THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-10.8 3 dex108.htm THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 10.8

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

June 9, 2006

 

among

 

GEOMET, INC.,

as Borrower,

 

The Financial Institutions Listed on Schedule 1 hereto,

as Banks,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

and

 

BNP PARIBAS,

as Syndication Agent

 

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Book Manager


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page No.

ARTICLE I TERMS DEFINED    2
Section 1.1    Definitions    2
Section 1.2    Accounting Terms and Determinations    24
Section 1.3    Terms Generally    24
ARTICLE II THE CREDIT FACILITIES    24
Section 2.1    Commitment    24
Section 2.2    Method of Borrowing    28
Section 2.3    Method of Requesting Letters of Credit    28
Section 2.4    Swing Line Loans    29
Section 2.5    Notes    32
Section 2.6    Interest Rates; Payments    32
Section 2.7    Mandatory Prepayment Following Certain Events    34
Section 2.8    Voluntary Prepayments    34
Section 2.9    Mandatory Termination of Commitments; Termination Date and Maturity    34
Section 2.10    Voluntary Reduction of Total Commitment    34
Section 2.11    Application of Payments    34
Section 2.12    Commitment Fee    35
Section 2.13    Letter of Credit Fees    35
Section 2.14    Agency and Other Fees    35
ARTICLE III GENERAL PROVISIONS    35
Section 3.1    Delivery and Endorsement of Notes    35
Section 3.2    General Provisions as to Payments    36
Section 3.3    Funding Losses    37
Section 3.4    Foreign Lenders, Participants, and Assignees    37
Section 3.5    Non-Receipt of Funds by Administrative Agent    38
ARTICLE IV BORROWING BASE    38
Section 4.1    Reserve Reports; Proposed Borrowing Base    38
Section 4.2    Scheduled Redeterminations of the Borrowing Base; Procedures and Standards    38
Section 4.3    Special Determination of Borrowing Base    39
Section 4.4    Adjustments for Asset Dispositions and Shamrock Transactions    39
Section 4.5    Borrowing Base Deficiency    40
Section 4.6    Initial Borrowing Base    40
ARTICLE V COLLATERAL    41
Section 5.1    Security    41
Section 5.2    Opinions of Counsel    42
Section 5.3    Guarantees    42

 

i


ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS    42
Section 6.1    Conditions to Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement, Initial Borrowing and Participation in Letter of Credit Exposure    42
Section 6.2    Conditions to each Borrowing and each Letter of Credit    45
Section 6.3    Materiality of Conditions    46
ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    46
Section 7.1    Existence and Power    46
Section 7.2    Corporate, Limited Liability Company, Partnership and Governmental Authorization; Contravention    46
Section 7.3    Binding Effect    46
Section 7.4    Financial Information    47
Section 7.5    Litigation    47
Section 7.6    ERISA    47
Section 7.7    Taxes and Filing of Tax Returns    48
Section 7.8    Title to Properties; Liens    48
Section 7.9    Mineral Interests    48
Section 7.10    Business; Compliance    49
Section 7.11    Licenses, Permits, Etc.    49
Section 7.12    Compliance with Law    49
Section 7.13    Full Disclosure    49
Section 7.14    Organizational Structure; Nature of Business    50
Section 7.15    Environmental Matters    50
Section 7.16    Burdensome Obligations    51
Section 7.17    Government Regulations    51
Section 7.18    Fiscal Year    51
Section 7.19    No Default    51
Section 7.20    Gas Balancing Agreements and Advance Payment Contracts    51
ARTICLE VIII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    51
Section 8.1    Information    51
Section 8.2    Business of Credit Parties    54
Section 8.3    Maintenance of Existence    54
Section 8.4    Right of Inspection    54
Section 8.5    Maintenance of Insurance    55
Section 8.6    Payment of Taxes and Claims    55
Section 8.7    Compliance with Laws and Documents    55
Section 8.8    Operation of Properties and Equipment    55
Section 8.9    Further Assurances    56
Section 8.10    Environmental Law Compliance and Indemnity    56
Section 8.11    ERISA Reporting Requirements    57
ARTICLE IX NEGATIVE COVENANTS    58
Section 9.1    Debt of Borrower    58
Section 9.2    Restricted Payments    58
Section 9.3    Negative Pledge    58
Section 9.4    Consolidations and Mergers    58

 

ii


Section 9.5    Asset Dispositions    59
Section 9.6    Amendments to Organizational Documents; Other Material Agreements    59
Section 9.7    Use of Proceeds    60
Section 9.8    Investments    60
Section 9.9    Transactions with Affiliates    60
Section 9.10    ERISA    60
Section 9.11    Hedge Transactions    60
Section 9.12    Operating Leases    60
Section 9.13    Speculative Hedge Transactions    61
Section 9.14    Fiscal Year    61
Section 9.15    Change in Business    61
Section 9.16    Bank of America Master Lease    61
ARTICLE X FINANCIAL COVENANTS    61
ARTICLE XI DEFAULTS    61
Section 11.1    Events of Default    61
ARTICLE XII AGENTS    63
Section 12.1    Appointment and Authorization    63
Section 12.2    Agents and Affiliates    64
Section 12.3    Action by Administrative Agent    64
Section 12.4    Consultation with Experts    64
Section 12.5    Liability of Agents    64
Section 12.6    Delegation of Duties    65
Section 12.7    Indemnification    65
Section 12.8    Credit Decision    65
Section 12.9    Successor Administrative Agent    66
Section 12.10    Execution of Collateral Documents    66
Section 12.11    Collateral Releases    66
ARTICLE XIII PROTECTION OF YIELD; CHANGE IN LAWS    66
Section 13.1    Basis for Determining Interest Rate Applicable to Eurodollar Tranches Inadequate    66
Section 13.2    Illegality of Eurodollar Tranches    67
Section 13.3    Increased Cost of Eurodollar Tranche    67
Section 13.4    Adjusted Base Rate Tranche Substituted for Affected Eurodollar Tranche    68
Section 13.5    Capital Adequacy    69
Section 13.6    Taxes    70
Section 13.7    Discretion of Banks as to Manner of Funding    70
ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS    70
Section 14.1    Notices; Electronic Communication    70
Section 14.2    Waivers and Amendments; Acknowledgments    71
Section 14.3    Expenses; Documentary Taxes; Indemnification    73
Section 14.4    Right and Sharing of Set-Offs    74
Section 14.5    Survival    74

 

iii


Section 14.6    Limitation on Interest    75
Section 14.7    Invalid Provisions    75
Section 14.8    Successors and Assigns    76
Section 14.9    Applicable Law and Jurisdiction    77
Section 14.10    Counterparts; Effectiveness    78
Section 14.11    No Third Party Beneficiaries    78
Section 14.12    COMPLETE AGREEMENT    78
Section 14.13    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ETC    78
Section 14.14    Confidential Information    79
Section 14.15    USA Patriot Act Notice    80

 

iv


LIST OF DEFINED TERMS

 

     Page No.

Act

   80

Adjusted Base Rate

   2

Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing

   2

Adjusted Base Rate Loan

   2

Adjusted Base Rate Tranche

   2

Adjusted LIBOR Rate

   2

Administrative Agent

   2

Advance Payment

   2

Advance Payment Contract

   2

Affiliate

   3

Agent

   3

Agents

   3

Agreement

   3

Applicable Environmental Law

   3

Applicable Margin

   4

Approved Petroleum Engineer

   4

Asset Disposition

   4

Assignee

   76

Assignment and Assumption Agreement

   76

Authorized Officer

   4

Availability

   4

Bank

   4

Bank of America

   4

Bank of America Master Lease

   4

Banks

   4

Base Rate

   4

Book Manager

   5

Borrower

   5

Borrower Pledge Agreement

   5

Borrowing

   5

Borrowing Base

   5

Borrowing Base Deficiency

   5

Borrowing Base Properties

   5

Borrowing Date

   5

Cahaba Mortgage

   5

Cahaba Wells

   5, 48

Capital Lease

   5

CERCLA

   3

Certificate of Effectiveness

   6

Change of Control

   6

Code

   6

Commitment

   6

Commitment Fee Percentage

   6

 

v


Commitment Percentage

   6

Consolidated Current Assets

   6

Consolidated Current Liabilities

   6

Consolidated EBITDA

   7

Consolidated Net Income

   7

Consolidated Net Interest Expense

   7

Consolidated Subsidiaries

   7

Consolidated Subsidiary

   7

contract rate

   33

Conversion Date

   33

Credit Parties

   7

Credit Party

   7

Current Financials

   7

Debt

   8

Default

   8

Default Rate

   8

Determination

   8

Determination Date

   8

Determination Period

   9

disposal

   3

disposed

   3

Distribution

   9

Domestic Business Day

   9

Domestic Lending Office

   9

Domestic Subsidiary

   9

Effective Date

   9

Election Notice

   40

Environmental Complaint

   9

Environmental Liability

   9

Equity

   10

ERISA

   10

ERISA Affiliate

   10

ERISA Event

   10

Eurodollar Borrowing

   10

Eurodollar Business Day

   10

Eurodollar Lending Office

   10

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

   10

Eurodollar Tranche

   10

Event of Default

   61

Events of Default

   61

Exchange Act

   11

Exhibit

   11

Existing Banks

   1

Existing Credit Agreement

   1

Existing Mortgages

   11

Facility Guaranty

   11

 

vi


Federal Funds Rate

   11

Fiscal Quarter

   11

Fiscal Year

   11

Foreign Subsidiary

   11

GAAP

   11

Gas Balancing Agreement

   12

GeoMet Operating

   12

Governmental Authority

   12

Guarantee

   12

Hazardous Discharge

   12

hazardous substance

   3

Hazardous Substance

   12

Hedge Transaction

   12

Hedge Transaction Letters of Credit

   12

Hydrocarbons

   12

Immaterial Title Deficiencies

   13

Indemnified Entity

   13, 73

Indirect Subsidiary

   13, 23

Initial Borrowing Base

   13

Initial Reserve Report

   13

Interest Option

   32

Interest Period

   13

Investment

   13

Laws

   14

Lending Office

   14

Letter of Credit Application

   25

Letter of Credit Exposure

   14

Letter of Credit Fee

   14

Letter of Credit Fronting Fee

   14

Letter of Credit Issuer

   25

Letter of Credit Period

   14

Letters of Credit

   14

liabilities and costs

   73

LIBOR Rate

   14

Lien

   15

Loan

   15

Loan Papers

   15

Margin Regulations

   15

Margin Stock

   15

Material Adverse Change

   15

Material Adverse Effect

   15

Material Agreement

   15

Material Gas Imbalance

   15

Maximum Lawful Rate

   16

Mineral Interests

   16

Monthly Date

   16

 

vii


Mortgages

   16

Net Cash Proceeds

   16

Note

   16

Obligations

   17

Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions

   17

Operating Lease

   17

Outstanding Credit

   17

Participant

   76

Payor

   38

PBGC

   17

Periodic Determination

   17

Permitted Asset Sales

   17

Permitted Encumbrances

   18

Permitted Investment

   19

Person

   20

petroleum

   3

Plan

   20

Process Agent

   77

Proved Mineral Interests

   20

Proved Non-producing Mineral Interests

   20

Proved Producing Mineral Interests

   20

Proved Undeveloped Mineral Interests

   20

Qualified Public Offering

   20

RCRA

   3

Recognized Value

   20

Refunding Borrowing

   21

Regulation U

   21

release

   3

Rentals

   21

Required Banks

   21

Required Payment

   38

Required Reserve Value

   21

Reserve Report

   21

Restricted Payment

   21

Rollover Notice

   32

Schedule

   21

Scheduled Determination Date

   22

SEC

   22

Section

   22

Shamrock

   22

Shamrock Report

   22

Shamrock Transactions

   22

Sole Lead Arranger

   22

solid waste

   3

Special Determination

   22

Subsidiary

   22

 

viii


Subsidiary Pledge Agreement

   23

Surplus Commitment

   69

Swing Line Bank

   23

Swing Line Borrowing

   23

Swing Line Exposure

   23

Swing Line Loan

   29

Swing Line Notice

   23

Swing Line Sublimit

   23

Syndication Agent

   23

Tax

   23

Taxes

   23

Termination Date

   23

threatened release

   3

Total Commitment

   23

Tranche

   23

Tranches

   23

Type

   23

Yorktown

   23

 

ix


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

     Form of Note

Exhibit B

     Form of Request for Borrowing

Exhibit C

     Form of Request for Letter of Credit

Exhibit D

     Form of Rollover Notice

Exhibit E

     Form of Financial Officer’s Certificate

Exhibit F

     Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

Exhibit G

     Form of Borrower Pledge Agreement

Exhibit H

     Form of Subsidiary Pledge Agreement

Exhibit I

     Form of Facility Guaranty

Exhibit J

     Form of Certificate of Effectiveness

Exhibit K

     Form of Swing Line Notice

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1

     Financial Institutions

Schedule 2

     Litigation

Schedule 3

     Organizational Structure

 

x


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of June 9, 2006, to be effective as of the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined), is by and among GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation, successor by merger to GeoMet, Inc., an Alabama corporation (Borrower), Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, successor by merger to Fleet National Bank, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent (Administrative Agent), BNP Paribas, as Syndication Agent (Syndication Agent), and the financial institutions listed on Schedule 1 hereto as Banks including, without limitation, Swing Line Bank (as defined below) (individually a Bank and collectively Banks).

 

W I T N E S E T H

 

WHEREAS, Borrower, Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and the financial institutions a party thereto (Existing Banks) are parties to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 6, 2006, pursuant to which Existing Banks provided certain loans and extensions of credit to Borrower (as amended, the Existing Credit Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, certain financial institutions purchased and assumed certain rights of certain of the Existing Banks under the Existing Credit Agreement, and after giving effect to such assignments, and the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement in the form of this Agreement and pursuant to the terms hereof, the Commitment of each Bank hereunder on the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 1 hereto; and

 

WHEREAS, subject to the conditions precedent set forth herein, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety in the form of this Agreement, and Borrower desires to obtain Borrowings (as herein defined) (a) to refinance the indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement, and (b) for other purposes permitted herein; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Article XII of this Agreement, Bank of America, N.A. has been appointed Administrative Agent for Banks hereunder.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower, Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and Banks hereby agree as follows:

 

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

 

Subject to the satisfaction of each condition precedent contained in Section 6.1 hereof, the satisfaction of which shall be evidenced by the execution by Borrower and Administrative Agent of the Certificate of Effectiveness (as hereinafter defined), the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined) in the form of this Agreement. It is the intention of Borrower, Administrative Agent and Banks that this Agreement supersede and replace the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety; provided, that, (a) such

 

1


amendment and restatement shall operate to renew, amend and modify certain of the rights and obligations of the parties under the Existing Credit Agreement as provided herein, but shall not effect a novation thereof, and (b) the Liens securing the Obligations under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement shall not be extinguished, but shall be carried forward and shall secure such Obligations as renewed, amended, restated and modified hereby. Borrower, Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and Banks hereby further agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

TERMS DEFINED

 

Section 1.1 Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

 

Adjusted Base Rate means, on any day, the greater of (a) the Base Rate in effect on such day, or (b) the sum of (i) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day, plus (ii) one half of one percent (.5%). Each change in the Adjusted Base Rate shall become effective automatically and without notice to Borrower or any Bank upon the effective date of each change in the Federal Funds Rate or the Base Rate, as the case may be.

 

Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing means any Borrowing which will constitute an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche.

 

Adjusted Base Rate Loan means a portion of the principal of the Loan (including a Swing Line Loan) bearing interest with reference to the Adjusted Base Rate.

 

Adjusted Base Rate Tranche means the portion of the principal of the Loan bearing interest with reference to the Adjusted Base Rate.

 

Adjusted LIBOR Rate applicable to any Interest Period, means a rate per annum equal to the quotient obtained (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing (a) the applicable LIBOR Rate by (b) 1.00 minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

 

Administrative Agent means Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to Fleet National Bank, in its capacity as Administrative Agent for Banks hereunder, or any successor thereto.

 

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 Mineral Interests owned by any Credit Party and which Advance Payment is paid or to be paid more than 45 days 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

 

2


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, as to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person, or any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or partnership interests, or by contract or otherwise.

 

Agent means Administrative Agent, Sole Lead Arranger, Book Manager, Syndication Agent or any other agent appointed hereunder from time to time, and Agents means Administrative Agent, Sole Lead Manager, Book Manager, Syndication Agent and any other agent appointed hereunder from time to time, collectively.

 

Agreement means this Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Applicable Environmental Law means any Law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or determination of any Governmental Authority (or other body exercising similar functions), affecting any real or personal property owned, operated or leased by any Credit Party or any other operation of any Credit Party in any way pertaining to the environment, including, without limitation, (a) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (as amended from time to time, herein referred to as CERCLA), (b) the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Used Oil Recycling Act of 1980, the Solid Waste Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1980, and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (as amended from time to time, herein referred to as RCRA), (c) the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, (d) the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, (e) the Clean Air Act, as amended, (f) the Laws, rules and regulations of any state having jurisdiction over any real or personal property owned, operated or leased by any credit Party or any other operation of any Credit Party which relates to health, safety or the environment, as each may be amended from time to time, and (g) any federal, state or municipal Laws, ordinances or regulations which may now or hereafter require removal of asbestos or other hazardous wastes or impose any liability related to asbestos or other hazardous wastes. The terms hazardous substance, petroleum, release and threatened release have the meanings specified in CERCLA, and the terms solid waste and disposal (or disposed) have the meanings specified in RCRA; provided, however, in the event either CERCLA or RCRA is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined thereby, such broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective date of such amendment with respect to all provisions of this Agreement; and provided further that, to the extent the Laws of the state in which any real or personal property owned, operated or leased by any Credit Party is located establish a meaning for “hazardous substance”, “petroleum”, “release”, “solid waste” or “disposal” which is broader than that specified in either CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply in so far as such broader meaning is applicable to the real or personal property owned, operated or leased by any such Credit Party and located in such state.

 

3


Applicable Margin means, on any date, with respect to each Eurodollar Tranche, an amount determined by reference to the ratio of Outstanding Credit to the Borrowing Base on such date in accordance with the table below:

 

Ratio of Outstanding
Credit to Borrowing Base


 

Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar Tranches


£ .50 to 1   1.000%
> .50 to 1 < .75 to 1   1.250%
³ .75 to 1 < .90 to 1   1.750%
³ .90 to 1   2.000%

 

Approved Petroleum Engineer means (a) DeGolyer and MacNaughton and (b) any other reputable firm of independent petroleum engineers as shall be selected by Borrower and approved by Required Banks, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

Asset Disposition means the sale, assignment, lease, license, transfer, exchange or other disposition by any Credit Party of any Borrowing Base Property other than a Permitted Asset Sale.

 

Assignee has the meaning given such term in Section 14.8(c).

 

Assignment and Assumption Agreement has the meaning given such term in Section 14.8(c).

 

Authorized Officer means, as to any Person, its Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Vice-Chairman, President, Executive Vice President(s), Senior Vice President(s), Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Controller duly authorized to act on behalf of such Person.

 

Availability means, at any time, (a) the Borrowing Base in effect at such time, minus (b) the Outstanding Credit at such time.

 

Bank means any financial institution listed on Schedule 1 hereto as having a Commitment, and its successors and assigns, and Banks shall mean all Banks including, as the context requires, Swing Line Bank.

 

Bank of America means Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, successor by merger to Fleet National Bank, a national banking association.

 

Bank of America Master Lease means that certain Master Equipment Lease Agreement dated as of October 31, 2003 between GeoMet Operating and Bank of America Business Capital Corporation, successor by merger to Fleet Capital Corporation, as from time to time amended and supplemented to the extent permitted under Section 9.16.

 

Base Rate means the floating rate of interest established from time to time by Administrative Agent as its “Base Rate” of interest, which rate is not the lowest rate of interest

 

4


which Administrative Agent charges, each change in the Base Rate to become effective without notice to Borrower on the effective date of each such change.

 

Book Manager means Banc of America Securities LLC in its capacity as book manager for the credit facility hereunder or any successor thereto.

 

Borrower means GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation, successor by merger to GeoMet, Inc., an Alabama corporation.

 

Borrower Pledge Agreement means a Third Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto to be executed by Borrower, pursuant to which Borrower shall (except as provided otherwise in the definition of “Credit Parties”) pledge to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Banks, one-hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Equity owned by Borrower of each existing or hereafter created or acquired Subsidiary of Borrower to secure the Obligations.

 

Borrowing means any disbursement to Borrower under, or to satisfy the obligations of any Credit Party under, any of the Loan Papers and shall include, as the context may require, any Swing Line Borrowing.

 

Borrowing Base means the amount from time to time determined as such pursuant to Section 4.2 through Section 4.6 hereof.

 

Borrowing Base Deficiency means, as of any date, the amount, if any, by which (a) the Outstanding Credit on such date, exceeds (b) the Borrowing Base in effect on such date; provided, that, for purposes of computing the existence and amount of any Borrowing Base Deficiency, Letter of Credit Exposure will not be deemed to be outstanding to the extent funds have been deposited with Administrative Agent to secure such Letter of Credit Exposure pursuant to Section 2.1(b).

 

Borrowing Base Properties means all Proved Mineral Interests evaluated by Banks for purposes of establishing the Borrowing Base. The Borrowing Base Properties on the Effective Date are described in the Initial Reserve Report.

 

Borrowing Date means the Eurodollar Business Day or the Domestic Business Day, as the case may be, upon which the proceeds of any Borrowing are made available to Borrower or to satisfy the obligations of Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower.

 

Cahaba Mortgage means, collectively, the Mortgage or Mortgages encumbering the Cahaba Wells in Bibb and Shelby Counties, Alabama, as the same may be amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

 

Cahaba Wells has the meaning given such term in Section 7.8.

 

Capital Lease means, for any Person as of any date, any lease of property, real or personal, which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

 

5


Certificate of Effectiveness means a Certificate of Effectiveness in the form of Exhibit J attached hereto to be executed by Borrower and Administrative Agent upon the satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent contained in Section 6.1 hereof.

 

Change of Control means the occurrence of the following, whether voluntary or involuntary, including by operation of law: any Person or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than Yorktown shall become the direct or indirect beneficial owner (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of greater than thirty-three percent (33%) of the total voting power of all classes of capital stock then outstanding of Borrower entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in elections of directors of Borrower.

 

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

 

Commitment means, with respect to any Bank, the amount set forth opposite such Bank’s name on Schedule 1 hereto, as such amount may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof, and the term “Commitment” shall include the commitment of Swing Line Bank to make Swing Line Loans, and the requirement of Banks to fund and purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

 

Commitment Fee Percentage means, for any day, the percentage determined pursuant to the table below based on the ratio of Outstanding Credit on such date to the Borrowing Base in effect on such date:

 

Ratio of Outstanding

Credit to Borrowing Base


 

Commitment Fee

Percentage


£ .50 to 1

  0.250%

> .50 to 1 < .75 to 1

  0.250%

³ .75 to 1 < .90 to 1

  0.375%

³ .90 to 1

  0.375%

 

Commitment Percentage means, with respect to any Bank at any time, the Commitment Percentage for such Bank set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

Consolidated Current Assets means, for any Person at any time, the sum of (a) the current assets of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such time determined in accordance with GAAP, plus (b) in the case of Borrower, the Availability at such time. For purposes of this definition, any unrealized gains on any Hedge Transaction for any period of determination shall be excluded from the determination of current assets of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities means, for any Person at any time, the current liabilities of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such time determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding, in the case of Borrower, any current liabilities to pay

 

6


principal on the Notes. For purposes of this definition, any unrealized losses or charges on any Hedge Transaction for any period of determination shall be excluded from the determination of current liabilities of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated EBITDA means, for any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, plus each of the following determined for such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period: (a) any provision for (or less any benefit from) income or franchise Taxes included in determining Consolidated Net Income; (b) Consolidated Net Interest Expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; (c) depreciation, depletion and amortization expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; and (d) other non-cash charges deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income to the extent not already included in clauses (b) and (c) of this definition (including exploration expenses in the event Borrower uses successful efforts accounting).

 

Consolidated Net Income means, for any Person as of any period, the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding: (a) the after-tax income or loss of any other Person (other than its Consolidated Subsidiaries) in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, unless received by such Person or its Consolidated Subsidiaries in a cash distribution; (b) any after-tax gains or losses attributable to asset dispositions; (c) to the extent not included in clauses (a) and (b) above, any after-tax (i) extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses, or (ii) non-cash nonrecurring gains; and (d) non-cash or nonrecurring charges.

 

Consolidated Net Interest Expense means, for any Person for any period, the remainder of the following for such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period: (a) interest expense, minus (b) interest income.

 

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

 

Conversion Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(c).

 

Credit Parties means, collectively, Borrower and any Subsidiary of Borrower, and Credit Party means any one of the foregoing; provided, that, Stillwater Technology Venture shall not be a Credit Party. Foreign Subsidiaries shall be Credit Parties for all purposes under the Loan Papers, provided that nothing in any Loan Paper shall require the creation or granting of any Lien upon (a) more than 65% of the Equity owned directly by Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary in any Foreign Subsidiary or (b) any of the Equity owned by any Foreign Subsidiary in any other Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Current Financials means (a) the most recent annual audited consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flow delivered to Banks hereunder, and (b) the most recent quarterly unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flow delivered to Banks hereunder. Until superseded by the delivery by Borrower to Banks of more recent financial statements pursuant to Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b) hereof, Current

 

7


Financials shall mean, collectively, (i) Borrower’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2005, and related audited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows, and (ii) Borrower’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2006, and related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows, copies of which have been provided to Banks.

 

Debt of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all other indebtedness (including obligations under Capital Leases, other than Capital Leases which are usual and customary oil and gas leases) of such Person on which interest charges are customarily paid or accrued, (d) all Guarantees by such Person, (e) the unfunded or unreimbursed portion of all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person, (f) any amount owed by such Person representing the deferred purchase price for property or services acquired by such Person other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not more than ninety (90) days past the invoice date (or are being disputed in good faith), (g) all Debt of any other Person secured by a Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the Debt secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is non-recourse to the credit of that Person, and (h) all liability of such Person as a general partner of a partnership for obligations of such partnership of the nature described in clauses (a) through (g) preceding; provided, however, that neither (i) the two notes payable and the salary continuation payable aggregating approximately $1,000,000 that are mentioned on footnote 6 to Borrower’s December 31, 2005 financial statements nor (ii) the Shamrock Transactions shall constitute Debt for the purposes hereof.

 

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

 

Default Rate means, in respect of any principal of the Loan or any other amount payable by Borrower under any Loan Paper which is not paid when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, or otherwise), a rate per annum during the period commencing on the due date until such amount is paid in full equal to the sum of (i) two percent (2%), plus (ii) the Adjusted Base Rate as in effect from time to time (provided, that if such amount in default is principal of a Borrowing subject to a Eurodollar Tranche and the due date is a day other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, the “Default Rate” for such principal shall be, for the period from and including the due date and to but excluding the last day of the Interest period therefor, (a) two percent (2%), plus (b) the Applicable Margin, plus (c) the LIBOR Rate for such Borrowing for such Interest Period as provided in Section 2.6 hereof, and thereafter, the rate provided for above in this definition).

 

Determination means any Periodic Determination or Special Determination.

 

Determination Date means (a) each Scheduled Determination Date, and (b) with respect to any Special Determination, the first day of the first month which is not less than twenty (20) Domestic Business Days following the date of a request for a Special Determination.

 

8


“Determination Period” means any period beginning on a Scheduled Determination Date and ending the day before the next succeeding Scheduled Determination Date.

 

Distribution by any Person, means (a) with respect to any stock issued by such Person or any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest of such Person, the retirement, redemption, purchase, or other acquisition for value of any such stock, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest, (b) the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution on or with respect to any stock, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest of any Person, and (c) any other payment by such Person with respect to such stock, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest.

 

Domestic Business Day means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which national banks in Boston, Massachusetts or Charlotte, North Carolina are authorized by Law to close.

 

Domestic Lending Office means, as to each Bank, its office identified on Schedule 1 hereto as its Domestic Lending Office or such other office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by notice to Borrower and Administrative Agent.

 

Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of Borrower other than a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Effective Date means the date upon which (a) all of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.1 have been satisfied, and (b) Borrower and Administrative Agent shall have executed the Certificate of Effectiveness, which date shall be set forth in, or otherwise be the date of execution of, the Certificate of Effectiveness.

 

Environmental Complaint means any complaint, summons, citation, notice, directive, order, claim, litigation, investigation, proceeding, judgment, letter or other communication from any federal, state or municipal authority or any other party against any Credit Party involving (a) a Hazardous Discharge from, onto or about any real property owned, leased or operated at any time by any Credit Party, (b) a Hazardous Discharge caused, in whole or in part, by any Credit Party or by any Person acting on behalf of or at the instruction of any Credit Party, or (c) any violation of any Applicable Environmental Law by any Credit Party.

 

Environmental Liability means any liability, loss, fine, penalty, charge, or damage of any kind that results directly or indirectly, in whole or in part (a) from the violation of any Applicable Environmental Law, (b) from the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance, (c) from removal, remediation, or other actions in response to the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance, (d) from actual or threatened damages to natural resources, (e) from the imposition of injunctive relief or other orders, (f) from personal injury, death, or property damage which occurs as a result of any Credit Party’s use, storage, handling, or the release or threatened release of a Hazardous Substance, or (g) from any environmental investigation performed at, on, or for any real property owned by any Credit Party.

 

9


Equity means shares of capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital or member interest, or options, warrants or any other right to substitute for or otherwise acquire the capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital or member interest of any Credit Party.

 

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

 

ERISA Affiliate means any corporation or trade or business under common control with any Credit Party as determined under section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

 

ERISA Event means, with respect to any Credit Party and any ERISA Affiliate, (a) a “reportable event” as defined in section 4043 of ERISA (other than a reportable event not subject to the provision for thirty (30) days notice to the PBGC under regulations issued under section 4043 of ERISA), (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan under section 4041(c) of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, (e) the failure to make required contributions which could result in the imposition of a lien under section 412 of the Code or section 302 of ERISA, or (f) any other event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

 

Eurodollar Borrowing means any Borrowing which will constitute a Eurodollar Tranche.

 

Eurodollar Business Day means any Domestic Business Day on which commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in dollar deposits) in London and New York, New York.

 

Eurodollar Lending Office means, as to each Bank, its office, branch or affiliate located at its address identified on Schedule 1 hereto as its Eurodollar Lending Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may hereafter designate as its Eurodollar Lending Office by notice to Borrower and Administrative Agent.

 

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage means for any day that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York, New York in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities” (or in respect of any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Tranches is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Bank to United States residents). The Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

 

Eurodollar Tranche means, with respect to any Interest Period, any portion of the principal amount outstanding under the Loan which bears interest at a rate computed by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period.

 

Event of Default has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1 hereof.

 

10


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

 

Exhibit refers to an exhibit attached to this Agreement and incorporated herein by reference, unless specifically provided otherwise.

 

Existing Credit Agreement has the meaning given such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Existing Mortgages means the mortgages, deeds of trust, amendments to mortgages, security agreements, assignments, pledges and other documents, instruments and agreements executed and delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Facility Guaranty means a Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit I attached hereto to be executed by GeoMet Operating and each existing and future Domestic Subsidiary in favor of Banks, pursuant to which each such Person guarantees payment and performance in full of the Obligations.

 

Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Domestic Business Day next succeeding such day, provided, that (a) if the day for which such rate is to be determined is not a Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Domestic Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Domestic Business Day, and (b) if such rate is not so published on such next succeeding Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for any day shall be the average rate charged to Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by Administrative Agent.

 

Fiscal Quarter means the three (3) month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 of each Fiscal Year.

 

Fiscal Year means a twelve (12) month period ending December 31.

 

Foreign Subsidiary means (a) any Subsidiary of Borrower that is not organized under the Laws of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof and (b) any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

GAAP means those generally accepted accounting principles and practices which are recognized as such by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants acting through its Accounting Principles Board or by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or through other appropriate boards or committees thereof and which are consistently applied for all periods after the date hereof so as to properly reflect the financial condition, and the results of operations and change in the financial position, of a Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, except that any accounting principle or practice required to be changed by said Accounting Principles Board or Financial Accounting Standards Board (or other appropriate board or committee of said Boards) in order to continue as a generally accepted accounting principle or practice may be so changed.

 

11


Gas Balancing Agreement means any agreement or arrangement whereby any Credit Party, or any other party having an interest in any Hydrocarbons to be produced from Mineral Interests in which any Credit Party owns an interest, has a right to take more than its proportionate share of production therefrom.

 

GeoMet Operating means GeoMet Operating Company, Inc., an Alabama corporation.

 

Governmental Authority means any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality of any nation or of any province, state, commonwealth, nation, territory, possession, county, parish or municipality, whether now or hereafter constituted or existing.

 

Guarantee by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions, by “comfort letter” or other similar undertaking of support or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

Hazardous Discharge means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, disposing or dumping of any Hazardous Substance from or onto any real property owned, leased or operated at any time by any Credit Party or any real property owned, leased or operated by any other party.

 

Hazardous Substance means any pollutant, toxic substance, hazardous waste, compound, element or chemical that is defined as hazardous, toxic, noxious, dangerous or infectious pursuant to any Applicable Environmental Law or which is otherwise regulated by any Applicable Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Transaction means any commodity, interest rate, currency or other swap, option, collar, exchange-traded futures contract or other derivative contract pursuant to which a Person hedges risks related to commodity prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates, securities prices or financial market conditions. Hedge Transactions expressly include Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions.

 

Hedge Transaction Letters of Credit means Letters of Credit issued to secure Borrower’s obligations to counterparties under Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions.

 

Hydrocarbons means oil, gas, coal bed methane and occluded gasses, casinghead gas, drip gasolines, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, and all other liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons produced or to be produced in conjunction therewith, and all products, by-products

 

12


and all other substances derived therefrom or the processing thereof, including, without limitation, all gas resulting from the in-situ combustion of coal or lignite.

 

Immaterial Title Deficiencies means, with respect to Borrowing Base Properties, defects or clouds on title, discrepancies in reported net revenue and working interest ownership percentages and other Liens, defects, discrepancies and similar matters which do not, individually or in the aggregate, affect Borrowing Base Properties with a Recognized Value greater than four percent (4%) of the Recognized Value of all such Borrowing Base Properties.

 

Indemnified Entity has the meaning set forth in Section 14.3(b) hereof.

 

Indirect Subsidiary has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Subsidiary Pledge Agreement.”

 

Initial Borrowing Base means a Borrowing Base in the amount of $150,000,000, which shall be in effect during the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until the first Special Determination or Periodic Determination after the Effective Date.

 

Initial Reserve Report means an engineering analysis of the Borrowing Base Properties evaluated by Administrative Agent for purposes of establishing the Initial Borrowing Base, dated as of December 31, 2005 and prepared or audited by the Approved Petroleum Engineer.

 

Interest Option has the meaning given such term in Section 2.6(c).

 

Interest Period means, with respect to each Eurodollar Tranche, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date or Conversion Date applicable to such Tranche and ending one (1), three (3), six (6) or, if available, twelve (12) months thereafter, as Borrower may elect in the applicable Request for Borrowing; provided, that: (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Eurodollar Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Eurodollar Business Day unless such Eurodollar Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Eurodollar Business Day; (b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Eurodollar Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Eurodollar Business Day of a calendar month; (c) if any Interest Period includes a date on which any payment of principal of the Loan subject to such Eurodollar Tranche is required to be made hereunder, but does not end on such date, then (i) the principal amount of each Eurodollar Tranche required to be repaid on such date shall have an Interest Period ending on such date, and (ii) the remainder of each such Eurodollar Tranche shall have an Interest Period determined as set forth above; and (d) no Interest Period shall extend past the Termination Date.

 

Investment means, with respect to any Person, any loan, advance, extension of credit, capital contribution to, investment in or purchase of the stock securities of, or interests in, any other Person; provided, that “Investment” shall not include current customer and trade accounts which are payable in accordance with customary trade terms.

 

13


Laws means all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, regulations, orders, writs, injunctions or decrees of any state, commonwealth, nation, territory, possession, county, township, parish, municipality or Governmental Authority.

 

Lending Office means, as to any Bank, its Domestic Lending Office or its Eurodollar Lending Office, as the context may require.

 

Letter of Credit Application has the meaning given such term in Section 2.1(b).

 

Letter of Credit Exposure of any Bank means, collectively, such Bank’s aggregate participation in (a) the unfunded portion of Letters of Credit outstanding at any time, and (b) the funded but unreimbursed (by Borrower) portion of Letters of Credit outstanding at such time.

 

Letter of Credit Fee means, with respect to any Letter of Credit issued hereunder, a fee in an amount equal to a percentage of the average daily aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Exposure of all Banks during the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) ending on the date such payment is due (calculated on a per annum basis based on such average daily aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure) determined by reference to the ratio of Outstanding Credit to the Borrowing Base in effect on the date such Letter of Credit is issued in accordance with the table below:

 

Ratio of Outstanding

Credit to Borrowing Base


 

Per Annum Letter

of Credit Fee


£ .50 to 1

  1.000%

> .50 to 1 < .75 to 1

  1.250%

³ .75 to 1 < .90 to 1

  1.750%

³ .90 to 1

  2.000%

 

Such fee shall be payable in accordance with the terms of Section 2.13.

 

Letter of Credit Fronting Fee means, with respect to any Letter of Credit issued hereunder, a fee equal to the greater of (a) $150, or (b) .125% of the stated amount of any such Letter of Credit.

 

Letter of Credit Issuer has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

 

Letter of Credit Period means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending nine (9) Domestic Business Days prior to the Termination Date.

 

Letters of Credit means, collectively, letters of credit issued for the account of Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(b).

 

LIBOR Rate applicable to any Interest Period means the rate per annum appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in dollars at approximately 10:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Eurodollar Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount of the Eurodollar Tranche to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable

 

14


to such Interest Period. If for any reason such rate is not available, the term LIBOR Rate shall mean, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by Administrative Agent at which deposits in dollars are offered to Administrative Agent by first class banks in the London interbank market at approximately 10:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Eurodollar Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount of the Eurodollar Tranche to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to such Interest Period.

 

Lien means with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For purposes of this Agreement, a Credit Party shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which is acquired or held subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

 

Loan means, collectively, the revolving credit loans that are made by Banks to Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a) and pursuant to the Commitments of each Bank, and the Swing Line Loans made by Swing Line Bank to Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5.

 

Loan Papers means this Agreement, the Notes, each Facility Guaranty now or hereafter executed, the Mortgages, each Borrower Pledge Agreement now or hereafter executed, each Subsidiary Pledge Agreement now or hereafter executed, the Certificate of Effectiveness, the Letters of Credit, and all other certificates, documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, as the foregoing may be amended from time to time.

 

Margin Regulations mean Regulations T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

 

Margin Stock means “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U.

 

Material Adverse Change means any circumstance or event that has or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on (a) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the right or ability of any Credit Party to fully, completely and timely perform its obligations under the Loan Papers, (c) the validity or enforceability of any Loan Papers against any Credit Party (to the extent a party thereto), or (d) the validity, perfection or priority of any Lien on a material portion of the assets intended to be created under or pursuant to any Loan Paper to secure the Obligations.

 

Material Agreement means any material written or enforceable oral agreement, contract, commitment, or understanding to which a Person is a party, by which such Person is directly or indirectly bound, or to which any assets of such Person may be subject, which is not cancelable by such Person upon notice of thirty (30) days or less without liability for further payment of $100,000 or more.

 

Material Gas Imbalance means, with respect to all Gas Balancing Agreements to which any Credit Party is

a party or by which any Mineral Interest owned by any Credit Party is

 

15


bound, a net gas imbalance owed by Borrower and the other Credit Parties, taken as a whole, in excess of $1,000,000. Gas imbalances will be determined based on written agreements, if any, specifying the method of calculation thereof, or, alternatively, if no such agreements are in existence, gas imbalances will be calculated by multiplying (x) the volume of gas imbalance as of the date of calculation (expressed in thousand cubic feet) by (y) the heating value in btu’s per thousand cubic feet, times the Henry Hub average daily spot price for the month immediately preceding the date of calculation.

 

Maximum Lawful Rate means, for each Bank, the maximum rate (or, if the context so permits or requires, an amount calculated at such rate) of interest which, at the time in question would not cause the interest charged on the portion of the Loan owed to such Bank at such time to exceed the maximum amount which such Bank would be allowed to contract for, charge, take, reserve, or receive under applicable Law after taking into account, to the extent required by applicable Law, any and all relevant payments or charges under the Loan Papers.

 

Mineral Interests means rights, estates, titles, and interests in and to oil and gas leases, coal bed methane leases, and any oil and gas interests, royalty and overriding royalty interests, production payments, net profits interests, oil and gas fee interests, and other rights therein, including, without limitation, any reversionary or carried interests relating to the foregoing, together with rights, titles, and interests created by or arising under the terms of any unitization, communitization, and pooling agreements or arrangements, and all properties, rights and interests covered thereby, whether arising by contract, by order, or by operation of Law, which now or hereafter include all or any part of the foregoing.

 

Monthly Date means the last day of each calendar month.

 

Mortgages means all mortgages, deeds of trust, amendments to mortgages, amendments to deeds of trust, security agreements, pledge agreements and similar documents, instruments and agreements creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens on Mineral Interests that are required by Article V hereof as may have been heretofore or may hereafter be granted or assigned to Administrative Agent to secure payment of the Obligations or any part thereof. All Mortgages shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. The term “Mortgages” expressly includes the Cahaba Mortgage, the Existing Mortgages and any amendments to, or restatements of, the Existing Mortgages.

 

Net Cash Proceeds means the remainder of (a) the gross proceeds received by any Credit Party from any Asset Disposition or Permitted Asset Sale less (b) underwriter discounts and commissions, investment banking fees, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses, and other usual and customary transaction costs, in each case only to the extent paid or payable by a Credit Party in cash and related to such Asset Disposition or Permitted Asset Sale, respectively, less (c) any federal or state income taxes reasonably anticipated to be owed by any Credit Party as a result of such Asset Disposition.

 

Note means a promissory note of Borrower, payable to the order of a Bank, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the obligation of Borrower to repay to such Bank its Commitment Percentage of the Loan, together with all modifications, extensions, renewals and rearrangements thereof, and Notes means all of such Notes.

 

16


Obligations means, collectively, all present and future indebtedness, obligations and liabilities, and all renewals and extensions thereof, or any part thereof (regardless of whether such indebtedness, obligations and liabilities are direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several or joint and several), of each Credit Party to any Bank (including Swing Line Bank) or to any Affiliate of any Bank (a) arising pursuant to the Loan Papers, and all interest accrued thereon and costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in the enforcement or collection thereof, and (b) arising under or in connection with any Hedge Transaction entered into between any Credit Party and any Bank or any Affiliate of any Bank; provided, that if any Bank or any Affiliate of a Bank ceases to be either a Bank or an Affiliate of a Bank hereunder, “Obligations” shall only include indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities, and all renewals and extensions thereof, or any part thereof, of each Credit Party to such Bank or such Affiliate of a Bank that arose from transactions entered into prior to the time such Bank ceased to be a Bank hereunder or prior to the time such Affiliate ceased to be an Affiliate of a Bank hereunder.

 

Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions means a Hedge Transaction pursuant to which any Person hedges the price to be received by it for future production of Hydrocarbons.

 

Operating Lease means any lease, sublease, license or similar arrangement (other than a Capital Lease and other than leases with a primary term of one year or less or which can be terminated by the lessee upon notice of one year or less without incurring a penalty) pursuant to which a Person leases, subleases or otherwise is granted the right to occupy, take possession of, or use property whether real, personal or mixed; provided, that Operating Lease shall not include (a) oil, gas or mineral leases or Mineral Interests entered into or assigned to any Credit Party in the ordinary course of such Credit Party’s business or (b) any lease under the Bank of America Master Lease.

 

Outstanding Credit means, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure on such date, including the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure related to Letters of Credit to be issued on such date, plus (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Loans (including, without limitation, Swing Line Loans) on such date, including the amount of any Borrowing (including any Swing Line Borrowing) to be made on such date.

 

Participant has the meaning given such term in Section 14.8(b).

 

PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

 

Periodic Determination means any determination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

Permitted Asset Sales means sales, leases, transfers, abandonments, or other dispositions of Borrowing Base Properties, provided, that the aggregate present value (discounted at 10% per annum) of all Borrowing Base Properties sold, leased, transferred, abandoned or disposed as “Permitted Asset Sales” during any Determination Period shall not exceed the greater of (a) five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base then in effect, or (b) $1,000,000.

 

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Permitted Encumbrances means with respect to any asset:

 

(a) Liens securing the Obligations in favor of Banks or their Affiliates under the Loan Papers;

 

(b) minor defects in title which do not secure the payment of money and otherwise have no material adverse effect on the value or operation of oil and gas properties, and for the purposes of this Agreement, a minor defect in title shall include (i) those instances where record title to an oil and gas lease is in a predecessor in title to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, but where Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, by reason of a farmout or other instrument is presently entitled to receive an assignment of its interest or other evidence of title and the appropriate Person is proceeding diligently to obtain such assignment, and (ii) easements, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other similar rights in respect of surface operations, and easements for pipelines, streets, alleys, highways, telephone lines, power lines, railways and other easements and rights-of-way, on, over or in respect of any of the properties of Borrower (or its Subsidiaries, as applicable) that are customarily granted in the oil and gas industry; so long as, with respect to any of such minor defects in title, the same are minor defects which are customary and usual in the oil and gas industry and which are customarily accepted by a reasonably prudent operator dealing with its properties;

 

(c) inchoate statutory or operators’ liens securing obligations for labor, services, materials and supplies furnished to Mineral Interests which are not delinquent (except to the extent permitted by Section 8.6);

 

(d) mechanic’s, materialmen’s, warehouseman’s, journeyman’s and carrier’s liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not delinquent (except to the extent permitted by Section 8.6);

 

(e) production sales contracts, Gas Balancing Agreements and joint operating agreements; provided, that the amount of all gas imbalances known to any Authorized Officer of Borrower and the amount of all production which has been paid for but not delivered shall have been disclosed as and when required hereunder;

 

(f) Liens for Taxes or assessments not yet due or not yet delinquent, or, if delinquent, that are being contested in good faith in the normal course of business by appropriate action, as permitted by Section 8.6;

 

(g) all rights to consent by, required notices to, filings with, or other actions by, Governmental Authorities in connection with the sale or conveyance of oil and gas leases or interests therein if Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary is entitled to such consent, the same are customarily obtained subsequent to such sale or conveyance and the appropriate Person is proceeding diligently to obtain such consent, notice or filing and has not been advised and has no reason to believe that such consent will not be forthcoming in a timely manner;

 

(h) the terms and provisions of any of the oil and gas leases and amendments thereto pursuant to which Borrower (or its Subsidiaries, as applicable) derives its interests;

 

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(i) lease burdens payable to third parties which are granted in the ordinary course of business in the oil and gas industry and which are deducted in the calculation of discounted present value in the Reserve Reports including, without limitation, any royalty, overriding royalty, carried interest or reversionary working interest;

 

(j) all applicable Laws, rules and orders of Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over the affairs of Borrower;

 

(k) Liens encumbering assets (including accessions and additions thereto and proceeds thereof) securing Debt incurred to finance the purchase of such assets, including, without limitation, the interests of a lessor under a Capital Lease, provided, that (i) the principal amount of the Debt secured by a purchased asset shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the purchase price of such asset, (ii) such Liens shall not extend to or encumber any other asset of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) such Liens shall attach to such purchased asset substantially simultaneously with the purchase of such asset, and (iv) the aggregate amount of all Debt secured by such Liens shall not exceed an amount equal to $250,000;

 

(l) pledges of cash and cash equivalents to secure Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions that are permitted hereunder;

 

(m) Liens securing bonding obligations (such as plugging and abandonment bonds) issued in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(n) Liens on the Equity of a Subsidiary of Borrower in favor of such Subsidiary to secure any debts owing to the Subsidiary by the holder of such Equity.

 

Permitted Investment means:

 

(a) 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;

 

(b) commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest or second highest credit rating obtainable from Standard & Poor’s Corporation or from Moody’s Investors Service;

 

(c) certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and deposit accounts (including money market deposit accounts) issued or offered by, any office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $250,000,000;

 

(d) collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in subsection (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in subsection (c) above;

 

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(e) Investments in funds substantially all of the assets of which are of the types described in subsections (a), (b) or (c) above;

 

(f) Investments in Borrower or in any Subsidiary of Borrower (including any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of Borrower as a result of such Investment), so long as such Subsidiary has previously provided (or contemporaneously provides) a Facility Guaranty and that the Equity owned by the Credit Parties in such Subsidiary has been pledged (or is contemporaneously pledged) to Administrative Agent pursuant to a Borrower Pledge Agreement or a Subsidiary Pledge Agreement (provided that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to provide a Facility Guaranty, that no pledge shall be required of more than 65% of the Equity owned directly by Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary in any Foreign Subsidiary, and that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to pledge any Equity in any other Foreign Subsidiary);

 

(g) to the extent constituting Investments, Shamrock Transactions; and.

 

(h) other Investments (in addition to those contemplated by subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of this definition) that do not in the aggregate, measured on a cumulative cost basis, exceed $500,000.

 

Person means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

Plan means at any time an employee pension benefit plan which is now or was previously covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

 

Proved Mineral Interests means, collectively, Proved Producing Mineral Interests, Proved Non-producing Mineral Interests, and Proved Undeveloped Mineral Interests.

 

Proved Non-producing Mineral Interests means all Mineral Interests which constitute proved developed non-producing reserves.

 

Proved Producing Mineral Interests means all Mineral Interests which constitute proved developed producing reserves.

 

Proved Undeveloped Mineral Interests means all Mineral Interests which constitute proved undeveloped reserves.

 

Qualified Public Offering means the first underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Exchange Act covering the offering and sale of common stock of Borrower.

 

Recognized Value means, with respect to Mineral Interests, the portion of the Borrowing Base which Bank of America attributes to such Mineral Interests for purposes of the most recent redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Article IV hereof (or for purposes of determining the Initial Borrowing Base in the event no such redetermination has

 

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occurred), based upon the discounted present value of the estimated net cash flow to be realized from the production of Hydrocarbons from such Mineral Interests.

 

Refunding Borrowing means a Borrowing made solely for the purpose of refinancing a Eurodollar Tranche on the expiration of the Interest Period applicable thereto or for the purpose of converting all or any part of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche to a Eurodollar Tranche, in each case in the manner contemplated by Section 2.6(c) and which does not result in any increase in the outstanding principal balance of the Loan. Refunding Borrowings may be Adjusted Base Rate Borrowings or Eurodollar Borrowings.

 

Regulation U means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

 

Rentals means amounts payable by a lessee under an Operating Lease.

 

Request for Borrowing has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Request for Letter of Credit has the meaning given such term in Section 2.3.

 

Required Banks means (a) as long as the Commitments are in effect, Banks having an aggregate Commitment Percentage which is greater than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3) of the Total Commitment, and (b) following termination of the Commitments, Banks holding greater than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3) of the Outstanding Credit (with the aggregate amount of each Bank’s risk participation and funded participation in Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Bank for purposes of this definition).

 

Required Reserve Value means Proved Mineral Interests that have a Recognized Value of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the Recognized Value of all Proved Mineral Interests held by Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Reserve Report means an unsuperseded engineering analysis of the Mineral Interests owned by Borrower in form and substance acceptable to Administrative Agent prepared in accordance with customary and prudent practices in the petroleum engineering industry and Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 69. Each Reserve Report required to be delivered by April 30 of each year pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be audited or prepared by the Approved Petroleum Engineer. Each other Reserve Report shall be prepared by Borrower’s in-house staff. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any Special Determination requested by Borrower, the Reserve Report shall be in form and scope mutually acceptable to Borrower and Administrative Agent. For purposes of Section 4.1, and until superseded, the Initial Reserve Report shall be considered a Reserve Report.

 

Restricted Payment means, with respect to any Person, any Distribution by such Person.

 

Rollover Notice has the meaning given such term in Section 2.6(c).

 

Schedule means a “schedule” attached to this Agreement and incorporated herein by reference, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

 

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Scheduled Determination Date means each June 30 and December 31, commencing June 30, 2006.

 

SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Section refers to a “section” or “subsection” of this Agreement unless specifically indicated otherwise.

 

Shamrock means Shamrock Energy LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, and its successors and assigns.

 

Shamrock Report means a report furnished by or on behalf of Shamrock pursuant to Section 8.1(l).

 

Shamrock Transactions means the following transactions:

 

(a) loans by Borrower or GeoMet Operating to Shamrock of up to $140,000 in principal amount outstanding at any time;

 

(b) Guarantees by Borrower or GeoMet Operating to Persons selling oil or gas to Shamrock of the payment and performance of Shamrock’s obligations to such Persons;

 

(c) the taking of collateral from Shamrock by Borrower or GeoMet Operating for the purpose of securing Shamrock’s obligations to them, including Shamrock’s obligation to reimburse them for any payments under such Guarantees; and

 

(d) the acquisition of an option by Borrower or GeoMet Operating to acquire any or all of the Equity issued by Shamrock (provided, that, prior to the exercise of such option, Shamrock shall not be deemed a Subsidiary of Borrower or GeoMet Operating due to the existence of such option or of any rights related thereto).

 

Sole Lead Arranger means Banc of America Securities LLC in its capacity as sole lead arranger for the credit facility hereunder or any successor thereto.

 

Special Determination means any determination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.3.

 

Subsidiary means, for any Person, any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions (including that of a general partner) are at the time directly or indirectly owned, collectively, by such Person and any Subsidiaries of such Person. The term Subsidiary shall include Subsidiaries of Subsidiaries (and so on).

 

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Subsidiary Pledge Agreement means a Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto to be executed by each existing and future Subsidiary of Borrower to the extent such Subsidiary owns any outstanding Equity of any other Subsidiary of Borrower (an Indirect Subsidiary), pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall (except as provided otherwise in the definition of “Credit Parties”) pledge to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Banks, all of the issued and outstanding Equity owned by such Subsidiary of such Indirect Subsidiary to secure the Obligations.

 

Swing Line Bank means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line bank hereunder.

 

Swing Line Borrowing means a Borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

 

Swing Line Exposure means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Line Loans made to Borrower outstanding at such time.

 

Swing Line Loan has the meaning given such term in Section 2.4 hereof.

 

Swing Line Notice means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.4(b) which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit K hereto.

 

Swing Line Sublimit means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $5,000,000, and (b) the Total Commitment. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Total Commitment.

 

Syndication Agent means BNP Paribas, in its capacity as Syndication Agent for Banks hereunder, or any successor thereto.

 

Taxes means all taxes, assessments, filing or other fees, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, stamp taxes, interest equalization taxes, capital transaction taxes, foreign exchange taxes or other charges, or other charges of any nature whatsoever, from time to time or at any time imposed by Law or any federal, state or local governmental agency. Tax means any one of the foregoing.

 

Termination Date means January 6, 2011.

 

Total Commitment means the aggregate of all Banks’ Commitments.

 

Tranche means an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche or a Eurodollar Tranche and Tranches means Adjusted Base Rate Tranches or Eurodollar Tranches or any combination thereof.

 

Type means with reference to a Tranche, the characterization of such Tranche as an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche or a Eurodollar Tranche based on the method by which the accrual of interest on such Tranche is calculated.

 

Yorktown means Yorktown Energy Partners IV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

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Section 1.2 Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered to Banks except for changes in which Borrower’s independent certified public accountants concur and which are disclosed to Administrative Agent on the next date on which financial statements are required to be delivered to Banks pursuant to Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b); provided, that, unless Borrower and Required Banks shall otherwise agree in writing, no such change shall modify or affect the manner in which compliance with the covenants contained in Article X are computed such that all such computations shall be conducted utilizing financial information presented consistently with prior periods.

 

Section 1.3 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 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.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE CREDIT FACILITIES

 

Section 2.1 Commitment.

 

(a) Each Bank severally agrees, subject to Section 2.1(c) and the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to lend to Borrower from time to time prior to the Termination Date amounts not to exceed in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, the amount of such Bank’s Commitment reduced by an amount equal to the sum of such Bank’s (x) Letter of Credit Exposure plus (y) Commitment Percentage of the outstanding principal amount of all Swing Line Loans. Each Borrowing shall (i) be in an aggregate principal amount of $250,000 or any larger integral multiple of (A) $250,000 in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, or (B) $50,000 in the case of an Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing, and (ii) be made from each Bank ratably in accordance with its respective Commitment Percentage. Subject to the foregoing limitations and the other provisions of this Agreement, Borrower may borrow

 

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under this Section 2.1(a), repay amounts borrowed under this Section 2.1(a), and request new Borrowings under this Section 2.1(a).

 

(b) Administrative Agent, or such Bank designated by Administrative Agent which (without obligation to do so) consents to the same (Letter of Credit Issuer), will issue Letters of Credit, from time to time during the Letter of Credit Period upon request by Borrower, for the account of Borrower, so long as (i) the sum of (A) the total Letter of Credit Exposure then existing, and (B) the amount of the requested Letter of Credit, does not exceed $5,000,000, and (ii) Borrower would be entitled to a Borrowing under Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.1(c) in the amount of the requested Letter of Credit. Not less than three (3) Domestic Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance of any such Letter of Credit, Borrower shall execute and deliver to Letter of Credit Issuer, Letter of Credit Issuer’s customary letter of credit application (Letter of Credit Application). Each Letter of Credit shall be in form and substance acceptable to Letter of Credit Issuer and shall have an expiration date (or must be terminable at the option of Letter of Credit Issuer) no later than one (1) year from the date of issuance. Upon the date of issuance of a Letter of Credit, Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to have sold to each other Bank, and each other Bank shall be deemed to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from Letter of Credit Issuer, a non-recourse participation in the related Letter of Credit and Letter of Credit Exposure equal to such Bank’s Commitment Percentage of such Letter of Credit and Letter of Credit Exposure. Upon request of any Bank, Administrative Agent shall provide notice to each Bank by telephone, teletransmission, e-mail or telex setting forth each Letter of Credit issued and outstanding pursuant to the terms hereof and specifying the Letter of Credit Issuer, beneficiary and expiration date of each such Letter of Credit, each Bank’s participation percentage of each such Letter of Credit and the actual dollar amount of each Bank’s participation held by Letter of Credit Issuer(s) thereof for such Bank’s account and risk. In connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent in respect of such Letters of Credit (1) the applicable Letter of Credit Fee in accordance with Section 2.13 hereof, and (2) at the time of issuance of each Letter of Credit, the applicable Letter of Credit Fronting Fee. Administrative Agent shall distribute the Letter of Credit Fee to Banks in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages, and Administrative Agent shall distribute the Letter of Credit Fronting Fee to the Letter of Credit Issuer for its own account. Any amendment, modification, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the issuance of a new Letter of Credit for purposes of this Section 2.1(b).

 

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Borrower shall, on the next succeeding Domestic Business Day, deposit with Administrative Agent such funds as Administrative Agent may request, up to a maximum amount equal to the aggregate existing Letter of Credit Exposure of all Banks. Any funds so deposited shall be held by Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of all Banks as security for the outstanding Letter of Credit Exposure and the other Obligations, and Borrower will, in connection therewith, execute and deliver such security agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent which it may, in its discretion, require. As drafts or demands for payment are presented under any Letter of Credit, Administrative Agent shall apply such funds to satisfy such drafts or demands. When all Letters of Credit have expired and the Obligations have been repaid in full (and the Commitments of all Banks have terminated) or such Event of Default has been cured or waived, Administrative Agent shall release to Borrower any remaining funds deposited under

 

25


this Section 2.1(b). Whenever Borrower is required to make deposits under this Section 2.1(b) and fails to do so on the day such deposit is due, Administrative Agent or any Bank may, without notice to Borrower, make such deposit (whether by application of proceeds of any collateral for the Obligations, by transfers from other accounts maintained with any Bank or otherwise) using any funds then available to any Bank of Borrower, any guarantor, or any other Person liable for all or any part of the Obligations.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse each Letter of Credit Issuer immediately upon demand by such Letter of Credit Issuer, and in immediately available funds, for any payment or disbursement made by such Letter of Credit Issuer under any Letter of Credit issued by it. Payment shall be made by Borrower with interest on the amount so paid or disbursed by Letter of Credit Issuer from but excluding the date payment is made under any Letter of Credit to and including the date of payment, at the lesser of (i) the Maximum Lawful Rate, or (ii) the Adjusted Base Rate; provided, that, in the event Borrower does not reimburse such Letter of Credit Issuer within one Business Day after the date payment is made under any such Letter of Credit, interest on the amount paid or disbursed by Letter of Credit Issuer shall accrue, from but excluding such due date to and including the date of payment, at the lesser of the Maximum Lawful Rate or the Default Rate. The obligations of Borrower under this paragraph will continue until all Letters of Credit have expired and all reimbursement obligations with respect thereto have been paid in full by Borrower.

 

The reimbursement obligations of Borrower under this Section 2.1(b) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Papers (including any Letter of Credit Application executed pursuant to this Section 2.1(b)) under and in all circumstances whatsoever and Borrower hereby waives any defense to the payment of such reimbursement obligations based on any circumstance whatsoever, including without limitation, in any case, the following circumstances: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit; (ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, counterclaim, defense or other rights which Borrower or any other Person may have at any time against any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, Administrative Agent, any Bank or any other Person, whether in connection with any Letter of Credit or any unrelated transaction; (iii) any statement, draft or other documentation presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; (iv) payment by Administrative Agent under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or (v) any other circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

 

As among Borrower on the one hand, Administrative Agent and each Bank, on the other hand, Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of Letters of Credit by, the beneficiary of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, neither Administrative Agent, Letter of Credit Issuer nor any Bank shall be responsible for any of the following (except to the extent resulting from its gross negligence or willful misconduct):

 

26


  (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any Person in connection with the application for and issuance of and presentation of drafts with respect to any Letter of Credit, even if it should prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged;

 

  (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign the Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason;

 

  (iii) the failure of the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit to comply duly with conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit;

 

  (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher;

 

  (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms;

 

  (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof;

 

  (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or

 

  (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Administrative Agent or any Bank.

 

Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse each Letter of Credit Issuer upon demand for all amounts paid under Letters of Credit as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph hereof; provided, however, if Borrower for any reason fails to reimburse such Letter of Credit Issuer in full upon demand, Banks shall reimburse such Letter of Credit Issuer in accordance with each Bank’s Commitment Percentage for amounts due and unpaid from Borrower as set forth hereinbelow; provided, however, that no such reimbursement made by Banks shall discharge Borrower’s obligations to reimburse Letter of Credit Issuer. All reimbursement amounts payable by any Bank under this Section 2.1(b) shall include interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate, from the date of the payment of such amounts by any Letter of Credit Issuer to the date of reimbursement by such Bank. No Bank shall be liable for the performance or nonperformance of the obligations of any other Bank under this paragraph. The reimbursement obligations of Banks under this paragraph shall continue after the Termination Date and shall survive termination of this Agreement and the other Loan Papers.

 

(c) No Bank will be obligated to lend to Borrower or incur Letter of Credit Exposure under this Section 2.1, and Borrower shall not be entitled to borrow hereunder or obtain Letters of Credit hereunder (i) during the existence of any Borrowing Base Deficiency, or (ii) in an amount which would cause a Borrowing Base Deficiency. Nothing in this Section 2.1(c) shall be deemed to limit any Bank’s obligation to (A) reimburse any Letter of

 

27


Credit Issuer with respect to such Bank’s participation in Letters of Credit issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer as provided in Section 2.1(b), or (B) fund any Refunding Borrowing provided that Borrower is in compliance with Section 4.5 of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2 Method of Borrowing.

 

(a) In order to request any Borrowing (other than a Swing Line Borrowing) hereunder, Borrower shall hand deliver, telecopy or e-mail (in accordance with Section 14.2(b)) to Administrative Agent a duly completed Request for Borrowing (herein so called) (i) prior to 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) at least one (1) Domestic Business Day before the Borrowing Date of a proposed Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing, and (ii) prior to 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) at least three (3) Eurodollar Business Days before the Borrowing Date of a proposed Eurodollar Borrowing. Each such Request for Borrowing shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, and shall specify:

 

(A) whether such Borrowing is to be an Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

 

(B) the Borrowing Date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business Day in the case of an Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing, or a Eurodollar Business Day in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing;

 

(C) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing; and

 

(D) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

 

(b) Upon receipt of a Request for Borrowing described in Section 2.2(a) above, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and the amount of the Borrowing to be loaned by such Bank pursuant thereto, and such Request for Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by Borrower.

 

(c) Not later than 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) on the date of each Borrowing (other than any Swing Line Borrowing), each Bank shall make available its Commitment Percentage of such Borrowing, in Federal or other funds immediately available in Boston, Massachusetts to Administrative Agent at its address set forth on Schedule 1 hereto. Unless Administrative Agent determines that any applicable condition specified in Section 6.2 has not been satisfied, Administrative Agent will make the funds so received from Banks available to Borrower at Administrative Agent’s aforesaid address.

 

Section 2.3 Method of Requesting Letters of Credit.

 

(a) In order to request any Letter of Credit hereunder, Borrower shall hand deliver, telex, e-mail or telecopy to Administrative Agent a duly completed Request for Letter of Credit (herein so called) prior to 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) at least three (3) Domestic Business Days before the date specified for issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each Request for Letters of Credit shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, shall be

 

28


accompanied by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer’s duly completed and executed Letter of Credit Application and agreement and shall specify:

 

(i) the requested date for issuance of such Letter of Credit;

 

(ii) the terms of such requested Letter of Credit, including the name and address of the beneficiary, the stated amount, the expiration date and the conditions under which drafts under such Letter of Credit are to be available; and

 

(iii) the purpose of such Letter of Credit.

 

(b) Upon receipt of a Request for Letter of Credit described in Section 2.3(a) above, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank and the proposed Letter of Credit Issuer of the contents thereof, including the amount of the requested Letter of Credit, and such Request for Letter of Credit shall not thereafter be revocable by Borrower.

 

(c) No later than 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) on the date each Letter of Credit is requested, unless Administrative Agent or the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer determines that any applicable condition precedent set forth in Section 6.2 hereof has not been satisfied, the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer will issue and deliver such Letter of Credit pursuant to the instructions of Borrower.

 

Section 2.4 Swing Line Loans.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Swing Line Bank agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Banks set forth in this Section 2.4, to make loans (each such loan, a Swing Line Loan) to Borrower from time to time on any Domestic Business Day prior to the Termination Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Commitment Percentage of the Outstanding Credit of the Bank acting as Swing Line Bank, may exceed the amount of such Bank’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Outstanding Credit shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Borrowing Base, and (B) the Total Commitment, and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Loans of any Bank (other than Swing Line Bank), plus such Bank’s Commitment Percentage of the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure, plus such Bank’s Commitment Percentage of the aggregate Swing Line Exposure shall not exceed such Bank’s Commitment, and provided, further, that Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.4, repay amounts borrowed under this Section 2.4 and request new Borrowings under this Section 2.4. Each Swing Line Loan shall be an Adjusted Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Bank shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from Swing Line Bank a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Bank’s Commitment Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

 

(b) Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon Borrower’s irrevocable notice to Swing Line Bank and Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone or e-

 

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mail (in accordance with Section 14.2(b)). Each such notice must be received by Swing Line Bank and Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) on the requested Borrowing Date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested Borrowing Date, which shall be a Domestic Business Day. Each such telephone notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to Swing Line Bank and Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Notice, appropriately completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of Borrower. Promptly after receipt by Swing Line Bank of any telephonic Swing Line Notice, Swing Line Bank will confirm with Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Notice and, if not, Swing Line Bank will notify Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless Swing Line Bank has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Bank) prior to 2:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing Swing Line Bank not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.4(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article VI is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Swing Line Bank will, not later than 3:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) on the Borrowing Date specified in such Swing Line Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to Borrower at its office by crediting the account of Borrower on the books of Swing Line Bank in immediately available funds.

 

(c) Swing Line Bank at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request on behalf of Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes Swing Line Bank to so request on its behalf), that each Bank make an Adjusted Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Bank’s Commitment Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Request for Borrowing for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.2, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Adjusted Base Rate Loans, but subject to the Availability and the conditions set forth in Section 6.2. Swing Line Bank shall furnish Borrower with a copy of the applicable Request for Borrowing promptly after delivering such request to Administrative Agent. Each Bank shall make an amount equal to its Commitment Percentage of the amount specified in such Request for Borrowing available to Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of Swing Line Bank at Administrative Agent’s office not later than 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) on the day specified in such Request for Borrowing, whereupon, subject to Section 2.4(d), each Bank that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made an Adjusted Base Rate Loan to Borrower in such amount, and the Swing Line Loans then outstanding shall be deemed repaid in the same amount. Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to Swing Line Bank.

 

(d) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.4(c), the request for Adjusted Base Rate Loans submitted by Swing Line Bank as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by Swing Line Bank that each of the Banks fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Bank’s payment to Administrative Agent for the account of Swing Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.4(c) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

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(e) If any Bank fails to make available to Administrative Agent for the account of Swing Line Bank any amount required to be paid by such Bank pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Section 2.4(c) or Section 2.4(d) by the time specified in Section 2.4(c), Swing Line Bank shall be entitled to recover from such Bank (acting through Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to Swing Line Bank at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by Swing Line Bank in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of Swing Line Bank submitted to any Bank (through Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.4(e) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(f) Each Bank’s obligation to make Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or Section 2.4(d) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Bank may have against Swing Line Bank, Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (iii) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Bank’s obligation to make Loans pursuant to Section 2.4(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 6.2. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(g) At any time after any Bank has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if Swing Line Bank receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, Swing Line Bank will distribute to such Bank its Commitment Percentage of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Bank’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by Swing Line Bank.

 

(h) If any payment received by Swing Line Bank in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by Swing Line Bank in connection with any proceeding under any debtor relief law or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by Swing Line Bank in its discretion), each Bank shall pay to Swing Line Bank its Commitment Percentage thereof on demand of Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of Swing Line Bank. The obligations of the Banks under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(i) Swing Line Bank shall be responsible for invoicing Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Bank funds its Adjusted Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or Section 2.4(d) to refinance such Bank’s Commitment Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Commitment Percentage shall be solely for the account of Swing Line Bank.

 

(j) Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to Swing Line Bank.

 

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Section 2.5 Notes. Each Bank’s Commitment Percentage of the Loan shall be evidenced by a single Note payable to the order of such Bank in an amount equal to such Bank’s Commitment.

 

Section 2.6 Interest Rates; Payments.

 

(a) The principal amount of the Loan (including any Swing Line Loan) outstanding from day to day which is the subject of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Base Rate; provided, that in no event shall the rate charged hereunder or under the Notes exceed the Maximum Lawful Rate. Interest on any portion of the principal of the Loan (including any Swing Line Loan) subject to an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche shall be payable as it accrues on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter.

 

(b) The principal amount of the Loan outstanding from day to day which is the subject of a Eurodollar Tranche shall bear interest for the Interest Period applicable thereto at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin; provided, that in no event shall the rate charged hereunder or under the Notes exceed the Maximum Lawful Rate. Interest on any portion of the principal of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche having an Interest Period of one (1) or three (3) months shall be payable on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto. Interest on any portion of the principal of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche having an Interest Period of six (6) or twelve (12) months shall be payable on the last day of such Interest Period and on the last day of each three (3) month period during such Interest Period.

 

(c) So long as no Default or Event of Default shall be continuing, subject to the provisions of this Section 2.6, Borrower shall have the option of having all or any portion of the principal outstanding under the Loan borrowed by it be the subject of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche or one (1) or more Eurodollar Tranches, which shall bear interest at rates based upon the Adjusted Base Rate and the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, respectively (each such option is referred to herein as an Interest Option); provided, that each Tranche shall be in a minimum amount of $250,000 and shall be in an amount which is an integral multiple of (i) $250,000 in the case of a Eurodollar Tranche, or (ii) $50,000 in the case of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche. Prior to the termination of each Interest Period with respect to each Eurodollar Tranche, Borrower shall give written notice (a Rollover Notice) in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto to Administrative Agent of the Interest Option which shall be applicable to such portion of the principal of the Loan upon the expiration of such Interest Period. Such Rollover Notice shall be given to Administrative Agent at least one (1) Domestic Business Day, in the case of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche selection and at least three (3) Eurodollar Business Days, in the case of a Eurodollar Tranche selection, prior to the termination of the Interest Period then expiring. If Borrower shall specify a Eurodollar Tranche, such Rollover Notice shall also specify the length of the succeeding Interest Period (subject to the provisions of the definitions of such term) selected by Borrower. Each Rollover Notice shall be irrevocable and effective upon notification thereof to Administrative Agent. If the required Rollover Notice shall not have been timely received by Administrative Agent, Borrower shall be deemed to have elected that the principal of the Loan subject to the Interest Period then expiring be the subject of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche upon the expiration of such Interest Period and Borrower will be deemed to have given Administrative Agent notice of such election. Subject to the limitations set forth in this

 

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Section 2.6(c) on the minimum amount of Eurodollar Tranches, Borrower shall have the right to convert all or part of the Adjusted Base Rate Tranche to a Eurodollar Tranche by giving Administrative Agent a Rollover Notice of such election at least three (3) Eurodollar Business Days prior to the date on which Borrower elects to make such conversion (a Conversion Date). The Conversion Date selected by Borrower shall be a Eurodollar Business Day. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.6 to the contrary, no portion of the principal of the Loan which is the subject of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche may be converted to a Eurodollar Tranche and no Eurodollar Tranche may be continued as such when any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, but each such Tranche shall be automatically converted to an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche on the last day of each applicable Interest Period. In no event shall more than five (5) Interest Options be in effect with respect to the Loan at any time.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 2.6(a) or Section 2.6(b) above, all overdue principal of and, to the extent permitted by Law, overdue interest on the Loan and all other Obligations which are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), for the period from and including the due date thereof to but excluding the date the same is paid in full, shall bear interest, at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) the Default Rate, and (ii) the Maximum Lawful Rate. Interest payable as provided in this Section 2.6(d) shall be payable from time to time on demand.

 

(e) Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loan in accordance with the terms hereof. Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Borrower and Banks by telex, e-mail or telecopy of each rate of interest so determined, and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the rate of interest calculated with reference to the Adjusted Base Rate or the LIBOR Rate hereunder (the contract rate) is limited to the Maximum Lawful Rate, any subsequent reductions in the contract rate shall not reduce the rate of interest on the Loan below the Maximum Lawful Rate until the total amount of interest accrued equals the amount of interest which would have accrued if the contract rate had at all times been in effect. In the event that at maturity (stated or by acceleration), or at final payment of any Note, the total amount of interest paid or accrued on such Note is less than the amount of interest which would have accrued if the contract rate had at all times been in effect with respect thereto, then at such time, to the extent permitted by Law, Borrower shall pay to the holder of such Note an amount equal to the difference between (i) the lesser of the amount of interest which would have accrued if the contract rate had at all times been in effect and the amount of interest which would have accrued if the Maximum Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect, and (ii) the amount of interest actually paid on such Note.

 

(g) Interest payable on the principal of any portion of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche shall be computed based on the number of actual days elapsed assuming that each calendar year consisted of 360 days. Interest payable on the principal of any portion of the Loan subject to an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche shall be computed based on the number of actual days elapsed and based on the actual number of days in the calendar year for which accrued interest is being computed.

 

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Section 2.7 Mandatory Prepayment Following Certain Events. Immediately upon the consummation by any Credit Party of any Permitted Asset Sale or any Asset Disposition, Borrower shall make a mandatory prepayment on the Loan in the amount, if any, required by Section 4.5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the consummation of any Asset Disposition or Permitted Asset Sale, all Net Cash Proceeds from any such Asset Disposition or Permitted Asset Sale, respectively, shall be applied as a mandatory prepayment on the Loan.

 

Section 2.8 Voluntary Prepayments. Borrower may, subject to Section 3.2 and Section 3.3, but without any other premium or penalty, upon (a) one (1) Domestic Business Day advance notice to Administrative Agent with respect to Adjusted Base Rate Borrowings (other than Swing Line Borrowings), and (b) three (3) Domestic Business Days advance notice to Administrative Agent with respect to Eurodollar Borrowings, prepay the principal of the Loan in whole or in part. Any partial prepayment shall be in a minimum amount of $50,000 and shall be in an integral multiple of $50,000 (or such lesser amount as may be required to fully prepay any applicable Tranche). Borrower may, subject to Section 3.2, but without any other premium or penalty, prepay the principal of the Swing Line Loans in whole or in part. Any partial prepayment shall be in a minimum amount of $50,000 and shall be in an integral multiple of $50,000 (or such lesser amount as may be required to fully prepay any applicable Swing Line Loan).

 

Section 2.9 Mandatory Termination of Commitments; Termination Date and Maturity. The Total Commitment (and the Commitment of each Bank) shall terminate on the Termination Date. The outstanding principal balance of the Loan (including any Swing Line Loan), all accrued but unpaid interest thereon and all other Obligations shall be due and payable in full on the Termination Date.

 

Section 2.10 Voluntary Reduction of Total Commitment. Borrower may, by notice to Administrative Agent five (5) Domestic Business Day prior to the effective date of any such reduction, permanently reduce or terminate the Total Commitment (and thereby permanently reduce the Commitment of each Bank ratably in accordance with such Bank’s Commitment Percentage); provided, that, any reduction shall be in amounts not less than $500,000 or any larger multiple of $500,000. On the effective date of any such reduction in the Total Commitment, Borrower shall, to the extent required as a result of such reduction, make a principal payment on the Loan (together with accrued interest thereon) in an amount sufficient to cause the Outstanding Credit to be equal to or less than the Total Commitment as thereby reduced (and Administrative Agent shall distribute to each Bank in like funds that portion of any such payment as is required to cause the principal balance of the Loan held by such Bank to be not greater than its Commitment as thereby reduced). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) Borrower shall not be permitted to voluntarily reduce the Total Commitment to an amount less than the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure of all Banks, and (b) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Total Commitment, the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Total Commitment, such Swing Line Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

Section 2.11 Application of Payments. Other than partial repayments or partial prepayments of Adjusted Base Rate Borrowings, each repayment or prepayment pursuant to

 

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Section 2.7, Section 2.8, Section 2.9, Section 2.10 and Section 4.5 shall be made together with accrued interest to the date of payment. All repayments and prepayments made pursuant to this Agreement shall be applied to payment of the Loan in accordance with Section 3.2 and the other provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.12 Commitment Fee. On the Termination Date, and no later than fifteen (15) days following the last day of each Fiscal Quarter prior to the Termination Date, and in the event the Commitments are terminated in their entirety prior to the Termination Date, on the date of such termination, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending on June 30, 2006, Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of each Bank based on each Bank’s Commitment Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Commitment Fee Percentage (computed on the basis of actual days elapsed and as if each calendar year consisted of 360 days) of the average daily Availability for the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) then most recently ended. Any similar fees accrued on the Effective Date under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be paid at the same time as the first fees payable under this Section.

 

Section 2.13 Letter of Credit Fees. On the Termination Date, and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter prior to the Termination Date, commencing June 30, 2006, and, in the event the Commitments are terminated in their entirety prior to the Termination Date, on the date of such termination, Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent or Bank of America (as applicable) (to be distributed by Administrative Agent (or retained by Bank of America, as applicable) in accordance with Section 2.1(b), the Letter of Credit Fee which accrued during such Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof), computed on the basis of actual days elapsed and as if each calendar year consisted of 360 days. Any similar fees accrued on the Effective Date under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be paid at the same time as the first fees payable under this Section.

 

Section 2.14 Agency and Other Fees. Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent and its Affiliates such fees and other amounts as Borrower shall be required to pay to Administrative Agent and its Affiliates from time to time pursuant to any separate agreement between Borrower and Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates setting forth the compensation to be paid to Administrative Agent and its Affiliates in consideration for acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and for providing other services in connection with the credit facilities provided pursuant hereto. Such fees and other amounts shall be retained by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, and no Bank (other than Administrative Agent) shall have any interest therein. Administrative Agent may disburse any fees paid to Administrative Agent and its Affiliates pursuant to this Section 2.14 in any manner Administrative Agent desires in its sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE III

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 3.1 Delivery and Endorsement of Notes. Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Administrative Agent shall deliver to each Bank the Note payable to such Bank. Each Bank may endorse (and prior to any transfer of its Note shall endorse) on the schedule attached to its Note appropriate notations to evidence the date and amount of each advance of funds made by it in respect of any Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto, and the date and amount of each payment of principal received by such Bank with respect to the

 

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Loan; provided, that the failure by any Bank to so endorse its Note shall not affect the liability of Borrower for the repayment of all amounts outstanding under such Notes together with interest thereon. Each Bank is hereby irrevocably authorized by Borrower to endorse its Note and to attach to and make a part of any Note a continuation of any such schedule as required.

 

Section 3.2 General Provisions as to Payments.

 

(a) Borrower shall make each payment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans (including Swing Line Loans) and all fees payable by Borrower hereunder not later than 1:00 p.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) on the date when due, in Federal or other funds immediately available in Boston, Massachusetts, to Administrative Agent at its address set forth on Schedule 1 hereto. Administrative Agent will promptly (and if such payment is received by Administrative Agent by 11:00 a.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time), and otherwise if reasonably possible, on the same Domestic Business Day) distribute to each Bank its Commitment Percentage of each such payment received by Administrative Agent for the account of Banks. Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, that portion of the Loan (including any Swing Line Loan) subject to an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche or of fees shall be due on a day which is not a Domestic Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Domestic Business Day (subject to the definition of Interest Period). Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, that portion of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche shall be due on a day which is not a Eurodollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Eurodollar Business Day (subject to the definition of Interest Period). If the date for any payment of principal is extended by operation of Law or otherwise, interest thereon shall be payable for such extended time. Borrower hereby authorizes Administrative Agent to charge from time to time against Borrower’s account or accounts with Administrative Agent any amount then due by Borrower.

 

(b) Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, all principal payments received by Banks with respect to the Loan shall be applied first to the payment of principal with respect to the Swing Line Loans outstanding, then to Eurodollar Tranches outstanding under the Loan with Interest Periods ending on the date of such payment, then to the Adjusted Base Rate Tranches outstanding under the Loan, and then to Eurodollar Tranches outstanding under the Loan next maturing until such principal payment is fully applied, with such adjustments in such order of payment as Administrative Agent shall specify in order that each Bank receives its ratable share of each such payment.

 

(c) After the occurrence of an Event of Default, all amounts collected or received by Administrative Agent or any Bank from any Credit Party or in respect of any of the assets of any Credit Party shall be applied first to the payment of all proper out-of-pocket costs incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with the collection thereof (including reasonable expenses and disbursements of counsel to Administrative Agent), second to the payment of all proper out-of-pocket costs incurred by Banks in connection with the collection thereof (including reasonable expenses and disbursements of counsel to Banks), third to the reimbursement of any advances made by Banks to effect performance of any unperformed covenants of any Credit Party under any of the Loan Papers, fourth to the payment of any unpaid fees required pursuant to Section 2.14, fifth to the payment of any unpaid fees required pursuant to Section 2.1(b), Section 2.12 and Section 2.13, sixth to establish the deposits required by Section 2.1(b) if any,

 

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and seventh to each Bank (and/or its Affiliates) for application to its Commitment Percentage of the principal balance of the Loan then outstanding (including accrued but unpaid interest thereon) in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages and to satisfy all obligations and liabilities then due with respect to Hedge Transactions, such payments to be made pro rata to each Bank (and/or its Affiliates) owed such Obligations in proportion to all such payments owed to all Banks (and/or its Affiliates) in respect of such Obligations. All payments received by a Bank after the occurrence of an Event of Default for application to the principal of the Loan pursuant to this Section 3.2(c) shall be applied by such Bank in the manner provided in Section 3.2(b).

 

Section 3.3 Funding Losses. If Borrower makes any payment of principal subject to a Eurodollar Tranche (whether pursuant to Section 2.7 Section 2.8, Section 2.9, Section 2.10, Section 4.5, Article XI or Article XIII and whether as a voluntary or mandatory prepayment or otherwise) on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or if Borrower fails to borrow any Eurodollar Borrowing, after notice has been given to any Bank in accordance with Section 2.2, Borrower shall reimburse each Bank on demand for any resulting loss or expense incurred by it, including (without limitation) any loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, or any loss arising from the reemployment of funds at rates lower than the cost to such Bank of such funds, which in the case of the payment or prepayment prior to the end of the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Tranche, shall be the amount, if any, by which (a) the interest which such Bank would have received absent such payment or prepayment for the applicable Interest Period exceeds (b) the interest (excluding the Applicable Margin) which such Bank would receive if its Commitment Percentage of the amount of such Eurodollar Borrowing were deposited, loaned, or placed by such Bank in the interbank eurodollar market on the date of such payment or prepayment for the remainder of the applicable Interest Period. Such Bank shall promptly deliver to Borrower and Administrative Agent a certificate as to the amount of such loss or expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

Section 3.4 Foreign Lenders, Participants, and Assignees. Each Bank, Participant (by accepting a participation interest under this Agreement), and Assignee (by executing an Assignment and Assumption Agreement) that is not organized under the Laws of the United States of America or one of its states (a) represents to Administrative Agent and Borrower that (i) no Taxes are required to be withheld by Administrative Agent or Borrower with respect to any payments to be made to it in respect of the Obligations, and (ii) it has furnished to Administrative Agent and Borrower two (2) duly completed copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or W-8BEN, or other form acceptable to Administrative Agent that entitles it to exemption from U.S. federal withholding Tax on all interest payments under the Loan Papers, and (b) covenants to (i) provide Administrative Agent and Borrower a new Form W-8ECI or W-8BEN, or other form acceptable to Administrative Agent upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form according to applicable Laws and regulations, duly executed and completed by it, and (ii) comply from time to time with all applicable Laws and regulations with regard to the withholding Tax exemption. If any of the foregoing is not true or the applicable forms are not provided, then Borrower and Administrative Agent (but without duplication) may deduct and withhold from interest payments under the Loan Papers any United States federal-income Tax at the maximum rate under the Code.

 

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Section 3.5 Non-Receipt of Funds by Administrative Agent. Unless Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Bank or Borrower (Payor) prior to the date on which such Bank is to make payment to Administrative Agent hereunder or Borrower is to make a payment to Administrative Agent for the account of one or more Banks, as the case may be (such payment being herein called the Required Payment), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that Payor does not intend to make the Required Payment to Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made and may, in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be required to), make the amount thereof available to the intended recipient on such date and, if Payor has not in fact made the Required Payment to Administrative Agent, (a) the recipient of such payment shall, on demand, pay to Administrative Agent the amount made available to it together with interest thereon in respect of the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by Administrative Agent until the date Administrative Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the event such recipient is a Bank, the Federal Funds Rate then in effect for such period, and (ii) in the event such recipient is Borrower, the Adjusted Base Rate then in effect for such period, and (b) Administrative Agent shall be entitled to offset against any and all sums to be paid to such recipient, the amount calculated in accordance with the foregoing clause (a).

 

ARTICLE IV

 

BORROWING BASE

 

Section 4.1 Reserve Reports; Proposed Borrowing Base. As soon as available and in any event by May 1 and November 1 of each year commencing November 1, 2006, Borrower shall deliver to each Bank a Reserve Report prepared as of the immediately preceding January 1 and July 1, respectively. Simultaneously with the delivery to Administrative Agent and each Bank of each Reserve Report, Borrower shall notify Administrative Agent of the Borrowing Base which Borrower requests become effective for the period commencing on the next Determination Date.

 

Section 4.2 Scheduled Redeterminations of the Borrowing Base; Procedures and Standards. Based in part on the Reserve Reports made available to Banks pursuant to Section 4.1, Banks shall redetermine the Borrowing Base on or prior to the next Determination Date (or such date promptly thereafter as reasonably possible (a) based on the engineering and other information available to Banks, and (b) in accordance with, and consistent with, the subsequent provisions of this Section 4.2). Any Borrowing Base which becomes effective as a result of any Determination of the Borrowing Base shall be subject to the following restrictions: (i) such Borrowing Base shall not exceed the Borrowing Base requested by Borrower pursuant to Section 4.1, (ii) such Borrowing Base shall not exceed the Total Commitment then in effect, (iii) to the extent such Borrowing Base represents an increase from the Borrowing Base in effect prior to such Determination, such Borrowing Base shall be approved by all Banks, and (iv) any Borrowing Base which represents a decrease in the Borrowing Base in effect prior to such Determination, or a reaffirmation of such prior Borrowing Base, shall only require approval of Required Banks. Each Determination shall be made by Banks in accordance with their normal and customary procedures for evaluating oil and gas reserves and other related assets as such exist at that particular time and will otherwise be in their sole discretion. Administrative Agent shall propose such redetermined Borrowing Base to Banks within thirty (30) days following receipt by Administrative Agent and Banks of a Reserve Report. After having received notice of

 

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such proposal by Administrative Agent, Required Banks (or all Banks in the event of a proposed increase) shall have fifteen (15) days to agree or disagree with such proposal. If at the end of such fifteen (15) day period, Required Banks (or all Banks in the event of a proposed increase) have not communicated their approval or disapproval, such silence shall be deemed an approval and Administrative Agent’s proposal shall be the new Borrowing Base. If, however, Required Banks (or any Bank in the event of a proposed increase) notify Administrative Agent within such fifteen (15) day period of their disapproval, Required Banks (or all Banks in the event of a proposed increase) shall, within a reasonable period of time, agree on a new Borrowing Base. In taking the above actions, Administrative Agent and Banks shall act in accordance with their normal and customary procedures for evaluating oil and gas reserves and other related assets as such exist at that particular time and will otherwise act in their sole discretion. It is further acknowledged and agreed that each Bank may consider such other credit factors as it deems appropriate which are consistent with its normal and customary procedures for evaluating oil and gas reserves and shall have no obligation in connection with any Determination to approve any increase from the Borrowing Base in effect prior to such Determination. Promptly following any Determination of the Borrowing Base, Administrative Agent shall notify Borrower of the amount of the Borrowing Base as redetermined, which Borrowing Base shall be effective as of the date of such notice, and shall remain in effect for all purposes of this Agreement until the next Periodic or Special Determination. Upon written request of Borrower at any time, but not more frequently than twice during any calendar year, Administrative Agent shall deliver to Borrower a calculation of the Recognized Value of all Proved Mineral Interests evaluated by Bank of America for purposes of the most recent redetermination of the Borrowing Base.

 

Section 4.3 Special Determination of Borrowing Base. In addition to the redeterminations of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.2 and Section 4.4, Required Banks may request Special Determinations of the Borrowing Base from time to time; provided, that Required Banks may not request more than one (1) Special Determination in any Fiscal Year. In the event Required Banks request such a Special Determination, Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver notice of such request to Borrower and Borrower shall, within thirty (30) days following the date of such request, deliver to Banks a Reserve Report prepared as of the last day of the calendar month preceding the date of such request. Upon receipt of such Reserve Report, Administrative Agent shall, subject to approval of Required Banks, or all Banks in the event of a proposed increase in the Borrowing Base, redetermine the Borrowing Base in accordance with the procedure set forth in Section 4.2 which Borrowing Base shall become effective on the date on which the Administrative Agent and Required Banks, or all Banks in the event of a proposed increase in the Borrowing Base, approve such Borrowing Base and provide notice thereof to Borrower.

 

Section 4.4 Adjustments for Asset Dispositions and Shamrock Transactions.

 

(a) In addition to the redeterminations of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.2 and Section 4.3, the Borrowing Base shall reduce simultaneously with the completion by any Credit Party of any Asset Disposition by the Borrowing Base value of the Borrowing Base Properties which are the subject of such Asset Disposition (which shall be the Borrowing Base value assigned thereto by Administrative Agent and approved by Required Banks).

 

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(b) In addition to the redeterminations of the Borrowing pursuant to Section 4.2 and Section 4.3, the Borrowing Base shall reduce simultaneously with the receipt of any Shamrock Report by the remainder of (i) one hundred percent (100%) of those portions of the accounts payable shown in such report for which Borrower or GeoMet Operating is liable under its Guarantee thereof, minus (ii) seventy percent (70%) of the amount of current accounts receivable shown in such report.

 

Section 4.5 Borrowing Base Deficiency. If a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists at any time (other than as a result of any adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.4), Borrower shall, within thirty (30) days following notice thereof from Administrative Agent, provide written notice (the “Election Notice”) to Administrative Agent stating the action which Borrower proposes to take to remedy such Borrowing Base Deficiency, and Borrower shall thereafter, at its option, do one or a combination of the following: (a) within ten (10) days following the delivery of such Election Notice, make a prepayment of principal on the Loan in an amount sufficient to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency, and if such Borrowing Base Deficiency cannot be eliminated by prepaying the Loan in full (as a result of outstanding Letter of Credit Exposure), Borrower shall also at such time deposit with Administrative Agent sufficient funds to be held by Administrative Agent as security for outstanding Letter of Credit Exposure in the manner contemplated by Section 2.1(b) as necessary to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency, (b) within thirty (30) days following the delivery of such Election Notice, submit additional oil and gas properties owned by Borrower and its Subsidiaries for consideration in connection with the determination of the Borrowing Base which Administrative Agent and Required Banks deem sufficient in their sole discretion to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency, or (c) eliminate such deficiency by making six (6) consecutive mandatory prepayments of principal on the Loan, each of which shall be in the amount of one-sixth (1/6th) of the amount of such Borrowing Base Deficiency commencing on the date of delivery of such Election Notice and continuing on the corresponding day of each subsequent month thereafter, and in connection therewith, Borrower shall (i) dedicate a sufficient amount (as determined by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) of the monthly cash flow from Borrower’s oil and gas properties to satisfy such payments, and (ii) execute and deliver such collateral assignments and/or security agreements in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent which it may, in its discretion, require with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any reduction, adjustment and/or redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.4 which results in a Borrowing Base Deficiency (or increase in any existing Borrowing Base Deficiency), Borrower shall promptly, but in all events within two (2) Domestic Business Days after such Borrowing Base Deficiency (or increase in such Borrowing Base Deficiency) first occurs, make a mandatory prepayment of principal on the Loan in an amount sufficient to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency (or increase in any previously existing Borrowing Base Deficiency). In addition, if any Permitted Asset Sale occurs while any Borrowing Base Deficiency exists, Borrower shall promptly, but in all events within two (2) Domestic Business Days after such Permitted Asset Sale is consummated, apply all Net Cash Proceeds from such Permitted Asset Sale as a mandatory prepayment of principal on the Loan to reduce or eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency.

 

Section 4.6 Initial Borrowing Base. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Borrowing Base in effect during the period from the Effective Date until the date of

 

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the first Special or Periodic Determination after the Effective Date shall be the Initial Borrowing Base.

 

ARTICLE V

 

COLLATERAL

 

Section 5.1 Security.

 

(a) The Obligations shall be secured by first and prior Liens (subject only to Permitted Encumbrances) covering and encumbering (i) Mineral Interests owned by Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries which shall in all events include not less than the Required Reserve Value of all Proved Mineral Interests owned by Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries on and after the Effective Date, and (ii) one-hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Equity of each existing and future Subsidiary of Borrower (provided that no pledge shall be required of more than 65% of the Equity owned directly by Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary in any Foreign Subsidiary and that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to pledge any Equity in any other Foreign Subsidiary). On or prior to the Effective Date, Borrower shall deliver to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of each Bank (A) the Mortgages in form and substance acceptable to Administrative Agent and duly executed by the Credit Parties (as applicable) together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings, including, without limitation, UCC-1 financing statements (each duly authorized and executed, as applicable) as Administrative Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate to grant, evidence and perfect first and prior Liens in all Borrowing Base Properties and other interests of Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries required by this Section 5.1(a), (B) a Borrower Pledge Agreement duly executed by Borrower, (C) such UCC-1 financing statements as Administrative Agent shall request to fully evidence and perfect the Liens created by such Borrower Pledge Agreement, and (D) the certificates, if any, evidencing the issued and outstanding Equity of each existing Subsidiary of Borrower that is required hereby to be pledged, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate blank stock powers (as applicable).

 

(b) On or prior to the Effective Date and at such other times as Administrative Agent or Required Banks shall request, Borrower shall, and shall cause its Domestic Subsidiaries to, deliver to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of each Bank, Mortgages in form and substance acceptable to Administrative Agent and duly executed by Borrower and such Subsidiaries (as applicable) together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings, including, without limitation, UCC-1 financing statements (each duly authorized and executed, as applicable) as Administrative Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate to grant, evidence and perfect the Liens required by Section 5.1(a)(i) preceding with respect to Mineral Interests then held by Borrower and such Subsidiaries (as applicable) which are not the subject of existing first and prior, perfected Liens securing the Obligations as required by Section 5.1(a)(i) preceding.

 

(c) On the date of the creation or acquisition by Borrower of any Subsidiary with assets of $25,000 or more, or on the date of creation or acquisition by any Subsidiary of Borrower of any Indirect Subsidiary with assets of $25,000 or more, Borrower or such Subsidiary of Borrower (as applicable) shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent a Borrower Pledge Agreement or Subsidiary Pledge Agreement (as applicable) together with (i) all

 

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certificates (or other evidence acceptable to Administrative Agent) evidencing the issued and outstanding Equity of any such Subsidiary of every class which shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers executed in blank (as applicable), and (ii) such UCC-1 financing statements as Administrative Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate to grant, evidence and perfect the Liens required by Section 5.1(a)(ii) in the issued and outstanding Equity of each such Subsidiary, provided that no pledge shall be required of more than 65% of the Equity owned directly by Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary in any Foreign Subsidiary and that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to pledge any Equity in any other Foreign Subsidiary.

 

(d) Borrower hereby authorizes Administrative Agent, and its agents, successors and assigns, to file any and all necessary financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code, assignments or continuation statements as necessary from time to time (in Administrative Agent’s discretion) to perfect (or continue perfection of) the Liens granted (or purported to be granted) pursuant to the Loan Papers.

 

Section 5.2 Opinions of Counsel. At any time Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are required to execute and deliver Mortgages to Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1, Borrower shall also deliver to Administrative Agent such opinions of counsel (including, if so requested, title opinions, and in each case addressed to Administrative Agent) and other evidence of title as Administrative Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate to verify (a) Borrower’s (or any such Subsidiary’s (as applicable)) title to the Required Reserve Value of the Proved Mineral Interests which are subject to such Mortgages, (b) the validity and perfection of the Liens created by such Mortgages, and (c) such other matters relative to such Mortgages as Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

Section 5.3 Guarantees. Payment and performance of the Obligations shall be fully guaranteed by GeoMet Operating and each existing or hereafter acquired Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to a Facility Guaranty. On the date of creation or acquisition by Borrower of any Domestic Subsidiary, or on the date of creation or acquisition by any Domestic Subsidiary of Borrower of any Indirect Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, Borrower shall cause such Domestic Subsidiary to execute and deliver to Administrative Agent a Facility Guaranty.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS

 

Section 6.1 Conditions to Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement, Initial Borrowing and Participation in Letter of Credit Exposure. The amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and the obligation of each Bank to loan its Commitment Percentage of the initial Borrowing hereunder, and the obligation of Administrative Agent to issue (or cause another Bank to issue), the initial Letter of Credit issued hereunder is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Deliveries. Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following documents, instruments and agreements, each of which shall be in form and substance and executed in such counterparts as shall be acceptable to Administrative Agent and Required

 

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Banks and each of which shall, unless otherwise indicated, be dated on or prior to the Effective Date:

 

(i) a Note payable to the order of each Bank in the amount of such Bank’s Commitment, duly executed and delivered by Borrower;

 

(ii) a Borrower Pledge Agreement duly executed and delivered by Borrower together with (A) certificates evidencing one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Equity of GeoMet Operating and each other existing Domestic Subsidiary, which certificates shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers executed in blank (as applicable), and (B) such financing statements as Administrative Agent shall request to evidence and perfect the Liens granted pursuant to such Borrower Pledge Agreement;

 

(iii) a Facility Guaranty duly executed and delivered by GeoMet Operating and each existing Domestic Subsidiary of Borrower;

 

(iv) Mortgages, each duly executed and delivered by the Credit Parties (as applicable) and Administrative Agent, together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings, including, without limitation, UCC-1 financing statements, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent;

 

(v) opinions of (A) Thompson & Knight L.L.P., counsel to Borrower, (B) Burr & Forman L.L.P., special Alabama counsel to Borrower and GeoMet Operating, and (C) Jackson Kelly PLLC, special West Virginia counsel to Borrower and GeoMet Operating, favorably opining as to such matters as Administrative Agent or Banks may request;

 

(vi) a certificate, dated as of the Effective Date, executed by an Authorized Officer of Borrower stating that, to his knowledge, (A) the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Papers are true and correct in all respects, (B) no Default or Event of Default has occurred which is continuing, and (C) all conditions set forth in this Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 have been satisfied;

 

(vii) a copy of the articles or certificate of incorporation or comparable charter documents, and all amendments thereto, of each Credit Party that is a party to any Loan Paper, accompanied by a certificate that such copy is true, correct and complete, issued by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each such Credit Party, and accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or comparable Authorized Officer of each such Credit Party that such copy is true, correct and complete as of the date hereof;

 

(viii) a copy of the bylaws or comparable charter documents, and all amendments thereto, of each Credit Party that is a party to any Loan Paper, accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or comparable Authorized Officer of each such Credit Party that such copy is true, correct and complete as of the date hereof;

 

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(ix) certain certificates and other documents issued by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of such jurisdictions as Administrative Agent has requested relating to the existence of each Credit Party that is a party to any Loan Paper and to the effect that each Credit Party is in good standing with respect to the payment of franchise and similar Taxes and is duly qualified to transact business in such jurisdictions;

 

(x) a certificate of incumbency of the officers of each Credit Party (to the extent a party to any Loan Paper) who will be authorized to execute or attest to any Loan Paper, dated the date hereof, executed by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or comparable Authorized Officer of each such Credit Party (as applicable);

 

(xi) copies of resolutions or comparable authorizations approving the Loan Papers and authorizing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Papers, duly adopted by the Board of Directors, partners or comparable authority of each Credit Party a party to any Loan Paper, accompanied by certificates of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or comparable officer of each such Credit Party (as applicable) that such copies are true and correct copies of resolutions duly adopted in accordance with the charter documents of each such Credit Party, and that such resolutions constitute all the resolutions adopted with respect to such transactions, have not been amended, modified, or revoked in any respect, and are in full force and effect as of the date hereof.

 

(xii) such UCC-11 search reports as Administrative Agent shall require, prepared as of a date acceptable to Administrative Agent, conducted in such jurisdictions and reflecting such names as Administrative Agent shall request; and

 

(xiii) certificates from Borrower’s insurance broker setting forth the insurance maintained by Borrower, stating that such insurance is in full force and effect, and that all premiums have been paid.

 

(b) Fees and Expenses. All reasonable fees and expenses of Administrative Agent, Book Manager, Sole Lead Manager and their Affiliates in connection with the credit facility provided herein shall have been paid.

 

(c) No Material Adverse Change. No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred in the assets, liabilities, financial condition or prospects of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(d) No Legal Prohibition. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Papers shall be permitted by applicable Law and regulation.

 

(e) No Litigation. No litigation, arbitration or similar proceeding shall be pending which calls into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement and/or the other Loan Papers.

 

(f) Fees. Borrower shall have paid to (i) Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of each Bank, any fees to be paid on the date hereof and on the Effective Date pursuant to Section 2.14, and (ii) Administrative Agent, for its own account, any fees payable to

 

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Administrative Agent or any Affiliate of Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.14. Additionally, Borrower shall pay, or provide for the payment of, all mortgage privilege taxes required to be paid upon the recording of the Mortgages in the various counties in the State of Alabama.

 

(g) Other Matters. All matters related to this Agreement, the other Loan Papers or any Credit Party shall be acceptable to Administrative Agent, and Borrower shall have delivered to Administrative Agent such evidence as it shall request to substantiate any matters related to this Agreement, the other Loan Papers, or any Credit Party as Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

Upon satisfaction of each of the conditions set forth in this Section 6.1, Borrower and Administrative Agent shall execute the Certificate of Effectiveness. Upon the execution and delivery of the Certificate of Effectiveness, the Existing Credit Agreement shall automatically and completely be amended and restated on the terms set forth herein and the loans and tranches outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall become the Loan and Tranches hereunder, in the same amount and with the same Interest Periods and LIBOR Rates, all without necessity of any other action on the part of any Bank, Administrative Agent or Borrower. Until execution and delivery of the Certificate of Effectiveness, the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. Each Bank hereby authorizes Administrative Agent to execute the Certificate of Effectiveness on its behalf and acknowledges and agrees that the execution of the Certificate of Effectiveness by Administrative Agent shall be binding on each such Bank.

 

Section 6.2 Conditions to each Borrowing and each Letter of Credit. The obligation of each Bank to loan its Commitment Percentage of each Borrowing and the obligation of any Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit on the date any Letter of Credit is to be issued is subject to the further satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) timely receipt by (i) Administrative Agent of a Request for Borrowing or Request for Letter(s) of Credit (as applicable), and (ii) Swing Line Bank (with a copy to Administrative Agent) of a Swing Line Notice (as applicable);

 

(b) immediately before and after giving effect to such Borrowing or issuance of such Letter(s) of Credit, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and neither such Borrowing nor the issuance of such Letter(s) of Credit (as applicable) shall cause a Default or Event of Default;

 

(c) the representations and warranties of each Credit Party contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Papers shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the issuance of such Letter(s) of Credit (as applicable);

 

(d) the funding of such Borrowing or the issuance of such Letter(s) of Credit (as applicable) and all other Borrowings to be made and/or Letter(s) of Credit to be issued (as applicable) on the same day under this Agreement, shall not cause a Borrowing Base Deficiency; and

 

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(e) following the issuance of any Letter(s) of Credit, the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure of all Banks shall not exceed $5,000,000.

 

Each Borrowing and the issuance of each Letter of Credit hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty by Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing or issuance of such Letter of Credit (as applicable) the statements contained in subclauses (b), (c), (d) and (e) above are true.

 

Section 6.3 Materiality of Conditions. Each condition precedent herein is material to the transactions contemplated herein, and time is of the essence in respect of each thereof.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Borrower represents and warrants that each of the following statements is true and correct on the date hereof and will be true and correct on the Effective Date and on the occasion of each Borrowing and the issuance of each Letter of Credit:

 

Section 7.1 Existence and Power. Each of the Credit Parties (a) is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership duly incorporated or organized (as applicable), and is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization (as applicable), (b) has all corporate, limited liability company or partnership power (as applicable) and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its businesses as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and (c) is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation, foreign limited liability company or foreign partnership (as applicable) in each jurisdiction where a failure to be so qualified could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 7.2 Corporate, Limited Liability Company, Partnership and Governmental Authorization; Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgages, and the other Loan Papers by each Credit Party (as applicable) (a) are within such Credit Party’s corporate, partnership, or limited liability company powers (as applicable), (b) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, or limited liability company action (as applicable), (c) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or official, and (d) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable Law or regulations (including, without limitation, the Margin Regulations) or of the articles of association, partnership agreement, certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, bylaws, regulations or other organizational documents (as applicable) of any such Credit Party or of any agreement, indenture, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon any such Credit Party or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any such Credit Party except Liens securing the Obligations.

 

Section 7.3 Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Borrower; the Notes, the Mortgages, and the other Loan Papers when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will then constitute valid and binding obligations of each Credit Party (to the extent a party thereto); and each Loan Paper is enforceable against

 

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each Credit Party (to the extent a party thereto) in accordance with its terms except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws affecting creditors rights generally, and (b) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

Section 7.4 Financial Information.

 

(a) The Current Financials fairly present, in conformity with GAAP (but excluding footnotes), the consolidated financial position of Borrower and its consolidated results of operations and cash flows as of the date and for the period covered thereby, subject to year end adjustments.

 

(b) There has been no Material Adverse Change in the business, financial position, results of operations or prospects of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Current Financials.

 

Section 7.5 Litigation. Except for matters disclosed on Schedule 2 attached hereto or in any written notice hereafter delivered to Administrative Agent to supplement Schedule 2, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened against or affecting any Credit Party before any court, arbitrator, Governmental Authority or official in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which would in any manner draw into question the validity of the Loan Papers.

 

Section 7.6 ERISA. No Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or has ever maintained or been obligated to contribute to any Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA. Each Plan maintained by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws. Except in such instances where an omission or failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) all returns, reports and notices required to be filed with any regulatory agency with respect to any Plan have been filed timely, and (b) no Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has failed to make any contribution or pay any amount due or owing as required by the terms of any Plan. There are no pending or, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, threatened claims, lawsuits, investigations or actions (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) asserted or instituted against, and no Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has knowledge of any threatened litigation or claims against, the assets of any Plan or its related trust or against any fiduciary of a Plan with respect to the operation of such Plan that are likely to result in liability of any Credit Party having a Material Adverse Effect. Except in such instances where an omission or failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan that is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is, and has been during the period from its adoption to date, so qualified, both as to form and operation and all necessary governmental approvals, including a favorable determination as to the qualification under the Code of such Plan and each amendment thereto, have been or will be timely obtained. No Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in any prohibited transactions, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan which would result in liability of any Credit Party having a Material Adverse Effect. No Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to any Plan that provides a post-

 

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employment health benefit, other than a benefit required under Section 601 of ERISA, or maintains or contributes to a Plan that provides health benefits that is not fully funded except where the failure to fully fund such Plan would not have a Material Adverse Effect. No Credit Party maintains, has established or has ever participated in a multiple employer welfare benefit arrangement within the meaning of Section 3(40)(A) of ERISA.

 

Section 7.7 Taxes and Filing of Tax Returns. Each Credit Party has filed all material tax returns required to have been filed and has paid all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns, including interest and penalties, and all other Taxes which are payable by such party, to the extent the same have become due and payable other than Taxes with respect to which a failure to pay would not have a Material Adverse Effect. All Tax liabilities of each Credit Party and their predecessors are adequately provided for. Except as disclosed in writing to Banks, no tax liability of any Credit Party, or any of their predecessors has been asserted by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority for Taxes in excess of those already paid.

 

Section 7.8 Title to Properties; Liens. Each Credit Party has good and valid title to all material assets purported to be owned by it, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the foregoing, (a) Borrower has good, valid and defensible title to all Borrowing Base Properties (except for Borrowing Base Properties disposed of in compliance with, and to the extent permitted by Section 9.5 to the extent this representation and warranty is made or deemed made after the Closing Date), free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Encumbrances, and (b) each Credit Party has good and valid title to all material assets reflected in the Current Financials and any subsequent financial statements delivered to Banks pursuant to Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in the Cahaba Mortgage, Borrower hereby discloses to Administrative Agent and Banks that, and hereby qualifies its representations and warranties in the Loan Papers to the effect that, the description set forth on Exhibit A to the Cahaba Mortgage of the net working interests of Borrower with respect to the wells described on such Exhibit A (the Cahaba Wells) is incomplete in the following respect:

 

As of the effective date of the Cahaba Mortgage, Borrower owned an 87.5% net working interest in the Cahaba Wells. However, the lease governing the Cahaba Wells contains an escalating royalty interest on a well-by-basis that will reduce Borrower’s net working interests as follows: (a) two (2) years after first sales commence on a particular Cahaba Well, the 12.5% royalty interest therein escalates to 15.5%, thereby reducing Borrower’s net working interest therein to 84.5%, and (b) an additional two (2) years thereafter, the 15.5% royalty interest therein escalates again to 18.5%, thereby reducing Borrower’s net working interest therein to 81.5%, where it remains constant for life of the well.

 

Section 7.9 Mineral Interests. With the exception of Immaterial Title Deficiencies, all Borrowing Base Properties 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. Without regard to any consent or non-consent provisions of any joint operating agreement covering any

 

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Credit Party’s Proved Mineral Interests, and with the exception of Immaterial Title Deficiencies, each Credit Party’s share of (a) the costs for each Borrowing Base Property is not greater than the decimal fraction set forth in the Reserve Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the respective designations “working interests”, “WI”, “gross working interest”, “GWI”, or similar terms, and (b) production from, allocated to, or attributed to each such Borrowing Base Property is not less than the decimal fraction set forth in the Reserve Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the designations “net revenue interest”, “NRI”, or similar terms. Each well drilled in respect of each Proved Producing Mineral Interest described in the Reserve Report has been drilled, bottomed, completed, and operated in material compliance with all applicable Laws 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 7.10 Business; Compliance. Each Credit Party has performed and abided by all obligations required to be performed under each license, permit, order, authorization, grant, contract, agreement, or regulation to which such Credit Party is a party or by which such Credit Party or any of the assets of such Credit Party are bound to the extent a failure to perform and abide by such obligations could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, that to the extent Mineral Interests owned by any such Credit Party are operated by operators other than such Credit Party or an Affiliate of such Credit Party, Borrower does not have any knowledge that any such obligation remains unperformed and the appropriate Person has diligently enforced all contractual obligations of such operators to insure performance.

 

Section 7.11 Licenses, Permits, Etc. Each Credit Party possesses such valid franchises, certificates of convenience and necessity, operating rights, licenses, permits, consents, authorizations, exemptions and orders of tribunals, as are necessary to carry on its businesses as now being conducted except to the extent a failure to obtain any such item would not have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, that to the extent Mineral Interests owned by any Credit Party are operated by operators other than such Credit Party or an Affiliate of such Credit Party, Borrower does not have any knowledge that possession of such items has not been obtained, and the appropriate Person has diligently enforced all contractual obligations of such operators to obtain such items.

 

Section 7.12 Compliance with Law. The business and operations of each Credit Party have been and are being conducted in accordance with all applicable Laws, rules and regulations of all tribunals and Governmental Authorities, other than Laws, rules and regulations the violation of which is not (either individually or collectively) reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, that to the extent Mineral Interests owned by any Credit Party are operated by operators other than any Credit Party or an Affiliate of any Credit Party, Borrower does not have any knowledge of non-compliance and the appropriate Person has diligently enforced all contractual obligations of such operators to insure compliance.

 

Section 7.13 Full Disclosure. All information heretofore furnished by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or any other party on any Credit Party’s behalf) to any Agent or any Bank for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby is, and all such information hereafter furnished by any Credit Party or on behalf of any Credit Party to any Agent or any Bank will be, true, complete and accurate in every material respect or based on

 

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reasonable estimates on the date as of which such information is stated or certified. Borrower has disclosed to Banks in writing any and all facts (other than facts of general public knowledge) which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or might affect (to the extent Borrower can now reasonably foresee), the business, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of each Credit Party or the ability of each Credit Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Papers.

 

Section 7.14 Organizational Structure; Nature of Business. Each Credit Party is engaged primarily in the business of acquiring, exploring, developing and operating Mineral Interests and the production, marketing, processing and transporting of Hydrocarbons therefrom. Schedule 3 attached hereto, accurately reflects, as of the Effective Date (a) the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Credit Party, (b) each jurisdiction in which each such Credit Party is qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation, foreign partnership or foreign limited liability company, (c) the authorized, issued and outstanding stock, partnership or limited liability interests of each Credit Party (other than Borrower), including the names of (and number of shares or other equity interests held by) the record and beneficial owners of such interests, and (d) all outstanding warrants, options, subscription rights, convertible securities or other rights to purchase capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interests of each Credit Party (other than Borrower). Except as set forth in this Section 7.14 and in Schedule 3 hereto, as of the Effective Date no Person (other than Borrower) holds record or beneficial ownership of any capital stock or other equity interest in any Subsidiary of Borrower or any other right or option to acquire any capital stock or other equity interest in any Subsidiary of Borrower and, without limiting the foregoing, there are not outstanding any warrants, options, subscription rights or other rights to purchase stock or other equity interests in any Subsidiary of Borrower. Except as set forth in Schedule 3 hereto, as supplemented in writing from time to time, Borrower does not have any Subsidiaries, and no Credit Party is a partner or joint venturer in any partnership or joint venture or a member of any unincorporated association.

 

Section 7.15 Environmental Matters. Except as revealed in writing from time to time delivered to Administrative Agent, no real or personal property owned or leased by any Credit Party (including, without limitation, Mineral Interests) and no operations conducted thereon, and no operations of any prior owner, lessee or operator of any such properties, is or has been in violation of any Applicable Environmental Law other than violations which neither individually nor in the aggregate will have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is any such property or operation the subject of any existing, pending or, to Borrower’s knowledge, threatened Environmental Complaint which will, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All notices, permits, licenses, and similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed in connection with the ownership or operation of any and all real and personal property owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party, including, without limitation, notices, licenses, permits and authorizations required in connection with any past or present treatment, storage, disposal, or release of Hazardous Substances into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed except to the extent the failure to obtain or file such notices, licenses, permits and authorizations would not have a Material Adverse Effect. All Hazardous Substances, if any, generated at any and all real and personal property owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party have been transported, treated, and disposed of only by carriers maintaining valid permits under RCRA and all other Applicable Environmental Laws, to the extent failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect. There have been no Hazardous Discharges which were not in compliance with

 

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Applicable Environmental Laws other than Hazardous Discharges which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No Credit Party has any contingent liability in connection with any Hazardous Discharges which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 7.16 Burdensome Obligations. No Credit Party, nor any of the properties of any Credit Party, is subject to any Law or regulation or subject to any restriction under the articles or certificate of incorporation, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, bylaws, regulations or other organizational documents of any Credit Party or under any agreement or instrument to which any Credit Party is a party or by which any of its properties may be subject or bound, which is so unusual or burdensome as to be likely in the foreseeable future to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, no Credit Party is a party to or bound by an agreement or subject to any order of any Governmental Authority which prohibits or restricts in any way the right of such party to make Distributions other than restrictions binding on the Credit Party set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 7.17 Government Regulations. No Credit Party is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as any of the preceding acts have been amended) or any other Law or regulation which regulates the incurring by it of Debt, including, but not limited to, Laws relating to common carriers or the sale of electricity, gas, steam, water or other public utility services.

 

Section 7.18 Fiscal Year. Borrower’s Fiscal Year is January 1 through December 31.

 

Section 7.19 No Default. Neither a Default nor an Event of Default has occurred or will exist after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Papers.

 

Section 7.20 Gas Balancing Agreements and Advance Payment Contracts. On the date of this Agreement, (a) there is no Material Gas Imbalance, and (b) the aggregate amount of all Advance Payments received by any Credit Party under Advance Payment Contracts which have not been satisfied by delivery of production does not exceed $1,000,000.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any commitment to lend or participate in Letter of Credit Exposure hereunder or any amount payable under any Note remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:

 

Section 8.1 Information. Borrower will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Administrative Agent, for delivery to each Bank (which may be by posting to Intralinks):

 

(a) as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days (or such shorter time as required to be filed with the SEC) after the end of each Fiscal Year of Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet of Borrower as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flow for such Fiscal Year, all reported by Borrower in accordance with GAAP and audited by a firm of independent public accountants of nationally

 

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recognized standing acceptable to Administrative Agent; to the extent Borrower’s Form of 10-K filed with the SEC for each Fiscal Year contains all information required by this Section 8.1(a), Borrower may satisfy its obligations under this Section 8.1(a) for each Fiscal Year by delivering to Administrative Agent a copy of such Form 10-K for such Fiscal Year within five (5) Domestic Business Days of filing same with the SEC;

 

(b) as soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days (or such shorter time as required to be filed with the SEC) after the end of each of the first three (3) Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet of Borrower as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flow for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of Borrower’s Fiscal Year ended at the end of such Fiscal Quarter; to the extent Borrower’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for each Fiscal Quarter contains all information required by this Section 8.1(b), Borrower may satisfy its obligations under this Section 8.1(b) for each Fiscal Quarter by delivering to Administrative Agent a copy of such Form 10-Q for such Fiscal Quarter within five (5) Domestic Business Days of filing same with the SEC. All financial statements delivered pursuant to this Section 8.1(b) shall be certified as to fairness of presentation, GAAP and consistency by the chief financial officer of Borrower (but excluding footnotes and subject to normal year end adjustments);

 

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b), a certificate of the chief financial officer of Borrower in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto, (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Article X on the date of such financial statements, (ii) stating whether there exists on the date of such certificate any Default and, if any Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, (iii) setting forth (A) whether as of such date (or the most recent dates as of which gas imbalances have been determined) there is a Material Gas Imbalance and, if so, setting forth the amount of net gas imbalances under Gas Balancing Agreements to which any Credit Party is a party or by which any Mineral Interests owned by any Credit Party are bound, and (B) the aggregate amount of all Advance Payments received under Advance Payment Contracts to which Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any Mineral Interests owned by any Credit Party are bound which have not been satisfied by delivery of production, if any, and (iv) a summary of the Hedge Transactions to which any Credit Party is a party on such date;

 

(d) immediately upon any Authorized Officer of any Credit Party becoming aware of the occurrence of any Default, including, without limitation, a Default under Article X, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Borrower setting forth the details thereof and the action which Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(e) prompt notice of (i) any Material Adverse Change in the financial condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the occurrence of any acceleration of the maturity of any Debt owing by any Credit Party or any default under any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, if such default or acceleration might have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(f) promptly upon receipt of same, any notice or other information received by any Credit Party indicating any potential, actual or alleged (i) non-compliance with or violation of the requirements of any Applicable Environmental Law which is reasonably likely to result in liability to any Credit Party for fines, clean up or any other remediation obligations or any other liability in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate; (ii) release or threatened release of any Hazardous Discharge which release would impose on any Credit Party a duty to report to a Governmental Authority or to pay cleanup costs or to take remedial action under any Applicable Environmental Law which is reasonably likely to result in liability to any Credit Party for fines, clean up and other remediation obligations or any other liability in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate; or (iii) the existence of any Lien arising under any Applicable Environmental Law securing any obligation to pay fines, clean up or other remediation costs or any other liability in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower shall provide to Banks promptly upon receipt of same copies of all environmental consultants or engineers reports received by any Credit Party which would render the representations and warranties contained in Section 7.15 untrue or inaccurate in any material respect;

 

(g) in the event any notification is provided by any Credit Party to any Bank or Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.1(f) hereof or Administrative Agent or any Bank otherwise learns of any event or condition under which any such notice would be required, then, upon request of Required Banks (but no more frequently than once per calendar year), Borrower shall, within ninety (90) days of such request, cause to be furnished to each Bank a report by an environmental consulting firm acceptable to Administrative Agent and Required Banks, stating that a review of such event, condition or circumstance has been undertaken (the scope of which shall be acceptable to Administrative Agent and Required Banks) and detailing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of such consultant. Borrower shall bear all expenses and costs associated with such review and updates thereof;

 

(h) no later than May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2006, reports of production volumes, revenue, expenses and average monthly product prices for all oil and gas properties owned by Borrower and its Subsidiaries with a Recognized Value of $1,000,000 or more for the periods of six (6) months ending the preceding January 1 and July 1 respectively, which shall be reported on a field by field basis and otherwise in form and substance acceptable to Administrative Agent;

 

(i) as soon as available and in any event not later than February 28th of each Fiscal Year of Borrower, a draft of the annual budget of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) for such Fiscal Year, reviewed by the Board of Directors of Borrower, setting forth in reasonable detail the projected revenues and expenses of Borrower and such Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) for such Fiscal Year;

 

(j) without limiting Borrower’s obligations under Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b), promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all final registration statements, post effective amendments thereto and annual, quarterly or special reports which any Credit Party shall have filed with the SEC;

 

(k) prompt notice of any change (i) in any Credit Party’s corporate name or in any trade name used to identify such Person in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of

 

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its properties, (ii) in the location of any Credit Party’s chief executive office or principal place of business, or (iii) in any Credit Party’s identity or corporate structure or in the jurisdiction in which such Person is incorporated or formed;

 

(l) for so long as Borrower or GeoMet Operating has any liability under any Guarantee included in the Shamrock Transactions, as soon as available and in any event within (i) fifteen (15) days after the end of each month, (A) an aged accounts receivable listing of Shamrock as of the last day of such month, (B) a detailed listing of the estimated Guarantee obligations of the Credit Parties as of the last day of such month with respect to the obligations and liabilities of Shamrock, and (C) a report showing the amount by which 70% of the current accounts receivable provided under clause (A) above exceed 100% of the amounts reported guaranteed by the Credit Parties as described in clause (B) above, and (ii) sixty (60) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter, an unaudited balance sheet and income statement of Shamrock for such Fiscal Quarter (and, in addition, Borrower shall provide or cause to be provided such other reports and financial information as are reasonably requested by Administrative Agent and related to any Shamrock Transaction);

 

(m) as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any major development (adverse or otherwise) with respect to the litigation, claims and actions described on Schedule 3 hereto, notice thereof and, to the extent requested by Administrative Agent, copies of all material documentation (if any) relating thereto; and

 

(n) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial position or business of each Credit Party as Administrative Agent, at the request of any Bank, may reasonably request.

 

Section 8.2 Business of Credit Parties. The primary business of each Credit Party will continue to be the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of Mineral Interests, and the production and marketing of Hydrocarbons and accompanying elements therefrom.

 

Section 8.3 Maintenance of Existence. Borrower shall, and shall cause each of the other Credit Parties to, at all times (a) maintain its corporate, partnership or limited liability company existence (as applicable) in its state of organization, and (b) maintain its good standing and qualification to transact business in all jurisdictions where the failure to maintain good standing or qualification to transact business could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 8.4 Right of Inspection. Borrower will permit, and will cause each other Credit Party to permit, any officer, employee or agent of Administrative Agent or any Bank to visit and inspect any of the assets of any Credit Party, examine each Credit Party’s books of record and accounts, take copies and extracts therefrom, and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of each Credit Party with any of such Credit Party’s officers, accountants and auditors, all upon reasonable advance notice and at such reasonable times and as often as Administrative Agent or any Bank may desire, all at the expense of Borrower; provided, that, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, neither Administrative Agent nor any Bank will require any Credit Party to incur any unreasonable expense as a result of the exercise by Administrative Agent or any Bank of its rights pursuant to this Section 8.4.

 

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Section 8.5 Maintenance of Insurance. Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, at all times maintain or cause to be maintained insurance covering such risks as are customarily carried by businesses similarly situated including, without limitation, the following: (a) workmen’s compensation insurance; (b) employer’s liability insurance; (c) comprehensive general public liability and property damage insurance in respect of all activities in which any Credit Party might incur personal liability for the death or injury of an employee or third person, or damage to or destruction of another’s property; and (d) comprehensive automobile liability insurance. All policies of insurance maintained by the Credit Parties pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall name Administrative Agent as an additional insured.

 

Section 8.6 Payment of Taxes and Claims. Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, pay (a) all Taxes imposed upon it or any of its assets or with respect to any of its franchises, business, income or profits before any material penalty or interest accrues thereon, and (b) all material claims (including, without limitation, claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums which have become due and payable and which by Law have or might become a Lien (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any of its assets; provided, however, no payment of Taxes or claims shall be required if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate action promptly initiated and diligently conducted in accordance with good business practices and no material part of the property or assets of any Credit Party is subject to levy or execution, and (ii) the Credit Parties, as and to the extent required in accordance with GAAP, shall have set aside on its books, reserves (segregated to the extent required by GAAP) deemed by it to be adequate with respect thereto.

 

Section 8.7 Compliance with Laws and Documents. Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, comply with all Laws, its articles or certificate of incorporation, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, bylaws, regulations and similar organizational documents and all Material Agreements to which any Credit Party is a party, if a violation, alone or when combined with all other such violations, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 8.8 Operation of Properties and Equipment.

 

(a) Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, maintain, develop and operate its Mineral 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 properties so long as such oil and gas leases are capable of producing Hydrocarbons and accompanying elements in paying quantities, to the extent that the failure to so observe and comply would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b) Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, comply in all respects with all contracts and agreements applicable to or relating to its Mineral Interests or the production and sale of Hydrocarbons and accompanying elements therefrom, except to the extent a failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, maintain, preserve and keep all operating equipment used with respect to its Mineral Interests in proper repair, working order and condition, and make all necessary or appropriate repairs, renewals,

 

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replacements, additions and improvements thereto so that the efficiency of such operating equipment shall at all times be properly preserved and maintained; provided, that no item of operating equipment need be so repaired, renewed, replaced, added to or improved, if a Credit Party shall in good faith determine that such action is not necessary or desirable for the continued efficient and profitable operation of the business of such Credit Party.

 

(d) With respect to Mineral Interests of any Credit Party which are operated by operators other than such Credit Party, no Credit Party shall be obligated itself to perform any undertakings contemplated by the covenants and agreements contained in this Section 8.8 which are performable only by such operators and are beyond the control of such Credit Party, but shall be obligated to seek to enforce such operators’ contractual obligations to maintain, develop and operate the Mineral Interests subject to such operating agreements.

 

Section 8.9 Further Assurances. Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such other and further instruments or documents and take such further action as in the reasonable judgment of Administrative Agent may be required to carry out the provisions and purposes of the Loan Papers including, without limitation, to create, preserve, protect and perfect the Liens of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Banks as required by Article V.

 

Section 8.10 Environmental Law Compliance and Indemnity. Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, comply in all material respects with all Applicable Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, (a) all licensing, permitting, notification and similar requirements of Applicable Environmental Laws, and (b) all provisions of Applicable Environmental Law regarding storage, discharge, release, transportation, treatment and disposal of Hazardous Substances. Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, promptly pay and discharge when due all debts, claims, liabilities and obligations with respect to any clean-up or remediation measures necessary to comply with Applicable Environmental Laws. Borrower hereby indemnifies and agrees to defend and hold Banks and their successors and assigns harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, loss, damage, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) of any and every kind or character, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, asserted against or incurred by any Bank at any time and from time to time including, without limitation, those asserted or arising subsequent to the payment or other satisfaction of the Loan, by reason of or arising out of the ownership, construction, occupancy, operation, use and maintenance of any of the collateral for the Loan, including matters arising out of the negligence of Banks; provided, however, this indemnity shall not apply with respect to matters caused by or arising out of (i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Banks (IT BEING THE EXPRESS INTENTION HEREBY THAT BANKS SHALL BE INDEMNIFIED FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE); and (ii) the construction, occupancy, operation, use and maintenance of the collateral for the Loan by any owner, lessee or party in possession of the collateral for the Loan subsequent to the ownership of the collateral for the Loan by Borrower. The foregoing indemnity and agreement applies to the violation of any Applicable Environmental Law prior to the payment or other satisfaction of the Loan and any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring on or about the collateral for the Loan (including, without limitation, the presence on the collateral for the Loan or release from the collateral for the Loan of asbestos or other Hazardous Substances disposed of or otherwise present in or released prior to the payment

 

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or other satisfaction of the Loan). It shall not be a defense to the covenant of Borrower to indemnify that the act, omission, event or circumstance did not constitute a violation of any Applicable Environmental Law at the time of its existence or occurrence. The provisions of this Section 8.10 shall survive the repayment of the Loan and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect. In the event of the transfer of the Loan or any portion thereof, Banks or any prior holder of the Loan and any participants shall continue to be benefited by this indemnity and agreement with respect to the period of such holding of the Loan.

 

Section 8.11 ERISA Reporting Requirements. Borrower shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Administrative Agent:

 

(a) promptly and in any event (i) within thirty (30) days after any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Event described in clause (a) of the definition of ERISA Event or any event described in Section 4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any Plan of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has occurred, and (ii) within ten (10) days after any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that any other ERISA Event with respect to any Plan of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has occurred or a request for minimum funding waiver under Section 412 of the Code with respect to any Plan of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has been made, a written notice describing such event and describing what action is being taken or is proposed to be taken with respect thereto, together with a copy of any notice of event that is given to the PBGC;

 

(b) promptly and in any event within two (2) Domestic Business Days after receipt thereof by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC, copies of each notice received by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC’s intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan;

 

(c) promptly and in any event within thirty (30) days after the receipt by any Credit Party of a request therefor by a Bank, copies of any annual and other report (including Schedule B thereto) with respect to a Plan filed by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate with the United States Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC;

 

(d) promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Domestic Business Days after receipt thereof, a copy of any correspondence any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate receives from the Plan Sponsor (as defined by Section 4001(a)(10) of ERISA) of any Plan asserting withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4219 or 4202 of ERISA upon any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate, and a statement from the chief financial officer of such Credit Party or such ERISA Affiliate setting forth details as to the events giving rise to such withdrawal liability and the action which such Credit Party or such ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(e) notification within thirty (30) days of the effective date thereof of any material increases in the benefits of any existing Plan which is not a multi-employer plan (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), or the establishment of any new Plans, or the commencement of contributions to any Plan to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate was not previously contributing;

 

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(f) notification within three (3) Domestic Business Days after any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that any such Credit Party or any such ERISA Affiliate has or intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Plan under a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA and a copy of such notice; and

 

(g) promptly after receipt of written notice of commencement thereof, notice of all (i) claims made by participants or beneficiaries with respect to any Plan and (ii) actions, suits and proceedings before any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, affecting any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to any Plan, except those which, in the aggregate, if adversely determined would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any commitment to lend or participate in Letter of Credit Exposure hereunder or any amount payable under any Note remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:

 

Section 9.1 Debt of Borrower. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, incur, become or remain liable for any Debt other than (a) the Obligations, (b) Debt of Borrower or any other Credit Party to Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower that has provided a Facility Guaranty and the Equity of which has been pledged to Administrative Agent pursuant to a Borrower Pledge Agreement or a Subsidiary Pledge Agreement, (c) any other Debt disclosed on the March 31, 2006 balance sheet of Borrower (including extensions and renewals of such Debt, but excluding replacements or increases of such Debt), (d) so long as the aggregate outstanding principal balance thereunder does not exceed $10,000,000 at any time, capital lease obligations under the Bank of America Master Lease, and (e) other Debt in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $500,000.

 

Section 9.2 Restricted Payments. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, declare, pay or make, or incur any liability to declare, pay or make, any Restricted Payment other than Permitted Investments.

 

Section 9.3 Negative Pledge. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset owned by it (other than Permitted Encumbrances). Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, enter into or become subject to any agreement (other than this Agreement) that prohibits or otherwise restricts the right of any Credit Party to create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien in favor of Administrative Agent or any Bank on any Credit Party’s assets.

 

Section 9.4 Consolidations and Mergers. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, consolidate or merge with or into any other Person; provided, that, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or will result, Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person so long as Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary of Borrower is the surviving corporation or entity.

 

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Section 9.5 Asset Dispositions.

 

(a) Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, sell, lease, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of any Borrowing Base Properties, except pursuant to Permitted Asset Sales. No sale, lease, assignment, transfer or other disposition of any Borrowing Base Property shall be permitted pursuant to this Section 9.5 unless each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) all mandatory prepayments required by Section 2.7 in connection with such sale, lease, assignment, transfer or other disposition are made concurrently with the closing thereof; (ii) no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing; and (iii) no Borrowing Base Deficiency shall exist immediately after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such sale, lease, transfer, abandonment or other disposition.

 

(b) Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, sell, lease, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of any assets other than Borrowing Base Properties, except for (i) the sale in the ordinary course of business of Hydrocarbons produced from Borrower’s Mineral Interests (and, once Shamrock becomes a Subsidiary of Borrower, the sale by Shamrock of Hydrocarbons acquired from Persons other than Shamrock), (ii) the sale, lease, transfer, abandonment or other disposition of machinery, equipment and other personal property and fixtures which are (A) made in connection with a release, surrender or abandonment of a well, or (B) (1) obsolete or unneeded for their intended purpose and disposed of in the ordinary course of business, or (2) replaced by articles of comparable suitability owned by any Credit Party, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Encumbrances, and (iii) the sale, lease, transfer, abandonment or other disposition of Mineral Interests that are not Borrowing Base Properties (and the sale, lease, transfer, licensing or other disposition of seismic and other data relating to such Mineral Interests) so long as such Mineral Interests are not necessary or useful in the operation of any Borrowing Base Property.

 

(c) Except as provided in Schedule 3 (or pursuant to the exercise of options and rights listed on Schedule 3), in no event will Borrower issue, sell, transfer or dispose of, or permit any other Credit Party to issue, sell, transfer or dispose of, any capital stock or other equity interest in any Subsidiary (direct or indirect) of Borrower, nor will Borrower issue or sell, or permit any other Credit Party to issue or sell, any capital stock or other equity interest in any Subsidiary of Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire such capital stock or equity interest or security convertible into such capital stock or equity interest, to any Person other than Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower that has, to the extent required under this Agreement, provided a Facility Guaranty and the Equity of which has been pledged to Administrative Agent pursuant to a Borrower Pledge Agreement or a Subsidiary Pledge Agreement or, in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries only, issuances or sales of Equity by one Foreign Subsidiary to another.

 

Section 9.6 Amendments to Organizational Documents; Other Material Agreements. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, enter into or permit any modification or amendment of, or waive any material right or obligation of any Person under, its certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, regulations or other organizational documents other than amendments, modifications and waivers (a) in connection with a Qualified Public Offering, or (b) which will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 9.7 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of Borrowings under the Commitment will not be used for any purpose other than working capital, to refinance existing indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement, to finance the acquisition, exploration, development and production of Mineral Interests, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. None of the proceeds of the Loan nor any Letter of Credit issued hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, (a) for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock, or (b) in violation of applicable Law or regulation (including, without limitation, the Margin Regulations). Letters of Credit will be issued hereunder only for the purpose of securing bids, tenders, contracts and other obligations entered into in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business, for the purpose of securing bonds (including, without limitation, appeal bonds), and to secure Borrower’s obligations under Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions; provided, that, the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure of all Banks under all Hedge Transaction Letters of Credit shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time.

 

Section 9.8 Investments. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, directly or indirectly, make any Investment other than Permitted Investments.

 

Section 9.9 Transactions with Affiliates. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, engage in any material transaction with any of their Affiliates that is not a Credit Party unless such transaction is generally as favorable to such Credit Party as could be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with an unaffiliated Person in accordance with prevailing industry customs and practices. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in this Section 9.9 shall not apply to (a) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to directors of Borrower who are not employees of Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower, or (b) the Shamrock Transactions.

 

Section 9.10 ERISA. Except in such instances where an omission or failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect, Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to (a) take any action or fail to take any action which would result in a violation of ERISA, the Code or other Laws applicable to the Plans maintained or contributed to by it or any ERISA Affiliate, or (b) modify the term of, or the funding obligations or contribution requirements under any existing Plan, establish a new Plan, or become obligated or incur any liability under a Plan that is not maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate as of the Effective Date.

 

Section 9.11 Hedge Transactions. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, enter into any Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions which would (after netting all offsetting transactions) cause the volume of Hydrocarbons with respect to which a settlement payment is calculated to exceed eight-five percent (85%) of Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ anticipated production from Proved Producing Mineral Interests during the period from the immediately preceding settlement date (or the commencement of such Hedge Transactions if there is no prior settlement date) to such settlement date.

 

Section 9.12 Operating Leases. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, incur, become, or remain liable under any Operating Lease which would cause the aggregate amount of all Rentals payable by any Credit Party in any Fiscal Year to be greater than $1,000,000.

 

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Section 9.13 Speculative Hedge Transactions. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, enter into any commodity, interest rate, currency or other swap, option, collar or other derivative transaction pursuant to which any Credit Party speculates on the movement of commodity prices, securities prices, interest rates, financial markets, currency markets or other items; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 9.13 shall prohibit any Credit Party from (a) entering into (or offsetting) interest rate swaps or other interest rate hedge transactions pursuant to which such Credit Party hedges interest rate risk with respect to the interest reasonably anticipated to be incurred pursuant to this Agreement (b) entering into (or offsetting) Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions permitted by Section 9.11 hereof, or (c) making Permitted Investments.

 

Section 9.14 Fiscal Year. Borrower shall not change its Fiscal Year.

 

Section 9.15 Change in Business. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, engage in any business other than the businesses collectively engaged in by such parties on the date hereof and normal or reasonably related extensions thereof (including the acquisition of the business of Shamrock).

 

Section 9.16 Bank of America Master Lease. Borrower will not permit the aggregate principal balance under the Bank of America Master Lease to exceed, and will not allow GeoMet Operating to incur obligations under the Bank of America Master Lease the principal balance of which exceeds, $10,000,000 at any time prior to the Termination Date.

 

ARTICLE X

 

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any commitment to lend or participate in Letter of Credit Exposure hereunder or any amount payable under any Note remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:

 

(a) Borrower will not permit its ratio of Consolidated Current Assets to its Consolidated Current Liabilities as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter to be less than 1 to 1.

 

(b) As of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2006, Borrower will not permit its ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA (for the four (4) Fiscal Quarters ending on such date) to (ii) the sum of (A) Consolidated Net Interest Expense (for the four (4) Fiscal Quarters ending on such date) plus (B) Letter of Credit Fees (accruing during the Fiscal Quarter ending on such date) to be less than 2.75 to 1.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

DEFAULTS

 

Section 11.1 Events of Default. If one or more of the following events (collectively Events of Default and individually an Event of Default) shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

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(a) Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Note or any reimbursement obligation with respect to any Letters of Credit within one Business Day after the same becomes due;

 

(b) Borrower shall fail to pay any accrued interest due and owing on any Note or any fees or any other amount payable hereunder when due and such failure shall continue for a period of five (5) Domestic Business Days following the due date;

 

(c) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement applicable thereto contained in Section 4.5, Section 8.1(d), Article IX or Article X;

 

(d) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Papers (other than those covered by Section 11.1(a), Section 11.1(b) and Section 11.1(c)) and such failure continues for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof has been given to any such Credit Party by Administrative Agent at the request of Required Banks;

 

(e) any Credit Party shall fail to cause the financial statements described in Section 8.1(a) to be accompanied by the opinion without qualification (except for qualifications required by changes in accounting methods with which such Credit Party’s auditors concur) of the accountants preparing such opinion, that such financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and fairly present the consolidated financial position and results of operations of such Credit Party;

 

(f) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made or deemed to have been made by any Credit Party in this Agreement or by any Credit Party or any other Person on behalf of any Credit Party in any other Loan Paper or any other certificate, financial statement or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made;

 

(g) any Credit Party shall fail to make any payment when due on any Debt in a principal amount equal to or greater than $1,000,000, or any event or condition (i) shall occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of any Debt of any such Credit Party in a principal amount equal to or greater than $1,000,000, or (ii) shall occur which entitles (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would unless cured or waived, entitle) the holder of such Debt to accelerate the maturity thereof;

 

(h) any Credit Party shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due, or shall take any corporate or partnership action to authorize any of the foregoing;

 

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(i) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against any Credit Party seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days; or an order for relief shall be entered against any Credit Party under the federal bankruptcy Laws as now or hereafter in effect;

 

(j) one (1) or more judgments or orders for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $1,000,000 shall be rendered against any Credit Party and such judgment or order (i) shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days, or (ii) is not fully paid and satisfied or stayed prior to the date on which any of its assets may be lawfully sold to satisfy such judgment or order;

 

(k) this Agreement or any other Loan Paper shall cease to be in full force and effect or shall be declared null and void or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested or challenged by any Credit Party, or any Credit Party shall deny that it has any further liability or obligation under any of the Loan Papers, or any Lien created by the Loan Papers shall for any reason (other than the express release thereof by a written instrument executed by Administrative Agent in accordance with the Loan Papers) cease to be a valid, first priority, perfected Lien (subject only to Permitted Encumbrances) upon any of the property purported to be covered thereby and as a result thereof the Required Reserve Value of the Mineral Interests held by Borrower ceases to be subject to such Liens under the Loan Papers; or

 

(l) a Change of Control shall occur;

 

then, and in every such event, Administrative Agent shall without presentment, notice or demand (unless expressly provided for herein) of any kind (including, without limitation, notice of intention to accelerate and acceleration), all of which are hereby waived, (A) if requested by Required Banks, terminate the Commitment and it shall thereupon terminate, and (B) if requested by Required Banks, take such other actions as may be permitted by the Loan Papers including, without limitation, declaring the Notes, or any of them, (together with accrued interest thereon) to be, and the Notes, or any of them, shall thereupon become, immediately due and payable; provided, that, in the case of any of the Events of Default specified in Section 11.1(h) or Section 11.1(i), without any notice to Borrower or any other Credit Party or any other act by Administrative Agent or Banks, the Commitment shall thereupon terminate and the Notes (together with accrued interest thereon) shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, notice or demand of any kind, including, without limitation, notice of intention to accelerate and acceleration.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

AGENTS

 

Section 12.1 Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank irrevocably appoints and authorizes each Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgages and the other Loan Papers as are delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with all such powers as are reasonably

 

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incidental thereto; provided, that, as between and among Banks and Agents, no Agent will prosecute, settle or compromise any claim against Borrower or any other Credit Party or release or institute enforcement proceedings, except with the consent of Required Banks. Each Bank and Borrower agree that none of the Agents is a fiduciary for Banks or for Borrower or any other Credit Party but simply is acting in the capacity described herein to alleviate administrative burdens for Credit Parties and Banks and that no Agent has any duties or responsibilities to Banks or any Credit Party except those expressly set forth herein.

 

Section 12.2 Agents and Affiliates. Each Agent in its individual capacity and not as an Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not an Agent hereunder and each Agent in its individual capacity and not as an Agent hereunder may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with any Credit Party and any of their Affiliates as if it were not an Agent hereunder.

 

Section 12.3 Action by Administrative Agent. The obligations of Administrative Agent hereunder are only those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action with respect to any Default or Event of Default, except as expressly provided in Article XI. Notwithstanding the administrative authority delegated to Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent shall not without the prior written approval of all Banks, cause or permit any modification of the Loan Papers which would (a) increase the Commitment of any Bank or subject any Bank to any additional obligation, (b) forgive any of the principal or reduce the rate of interest on the Loan or any fees hereunder, (c) postpone the Termination Date or any other date fixed for payment of principal of or interest on the Loan or any fees hereunder, (d) change the percentage of the Total Commitment, or the number of Banks which shall be required for Banks or any of them to take any action under Section 14.2 or any other provision of this Agreement, (e) permit any Credit Party to assign any of its rights hereunder, (f) amend or waive any of the provisions of Article IV or of the definitions contained in Section 1.1 applicable thereto, or (g) provide for the release or substitution of collateral for the Loan other than releases made in connection with sales of collateral which are expressly permitted under Section 9.5. Subject to the foregoing, Administrative Agent shall make such requests or take such actions in respect of any Credit Party as Required Banks shall direct. Further, subject to the foregoing, Administrative Agent shall grant such waivers, consents or approvals in favor of any Credit Party as Required Banks shall direct.

 

Section 12.4 Consultation with Experts. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for any Credit Party), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

Section 12.5 Liability of Agents. None of the Agents nor any of their directors, officers, agents, or employees shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by such Agent in connection herewith (a) with the consent or at the request of Required Banks, or (b) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, IT BEING THE INTENTION OF BANKS THAT SUCH PARTIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE. None of the Agents nor any of their respective officers,

 

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directors, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into or verify (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with this Agreement or any borrowing hereunder, (ii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements of any Credit Party, (iii) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article VI, except receipt of items required to be delivered to Administrative Agent, or (iv) the validity, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, the Notes or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection herewith. No Agent shall incur any liability by acting in reliance upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement, or other writing (which may be a bank wire, telex or similar writing) believed by it to be genuine or to be signed by the proper party or parties or upon any oral notice which such Agent believes will be confirmed in writing by the proper party or parties. If Administrative Agent fails to take any action required to be taken by it under the Loan Papers after the occurrence of an Event of Default and within a reasonable time after being requested to do so by any Bank (after such requesting Bank has obtained the approval of such other Banks as required), Administrative Agent shall not suffer or incur any liability as a result thereof, but such requesting Bank may request Administrative Agent to resign, whereupon Administrative Agent shall so resign pursuant to Section 12.9. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Paper, none of the Banks (if any) identified in, or appointed at any time under, this Agreement as a “Documentation Agent,” “Co-Documentation Agent,” “Syndication Agent” and/or a “Co-Syndication Agent” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Banks as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of any such Agents shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Bank. Each Bank hereby makes the same acknowledgements with respect to any such Agents as it makes with respect to Administrative Agent in Section 12.8.

 

Section 12.6 Delegation of Duties. Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties hereunder by or through officers, directors, employees, attorneys, or agents.

 

Section 12.7 Indemnification. Each Bank shall, ratably in accordance with its Commitment Percentage, indemnify each Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower) against any cost, expense (including counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result from each Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct) that each Agent may suffer or incur in connection with this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by such Agent hereunder, including, without limitation, matters arising out of such Agent’s own negligence, IT BEING THE INTENTION OF EACH BANK THAT EACH AGENT SHALL BE INDEMNIFIED FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE.

 

Section 12.8 Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Bank, 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 Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking any action under this Agreement.

 

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Section 12.9 Successor Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to Banks and Borrower. In addition, Borrower may, prior to a Default, request the designation by Banks of a successor Administrative Agent. Upon any such request by Borrower or resignation by Administrative Agent, Required Banks shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be one of Banks. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by Required Banks and accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation or Borrower’s request for a successor Administrative Agent, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall (a) be a commercial bank organized under the Laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 and (b) unless the successor Administrative Agent is a Bank, be reasonably acceptable to Borrower. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as a successor Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 12.9 shall continue to inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent hereunder. Borrower shall be entitled to recommend a successor Administrative Agent at the time of designation of any successor Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.9. Banks shall give due consideration to the successor nominated by Borrower, but shall have no obligation to approve such nominee.

 

Section 12.10 Execution of Collateral Documents. Without limiting the powers and authority of Administrative Agent described herein, Banks hereby empower and authorize Administrative Agent to execute and deliver to Borrower on their behalf the Certificate of Effectiveness, the Mortgages, the Pledge Agreements (as applicable) and all related financing statements and any other financing statements, agreements, documents or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of the foregoing instruments.

 

Section 12.11 Collateral Releases. Banks hereby empower and authorize Administrative Agent to execute and deliver to Borrower on their behalf any agreements, documents or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect any releases of collateral which shall be permitted by the terms hereof or of any other Loan Paper or which shall otherwise have been approved by Required Banks (or, if required by the terms of Section 14.2, all of the Banks) in writing.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

PROTECTION OF YIELD; CHANGE IN LAWS

 

Section 13.1 Basis for Determining Interest Rate Applicable to Eurodollar Tranches Inadequate. If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period with respect to a Borrowing:

 

(a) Banks having fifty percent (50%) or more of the aggregate amount of the Total Commitment advise Administrative Agent that deposits in dollars (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered to such Banks in the relevant market for such Interest Period, or

 

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(b) Banks having fifty percent (50%) or more of the aggregate amount of the Total Commitment advise Administrative Agent that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate as determined by Administrative Agent will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of funding their respective shares of the requested Borrowing which will be subject to a Eurodollar Tranche for such Interest Period;

 

Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to Borrower and Banks, whereupon the obligations of Banks to allow interest to be computed by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be suspended until Administrative Agent notifies Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist. Unless Borrower notifies Administrative Agent at least two (2) Domestic Business Days before the date of any Borrowing for which a Request for Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on such date, such Borrowing shall instead be made as an Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing.

 

Section 13.2 Illegality of Eurodollar Tranches.

 

(a) If, after the date of this Agreement, the adoption of any applicable Law, rule or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its Eurodollar Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank (or its Eurodollar Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund any portion of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche and such Bank shall so notify Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the other Banks and Borrower. Until such Bank notifies Borrower and Administrative Agent that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Bank to maintain or fund any portion of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche shall be suspended. Before giving any notice to Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 13.2, such Bank shall designate a different Eurodollar Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice and will not, in the judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. If such Bank shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain and fund any portion of the Loan outstanding subject to a Eurodollar Tranche to maturity and shall so specify in such notice, Borrower shall immediately convert the principal amount of the Loan which is subject to a Eurodollar Tranche to an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche of an equal principal amount from such Bank (on which interest and principal shall be payable contemporaneously with the unaffected Eurodollar Tranches of the other Banks).

 

(b) No Bank shall be required to make the Loan (or any portion thereof) hereunder if the making of the Loan (or any portion thereof) would be in violation of any Law applicable to such Bank.

 

Section 13.3 Increased Cost of Eurodollar Tranche. If after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable Law, rule or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by

 

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any Bank (or its Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency:

 

(a) shall subject any Bank (or its Lending Office) to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to maintaining or funding any portion of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche, its Note or its obligation to allow interest to be computed by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall change the basis of taxation of payments to any Bank (or its Lending Office) of the principal of or interest on any portion of the Loan which is subject to any Eurodollar Tranche or any other amounts due under this Agreement in respect of any portion of the Loan which is subject to any Eurodollar Tranche or its obligation to allow interest to be computed by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (except for changes in the rate of Tax on the overall net income of such Bank or its Lending Office imposed by the jurisdiction in which such Bank’s principal executive office or Lending Office is located); or

 

(b) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement (including, without limitation, any such requirement imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but excluding with respect to any Eurodollar Tranche any such requirement included in an applicable Eurodollar Reserve Percentage) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of or credit extended by, any Bank’s Lending Office or shall impose on any Bank (or its Lending Office) or the applicable interbank Eurodollar market or any other condition affecting Eurodollar Tranches, its Note or its obligation to allow interest to be computed by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank (or its Lending Office) of funding or maintaining any portion of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Bank (or its Lending Office) under this Agreement or under its Note with respect thereto, by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then, within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), Borrower shall pay to such Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank for such increased cost or reduction. Each Bank will promptly notify Borrower and Administrative Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section 13.3 and will designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. A certificate of any Bank claiming compensation under this Section 13.3 and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Bank may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

 

Section 13.4 Adjusted Base Rate Tranche Substituted for Affected Eurodollar Tranche. If (a) the obligation of any Bank to fund or maintain any portion of the Loan subject to a Eurodollar Tranche has been suspended pursuant to Section 13.2, or (b) any Bank has demanded compensation under Section 13.3 and Borrower shall, by at least five (5) Eurodollar Business Days prior notice to such Bank through the Administrative Agent, have elected that the provisions of this Section 13.4 shall apply to such Bank, then, unless and until such Bank notifies Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension or demand for compensation no longer apply:

 

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(i) any Tranche which would otherwise be characterized by such Bank as a Eurodollar Tranche shall instead be deemed an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche (on which interest and principal shall be payable contemporaneously with the unaffected Eurodollar Tranches of the other Banks); and

 

(ii) after all of its Eurodollar Tranches have been repaid, all payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to repay its Eurodollar Tranches shall be applied to repay its Adjusted Base Rate Tranches instead.

 

Section 13.5 Capital Adequacy. If after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable Law, rule or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof, by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law), shall:

 

(a) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compensatory loan, deposit insurance, capital adequacy, minimum capital, capital ratio or similar requirement against all or any assets held by, deposits or accounts with, credit extended by or to, or commitments to extend credit or any other acquisition of funds by any Bank (or its Lending Office), or impose on any Bank (or its Lending Office) any other condition, with respect to the maintenance by such Bank of all or any part of its Commitment; or

 

(b) subject any Bank (or its Lending Office) to, or cause the termination or reduction of a previously granted exemption with respect to, any Tax with respect to the maintenance by such Bank of all or any part of its Commitment (other than Taxes assessed against such Bank’s overall net income); and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank (or its Lending Office) of maintaining its Commitment or to reduce the amount of any sums received or receivable by it (or its Lending Office) under this Agreement or any other Loan Paper, or to reduce the rate of return on such Bank’s equity in connection with this Agreement, as the case may be, by an amount which such Bank deems material then, in any such case, within fifteen (15) days of demand by such Bank (or its Lending Office) (with a copy to Administrative Agent), Borrower shall pay to such Bank (or its Lending Office) such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank for any additional cost, reduced benefit, reduced amount received or reduced rate of return. Each Bank will promptly notify Borrower and Administrative Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section 13.5. A certificate of any Bank claiming compensation under this Section 13.5 and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Bank may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

 

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any event or condition described in this Section 13.5 shall occur or arise which relates to the maintenance by any Bank of that part of its Commitment which is in excess of its Commitment Percentage of the Borrowing Base then in effect (such excess portion of such Commitment of any Bank is hereinafter referred to as its Surplus Commitment), such Bank shall notify Administrative Agent and Borrower of the occurrence of such event or the existence of such condition and of the

 

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amount of a fee (to be computed on a per annum basis with respect to such Bank’s Surplus Commitment) which such Bank determines in good faith will compensate such Bank for such additional cost, reduced benefit, reduced amount received or reduced rate of return. Within five (5) Domestic Business Days following receipt of such notice, Borrower shall notify such Bank whether it accepts or rejects such fee (if Borrower fails to timely respond to such notice it will be deemed to have accepted such fee). If Borrower rejects such fee, the applicable Commitment of each Bank will be automatically and permanently reduced to the Borrowing Base applicable to such Commitment and then in effect. If Borrower accepts such fee, such fee shall accrue from and after the date of such Bank’s notice and shall be payable in arrears (based on the daily average balance of such Bank’s Surplus Commitment) on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter and on the Termination Date. Such fee shall be in lieu of any amounts to which such Bank would otherwise be entitled in respect of its Surplus Commitment pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 13.5 for the period on and after the date of such notice unless such Bank determines that such fee is not adequate to fully compensate such Bank for any additional cost, reduced benefit, reduced amount received or reduced rate of return such Bank may thereafter incur in respect of such Bank’s Surplus Commitment. In that event such Bank shall be entitled to such additional compensation to which such Bank is otherwise entitled pursuant to this Section 13.5.

 

Section 13.6 Taxes. All amounts payable by Borrower under the Loan Papers (whether principal, interest, fees, expenses, or otherwise) to or for the account of each Bank shall be paid in full, free of any deductions or withholdings for or on account of any Taxes. If Borrower is prohibited by Law from paying any such amount free of any such deductions and withholdings, then (at the same time and in the same manner that such original amount is otherwise due under the Loan Papers) Borrower shall pay to or for the account of such Bank such additional amount as may be necessary in order that the actual amount received by such Bank after deduction and/or withholding (and after payment of any additional Taxes due as a consequence of the payment of such additional amount, and so on) will equal the amount such Bank would have received if such deduction or withholding were not made.

 

Section 13.7 Discretion of Banks as to Manner of Funding. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, each Bank shall be entitled to fund and maintain its funding of all or any part of its Commitment in any manner it sees fit, it being understood, however, that for the purposes of this Agreement all determinations hereunder shall be made as if such Bank had actually funded and maintained the Loan (or any portion thereof) subject to a Eurodollar Tranche during the Interest Period for the Loan (or any portion thereof) through the purchase of deposits having a maturity corresponding to the last day of such Interest Period and bearing an interest rate equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 14.1 Notices; Electronic Communication. Except as provided in Section 14.1(b) below, (a) all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including bank wire, telecopy, e-mail or similar writing) and shall be given (i) if to Administrative Agent or any Bank, to such party at its address, e-mail address, telex or telecopy number set forth on Schedule 1 hereof, or (ii) if to Borrower, at the address, e-mail

 

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address, telex or telecopy number for Borrower set forth on the signature page hereto or such other address, e-mail address, telex or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to Administrative Agent and Borrower, as the case may be. Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (A) if given by telecopy, when such telecopy is transmitted to the telecopy number specified in this Section 14.1 and the appropriate answerback is received or receipt is otherwise confirmed, (B) if given by mail, three (3) days after deposit in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, (C) if given by e-mail, as provided in subsection (b) below, or (D) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address specified in this Section 14.1; provided, that notices to Administrative Agent under Article II or Article III shall not be effective until received.

 

(b) Notices and other communications to Banks and Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Bank or Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Bank or Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable, has notified Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. Administrative Agent or Borrower may, in its 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.

 

Unless Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Domestic Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

Section 14.2 Waivers and Amendments; Acknowledgments.

 

(a) No failure or delay (whether by course of conduct or otherwise) by any Bank or Administrative Agent in exercising any right, power or remedy which they may have under any of the Loan Papers shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other right, power or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Bank or Administrative Agent of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or remedy. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Paper and no consent to any departure therefrom shall ever be effective unless it is in writing and signed by Required Banks and/or Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 14.2(c) hereof, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instances and for the purposes for which given and to the extent specified in such writing. No notice to or demand on Borrower shall in any case of itself entitle Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. This Agreement and the other Loan Papers set forth the entire understanding and agreement of

 

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the parties hereto and thereto with respect to the transactions contemplated herein and therein and supersede all prior discussions and understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and no modification or amendment of or supplement to this Agreement or the other Loan Papers shall be valid or effective unless the same is in compliance with Section 14.2(c).

 

(b) Borrower represents, warrants, acknowledges and admits that (i) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of the Loan Papers to which it is a party, (ii) it has made an independent decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Papers to which it is a party, without reliance on any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking by Banks or Agents whether written, oral or implicit, other than as expressly set out in this Agreement or in another Loan Paper delivered on or after the date hereof, (iii) there are no representations, warranties, covenants, undertakings or agreements by any Bank or any Agent as to the Loan Papers except as expressly set out in this Agreement or in another Loan Paper delivered on or after the date hereof, (iv) neither any Bank nor any Agent owes any fiduciary duty to Borrower or any other Credit Party with respect to any Loan Paper or the transactions contemplated thereby, (v) the relationship pursuant to the Loan Papers between Borrower, on one hand, and Banks and Agents, on the other hand, is and shall be solely that of debtor and creditor, respectively, (vi) no partnership or joint venture exists with respect to the Loan Papers between Borrower and any Bank or any Agent, (vii) should an Event of Default or Default occur or exist each Bank and each Agent will determine in its sole and absolute discretion and for its own reasons what remedies and actions it will or will not exercise or take at that time, (viii) without limiting any of the foregoing, Borrower is not relying upon any representation or covenant by any Bank or any Agent or any representative thereof, and no such representation or covenant has been made, that any Bank or any Agent will, at the time of an Event of Default, or at any other time, waive, negotiate, discuss, or take or refrain from taking any action permitted under the Loan Papers with respect to any such Event of Default or Default or any other provision of the Loan Papers, and (ix) each Bank has relied upon the truthfulness of the acknowledgments in this Section 14.2(b) in deciding to execute and deliver this Agreement and to make the Loan.

 

(c) Any provision of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Papers may be amended or waived if, but only if such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by Borrower and Required Banks (and, if the rights or duties of Administrative Agent or Swing Line Bank are affected thereby, by Administrative Agent and Swing Line Bank, as applicable); provided, that no such amendment or waiver shall, unless signed by all Banks, (i) increase the Commitment of any Bank or subject any Bank to any additional obligation, (ii) forgive any of the principal of or reduce the rate of interest on the Loan or any fees hereunder, (iii) postpone the Termination Date or any date fixed for any payment of principal of or interest on the Loan or any fees hereunder, (iv) change the percentages of the Total Commitment, or the number of Banks which shall be required for the Banks or any of them to take any action under this Section 14.2 or any other provision of this Agreement, (v) permit any Credit Party to assign any of its rights hereunder, (vi) amend or waive any of the provisions of Article IV or the definitions contained in Section 1.1 applicable thereto, or (vii) provide for release or substitution of collateral for the Obligations or any part thereof other than releases made in connection with sales of collateral which are expressly permitted by Section 9.5 hereof. Borrower, Administrative Agent and each Bank further acknowledge that any decision by Administrative Agent or any Bank to enter into any amendment, waiver or consent pursuant hereto shall be made by such Bank or

 

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Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, and in making any such decision Administrative Agent and each such Bank shall be permitted to give due consideration to any credit or other relationship Administrative Agent or any such Bank may have with Borrower, any other Credit Party or any Affiliate of any Credit Party.

 

Section 14.3 Expenses; Documentary Taxes; Indemnification.

 

(a) Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of Administrative Agent, including reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for Administrative Agent, in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Papers and, if appropriate, the recordation of the Loan Papers (subject to the limitations in Borrower’s commitment letter with Administrative Agent), any waiver or consent hereunder or any amendment hereof or any Default or alleged Default hereunder, and (ii) if an Event of Default occurs, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Administrative Agent and each Bank, including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with such Event of Default and collection and other enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom, fees of auditors and consultants incurred in connection therewith and investigation expenses incurred by Administrative Agent and each Bank in connection therewith. Borrower shall indemnify each Bank against any Taxes imposed by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Notes (other than Taxes in respect of the net income of such Bank).

 

(b) Borrower agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Entity (as defined below), upon demand, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, claims, losses, damages, penalties, fines, actions, judgments, suits, settlements, costs, expenses or disbursements (including reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants, experts and advisors) of any kind or nature whatsoever (in this section collectively called liabilities and costs) which to any extent (in whole or in part) may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Indemnified Entity resulting from the Loan Papers or the Loans (including any violation or noncompliance with any Applicable Environmental Laws by any Credit Party or any liabilities or duties of any Credit Party or of any Indemnified Entity with respect to Hazardous Substances found in or released into the environment).

 

THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LIABILITIES AND COSTS ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY OR ARE IN ANY EXTENT CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ANY INDEMNIFIED ENTITY,

 

provided, only, that no Indemnified Entity shall be entitled under this Section 14.3(b) to receive indemnification for that portion, if any, of any liabilities and costs which is proximately caused by its own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, or by its own individual actions with respect to the collateral for the Loan in its possession, IT BEING THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES HERETO THAT NO INDEMNIFIED ENTITY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE. As used in this Section 14.3(b) the term Indemnified Entity refers to each Bank, each Agent, and each director, officer, agent, trustee, manager, attorney, employee, representative and Affiliate of any such Person.

 

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Section 14.4 Right and Sharing of Set-Offs.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Bank 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 indebtedness at any time owing by such Bank to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) against any and all of the obligations now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and any Note held by such Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Bank agrees promptly to notify such Credit Party after any such setoff and application made by such Bank, provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of each Bank under this Section 14.4(a) are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of setoff) which such Bank may have.

 

(b) Each Bank agrees that if it shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with respect to the Loan which is greater than the proportion received by any other Bank in respect of the Loan, the Bank receiving such proportionately greater payment shall purchase such participations in the interests in the Loan held by the other Banks, and such other adjustments shall be made, as may be required so that all such payments of principal and interest with respect to the Loan held by Banks shall be shared by Banks ratably in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages; provided, that nothing in this Section 14.4 shall impair the right of any Bank to exercise any right of setoff or counterclaim it may have and to apply the amount subject to such exercise to the payment of indebtedness of any Credit Party other than its indebtedness under the Loan. Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that Participants may exercise rights of setoff or counterclaim and other rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such holder of a participation were a direct creditor of Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

Section 14.5 Survival. All of the various representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements in the Loan Papers shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Papers and the performance hereof and thereof, including the making or granting of the Loan and the delivery of the Notes and the other Loan Papers, and shall further survive until all of the Obligations are paid in full to Banks and Administrative Agent and all of Banks’ obligations to Borrower are terminated (provided, that, to the extent expressly provided in any indemnification clause contained herein or in any other Loan Paper, such indemnification obligation shall survive payment in full of the Obligations and termination of the obligations of Banks to Borrower hereunder). All statements and agreements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by Borrower to any Bank or Administrative Agent under any Loan Paper shall be deemed representations and warranties by Borrower or agreements and covenants of Borrower under this Agreement. The representations, warranties and covenants made by any Credit Party (as applicable) in the Loan Papers, and the rights, powers and privileges granted to Banks and Administrative Agent in the Loan Papers, are cumulative, and, except for expressly specified waivers and consents, no Loan Paper shall be construed in the context of another to diminish, nullify, or otherwise reduce the benefit to Banks

 

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and Administrative Agent of any such representation, warranty, covenant, right, power or privilege. In particular and without limitation, no exception set out in this Agreement to any representation, warranty or covenant herein contained shall apply to any similar representation, warranty or covenant contained in any other Loan Paper, and each such similar representation, warranty or covenant shall be subject only to those exceptions which are expressly made applicable to it by the terms of the various Loan Papers.

 

Section 14.6 Limitation on Interest. Each Bank, each Agent, Borrower, each other Credit Party and any other parties to the Loan Papers intend to contract in strict compliance with applicable usury Law from time to time in effect. In furtherance thereof such Persons stipulate and agree that none of the terms and provisions contained in the Loan Papers shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay, for the use, forbearance or detention of money, interest in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate. None of Borrower, any other Credit Party, nor any present or future guarantors, endorsers, or other Persons hereafter becoming liable for payment of any Obligation shall ever be liable for unearned interest thereon or shall ever be required to pay interest thereon in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate and the provisions of this Section 14.6 shall control over all other provisions of the Loan Papers which may be in conflict or apparent conflict herewith. Each Bank and Administrative Agent expressly disavow any intention to charge or collect excessive unearned interest or finance charges in the event the maturity of any Obligation is accelerated. If (a) the maturity of any Obligation is accelerated for any reason, (b) any Obligation is prepaid and as a result any amounts held to constitute interest are determined to be in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate, or (c) any Bank or any other holder of any or all of the Obligations shall otherwise collect moneys which are determined to constitute interest which would otherwise increase the interest on any or all of the Obligations to an amount in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate, then all such sums determined to constitute interest in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate shall, without penalty, be promptly applied to reduce the then outstanding principal of the related Obligations or, at any Bank’s or such holder’s option, promptly returned to Borrower or the other payor thereof upon such determination. In determining whether or not the interest paid or payable, under any specific circumstance, exceeds the Maximum Lawful Rate, Administrative Agent, Banks, Borrower and the other Credit Parties (and any other payors or payees thereof) shall to the greatest extent permitted under applicable Law, (i) characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather than as interest, (ii) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (iii) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread the total amount of interest throughout the entire contemplated term of the instrument evidencing the Obligations in accordance with the amounts outstanding from time to time thereunder and the Maximum Lawful Rate in order to lawfully charge the Maximum Lawful Rate.

 

Section 14.7 Invalid Provisions. If any provision of the Loan Papers is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future Laws effective during the term thereof, such provision shall be fully severable, the Loan Papers shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part thereof, and the remaining provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its severance therefrom. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as a part of the Loan Papers a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

 

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Section 14.8 Successors and Assigns.

 

(a) Each Loan Paper binds and inures to the parties to it, any intended beneficiary of it, and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither Borrower nor any other Credit Party may assign or transfer any rights or obligations under any Loan Paper without first obtaining all Banks’ consent, and any purported assignment or transfer without all Banks’ consent is void. No Bank may transfer, pledge, assign, sell any participation in, or otherwise encumber its portion of the Obligations except as permitted by clauses (b) or (c) below.

 

(b) Any Bank may (subject to the provisions of this section, in accordance with applicable Law, in the ordinary course of its business, and at any time) sell to one or more commercial banks or institutional investors, or to Affiliates of the selling Bank (each a Participant) participating interests in its portion of the Obligations. The selling Bank remains a “Bank” under the Loan Papers, the Participant does not become a “Bank” under the Loan Papers, and the selling Bank’s obligations under the Loan Papers remain unchanged. The selling Bank remains solely responsible for the performance of its obligations and remains the holder of its share of the outstanding Loan for all purposes under the Loan Papers. Borrower and Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with the selling Bank in connection with that Bank’s rights and obligations under the Loan Papers, and each Bank must retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce due obligations of Borrower and/or any other Credit Party. Participants have no rights under the Loan Papers except certain approval rights as provided below. Subject to the following, each Bank may obtain (on behalf of its Participants) the benefits of Article XIII with respect to all participations in its part of the Obligations outstanding from time to time so long as Borrower is not obligated to pay any amount in excess of the amount that would be due to that Bank under Article XIII calculated as though no participations have been made. No Bank may sell any participating interest under which the Participant has any rights to approve any amendment, modification, or waiver of any Loan Paper except to the extent such amendment, modification or waiver would (i) extend the Termination Date, (ii) reduce the interest rate or fees applicable to the Commitments or any portion of the Loan in which such Participant is participating, or postpone the payment of any thereof, or (iii) release all or substantially all of the collateral or guarantees securing any portion of the Total Commitment or the Loan in which such Participant is participating. In addition, each agreement creating any participation must include an agreement by the Participant to be bound by the provisions of Section 14.14.

 

(c) Each Bank may make assignments to the Federal Reserve Bank. Each Bank may also assign to one or more assignees (each an Assignee) all or any part of its rights and obligations under the Loan Papers so long as (i) the assignor Bank and Assignee execute and deliver to Administrative Agent and Borrower for their consent and acceptance (that may not be unreasonably withheld) an assignment and assumption agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit F (an Assignment and Assumption Agreement) and pay to Administrative Agent a processing fee of $3,500, (ii) the Assignee acquires an identical percentage interest in the Commitment of the assignor Bank and an identical percentage of the interests in the outstanding Loan held by such assignor Bank, and (iii) the conditions (including, without limitation, minimum amounts of the Total Commitment that may be assigned or that must be retained) for that assignment set forth in the applicable Assignment and Assumption Agreement are satisfied.

 

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The “Effective Date” in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement must (unless a shorter period is agreeable to Borrower and Administrative Agent) be at least five (5) Domestic Business Days after it is executed and delivered by the assignor Bank and Assignee to Administrative Agent and Borrower for acceptance. Once that Assignment and Assumption Agreement is accepted by Administrative Agent and Borrower, then, from and after the Effective Date stated in it (A) Assignee automatically becomes a party to this Agreement and, to the extent provided in that Assignment and Assumption Agreement, has the rights and obligations of a Bank under the Loan Papers, (B) the assignor Bank, to the extent provided in that Assignment and Assumption Agreement, is released from its obligations to fund Borrowings under this Agreement and its reimbursement obligations under this Agreement and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement covering all of the remaining portion of the assignor Bank’s rights and obligations under the Loan Papers, that Bank ceases to be a party to the Loan Papers, (C) Borrower shall execute and deliver to the assignor Bank and Assignee the appropriate Notes in accordance with this Agreement following the transfer, (D) upon delivery of the Notes under clause (C) preceding, the assignor Bank shall return to Borrower all Notes previously delivered to that Bank under this Agreement, and (E) Schedule 1 is automatically deemed to be amended to reflect the name, address, e-mail address, telecopy number, and Commitment of Assignee and the remaining Commitment (if any) of the assignor Bank, and Administrative Agent shall prepare and circulate to Borrower and Banks an amended Schedule 1 reflecting those changes.

 

Section 14.9 Applicable Law and Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT, EACH NOTE AND THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY HEREOF AND THEREOF) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OTHER THAN CONFLICT OF LAWS RULES THEREOF, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT A LOAN PAPER EXPRESSLY ELECTS THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR THE LAWS OF ANY STATE IN WHICH ANY PROPERTY INTENDED AS SECURITY FOR THE OBLIGATIONS IS LOCATED NECESSARILY GOVERN (a) THE PERFECTION AND PRIORITY OF THE LIENS IN FAVOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND BANKS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PROPERTY, AND (b) THE EXERCISE OF ANY REMEDIES (INCLUDING FORECLOSURE) WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PROPERTY. Any legal action or proceeding against Borrower with respect to this Agreement or any Loan Paper may be brought in the courts of the State of New York, the U.S. Federal Courts in such state, sitting in the County of New York, or in the courts of any other jurisdiction where such action or proceeding may be properly brought, and Borrower hereby irrevocably accepts the jurisdiction of such New York courts for the purpose of any action or proceeding. Borrower hereby designates and irrevocably appoints and empowers CT Corporation System (the Process Agent), currently located at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011 as its authorized agent to accept, receive and acknowledge for and on behalf of Borrower and its property service of any and all process which may be served but only in any action, suit or proceeding of the nature referred to above in the State of New York and further agree that failure of such firm to give Borrower any notice of any such service shall not impair or affect the validity of such service or of any judgment rendered in any action on proceeding based thereon. Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Process Agent to accept such service on its behalf. Borrower further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of said courts by the mailing thereof by Administrative Agent by U.S. registered or certified mail postage prepaid to Borrower at its address designated on the signature pages hereto. Borrower

 

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agrees that a final judgment in any action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Nothing in this Section 14.9 shall affect the rights of any Bank or Administrative Agent to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law or affect the right of any Bank or Administrative Agent to bring any action or proceeding against Borrower or its properties in the courts of any other jurisdiction. To the extent that Borrower has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to either itself or its property, Borrower hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Papers. Borrower hereby irrevocably waives 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 or any Loan Paper brought in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York or the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and hereby further irrevocably waives any claims that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

Section 14.10 Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth (including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of the Certificate of Effectiveness), this Agreement shall become effective when Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the parties hereto or, in the case of any Bank as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, Administrative Agent shall have received telegraphic or other written confirmation from such Bank of execution of a counterpart hereof by such Bank.

 

Section 14.11 No Third Party Beneficiaries. It is expressly intended that there shall be no third party beneficiaries of the covenants, agreements, representations or warranties herein contained other than Participants and Assignees permitted pursuant to Section 14.8 and Affiliates of any Bank which hold any part of the Obligations.

 

Section 14.12 COMPLETE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS COLLECTIVELY REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG BANKS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND BORROWER AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF BANKS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND BORROWER. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN OR AMONG BANKS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND BORROWER.

 

Section 14.13 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ETC. BORROWER, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AND EACH BANK HEREBY (a) KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, INTENTIONALLY, AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AT ANY TIME ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN PAPERS OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR

 

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ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, BEFORE OR AFTER MATURITY; (b) IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY “SPECIAL DAMAGES,” AS DEFINED BELOW; (c) CERTIFY THAT NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OR AGENT OR COUNSEL FOR ANY PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, OR IMPLIED THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (d) ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, “SPECIAL DAMAGES” INCLUDES ALL SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (REGARDLESS OF HOW NAMED), BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PAYMENT OR FUNDS WHICH ANY PARTY HERETO HAS EXPRESSLY PROMISED TO PAY OR DELIVER TO ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO.

 

Section 14.14 Confidential Information. Administrative Agent and each Bank agree that all documentation and other information made available by any Credit Party to any Agent or any Bank under the terms of this Agreement shall (except to the extent such documentation or other information is publicly available or hereafter becomes publicly available other than by action of Administrative Agent or such Bank, or was therefore known or hereinafter becomes known to Administrative Agent or such Bank independent of any disclosure thereto by any Credit Party) be held in the strictest confidence by Administrative Agent or such Bank and used solely in the administration and enforcement of the Loan from time to time outstanding from such Bank to Borrower and in the prosecution or defense of legal proceedings arising in connection herewith; provided, that (i) Administrative Agent or such Bank may disclose documentation and information to Administrative Agent and/or any Bank which is a party to this Agreement or any Affiliates thereof, and (ii) Administrative Agent or such Bank may disclose such documentation or other information to any other bank or other Person to which such Bank sells or proposes to make an assignment or sell a participation in the Loan hereunder if such other bank or Person, prior to such disclosure, agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of the confidentiality statement customarily employed by Administrative Agent in connection with such potential transfers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent Administrative Agent or a Bank from (a) making disclosure of any information (i) if required to do so by applicable Law or regulation or accepted banking practices, (ii) to any governmental agency or regulatory body having or claiming to have authority to regulate or oversee any aspect of such Bank’s business or that of such Bank’s corporate parent or Affiliates in connection with the exercise of such authority or claimed authority, (iii) pursuant to any subpoena or if otherwise compelled in connection with any litigation or administrative proceeding, (iv) to correct any false or misleading information which may become public concerning such Person’s relationship to any Credit Party, or (v) to the extent Administrative Agent or such Bank or its counsel deems necessary or appropriate to effect or preserve its security for the Obligations or any portion thereof or to enforce any remedy provided in this Agreement, or any other Loan Paper, or otherwise available by law; or (b) making, on a confidential basis, such disclosures as such Bank reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to its legal counsel or accountants (including outside auditors). If Administrative Agent or such Bank is compelled to disclose such confidential

 

79


information in a proceeding requesting such disclosure, Administrative Agent or such Bank shall seek to obtain assurance that such confidential treatment will be accorded such information; provided, however, that neither Administrative Agent nor any Bank shall have any liability for the failure to obtain such treatment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Administrative Agent and each Bank may disclose to any and all Persons any information with respect to the U.S. federal income tax treatment and U.S. federal income tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Administrative Agent or such Bank relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

 

Section 14.15 USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Bank that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Bank) hereby notifies Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower, which information includes the name and address of Borrower and other information that will allow such Bank or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify Borrower in accordance with the Act.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

80


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

 

BORROWER:

 

GEOMET, INC., a Delaware corporation
By:   /s/ William C. Rankin
   

William C. Rankin,

Executive Vice President

 

Address for Notice:

 

GeoMet, Inc.

909 Fannin Street

Suite 3208

Houston, Texas 77010

Attention: William C. Rankin

Telecopy No.: (713)  ###-###-####

e-mail: ***@***

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE 1 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By:   /s/ Todd Mac Neill
   

Todd Mac Neill,

Assistant Vice President

 

BANKS:

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By:   /s/ Allison I. Goodwin
    Allison I. Goodwin, Principal

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE 2 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]


SYNDICATION AGENT:

 

BNP PARIBAS,

as Syndication Agent

By:   /s/ Betsy Jocher
Name:   Betsy Jocher
Title:   Director
By:   /s/ Polly Schott
Name:   Polly Schott
Title:   Vice President

 

BANKS:

 

BNP PARIBAS
By:   /s/ Betsy Jocher
Name:   Betsy Jocher
Title:   Director
By:   /s/ Polly Schott
Name:   Polly Schott
Title:   Vice President

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE 3 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]


BANKS:

 

BANK OF SCOTLAND
By:   /s/ Karen Weich
Name:   Karen Weich
Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE 4 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]


BANKS:

 

U. S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Justin M. Alexander

Name:   Justin M. Alexander
Title:   Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE 5 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]


BANKS:

 

STERLING BANK
By:  

/s/ David W. Phillips

Name:  

David W. Phillips

Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE 6 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]


BANKS:

 

AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Mark A. Serice

Name:   Mark A. Serice
Title:   Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE 7 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT]


SCHEDULE 1

 

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

 

Banks


   Commitment
Amount


   Commitment
Percentage


 

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 48,000,000    26 ###-###-#### %

BNP Paribas

   $ 48,000,000    26 ###-###-#### %

Bank of Scotland

   $ 48,000,000    26 ###-###-#### %

U.S. Bank National Association

   $ 12,000,000    6 ###-###-#### %

Sterling Bank

   $ 12,000,000    6 ###-###-#### %

Amegy Bank National Association

   $ 12,000,000    6 ###-###-#### %

Totals:

   $ 180,000,000    100 %

 

Banks    Domestic Lending Office   Eurodollar Lending Office   Address for Notice
Bank of America, N.A.   

Bank of America, N.A.

One Independence Center

NC1-001-04-39

101 N Tryon St

Charlotte NC 28255

Attn: Randy Pino

Fax No. (704) 409-0319

 

Bank of America, N.A.

One Independence Center

NC1-001-04-39

101 N Tryon St

Charlotte NC 28255

Attn: Randy Pino

Fax No. (704) 409-0319

 

Bank of America, N.A.

One Independence Center

NC1-001-04-39

101 N Tryon St

Charlotte NC 28255

Attn: Randy Pino

Fax No. (704) 409-0319

BNP Paribas   

BNP Paribas

1200 Smith Street

Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Gabriel Candamo

Fax No. (212) 841-2683

 

BNP Paribas

1200 Smith Street

Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Gabriel Candamo

Fax No. (212) 841-2683

 

BNP Paribas

1200 Smith Street

Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Gabriel Candamo

Fax No. (212) 841-2683

Bank of Scotland   

Bank of Scotland

565 Fifth Avenue

5th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Attn: Shirley Vargas

Fax No.: (212) 479-2807

 

Bank of Scotland

565 Fifth Avenue

5th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Attn: Shirley Vargas

Fax No.: (212) 479-2807

 

Bank of Scotland

1021 Main Street

Suite 1370

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Richard Butler

Fax No.: (713) 651-9714

U. S. Bank National Association   

U. S. Bank National

Association

918 17th Street

DNCOBB3E

Denver, CO 80202

Attn: Justin M. Alexander

Fax No.: (303) 585-4362

 

U. S. Bank National

Association

918 17th Street

DNCOBB3E

Denver, CO 80202

Attn: Justin M. Alexander

Fax No.: (303) 585-4362

 

U. S. Bank National

Association

918 17th Street

DNCOBB3E

Denver, CO 80202

Attn: Justin M. Alexander

Fax No.: (303) 585-4362

 

Schedule 1 - 1


Sterling Bank   

Sterling Bank

2550 N. Loop West

Suite 800

Houston, TX 77092

Attn: Cheri Allen

Fax No.: (713) 507-7908

 

Sterling Bank

2550 N. Loop West

Suite 800

Houston, TX 77092

Attn: Cheri Allen

Fax No.: (713) 507-7908

 

Sterling Bank

2550 N. Loop West

Suite 800

Houston, TX 77092

Attn: David W. Phillips

Fax No.: (713) 507-7948

       
Amegy Bank National Association   

Amegy Bank National Association

4400 Post Oak Parkway

Houston, TX 77027

Attn: Mark A. Serice

Fax No.: (713) 561-0345

 

Amegy Bank National Association

4400 Post Oak Parkway

Houston, TX 77027

Attn: Mark A. Serice

Fax No.: (713) 561-0345

 

Amegy Bank National Association

4400 Post Oak Parkway

Houston, TX 77027

Attn: Mark A. Serice

Fax No.: (713) 561-0345

 

Administrative Agent-Address:

Bank of America, N.A.

100 Federal Street

Mail Code: MA5-100-11-02

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Attn: Allison I. Rossi

Fax No. (617)  ###-###-####

e-mail: ***@***

 

Schedule 1 - 2


SCHEDULE 2

 

LITIGATION

 

The Credit Parties’ gas from the Pond Creek field in the Appalachian Basin is gathered to a central facility that they own and operate to be dehydrated and compressed and delivered into the Cardinal States Gathering System for redelivery into the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation gas pipeline system. Their gathering agreement with Cardinal States Gathering Company (“Cardinal States”) terminates on April 30, 2007. The Credit Parties are currently in the process of constructing an 11-mile pipeline to transport their gas into the Jewell Ridge Pipeline being constructed by East Tennessee Natural Gas LLC, a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation.

 

CNX Gas Company, LLC (“CNX”), the parent company of Cardinal States, has claimed that it has the exclusive right to the use of the surface and to transport across certain acreage owned by Pocahontas Mining Limited Liability Company (“PMC”), and that the Credit Parties’ pipeline easement obtained from PMC is invalid. CNX has gated certain access roads to the property, impeding the Credit Parties’ ability to continue the construction of their pipeline; however, they have continued to construct their pipeline on acreage to which they continue to have access.

 

One or more Credit Parties, together with PMC, jointly filed a claim on May 26, 2006 against CNX seeking a temporary injunction to determine the Credit Parties’ rights under a right-of-way agreement that they entered into with PMC. The Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Virginia has scheduled an evidentiary hearing regarding their application for a temporary injunction for June 15, 2006, which, if granted, would prevent CNX from impeding construction of the Credit Parties’ pipeline. The Credit Parties believe that their right-of-way agreement is valid and enforceable and that they will prevail in the lawsuit; however, in the event they are not allowed access to this acreage, they may be required to construct an alternate pipeline, change the planned route of their pipeline, seek alternative methods to market their gas, or attempt to extend their current gathering agreement with Cardinal States Gathering Company, a subsidiary of CNX. Each of these alternatives may be expensive and may result in the Credit Parties’ inability to deliver their gas to market for some period of time. In the event that by April 30, 2007 they have been unable to either execute a new long-term gathering agreement or enter into an extension of the existing agreement with Cardinal States, or have not completed a connection to an alternate pipeline, they may temporarily be unable to transport gas from the Pond Creek field to the market, and their revenues would be adversely affected.

 

Schedule 2 - 1


SCHEDULE 3

 

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

GeoMet, Inc.

 

  (a) A Delaware corporation.

 

  (b) Qualified to do business in Alabama and Texas

 

GeoMet Operating Company, Inc.

 

  (a) An Alabama corporation.

 

  (b) Qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in West Virginia, Virginia, Colorado, Louisiana and New Mexico.

 

  (c) 1,000 shares of common stock are authorized, of which 586.4 are issued and outstanding. All of such shares are owned of record by Borrower.

 

  (d) No options or warrants are outstanding.

 

Hudson’s Hope Gas, Ltd.

 

  (a) A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada

 

  (b) Provincially registered to do business in British Columbia and Alberta

 

  (c) An unlimited number of shares of common stock are authorized, of which 1,000 are issued and outstanding. All of such shares are owned of record by Borrower.

 

  (d) No options or warrants are outstanding.

 

GeoMet Gathering Company, LLC

 

  (a) A limited liability company organized under the laws of Alabama

 

  (b) Qualified to do business in Virginia and West Virginia

 

  (c) GeoMet, Inc is the initial member and organizer and there are no additional members.

 

  (d) No options or warrants are outstanding.

 

Schedule 3 - 1


EXHIBIT A

 

NOTE

 

$                       Boston, Massachusetts  

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation, successor by merger to GeoMet, Inc., an Alabama corporation (“Maker”), promises to pay to the order of [Name of Bank or Lending Office] (“Payee”), at the offices of Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent (herein so called), at 100 Federal Street, Mail Code: MA5-100-11-02, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, for Payee and the other Banks hereinafter described, the principal sum of [Amount of such Bank’s Commitment] ($                ), or so much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding, together with interest, as hereinafter described.

 

This Note has been executed and delivered pursuant to, and is subject to and governed by, the terms of that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 (as hereafter renewed, extended, amended, or supplemented, the “Agreement”) among Maker, Payee, Administrative Agent and the other Banks named therein and is one of the “Notes” referred to therein. Unless otherwise defined herein or unless the context hereof otherwise requires, each term used herein with its initial letter capitalized has the meaning given to such term in the Agreement.

 

Maker also promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof in like money at the offices of Administrative Agent above referenced from the date hereof at the rates applicable to amounts outstanding under the Loan provided in the Agreement.

 

The principal balance of this Note and all interest which accrues thereon shall be paid at the times and in the amounts required by the Agreement. The entire outstanding principal balance hereof and all accrued but unpaid interest thereon shall be due and payable in full on the Termination Date.

 

Upon and subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Maker shall be entitled to prepay the principal of or interest on this Note from time to time and at any time, in whole or in part.

 

Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, and upon the conditions stated in the Agreement, Administrative Agent may, at its option, and shall, to the extent required in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, declare the entire unpaid principal of and accrued interest on this Note immediately due and payable (provided that, upon the occurrence of certain Events of Default, and upon the conditions stated in the Agreement, such acceleration shall be automatic), without notice (except as otherwise required by the Agreement), demand, or presentment, all of which are hereby waived, and the holder hereof shall have the right to offset against this Note any sum or sums owed by the holder hereof to Maker. All past-due principal of and, to the extent permitted by law, accrued interest on this Note shall, as

 

A-1


provided in the Agreement and at the option of the holder hereof, bear interest at the lesser of (a) the Maximum Lawful Rate or (b) the Default Rate until paid.

 

THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (OTHER THAN CONFLICT OF LAWS RULES THEREOF) AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

 

GEOMET, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

A-2


LOANS, MATURITIES, AND

 

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

 

Borrowing
Date


 

Payee’s
Commitment
Percentage of
Borrowing


 

Expiration of
Interest Period


 

Rate
of Interest
Applicable to
Tranche


 

Amount of
Principal Paid


 

Amount of
Interest Paid


 

Unpaid
Principal
Balance


 

Notation Made
By


                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             

 

A-3


EXHIBIT B

 

REQUEST FOR BORROWING

 

Reference is made to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 (as from time to time amended, modified, or supplemented, the “Agreement”) by and among GeoMet, Inc. (“Borrower”), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain Banks as named and defined therein. Terms which are defined in the Agreement and which are used but not defined herein are used herein with the meanings given them in the Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Borrower hereby requests a Borrowing in the amount of $                     to be advanced on                                         ,                 .

 

Borrower requests that the Borrowing to be made hereunder shall be [an Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing] [a Eurodollar Borrowing] and shall have the Interest Periods (if applicable) all as set forth below:

 

Type of Borrowing        Aggregate Amount        

Interest Period

(if applicable)

                    
                    
                    

 

Borrower hereby certifies that:

 

(a) The Authorized Officer of Borrower signing this instrument is duly elected, qualified and acting officer of Borrower as indicated below such officer’s signature hereto.

 

(b) The representations and warranties of each Credit Party contained in the Agreement and the other Loan Papers are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date hereof or, if such representations and warranties are expressly limited to particular dates, as of such particular dates.

 

(c) Immediately before and after giving effect to the Borrowing requested hereby, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and such Borrowing will not cause a Default or Event of Default.

 

(d) The Credit Parties have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions in the Agreement required to be performed or complied with by such Credit Parties on or prior to the date hereof, and each of the conditions precedent to the Borrowing contained in the Agreement remain satisfied in all material respects.

 

(e) After giving effect to the Borrowing requested hereby, the Outstanding Credit will not be in excess of the Borrowing Base on the date requested for the making of such Borrowing.

 

B-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed as of                                 ,                 .

 

GEOMET, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

B-2


EXHIBIT C

 

REQUEST FOR LETTER OF CREDIT

 

Reference is made to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 (as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, the “Agreement”), by and among GeoMet, Inc. (“Borrower”), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other Banks as named and defined therein. Terms which are defined in the Agreement and which are used but not defined herein are used herein with the meanings given them in the Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Borrower hereby requests                              (“Issuer”) to issue a Letter of Credit for the account of Borrower as follows:

 

Type of Commitment:


       

Requested Amount

  $    

Requested Date of Issuance

       

Requested Expiration Date

       

Summary of Terms

       

(provide a brief description of conditions under which the drafts under such Letter of Credit are to be available)

       

Beneficiary (Name/Address)

       
         
         
         

 

Such Letter of Credit is more particularly described in the Letter of Credit Application and Agreement of Issuer which is attached hereto.

 

Borrower hereby certifies that:

 

(a) The Authorized Officer of Borrower signing this instrument is the duly elected, qualified and acting officer of Borrower as indicated below such officer’s signature hereto.

 

(b) The representations and warranties of each Credit Party contained in the Agreement and the other Loan Papers are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date hereof, or if such representations and warranties are expressly limited to particular dates, as of such particular dates.

 

(c) Immediately before and after giving effect to the issuance of the Letter of Credit requested hereby, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and the issuance of such Letter of Credit will not cause a Default or Event of Default.

 

C-1


(d) The Credit Parties have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions in the Agreement required to be performed or complied with by such Credit Parties on or prior to the date hereof, and each of the conditions precedent to the issuance of Letters of Credit contained in the Agreement remain satisfied in all material respects.

 

(e) After the issuance of the Letter of Credit requested hereby, the Outstanding Credit will not be in excess of the Borrowing Base in effect on the date requested for the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed as of                             ,                 .

 

GEOMET, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

C-2


EXHIBIT D

 

ROLLOVER NOTICE

 

Reference is made to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 (as from time to time amended, modified, or supplemented, the “Agreement”), by and among GeoMet, Inc. (“Borrower”), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain Banks as named and defined therein. Terms which are defined in the Agreement and which are used but not defined herein are used herein with the meanings given them in the Agreement.

 

  ¨ Reference is hereby made to the existing Eurodollar Tranche outstanding under the Loan in the amount of $             which is subject to an Interest Period expiring on                         ,             . Borrower hereby requests that on the expiration of such Interest Period [all or $            ] of the portion of the principal of the Loan which is subject to such Tranche be made the subject of ? an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche or ? a Eurodollar Tranche having an Interest Period of              months.*

 

  ¨ Borrower hereby requests that on                         ,             , a portion of the principal of the Loan in the amount of $             which is currently the subject of an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche be made the subject of a Eurodollar Tranche having an Interest Period of              months.

 

Borrower hereby certifies that:

 

(a) The Authorized Officer of Borrower signing this instrument is the duly elected, qualified and acting officer of Borrower as indicated below such officer’s signature hereto; and

 

(b) There does not exist on the date hereof any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Event of Default.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed as of                         ,             .

 

GEOMET, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:    
Name:    
Title:    
     

 

D-1

 

* modify as appropriate if Eurodollar Tranches are being combined or split.


EXHIBIT E

 

GEOMET, INC.

 

FINANCIAL OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned, the Chief Financial Officer of GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), hereby (a) delivers this Financial Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 8.1(c) of that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of June 9, 2006, by and among Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other Banks as named and defined therein (“Banks”), and (b) certifies to Banks, with the knowledge and intent that Banks may, without any independent investigation, rely fully on the matters herein in connection with the Credit Agreement, that, to his knowledge:

 

1. Attached hereto as Schedule I are the consolidated financial statements of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the Fiscal ¨ Year ¨ Quarter (check one) ended                         ,             .

 

2. Such financial statements have been prepared on a consistent basis in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise noted therein) and fairly present the financial condition of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date indicated therein and the results of operations for the respective periods indicated therein, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to the absence of footnotes and normal year end adjustments.

 

3. Attached hereto as Schedule II are detailed calculations used by Borrower to establish that Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Article X of the Credit Agreement on the date of the financial statements attached as Schedule I hereto.

 

4. Unless otherwise disclosed on Schedule III attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, neither a Default nor an Event of Default has occurred which is in existence on the date hereof; provided, that, for any Default or Event of Default disclosed on Schedule III attached hereto, Borrower is taking or proposes to take the action to cure such Default or Event of Default set forth on Schedule III.

 

5. Unless otherwise disclosed on Schedule IV attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, there is not a Material Gas Imbalance in existence on the date hereof; provided, that, for any Material Gas Imbalance disclosed on Schedule IV attached hereto, Schedule IV accurately sets forth the amount known to Borrower of net gas imbalances under Gas Balancing Agreements to which any Credit Party is a party or by which any Mineral Interests owned by any Credit Party are bound.

 

6. Schedule V attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for all purposes accurately sets forth, as of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of all Advance Payments received under Advance Payment Contracts to which any Credit Party is a party or by which any Mineral Interests owned by any Credit Party are bound which have not been satisfied by delivery of production, if any.

 

E-1


7. Attached hereto as Schedule VI is a summary of the Hedge Transactions to which any Credit Party is a party on the date of the financial statements attached hereto as Schedule I.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning given such terms in the Credit Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Financial Officer’s Certificate as of                         ,             .

 

GEOMET, INC.

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

  Chief Financial Officer

 

E-2


Schedule I

 

Financial Statements

(to be attached)

 

E-3


Schedule II

 

Compliance Calculations

(to be attached)

 

E-4


Schedule III

 

Defaults/Remedial Action

(to be attached)

 

E-5


Schedule IV

 

Material Gas Imbalances

(to be attached)

 

E-6


Schedule V

 

Advance Payments

(to be attached)

 

E-7


Schedule VI

 

Summary of Hedge Transactions

(to be attached)

 

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EXHIBIT F

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated                         ,             , among                          (“Assignor”),                          (“Assignee”), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Banks (“Administrative Agent”) and GeoMet, Inc. (“Borrower”).

 

BACKGROUND

 

A. Reference is made to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 (as it may hereafter be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Borrower, the financial institutions parties thereto as Banks, and Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise defined, terms are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

B. This Agreement is made with reference to the following facts:

 

(i) Assignor is a Bank under and as defined in the Credit Agreement and, as such, presently holds a percentage of the rights and obligations of Banks under the Credit Agreement.

 

(ii) As of the date hereof, the Total Commitment is $                , Assignor’s Commitment is $                , and Assignor’s Commitment Percentage is             %.

 

(iii) As of the date hereof, Assignor’s Commitment Percentage of the outstanding principal balance of the Loan is $                .

 

(iv) On the terms and conditions set forth below, Assignor desires to sell and assign to Assignee, and Assignee desires to purchase and assume from Assignor, as of the Effective Date (as defined below)              percent (            %) (the “Assigned Percentage”) of the Total Commitment (such Assigned Percentage constitutes              percent (            %) of Assignor’s Commitment).

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, Assignor and Assignee hereby agree as follows:

 

1. By this Agreement, and effective as of                         ,              (the “Effective Date”) (which must, unless otherwise agreed to by Borrower and Administrative Agent, be at least five (5) Domestic Business Days after the execution and delivery of this Agreement to Borrower and Administrative Agent for acceptance), Assignor hereby sells and assigns to Assignee, without recourse and, except as provided in paragraph 2 of this Agreement, without representation and warranty, and Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from Assignor, to the extent of the Assigned Percentage of the Loan, Assignor’s rights and obligations

 

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under the Credit Agreement, the Letter of Credit Exposure, and the Commitment as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

2. Assignor (a) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (b) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Paper or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, or with respect to the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Paper or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (c) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of Borrower or any Person or the performance or observance by Borrower or any Person of any of its obligations under the Loan Papers or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto.

 

3. Assignee (a) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered to Assignor pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Credit Agreement, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement; (b) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, Assignor or any other Bank and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Papers; (c) appoints and authorizes Administrative Agent to take such action as administrative agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Papers as are delegated to Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; (d) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which, by the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Papers, are required to be performed by it as a Bank; (e) specifies, as its address for notice and Domestic Lending Office and Eurodollar Lending Office, the offices set forth beneath its name on the signature pages hereof, and (f) if Assignee is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of its states, Assignee (1) represents and warrants to Assignor, Administrative Agent and Borrower that (i) no Taxes are required to be withheld by Administrative Agent or Borrower with respect to any payments to be made to Assignee in respect of the Obligations, and (ii) Assignee has furnished to Administrative Agent and Borrower two duly completed copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 4224, Form 1001, Form W-8, or other form acceptable to Administrative Agent that entitles Assignee to exemption from U.S. federal withholding Tax on all interest payments under the Loan Papers, (2) covenants to (i) provide Administrative Agent and Borrower a new form 4224, Form 1001, Form W-8, or other form acceptable to Administrative Agent upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form according to applicable laws and regulations, duly executed and completed by Assignee, and (ii) comply from time to time with all applicable laws and regulations with regard to the withholding tax exemption, and (3) agrees that if any of the foregoing is not true or the applicable forms are not provided, then Borrower and Administrative Agent (without duplication) may deduct and withhold from interest payments under the Loan Papers any United States federal income tax at the maximum rate under the Code.

 

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4. Borrower acknowledges its obligations under the Credit Agreement, and agrees, within five (5) Domestic Business Days after receiving an executed copy of this Agreement to execute and deliver to Administrative Agent, in exchange for the Note or Notes originally delivered to Assignor, new Notes to the order of Assignor and Assignee in amounts equal to their respective amounts of the Commitments.

 

5. As of the Effective Date, (a) Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Bank thereunder, (b) Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Agreement, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement and other Loan Papers, and (c) Assignor’s Commitment Percentage shall be             %, and Assignee’s Commitment Percentage shall be             %.

 

6. From and after the Effective Date, Administrative Agent shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts with respect thereto) to Assignee. Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Credit Agreement for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.

 

7. This Agreement shall not become effective until (a) counterparts of this Agreement are executed and delivered by Assignor and Assignee to Borrower, Administrative Agent and each Bank, (b) Borrower, Administrative Agent and each Bank execute such counterparts, and (c) Administrative Agent receives a processing fee of $3,500 from Assignor.

 

8. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

 

              ASSIGNOR:
             

 


              By:     
              Name:     
              Title:     
              ASSIGNEE:
Address for Notice:               
                
                
                
Attn:             By:     
Tel:             Name:     
Fax:             Title:     

 

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Domestic Lending Office:

     
     
     
     

Eurodollar Lending Office:

     
     
     

Attn:

   

Fax:

   

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

BORROWER:

GEOMET, INC.

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

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EXHIBIT G

 

FORM OF BORROWER PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of                                 , 20        , by GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called “Pledgor”), successor by merger to GeoMet, Inc., an Alabama corporation, in favor of Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Banks (as defined below) (herein called “Pledgee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor, as Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the Banks a party thereto (“Banks”) are parties to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which Banks have agreed to make loans and other extensions of credit to Borrower; and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the extension of credit by Banks pursuant to the Credit Agreement, Pledgor is required to execute and deliver to Pledgee a pledge agreement granting to Pledgee, for the benefit of Banks, a security interest in the Collateral (as defined herein); and

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Pledgor has determined that Pledgor’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the extension of credit to Pledgor by Banks may reasonably be expected to benefit Pledgor, directly or indirectly, and are in the best interests of Pledgor.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce Banks to extend credit under the Credit Agreement, Pledgor hereby agrees with Pledgee as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions and References

 

Section 1.1. General Definitions. As used herein, the terms defined above shall have the meanings indicated above, and the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Bank” means any financial institution reflected on Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement and its successors and assigns, and “Banks” shall mean all Banks.

 

Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of Texas on the date hereof.

 

Collateral” means all property of whatever type, in which Pledgee at any time has a security interest pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.

 

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Commitment” means the agreement or commitment by Banks to make loans or otherwise extend credit to Pledgor under the Credit Agreement, and any other agreement, commitment, statement of terms or other document contemplating the making of loans or advances or other extension of credit by Banks to or for the account of Pledgor which is now or at any time hereafter intended to be secured by the Collateral under this Agreement.

 

Equity” means shares of capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital or member interest, or options, warrants or any other right to substitute for or otherwise acquire the capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital or member interest of any Subsidiary (as defined in Section 2.1(a) hereof).

 

Obligation Documents” means the Credit Agreement, the Notes, the Loan Papers, and all other documents and instruments under, by reason of which, or pursuant to which, any or all of the Obligations are evidenced, governed, secured, or otherwise dealt with, and all other agreements, certificates, and other documents, instruments and writings heretofore or hereafter delivered in connection herewith or therewith.

 

Obligations” means all present and future indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of whatever type which are or shall be secured pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.

 

Other Liable Party” means any Person, other than Pledgor, but including each Subsidiary, who may now or may at any time hereafter be primarily or secondarily liable for any of the Obligations or who may now or may at any time hereafter have granted to Pledgee or Banks a Lien upon any property as security for the Obligations.

 

Pledged Equity” has the meaning given it in Section 2.1(a) hereof.

 

Section 1.2. Other Definitions. Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement for a statement of the terms thereof. All capitalized terms used in this Agreement which are defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein. All terms used in this Agreement which are defined in the Code and not otherwise defined herein or in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meanings herein as set forth in the Code, except where the context otherwise requires.

 

Section 1.3. Exhibits. All exhibits attached to this Agreement are a part hereof for all purposes.

 

Section 1.4. Amendment of Defined Instruments. Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise provided herein, references in this Agreement to a particular agreement, instrument or document also refer to and include all renewals, extensions, amendments, modifications, supplements or restatements of any such agreement, instrument or document, provided that nothing contained in this Section 1.4 shall be construed to authorize any Person to execute or enter into any such renewal, extension, amendment, modification, supplement or restatement.

 

Section 1.5. References and Titles. All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Articles, Sections, subsections, and other subdivisions refer to the Exhibits, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise.

 

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Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivision are for convenience only and do not constitute any part of any such subdivision and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in this Agreement. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The phrases “this Section” and “this subsection” and similar phrases refer only to the Sections or subsections hereof in which the phrase occurs. The word “or” is not exclusive, and the word “including” (in all of its forms) means “including without limitation”. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter gender shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa unless the context otherwise requires.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Security Interest

 

Section 2.1. Grant of Security Interest. As collateral security for all of the Obligations, Pledgor hereby pledges and assigns to Pledgee and grants to Pledgee a continuing first priority security interest for the benefit of Banks in and to all of the following rights, interests and property:

 

(a) all of the issued and outstanding Equity of                                 , a                                 , and each other currently existing or hereafter acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of Pledgor and sixty-five percent (65%) of the issued and outstanding Equity of                                 , a                                 , and each other currently existing or hereafter acquired or created Foreign Subsidiary (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of Pledgor (each, a “Subsidiary”) now owned or hereafter acquired by Pledgor including, without limitation, the Equity of any Subsidiary owned by Pledgor on the date hereof (all of the foregoing being herein sometimes called the “Pledged Equity”);

 

(b) any and all proceeds or other sums arising from or by virtue of, and all dividends and distributions (cash or otherwise) payable and/or distributable with respect to, all or any of the Pledged Equity; and

 

(c) all cash, securities, dividends and other property at any time and from time to time receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the Pledged Equity and any other property substituted or exchanged therefor.

 

Section 2.2. Obligations Secured. The security interest created hereby in the Collateral constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the following obligations, indebtedness and liabilities, whether now existing or hereafter incurred:

 

(a) Credit Agreement Indebtedness. The payment by Pledgor, as and when due and payable, of all amounts from time to time owing by Pledgor under or in respect of the Credit Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Obligation Documents.

 

(b) Renewals. All renewals, extensions, amendments, modifications, supplements, or restatements of, or substitutions for, any of the foregoing.

 

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(c) Performance. The due performance and observance by Pledgor of all of its other obligations from time to time existing under or in respect of any of the Obligation Documents.

 

(d) Hedge Transactions. The payment and performance of any and all present or future obligations of any Credit Party according to the terms of any present or future Hedge Transaction, including, without limitation, any present or future swap agreements, cap, floor, collar, exchange, transaction, forward agreement or other exchange or protection agreements relating to crude oil, natural gas or other Hydrocarbons, or any option with respect to any such transaction now existing or hereafter entered into between and/or among any Credit Party, Pledgee, any Bank or any affiliate of any of the foregoing.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Representations, Warranties and Covenants

 

Section 3.1. Representations and Warranties. Pledgor represents and warrants as follows:

 

(a) Ownership and Liens. Pledgor has good and marketable title to the Collateral free and clear of all Liens, encumbrances or adverse claims, except for the security interest created by this Agreement. No effective financing statement or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any recording office except such as have been filed in favor of Pledgee relating to this Agreement.

 

(b) No Conflicts or Consents. Neither the ownership or the intended use of the Collateral by Pledgor, nor the grant of the security interest by Pledgor to Pledgee herein, nor the exercise by Pledgee of its rights or remedies hereunder, will (i) conflict with any provision of (a) any domestic or foreign law, statute, rule or regulation, (b) the certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation, charter or bylaws of either Pledgor or any Subsidiary, or (c) any agreement, judgment, license, order or permit applicable to or binding upon Pledgor or any Subsidiary; or (ii) result in or require the creation of any Lien, charge or encumbrance upon any assets or properties of Pledgor except as expressly contemplated in the Obligation Documents. Except as expressly contemplated in the Obligation Documents, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no notice to or filing with, any court, Governmental Authority, any Subsidiary, or third party is required in connection with the grant by Pledgor of the security interest herein, or the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and remedies hereunder.

 

(c) Security Interest. Pledgor has and will have at all times full right, power and authority to grant a security interest in the Collateral to Pledgee in the manner provided herein, free and clear of any Lien, adverse claim, or encumbrance. This Agreement creates a valid and binding security interest in favor of Pledgee in the Collateral securing the Obligations. The taking possession by Pledgee (for the ratable benefit of Banks) of all certificates, instruments and cash constituting Collateral from time to time and the filing of the financing statements delivered concurrently herewith by Pledgor to Pledgee will perfect Pledgee’s security interest hereunder in the Collateral securing the Obligations. No further or subsequent filing, recording, registration, other public notice or other action is necessary or desirable to perfect or

 

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otherwise continue, preserve or protect such security interest except for continuation statements or filings as contemplated in Section 3.3(b) hereof.

 

(d) Pledged Equity. (i) Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Pledged Equity; (ii) the Pledged Equity is duly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable (as applicable), and all documentary, stamp or other Taxes or fees owing in connection with the issuance, transfer and/or pledge thereof hereunder have been paid; (iii) no dispute, right of setoff, counterclaim or defense exists with respect to all or any part of the Pledged Equity; (iv) the Pledged Equity is free and clear of all Liens, options, warrants, puts, calls or other rights of third Persons, and restrictions, other than (a) those Liens arising under this Agreement or any other of the Loan Papers and Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (b) restrictions on transferability imposed by applicable state and federal securities Laws, and (c) restrictions under the organizational documents of any Subsidiary; (v) Pledgor has full right and authority to pledge the Pledged Equity for the purposes and upon the terms set out herein; (vi) certificates (as applicable) representing the Pledged Equity have been delivered to Pledgee, together with a duly executed blank stock power for each certificate; and (vii) no Subsidiary has issued, and there are not outstanding, any options, warrants or other rights to acquire Equity of any Subsidiary.

 

(e) Status of Pledgor. Pledgor’s exact legal name is correctly set forth on the signature page to this Agreement, and Pledgor is an entity or organization of the type specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement. Pledgor is incorporated in or organized under the laws of the state specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement. Pledgor’s organizational identification number, if any, assigned by its state of incorporation or organization is correctly set forth on the signature page of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.2. Affirmative Covenants. Unless Pledgee shall otherwise consent in writing, Pledgor will at all times comply with the covenants contained in this Section 3.2 from the date hereof and so long as any part of the Obligations or Commitments is outstanding.

 

(a) Ownership and Liens. Pledgor will maintain good and marketable title to all Collateral free and clear of all Liens, encumbrances or adverse claims, except for (i) the first priority security interest created by this Agreement, and (ii) the security interests and other encumbrances expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement. Pledgor will cause to be terminated any financing statement or other registration with respect to the Collateral, except such as may exist or as may have been filed in favor of Pledgee. Pledgor will defend Pledgee’s right, title and special property and security interest in and to the Collateral against the claims of any Person.

 

(b) Further Assurances. Pledgor will at any time and from time to time promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents and take all further action that may be necessary or desirable or that Pledgee may request in order (i) to perfect and protect the security interest created or purported to be created hereby and the first priority of such security interest; (ii) to enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder in respect of the Collateral; or (iii) to otherwise effect the purposes of this Agreement, including: (A) executing and filing such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, as may be necessary or desirable or that Pledgee may request in order to perfect and preserve the security interest created or purported to be created hereby, and (B) furnishing to Pledgee from

 

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time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as Pledgee may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

 

(c) Delivery of Pledged Equity. All certificates, instruments and writings evidencing the Pledged Equity shall be delivered to Pledgee on or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All other certificates, instruments and writings hereafter evidencing or constituting Pledged Equity shall be delivered to Pledgee promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of Pledgor. All Pledged Equity shall be held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be delivered in the same manner and with the same effect as described in Section 2.1 and Section 3.1 hereof. Upon delivery, such Equity shall thereupon constitute “Pledged Equity” and shall be subject to the Liens herein created, for the purposes and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Papers.

 

(d) Proceeds of Pledged Equity. If Pledgor shall receive, by virtue of its being or having been an owner of any Pledged Equity, any (i) Equity (including any certificate representing any Equity or distribution in connection with any increase or reduction of capital, reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or spinoff or split-off), promissory note or other instrument or writing; (ii) option or right, whether as an addition to, substitution for, or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity or otherwise; (iii) dividends or other distributions payable in cash (except such dividends or other distributions permitted to be retained by Pledgor pursuant to Section 4.7 hereof) or in securities or other property; or (iv) dividends or other distributions in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in surplus, Pledgor shall receive the same in trust for the benefit of Pledgee, shall segregate it from Pledgor’s other property, and shall promptly deliver it to Pledgee in the exact form received, with any necessary endorsement or appropriate stock powers duly executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee as Collateral.

 

(e) Status of Pledged Equity. The certificates evidencing the Pledged Equity (as applicable) shall at all times be valid and genuine and shall not be altered. The Pledged Equity at all times shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable (as applicable), shall not be issued in violation of the pre-emptive rights of any Person or of any agreement by which Pledgor or any Subsidiary is bound, and, except for the bylaws or other organizational documents of any Subsidiary, shall not be subject to any restrictions or conditions with respect to the transfer, voting or capital of any Pledged Equity.

 

(f) Instructions. Pledgor hereby authorizes and instructs GeoMet Gathering Company, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“GeoMet Gathering”), to comply with any instruction received by it from Pledgee in writing that (i) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any other or further instructions from Pledgor, and Pledgor agrees that GeoMet Gathering shall be fully protected in so complying. Pledgee hereby agrees with Pledgor that it will not give any such instruction to GeoMet Gathering (or otherwise exercise any “control,” as defined in Section 8-106 of the Code, over the Pledged Equity issued by GeoMet Gathering) except during the continuance of an Event of Default.

 

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Section 3.3. Negative Covenants. Unless Pledgee shall otherwise consent in writing, Pledgor will at all times comply with the covenants contained in this Section 3.3 from the date hereof and so long as any part of the Obligations or the Commitments is outstanding.

 

(a) Transfer or Encumbrance. Pledgor will not sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise), transfer, exchange, lease or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral, nor will Pledgor grant a Lien upon or execute, file or record any financing statement or other registration with respect to the Collateral (other than the security interests created by this Agreement), nor will Pledgor allow any such Lien, financing statement, or other registration to exist or deliver actual or constructive possession of the Collateral to any other Person other than (i) Liens in favor of Pledgee, and (ii) other security interests and encumbrances expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

(b) Financing Statement Filings. Pledgor recognizes that financing statements pertaining to the Collateral have been or may be filed where Pledgor is incorporated or organized. Without limitation of any other covenant herein, Pledgor will not cause or permit any change to be made in its name, identity or corporate structure, or any change to be made to a jurisdiction other than as represented in Section 3.1 in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, unless Pledgor shall have notified Pledgee of such change at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of such change, and shall have first taken all action required by Pledgee for the purpose of further perfecting or protecting the security interest in favor of Pledgee in the Collateral. In any notice furnished pursuant to this subsection, Pledgor will expressly state that the notice is required by this Agreement and contains facts that may require additional filings of financing statements or other notices for the purposes of continuing perfection of Pledgee’s security interest in the Collateral.

 

(c) Impairment of Security Interest. Pledgor will not take or fail to take any action which would in any manner impair the enforceability of Pledgee’s security interest in any Collateral.

 

(d) Restrictions on Pledged Equity. Except for the bylaws or other charter or organizational documents of each Subsidiary, Pledgor will not enter into any agreement creating, or otherwise permit to exist, any restriction or condition upon the transfer, voting or control of any Pledged Equity.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Remedies, Powers and Authorizations

 

Section 4.1. Provisions Concerning the Collateral.

 

(a) Additional Financing Statement Filings. Pledgor hereby authorizes Pledgee to file, without the signature of Pledgor where permitted by law, one (1) or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relating to the Collateral. Pledgor further agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement describing any Collateral is sufficient as a financing statement and may be filed in any jurisdiction Pledgee may deem appropriate.

 

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(b) Power of Attorney. Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints Pledgee as Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full authority in the place and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time in Pledgee’s discretion, to take any action (except for the exercise of any voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity or any part thereof) and to execute any instrument, certificate or notice which Pledgee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement including: (i) to request or instruct Pledgor or any Subsidiary (and each registrar, transfer agent, or similar Person acting on behalf of Pledgor or any Subsidiary) to register the pledge or transfer of the Collateral to Pledgee; (ii) to otherwise give notification to Pledgor, any Subsidiary, registrar, transfer agent, financial intermediary, or other Person of Pledgee’s security interests hereunder; (iii) to ask, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compound, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any of the Collateral; (iv) to receive, indorse and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents and chattel paper; and (v) to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings which Pledgee may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of Pledgee with respect to any of the Collateral, provided that, except for the actions described in the above clauses (i) and (ii), Pledgee may exercise such power of attorney only during the continuance of an Event of Default.

 

(c) Performance by Pledgee. If Pledgor fails to perform any agreement or obligation contained herein, Pledgee may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement or obligation, and the expenses of Pledgee incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by Pledgor under Section 4.4 hereof.

 

(d) Collection Rights. Pledgee shall have the right at any time, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to notify any or all obligors (including any Subsidiary) under any accounts or general intangibles included among the Collateral of the assignment thereof to Pledgee and to direct such obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become due to Pledgor thereunder directly to Pledgee and, upon such notification and at the expense of Pledgor and to the extent permitted by law, to enforce collection thereof and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as Pledgor could have done. After Pledgor receives notice that Pledgee has given any notice referred to above in this subsection, (i) all amounts and proceeds (including instruments and writings) received by Pledgor in respect of such accounts or general intangibles shall be received in trust for the benefit of Pledgee hereunder, shall be segregated from other funds of Pledgor and shall be forthwith paid over to Pledgee in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement) to be held as cash collateral and (A) released to Pledgor upon the remedy of all Defaults or Events of Default, or (B) if any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, applied as specified in Section 4.3; and (ii) Pledgor will not adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment of any such account or general intangible or release wholly or partly any account debtor or obligor thereof or allow any credit or discount thereon.

 

Section 4.2. Event of Default Remedies. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Pledgee may from time to time in its discretion, without limitation and without notice except as expressly provided below:

 

(a) exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein, under the other Obligation Documents or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default under the Code (whether or not the Code applies to the affected Collateral);

 

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(b) require Pledgor to, and Pledgor hereby agrees that it will upon request of Pledgee forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by Pledgee and make it available to Pledgee at a place to be designated by Pledgee which is reasonably convenient to both parties;

 

(c) reduce its claim to judgment against Pledgor or foreclose or otherwise enforce, in whole or in part, the security interest created hereby by any available judicial procedure;

 

(d) dispose of, at its office, on the premises of Pledgor or elsewhere, all or any part of the Collateral, as a unit or in parcels, by public or private proceedings, and by way of one or more contracts (it being agreed that the sale of any part of the Collateral shall not exhaust Pledgee’s power of sale, but sales may be made from time to time, and at any time, until all of the Collateral has been sold or until the Obligations have been paid and performed in full), and at any such sale it shall not be necessary to exhibit any of the Collateral;

 

(e) buy (or allow any Bank to buy) the Collateral, or any part thereof, at any public sale;

 

(f) buy (or allow any Bank to buy) the Collateral, or any part thereof, at any private sale if the Collateral is of a type customarily sold in a recognized market or is of a type which is the subject of widely distributed standard price quotations; and

 

(g) apply by appropriate judicial proceedings for appointment of a receiver for the Collateral, or any part thereof, and Pledgor hereby consents to any such appointment.

 

Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days’ notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. Pledgee may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

 

Section 4.3. Application of Proceeds. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Pledgee may in its discretion apply any cash held by Pledgee as Collateral, and any cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral, in the order and manner contemplated by Section 3.2 of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 4.4. Release and Expenses. In addition to, and not in qualification of, any similar obligations under other Obligation Documents:

 

(a) Pledgor agrees to release and forever discharge Pledgee and each Bank from and against any and all claims, losses and liabilities growing out of or resulting from this Agreement (including enforcement of this Agreement). The foregoing release and discharge shall apply whether or not such claims, losses and liabilities are in any way or to any extent owed, in whole or in part, under any claim or theory of strict liability or are, to any extent caused, in whole or in part, by any negligent act or omission of any kind by Pledgee or any Bank.

 

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(b) Pledgor will upon demand pay to Pledgee the amount of any and all costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Pledgee’s counsel and of any experts and agents, which Pledgee may incur in connection with (i) the transactions which give rise to this Agreement; (ii) the preparation of this Agreement and the perfection and preservation of the security interest created under this Agreement; (iii) the administration of this Agreement; (iv) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any Collateral; (v) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of Pledgee hereunder; or (vi) the failure by Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof, except expenses resulting from Pledgee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

Section 4.5. Non-Judicial Remedies. In granting to Pledgee the power to enforce its rights hereunder without prior judicial process or judicial hearing, Pledgor expressly waives, renounces and knowingly relinquishes any legal right which might otherwise require Pledgee to enforce its rights by judicial process. In so providing for non-judicial remedies, Pledgor recognizes and concedes that such remedies are consistent with the usage of trade, are responsive to commercial necessity, and are the result of a bargain at arm’s length. Nothing herein is intended to prevent Pledgee or Pledgor from resorting to judicial process at either party’s option.

 

Section 4.6. Other Recourse. Pledgor waives any right to require Pledgee or Banks to proceed against any other Person, exhaust any Collateral or other security for the Obligations, or to have any Other Liable Party joined with Pledgor in any suit arising out of the Obligations or this Agreement, or pursue any other remedy in Pledgee’s power. Pledgor further waives any and all notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of the creation, modification, rearrangement, renewal or extension for any period of any of the Obligations from time to time. Pledgor further waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of any Other Liable Party or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of any Other Liable Party. Until all of the Obligations shall have been paid in full, Pledgor shall have no right to subrogation and Pledgor waives the right to enforce any remedy which Pledgee or any Bank has or may hereafter have against any Other Liable Party, and waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any other security whatsoever now or hereafter held by Pledgee. Pledgor authorizes Pledgee and each Bank, without notice or demand and without any reservation of rights against Pledgor and without affecting Pledgor’s liability hereunder or on the Obligations, from time to time to (a) take or hold any other property of any type from any other Person as security for the Obligations, and exchange, enforce, waive and release any or all of such other property; (b) renew, extend for any period, accelerate, modify, compromise, settle or release any of the obligations of any Other Liable Party in respect to any or all of the Obligations or other security for the Obligations; (c) waive, enforce, modify, amend or supplement any of the provisions of any Obligation Document with any Person other than Pledgor; and (d) release or substitute any Other Liable Party.

 

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Section 4.7. Voting Rights, Dividends Etc. in Respect of Pledged Equity.

 

(a) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing Pledgor may receive and retain any and all dividends, distributions or interest paid in respect of the Pledged Equity; provided, however, that any and all

 

(i) dividends, distributions and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of, and instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity,

 

(ii) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of any Pledged Equity in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in surplus, and

 

(iii) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in redemption of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity,

 

shall be, and shall forthwith be delivered to Pledgee to hold as, Pledged Equity and shall, if received by Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of Pledgee, be segregated from the other property or funds of Pledgor, and be forthwith delivered to Pledgee in the exact form received with any necessary endorsement or appropriate stock powers duly executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee as Collateral.

 

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i) all rights of Pledgor to receive and retain the dividends, distributions and interest payments which Pledgor would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 4.7 shall automatically cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in Pledgee which shall thereupon have the right to receive and hold as Pledged Equity such dividends, distributions and interest payments;

 

(ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgee may at its option exercise any and all rights of conversion, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to any of the Pledged Equity (except voting rights) as if it were the absolute owner thereof, including the right to exchange, in its discretion, any and all of the Pledged Equity upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other adjustment of Pledgor or any Subsidiary, or upon the exercise by Pledgor or any Subsidiary of any right, privilege or option pertaining to any Pledged Equity, and, in connection therewith, to deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Equity with any committee, depository, transfer, agent, registrar or other designated agent upon such terms and conditions as it may determine; and

 

(iii) all dividends and interest payments which are received by Pledgor contrary to the provisions of subsection (b) (i) of this Section 4.7 shall be received in trust for the benefit of Pledgee, shall be segregated from other funds of Pledgor, and shall be forthwith paid over to Pledgee as Pledged Equity in the exact form received, to be held by Pledgee as Collateral.

 

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Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Pledgee may not exercise any voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity, and Pledgor may at all times exercise any and all voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or any other Obligation Document; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Pledgor will not exercise or refrain from exercising any such right, as the case may be, if Pledgee gives notice that, in Pledgee’s judgment, such action would result in a Material Adverse Change with respect to the value of the Pledged Equity or the benefits to Pledgee of its security interest hereunder.

 

Section 4.8. Private Sale of Pledged Equity. Pledgor recognizes that Pledgee may deem it impracticable to effect a public sale of all or any part of the Pledged Equity and that Pledgee may, therefore, determine to make one or more private sales of any such securities to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Pledgor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sales shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and that Pledgee shall have no obligation to delay the sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit Pledgor or any Subsidiary to register such securities (with no obligation of either Pledgor or any Subsidiary to accomplish such registration) for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Pledgor further acknowledges and agrees that any offer to sell such securities which has been (a) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of Houston, Texas (to the extent that such an offer may be so advertised without prior registration under the Securities Act), or (b) made privately in the manner described above to not less than fifteen (15) bona fide offerees shall be deemed to involve a “public sale” for the purposes of Section 9.610 of the Code (or any successor or similar, applicable statutory provision) as then in effect in the State of Alabama, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a “public offering” under the Securities Act, and that Pledgee may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 5.1. Notices. Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing, sent by personal delivery, by telecopy, by delivery service with proof of delivery, or by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the appropriate party as follows:

 

To Pledgor:   

GeoMet, Inc.

909 Fannin Street, Suite 3208

Houston, Texas 77010

Attn: William C. Rankin

Fax No.: (713)  ###-###-####

 

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To Pledgor:   

Bankof America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for Banks

100 Federal Street, Mail Code: MA5-100-11-02

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Attn: Allison I. Goodwin

Fax No.: (617)  ###-###-####

 

or to such other address or to the attention of such other individual as hereafter shall be designated in writing by the applicable party sent in accordance herewith. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given (a) in the case of personal delivery or delivery service, as of the date of first attempted delivery at the address or in the manner provided herein, (b) in the case of telecopy, upon receipt, or (c) in the case of registered or certified United States mail, three (3) days after deposit in the mail.

 

Section 5.2. Amendments. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by Pledgor, Pledgee and Required Banks (or all Banks if required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement), and no waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by Pledgor therefrom, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by Pledgee and Required Banks (or all Banks if required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given and to the extent specified in such writing.

 

Section 5.3. Preservation of Rights. No failure on the part of Pledgee or any Bank to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Obligation Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. Neither the execution nor the delivery of this Agreement shall in any manner impair or affect any other security for the Obligations. The rights and remedies of Pledgee and Banks provided herein and in the other Obligation Documents are cumulative of and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights of Pledgee and Banks under any Obligation Document against any party thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by Pledgee or Banks to exercise any of its or their rights under any other Obligation Document against such party or against any other Person.

 

Section 5.4. Unenforceability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.5. Survival of Agreements. All representations and warranties of Pledgor herein, and all covenants and agreements herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the execution and delivery of any other Obligation Documents and the creation of the Obligations.

 

Section 5.6. Other Liable Party. Neither this Agreement nor the exercise by Pledgee or any Bank or the failure of Pledgee or any Bank to exercise any right, power or remedy conferred herein or by law shall be construed as relieving any Other Liable Party from liability

 

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on the Obligations or any deficiency thereon. This Agreement shall continue irrespective of the fact that the liability of any Other Liable Party may have ceased or irrespective of the validity or enforceability of any other Obligation Document to which Pledgor or any Other Liable Party may be a party, and notwithstanding the reorganization, death, incapacity or bankruptcy of any Other Liable Party, and notwithstanding the reorganization or bankruptcy or other event or proceeding affecting any Other Liable Party.

 

Section 5.7. Binding Effect and Assignment. This Agreement (a) creates a continuing security interest in the Collateral, (b) shall be binding on Pledgor and its successors and permitted assigns, and (c) shall inure, together with all rights and remedies of Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of Pledgee and Banks and their respective successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgee and Banks may pledge, assign or otherwise transfer any or all of their respective rights under any or all of the Obligation Documents to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all of the benefits in respect thereof granted herein or otherwise. None of the rights or duties of Pledgor hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred without the prior written consent of Pledgee and Required Banks (or all Banks if required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement).

 

Section 5.8. Termination. It is contemplated by Pledgor and Pledgee that there may be times when no Obligations are outstanding, but notwithstanding such occurrences, this Agreement shall remain valid and shall be in full force and effect as to subsequent outstanding Obligations. Upon the satisfaction in full of the Obligations, upon the termination or expiration of the Credit Agreement and any other Commitment of Banks to extend credit to Pledgor, and upon written request for the termination hereof delivered by Pledgor to Pledgee and Banks, this Agreement and the security interest created hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to Pledgor. Pledgee will, upon Pledgor’s request and at Pledgor’s expense, (a) return to Pledgor such of the Collateral as shall not have been sold or otherwise disposed of or applied pursuant to the terms hereof, and (b) execute and deliver to Pledgor such documents as Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.

 

SECTION 5.9. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF ANOTHER STATE GOVERN THE VALIDITY, PERFECTION, PRIORITY AND ENFORCEABILITY OF, AND THE EXISTENCE OF ANY REMEDIES WITH RESPECT TO, ANY LIEN CREATED HEREBY.

 

Section 5.10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be separately executed in any number of counterparts, all of which when so executed shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

Section 5.11. Loan Paper. This Agreement is a “Loan Paper”, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and, except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement is subject to all provisions of the Credit Agreement governing the Loan Papers.

 

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor has duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

GEOMET, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:    
   

WilliamC. Rankin,

ExecutiveVice President

 

Each Subsidiary hereby acknowledges and consents to the pledge of the Collateral and hereby agrees to observe and perform each and every provision of this Agreement applicable to such Subsidiary. In addition, GeoMet Gathering agrees that it will comply with all instructions originated by Pledgee pursuant to Section 3.2(f) above without further consent by Pledgor.

 

GEOMET OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

an Alabama corporation

By:    
   

WilliamC. Rankin,

ExecutiveVice President

 

 

HUDSON’S HOPE GAS, LTD.,

a Canadian corporation

By:    

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

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GEOMET GATHERING COMPANY, LLC,

an Alabama limited liability company

By:    

Name:

   
   

Manager

 

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EXHIBIT H

 

FORM OF SUBSIDIARY PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of             , 20    , by                                 , a                                  (herein called “Pledgor”), in favor of Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Banks (as defined below) (herein called “Pledgee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), successor by merger to GeoMet, Inc., an Alabama corporation, as Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the Banks a party thereto (“Banks”) are parties to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which Banks have agreed to make loans and other extensions of credit to Borrower; and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the extension of credit by Banks pursuant to the Credit Agreement, Pledgor is required to execute and deliver to Pledgee a pledge agreement granting to Pledgee, for the benefit of Banks, a security interest in the Collateral (as defined herein); and

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Pledgor has determined that Pledgor’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the extension of credit to Pledgor by Banks may reasonably be expected to benefit Pledgor, directly or indirectly, and are in the best interests of Pledgor.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce Banks to extend credit under the Credit Agreement, Pledgor hereby agrees with Pledgee as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions and References

 

Section 1.1. General Definitions. As used herein, the terms defined above shall have the meanings indicated above, and the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Bank” means any financial institution reflected on Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement and its successors and assigns, and “Banks” shall mean all Banks.

 

Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of Texas on the date hereof.

 

Collateral” means all property of whatever type, in which Pledgee at any time has a security interest pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.

 

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Commitment” means the agreement or commitment by Banks to make loans or otherwise extend credit to Pledgor under the Credit Agreement, and any other agreement, commitment, statement of terms or other document contemplating the making of loans or advances or other extension of credit by Banks to or for the account of Pledgor which is now or at any time hereafter intended to be secured by the Collateral under this Agreement.

 

Equity” means shares of capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital or member interest, or options, warrants or any other right to substitute for or otherwise acquire the capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital or member interest of any Subsidiary (as defined in Section 2.1(a) hereof).

 

Obligation Documents” means the Credit Agreement, the Notes, the Loan Papers, and all other documents and instruments under, by reason of which, or pursuant to which, any or all of the Obligations are evidenced, governed, secured, or otherwise dealt with, and all other agreements, certificates, and other documents, instruments and writings heretofore or hereafter delivered in connection herewith or therewith.

 

Obligations” means all present and future indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of whatever type which are or shall be secured pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.

 

Other Liable Party” means any Person, other than Pledgor, but including each Subsidiary, who may now or may at any time hereafter be primarily or secondarily liable for any of the Obligations or who may now or may at any time hereafter have granted to Pledgee or Banks a Lien upon any property as security for the Obligations.

 

Pledged Equity” has the meaning given it in Section 2.1(a) hereof.

 

Section 1.2. Other Definitions. Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement for a statement of the terms thereof. All capitalized terms used in this Agreement which are defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein. All terms used in this Agreement which are defined in the Code and not otherwise defined herein or in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meanings herein as set forth in the Code, except where the context otherwise requires.

 

Section 1.3. Exhibits. All exhibits attached to this Agreement are a part hereof for all purposes.

 

Section 1.4. Amendment of Defined Instruments. Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise provided herein, references in this Agreement to a particular agreement, instrument or document also refer to and include all renewals, extensions, amendments, modifications, supplements or restatements of any such agreement, instrument or document, provided that nothing contained in this Section 1.4 shall be construed to authorize any Person to execute or enter into any such renewal, extension, amendment, modification, supplement or restatement.

 

Section 1.5. References and Titles. All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Articles, Sections, subsections, and other subdivisions refer to the Exhibits, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise.

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Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivision are for convenience only and do not constitute any part of any such subdivision and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in this Agreement. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The phrases “this Section” and “this subsection” and similar phrases refer only to the Sections or subsections hereof in which the phrase occurs. The word “or” is not exclusive, and the word “including” (in all of its forms) means “including without limitation”. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter gender shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa unless the context otherwise requires.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Security Interest

 

Section 2.1. Grant of Security Interest. As collateral security for all of the Obligations, Pledgor hereby pledges and assigns to Pledgee and grants to Pledgee a continuing first priority security interest for the benefit of Banks in and to all of the following rights, interests and property:

 

(a) all of the issued and outstanding Equity of                                 , a                                 , and each other currently existing or hereafter acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of Pledgor and sixty-five percent (65%) of the issued and outstanding Equity of                                 , a                                 , and each other currently existing or hereafter acquired or created Foreign Subsidiary (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of Pledgor (each, a “Subsidiary”) now owned or hereafter acquired by Pledgor including, without limitation, the Equity of any Subsidiary owned by Pledgor on the date hereof (all of the foregoing being herein sometimes called the “Pledged Equity”);

 

(b) any and all proceeds or other sums arising from or by virtue of, and all dividends and distributions (cash or otherwise) payable and/or distributable with respect to, all or any of the Pledged Equity; and

 

(c) all cash, securities, dividends and other property at any time and from time to time receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the Pledged Equity and any other property substituted or exchanged therefor.

 

Section 2.2. Obligations Secured. The security interest created hereby in the Collateral constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the following obligations, indebtedness and liabilities, whether now existing or hereafter incurred:

 

(a) Credit Agreement Indebtedness. The payment by Pledgor, as and when due and payable, of all amounts from time to time owing by Pledgor under or in respect of the Credit Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Obligation Documents.

 

(b) Renewals. All renewals, extensions, amendments, modifications, supplements, or restatements of, or substitutions for, any of the foregoing.

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(c) Performance. The due performance and observance by Pledgor of all of its other obligations from time to time existing under or in respect of any of the Obligation Documents.

 

(d) Hedge Transactions. The payment and performance of any and all present or future obligations of any Credit Party according to the terms of any present or future Hedge Transaction, including, without limitation, any present or future swap agreements, cap, floor, collar, exchange, transaction, forward agreement or other exchange or protection agreements relating to crude oil, natural gas or other Hydrocarbons, or any option with respect to any such transaction now existing or hereafter entered into between and/or among any Credit Party, Pledgee, any Bank or any affiliate of any of the foregoing.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Representations, Warranties and Covenants

 

Section 3.1. Representations and Warranties. Pledgor represents and warrants as follows:

 

(a) Ownership and Liens. Pledgor has good and marketable title to the Collateral free and clear of all Liens, encumbrances or adverse claims, except for the security interest created by this Agreement. No effective financing statement or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any recording office except such as have been filed in favor of Pledgee relating to this Agreement.

 

(b) No Conflicts or Consents. Neither the ownership or the intended use of the Collateral by Pledgor, nor the grant of the security interest by Pledgor to Pledgee herein, nor the exercise by Pledgee of its rights or remedies hereunder, will (i) conflict with any provision of (a) any domestic or foreign law, statute, rule or regulation, (b) the certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation, charter or bylaws of either Pledgor or any Subsidiary, or (c) any agreement, judgment, license, order or permit applicable to or binding upon Pledgor or any Subsidiary; or (ii) result in or require the creation of any Lien, charge or encumbrance upon any assets or properties of Pledgor except as expressly contemplated in the Obligation Documents. Except as expressly contemplated in the Obligation Documents, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no notice to or filing with, any court, Governmental Authority, any Subsidiary, or third party is required in connection with the grant by Pledgor of the security interest herein, or the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and remedies hereunder.

 

(c) Security Interest. Pledgor has and will have at all times full right, power and authority to grant a security interest in the Collateral to Pledgee in the manner provided herein, free and clear of any Lien, adverse claim, or encumbrance. This Agreement creates a valid and binding security interest in favor of Pledgee in the Collateral securing the Obligations. The taking possession by Pledgee (for the ratable benefit of Banks) of all certificates, instruments and cash constituting Collateral from time to time and the filing of the financing statements delivered concurrently herewith by Pledgor to Pledgee will perfect Pledgee’s security interest hereunder in the Collateral securing the Obligations. No further or subsequent filing, recording, registration, other public notice or other action is necessary or desirable to perfect or

 

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otherwise continue, preserve or protect such security interest except for continuation statements or filings as contemplated in Section 3.3(b) hereof.

 

(d) Pledged Equity. (i) Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Pledged Equity; (ii) the Pledged Equity is duly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable (as applicable), and all documentary, stamp or other Taxes or fees owing in connection with the issuance, transfer and/or pledge thereof hereunder have been paid; (iii) no dispute, right of setoff, counterclaim or defense exists with respect to all or any part of the Pledged Equity; (iv) the Pledged Equity is free and clear of all Liens, options, warrants, puts, calls or other rights of third Persons, and restrictions, other than (a) those Liens arising under this Agreement or any other of the Loan Papers and Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (b) restrictions on transferability imposed by applicable state and federal securities Laws, and (c) restrictions under the organizational documents of any Subsidiary; (v) Pledgor has full right and authority to pledge the Pledged Equity for the purposes and upon the terms set out herein; (vi) certificates (as applicable) representing the Pledged Equity have been delivered to Pledgee, together with a duly executed blank stock power for each certificate; and (vii) no Subsidiary has issued, and there are not outstanding, any options, warrants or other rights to acquire Equity of any Subsidiary.

 

(e) Status of Pledgor. Pledgor’s exact legal name is correctly set forth on the signature page to this Agreement, and Pledgor is an entity or organization of the type specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement. Pledgor is incorporated in or organized under the laws of the state specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement. Pledgor’s organizational identification number, if any, assigned by its state of incorporation or organization is correctly set forth on the signature page of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.2. Affirmative Covenants. Unless Pledgee shall otherwise consent in writing, Pledgor will at all times comply with the covenants contained in this Section 3.2 from the date hereof and so long as any part of the Obligations or Commitments is outstanding.

 

(a) Ownership and Liens. Pledgor will maintain good and marketable title to all Collateral free and clear of all Liens, encumbrances or adverse claims, except for (i) the first priority security interest created by this Agreement, and (ii) the security interests and other encumbrances expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement. Pledgor will cause to be terminated any financing statement or other registration with respect to the Collateral, except such as may exist or as may have been filed in favor of Pledgee. Pledgor will defend Pledgee’s right, title and special property and security interest in and to the Collateral against the claims of any Person.

 

(b) Further Assurances. Pledgor will at any time and from time to time promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents and take all further action that may be necessary or desirable or that Pledgee may request in order (i) to perfect and protect the security interest created or purported to be created hereby and the first priority of such security interest; (ii) to enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder in respect of the Collateral; or (iii) to otherwise effect the purposes of this Agreement, including: (A) executing and filing such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, as may be necessary or desirable or that Pledgee may request in order to perfect and preserve the security interest created or purported to be created hereby, and (B) furnishing to Pledgee from

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time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as Pledgee may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

 

(c) Delivery of Pledged Equity. All certificates, instruments and writings evidencing the Pledged Equity shall be delivered to Pledgee on or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All other certificates, instruments and writings hereafter evidencing or constituting Pledged Equity shall be delivered to Pledgee promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of Pledgor. All Pledged Equity shall be held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be delivered in the same manner and with the same effect as described in Section 2.1 and Section 3.1 hereof. Upon delivery, such Equity shall thereupon constitute “Pledged Equity” and shall be subject to the Liens herein created, for the purposes and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Papers.

 

(d) Proceeds of Pledged Equity. If Pledgor shall receive, by virtue of its being or having been an owner of any Pledged Equity, any (i) Equity (including any certificate representing any Equity or distribution in connection with any increase or reduction of capital, reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or spinoff or split-off), promissory note or other instrument or writing; (ii) option or right, whether as an addition to, substitution for, or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity or otherwise; (iii) dividends or other distributions payable in cash (except such dividends or other distributions permitted to be retained by Pledgor pursuant to Section 4.7 hereof) or in securities or other property; or (iv) dividends or other distributions in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in surplus, Pledgor shall receive the same in trust for the benefit of Pledgee, shall segregate it from Pledgor’s other property, and shall promptly deliver it to Pledgee in the exact form received, with any necessary endorsement or appropriate stock powers duly executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee as Collateral.

 

(e) Status of Pledged Equity. The certificates evidencing the Pledged Equity (as applicable) shall at all times be valid and genuine and shall not be altered. The Pledged Equity at all times shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable (as applicable), shall not be issued in violation of the pre-emptive rights of any Person or of any agreement by which Pledgor or any Subsidiary is bound, and, except for the bylaws or other organizational documents of any Subsidiary, shall not be subject to any restrictions or conditions with respect to the transfer, voting or capital of any Pledged Equity.

 

Section 3.3. Negative Covenants. Unless Pledgee shall otherwise consent in writing, Pledgor will at all times comply with the covenants contained in this Section 3.3 from the date hereof and so long as any part of the Obligations or the Commitments is outstanding.

 

(a) Transfer or Encumbrance. Pledgor will not sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise), transfer, exchange, lease or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral, nor will Pledgor grant a Lien upon or execute, file or record any financing statement or other registration with respect to the Collateral (other than the security interests created by this Agreement), nor will Pledgor allow any such Lien, financing statement, or other registration to exist or deliver actual or constructive possession of the Collateral to any other Person other than (i) Liens in

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favor of Pledgee, and (ii) other security interests and encumbrances expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

(b) Financing Statement Filings. Pledgor recognizes that financing statements pertaining to the Collateral have been or may be filed where Pledgor is incorporated or organized. Without limitation of any other covenant herein, Pledgor will not cause or permit any change to be made in its name, identity or corporate structure, or any change to be made to a jurisdiction other than as represented in Section 3.1 in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, unless Pledgor shall have notified Pledgee of such change at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of such change, and shall have first taken all action required by Pledgee for the purpose of further perfecting or protecting the security interest in favor of Pledgee in the Collateral. In any notice furnished pursuant to this subsection, Pledgor will expressly state that the notice is required by this Agreement and contains facts that may require additional filings of financing statements or other notices for the purposes of continuing perfection of Pledgee’s security interest in the Collateral.

 

(c) Impairment of Security Interest. Pledgor will not take or fail to take any action which would in any manner impair the enforceability of Pledgee’s security interest in any Collateral.

 

(d) Restrictions on Pledged Equity. Except for the bylaws or other charter or organizational documents of each Subsidiary, Pledgor will not enter into any agreement creating, or otherwise permit to exist, any restriction or condition upon the transfer, voting or control of any Pledged Equity.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Remedies, Powers and Authorizations

 

Section 4.1. Provisions Concerning the Collateral.

 

(a) Additional Financing Statement Filings. Pledgor hereby authorizes Pledgee to file, without the signature of Pledgor where permitted by law, one (1) or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relating to the Collateral. Pledgor further agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement describing any Collateral is sufficient as a financing statement and may be filed in any jurisdiction Pledgee may deem appropriate.

 

(b) Power of Attorney. Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints Pledgee as Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full authority in the place and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time in Pledgee’s discretion, to take any action (except for the exercise of any voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity or any part thereof) and to execute any instrument, certificate or notice which Pledgee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement including: (i) to request or instruct Pledgor or any Subsidiary (and each registrar, transfer agent, or similar Person acting on behalf of Pledgor or any Subsidiary) to register the pledge or transfer of the Collateral to Pledgee; (ii) to otherwise give notification to Pledgor, any Subsidiary, registrar, transfer agent, financial

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intermediary, or other Person of Pledgee’s security interests hereunder; (iii) to ask, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compound, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any of the Collateral; (iv) to receive, indorse and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents and chattel paper; and (v) to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings which Pledgee may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of Pledgee with respect to any of the Collateral, provided that, except for the actions described in the above clauses (i) and (ii), Pledgee may exercise such power of attorney only during the continuance of an Event of Default.

 

(c) Performance by Pledgee. If Pledgor fails to perform any agreement or obligation contained herein, Pledgee may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement or obligation, and the expenses of Pledgee incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by Pledgor under Section 4.4 hereof.

 

(d) Collection Rights. Pledgee shall have the right at any time, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to notify any or all obligors (including any Subsidiary) under any accounts or general intangibles included among the Collateral of the assignment thereof to Pledgee and to direct such obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become due to Pledgor thereunder directly to Pledgee and, upon such notification and at the expense of Pledgor and to the extent permitted by law, to enforce collection thereof and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as Pledgor could have done. After Pledgor receives notice that Pledgee has given any notice referred to above in this subsection, (i) all amounts and proceeds (including instruments and writings) received by Pledgor in respect of such accounts or general intangibles shall be received in trust for the benefit of Pledgee hereunder, shall be segregated from other funds of Pledgor and shall be forthwith paid over to Pledgee in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement) to be held as cash collateral and (A) released to Pledgor upon the remedy of all Defaults or Events of Default, or (B) if any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, applied as specified in Section 4.3; and (ii) Pledgor will not adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment of any such account or general intangible or release wholly or partly any account debtor or obligor thereof or allow any credit or discount thereon.

 

Section 4.2. Event of Default Remedies. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Pledgee may from time to time in its discretion, without limitation and without notice except as expressly provided below:

 

(a) exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein, under the other Obligation Documents or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default under the Code (whether or not the Code applies to the affected Collateral);

 

(b) require Pledgor to, and Pledgor hereby agrees that it will upon request of Pledgee forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by Pledgee and make it available to Pledgee at a place to be designated by Pledgee which is reasonably convenient to both parties;

 

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(c) reduce its claim to judgment against Pledgor or foreclose or otherwise enforce, in whole or in part, the security interest created hereby by any available judicial procedure;

 

(d) dispose of, at its office, on the premises of Pledgor or elsewhere, all or any part of the Collateral, as a unit or in parcels, by public or private proceedings, and by way of one or more contracts (it being agreed that the sale of any part of the Collateral shall not exhaust Pledgee’s power of sale, but sales may be made from time to time, and at any time, until all of the Collateral has been sold or until the Obligations have been paid and performed in full), and at any such sale it shall not be necessary to exhibit any of the Collateral;

 

(e) buy (or allow any Bank to buy) the Collateral, or any part thereof, at any public sale;

 

(f) buy (or allow any Bank to buy) the Collateral, or any part thereof, at any private sale if the Collateral is of a type customarily sold in a recognized market or is of a type which is the subject of widely distributed standard price quotations; and

 

(g) apply by appropriate judicial proceedings for appointment of a receiver for the Collateral, or any part thereof, and Pledgor hereby consents to any such appointment.

 

Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days’ notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. Pledgee may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

 

Section 4.3. Application of Proceeds. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Pledgee may in its discretion apply any cash held by Pledgee as Collateral, and any cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral, in the order and manner contemplated by Section 3.2 of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 4.4. Release and Expenses. In addition to, and not in qualification of, any similar obligations under other Obligation Documents:

 

(a) Pledgor agrees to release and forever discharge Pledgee and each Bank from and against any and all claims, losses and liabilities growing out of or resulting from this Agreement (including enforcement of this Agreement). The foregoing release and discharge shall apply whether or not such claims, losses and liabilities are in any way or to any extent owed, in whole or in part, under any claim or theory of strict liability or are, to any extent caused, in whole or in part, by any negligent act or omission of any kind by Pledgee or any Bank.

 

(b) Pledgor will upon demand pay to Pledgee the amount of any and all costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Pledgee’s counsel and of any experts and agents, which Pledgee may incur in connection with (i) the transactions which give

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rise to this Agreement; (ii) the preparation of this Agreement and the perfection and preservation of the security interest created under this Agreement; (iii) the administration of this Agreement; (iv) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any Collateral; (v) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of Pledgee hereunder; or (vi) the failure by Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof, except expenses resulting from Pledgee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

Section 4.5. Non-Judicial Remedies. In granting to Pledgee the power to enforce its rights hereunder without prior judicial process or judicial hearing, Pledgor expressly waives, renounces and knowingly relinquishes any legal right which might otherwise require Pledgee to enforce its rights by judicial process. In so providing for non-judicial remedies, Pledgor recognizes and concedes that such remedies are consistent with the usage of trade, are responsive to commercial necessity, and are the result of a bargain at arm’s length. Nothing herein is intended to prevent Pledgee or Pledgor from resorting to judicial process at either party’s option.

 

Section 4.6. Other Recourse. Pledgor waives any right to require Pledgee or Banks to proceed against any other Person, exhaust any Collateral or other security for the Obligations, or to have any Other Liable Party joined with Pledgor in any suit arising out of the Obligations or this Agreement, or pursue any other remedy in Pledgee’s power. Pledgor further waives any and all notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of the creation, modification, rearrangement, renewal or extension for any period of any of the Obligations from time to time. Pledgor further waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of any Other Liable Party or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of any Other Liable Party. Until all of the Obligations shall have been paid in full, Pledgor shall have no right to subrogation and Pledgor waives the right to enforce any remedy which Pledgee or any Bank has or may hereafter have against any Other Liable Party, and waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any other security whatsoever now or hereafter held by Pledgee. Pledgor authorizes Pledgee and each Bank, without notice or demand and without any reservation of rights against Pledgor and without affecting Pledgor’s liability hereunder or on the Obligations, from time to time to (a) take or hold any other property of any type from any other Person as security for the Obligations, and exchange, enforce, waive and release any or all of such other property; (b) renew, extend for any period, accelerate, modify, compromise, settle or release any of the obligations of any Other Liable Party in respect to any or all of the Obligations or other security for the Obligations; (c) waive, enforce, modify, amend or supplement any of the provisions of any Obligation Document with any Person other than Pledgor; and (d) release or substitute any Other Liable Party.

 

Section 4.7. Voting Rights, Dividends Etc. in Respect of Pledged Equity.

 

(a) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing Pledgor may receive and retain any and all dividends, distributions or interest paid in respect of the Pledged Equity; provided, however, that any and all

 

(i) dividends, distributions and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of, and instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity,

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(ii) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of any Pledged Equity in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in surplus, and

 

(iii) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in redemption of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity,

 

shall be, and shall forthwith be delivered to Pledgee to hold as, Pledged Equity and shall, if received by Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of Pledgee, be segregated from the other property or funds of Pledgor, and be forthwith delivered to Pledgee in the exact form received with any necessary indorsement or appropriate stock powers duly executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee as Collateral.

 

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i) all rights of Pledgor to receive and retain the dividends, distributions and interest payments which Pledgor would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 4.7 shall automatically cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in Pledgee which shall thereupon have the right to receive and hold as Pledged Equity such dividends, distributions and interest payments;

 

(ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgee may at its option exercise any and all rights of conversion, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to any of the Pledged Equity (except voting rights) as if it were the absolute owner thereof, including the right to exchange, in its discretion, any and all of the Pledged Equity upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other adjustment of Pledgor or any Subsidiary, or upon the exercise by Pledgor or any Subsidiary of any right, privilege or option pertaining to any Pledged Equity, and, in connection therewith, to deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Equity with any committee, depository, transfer, agent, registrar or other designated agent upon such terms and conditions as it may determine; and

 

(iii) all dividends and interest payments which are received by Pledgor contrary to the provisions of subsection (b) (i) of this Section 4.7 shall be received in trust for the benefit of Pledgee, shall be segregated from other funds of Pledgor, and shall be forthwith paid over to Pledgee as Pledged Equity in the exact form received, to be held by Pledgee as Collateral.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Pledgee may not exercise any voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity, and Pledgor may at all times exercise any and all voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or any other Obligation Document; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Pledgor will not exercise or refrain from exercising any such right, as the case may be, if Pledgee gives notice that, in Pledgee’s judgment, such action would result in a Material Adverse Change with respect to the value of the Pledged Equity or the benefits to Pledgee of its security interest hereunder.

 

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Section 4.8. Private Sale of Pledged Equity. Pledgor recognizes that Pledgee may deem it impracticable to effect a public sale of all or any part of the Pledged Equity and that Pledgee may, therefore, determine to make one or more private sales of any such securities to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Pledgor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sales shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and that Pledgee shall have no obligation to delay the sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit Pledgor or any Subsidiary to register such securities (with no obligation of either Pledgor or any Subsidiary to accomplish such registration) for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Pledgor further acknowledges and agrees that any offer to sell such securities which has been (a) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of Houston, Texas (to the extent that such an offer may be so advertised without prior registration under the Securities Act), or (b) made privately in the manner described above to not less than fifteen (15) bona fide offerees shall be deemed to involve a “public sale” for the purposes of Section 9.610 of the Code (or any successor or similar, applicable statutory provision) as then in effect in the State of Alabama, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a “public offering” under the Securities Act, and that Pledgee may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 5.1. Notices. Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing, sent by personal delivery, by telecopy, by delivery service with proof of delivery, or by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the appropriate party as follows:

 

  To Pledgor: GeoMet, Inc.
       909 Fannin Street, Suite 3208
       Houston, Texas 77010
       Attn: William C. Rankin

 

         Fax No.: (713)  ###-###-####

 

  To Pledgee: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for Banks
       100 Federal Street, Mail Code: MA5-100-11-02
       Boston, Massachusetts 02110
       Attn: Allison I. Goodwin
       Fax No.: (617)  ###-###-####

 

or to such other address or to the attention of such other individual as hereafter shall be designated in writing by the applicable party sent in accordance herewith. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given (a) in the case of personal delivery or

 

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delivery service, as of the date of first attempted delivery at the address or in the manner provided herein, (b) in the case of telecopy, upon receipt, or (c) in the case of registered or certified United States mail, three (3) days after deposit in the mail.

 

Section 5.2. Amendments. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by Pledgor, Pledgee and Required Banks (or all Banks if required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement), and no waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by Pledgor therefrom, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by Pledgee and Required Banks (or all Banks if required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given and to the extent specified in such writing.

 

Section 5.3. Preservation of Rights. No failure on the part of Pledgee or any Bank to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Obligation Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. Neither the execution nor the delivery of this Agreement shall in any manner impair or affect any other security for the Obligations. The rights and remedies of Pledgee and Banks provided herein and in the other Obligation Documents are cumulative of and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights of Pledgee and Banks under any Obligation Document against any party thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by Pledgee or Banks to exercise any of its or their rights under any other Obligation Document against such party or against any other Person.

 

Section 5.4. Unenforceability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.5. Survival of Agreements. All representations and warranties of Pledgor herein, and all covenants and agreements herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the execution and delivery of any other Obligation Documents and the creation of the Obligations.

 

Section 5.6. Other Liable Party. Neither this Agreement nor the exercise by Pledgee or any Bank or the failure of Pledgee or any Bank to exercise any right, power or remedy conferred herein or by law shall be construed as relieving any Other Liable Party from liability on the Obligations or any deficiency thereon. This Agreement shall continue irrespective of the fact that the liability of any Other Liable Party may have ceased or irrespective of the validity or enforceability of any other Obligation Document to which Pledgor or any Other Liable Party may be a party, and notwithstanding the reorganization, death, incapacity or bankruptcy of any Other Liable Party, and notwithstanding the reorganization or bankruptcy or other event or proceeding affecting any Other Liable Party.

 

Section 5.7. Binding Effect and Assignment. This Agreement (a) creates a continuing security interest in the Collateral, (b) shall be binding on Pledgor and its successors

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and permitted assigns, and (c) shall inure, together with all rights and remedies of Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of Pledgee and Banks and their respective successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgee and Banks may pledge, assign or otherwise transfer any or all of their respective rights under any or all of the Obligation Documents to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all of the benefits in respect thereof granted herein or otherwise. None of the rights or duties of Pledgor hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred without the prior written consent of Pledgee and Required Banks (or all Banks if required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement).

 

Section 5.8. Termination. It is contemplated by Pledgor and Pledgee that there may be times when no Obligations are outstanding, but notwithstanding such occurrences, this Agreement shall remain valid and shall be in full force and effect as to subsequent outstanding Obligations. Upon the satisfaction in full of the Obligations, upon the termination or expiration of the Credit Agreement and any other Commitment of Banks to extend credit to Pledgor, and upon written request for the termination hereof delivered by Pledgor to Pledgee and Banks, this Agreement and the security interest created hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to Pledgor. Pledgee will, upon Pledgor’s request and at Pledgor’s expense, (a) return to Pledgor such of the Collateral as shall not have been sold or otherwise disposed of or applied pursuant to the terms hereof, and (b) execute and deliver to Pledgor such documents as Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.

 

SECTION 5.9. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF ANOTHER STATE GOVERN THE VALIDITY, PERFECTION, PRIORITY AND ENFORCEABILITY OF, AND THE EXISTENCE OF ANY REMEDIES WITH RESPECT TO, ANY LIEN CREATED HEREBY.

 

Section 5.10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be separately executed in any number of counterparts, all of which when so executed shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

Section 5.11. Loan Paper. This Agreement is a “Loan Paper”, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and, except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement is subject to all provisions of the Credit Agreement governing the Loan Papers.

 

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor has duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

         ,

        

 

By:    

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

                                                             , as a Subsidiary, hereby acknowledges and consents to the pledge of the Collateral and hereby agrees to observe and perform each and every provision of this Agreement applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

            .

         ,

        

 

By:    

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

 

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EXHIBIT I

 

FORM OF FACILITY GUARANTY

 

THIS FACILITY GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”) is executed and effective as of the             day of             , 20            , by             , a             (“Guarantor”), in favor of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and the other financial institutions listed on Schedule 1 of the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined) (Bank of America, N.A. and such other financial institutions are collectively referred to herein as “Noteholders”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), Noteholders and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (“Administrative Agent”), are parties to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of June 9, 2006, pursuant to which Noteholders have agreed to (i) amend and restate in its entirety that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 6, 2006, among Borrower, the Banks a party thereto and Administrative Agent (the “Existing Credit Agreement”) and (ii) issue and participate in letters of credit issued on behalf of Borrower (unless otherwise defined herein, or unless the context otherwise requires, each term used herein with its initial letter capitalized shall have the meaning given such term in the Credit Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, Noteholders have required, as a condition to making advances of the proceeds of the Loan under the Credit Agreement, and issuing and participating in letters of credit thereunder, that Guarantor execute and deliver this Guaranty; and

 

[WHEREAS, in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, the Guarantor issued to the Administrative Agent that certain Guaranty dated as of January 6, 2006 (the “Existing Guaranty”), pursuant to which the Guarantor agreed to guarantee certain obligations of Borrower under the Existing Credit Agreement; and]

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor desires to (i) reaffirm its obligations under the Existing Guaranty, and (ii) amend and restate the Existing Guaranty in its entirety in the form of this Guaranty; and

 

WHEREAS, Guarantor has determined that valuable benefits will be derived by it as a result of the Credit Agreement and Borrowings to be made by Borrower thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Guarantor has further determined that the benefits accruing to it from the Credit Agreement exceed Guarantor’s anticipated liability under this Guaranty.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees as follows:

 

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1. Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees the prompt, complete and full payment when due, no matter how such shall become due, of the Obligations, and further guarantees that Borrower will properly and timely perform the Obligations.

 

2. If Guarantor is or becomes liable for any indebtedness owing by Borrower to Noteholders by endorsement or otherwise than under this Guaranty, such liability shall not be in any manner impaired or affected hereby, and the rights of Noteholders hereunder shall be cumulative of any and all other rights that Noteholders may ever have against Guarantor. The exercise by Noteholders of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other instrument, at law or in equity, shall not preclude the concurrent or subsequent exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

3. In the event of default by Borrower in payment of the Obligations, or any part thereof, when such Obligations, or any part thereof, become due, either by their terms or as the result of the exercise of any power to accelerate, Guarantor shall, on demand, and without further notice of dishonor and without any notice having been given to Guarantor previous to such demand of the acceptance by Noteholders of this Guaranty, and without any notice having been given to Guarantor previous to such demand of the creating or incurring of such Obligations, pay the amount due thereon to Noteholders at the Administrative Agent’s office as set forth in the Credit Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any Noteholder, in order to enforce such payment by Guarantor, first, to institute suit or exhaust its remedies against Borrower or others liable on such Obligations, to have Borrower joined with Guarantor in any suit brought under this Guaranty or to enforce their rights against any security which shall ever have been given to secure such indebtedness; provided, however, that in the event Noteholders elect to enforce and/or exercise any remedies they may possess with respect to any security for the Obligations prior to demanding payment from Guarantor, Guarantor shall nevertheless be obligated hereunder for any and all sums still owing Noteholders on the Obligations and not repaid or recovered incident to the exercise of such remedies.

 

4. Notice to Guarantor of the acceptance of this Guaranty and of the making, renewing or assignment of the Obligations and each item thereof, are hereby expressly waived by Guarantor.

 

5. Each payment on the Obligations shall be deemed to have been made by Borrower unless express written notice is given to Administrative Agent at the time of such payment that such payment is made by Guarantor as specified in such notice.

 

6. If all or any part of the Obligations are at any time secured, Guarantor agrees that Noteholders may at any time and from time to time, at their discretion and with or without valuable consideration, allow substitution or withdrawal of collateral or other security and release collateral or other security or compromise or settle any amount due or owing under the Credit Agreement or amend or modify in whole or in part the Credit Agreement or any Loan Papers executed in connection with same without impairing or diminishing the obligations of Guarantor hereunder. Guarantor further agrees that if Borrower executes in favor of Noteholders any collateral agreement, mortgage or other security instrument, the exercise by Noteholders of any right or remedy thereby conferred on Noteholders shall be wholly discretionary with Noteholders, and that the exercise or failure to exercise any such right or remedy shall in no way

 

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impair or diminish the obligations of Guarantor hereunder. Guarantor further agrees that Noteholders and Administrative Agent shall not be liable for their failure to use diligence in the collection of the Obligations or in preserving the liability of any Person liable for the Obligations, and Guarantor hereby waives presentment for payment, notice of nonpayment, protest and notice thereof (including notice of acceleration), and diligence in bringing suits against any Person liable on the Obligations, or any part thereof.

 

7. Guarantor agrees that Noteholders, in their discretion, may (a) bring suit against all guarantors (including, without limitation, Guarantor hereunder) of the Obligations jointly and severally or against any one or more of them, (b) compound or settle with any one or more of such guarantors for such consideration as Noteholders may deem proper, and (c) release one or more of such guarantors from liability hereunder, and that no such action shall impair the rights of Noteholders to collect the Obligations (or the unpaid balance thereof) from other such guarantors of the Obligations, or any of them, not so sued, settled with or released. Guarantor agrees, however, that nothing contained in this Paragraph 7, and no action by Noteholders permitted under this Paragraph 7, shall in any way affect or impair the rights or obligations of such guarantors among themselves.

 

8. Guarantor represents and warrants to Noteholders that (a) Guarantor is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State of [Alabama]; (b) Guarantor possesses all requisite authority and power to authorize, execute, deliver and comply with the terms of this Guaranty; (c) this Guaranty has been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action on the part of Guarantor and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable Debtor Relief Laws (as hereinafter defined); (d) no approval or consent of any court or governmental entity is required for the authorization, execution, delivery or compliance with this Guaranty which has not been obtained (and copies thereof delivered to Noteholders); and (e) Guarantor is neither involved in, nor aware of the threat of, any litigation which, in the event of an outcome unfavorable to Guarantor, could have a material adverse effect on the financial position, business operations, or prospects of Guarantor, nor are there any outstanding or unpaid judgments against Guarantor. As used herein, the term “Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America and all other applicable liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, suspension of payments, or similar debtor relief laws from time to time in effect affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

9. Guarantor covenants and agrees that until the Obligations are paid and performed in full, except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement or unless Noteholders give their prior written consent to any deviation therefrom, it will (a) at all times maintain its existence and authority to transact business as required in any State where Guarantor has material assets and operations; and (b) promptly deliver to Noteholders and to Administrative Agent such information respecting its business affairs, assets and liabilities as Noteholders may reasonably request. The failure of Guarantor to comply with the terms of this Paragraph 9 shall be a Default under the Credit Agreement.

 

10. This Guaranty is for the benefit of Noteholders, their successors and assigns, and in the event of an assignment by Noteholders (or their successors or assigns) of the Obligations,

 

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or any part thereof, the rights and benefits hereunder, to the extent applicable to the Obligations so assigned, may be transferred with such Obligations. Subject to the preceding paragraph hereof, this Guaranty is binding, not only on Guarantor, but on the legal representatives, successors and assigns of Guarantor.

 

11. No modification, consent, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, nor consent to any departure by Guarantor therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Required Banks (or all Banks if required by the Credit Agreement), and then shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on Guarantor in any case shall, of itself, entitle Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. No delay or omission by Noteholders in exercising any power or right hereunder shall impair any such right or power or be construed as a waiver thereof or any acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power preclude other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder. All rights and remedies of Noteholders hereunder are cumulative of each other and of every other right or remedy which Noteholders may otherwise have at law or in equity or under any other contract or document, and the exercise of one or more rights or remedies shall not prejudice or impair the concurrent or subsequent exercise of other rights or remedies.

 

12. No provision herein or in any promissory note, instrument or any other Loan Paper executed by Borrower or Guarantor evidencing the Obligations shall require the payment or permit the collection of interest in excess of the maximum permitted by law. If any excess of interest in such respect is provided for herein or in any such promissory note, instrument, or any other Loan Paper, the provisions of this Paragraph 12 shall govern, and neither Guarantor nor Borrower shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to the extent that it is in excess of the amount permitted by law. The intention of the parties being to conform strictly to any applicable federal or state usury laws now in force, all promissory notes, instruments and other Loan Papers executed by Borrower or Guarantor evidencing the Obligations shall be held subject to reduction to the amount allowed under said usury laws as now or hereafter construed by the courts having jurisdiction.

 

13. If Guarantor should breach or fail to perform any provision of this Guaranty, Guarantor agrees to pay Noteholders all costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by Noteholders in the enforcement hereof.

 

14. The liability of Guarantor under this Guaranty shall in no manner be impaired, affected or released by the insolvency, bankruptcy, making of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, arrangement, compensation, composition or readjustment of Borrower, or any proceedings affecting the status, existence or assets of Borrower or other similar proceedings instituted by or against Borrower and affecting the assets of Borrower.

 

15. Guarantor understands and agrees that any amounts of Guarantor on account with Noteholders may be offset to satisfy the obligations of Guarantor hereunder.

 

16. Guarantor hereby subordinates and makes inferior any and all indebtedness now or at any time hereafter owed by Borrower to Guarantor to the Obligations evidenced by the

 

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Credit Agreement and agrees after the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement not to permit Borrower to repay, or to accept payment from Borrower of, such indebtedness or any part thereof without the prior written consent of Noteholders.

 

17. Guarantor hereby waives any and all rights of subrogation to which Guarantor may otherwise be entitled against Borrower as a result of any payment made by Guarantor pursuant to this Guaranty.

 

18. As of the date hereof the fair saleable value of the property of Guarantor is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of Guarantor, and Guarantor is able to pay all of its liabilities as such liabilities mature and Guarantor does not have unreasonably small capital within the meaning of Section 548, Title 11, United States Code, as amended. In computing the amount of contingent or liquidated liabilities, such liabilities have been computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing as of the date hereof, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

19. If any provision of this Guaranty is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable, this Guaranty shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as a part of this Guaranty a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

 

20. (a) Except to the extent required for the exercise of the remedies provided in the other security instruments, Guarantor hereby irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court over any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty or any other Loan Paper, and Guarantor hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state or federal court. Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any litigation arising out of or in connection with this Guaranty or any of the Loan Papers brought in district courts of New York County, New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any claim that any litigation brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Guarantor hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such litigation by the mailing of copies thereof by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to Guarantor’s office at 909 Fannin Street, Suite 3208, Houston, Texas 77010. Guarantor irrevocably agrees that any legal proceeding against Noteholders shall be brought in the district courts of New York County, New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Nothing herein shall affect the right of Noteholders to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against Guarantor in any jurisdiction or to serve process in any manner permitted by applicable law.

 

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(b) Nothing in this Paragraph 20 shall affect any right of Noteholders to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law or affect the right of any Noteholder to bring any action or proceeding against Guarantor either jointly or severally in the courts of any other jurisdictions.

 

(c) To the extent that Guarantor has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Guaranty and the other Loan Papers.

 

21. THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS COLLECTIVELY REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG NOTEHOLDERS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND GUARANTOR AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF NOTEHOLDERS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND GUARANTOR. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG NOTEHOLDERS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND GUARANTOR.

 

22. GUARANTOR, FOR ITSELF, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, AND THE NOTEHOLDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL, IN ANY LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS.

 

23. THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

[24. This Guaranty is a restatement of, and an amendment to, the Existing Guaranty; provided, that such amendment and restatement shall operate to renew, amend and restate the rights and obligations of the parties under the Existing Guaranty as provided herein, but shall not in any way constitute a novation thereof.]

 

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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EXECUTED as of the date first above written.

 

GUARANTOR:

 
a    
     
By:    

Name:

   

Title

   

 

 

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EXHIBIT J

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EFFECTIVENESS

 

This Certificate of Effectiveness (this “Certificate”) is executed the 9th day of June, 2006, by and between GEOMET, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent (“Administrative Agent”) for Banks under and as defined in that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of June 9, 2006, by and among Borrower, Administrative Agent, and Banks named therein. This Certificate is executed pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement and is the “Certificate of Effectiveness” therein referenced. Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms used herein with their initial letter capitalized shall have the meaning given such terms in the Agreement. Borrower and Administrative Agent on behalf of itself and Banks hereby acknowledge and agree as follows:

 

1. Borrower has satisfied each condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Agreement contained in Section 6.1 of the Agreement.

 

2. The Agreement is effective as of the date hereof.

 

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative

Agent for Banks

By:    
   

Allison I. Goodwin,

Principal

 

GEOMET, INC., a Delaware corporation

By:    
   

William C. Rankin,

Executive Vice President

 

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EXHIBIT K

 

FORM OF SWING LINE LOAN NOTICE

 

Date:             ,             

 

To: Bank of America, N.A., as Swing Line Lender
     Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2006 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among GeoMet, Inc. (“Borrower”), the Banks from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.

 

The undersigned hereby requests a Swing Line Loan:

 

1. On             (a Business Day).

 

2. In the amount of $            .

 

The Swing Line Borrowing requested herein complies with the requirements of the provisos to the first sentence of Section 2.4(a) of the Agreement.

 

GEOMET, INC.

 

By:                                                                                                  

Name:                                                                                            

Title:                                                                                              

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