS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GARRISON GATHERING, LLC

 

VAUGHAN DE, LLC

 

VAUGHAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.

 

VERNON GATHERING, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey

 

Name:

J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

 

Title:

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

for each of the Credit Parties listed above

 

 

 

TALCO MIDSTREAM ASSETS, LTD.

 

 

 

 

By:

VAUGHAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey

 

Name:

J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

 

Title:

Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

TGG PIPELINE, LTD.

 

 

 

By:

VAUGHAN HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey

 

Name:

J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

 

Title:

Vice President and Chief Financial

 

 

Officer

 

 

 

EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY, LP
(formerly known as Winchester Production
Company, Ltd.)

 

 

By:

VAUGHAN DE, LLC,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Douglas Ramsey

 

Name:

J. Douglas Ramsey, Ph.D.

 

Title:

Vice President and Chief Financial

 

 

Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

 

as Administrative Agent and as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Wm. Mark Cranmer

 

Name:

Wm. Mark Cranmer

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

EAST TEXAS SHALE TRUST,

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

By:

Wilmington Trust Company,

 

 

not in its individual capacity, but solely as

 

 

owner trustee under the Trust Agreement

 

 

dated July 15, 2008

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joseph B. Feil

 

Name:

Joseph B. Feil

 

Title:

Vice President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

JPM MEZZANINE CAPITAL, LLC,

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Elizabeth Caswallader

 

Name:

Elizabeth Caswallader

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

GREENLIGHT CAPITAL, L.P.

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

By:

Greenlight Capital, LLC, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harry Brandler

 

 

Name:

Harry Brandler

 

 

Title:

CFO

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

GREENLIGHT CAPITAL QUALIFIED, L.P.

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

By:

Greenlight Capital, LLC, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harry Brandler

 

 

Name:

Harry Brandler

 

 

Title:

CFO

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

GREENLIGHT CAPITAL OFFSHORE, LTD.

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

By:

Greenlight Capital, Inc., its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harry Brandler

 

 

Name:

Harry Brandler

 

 

Title:

CFO

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

GREENLIGHT REINSURANCE, LTD.

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

By:

DME Advisors, LP, its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harry Brandler

 

 

Name:

Harry Brandler

 

 

Title:

CFO

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH,

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael D. Willis

 

Name:

Michael D. Willis

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO ENERGY CAPITAL, INC.,

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Zach Johnson

 

Name:

Zach Johnson

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

BNP PARIBAS,

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Juan Carlos Sandoval

 

Name:

Juan Carlos Sandoval

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Edward Pak

 

Name:

Edward Pak

 

Title:

Vice President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William M. Ginn

 

Name:

William M. Ginn

 

Title:

General Manager

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 



 

 

NATIXIS,

 

as a Lender,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Liana Tchernysheva

 

Name:

Liana Tchernysheva

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Timothy L. Polvado

 

Name:

Timothy L. Polvado

 

Title:

Senior Managing Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE