THIRDAMENDMENT TO SECONDAMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Among LINNENERGY, LLC as Borrower, BNPPARIBAS, as AdministrativeAgent, and The LendersSignatory Hereto Effective as of July13, 2007

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-10.10 4 a07-19206_1ex10d10.htm EX-10.10

Exhibit 10.10

THIRD AMENDMENT

TO

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Among

LINN ENERGY, LLC

as Borrower,

BNP PARIBAS,

as Administrative Agent,

and

The Lenders Signatory Hereto

Effective as of July 13, 2007




THIRD AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This THIRD AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Third Amendment”) executed effective as of July 13, 2007 (the “Third Amendment Effective Date”) is among LINN ENERGY, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Borrower”); each of the undersigned guarantors (the “Guarantors”, and together with the Borrower, the “Obligors”); each of the Lenders that is a signatory hereto; and BNP PARIBAS, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors, the “Administrative Agent”).

Recitals

A.            The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are parties to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 1, 2006, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007 and the Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2007 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the Lenders have made certain credit available to and on behalf of the Borrower.

B.            The Borrower has requested and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement.

C.            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.               Defined Terms.  Each capitalized term which is defined in the Credit Agreement, but which is not defined in this Third Amendment, shall have the meaning ascribed such term in the Credit Agreement.  Unless otherwise indicated, all section references in this Third Amendment refer to the Credit Agreement.

Section 2.               Amendments to Credit Agreement.

2.1           Definitions.  Section 1.02 is hereby amended by amending and restated the definition of “Agreement” as follows:

“ ‘Agreement’ means this Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, by that certain Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2007 and by that certain Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2007, and as the same may from time to time be further amended, modified, supplemented or restated.”

2.2           Section 9.02.  Section 9.02(a) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

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“(a)         the Notes or other Indebtedness or any guaranty of or suretyship arrangement for the Notes or other Indebtedness.”

Section 3.               Waiver.

The Borrower has informed the Administrative Agent that it has executed deferred premium put agreements with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and such deferred premium put agreements could be characterized as Debt not currently permitted by Section 9.02.  Section 9.02(a) as amended by this Third Amendment permits such deferred premium put agreements so long as such put agreements are with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, as such put agreements would constitute “Indebtedness”.  Therefore, the Borrower hereby requests, and the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders hereby agree, to waive Section 9.02 to allow such deferred premium put agreements.  Except as expressly waived herein, all covenants, obligations and agreements of the Borrower contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

Neither the execution by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of this Third Amendment, nor any other act or omission by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or their officers in connection herewith, shall be deemed a waiver by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of any other defaults which may exist, which may have occurred prior to the distribution above, or which may occur in the future under the Credit Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents, or any future defaults of the same provision waived hereunder (collectively “Other Violations”).  Similarly, nothing contained in this letter shall directly or indirectly in any way whatsoever either: (i) impair, prejudice or otherwise adversely affect the Administrative Agent’s or the Lenders’ right at any time to exercise any right, privilege or remedy in connection with the Loan Documents with respect to any Other Violations, (ii) amend or alter any provision of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or any other contract or instrument, or (iii) constitute any course of dealing or other basis for altering any obligation of the Borrower or any right, privilege or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or any other contract or instrument.  Nothing in this letter shall be construed to be a consent by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to any Other Violations.

Section 4.               Conditions Precedent.  The effectiveness of this Third Amendment is subject to the receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following documents and satisfaction of the other conditions provided in this Section 4, each of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in form and substance:

4.1           Payment by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Third Amendment Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower.

4.2           The Administrative Agent shall have received multiple counterparts as requested of this Third Amendment from the Majority Lenders.

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4.3           The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent or special counsel to the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

4.4           No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the Third Amendment Effective Date.

Section 5.               Representations and Warranties; Etc.  Each Obligor hereby affirms:  (a) that as of the date of execution and delivery of this Third Amendment, all of the representations and warranties contained in each Loan Document to which such Obligor is a party are true and correct in all material respects as though made on and as of the Third Amendment Effective Date (unless made as of a specific earlier date, in which case, was true as of such date); and (b) that after giving effect to this Third Amendment and to the transactions contemplated hereby, no Defaults exist under the Loan Documents or will exist under the Loan Documents.

Section 6.               Miscellaneous.

6.1           Confirmation.  The provisions of the Credit Agreement (as amended by this Third Amendment) shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the effectiveness of this Third Amendment.

6.2           Ratification and Affirmation of Obligors.  Each of the Obligors hereby expressly (i) acknowledges the terms of this Third Amendment, (ii) ratifies and affirms its obligations under the Guarantee Agreement and the other Security Instruments to which it is a party, (iii) acknowledges, renews and extends its continued liability under the Guarantee Agreement and the other Security Instruments to which it is a party and agrees that its guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement and the other Security Instruments to which it is a party remains in full force and effect with respect to the Indebtedness as amended hereby.

6.3           Counterparts.  This Third Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

6.4           No Oral Agreement.  THIS WRITTEN THIRD AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH AND THEREWITH REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

6.5           Governing Law.  THIS THIRD AMENDMENT (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY HEREOF) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Amendment to be duly executed effective as of the date first written above.

BORROWER:

 

LINN ENERGY, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael C. Linn

 

 

 

Michael C. Linn, Chairman, President and

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

GUARANTORS:

 

LINN ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

LINN OPERATING, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

PENN WEST PIPELINE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

PENN WEST STORAGE, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

MID ATLANTIC WELL SERVICE,

 

 

INC.

 

 

 

 

 

LINN WESTERN OPERATING, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

LINN WESTERN PROCESSING, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

LINN MID-CONTINENT OPERATING,

 

 

INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael C. Linn

 

 

 

Michael C. Linn, Chairman, President

 

 

 

and Chief Executive Officer

 

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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

 

BNP PARIBAS,

 

 

as Administrative Agent and Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Douglas R. Liftman

 

 

Name:

Douglas R. Liftman

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Betsy Jocher

 

 

Name:

Betsy Jocher

 

 

Title:

Director

 

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LENDERS:

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Syndication

 

 

Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don J. McKinnerney

 

 

Name:

Don J. McKinnerney

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

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SOCIETE GENERALE, as a Syndication Agent

 

 

and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Elena Robciuc

 

 

Name:

Elena Robciuc

 

 

Title:

Director

 

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COMERICA BANK, as a Documentation Agent

 

 

and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Josh Strong

 

 

Name:

Josh Strong

 

 

Title:

Assistant Vice President

 

 

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CITIBANK, N.A., as a Documentation Agent and

 

 

a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thomas Benavides

 

 

Name:

Thomas Benavides

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

10




 

 

FORTIS CAPITAL CORP., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Montgomery

 

 

Name:

David Montgomery

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Deirdre Sanborn

 

 

Name:

Deirdre Sanborn

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

11




 

 

LEHMAN COMMERICAL PAPER INC., as a

 

 

Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Maria M. Lund

 

 

Name:

Maria M. Lund

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

12




 

 

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING,

 

 

INC., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mary Lou Allen

 

 

Name:

Mary Lou Allen

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jo Linda Papadakis

 

 

Name:

Jo Linda Papadakis

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

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DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY

 

 

AMERICAS, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Evelyn Thierry

 

 

Name:

Evelyn Thierry

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Susan LeFevre

 

 

Name:

Susan LeFebre

 

 

Title:

Director

 

15




 

 

ALLIED IRISH BANK, p.l.c., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David O’Driscoll

 

 

Name:

David O’Driscoll

 

 

Title:

Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Aidan Lanigan

 

 

Name:

Aidan Lanigan

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

16




 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a

 

 

Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Justin M. Alexander

 

 

Name:

Justin M. Alexander

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

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