Registration Rights Agreement
Contract Categories:
Business Finance
- Registration Rights Agreements
EX-4.1 2 h57082exv4w1.htm INDENTURE exv4w1
Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTION COPY
SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
as Issuer
as Issuer
the Guarantors party hereto
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
as Trustee
Indenture
Dated as of May 20, 2008
8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2018
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
TIA Sections | Indenture Sections | |||
§ 310 (a) | 7.10 | |||
(b) | 7.08 | |||
§ 311 | 7.03 | |||
§ 312 | 12.02 | |||
§ 313 | 7.06 | |||
§ 314 (a) | 4, 4.02 | |||
(c) | 12.04 | |||
(e) | 12.05 | |||
§ 315 (a) | 7.01, 7.02 | |||
(b) | 7.02, 7.05 | |||
(c) | 7.01 | |||
(d) | 7.02 | |||
(e) | 6.12, 7.02 | |||
§ 316 (a) | 2.05, 6.02, 6.04, 6.05 | |||
(b) | 6.06, 6.07 | |||
(c) | 12.02 | |||
§ 317 (a) (1) | 6.08 | |||
(a) (2) | 6.09 | |||
(b) | 2.03 | |||
§ 318 | 12.01 |
RECITALS
ARTICLE 1
Definitions And Incorporation By Reference
Definitions And Incorporation By Reference
Section 1.01. Definitions | 1 | |||
ARTICLE 2 | ||||
The Notes | ||||
Section 2.01. Form, Dating and Denominations; Legends | 36 | |||
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication; Exchange Notes; Additional Notes | 37 | |||
Section 2.03. Registrar, Paying Agent and Authenticating Agent; Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 39 | |||
Section 2.04. Replacement Notes | 39 | |||
Section 2.05. Outstanding Notes | 39 | |||
Section 2.06. Temporary Notes | 40 | |||
Section 2.07. Cancellation | 40 | |||
Section 2.08. CUSIP and CINS Numbers | 41 | |||
Section 2.09. Registration, Transfer and Exchange | 41 | |||
Section 2.10. Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange | 44 | |||
ARTICLE 3 | ||||
Redemption; Offer to Purchase | ||||
Section 3.01. Optional Redemption | 46 | |||
Section 3.02. [Reserved] | 46 | |||
Section 3.03. Method and Effect of Redemption | 46 | |||
Section 3.04. Offer to Purchase | 47 | |||
ARTICLE 4 | ||||
Covenants | ||||
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes | 49 | |||
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency | 50 | |||
Section 4.03. Existence | 50 | |||
Section 4.04. Payment of Obligations | 51 | |||
Section 4.05. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance | 51 | |||
Section 4.06. Limitation on Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock | 51 | |||
Section 4.07. Limitation on Restricted Payments | 55 | |||
Section 4.08. Limitation On Liens | 60 | |||
Section 4.09. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions | 61 | |||
Section 4.10. Limitation on Dividend and other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries | 61 |
Section 4.11. [Reserved] | 63 | |||
Section 4.12. Guaranties by Restricted Subsidiaries | 63 | |||
Section 4.13. Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control | 64 | |||
Section 4.14. Limitation on Asset Sales | 64 | |||
Section 4.15. Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates | 65 | |||
Section 4.16. Line of Business | 67 | |||
Section 4.17. [Reserved] | 67 | |||
Section 4.18. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries | 67 | |||
Section 4.19. [Reserved] | 69 | |||
Section 4.20. Financial Reports | 69 | |||
Section 4.21. Reports to Trustee | 70 | |||
ARTICLE 5 | ||||
Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets | ||||
Section 5.01. Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by the Company | 70 | |||
Section 5.02. Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by a Guarantor | 72 | |||
ARTICLE 6 | ||||
Default and Remedies | ||||
Section 6.01. Events of Default | 73 | |||
Section 6.02. Acceleration | 74 | |||
Section 6.03. Other Remedies | 75 | |||
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults | 75 | |||
Section 6.05. Control by Majority | 75 | |||
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits | 76 | |||
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment | 76 | |||
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee | 76 | |||
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 77 | |||
Section 6.10. Priorities | 77 | |||
Section 6.11. Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 77 | |||
Section 6.12. Undertaking for Costs | 78 | |||
Section 6.13. Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 78 | |||
Section 6.14. Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 78 | |||
Section 6.15. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws | 78 | |||
ARTICLE 7 | ||||
The Trustee | ||||
Section 7.01. General | 79 | |||
Section 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee | 79 | |||
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee | 80 | |||
Section 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer | 81 | |||
Section 7.05. Notice of Default | 81 | |||
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders | 81 |
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity | 81 | |||
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee | 82 | |||
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger | 83 | |||
Section 7.10. Eligibility | 83 | |||
Section 7.11. Money Held in Trust | 83 | |||
ARTICLE 8 | ||||
Defeasance and Discharge | ||||
Section 8.01. Discharge of Companys Obligations | 83 | |||
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance | 84 | |||
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance | 85 | |||
Section 8.04. Application of Trust Money | 86 | |||
Section 8.05. Repayment to Company | 86 | |||
Section 8.06. Reinstatement | 86 | |||
ARTICLE 9 | ||||
Amendments, Supplements and Waivers | ||||
Section 9.01. Amendments Without Consent of Holders | 86 | |||
Section 9.02. Amendments With Consent of Holders | 87 | |||
Section 9.03. Effect of Consent | 89 | |||
Section 9.04. Trustees Rights and Obligations | 89 | |||
Section 9.05. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act | 89 | |||
Section 9.06. Payments for Consents | 89 | |||
ARTICLE 10 | ||||
Reserved | ||||
ARTICLE 11 | ||||
Guaranties | ||||
Section 11.01. The Guaranties | 90 | |||
Section 11.02. Guaranty Unconditional | 90 | |||
Section 11.03. Discharge; Reinstatement | 91 | |||
Section 11.04. Waiver by the Guarantors | 91 | |||
Section 11.05. Subrogation and Contribution | 91 | |||
Section 11.06. Stay of Acceleration | 91 | |||
Section 11.07. Limitation on Amount of Guaranty | 91 | |||
Section 11.08. Execution and Delivery of Guaranty | 92 | |||
Section 11.09. Release of Note Guaranty | 92 | |||
ARTICLE 12 | ||||
Miscellaneous | ||||
Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 | 93 |
Section 12.02. Noteholder Communications; Noteholder Actions | 93 | |||
Section 12.03. Notices | 94 | |||
Section 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 94 | |||
Section 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 95 | |||
Section 12.06. Payment Date Other Than a Business Day | 95 | |||
Section 12.07. Governing Law | 95 | |||
Section 12.08. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 95 | |||
Section 12.09. Successors | 96 | |||
Section 12.10. Duplicate Originals | 96 | |||
Section 12.11. Separability | 96 | |||
Section 12.12. Table of Contents and Headings | 96 | |||
Section 12.13. No Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members and Stockholders | 96 |
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A Form of Note
EXHIBIT B Form of Supplemental Indenture
EXHIBIT C Restricted Legend
EXHIBIT D DTC Legend
EXHIBIT E Regulation S Certificate
EXHIBIT F Rule 144A Certificate
EXHIBIT G Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate
EXHIBIT A Form of Note
EXHIBIT B Form of Supplemental Indenture
EXHIBIT C Restricted Legend
EXHIBIT D DTC Legend
EXHIBIT E Regulation S Certificate
EXHIBIT F Rule 144A Certificate
EXHIBIT G Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate
INDENTURE, dated as of May 20, 2008, among SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation, as the Company, the Guarantors party hereto and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee.
RECITALS
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of up to $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Companys Senior Notes Due 2018, and, together with any Exchange Notes issued therefor, if and when issued, any Additional Notes as provided herein (the Notes). All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done, and the Company has done all things necessary to make the Notes (in the case of the Additional Notes, when duly authorized), when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company as hereinafter provided.
In addition, the Guarantors party hereto have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture as guarantors of the Notes. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of each Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been done, and each Guarantor has done all things necessary to make the Note Guarantees, when the Notes are executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of such Guarantor as hereinafter provided.
This Indenture is subject to, and will be governed by, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of and govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the parties hereto covenant and agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Definitions And Incorporation By Reference
Definitions And Incorporation By Reference
Section 1.01. Definitions.
Acquired Debt means Indebtedness of a Person (1) existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) assumed in connection with
1
the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition, as the case may be. Acquired Debt shall be deemed to be incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any Person or the date the acquired Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
Additional Assets means (i) any assets or property (other than cash, Cash Equivalents or securities) used in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto, (ii) Investments in any other Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto (including the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of such Person) as a result of which such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary or (iv) Permitted Business Investments.
Additional Interest means additional interest owed to the Holders pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
Additional Notes means any Notes issued under this Indenture in addition to the Original Notes, including any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for such Additional Notes, having the same terms in all respects as the Original Notes except that interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance.
Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, the remainder of:
(i) the sum of
(a) discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state, federal or foreign income taxes, as estimated in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Companys most recently completed fiscal year, which reserve report is prepared or reviewed by independent petroleum engineers as to reserves accounting for at least 80% of all such discounted future net revenues and by the Companys petroleum engineers with respect to any other reserves covered by such report, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (1) estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired since such year-end, which reserves were not reflected in such year-end reserve report, and (2) estimated increases in proved oil and gas reserves since such year-end due to exploration, development or exploitation activities or due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (3)
2
estimated proved oil and gas reserves reflected in such year-end report produced or disposed of since such year-end and (4) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such year-end due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report); provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (1) through (4), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Companys petroleum engineers, unless there is a Material Change as a result of such acquisitions, dispositions or revisions, in which event the discounted future net revenues utilized for purposes of this clause (i)(a) shall be confirmed in writing an independent petroleum engineer, plus
(b) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Companys books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Companys latest annual or quarterly financial statements, plus
(c) the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Companys latest annual or quarterly financial statements, plus
(d) the greater of (1) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Companys latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (2) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets (including, without duplication, Investments in unconsolidated Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the date no earlier than the date of the Companys latest audited financial statements (provided that the Company shall not be required to obtain such appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed),
minus (ii) the sum of
(a) minority interests, plus
(b) any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Companys latest audited Consolidated financial statements, plus
(c) to the extent included in (i)(a) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Companys year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production
3
Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto) plus
(d) the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenues specified in (i)(a) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto).
If the Company changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the full cost method of accounting.
Adjusted Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, the sum of (a) the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2013; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2013 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2013 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used, plus (b) 0.50%.
Affiliate means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; (2) any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the Voting Stock of such specified Person (or any of such specified Persons direct or indirect parents Voting Stock); or (3) any other Person 10% or more of the Voting Stock of which is beneficially owned or held directly or indirectly by such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
4
Agent means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent.
Agent Member means a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary.
Applicable Premium means at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of (1) the redemption price of such notes on June 1, 2013 (as set forth in Section 3.01 of this Indenture) exclusive of any accrued interest, plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through June 1, 2013, (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such redemption date.
Asset Sale means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition (including, without limitation, by way of merger or consolidation, Production Payments and Reserve Sales or a Sale Leaseback Transaction) (collectively, a transfer), directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of:
(1) any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) all or substantially all of the properties and assets of any division or line of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or
(3) any other properties, assets or rights of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of business.
For the purposes of this definition, the term Asset Sale shall not include:
(A) any transfer of properties and assets (including any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary) that is governed by Article 5,
(B) any transfer of properties and assets that is by the Company to any Restricted Subsidiary, or by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture,
(C) any transfer of properties and assets that would be within the definition of a Permitted Payment, a Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment and, in the latter case, would be permitted to be made as a Restricted Payment (and shall be deemed a Restricted Payment) under Section 4.07,
(D) the transfer of Cash Equivalents, inventory, accounts receivable, surplus or obsolete equipment or other property (excluding the disposition of oil and gas in place and other interests in real property unless made in connection with a Permitted Business Investment),
5
(E) the abandonment, assignment (including any assignments made pursuant to the Well Participation Program), lease, sublease or farm-out of oil and gas properties, or the forfeiture or other disposition of such properties, pursuant to operating agreements or other instruments or agreements that, in each case, are entered into in the ordinary course of business in a manner that is customary in the Oil and Gas Business,
(F) the transfer of Property received in settlement of debts owing to such Person as a result of foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any Lien or debt, which debts were owing to such Person in the ordinary course of its business,
(G) any Production Payments and Reserve Sales, provided that any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales (other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the acquisition or financing of, and within 90 days after the acquisition of, the Property that is subject thereto,
(H) the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles to the extent that such license does not prohibit the licensor from using the intellectual property and licenses, leases or subleases of other property,
(I) the creation or incurrence of any Lien,
(J) the surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind,
(K) the sale or other disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of oil and gas properties, provided at the time of such sale or other disposition such properties do not have associated with them any proved reserves or
(L) any transfer of assets the Fair Market Value of which in the aggregate does not exceed $5,000,000 in any transaction or series of related transactions.
Attributable Indebtedness in respect of a Sale Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).
6
Authenticating Agent refers to a Person engaged to authenticate the Notes in the stead of the Trustee.
Board of Directors means the board of directors or comparable governing body of the Company, or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on its behalf.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized by law to close, or are in fact closed, in New York City or in the city where the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located.
Capital Lease Obligation of any Person means any obligation of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis under any capital lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) real or personal property which, in accordance with GAAP, is required to be recorded as a capitalized lease obligation.
Capital Stock of any Person means any and all shares, units, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Persons capital stock, other equity interests whether now outstanding or issued after the date hereof, partnership interests (whether general or limited), limited liability company interests, any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, including any Preferred Stock, and any rights (other than debt securities or other Indebtedness convertible into Capital Stock), warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such Capital Stock.
Cash Equivalents means
(1) any evidence of Indebtedness issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof,
(2) deposits, time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, money market deposits or acceptances of any financial institution having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and whose senior unsecured debt is rated at least A-1 by S&P or at least P-1 by Moodys,
(3) commercial paper with a maturity of 365 days or less issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Company) organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by S&P and at least P-1 by Moodys,
7
(4) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating to Indebtedness of a type described in clause (1) above that are entered into with a financial institution described in clause (2) above and mature within 365 days from the date of acquisition,
(5) deposits and certificates of deposit with any commercial bank not meeting the qualifications specified in clause (2) above, provided all such deposits do not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time and
(6) money market funds which invest substantially all of their assets in securities described in the preceding clauses (1) through (4).
Certificated Note means a Note in registered individual form without interest coupons.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Ward Group is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares);
(2) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election to such board or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of 66 2/3% of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved), cease for any reason to constitute a majority of such Board of Directors then in office;
(3) the Company consolidates with or merges with or into any Person, or sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any such Person, or any such Person consolidates with or merges into or with the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where
8
(A) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is changed into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving Person which is not Disqualified Stock and
(B) immediately after such transaction, no person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares) of the surviving Person; or
(4) the Company is liquidated or dissolved or adopts a plan of liquidation or dissolution other than in a transaction which complies with the provisions of Article 5.
For purposes of this definition, any transfer of an equity interest of an entity that was formed for the purpose of acquiring Voting Stock of the Company will be deemed to be a transfer of such portion of such Voting Stock as corresponds to the portion of the equity of such entity that has been so transferred.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act then the body performing such duties at such time.
Company means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor obligor under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article 5.
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of any Person means, for any period, the ratio of
(a) without duplication, the sum of Consolidated Net Income, and in each case to the extent deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Income Tax Expense and Consolidated Non-cash Charges for such period, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, all determined in accordance with GAAP, less all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, less (to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income) the sum of (a) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during the period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production
9
Payments and (b) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments, and less all cash payments during such period relating to non-cash charges that were added back to Consolidated Net Income in determining the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio in any prior period to
(b) without duplication, the sum of Consolidated Interest Expense for such period,
in each case after giving pro forma effect to, without duplication,
(1) the incurrence of the Indebtedness giving rise to the need to make such calculation and (if applicable) the application of the net proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Indebtedness, as if such Indebtedness was incurred, and the application of such proceeds occurred, on the first day of such period;
(2) the incurrence, repayment or retirement of any other Indebtedness by the Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the first day of such period as if such Indebtedness was incurred, repaid or retired at the beginning of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such period);
(3) in the case of Acquired Debt or any acquisition occurring at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the related acquisition, assuming such acquisition had been consummated on the first day of such period; and
(4) any acquisition or disposition by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any company or any business or any assets out of the ordinary course of business, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale or asset purchase or sale, or any related repayment of Indebtedness, in each case since the first day of such period, assuming such acquisition or disposition had been consummated on the first day of such period;
provided that
(1) in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness computed on a pro forma basis and (A) bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect on the date of computation had been the applicable rate for the entire period and (B) which was not outstanding for any part of the period for which the computation is being made but which bears, at the option of such Person, a fixed or floating rate of interest, shall be computed by applying at the option of such Person either the fixed or floating rate, and
10
(2) in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person attributable to interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period.
Consolidated Income Tax Expense of any Person means, for any period, the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes (including state franchise taxes accounted for as income taxes in accordance with GAAP) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined, on a Consolidated basis, in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Interest Expense of any Person means, without duplication, for any period, the sum of
(a) the interest expense, less interest income, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a Consolidated basis, excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation,
(1) amortization of debt discount (excluding amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs),
(2) the net cash costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements (including amortization of discounts),
(3) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation,
(4) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and
(5) accrued interest, minus
(b) to the extent included in (a) above, write-offs of deferred financing costs of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period and any charge related to, or any premium paid in connection with, paying any such Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to its Stated Maturity, plus
(c) (1) the interest component of the Capital Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period and
(2) all capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries plus
11
(d) the interest expense under any Guaranteed Debt of such Person and any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not included under any other clause hereof, whether or not paid by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus
(e) dividend payments by the Person with respect to Disqualified Stock and of any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to Preferred Stock (except, in either case, dividends paid solely in Qualified Capital Stock of such Person or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be).
Consolidated Net Income of any Person means, for any period, the Consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a Consolidated basis as determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted, to the extent included in calculating such net income (or loss), by excluding, without duplication,
(1) all extraordinary gains or losses net of taxes (less all fees and expenses relating thereto),
(2) the portion of net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis allocable to minority interests in unconsolidated Persons or Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the extent that cash dividends or distributions have not actually been received by such Person or one of its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries,
(3) any gain or loss, net of taxes, realized upon the termination of any employee pension benefit plan,
(4) gains or losses, net of taxes (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), in respect of dispositions of assets other than in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to Sale Leaseback Transactions, but excluding transactions such as farmouts, sales of leasehold inventory and sales of undivided interests in drilling prospects),
(5) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders,
(6) any write-downs of non-current assets, provided that any ceiling limitation write-downs under SEC guidelines shall be treated as capitalized costs, as if such write-downs had not occurred,
(7) any cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles,
12
(8) all deferred financing costs written off, and premiums paid, in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness,
(9) any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of hedge or non-hedge derivatives (including those resulting from the application of FAS 133), and
(10) any non-cash compensation charge arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity-based awards.
Consolidated Non-cash Charges of any Person means, for any period, the aggregate depreciation, depletion, amortization and exploration expense and other non-cash charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP (excluding any non-cash charge which requires an accrual or reserve for cash charges for any future period but including, without limitation, any non-cash charge arising from any grant of Capital Stock, options to acquire Capital Stock, or other equity based awards).
Consolidation and Consolidated mean, with respect to any Person, the consolidation of the accounts of such Person and each of its Subsidiaries if and to the extent the accounts of such Person and each of its Subsidiaries would normally be consolidated with those of such Person, all in accordance with GAAP.
Corporate Trust Office means the office of the Trustee at which at any time the corporate trust business in relation to this Indenture and the Notes is administered, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at 201 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489, Attention: Corporate Trust Services.
Credit Facility means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Senior Credit Facility), commercial paper facilities or other debt instruments, indentures or agreements providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to the lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from the lenders against such receivables), letters of credit or other debt obligations, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restructured, supplemented, replaced or refinanced from time to time in whole or in part from time to time, including without limitation any amendment increasing the amount of Indebtedness incurred or available to be borrowed thereunder, extending the maturity of any Indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby or deleting, adding or substituting one or more parties thereto (whether or not such added or substituted parties are banks or other institutional lenders).
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit
13
of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
Default means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
Depositary means the depositary of each Global Note, which will initially be DTC.
Designation has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.18.
Designation Amount has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.18.
Disinterested Director means, with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest (other than as a shareholder or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary) in or with respect to such transaction or series of related transactions.
Disqualified Stock means (i) the Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) any other Capital Stock that, either by its terms or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or otherwise, is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed prior to the final Stated Maturity of the Notes or is redeemable at the option of the Holder thereof at any time prior to such final Stated Maturity (other than upon a change of control of or sale of assets by the Company in circumstances where the Holders would have similar rights), or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to such final Stated Maturity at the option of the Holder thereof.
Dollar and $ mean lawful money of the United States.
Dollar-Denominated Production Payment means a production payment required to be recorded as a borrowing in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.
DTC means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, and its successors.
DTC Legend means the legend set forth in Exhibit D.
Equity Interests means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person
14
of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
Equity Offering means a public or private offering of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company.
Event of Default has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.
Excess Proceeds means any Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with Section 4.14(b) within 365 days from the date of such Asset Sale.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exchange Notes means the Notes of the Company issued pursuant to this Indenture in exchange for, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to, the Initial Notes or any Initial Additional Notes, in compliance with the terms of a Registration Rights Agreement and containing terms substantially identical to the Initial Notes or any Initial Additional Notes exchanged (except that (i) such Exchange Notes will be registered under the Securities Act and will not be subject to transfer restrictions or bear the Restricted Legend, and (ii) the provisions relating to Additional Interest will be eliminated).
Exchange Offer means an offer by the Company to the Holders of the Initial Notes or any Initial Additional Notes to exchange outstanding Notes for Exchange Notes, as provided for in a Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement means the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchanged Properties means properties or assets or Capital Stock representing an equity interest in or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a substantially concurrent purchase and sale, trade or exchange as a portion of the total consideration for other such properties or assets.
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any asset or property, the sale value that would be obtained in an arms-length free market transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair Market Value of an
15
asset or property in excess of $10,000,000 shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith, in which event it shall be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors.
Foreign Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that (x) is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, or (y) was organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia that has no material assets other than Capital Stock of one or more foreign entities of the type described in clause (x) above and is not a guarantor of Indebtedness under a Credit Facility.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.
Global Note means a Note in registered global form without interest coupons.
Guarantee means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof, in whole or in part; provided that the term Guarantee does not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term Guarantee used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Guaranteed Debt of any Person means, without duplication, all Indebtedness of any other Person referred to in the definition of Indebtedness below guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly by such Person through an agreement, made primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Indebtedness or to assure the holder of such Indebtedness against loss,
(1) to pay or purchase such Indebtedness or to advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such Indebtedness,
(2) to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property, or to purchase or sell services,
16
(3) to supply funds to, or in any other manner invest in, the debtor (including any agreement to pay for property or services without requiring that such property be received or such services be rendered),
(4) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the debtor, or otherwise to maintain the net worth, solvency or other financial condition of the debtor or to cause such debtor to achieve certain levels of financial performance or
(5) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss;
provided that the term guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business.
Guarantors means, collectively, (i) SandRidge Onshore, LLC, Lariat Services, Inc., SandRidge Operating Company, Integra Energy, L.L.C., SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC, SandRidge Tertiary, LLC, SandRidge Midstream, Inc, SandRidge Offshore, LLC and SandRidge Holdings, Inc. and (ii) each Restricted Subsidiary that executes a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit B to this Indenture providing for the guaranty of the payment of the Notes, or any successor obligor under its Note Guaranty pursuant to Article 11, in each case unless and until such Guarantor is released from its Note Guaranty pursuant to this Indenture.
Holder or Noteholder means the registered holder of any Note.
Immaterial Subsidiary means any Subsidiary with total assets of less than $500,000, as determined in accordance with its latest financial statements.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, without duplication,
(1) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, excluding any Trade Accounts Payable and other accrued current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, but including, without limitation, all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in connection with any letters of credit issued under letter of credit facilities, acceptance facilities or other similar facilities,
(2) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or other similar instruments,
(3) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even if the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), but excluding Trade Accounts Payable,
17
(4) all obligations under or in respect of currency exchange contracts, oil, gas or other hydrocarbon price hedging arrangements and Interest Rate Agreements of such Person (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time),
(5) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person,
(6) the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person related to any Sale Leaseback Transaction,
(7) all Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons, to the extent the payment of such Indebtedness or dividends is secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien, upon or with respect to property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness,
(8) all Guaranteed Debt of such Person,
(9) all Disqualified Stock issued by such Person, valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued and unpaid dividends,
(10) all Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Person, valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued and unpaid dividends,
(11) with respect to any Production Payment and Reserve Sale, any warranties or guaranties of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment and Reserve Sale but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment and Reserve Sale and
(12) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension, refunding or refinancing of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above.
For purposes hereof, the maximum fixed repurchase price of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if it were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Fair Market Value to be determined in good faith by the
18
Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock. Subject to clause (11) of the preceding sentence, Production Payments and Reserve Sales shall not be deemed to be Indebtedness.
Indenture means this indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Initial Additional Notes means Additional Notes issued in an offering not registered under the Securities Act and any Notes issued in replacement thereof, but not including any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor.
Initial Notes means the Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Notes issued in replacement thereof, but not including any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor.
Initial Purchasers means the initial purchasers party to a purchase agreement with the Company relating to the sale of the Initial Notes or Additional Notes by the Company.
Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto.
Interest, in respect of the Notes, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to interest and Additional Interest, if any.
Interest Payment Date means June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2008.
Interest Rate Agreements means one or more of the following agreements which shall be entered into from time to time by one or more financial institutions: interest rate protection agreements (including, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements) and/or other types of interest rate hedging agreements.
Investment means, with respect to any Person, directly or indirectly, any advance, loan (including Guarantees), or other extension of credit or capital contribution to any other Person (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase, acquisition or ownership by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued or owned by any other Person and all other items that would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investment shall exclude direct or indirect advances to customers or suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity with GAAP, recorded as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on the Companys or any Restricted Subsidiarys balance sheet, endorsements for collection or deposit arising in the ordinary
19
course of business and extensions of trade credit on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company (other than the sale of all of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Subsidiary), the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Companys Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07.
Issue Date means the earliest date on which any Notes are originally issued under this Indenture.
Lien means any mortgage or deed of trust, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), privilege, security interest, assignment, deposit, arrangement, hypothecation, claim, preference, priority or other encumbrance for security purposes upon or with respect to any property of any kind (including any conditional sale, capital lease or other title retention agreement, any leases in the nature thereof, and any agreement to give any security interest), real or personal, movable or immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired. A Person will be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement. References herein to Liens allowed to exist upon any particular item of Property shall also be deemed (whether or not stated specifically) to allow Liens to exist upon any accessions, improvements or additions to such property, upon any contractual rights relating primarily to such Property, and upon any proceeds of such Property or of such accessions, improvements, additions or contractual rights.
Liquid Securities means securities (i) of an issuer that is not an Affiliate of the Company, (ii) that are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market and (iii) as to which the Company is not subject to any restrictions on sale or transfer (including any volume restrictions under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other restrictions imposed by the Securities Act) or as to which a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the resale thereof is in effect for as long as the securities are held; provided that securities meeting the requirements of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be treated as Liquid Securities from the date of receipt thereof until and only until the earlier of (a) the date on which such securities are sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents and (b) 360 days following the date of receipt of such securities. If such securities are not sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents within 360 days of receipt thereof, for purposes of determining whether the transaction pursuant to which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary received the securities was in compliance with the
20
provisions of Section 4.14, such securities shall be deemed not to have been Liquid Securities at any time.
Material Change means an increase or decrease (except to the extent resulting from changes in prices) of more than 30% during a fiscal quarter in the estimated discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with clause (i)(a) of the definition of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however, that the following will be excluded from the calculation of Material Change: (i) any acquisitions during the quarter of oil and gas reserves with respect to which the discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves have been estimated or confirmed by independent petroleum engineers and (ii) any dispositions of properties and assets during such quarter that were disposed of in compliance with Section 4.14.
Midstream Assets means (i) assets used primarily for gathering, transmission, storage, processing or treatment of natural gas, natural gas liquids or other hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide and (ii) equity interests of any Person that has no substantial assets other than assets referred to in clause (i).
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction means cash proceeds received therefrom (including (i) any cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received and (ii) the Fair Market Value of Liquid Securities and Cash Equivalents, and excluding (iii) any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the assets or property that is the subject of such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction and (iv) except to the extent subsequently converted to cash within 360 days after such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction; consideration constituting Exchanged Properties or consideration other than as identified in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii)), in each case net of:
(a) all legal, title and recording expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP as a consequence of such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction,
(b) all payments made on any Indebtedness (but specifically excluding Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries assumed in connection with or in anticipation of such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction) which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets,
21
or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction, provided that such payments are made in a manner that results in the permanent reduction in the balance of such Indebtedness and, if applicable, a permanent reduction in any outstanding commitment for future incurrences of Indebtedness thereunder,
(c) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction and
(d) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction;
provided, however, that if any consideration for an Asset Sale or Sale Leaseback Transaction (which would otherwise constitute Net Available Cash) is required to be held in escrow pending determination of whether a purchase price adjustment will be made, such consideration (or any portion thereof) shall become Net Available Cash only at such time as it is released to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from escrow.
Net Cash Proceeds means with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or debt securities or Capital Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock as referred to in Section 4.07, the proceeds of such issuance or sale in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of, or stock or other assets when disposed of for, cash or Cash Equivalents (except to the extent that such obligations are financed or sold with recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), net of attorneys fees, accountants fees and brokerage, consultation, underwriting and other fees and expenses actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.
Net Working Capital means (i) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, less (ii) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness, in each case as set forth in Consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP, provided, however, that all of the following shall be excluded in the calculation of Net Working Capital: (a) current assets or liabilities relating to the mark-to-market value of Interest Rate Agreements and hedging arrangements constituting Permitted Debt, (b) any current assets or liabilities relating to non-cash charges arising from any grant of Capital Stock, options to acquire Capital Stock, or other equity based awards, and (c) any current
22
assets or liabilities relating to non-cash charges or accruals for future abandonment liabilities.
Non-U.S. Person means a Person that is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.
Notes has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
Note Guaranty means the guaranty of the Notes by a Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture.
Offer to Purchase has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.04.
Offering Memorandum means the offering memorandum, dated May 15, 2008, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.
Officer means the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president or chief executive officer, any vice president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer, or the secretary or any assistant secretary, of the Company.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed in the name of the Company (i) by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president or chief executive officer or a vice president and (ii) by the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer or the secretary or any assistant secretary.
Offshore Global Note means a Global Note representing Notes issued and sold pursuant to Regulation S.
Oil and Gas Business means the business of exploiting, exploring for, developing, acquiring, operating, producing, processing, gathering, marketing, storing, selling, hedging, treating, swapping, refining and transporting hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide and other related energy businesses, including contract drilling and other oilfield services.
Oil and Gas Liens means (i) Liens on any specific property or any interest therein, construction thereon or improvement thereto to secure all or any part of the costs incurred for surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of, in, under or on such property and the plugging and abandonment of wells located thereon (it being understood that, in the case of oil and gas producing properties, or any interest therein, costs incurred for development shall include costs incurred for all facilities relating to such properties or to projects, ventures or other arrangements of which such properties form a part or which relate to such properties or interests); (ii) Liens on an oil or gas producing property to secure obligations incurred or guarantees of obligations incurred in
23
connection with or necessarily incidental to commitments for the purchase or sale of, or the transportation or distribution of, the products derived from such property; (iii) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, master limited partnership agreements, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; provided, however, in all instances that such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract; (iv) Liens arising in connection with Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that such Liens are limited to the property that is subject to such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, and such Production Payments and Reserve Sales either (a) were created in connection with the acquisition or financing of the property and were incurred within 90 days after the acquisition of the property subject thereto, or (b) constitute Asset Sales made in compliance with Section 4.14; and (v) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, satisfactory to the Trustee.
Original Notes means the Initial Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor.
Pari Passu Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor that is pari passu in right of payment to the Notes or Note Guaranty, as the case may be.
Paying Agent refers to a Person engaged to perform the obligations of the Trustee in respect of payments made or funds held hereunder in respect of the Notes.
Permitted Business Investments means Investments and expenditures made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business as a means of actively engaging therein through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements which permit one to share risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of
24
Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including (i) ownership interests in oil and gas properties or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems and (ii) Investments and expenditures in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, processing agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited) and other similar agreements (including for limited liability companies) with third parties.
Permitted Debt has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.06.
Permitted Investments mean:
(1) Investments in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Person which, as a result of such Investment, (a) becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary described under clauses (4), (5) and (6) of the definition of Permitted Debt;
(3) Investments in the Notes;
(4) Cash Equivalents;
(5) Investments in property, plant and equipment used in the ordinary course of business and Permitted Business Investments;
(6) Investments acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale permitted under Section 4.14 to the extent such Investments are non-cash proceeds as permitted under such covenant;
(7) Investments in existence on the Issue Date;
(8) Investments acquired in exchange for the issuance of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary);
(9) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business;
(10) loans or advances to employees of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business purposes of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including travel, entertainment and
25
relocation expenses) in the aggregate amount outstanding at any one time of not more than $2,000,000;
(11) any Investments received in good faith in settlement or compromise of receivables or other obligations that were obtained in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer;
(12) other Investments in the aggregate amount outstanding at any one time of up to the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and
(13) Guarantees received with respect to any Permitted Investment listed above.
In connection with any assets or property contributed or transferred to any Person as an Investment, the value of such property and assets shall be equal to the Fair Market Value at the time of Investment, without regard to subsequent changes in value.
Permitted Liens means
(1) any Lien existing on the Issue Date securing Indebtedness or obligations existing on the Issue Date and not otherwise referred to in this definition;
(2) any Lien with respect to the Senior Credit Facility (including with respect to any Guarantee thereof made by any Guarantor) or any successor Credit Facilities securing Indebtedness incurred thereunder that could be borrowed under Section 4.06;
(3) any Lien in favor of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) any Lien arising by reason of:
(A) any judgment, decree or order of any court, so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment, decree or order shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired;
(B) taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as will be required in conformity with GAAP will have been made therefor;
26
(C) security made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security;
(D) good faith deposits in connection with tenders, leases and contracts (other than contracts for the payment of Indebtedness);
(E) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, title defects, rights of others for rights of way, utilities, sewers, electric lines, telephone or telegraph lines, and other similar purposes, provisions, covenants, conditions, waivers, restrictions on the use of property or minor irregularities of title (and with respect to leasehold interests, mortgages, obligations, Liens and other encumbrances incurred, created, assumed or permitted to exist and arising by, through or under a landlord or owner of the leased property, with or without consent of the lessee), none of which materially impairs the use of any parcel of property material to the operation of the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or the value of such property for the purpose of such business;
(F) deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, or in lieu of surety or appeal bonds;
(G) operation of law or contract in favor of mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords, materialmen, laborers, employees, suppliers and similar persons, incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by negotiations or by appropriate proceedings which suspend the collection thereof;
(H) normal depository arrangements with banks;
(5) any Lien securing Acquired Debt created prior to (and not created in connection with, or in contemplation of) the incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Lien only secures the assets acquired in connection with the transaction pursuant to which the Acquired Debt became an obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(6) any Lien to secure performance bids, leases (including, without limitation, statutory and common law landlords liens), statutory obligations, letters of credit and other obligations of a like nature and incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary and not securing or supporting Indebtedness, and any Lien to secure statutory or appeal bonds;
(7) any Lien securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (6) or clause (8) of the definition of Permitted Debt, so long as none of such Indebtedness constitutes debt for borrowed money;
27
(8) any Lien securing Capital Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations incurred in accordance with clause (7) of the definition of Permitted Debt and which are incurred or assumed solely in connection with the acquisition, development or construction of real or personal, moveable or immovable property commencing within 90 days of such incurrence or assumption; provided that such Liens only extend to such acquired, developed or constructed property, such Liens secure Indebtedness in an amount not in excess of the original purchase price or the original cost of any such assets or repair, addition or improvement thereto, and the incurrence of such Indebtedness is permitted by Section 4.06;
(9) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(10) (A) Liens on property, assets or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such merger or consolidation; provided further, that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and assets fixed or appurtenant thereto; and (B) Liens on property, assets or shares of capital stock existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition and do not extend to any property other than the property so acquired;
(11) Oil and Gas Liens, in each case which are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money;
(12) any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (11) so long as no additional collateral is granted as security thereby; and
(13) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (12) above, Liens of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding which does not exceed 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as most recently determined at such time.
Permitted MLP Securities means equity securities (including incentive distribution rights) of a master limited partnership (or limited liability company or similar business entity with pass-through treatment for U.S. Federal income tax purposes) that has a class of equity securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, provided
28
that such master limited partnership (or other entity) is an Affiliate of the Company.
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, substitute, defease, refund, refinance or replace (refinance) other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness being refinanced (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);
(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(3) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; and
(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, that is the obligor on the Indebtedness refinanced.
Person means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
Preferred Stock means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over the Capital Stock of any other class in such Person.
Production Payments means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.
Production Payments and Reserve Sales means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, Production Payment, partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the
29
production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties where the holder of such interest has recourse solely to such properties, production or proceeds of production, subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to operate and maintain, or cause the subject interests to be operated and maintained, in a reasonably prudent manner or other customary standard or subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to indemnify for environmental, title or other matters customary in the Oil and Gas Business, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.
Property means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including Capital Stock and other securities issued by any other Person (but excluding Capital Stock or other securities issued by such first mentioned Person).
principal of any Indebtedness means the principal amount of such Indebtedness, (or if such Indebtedness was issued with original issue discount, the face amount of such Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion of the original issue discount of such Indebtedness), together with, unless the context otherwise indicates, any premium then payable on such Indebtedness.
Purchase Money Obligation means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on assets related to the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which are purchased or constructed by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at any time after the Issue Date; provided that
(1) the security agreement or conditional sales or other title retention contract pursuant to which the Lien on such assets is created (collectively a Purchase Money Security Agreement) shall be entered into within 90 days after the purchase or substantial completion of the construction of such assets and shall at all times be confined solely to the assets so purchased or acquired (together with any additions, accessions, and other related assets referred to in the last sentence of the above definition of Liens),
(2) at no time shall the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Indebtedness secured thereby be increased, except in connection with the purchase of additions, improvements, and accessions thereto and except in respect of fees and other obligations in respect of such Indebtedness and
(3) (A) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby (determined on a per asset basis in the case of any additions, improvements and accessions) shall not at the time such Purchase Money Security Agreement is entered into exceed 100% of the purchase price to the Company or
30
the applicable Restricted Subsidiary of the assets subject thereto or (B) the Indebtedness secured thereby shall be with recourse solely to the assets so purchased or acquired subject to the last sentence of the above definition of Liens).
Qualified Capital Stock of any Person means any and all Capital Stock of such Person other than Disqualified Stock.
Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09.
Registrar means a Person engaged to maintain the Register.
Registration Rights Agreement means (i) the Registration Rights Agreement dated on or about the Issue Date by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers party thereto with respect to the Initial Notes, and (ii) with respect to any Additional Notes, any registration rights agreements between the Company, the Guarantors and the initial purchasers party thereto relating to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes or exchange them for Notes registered under the Securities Act.
Regular Record Date means the May 15 or November 15 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Regulation S means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Regulation S Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto.
Restricted Legend means the legend set forth in Exhibit C.
Restricted Payment has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.07.
Restricted Period means the relevant 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.
Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any Subsidiary of that Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Revocation has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.18.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Rule 144A Certificate means (i) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto or (ii) a written certification addressed to the Company and the Trustee to the effect that the Person making such certification (x) is acquiring the
31
applicable Note (or beneficial interest) for its own account or one or more accounts with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and each such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A, (y) is aware that the transfer to it or exchange, as applicable, is being made in reliance upon the exemption from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A, and (z) acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) or has determined not to request such information.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.
Sale Leaseback Transaction means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real property or equipment, acquired or placed into service more than 180 days prior to such arrangement, whereby such property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to such Person.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any governmental authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933.
Senior Credit Facility means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2006, as amended, among the Company (f/k/a Riata Energy, Inc.), Bank of America, N.A. and the other lenders party thereto, as such agreement, in whole or in part, in one or more instances, may be amended, renewed, extended, substituted, refinanced, restructured, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including, without limitation, any successive amendments, renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings, restructurings, replacements, supplementations or other modifications of the foregoing).
Series A Preferred Stock means the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company issued pursuant to the Certificate of Designations filed on December 11, 2006.
Shelf Registration Statement means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement.
Significant Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC as in effect on the Issue Date.
Stated Maturity means (i) with respect to any Indebtedness, the date specified as the fixed date on which the final installment of principal of such
32
Indebtedness is due and payable or (ii) with respect to any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, the date specified as the fixed date on which such installment is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, not including any contingent obligation to repay, redeem or repurchase prior to the regularly scheduled date for payment.
Subordinated Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor which is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guaranty, as the case may be.
Subsidiary of a Person means
(1) any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting power of the Voting Stock of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, or
(2) any limited partnership of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner, or
(3) any other Person in which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, has more than 50% of the outstanding Capital Stock or has the power, by contract or otherwise, to direct or cause the direction of the policies, management and affairs thereof.
Unless otherwise specified, Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of the Company.
Supplemental Indenture means a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
Surviving Entity has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.
Surviving Guarantor Entity has the meaning specified in Section 5.02.
Trade Accounts Payable of any Person means accounts payable or other obligations of that Person or any Restricted Subsidiary to trade creditors created or assumed by the Person or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of goods or services.
Trustee means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor trustee under this Indenture pursuant to Article 7.
Trust Indenture Act means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
33
U.S. Global Note means a Global Note that bears the Restricted Legend representing Notes issued and sold pursuant to Rule 144A.
U.S. Government Obligations means obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or by any agent or instrumentality thereof, provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination has previously been designated, and continues to be, an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.18 and any Subsidiary thereof.
Unrestricted Subsidiary Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary means Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary:
(1) as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary is directly or indirectly liable (by virtue of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary being the primary obligor on, guarantor of, or otherwise liable in any respect to, such Indebtedness), except Guaranteed Debt of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Affiliate of the Company, in which case (unless the incurrence of such Guaranteed Debt resulted in a Restricted Payment at the time of incurrence) the Company shall be deemed to have made a Restricted Payment equal to the principal amount of any such Indebtedness to the extent guaranteed at the time such Affiliate is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary and
(2) which, upon the occurrence of a default with respect thereto, does not result in, or permit any holder of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare, a default on such Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity;
provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, any Unrestricted Subsidiary may Guarantee the Notes or any Credit Facility.
Volumetric Production Payment means a production payment that is recorded as a sale in accordance with GAAP, whether or not the sale price must be recorded as deferred revenue, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.
Voting Stock of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the Board of Directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
34
Ward Group means (i) Tom L. Ward (Ward); (ii) Wards wife; (iii) any of Wards lineal descendants; (iv) Wards estate; (v) any trust of which at least one of the trustees is Ward, or the principal beneficiaries of which are any one or more of the Persons in (i)-(iv); (vi) any Person which is controlled by any one or more of the Persons in (i)-(v); and (vii) any group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the Issue Date) that includes one or more of Persons described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, provided that such Persons described in clauses (i) through (vi) above control more than 50% of the voting power of such group.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, as of the date of determination with respect to any Indebtedness, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of (a) the number of years from the date of determination to the date or dates of each successive scheduled principal payment and (b) the amount of each such principal payment by (2) the sum of all such principal payments.
Well Participation Program means that certain Well Participation Program effective as of June 8, 2006 by and among the Company and certain executive officers of the Company, as in effect on the Issue Date.
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary means a Restricted Subsidiary all the Capital Stock of which is owned by the Company or another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors qualifying shares).
Section 1.02. Rules of Construction. (a) Unless the context otherwise requires or except as otherwise expressly provided,
(1) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined;
(2) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms;
(3) the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation;
(4) the word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall;
(5) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns;
(6) 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;
35
(7) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(8) herein, hereof and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section, Article or other subdivision;
(9) all references to Sections or Articles or Exhibits refer to Sections or Articles or Exhibits of or to this Indenture unless otherwise indicated;
(10) references to agreements or instruments, or to statutes or regulations, are to such agreements or instruments, or statutes or regulations, as amended from time to time (or to successor statutes and regulations); and
(11) in the event that a transaction meets the criteria of more than one category of permitted transactions or listed exceptions the Company may classify such transaction as it, in its sole discretion, determines.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including; the words to and until each mean to but excluding; and the word through means to and including.
(c) As used herein, the term proved reserves has the meaning given such term from time to time and at the time in question by the Society of Petroleum Engineers of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.
(d) Any financial ratios required to be calculated pursuant to this Indenture shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
ARTICLE 2
The Notes
The Notes
Section 2.01. Form, Dating and Denominations; Legends. (a) The Notes and the Trustees certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A. The terms and provisions contained in the forms of the Notes annexed as Exhibit A constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, rules of or agreements with national securities exchanges to which the Company is subject, or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its
36
authentication. The Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 in principal amount and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), Section 2.10(b)(3), (b)(5), or (c) or Section 2.09(b)(4), each Initial Note or Initial Additional Note will bear the Restricted Legend.
(2) Each Global Note, whether or not an Initial Note or Additional Note, will bear the DTC Legend.
(3) Initial Notes will be issued in the form of Global Notes only, except as provided in Section 2.09(b)(4).
(4) Exchange Notes will be issued, subject to Section 2.09(b), in the form of one or more Global Notes.
(c) (1) If the Company determines (upon the advice of counsel and such other certifications and evidence as the Company may reasonably require) that a Note is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act (or a successor provision) and that the Restricted Legend is no longer necessary or appropriate in order to ensure that subsequent transfers of the Note (or a beneficial interest therein) are effected in compliance with the Securities Act, or
(2) after any Note bearing the Restricted Legend is
(x) sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or otherwise, or (y) is validly tendered for exchange into an Exchange Note pursuant to an Exchange Offer
the Company may instruct the Trustee to cancel the Note and issue to the Holder thereof (or to its transferee) a new Note of like tenor and amount, registered in the name of the Holder thereof (or its transferee), that does not bear the Restricted Legend, and the Trustee will comply with such instruction.
(d) By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Restricted Legend (or any beneficial interest in such a Note), each Holder thereof and each owner of a beneficial interest therein acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note (and any such beneficial interest) set forth in this Indenture and in the Restricted Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note (and any such beneficial interest) only in accordance with this Indenture and such legend.
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication; Exchange Notes; Additional Notes. (a) An Officer shall execute the Notes for the Company by facsimile or manual signature in the name and on behalf of the Company. If an Officer whose
37
signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note will still be valid.
(b) A Note will not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note, with the signature conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
(c) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication. The Trustee will authenticate and deliver
(i) Initial Notes for original issue in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750,000,000,
(ii) Initial Additional Notes from time to time for original issue in aggregate principal amounts specified, and
(iii) Exchange Notes from time to time for issue in exchange for a like principal amount of Initial Notes or Initial Additional Notes
after the following conditions have been met:
(1) Receipt by the Trustee of an Officers Certificate specifying
(A) the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated,
(B) whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes, or Exchange Notes,
(C) in the case of Initial Additional Notes, that the issuance of such Notes does not contravene any provision of Article 4,
(D) whether the Notes are to be issued as one or more Global Notes or Certificated Notes, and
(E) other information the Company may determine to include or the Trustee may reasonably request.
(2) In the case of Exchange Notes, effectiveness of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating thereto and consummation of the Exchange Offer thereunder (and receipt by the Trustee of an Officers Certificate to that effect). Initial Notes or Initial Additional Notes exchanged for Exchange Notes will be cancelled by the Trustee.
38
Section 2.03. Registrar, Paying Agent and Authenticating Agent; Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. (a) The Company may appoint one or more Registrars and one or more Paying Agents, and the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent, in which case each reference in this Indenture to the Trustee in respect of the obligations of the Trustee to be performed by that Agent will be deemed to be references to the Agent. The Company may act as Registrar or (except for purposes of Article 8) Paying Agent. In each case the Company and the Trustee will enter into an appropriate agreement with the Agent implementing the provisions of this Indenture relating to the obligations of the Trustee to be performed by the Agent and the related rights. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.
(b) The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes and will promptly notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and account for any funds disbursed, and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment default, upon written request to a Paying Agent, require the Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. Upon doing so, the Paying Agent will have no further liability for the money so paid over to the Trustee.
Section 2.04. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if a Holder claims that its Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company will issue and the Trustee will authenticate a replacement Note of like terms, tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding. Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity must be furnished that is sufficient in the judgment of both the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company and the Trustee from any loss they may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge the Holder for the expenses of the Company and the Trustee in replacing a Note. In case the mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may pay the Note instead of issuing a replacement Note.
Section 2.05. Outstanding Notes. (a) Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee except for
(1) Notes cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to it for cancellation;
(2) any Note which has been replaced pursuant to Section 2.04 unless and until the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to
39
them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York); and
(3) on or after the maturity date or any redemption date or date for purchase of any Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, those Notes payable or to be redeemed or purchased on that date for which the Trustee (or Paying Agent, other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds money sufficient to pay all amounts then due.
(b) A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one of its Affiliates holds the Note, provided that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding Notes have given or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder, Notes owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, (it being understood that in determining whether the Trustee is protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Notes which the Trustee knows to be so owned will be so disregarded). Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right so to act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.06. Temporary Notes. Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have insertions, substitutions, omissions and other variations determined to be appropriate by the Officer executing the temporary Notes, as evidenced by the execution of the temporary Notes. If temporary Notes are issued, the Company will cause definitive Notes to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes will be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose pursuant to Section 4.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any temporary Notes the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Notes of authorized denominations and like terms and tenor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes will be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.
Section 2.07. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold. Any Registrar or the Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to it for transfer,
40
exchange or payment. The Trustee will cancel all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and dispose of them in accordance with its normal procedures or the written instructions of the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has paid in full or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.08. CUSIP and CINS Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP and CINS numbers, and the Trustee will use CUSIP numbers or CINS numbers in notices of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase as a convenience to Holders, the notice to state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange or Offer to Purchase. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP or CINS numbers.
Section 2.09. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. (a) The Notes will be issued in registered form only, without coupons, and the Company shall cause the Trustee to maintain a register (the Register) of the Notes, for registering the record ownership of the Notes by the Holders and transfers and exchanges of the Notes.
(b) (1) Each Global Note will be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and, so long as DTC is serving as the Depositary thereof, will bear the DTC Legend.
(2) Each Global Note will be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary. Transfers of a Global Note (but not a beneficial interest therein) will be limited to transfers thereof in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees, except (1) as set forth in Section 2.09(b)(4) and (2) if approved by the Company in its reasonable discretion, transfers of portions thereof in the form of Certificated Notes may be made upon request of an Agent Member (for itself or on behalf of a beneficial owner) by written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of the Depositary in accordance with customary procedures of the Depositary and in compliance with this Section and Section 2.10.
(3) Agent Members will have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee as the absolute owner and Holder of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositary or its nominee may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person (including any Agent Member and any Person that holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through an Agent Member) to take any action which a Holder is
41
entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes, and nothing herein will impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any security.
(4) If (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for a Global Note and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of the notice or (y) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a request from the Depositary, the Trustee will promptly exchange each beneficial interest in a Global Note for one or more Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an equal aggregate principal amount registered in the name of the owner of such beneficial interest, as identified to the Trustee by the Depositary, and thereupon such Global Note will be deemed canceled. If such Note does not bear the Restricted Legend, then the Certificated Notes issued in exchange therefor will not bear the Restricted Legend. If such Note bears the Restricted Legend, then the Certificated Notes issued in exchange therefor will bear the Restricted Legend.
(c) Each Certificated Note will be registered in the name of the holder thereof or its nominee.
(d) A Holder may transfer a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) to another Person or exchange a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) for another Note or Notes of any authorized denomination and of like terms and tenor by presenting to the Trustee a written request therefor stating the name of the proposed transferee or requesting such an exchange, accompanied by any certification, opinion or other document required by Section 2.10. The Trustee will promptly register any transfer or exchange that meets the requirements of this Section by noting the same in the register maintained by the Trustee for the purpose; provided that
(x) no transfer or exchange will be effective until it is registered in such register and
(y) the Trustee will not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes of like terms and tenor to be redeemed or purchased pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption or purchase in whole or in part, except, in the case of a partial redemption or purchase, that portion of any Note not being redeemed or purchased, or (iii) if a redemption or a purchase pursuant to an Offer to Purchase is to occur after a Regular Record Date but on or before the corresponding Interest Payment Date, to register the transfer of or exchange any Note on or after the Regular Record Date and
42
before the date of redemption or purchase. Prior to the registration of any transfer, the Company, each Guarantor, the Trustee and their agents will treat the Person in whose name the Note is registered as the owner and Holder thereof for all purposes (whether or not the Note is overdue), and will not be affected by notice to the contrary.
From time to time the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate additional Notes as necessary in order to permit the registration of a transfer or exchange in accordance with this Section.
No service charge will be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of any Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than a transfer tax or other similar governmental charge payable upon exchange pursuant to subsection (b)(4)).
(e) (1) Global Note to Global Note. If a beneficial interest in a Global Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Trustee will (x) record a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note being transferred or exchanged equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (y) record a like increase in the principal amount of the other Global Note. Any beneficial interest in one Global Note that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note, or exchanged for an interest in another Global Note, will, upon transfer or exchange, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in the other Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer and exchange restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.
(2) Global Note to Certificated Note. If a beneficial interest in a Global Note is transferred or exchanged for a Certificated Note, the Trustee will (x) record a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (y) deliver one or more new Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an equal aggregate principal amount to the transferee (in the case of a transfer) or the owner of such beneficial interest (in the case of an exchange), registered in the name of such transferee or owner, as applicable.
(3) Certificated Note to Global Note. If a Certificated Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Trustee will (x) cancel such Certificated Note, (y) record an increase in the principal amount of such Global Note equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (z) in the event that such transfer or
43
exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Certificated Note, deliver to the Holder thereof one or more new Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an aggregate principal amount equal to the untransferred or unexchanged portion of the canceled Certificated Note, registered in the name of the Holder thereof.
(4) Certificated Note to Certificated Note. If a Certificated Note is transferred or exchanged for another Certificated Note, the Trustee will (x) cancel the Certificated Note being transferred or exchanged, (y) deliver one or more new Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange to the transferee (in the case of a transfer) or the Holder of the canceled Certificated Note (in the case of an exchange), registered in the name of such transferee or Holder, as applicable, and (z) if such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Certificated Note, deliver to the Holder thereof one or more Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an aggregate principal amount equal to the untransferred or unexchanged portion of the canceled Certificated Note, registered in the name of the Holder thereof.
Section 2.10 . Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange. (a) The transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein) may only be made in accordance with this Section and Section 2.09 and, in the case of a Global Note (or a beneficial interest therein), the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee shall refuse to register any requested transfer or exchange that does not comply with the preceding sentence.
(b) Subject to paragraph (c), the transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein) of the type set forth in column A below for a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) of the type set forth opposite in column B below may only be made in compliance with the certification requirements (if any) described in the clause of this paragraph set forth opposite in column C below.
A | B | C | ||||
U.S. Global Note | U.S. Global Note | (1 | ) | |||
U.S. Global Note | Offshore Global Note | (2 | ) | |||
U.S. Global Note | Certificated Note | (3 | ) | |||
Offshore Global Note | U.S. Global Note | (4 | ) | |||
Offshore Global Note | Offshore Global Note | (1 | ) | |||
Offshore Global Note | Certificated Note | (5 | ) | |||
Certificated Note | U.S. Global Note | (4 | ) | |||
Certificated Note | Offshore Global Note | (2 | ) | |||
Certificated Note | Certificated Note | (3 | ) |
44
(1) No certification is required.
(2) The Person requesting the transfer or exchange must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee a duly completed Regulation S Certificate; provided that if the requested transfer or exchange is made by the Holder of a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend, then no certification is required.
(3) The Person requesting the transfer or exchange must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee (x) a duly completed Rule 144A Certificate, (y) a duly completed Regulation S Certificate or (z) a duly completed Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate, and/or an Opinion of Counsel and such other certifications and evidence as the Company may reasonably require in order to determine that the proposed transfer or exchange is being made in compliance with the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States; provided that if the requested transfer or exchange is made by the Holder of a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend, then no certification is required. In the event that (i) the requested transfer or exchange takes place after the Restricted Period and a duly completed Regulation S Certificate is delivered to the Trustee or (ii) a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend is surrendered for transfer or exchange, upon transfer or exchange the Trustee will deliver a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend.
(4) The Person requesting the transfer or exchange must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee a duly completed Rule 144A Certificate.
(5) If the requested transfer or exchange occurs during the Restricted Period and involves a beneficial interest in an Offshore Global Note, the Person requesting the transfer must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee (x) a duly completed Rule 144A Certificate or (y) a duly completed Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate, and/or an Opinion of Counsel and such other certifications and evidence as the Company may reasonably require in order to determine that the proposed transfer is being made in compliance with the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. If the requested transfer or exchange involves a beneficial interest in an Offshore Global Note but does not occur during the Restricted Period, no certification is required and the Trustee will deliver a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend.
(c) No certification is required in connection with any transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein)
45
(1) after such Note is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act (or a successor provision); provided that the Company has provided the Trustee with an Officers Certificate to that effect, and the Company may require from any Person requesting a transfer or exchange in reliance upon this clause (1) an opinion of counsel and any other reasonable certifications and evidence in order to support such certificate; or
(2)(x) sold pursuant to an effective registration statement, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement or otherwise or (y) which is validly tendered for exchange into an Exchange Note pursuant to an Exchange Offer.
Any Certificated Note delivered in reliance upon this paragraph will not bear the Restricted Legend.
(d) The Trustee will retain copies of all certificates, opinions and other documents received in connection with the transfer or exchange of a Note (or a beneficial interest therein), and the Company will have the right to inspect and make copies thereof at any reasonable time upon written notice to the Trustee.
ARTICLE 3
Redemption; Offer to Purchase
Redemption; Offer to Purchase
Section 3.01. Optional Redemption. The Notes may be redeemed as set forth in Section 5 of the form of Notes.
Section 3.02. [Reserved].
Section 3.03. Method and Effect of Redemption. (a) If the Company elects to redeem Notes, it must notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed by delivering an Officers Certificate at least 10 days before the notice of redemption required pursuant to this Section 3.03(a) is sent to Holders (unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the Trustee). If fewer than all of the Notes are being redeemed, the Officers Certificate must also specify a record date not less than 15 days after the date the notice of redemption is sent to Holders, and the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or by any other method the Trustee in its sole discretion deems fair and appropriate, in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and multiples thereof. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be called for redemption. Notice of redemption must be sent by the Company or at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, to Holders whose Notes are to be redeemed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date.
46
(b) The notice of redemption will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will include or state the following:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price, including the portion thereof representing any accrued interest;
(3) the place or places where Notes are to be surrendered for redemption;
(4) Notes called for redemption must be so surrendered in order to collect the redemption price;
(5) on the redemption date the redemption price will become due and payable on Notes called for redemption, and interest on Notes called for redemption will cease to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(6) if any Note is redeemed in part, on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Note, new Notes of like terms and tenor equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion will be issued; and
(7) if any Note contains a CUSIP or CINS number, no representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP or CINS number either as printed on the Notes or as contained in the notice of redemption and that the Holder should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.
(c) Once notice of redemption is sent to the Holders, Notes called for redemption become due and payable at the redemption price on the redemption date, and upon surrender of the Notes called for redemption, the Company shall redeem such Notes at the redemption price. Commencing on the redemption date, Notes redeemed will cease to accrue interest. Upon surrender of any Note redeemed in part, the Holder will receive a new Note of like terms and tenor equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the surrendered Note.
Section 3.04. Offer to Purchase. (a) An Offer to Purchase means an offer by the Company to purchase Notes as required by this Indenture. An Offer to Purchase must be made by written offer (the offer) sent to the Holders. The Company will notify the Trustee at least 15 days (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to sending the offer to Holders of its obligation to make an Offer to Purchase, and the offer will be sent by the Company or, at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
(b) The offer must include or state the following as to the terms of the Offer to Purchase:
47
(1) the provision of this Indenture pursuant to which the Offer to Purchase is being made;
(2) the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes offered to be purchased by the Company pursuant to the Offer to Purchase (including, if less than 100%, the manner by which such amount has been determined pursuant to this Indenture) (the purchase amount);
(3) the purchase price, including the portion thereof representing accrued interest;
(4) an expiration date (the expiration date) not less than 30 days or more than 60 days after the date of the offer, and a settlement date for purchase (the purchase date) not more than five Business Days after the expiration date;
(5) a Holder may tender all or any portion of its Notes, subject to the requirement that any portion of a Note tendered must be in a multiple of $1,000 principal amount;
(6) the place or places where Notes are to be surrendered for tender pursuant to the Offer to Purchase;
(7) each Holder electing to tender a Note pursuant to the offer will be required to surrender such Note at the place or places specified in the offer prior to the close of business on the expiration date (any such Certificated Note being, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed written instrument of transfer);
(8) interest on any Note not tendered, or tendered but not purchased by the Company pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, will continue to accrue;
(9) on the purchase date the purchase price will become due and payable on each Note accepted for purchase, and interest on Notes purchased will cease to accrue on and after the purchase date;
(10) Holders are entitled to withdraw Notes tendered by giving notice, which must be received by the Company or the Trustee not later than the close of business on the expiration date, setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the tendered Notes, the certificate number of any tendered Certificated Notes and a statement that the Holder is withdrawing all or a portion of the tender;
(11) (i) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount less than or equal to the amount of such Notes being purchased pursuant to the Offer
48
to Purchase are duly tendered and not withdrawn, the Company will purchase all such Notes, and (ii) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount in excess of the amount of such Notes being purchased pursuant to the Offer to Purchase are duly tendered and not withdrawn, the Company will purchase Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the purchase amount on a pro rata basis, with adjustments so that only Notes in multiples of $1,000 principal amount will be purchased;
(12) if any Note is purchased in part, new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Note will be issued; and
(13) if any Note contains a CUSIP or CINS number, no representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP or CINS number either as printed on the Notes or as contained in the offer and that the Holder should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.
(c) Prior to the purchase date, the Company will accept tendered Notes for purchase as required by the Offer to Purchase and deliver to the Trustee all Notes so accepted together with an Officers Certificate specifying which Notes have been accepted for purchase. On the purchase date the purchase price will become due and payable on each Note accepted for purchase, and interest on Notes purchased will cease to accrue on and after the purchase date. The Trustee will promptly return to Holders any Notes not accepted for purchase and send to Holders new Notes of like terms and tenor equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes accepted for purchase in part.
(d) The Company will comply with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws in making any Offer to Purchase, and the above procedures will be deemed modified as necessary to permit such compliance.
(e) The Company will timely repay Indebtedness or obtain consents as necessary under, or terminate, any agreements or instruments that would otherwise prohibit an Offer to Purchase required to be made pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE 4
Covenants
Covenants
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes. (a) The Company agrees to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and this Indenture. Not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due date of any principal of or interest on any Notes, or any redemption or purchase price of the Notes, the Company will deposit with the Trustee (or Paying Agent) money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay such amounts,
49
provided that if the Company or any Affiliate of the Company is acting as Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date, segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders a sum of money sufficient to pay such amounts until paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as provided in this Indenture. In each case the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its compliance with this paragraph.
(b) An installment of principal or interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee (or Paying Agent, other than the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) holds by 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that date money designated for and sufficient to pay the installment. If the Company or any Affiliate of the Company acts as Paying Agent, an installment of principal or interest will be considered paid on the due date only if paid to the Holders.
(c) The Company agrees to pay interest on overdue principal, and, in certain circumstances and to the extent lawful, overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum specified in the Notes.
(d) Payments in respect of the Notes represented by the Global Notes are to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders of the Global Notes. With respect to Certificated Notes, the Company will make all payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each Holders registered address.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the continental United States, an office or agency where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as such office of the Company. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served to the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be surrendered or presented for any of such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Section 4.03. Existence. The Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and the existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with their respective
50
organizational documents, and the material rights, licenses and franchises of the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Company is not required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the existence of any Restricted Subsidiary, if the maintenance or preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and provided further that this Section does not prohibit any transaction otherwise permitted by Section 4.14 or Article 5.
Section 4.04. Payment of Obligations. The Company will pay or discharge, and cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay or discharge as the same shall become due and payable (i) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, and (ii) all material lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon the property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
Section 4.05. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance. (a) The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided that nothing in this Section prevents the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from discontinuing the use, operation or maintenance of any of such properties or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(b) The Company will maintain or cause to be maintained (at its own expense), for itself and its Restricted Subsidiaries, insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as is customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.
Section 4.06. Limitation on Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock. (a) The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, issue, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise in any manner become directly or indirectly liable for the payment of or otherwise incur, contingently or otherwise (collectively, incur), any Indebtedness (including any Acquired Debt and the issuance of Disqualified Stock), unless such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor and, in each case, the Companys Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recent four full fiscal quarters for
51
which financial statements are available immediately preceding the incurrence of such Indebtedness taken as one period is at least equal to or greater than 2.25:1.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and, to the extent specifically set forth below, the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur each and all of the following (collectively, the Permitted Debt):
(1) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor (whether as borrowers or guarantors) under one or more Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (i) not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,750,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets;
(2) Indebtedness of (i) the Company pursuant to the Notes (other than Additional Notes) and (ii) any Guarantor pursuant to a Note Guaranty of the Notes (including Additional Notes);
(3) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding on the Issue Date, and not otherwise referred to in this definition of Permitted Debt;
(4) intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:
(A) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guaranty, in the case of a Guarantor; and
(B) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof (other than pursuant to a Credit Facility) and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof, shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (4);
(5) Guarantees by the Company or any Guarantor of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Guarantors which is permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;
(6) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that represents:
52
(A) obligations pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business with respect to Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture;
(B) obligations under currency exchange contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and
(C) obligations pursuant to hedging arrangements (including, without limitation, swaps, caps, floors, collars, options and similar agreements) entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of protecting, on a net basis, against price risks, basis risks, or other risks encountered in the Oil and Gas Business;
(7) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary represented by Capital Lease Obligations (whether or not incurred pursuant to Sale Leaseback Transactions) or Purchase Money Obligations or other Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or development of real or personal, movable or immovable, property in each case incurred for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property used in the business of the Company, in an aggregate principal amount pursuant to this clause (7) (together with the aggregate principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (7)) not to exceed $100,000,000 outstanding at any time; provided that the principal amount of any Indebtedness permitted under this clause (7) did not in each case at the time of incurrence exceed the Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company in good faith, of the acquired or constructed asset or improvement so financed;
(8) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in connection with
(A) one or more standby letters of credit issued for the account of the Company or a Guarantor in the ordinary course of business and
(B) other letters of credit, surety, bid, performance, appeal or similar bonds, bankers acceptances, completion guarantees or similar instruments; provided that, in each case contemplated by this clause (8), upon the drawing of such letters of credit or other instrument, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing; provided, further, that with respect to clauses (A) and (B), such Indebtedness is not in
53
connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit;
(9) Indebtedness of Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to obligations relating to oil or gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;
(10) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising from agreements for indemnification or purchase price adjustment obligations or similar obligations, earn-outs or other similar obligations or from Guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing any obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such an agreement, in each case incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary;
(11) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, substitute, defease, refund, refinance or replace, any Indebtedness, including any Disqualified Stock, incurred pursuant to Section 4.06(a) and clause (2), (3), (7), (11) or (12) of this Section 4.06 (b);
(12) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with a transaction meeting either one of the financial tests set forth in Section 5.01(a)(3);
(13) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any obligation arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five business days of incurrence; and
(14) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in addition to that described in clauses (1) through (13) above, and any renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings or replacements of such Indebtedness, so long as the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $40,000,000 outstanding at any one time in the aggregate.
(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness permitted by this Section, the Company in its sole discretion may classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness and only be required to include the amount of such Indebtedness as one of such types (or to divide such Indebtedness between two or more of such types); provided that any Indebtedness
54
under the Senior Credit Facility which is in existence on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the application of the net proceeds from the Notes) shall be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to clause (1) of subsection (b) above rather than subsection (a) above.
(d) Indebtedness permitted by this Section need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this covenant permitting such Indebtedness.
(e) Accrual of interest, accretion of principal or liquidation preference (or similar amount) in respect of Preferred Stock or amortization of original issue discount, and the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the accretion or payment of dividends on any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof as accrued shall be included as required in the calculation of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company.
(f) For purposes of determining compliance with any dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, the dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred.
(g) If Indebtedness is secured by a letter of credit that serves only to secure such Indebtedness, then the total amount deemed incurred shall be equal to the greater of (x) the principal of such Indebtedness and (y) the amount that may be drawn under such letter of credit.
(h) The amount of Indebtedness issued at a price less than the amount of the liability thereof shall be determined in accordance with GAAP.
Section 4.07. Limitation on Restricted Payments. (a) The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
(i) pay any dividend on, or make any distribution to holders of, any shares of the Companys Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in shares of the Companys Qualified Capital Stock);
(ii) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, directly or indirectly, the Companys Capital Stock;
55
(iii) make any principal payment on, or purchase, redeem, defease, retire or otherwise acquire for value, prior to any scheduled principal payment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, except a payment on, or a purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of such Subordinated Indebtedness within one year of its final maturity;
(iv) pay any dividend or distribution on any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person (other than (A) to the Company or any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries or any Guarantor or (B) dividends or distributions made by a Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis to all holders of the Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary); or
(v) make any Investment in any Person (other than any Permitted Investments);
(any of the foregoing actions described in clauses (i) through (v) above, other than any such action that is a Permitted Payment (as defined below), collectively, Restricted Payments) (the amount of any such Restricted Payment, if other than cash, shall be the Fair Market Value of the assets proposed to be transferred, as determined by the board of directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a board resolution), unless
(A) immediately after giving effect to such proposed Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(B) immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) under Section 4.06(a); and
(C) after giving effect to the proposed Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of all such Restricted Payments declared or made after March 22, 2007 (including all Designation Amounts) does not exceed the sum of:
(1) 50% of the aggregate Consolidated Net Income of the Company accrued on a cumulative basis during the period beginning April 1, 2007 and ending on the last day of the Companys last fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of the Restricted Payment (or, if such aggregate cumulative Consolidated Net Income shall be a loss, minus 100% of such loss);
56
(2) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received after March 22, 2007 by the Company either (1) as capital contributions in the form of common equity to the Company or (2) from the issuance or sale (other than to any of its Subsidiaries) of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company (except, in each case, to the extent such proceeds are used to purchase, redeem or otherwise retire Capital Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness as set forth below in Sections 4.07(b)(2) and (b)(3)) (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);
(3) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received after March 22, 2007 by the Company (other than from any of its Subsidiaries) upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase Qualified Capital Stock of the Company (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase Qualified Capital Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);
(4) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received after March 22, 2007 by the Company from the conversion or exchange, if any, of debt securities or Disqualified Stock of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries into or for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company plus, to the extent such debt securities or Disqualified Stock were issued after March 22, 2007, the aggregate of Net Cash Proceeds from their original issuance (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the conversion or exchange of debt securities or Disqualified Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);
(5)
(a) in the case of the disposition or repayment of any Investment constituting a Restricted Payment (including any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary)
57
made after March 22, 2007, an amount (to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income) equal to the amount received with respect to such Investment, less the cost of the disposition of such Investment and net of taxes, and
(b) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (as long as the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was deemed a Restricted Payment), the Fair Market Value of the Companys interest in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and
(6) any amount which previously qualified as a Restricted Payment on account of any Guarantee entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Guarantee has not been called upon and the obligation arising under such Guarantee no longer exists.
(b) The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit the following actions (each of clauses (1) through (11) being referred to as a Permitted Payment):
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at such date of declaration such payment was permitted by the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.07, and such payment shall be deemed to have been paid on such date of declaration;
(2) the purchase, defeasance, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company in exchange for (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares or scrip), or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance and sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary) of, any Qualified Capital Stock of the Company; provided that the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of such Qualified Capital Stock shall be excluded from clause (C)(2) above;
(3) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition for value or payment of principal of any Subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or in an amount not in excess of the Net Cash Proceeds of, a substantially concurrent issuance and sale for cash (other than to any Subsidiary of the Company) of any Qualified Capital
58
Stock of the Company, provided that the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of such shares of Qualified Capital Stock shall be excluded from clause (C)(2) above;
(4) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition for value or payment of principal of any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Stock) through the substantially concurrent issuance of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(5) any purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of such Subordinated Indebtedness upon a Change of Control or an Asset Sale after the Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 4.13 or 4.14 as the case may be and repurchased all Notes tendered for purchase in connection with the Offer to Purchase;
(6) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such current or former officers, directors or employees) pursuant to the terms of agreements (including employment agreements) or plans approved by the Companys Board of Directors, including any such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of such Capital Stock that is deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or similar rights if such shares represent all or a portion of the exercise price or are surrendered in connection with satisfying Federal income tax obligations; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such purchases, redemptions, defeasances or other retirements and acquisitions pursuant to this clause (6) will not, in the aggregate, exceed $2,000,000 per fiscal year;
(7) loans made to officers, directors or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 outstanding at any one time, the proceeds of which are used solely (A) to purchase Capital Stock of the Company in connection with a restricted stock or employee stock purchase plan, or to exercise stock options received pursuant to an employee or director stock option plan or other incentive plan, in a principal amount not to exceed the exercise price of such stock options or (B) to refinance loans, together with accrued interest thereon, made pursuant to item (A) of this clause (7);
(8) payments of dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding on March 22, 2007, together with any additional Series A Preferred Stock issued after March 22, 2007 pursuant to warrants issued and outstanding on March 22, 2007, in an amount in any fiscal year not to
59
exceed the dividend rate required under the terms thereof as set forth in the Certificate of Designations with respect to such Series A Preferred Stock on March 22, 2007;
(9) payments to dissenting stockholders of the Company (A) pursuant to applicable law or (B) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of legal claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture; or
(10) payments made by any Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the stockholders of the Company in connection with or as part of (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (B) a merger of a Subsidiary of such Person into the Company; and
(11) Restricted Payments not exceeding $25,000,000 in the aggregate since March 22, 2007.
(c) Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (other than any Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to clauses (2) through (11) of Section 4.07(b)), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by the covenant were calculated.
Section 4.08. Limitation On Liens. (a) The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or incur, in order to secure any Indebtedness, any Lien of any kind, other than Permitted Liens, upon any property or assets (including any intercompany notes) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owned on the date hereof or acquired after the date hereof, or assign or convey, in order to secure any Indebtedness, any right to receive any income or profits therefrom, unless the Notes (or a Note Guaranty in the case of Liens of a Guarantor) are directly secured equally and ratably with (or, in the case of Subordinated Indebtedness, prior or senior thereto, with the same relative priority as the Notes shall have with respect to such Subordinated Indebtedness) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lien securing the Notes or a Note Guaranty granted pursuant to clause (a) above shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon:
(i) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of the property or assets secured by such Lien,
(ii) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of all of the Capital Stock held by the Company or any
60
Restricted Subsidiary in, or all or substantially all the assets of, any Restricted Subsidiary creating such Lien, or
(iii) with respect to any Lien securing a Note Guaranty, the release of such Note Guaranty in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Section 4.09. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale Leaseback Transaction; provided, that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a Sale Leaseback Transaction if:
(a) the Company or such Subsidiary could have incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness relating to such Sale Leaseback Transaction pursuant to the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.06(a);
(b) the gross cash proceeds of such Sale Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the property that is the subject of such Sale Leaseback Transaction; and
(c) the transfer of assets in such Sale Leaseback Transaction is permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in the same manner and to the same extent as Net Available Cash and Excess Proceeds from an Asset Sale in compliance with Section 4.14.
Section 4.10. Limitation on Dividend and other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries. (a) The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause to come into existence or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(i) pay dividends or make any other distribution on its Capital Stock to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary,
(ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary,
(iii) make loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary or
(iv) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
(b) However, clause (a) above will not prohibit any encumbrance or restriction created, existing or becoming effective under or by reason of:
61
(1) any agreement (including the Senior Credit Facility) in effect on the Issue Date;
(2) any agreement or instrument with respect to a Person that was not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company on the Issue Date, in existence at the time such Person becomes (or became) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such encumbrances and restrictions are not applicable to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or the properties or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such Subsidiary which is becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) any agreement or instrument governing any Acquired Debt or other agreement of any Person or related to assets acquired by or merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries, so long as such encumbrance or restriction (A) was not entered into in contemplation of the acquisition, merger or consolidation transaction, and (B) is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets or subsidiaries of the Person, so acquired, so long as the agreement containing such restriction does not violate any other provision of this Indenture;
(4) any applicable law or any requirement of any regulatory body;
(5) the security documents evidencing any Liens securing obligations or Indebtedness that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens; provided that such Liens are permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.08;
(6) provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or restrictions in licenses relating to the property covered thereby, or other encumbrances or restrictions in agreements or instruments relating to specific assets or property that restrict generally the transfers of such assets or property, provided, however, that such encumbrances or restrictions do not materially impact the ability of the Company to make payments on the Notes when due as required by the terms of this Indenture;
(7) asset sale agreements with respect to asset sales permitted to be made under the provisions of Section 4.14 that limit the transfer of such assets pending the closing of such sale;
62
(8) shareholders, partnership, joint venture and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such encumbrances or restrictions do not apply to any Restricted Subsidiaries other than the applicable company, partnership, joint venture or other entity; and provided, further, however, that such encumbrances and restrictions do not materially impact the ability of the Company to make payments on the Notes when due as required by the terms of this Indenture;
(9) cash or other deposits, or net worth requirements or similar requirements, imposed by suppliers or landlords under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(10) any other Credit Facility governing debt of the Company or any Guarantor, permitted to be incurred by Section 4.06; provided, however, that such encumbrances or restrictions are not (in the view of the Board of Directors of the Company as expressed in a board resolution thereof) materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the Senior Credit Facility;
(11) customary restrictions on the disposition or distribution of assets or property in agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business of the types described in the definition of Permitted Business Investments; and
(12) this Indenture, or any agreement, amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing that extends, renews, refinances or replaces the agreements containing the encumbrances or restrictions in the foregoing clauses (1) through (11), or in this clause (12); provided that the terms and conditions of any such encumbrances or restrictions are no more restrictive in any material respect taken as a whole than those under or pursuant to the agreement so extended, renewed, refinanced or replaced.
Section 4.11. [Reserved.]
Section 4.12. Guaranties by Restricted Subsidiaries. (a) Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary (excluding (i) any Foreign Subsidiary and (ii) any Immaterial Subsidiary) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, then such new Restricted Subsidiary will provide a Note Guaranty within 20 days after its formation or acquisition.
(b) A Restricted Subsidiary required to provide a Note Guaranty shall execute a Supplemental Indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee in accordance with Article 11 of this Indenture.
63
Section 4.13. Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control. (a) Not later than 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company will make an Offer to Purchase all outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued interest to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).
(b) The Company will not be required to make an Offer to Purchase pursuant to Section 4.13(a) if a third party makes an Offer to Purchase in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.13(a) and Section 3.04 applicable to an Offer to Purchase made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to such Offer to Purchase.
Section 4.14. Limitation on Asset Sales. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets and property subject to such Asset Sale and (ii) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration paid to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents, Liquid Securities, Exchanged Properties (including pursuant to asset swaps), the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company (other than liabilities of the Company that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) or liabilities of any Guarantor that made such Asset Sale (other than liabilities of a Guarantor that are by their terms subordinated to such Guarantors Guarantee), in each case as a result of which the Company and its remaining Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such liabilities, or, solely in the case of any Asset Sale of Midstream Assets, Permitted MLP Securities.
(b) The Net Available Cash from Asset Sales by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may be applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects (or is required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), to
(1) repay any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries other than Subordinated Indebtedness; or
(2) reinvest in Additional Assets (including by means of an Investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available Cash received by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) or make capital expenditures in the Oil and Gas Business.
64
(c) Excess Proceeds of less than $20,000,000 will be carried forward and accumulated. When accumulated Excess Proceeds equals or exceeds $20,000,000, the Company must, within 7 Business Days, make an Offer to Purchase Notes having a principal amount equal to
(1) accumulated Excess Proceeds, multiplied by
(2) a fraction (x) the numerator of which is equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and (y) the denominator of which is equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and all Pari Passu Indebtedness similarly required to be repaid, redeemed or tendered for in connection with the Asset Sale, rounded down to the nearest $1,000.
Any Offer to Purchase Notes pursuant to this Section 4.14(c) shall be made ratably to the Holders of the Notes on the basis of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. The purchase price for the Notes will be 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). Upon completion of the Offer to Purchase, Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.
Section 4.15. Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates.
The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of assets, property or services) with or for the benefit of any Affiliate of the Company (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) unless such transaction or series of related transactions is entered into in good faith and in writing and
(1) such transaction or series of related transactions is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would be available in a comparable transaction in arms-length dealings with a party who is not an Affiliate of the Company,
(2) with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate value in excess of $10,000,000,
(i) the Company delivers an Officers Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such transaction or series of related transactions complies with clause (1) above, and
(ii) such transaction or series of related transactions has been approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Board of
65
Directors of the Company, or in the event there is only one Disinterested Director, by such Disinterested Director, or
(3) with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate value in excess of $30,000,000, the Company delivers to the Trustee a written opinion of an investment banking firm of national standing or other recognized independent expert with experience appraising the terms and conditions of the type of transaction or series of related transactions for which an opinion is required stating that the transaction or series of related transactions is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view;
provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to:
(1) employee benefit arrangements with any officer or director of the Company, including under any employment agreement, stock option or stock incentive plans, and customary indemnification arrangements with officers or directors of the Company, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business,
(2) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to directors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Company or any Affiliate,
(3) any Permitted Investments, Restricted Payments or Permitted Payments made in compliance with Section 4.07,
(4) sales of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to Affiliates of the Company,
(5) in the case of contracts for purchase of drilling equipment or sale of oil field service supplies or natural gas or other operational contracts, any such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and third parties, or if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, that the terms are no less favorable than those available from third parties on an arms-length basis, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company,
(6) any customary agreements with stockholders of the Company providing for preemptive, voting, tag-along and similar rights to certain stockholders of the Company, provided that such agreements are approved in advance by a majority of the Disinterested Directors, and
(7) any transactions undertaken pursuant to any contracts in existence on the Issue Date (as in effect on such date) and any renewals, replacements or modifications of such contracts (pursuant to new transactions or otherwise) on
66
terms no less favorable to the Holders of the Notes than those in effect on the Issue Date.
Section 4.16. Line of Business. Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will directly or indirectly engage in any line or lines of business activity other than that which is an Oil and Gas Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 4.17. [Reserved.]
Section 4.18. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may designate after the Issue Date any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (a Designation) only if:
(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such Designation;
(2)
(A) the Company would be permitted to make an Investment at the time of Designation (assuming the effectiveness of such Designation) pursuant to Section 4.07 in an amount (the Designation Amount) equal to the greater of (1) the net book value of the Companys interest in such Subsidiary calculated in accordance with GAAP or (2) the Fair Market Value of the Companys interest in such Subsidiary, or
(B) the Designation Amount is less than $1,000;
(3) such Unrestricted Subsidiary does not own any Capital Stock in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which is not simultaneously being designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(4) such Unrestricted Subsidiary is not liable, directly or indirectly, with respect to any Indebtedness other than Unrestricted Subsidiary Indebtedness, provided that an Unrestricted Subsidiary may provide a Note Guaranty; and
(5) such Unrestricted Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding at such time with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company or, in the event such condition is not satisfied, the value of such agreement, contract,
67
arrangement or understanding to such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed a Restricted Payment.
In the event of any such Designation, the Company shall be deemed, for all purposes of this Indenture, to have made an Investment equal to the Designation Amount that constitutes a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 4.07.
(b) The Company shall not and shall not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to at any time
(1) provide credit support for, Guarantee or subject any of its property or assets (other than the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the satisfaction of, any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness), provided, however, that the provisions of this clause (b)(1) shall not be deemed to prevent Permitted Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries that are otherwise allowed under this Indenture, or
(2) be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
(c) For purposes of the foregoing, the Designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the Designation of all of the Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(d) The Company may revoke any Designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (a Revocation) if:
(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of and after giving effect to such Revocation;
(2) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such Revocation would, if incurred at such time, have been permitted to be incurred for all purposes of this Indenture; and
(3) unless such redesignated Subsidiary shall not have any Indebtedness outstanding (other than Indebtedness that would be Permitted Debt), immediately after giving effect to such proposed Revocation, and after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness of such redesignated Subsidiary as if such Indebtedness was incurred on the date of the Revocation, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) pursuant to Section 4.06.
68
(e) All Designations and Revocations must be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee certifying compliance with the foregoing provisions of this covenant.
Section 4.19. [Reserved.]
Section 4.20. Financial Reports. (a) Whether or not the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company must provide the Trustee and Noteholders within the time periods specified in those sections with
(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms, including a Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and, with respect to annual information only, a report thereon by the Companys certified independent accountants, and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.
(b) Whether or not required by the SEC, the Company will, if the SEC will accept the filing, file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.20(a) with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and regulations, and any such information and reports so filed with the SEC shall be deemed to have been provided to Holders pursuant to Section 4.20(a). The Company will make the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.20(a) available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request, to the extent such information and reports have not been filed with the SEC.
(c) If the Company had any Unrestricted Subsidiaries during the relevant period, the Company will provide to the Trustee and the Noteholders information sufficient to ascertain the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, excluding in all respects the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such information has not been filed with the SEC.
(d) For so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding and constitute restricted securities under Rule 144, the Company will furnish to the Holders of the Notes and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
(e) All obligors on the Notes will comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
69
(f) Delivery of these reports and information to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustees receipt of them will not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Companys compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers Certificates).
Section 4.21. Reports to Trustee. (a) The Company will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year a certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company stating that the officer has conducted or supervised a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their performance under this Indenture and that, based upon such review, the Company has fulfilled its obligations hereunder or, if there has been a Default, specifying the Default and its nature and status.
(b) The Company will deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware or should reasonably become aware of the occurrence of a Default, an Officers Certificate setting forth the details of the Default, and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
(c) The Company will notify the Trustee when any Notes are listed on any national securities exchange and of any delisting.
ARTICLE 5
Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets
Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets
Section 5.01. Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by the Company. (a) The Company will not, in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or group of Persons, or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or series of transactions, if such transaction or series of transactions, in the aggregate, would result in a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis to any other Person or group of Persons (other than the Company or a Guarantor), unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:
(1) either (A) the Company will be the continuing corporation or (B) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis (the Surviving Entity)
70
will be a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership (provided that in the event the Surviving Entity is a limited partnership, then a Subsidiary of the Surviving Entity that is a corporation or limited liability company shall execute a supplement to this Indenture pursuant to which it shall become a co-obligor of the Surviving Entitys obligations under this Indenture and the Notes) duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and the Surviving Entity expressly assumes, by executing a supplement to this Indenture, all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness not previously an obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which becomes the obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been incurred at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing;
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (on the assumption that the transaction occurred on the first day of the four-quarter period for which financial statements are available ending immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction with the appropriate adjustments with respect to the transaction being included in such pro forma calculation), the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture) (A) could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) under the provisions of Section 4.06 or (B) would have a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio not less than the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;
(4) unless the Company is the continuing obligor under this Indenture, at the time of the transaction, each Guarantor, if any, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, will have confirmed, by executing a supplement to this Indenture, that its Note Guaranty shall apply to the Surviving Entitys obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;
(5) at the time of the transaction, if any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would thereupon become subject to any Lien, the provisions of Section 4.08 are complied with; and
(6) at the time of the transaction, the Company or the Surviving Entity will have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Trustee, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger, transfer, sale, assignment,
71
conveyance, transfer, lease or other transaction and any supplement to this Indenture executed and delivered in connection therewith comply with the terms of this Indenture.
(b) In the event of any transaction (other than a lease) described in and complying with the conditions listed in Section 5.01(a) in which the Company is not the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, and the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Company in another jurisdiction to realize tax or other benefits.
Section 5.02. Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by a Guarantor. (a) Each Guarantor will not, and the Company will not permit a Guarantor to, in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, (x) consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person (other than the Company or any other Guarantor) or (y) sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or group of Persons (other than the Company or any other Guarantor) or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or series of transactions if such transaction or series of transactions, in the aggregate, in the case of clause (y) would result in a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis to any other Person or group of Persons (other than the Company or any Guarantor), unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:
(1) either (A) the Guarantor or the Company will be the continuing Person in the case of a merger involving the Guarantor or (B) the Person (if other than the Guarantor) formed by such consolidation or into which the Guarantor is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis (the Surviving Guarantor Entity) expressly assumes, by executing a supplement to this Indenture, all the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guaranty;
(2) immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and
(3) at the time of the transaction such Guarantor or the Surviving Guarantor Entity will have delivered, or caused to be delivered,
72
to the Trustee, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger, transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, lease or other transaction and any supplement to this Indenture executed and delivered in connection therewith comply with this Indenture;
provided, however, that this Section 5.02(a) shall not apply to any Guarantor whose Note Guaranty is terminated in accordance with Section 11.09 of this Indenture.
(b) In the event of any transaction (other than a lease) described in and complying with the conditions listed in Section 5.02(a) in which the Guarantor is not the Surviving Guarantor Entity, the Surviving Guarantor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Guarantor under this Indenture, and such Guarantor shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Note Guaranty.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may merge with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Guarantor in another jurisdiction to realize tax or other benefits.
ARTICLE 6
Default and Remedies
Default and Remedies
Section 6.01. Events of Default. An Event of Default occurs if
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Note when the same becomes due and payable at Stated Maturity, upon acceleration or redemption, or otherwise (other than pursuant to an Offer to Purchase);
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, and the default continues for a period of 30 days;
(3) the Company fails to make an Offer to Purchase and thereafter accept and pay for Notes tendered when and as required pursuant to Section 4.13 or Section 4.14, or the Company or any Guarantor fails to comply with Article 5;
(4) the Company defaults in the performance of or breaches any other covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or under the Notes and the default or breach continues for a period of 60 consecutive days after written notice (or 180 consecutive days after written notice in the case of a Default pursuant to Section 4.20) to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes;
73
(5) there occurs with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Significant Subsidiary having an outstanding principal amount of $50,000,000 or more in the aggregate for all such Indebtedness of all such Persons (i) an event of default that results in such Indebtedness (including any scheduled installment of principal with respect to such Indebtedness) being due and payable prior to its Stated Maturity or (ii) failure to make a principal, premium (if any) or interest payment when due and such defaulted payment is not made, waived or extended within the applicable grace period, the result of which is to give the holder of such Indebtedness the right to accelerate such Indebtedness;
(6) one or more judgments, orders or decrees of any court or regulatory or administrative agency for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000 (determined net of any amounts covered by insurance policies by insurers believed by the Company in good faith to be credit-worthy), either individually or in the aggregate, shall be rendered against the Company, any Guarantor or any other Significant Subsidiary or any of their respective properties and shall not be discharged and either (i) any creditor shall have commenced an enforcement proceeding upon such judgment, order or decree or (ii) there shall have been a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of an appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect;
(7) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law with respect to it, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding;
(8) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due; or
(9) any Note Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect, other than in accordance the terms of this Indenture, or a Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guaranty.
Section 6.02. Acceleration. (a) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the
74
Company (and to the Trustee if the notice is given by the Holders), may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes to be immediately due and payable. Upon a declaration of acceleration, such principal and interest will become immediately due and payable;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Company under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes then outstanding will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
(b) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee may waive all past defaults and rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration and its consequences if
(1) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived, and
(2) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue, in its own name or as trustee of an express trust, any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture. The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.02, 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, by notice to the Trustee, waive an existing Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, the Default will cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed to have been cured, but no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that
75
may involve the Trustee in personal liability, or that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of Notes not joining in the giving of such direction, and may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders of Notes.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits. A Holder may not institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Notes, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under this Indenture or the Notes, unless:
(1) the Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;
(2) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of the Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under this Indenture;
(3) Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liabilities or expenses to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of security or indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(5) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such written request.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the right of a Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of or interest on its Note on or after the Stated Maturities thereof, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, may not be impaired or affected without the consent of that Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default in payment of principal or interest specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust for the whole amount of principal and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate specified in the Notes, and such further amount as is sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder.
76
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relating to the Company or any Guarantor or their respective creditors or property, and is entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money, securities or other property payable or deliverable upon conversion or exchange of the Notes or upon any such claims. Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder. Nothing in this Indenture will be deemed to empower the Trustee to authorize or consent to, or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder, any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee for all amounts due to it hereunder;
Second: to Holders for amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Notes, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest; and
Third: to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
The Trustee, upon written notice to the Company, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section.
Section 6.11. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted a proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and the proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to the Holder, then, subject to any determination in the proceeding, the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders will be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders will continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
77
Section 6.12. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit (other than the Trustee) to file an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, against any party litigant (other than the Trustee) in the suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by a Holder to enforce payment of principal of or interest on any Note on the respective due dates, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.
Section 6.13. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy conferred or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders under this Indenture is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and all such rights and remedies are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or exercise of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or exercise of any other right or remedy.
Section 6.14. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default will impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.15. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws. The Company and each Guarantor covenants, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company or the Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of, or interest on, the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture. The Company and each Guarantor hereby expressly waives, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
78
ARTICLE 7
The Trustee
The Trustee
Section 7.01. General. (a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee are as provided by the Trust Indenture Act and as set forth herein. Whether or not expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee is subject to this Article.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise those rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct.
Section 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to Trust Indenture Act Sections 315(a) through (d):
(1) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may rely, and will be protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but, in the case of any document which is specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof, the Trustee shall examine the document to determine whether it conforms to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein). The Trustee, in its discretion, may make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it sees fit.
(2) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel conforming to Section 12.05 and the Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the certificate or opinion.
79
(3) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(4) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(5) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers or for any action it takes or omits to take in accordance with the direction of the Holders in accordance with Section 6.05 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.
(6) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(7) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of its rights or powers, unless it is offered reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(b) and 311. For purposes of Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b)(4) and (6):
(a) cash transaction means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and
(b) self-liquidating paper means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is
80
secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.
Section 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee (i) makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, (ii) is not accountable for the Companys use or application of the proceeds from the Notes and (iii) is not responsible for any statement in the Notes other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05. Notice of Default. If any Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will send notice of the Default to each Holder within 90 days after it occurs, unless the Default has been cured; provided that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders. Notice to Holders under this Section will be given in the manner and to the extent provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after each May 15, beginning with May 15, 2009, the Trustee will mail to each Holder, as provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such May 15, if required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a), and file such reports with each stock exchange upon which its Notes are listed and with the SEC as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d).
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. (a) The Company will pay the Trustee compensation as agreed upon in writing for its services. The compensation of the Trustee is not limited by any law on compensation of a Trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustees agents and counsel.
(b) The Company will indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless against, any loss or liability or expense incurred by it without negligence or bad faith on its part arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture and its duties under this Indenture and the Notes, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability and of complying with any process served upon it or any of its officers in
81
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture and the Notes.
(c) To secure the Companys payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except money or property held in trust to pay principal of, and interest on, particular Notes.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. (a) (1) The Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to the Company.
(2) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by written notice to the Trustee.
(3) If the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10 or in the circumstances described in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b), any Holder that satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b) may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(4) The Company may remove the Trustee if: (i) the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10; (ii) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent; (iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustees acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
(b) If the Trustee has been removed by the Holders, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes may appoint a successor Trustee with the consent of the Company. Otherwise, if the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. If the successor Trustee does not deliver its written acceptance within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(c) Upon delivery by the successor Trustee of a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company, (i) the retiring Trustee will transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07, (ii) the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and (iii) the successor Trustee will have all the
82
rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. Upon request of any successor Trustee, the Company will execute any and all instruments for fully and vesting in and confirming to the successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts. The Company will give notice of any resignation and any removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders, and include in the notice the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
(d) Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Companys obligations under Section 7.07 will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
(e) The Trustee agrees to give the notices provided for in, and otherwise comply with, Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or national banking association without any further act will be the successor Trustee with the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee in this Indenture.
Section 7.10. Eligibility. This Indenture must always have a Trustee that satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(a) and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
Section 7.11. Money Held in Trust. The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as it may agree with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and except for money held in trust under Article 8.
ARTICLE 8
Defeasance and Discharge
Defeasance and Discharge
Section 8.01. Discharge of Companys Obligations. (a) Subject to paragraph (b), the Companys obligations under the Notes and this Indenture, and each Guarantors obligations under its Note Guaranty, will terminate if:
(1) all Notes previously authenticated and delivered (other than (i) destroyed, lost or stolen Notes that have been replaced or (ii) Notes that are paid pursuant to Section 4.01 or (iii) Notes for whose payment money or U.S. Government Obligations have been held in trust and then repaid to the Company pursuant to Section 8.05) have been delivered to the Trustee
83
for cancellation and the Company has paid all sums payable by it hereunder; or
(2) (A) the Notes mature within sixty days, or all of them are to be called for redemption within sixty days under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for giving the notice of redemption,
(B) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders, money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certificate delivered to the Trustee, without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes to final Stated Maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder, and
(C) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
(b) After satisfying the conditions in clause (1), only the Companys obligations under Section 7.07 will survive. After satisfying the conditions in clause (2), only the Companys obligations in Article 2 and Sections 4.02, 7.07, 7.08, 8.05 and 8.06 will survive. In either case, the Trustee upon request will acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Companys obligations under the Notes and this Indenture other than the surviving obligations.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance. After the 91st day following the deposit referred to in clause (1) of this Section 8.02, the Company will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from its obligations in respect of the Notes and this Indenture, other than its obligations in Article 2 and Sections 4.02, 7.07, 7.08, 8.05 and 8.06, and each Guarantors obligations under its Note Guaranty will terminate, provided the following conditions have been satisfied:
(1) The Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders, money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certificate thereof delivered to the Trustee, without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes to final Stated Maturity or redemption, as the case may be, provided that any redemption before maturity has been irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee.
84
(2) No Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or occurs at any time during the 91-day period following the deposit (other than a Default relating to the borrowing of funds to make such deposit).
(3) The deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(4) The Company has delivered to the Trustee either (x) a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would otherwise have been the case or (y) an Opinion of Counsel, based on a change in law after the date of this Indenture, to the same effect as the ruling described in clause (x).
(5) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance have been complied with.
Prior to the end of the 91-day period, none of the Companys obligations under this Indenture will be discharged. Thereafter, the Trustee upon request will acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Companys obligations under the Notes and this Indenture except for the surviving obligations specified above.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance. After the 91st day following the deposit referred to in clause (1) of this Section 8.03, the Companys obligations set forth in Sections 4.06 through 4.18 inclusive, clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 4.20, and clauses (3) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), and each Guarantors obligations under its Note Guaranty, will terminate, and clauses (3), (4), (5), (6) and (9) of Section 6.01 will no longer constitute Events of Default, provided the following conditions have been satisfied:
(1) The Company has complied with clauses (1), (2), (3) and (5) of Section 8.02; and
(2) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would otherwise have been the case.
85
Except as specifically stated above, none of the Companys obligations under this Indenture, or any Guarantors obligations under its Note Guaranty, will be discharged.
Section 8.04 . Application of Trust Money. Subject to Section 8.05, the Trustee will hold in trust the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03, and apply the deposited money and the proceeds from deposited U.S. Government Obligations to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with the Notes and this Indenture. Such money and U.S. Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 8.05 . Repayment to Company. Subject to Sections 7.07, 8.01, 8.02 and 8.03, the Trustee will promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess money held by the Trustee at any time and thereupon be relieved from all liability with respect to such money. The Trustee will pay to the Company upon request any money held for payment with respect to the Notes that remains unclaimed for two years, provided that, if any Certificated Note is then outstanding, before making such payment the Trustee may at the expense of the Company publish once in a newspaper of general circulation in New York City, or send to each Holder entitled to such money, notice that the money remains unclaimed and that after a date specified in the notice (at least 30 days after the date of the publication or notice) any remaining unclaimed balance of money will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to such money must look solely to the Company for payment, unless applicable law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee with respect to such money will cease.
Section 8.06 . Reinstatement. If and for so long as the Trustee is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations held in trust pursuant to Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Companys obligations under this Indenture and the Notes will be reinstated as though no such deposit in trust had been made. If the Company makes any payment of principal of or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, it will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held in trust.
ARTICLE 9
Amendments, Supplements and Waivers
Amendments, Supplements and Waivers
Section 9.01 . Amendments Without Consent of Holders. The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend, modify or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without notice to or the consent of any Noteholder
86
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in this Indenture or the Notes;
(2) to comply with Article 5;
(3) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(4) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee;
(5) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;
(6) to provide for any Guarantee of the Notes, to secure the Notes or to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Guarantee of or Lien securing the Notes when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by this Indenture;
(7) to provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes;
(8) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the Description of the Notes section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in such Description of the Notes section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture or the Notes; or
(9) to make any other change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder.
Section 9.02 . Amendments With Consent of Holders. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.02, 6.04 and 6.07 or paragraph (b), the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend, modify or supplement this Indenture and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, and the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may waive future compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver may not
87
(1) reduce the principal amount of or change the Stated Maturity of any installment of principal of any Note,
(2) reduce the rate of or change the Stated Maturity of any interest payment on any Note,
(3) reduce the amount payable upon the optional redemption of any Note or change the times at which any Note may be redeemed or, once notice of redemption has been given, the time at which it must thereupon be redeemed,
(4) after the time an Offer to Purchase is required to have been made, reduce the purchase amount or purchase price, or extend the latest expiration date or purchase date thereunder,
(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note,
(6) impair the right of any Holder of Notes to receive any principal payment or interest payment on such Holders Notes, on or after the Stated Maturity thereof, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment,
(7) make any change in the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes required for amendments or waivers,
(8) modify or change any provision of this Indenture affecting the ranking of the Notes or any Note Guaranty in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes or
(9) make any change in any Note Guaranty that would adversely affect the Noteholders.
(c) It is not necessary for Noteholders to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, modification, supplement or waiver, but is sufficient if their consent approves the substance thereof.
(d) An amendment, modification, supplement or waiver under this Section will become effective on receipt by the Trustee of consents from the Holders of the requisite percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. After an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, modification, supplement or waiver. The Company will send copies of any documents pursuant to which any such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver has been effected to Holders upon request. Any failure of the Company to send such notice or copies, or any
88
defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.03 . Effect of Consent. (a) After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it will bind every Holder unless it is of the type requiring the consent of each Holder affected. If the amendment, supplement or waiver is of the type requiring the consent of each Holder affected, the amendment, supplement or waiver will bind each Holder that has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note that evidences the same debt as the Note of the consenting Holder.
(b) If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder to deliver it to the Trustee so that the Trustee may place an appropriate notation of the changed terms on the Note and return it to the Holder, or exchange it for a new Note that reflects the changed terms. The Trustee may also place an appropriate notation on any Note thereafter authenticated. However, the effectiveness of the amendment, supplement or waiver is not affected by any failure to annotate or exchange Notes in this fashion.
Section 9.04 . Trustees Rights and Obligations. The Trustee is entitled to receive, and will be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. If the Trustee has received such an Opinion of Counsel, it shall sign the amendment, supplement or waiver so long as the same does not adversely affect the rights of the Trustee. The Trustee may, but is not obligated to, execute any amendment, supplement or waiver that affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture.
Section 9.05 . Conformity With Trust Indenture Act. Every supplement to this Indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 9.06 . Payments for Consents. Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or agreed to be paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend or modify such term or provision within the time period set forth in the solicitation documents relating to the consent, waiver, amendment or modification.
89
ARTICLE 10
Reserved
Reserved
ARTICLE 11
Guaranties
Guaranties
Section 11.01 . The Guaranties. Subject to the provisions of this Article, each Guarantor hereby fully and unconditionally Guarantees, jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis, the full and punctual payment (whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, purchase pursuant to an Offer to Purchase or acceleration, or otherwise) of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all other amounts payable under, each Note, and the full and punctual payment of all other amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture. Upon failure by the Company to pay punctually any such amount, each Guarantor shall forthwith on demand pay the amount not so paid at the place and in the manner specified in this Indenture.
Section 11.02 . Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by
(1) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in respect of any obligation of the Company under this Indenture or any Note, by operation of law or otherwise;
(2) any modification or amendment of or supplement to this Indenture or any Note;
(3) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Company, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Company or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of the Company contained in this Indenture or any Note;
(4) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights which the Guarantor may have at any time against the Company, the Trustee or any other Person, whether in connection with this Indenture or any unrelated transactions, provided that nothing herein prevents the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;
(5) any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against the Company for any reason of this Indenture or any Note, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by the
90
Company of the principal of or interest on any Note or any other amount payable by the Company under this Indenture; or
(6) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by the Company, the Trustee or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of or defense to such Guarantors obligations hereunder, other than payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture.
Section 11.03 . Discharge; Reinstatement. Subject to Section 11.09, each Guarantors obligations hereunder will remain in full force and effect until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture have been paid in full. If at any time any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note or any other amount payable by the Company under this Indenture is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, each Guarantors obligations hereunder with respect to such payment will be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time.
Section 11.04 . Waiver by the Guarantors. Each Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against the Company or any other Person.
Section 11.05 . Subrogation and Contribution. Upon making any payment with respect to any obligation of the Company under this Article, the Guarantor making such payment will be subrogated to the rights of the payee against the Company with respect to such obligation, provided that the Guarantor may not enforce either any right of subrogation, or any right to receive payment in the nature of contribution, or otherwise, from any other Guarantor, with respect to such payment so long as any amount payable by the Company hereunder or under the Notes remains unpaid.
Section 11.06 . Stay of Acceleration. If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by the Company under this Indenture or the Notes is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of this Indenture are nonetheless payable by the Guarantors hereunder forthwith on demand by the Trustee or the Holders.
Section 11.07 . Limitation on Amount of Guaranty. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that
91
the Note Guaranty of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable fraudulent conveyance provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of state law. To effectuate that intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guaranty are limited to the maximum amount that would not render the Guarantors obligations subject to avoidance under applicable fraudulent conveyance provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of state law.
Section 11.08 . Execution and Delivery of Guaranty. The execution by each Guarantor of this Indenture (or a Supplemental Indenture) evidences the Note Guaranty of such Guarantor, whether or not the person signing as an officer of the Guarantor still holds that office at the time of authentication of any Note. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee after authentication constitutes due delivery of the Note Guaranty set forth in this Indenture on behalf of each Guarantor.
Section 11.09 . Release of Note Guaranty. The Note Guaranty of a Guarantor will terminate upon
(1) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of consolidation or merger) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition is permitted by this Indenture,
(2) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of that Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition is permitted by this Indenture,
(3) if the Note Guaranty was required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the cessation of the circumstances requiring the Note Guaranty,
(4) the designation in accordance with this Indenture of the Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or
(5) defeasance or discharge of the Notes, as provided in Article 8.
Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the foregoing effect, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of the Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guaranty.
92
ARTICLE 12
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Section 12.01 . Trust Indenture Act of 1939. This Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 12.02 . Noteholder Communications; Noteholder Actions. (a) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to this Indenture or the Notes are as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 312(a) and 312(b). Neither the Company nor the Trustee will be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) (1) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent to amendment, supplement or waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a Holder (an act) may be evidenced by an instrument signed by the Holder delivered to the Trustee. The fact and date of the execution of the instrument, or the authority of the person executing it, may be proved in any manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
(2) The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders, which will be binding on all the Holders.
(c) Any act by the Holder of any Note binds that Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note that evidences the same debt as the Note of the acting Holder, even if no notation thereof appears on the Note. Subject to paragraph (d), a Holder may revoke an act as to its Notes, but only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver or other consequence of the act becomes effective.
(d) The Company may, but is not obligated to, fix a record date (which need not be within the time limits otherwise prescribed by Trust Indenture Act Section 316(c)) for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to act with respect to any amendment or waiver or in any other regard, except that during the continuance of an Event of Default, only the Trustee may set a record date as to notices of default, any declaration or acceleration or any other remedies or other consequences of the Event of Default. If a record date is fixed, those Persons that were Holders at such record date and only those Persons will be entitled to act, or to revoke any previous act, whether or not those Persons continue to be Holders after the record date. No act will be valid or effective for more than 90 days after the record date.
93
Section 12.03 . Notices. (a) Any notice or communication to the Company will be deemed given if in writing in the English language (i) when delivered in person or (ii) five days after mailing when mailed by first class mail, or (iii) when sent by facsimile transmission, with transmission confirmed. Notices or communications to a Guarantor will be deemed given if given to the Company. Any notice to the Trustee will be effective only upon receipt. In each case the notice or communication should be addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
SandRidge Energy, Inc.
1601 Northwest Expressway, Suite 1600
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (405)  ###-###-####
1601 Northwest Expressway, Suite 1600
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (405)  ###-###-####
if to the Trustee:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided with respect to published notices, any notice or communication to a Holder will be deemed given when mailed to the Holder at its address as it appears on the Register by first class mail or, as to any Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, as agreed by the Company, the Trustee and DTC. Copies of any notice or communication to a Holder, if given by the Company, will be mailed to the Trustee at the same time. Defect in mailing a notice or communication to any particular Holder will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
(c) Where this Indenture provides for notice, the notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and the waiver will be the equivalent of the notice. Waivers of notice by Holders must be filed with the Trustee, but such filing is not a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waivers.
Section 12.04 . Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company will furnish to the Trustee:
94
(1) an Officers Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 12.05 . Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture must include:
(1) a statement that each person signing the certificate or opinion has read the covenant or condition and the related definitions;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement or opinion contained in the certificate or opinion is based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such person, that person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable the person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with, provided that an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers Certificate or certificates of public officials with respect to matters of fact.
Section 12.06 . Payment Date Other Than a Business Day. If any payment with respect to a payment of any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note (including any payment to be made on any date fixed for redemption or purchase of any Note) is due on a day which is not a Business Day, then the payment need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such date, and no interest will accrue for the intervening period.
Section 12.07 . Governing Law. This Indenture, including any Note Guaranties, and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Section 12.08 . No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture or loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and no such indenture or loan or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Indenture.
95
Section 12.09 . Successors. All agreements of the Company or any Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successor.
Section 12.10 . Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 12.11 . Separability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 12.12 . Table of Contents and Headings. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and in no way modify or restrict any of the terms and provisions of this Indenture.
Section 12.13 . No Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members and Stockholders. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the Notes, any Note Guaranty or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
96
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. as Issuer | ||||
By: | /s/ Dirk M. Van Doren | |||
Name: | Dirk M. Van Doren | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee | ||||
By: | /s/ Patrick T. Giordano | |||
Name: | Patrick T. Giordano | |||
Title: | Vice President |
Guarantors | ||||||||||
SANDRIDGE ONSHORE, LLC LARIAT SERVICES, INC. SANDRIDGE OPERATING COMPANY INTEGRA ENERGY, L.L.C. SANDRIDGE EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, LLC, SANDRIDGE TERTIARY, LLC, SANDRIDGE MIDSTREAM, INC, SANDRIDGE OFFSHORE, LLC, and SANDRIDGE HOLDINGS, INC., as Guarantors | ||||||||||
By: | /s/ Dirk M. Van Doren | |||||||||
Name: | Dirk M. Van Doren | |||||||||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT A
[FACE OF NOTE]
SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
8% Senior Note Due 2018
[CUSIP] [CINS]
No. | $ |
SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company, which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to , or its registered assigns, the principal sum of DOLLARS ($ ) or such other amount as indicated on the Schedule of Exchange of Notes attached hereto on June 1, 2018.
Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2008.
Regular Record Dates: May 15 and November 15.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
A-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.
Date: | SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. | |||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
A-2
(Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication)
This is one of the 8% Senior Notes Due 2018 described in the Indenture referred to in this Note.
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||
By: | ||||
Authorized Signatory | ||||
A-3
[REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
8% Senior Note Due 2018
1. Principal.
The Company promises to pay the principal of this Note on June 1, 2018.
2. Interest.
Interest on this Note will be payable, at the rate of 8% per annum, semiannually to the holders of record of the Notes at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) on each Interest Payment Date, commencing December 1, 2008, even if such Note is canceled after such Regular Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date.
Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on this Note or, if this is an Exchange Note, the Note surrendered in exchange for this Note (or, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest and if this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date and the next Interest Payment Date, from such Interest Payment Date) or, if no interest has been paid, from (x) the date this Note was issued or (y) if this Note is an Initial Note (or an Exchange Note issued in exchange therefor), from May 20, 2008. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
The Company will, to the extent lawful, pay interest on overdue principal (without regard to any applicable grace periods) at a rate per annum of 8%. Interest not paid when due and any interest on principal, premium or interest not paid when due will be paid to the Persons that are Holders on a special record date, which will be the 15th day preceding the date fixed by the Company for the payment of such interest, whether or not such day is a Business Day. At least 15 days before a special record date, the Company will send to each Holder and to the Trustee a notice that sets forth the special record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid.
3. Registration Rights Agreement.1
The Holder of this Note is entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 20, 2008, by and among the Company, the
1 | Include only for Initial Notes. |
A-4
Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (the Registration Rights Agreement). In certain circumstances specified in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall pay liquidated damages in the form of Additional Interest.
4. Indentures; Note Guaranty.
This is one of the Notes issued under an Indenture dated as of May 20, 2008 (as amended from time to time, the Indenture), among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture will control.
The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture limits the initial aggregate principal amount of the Notes to $750,000,000, but Additional Notes may be issued pursuant to the Indenture, and the originally issued Notes and all such Additional Notes will vote together for all purposes as a single class. This Note is guarantied as set forth in the Indenture.
5. Optional Redemption; Redemption with Proceeds of Equity Offering.
(a) At any time and from time to time on or after June 1, 2013, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders on relevant record dates to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the years indicated below:
Year | Redemption Price | |||
2013 | 104.000 | % | ||
2014 | 102.667 | % | ||
2015 | 101.333 | % | ||
2016 and thereafter | 100.000 | % |
* | Not to be included for Exchange Notes. |
(b) In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to June 1, 2011, the Company may use the net proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to an aggregate of 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under
A-5
the Indenture (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture) at a redemption price equal to 108.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders on relevant record dates to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date); provided that this redemption provision shall not be applicable with respect to any transaction that results in a Change of Control. At least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture) must remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption. In order to effect this redemption, the Company must mail a notice of redemption no later than 60 days after the closing of the related Equity Offering and must complete such redemption within 90 days of the closing of the Equity Offering.
(c) Prior to May 15, 2013, the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest if any, to, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). Notice of such redemption must be mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each Holder, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date.
6. Redemption and Repurchase; Discharge Prior to Redemption or Maturity.
This Note is subject to optional redemption, and may be the subject of an Offer to Purchase, as further described in the Indenture. There is no sinking fund or mandatory redemption applicable to this Note.
If the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay the then outstanding principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes to final Stated Maturity or redemption, the Company may in certain circumstances be discharged from the Indenture and the Notes or may be discharged from certain of its obligations under certain provisions of the Indenture.
7. Registered Form; Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. Pursuant to the Indenture, there are certain periods during which the Trustee will not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note or certain portions of a Note.
A-6
8. Defaults and Remedies.
If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable. If a bankruptcy or insolvency default with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the Notes automatically become due and payable. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of remedies.
9. Amendment and Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended, or default may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency.
10. Authentication.
This Note is not valid until the Trustee (or Authenticating Agent) signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
11. Governing Law.
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
12. Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM
(= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A/ (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
(= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A/ (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
The Company will furnish a copy of the Indenture to any Holder upon written request and without charge.
A-7
[FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE]
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned registered holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
Insert Taxpayer Identification No.
Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing
attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
A-8
THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL CERTIFICATES BEARING A RESTRICTED LEGEND
In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to , the undersigned confirms that such transfer is made without utilizing any general solicitation or general advertising and further as follows:
Check One
o (1) This Note is being transferred to a qualified institutional buyer in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and certification in the form of Exhibit F to the Indenture is being furnished herewith.
or
o (2) This Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Regulation S thereunder, and certification in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture is being furnished herewith.
or
o (3) This Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (1) or (2) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.
If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee is not obligated to register this Note in the name of any Person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in the Indenture have been satisfied.
Date: | ||||||||||
Seller | ||||||||||
By | ||||||||||
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within-mentioned instrument in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever. |
A-9
Signature Guarantee:5 | ||||||
By | ||||||
To be executed by an executive officer |
5 | Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program (STAMP) or such other signature guarantee program as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
A-10
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you wish to have all of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.13 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, check here:
If you wish to have a portion of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.13 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount (in original principal amount) below:
$ .
Date:
Your Signature:
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
Signature Guarantee:1
1 | Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution meeting the requirements of the Trustee, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program (STAMP) or such other signature guarantee program as may be determined by the Trustee in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
A-11
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES1
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for Certificated Notes or a part of another Global Note have been made:
Principal amount of | ||||||||
this Global Note | ||||||||
Amount of decrease | Amount of increase | following such | Signature of | |||||
in principal amount | in principal amount | decrease (or | authorized officer of | |||||
Date of Exchange | of this Global Note | of this Global Note | increase) | Trustee | ||||
1 | For Global Notes |
A-12
EXHIBIT B
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
dated as of ,
among
SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.,
The Guarantor(s) Party Hereto
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
as Trustee
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2018
THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture), entered into as of ___, ___, among SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), [insert each Guarantor executing this Supplemental Indenture and its jurisdiction of organization] (each an Undersigned) and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the Trustee).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee entered into the Indenture, dated as of May 20, 2008 (the Indenture), relating to the Companys Senior Notes Due 2018 (the Notes);
WHEREAS, as a condition to the Trustee entering into the Indenture and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders, the Company agreed pursuant to the Indenture to cause any newly acquired or created Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Subsidiaries and Immaterial Subsidiaries) to provide Guaranties.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound, the parties to this Supplemental Indenture hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are used as defined in the Indenture.
Section 2. Each Undersigned, by its execution of this Supplemental Indenture, agrees to be a Guarantor under the Indenture and to be bound by the terms of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors, including, but not limited to, Article 11 thereof, subject to any limitations therein.
Section 3. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 4. This Supplemental Indenture may be signed in various counterparts which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 5. This Supplemental Indenture is an amendment supplemental to the Indenture and the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture will henceforth be read together.
B-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., as Issuer | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[GUARANTOR] | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
B-2
EXHIBIT C
RESTRICTED LEGEND
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER
(1) REPRESENTS THAT
(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT,
(B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR) OR
(C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND
(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY
(A) TO THE COMPANY,
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
C-1
(E) IN A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000, TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE, OR
(F) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.
PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) OR (F) ABOVE, THE COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.
C-2
EXHIBIT D
DTC LEGEND
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (DTC), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE ARE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSORS NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE ARE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRANSFER PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE.
D-1
EXHIBIT E
Regulation S Certificate
_________, ____
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
Re: | SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. Senior Notes Due 2018 (the Notes) Issued under the Indenture (the Indenture) dated as as of May 20, 2008 relating to the Notes |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Terms are used in this Certificate as used in Regulation S (Regulation S) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), except as otherwise stated herein.
[CHECK A OR B AS APPLICABLE.]
o A. | This Certificate relates to our proposed transfer of $___ principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture. We hereby certify as follows: |
1. | The offer and sale of the Notes was not and will not be made to a person in the United States (unless such person is excluded from the definition of U.S. person pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(vi) or the account held by it for which it is acting is excluded from the definition of U.S. person pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(i) under the circumstances described in Rule 902(h)(3)) and such offer and sale was not and will not be specifically targeted at an identifiable group of U.S. citizens abroad. | ||
2. | Unless the circumstances described in the parenthetical in paragraph 1 above are applicable, either (a) at the time the buy order was originated, the buyer was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the buyer was outside the United States or (b) |
E-1
the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market, and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction was pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States. | |||
3. | Neither we, any of our affiliates, nor any person acting on our or their behalf has made any directed selling efforts in the United States with respect to the Notes. | ||
4. | The proposed transfer of Notes is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act. | ||
5. | If we are a dealer or a person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration in respect of the Notes, and the proposed transfer takes place during the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture), or we are an officer or director of the Company (as defined in the Indenture), we certify that the proposed transfer is being made in accordance with the provisions of Rule 904(b) of Regulation S. |
o B. | This Certificate relates to our proposed exchange of $___ principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture for an equal principal amount of Notes to be held by us. We hereby certify as follows: |
1. | At the time the offer and sale of the Notes was made to us, either (i) we were not in the United States or (ii) we were excluded from the definition of U.S. person pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(vi) or the account held by us for which we were acting was excluded from the definition of U.S. person pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(i) under the circumstances described in Rule 902(h)(3); and we were not a member of an identifiable group of U.S. citizens abroad. | ||
2. | Unless the circumstances described in paragraph 1(ii) above are applicable, either (a) at the time our buy order was originated, we were outside the United States or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and we did not pre-arrange the transaction in the United States. | ||
3. | The proposed exchange of Notes is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act. |
E-2
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
Very truly yours, [NAME OF SELLER (FOR TRANSFERS) OR OWNER (FOR EXCHANGES)] | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Address: | ||||
Date: _________________
E-3
EXHIBIT F
Rule 144A Certificate
___, ___
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
Re: | SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. Senior Notes Due 2018 (the Notes) Issued under the Indenture (the Indenture) dated as as of May 20, 2008 relating to the Notes |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Certificate relates to:
[CHECK A OR B AS APPLICABLE.]
o A. | Our proposed purchase of $___ principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture. | ||
o B. | Our proposed exchange of $___ principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture for an equal principal amount of Notes to be held by us. |
We and, if applicable, each account for which we are acting in the aggregate owned and invested more than $100,000,000 in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with us (or such accounts, if applicable), as of ___, 200_, which is a date on or since close of our most recent fiscal year. We and, if applicable, each account for which we are acting, are a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A (Rule 144A) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). If we are acting on behalf of an account, we exercise sole investment discretion with respect to such account. We are aware that the transfer of Notes to us, or such exchange, as applicable, is being made in reliance upon the exemption from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A. Prior to the date of this Certificate we have received such information regarding the Company as we have requested pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) or have determined not to request such information.
F-1
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
Very truly yours, [NAME OF PURCHASER (FOR TRANSFERS) OR OWNER (FOR EXCHANGES)] | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Address: | ||||
Date: _________________
EXHIBIT G
Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
201 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-5489
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (817)  ###-###-####
Re: | SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. Senior Notes Due 2018 (the Notes) Issued under the Indenture (the Indenture) dated as as of May 20, 2008 relating to the Notes |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Certificate relates to:
[CHECK A OR B AS APPLICABLE.]
o A. | Our proposed purchase of $___ principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture. | ||
o B. | Our proposed exchange of $___ principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture for an equal principal amount of Notes to be held by us. |
We hereby confirm that:
1. | We are an institutional accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) (an Institutional Accredited Investor). | ||
2. | Any acquisition of Notes by us will be for our own account or for the account of one or more other Institutional Accredited Investors as to which we exercise sole investment discretion. | ||
3. | We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that we are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an |
investment in the Notes and we and any accounts for which we are acting are able to bear the economic risks of and an entire loss of our or their investment in the Notes. | |||
4. | We are not acquiring the Notes with a view to any distribution thereof in a transaction that would violate the Securities Act or the securities laws of any State of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction; provided that the disposition of our property and the property of any accounts for which we are acting as fiduciary will remain at all times within our and their control. | ||
5. | We acknowledge that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and that the Notes may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the benefit of U.S. persons except as set forth below. | ||
6. | The principal amount of Notes to which this Certificate relates is at least equal to $100,000. |
We agree for the benefit of the Company, on our own behalf and on behalf of each account for which we are acting, that such Notes may be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States and only (a) to the Company, (b) pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the Securities Act, (c) to a qualified institutional buyer in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (d) in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) in a principal amount of not less than $100,000, to an Institutional Accredited Investor that, prior to such transfer, delivers to the Trustee a duly completed and signed certificate (in the same form as this certificate) relating to the restrictions on transfer of the Notes or (f) pursuant to an exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Prior to the registration of any transfer in accordance with (c) or (d) above, we acknowledge that a duly completed and signed certificate (the form of which may be obtained from the Trustee) must be delivered to the Trustee. Prior to the registration of any transfer in accordance with (e) or (f) above, we acknowledge that the Company reserves the right to require the delivery of such legal opinions, certifications or other evidence as may reasonably be required in order to determine that the proposed transfer is being made in compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We acknowledge that no representation is made as to the availability of any Rule 144 exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
We understand that the Trustee will not be required to accept for registration of transfer any Notes acquired by us, except upon presentation of
G-2
evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee that the foregoing restrictions on transfer have been complied with. We further understand that the Notes acquired by us will be in the form of definitive physical certificates and that such certificates will bear a legend reflecting the substance of the preceding paragraph. We further agree to provide to any person acquiring any of the Notes from us a notice advising such person that resales of the Notes are restricted as stated herein and that certificates representing the Notes will bear a legend to that effect.
We agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our acknowledgments, representations or agreements herein ceases to be accurate and complete.
We represent to you that we have full power to make the foregoing acknowledgments, representations and agreements on our own behalf and on behalf of any account for which we are acting.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
Very truly yours, [NAME OF PURCHASER (FOR TRANSFERS) OR OWNER (FOR EXCHANGES)] | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Address: | ||||
Date: _________________
G-3
Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:
By: | ||||
Date: | ||||
Taxpayer ID number: | ||||
G-4