Exhibit
4.1
CREDIT
AGREEMENT
by
and among
STORM
CAT ENERGY (USA)
CORPORATION
as
Borrower,
THE
LENDERS THAT ARE SIGNATORIES
HERETO
as
the Lenders,
and
WELLS
FARGO FOOTHILL,
LLC
as
Agent
Dated
as of December 27,
2007
CREDIT
AGREEMENT
THIS
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”), is entered into as of December 27, 2007, by and among the
lenders identified on the signature pages hereof (such lenders, together
with
their respective successors and permitted assigns, are referred to
hereinafter
each individually as a “Lender” and collectively as the “Lenders”), WELLS FARGO
FOOTHILL, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, as administrative agent for the
Lenders (in
such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity,
“Agent”), and STORM CAT ENERGY (USA) CORPORATION, a Colorado corporation
(“Borrower”).
The
parties agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
AND
CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions. Capitalized
terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified therefor
on
Schedule 1.1.
1.2 Accounting
Terms. All
accounting
terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance
with
GAAP. When used herein, the term “financial statements” shall include
the notes and schedules thereto. Whenever the term “Borrower” is used
in respect of a financial covenant or a related definition, it shall
be
understood to mean Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis, unless
the context clearly requires otherwise.
1.3 Code. Any
terms used in
this Agreement that are defined in the Code shall be construed and
defined as
set forth in the Code unless otherwise defined herein; provided, however,
that
to the extent that the Code is used to define any term herein and such
term is
defined differently in different Articles of the Code, the definition
of such
term contained in Article 9 of the Code shall govern.
1.4 Construction. Unless
the
context of this Agreement or any other Loan Document clearly requires
otherwise,
references to the plural include the singular, references to the singular
include the plural, the terms “includes” and “including” are not
limiting, and the term “or” has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive
meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.” The words “hereof,”
“herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and similar terms in this Agreement or any
other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document,
as the
case may be, as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement or
such other Loan Document, as the case may be. Section, subsection,
clause, schedule, and exhibit references herein are to this Agreement
unless
otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement or in any other
Loan Document to any agreement, instrument, or document shall include
all
alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals,
replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements, thereto and
thereof, as
applicable (subject to any restrictions on such alterations, amendments,
changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions,
joinders, and supplements set forth herein). Any reference herein or
in any other Loan Document to the satisfaction or repayment in full
of the
Obligations shall mean the repayment in full in cash (or, in the case
of Letters
of Credit or Bank Products, the cash collateralization or support by
a standby
letter of credit in accordance with the terms hereof) of all Obligations
other
than unasserted contingent indemnification Obligations and other than
any Bank
Product Obligations that, at such time, are allowed by the applicable
Bank
Product Provider to remain outstanding and that are not required by
the
provisions of this Agreement to be repaid or cash collateralized. Any
reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s
successors and assigns. Any requirement of a writing contained herein
or in any other Loan Document shall be satisfied by the transmission
of a Record
and any Record so transmitted shall constitute a representation and
warranty as
to the accuracy and completeness of the information contained
therein.
1.5 Schedules
and
Exhibits. All
of the
schedules and exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed incorporated
herein by reference.
2. LOAN
AND TERMS OF
PAYMENT.
2.1 Revolver
Advances.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and during the term
of this
Agreement, each Lender with a Revolver Commitment agrees (severally,
not jointly
or jointly and severally) to make advances (“Advances”) to Borrower in an amount
at any one time outstanding not to exceed such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of an
amount equal to the lesser of
(i) the Maximum
Revolver Amount less the Letter
of Credit
Usage at such time less
the sum of (x) the Bank Product Reserve and (y) the aggregate amount
of
reserves, if any, established by Agent under Section 2.1(b), and (ii)
the
Borrowing Base at such time less the Letter
of Credit
Usage at such time, it being understood that, pursuant to Section 2.1(c)
below,
the initial borrowing amount in respect of Revolver Usage shall be
Twenty-Five
Million Dollars ($25,000,000).
(b) Anything
to the contrary in this Section 2.1 notwithstanding, Agent shall have
the right
to establish reserves against the then-existing Borrowing Base or the
Maximum
Revolver Amount in such amounts, and with respect to such matters,
as Agent in
its Permitted Discretion shall determine to be necessary or appropriate,
including reserves with respect to (i) sums that Borrower or its Subsidiaries
are required to pay under any Section of this Agreement or any other
Loan
Document (such as taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the
case of
leased assets, rents or other amounts payable under such leases) and
has failed
to pay, and (ii) amounts owing by Borrower or its Subsidiaries to any
Person to
the extent secured by a Lien on, or trust over, any of the Collateral
(including
proceeds thereof or collections from the sale of Hydrocarbons which
may from
time to time come into the possession of Lenders or their agent(s))
(other than
a Permitted Lien), which Lien or trust, in the Permitted Discretion
of Agent
likely would have a priority superior to Agent’s Liens (such as Liens or trusts
in favor of landlords, warehousemen, carriers, mechanics, materialmen,
laborers,
or suppliers, or Liens or trusts for ad valorem, excise,
sales, or
other taxes where given priority under applicable law) in and to such
item of
the Collateral.
(c) For
the
period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the first
Redetermination Date, the amount of the Borrowing Base shall be Twenty-Five
Million Dollars ($25,000,000), subject
to adjustment
as provided in Section
2.1(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowing Base may
be subject to further adjustments from time to time pursuant to Section
5.21(d)
or clause (g) of the definition of “Permitted Dispositions.”
(d) The
Borrowing Base shall be redetermined semi-annually in accordance with
this
Section 2.1 (each, a “Scheduled Redetermination”), and subject to
Section 2.1(e)(iii)(A), such redetermined Borrowing Base shall become
effective and applicable to Borrower, Agent, the Issuing Lenders and
the Lenders
on April 3 and October 3 of each year, commencing April 3, 2008. In
addition, Borrower may, by notifying Agent thereof, and Agent may,
at the
direction of the Required Lenders, by notifying Borrower thereof, one
time
during any 12-month period, each elect to cause the Borrowing Base
to be
redetermined between Scheduled Redeterminations (an “Interim Redetermination”)
in accordance with this Section 2.1.
(e)
(i) Each
Scheduled Redetermination and each Interim Redetermination shall be
effectuated
as follows: Upon receipt by Agent of (A) the Reserve Report and the
certificate required to be delivered by Borrower to Agent, in the case
of a
Scheduled Redetermination, pursuant to Sections 5.20(a) and (c), and, in
the case of an Interim Redetermination, pursuant to Sections 5.20(b) and
(c), and (B) such other reports, data and supplemental information,
as may, from
time to time, be reasonably requested by Agent or any Lender (the Reserve
Report, such certificate and such other reports, data and supplemental
information being the “Engineering Reports”), Agent shall evaluate the
information contained in the Engineering Reports and shall, in good
faith,
propose a new Borrowing Base (the “Proposed Borrowing Base”), based upon the
Reserve Reports and such other information (including, without limitation,
the
status of title information with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties
as
described in the Engineering Reports and the existence of any other
Indebtedness
other than the Convertible Subordinated Notes) as Agent deems appropriate
in its
Permitted Discretion. In no event shall the Proposed Borrowing Base
exceed the
Maximum Revolver Amount.
(ii) Agent
shall notify Borrower and the Lenders of the Proposed Borrowing Base
(the
“Proposed Borrowing Base Notice”):
(A) in
the
case of a Scheduled Redetermination (a) if Agent shall have received
the
Engineering Reports required to be delivered by Borrower pursuant to
Sections
5.20(a) and (c) in a timely and complete manner, then on or before
March 22 and
September 22 of such year following the date of delivery or (b) if
Agent shall
not have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered
by Borrower
pursuant to Sections 5.20(a) and (c) in a timely and complete manner,
then
promptly after Agent has received complete Engineering Reports from
Borrower and
has had a reasonable opportunity to determine the Proposed Borrowing
Base in
accordance with Section 2.1(e)(i); provided, that if
such
Engineering Reports are not delivered as required pursuant to Sections
5.20(a)
and (c), until the next Scheduled Redetermination, Agent shall determine
the
Borrowing Base in its sole discretion, subject to the provisions of
Section
2.1(e)(iii); and
(B) in
the
case of an Interim Redetermination, promptly, and in any event, within
thirty
(30) days after Agent has received the required Engineering Reports
from
Borrower.
(iii) Any
Proposed Borrowing Base that would increase the Borrowing Base then
in effect
must be approved or deemed to have been approved by all of the Lenders
as
provided in this Section 2.1(e)(iii) and any Proposed Borrowing Base that
would maintain or decrease the Borrowing Base then in then in effect
must be
approved or deemed to have been approved by the Required Lenders as
provided in
this Section 2.1(e)(iii). Upon receipt of the Proposed Borrowing
Base Notice, each Lender shall have ten (10) days to agree with the
Proposed
Borrowing Base or disagree with the Proposed Borrowing Base by proposing
an
alternate Borrowing Base. If at the end of such ten (10) days, any
Lender has not communicated its approval or disapproval in writing
to Agent,
such silence shall be deemed to be an approval of the Proposed Borrowing
Base. If, at the end of such ten (10)-day period, all of the Lenders,
in the case of a Proposed Borrowing Base that would increase the Borrowing
Base
then in effect, or the Required Lenders, in the case of a Proposed
Borrowing
Base that would decrease or maintain the Borrowing Base then in effect,
have
approved or deemed to have approved, as aforesaid, then the Proposed
Borrowing
Base shall become the new Borrowing Base and made available to Borrower,
effective on the date specified in Section 2.1(e)(iii)(A). If,
however, at the end of such ten (10)-day period, all of the Lenders
or the
Required Lenders, as applicable, have not approved or deemed to have
approved,
as aforesaid, then Agent shall poll the Lenders to ascertain the highest
Borrowing Base then acceptable to all of the Lenders or the Required
Lenders
and, so long as such amount does not increase the Borrowing Base then
in effect,
such amount shall become the new Borrowing Base, effective on the date
specified
in Section 2.1(e)(iii)(A).
(A) After
a
redetermined Borrowing Base is approved or is deemed to have been approved
by
all of the Lenders or the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(e)(iii),
Agent shall notify Borrower and the Lenders of the amount of the redetermined
Borrowing Base (the “New Borrowing Base Notice”), and such amount shall become
the new Borrowing Base, effective and applicable to Borrower, Agent,
the Issuing
Lenders and the Lenders.
(iv) Within
three (3) Business Days after receipt from Agent of the New Borrowing
Base
Notice, Borrower shall have the right to request that the Required
Lenders
reduce the Borrowing Base until the next Scheduled Redetermination
Date or
Interim Redetermination Date occurs by giving written notification
to Agent
(which shall promptly notify the Lenders); and with the consent of
the Required
Lenders the Borrowing Base will be the amount set forth in such notice
until the
next Scheduled Redetermination Date or Interim Redetermination Date
(subject to
adjustment under Section 5.21(d) or clause (g) of the definition of
“Permitted
Dispositions”).
(f) Amounts
borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.1 may be repaid and, subject to
the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, reborrowed at any time during the
term of this
Agreement. The outstanding principal amount of the Advances, together
with interest accrued and unpaid thereon, shall be due and payable
on the
Maturity Date or, if earlier, on the date on which they are declared
due and
payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
2.2 Term
Loan. Subject
to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date each Lender
with a
Term Loan Commitment agrees (severally, not jointly or jointly and
severally) to
make term loans (collectively, the “Term Loan”) to Borrower in an amount equal
to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Term Loan Amount. The
principal of the Term Loan shall be repaid annually in accordance with
Section
2.4(c)(iii)(D), with the outstanding unpaid principal balance and all
accrued
and unpaid interest on the Term Loan becoming due and payable on the
earliest of
(i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date of the acceleration of the Term
Loan in
accordance with the terms hereof, and (iii) the date of termination
of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(d). All principal of, interest on,
and other amounts payable in respect of the Term Loan shall constitute
Obligations. Term Loan amounts borrowed and repaid hereunder may not
be
reborrowed.
2.3 Borrowing
Procedures and
Settlements.
(a) Procedure
for
Borrowing. Each Borrowing shall be made by an irrevocable
written request by an Authorized Person delivered to Agent. Unless
Swing Lender is obligated to make a Swing Loan pursuant to Section
2.3(b) below,
such notice must be received by Agent no later than 10:00 a.m. (Georgia
time) on
the Business Day prior to the date that is the requested Funding Date
specifying
(i) the amount of such Borrowing, and (ii) the requested Funding Date,
which
shall be a Business Day; provided, however, that if Swing Lender elects
to make
a Swing Loan as to a requested Borrowing, such notice must be received
by Agent
no later than 10:00 a.m. (Georgia time) on the date that is the requested
Funding Date. At Agent’s election, in lieu of delivering the
above-described written request, any Authorized Person may give Agent
telephonic
notice of such request by the required time. In such circumstances,
Borrower agrees that any such telephonic notice will be confirmed in
writing
within 24 hours of the giving of such telephonic notice, but the failure
to
provide such written confirmation shall not affect the validity of
the
request.
(b) Making
of Swing
Loans. In the case of a request for an Advance and so long as
either (i) the aggregate amount of Swing Loans made since the last
Settlement
Date, minus the amount of Collections or payments applied to Swing
Loans since
the last Settlement Date, plus the amount of the requested Advance
does not
exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), or (ii) Swing Lender, in
its sole
discretion, shall agree to make a Swing Loan notwithstanding the foregoing
limitation, Swing Lender shall make an Advance in the amount of such
Borrowing
(any such Advance made solely by Swing Lender pursuant to this Section
2.3(b)
being referred to as a “Swing Loan” and such Advances being referred to
collectively as “Swing Loans”) available to Borrower on the Funding Date
applicable thereto by transferring immediately available funds to Borrower’s
Designated Account. Each Swing Loan shall be deemed to be an Advance
hereunder and shall be subject to all the terms and conditions applicable
to
other Advances, except that all payments on any Swing Loan shall be
payable to
Swing Lender solely for its own account. Subject to the provisions of
Section 2.3(d)(ii), Swing Lender shall not make and shall not be obligated
to
make any Swing Loan if Swing Lender has actual knowledge that (i) one
or more of
the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 will not
be satisfied
on the requested Funding Date for the applicable Borrowing, or (ii)
the
requested Borrowing would exceed the Availability on such Funding
Date. Swing Lender shall not otherwise be required to determine
whether the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3
have been
satisfied on the Funding Date applicable thereto prior to making any
Swing
Loan. The Swing Loans shall be secured by Agent’s Liens, constitute
Obligations hereunder, and bear interest at the rate applicable from
time to
time to Advances that are Base Rate Loans.
(c) Making
of Loans.
(i) In
the
event that Swing Lender is not obligated to make a Swing Loan and does
not elect
to make a Swing Loan it is not obligated to make, then promptly after
receipt of
a request for a Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.3(a), Agent shall notify
the
Lenders, not later than 1:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the Business Day
immediately
preceding the Funding Date applicable thereto, by telecopy, telephone,
or other
similar form of transmission, of the requested Borrowing. Each Lender
shall make the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the requested Borrowing
available to Agent in immediately available funds, to Agent’s Account, not later
than 1:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the Funding Date applicable
thereto. After Agent’s receipt of the proceeds of such Advances,
Agent shall make the proceeds thereof available to Borrower on the
applicable
Funding Date by transferring immediately available funds equal to such
proceeds
received by Agent to the Designated Account; provided, however, that,
subject to
the provisions of Section 2.3(d)(ii), Agent shall not request any Lender
to
make, and no Lender shall have the obligation to make, any Advance
if Agent
shall have actual knowledge that (1) one or more of the applicable
conditions
precedent set forth in Section 3 will not be satisfied on the requested
Funding
Date for the applicable Borrowing unless such condition has been waived,
or (2)
the requested Borrowing would exceed the Availability on such Funding
Date.
(ii) Unless
Agent receives notice from a Lender prior to 9:00 a.m. (Georgia time)
on the
date of a Borrowing, that such Lender will not make available as and
when
required hereunder to Agent for the account of Borrower the amount
of that
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Borrowing, Agent may assume that each Lender
has
made or will make such amount available to Agent in immediately available
funds
on the Funding Date and Agent may (but shall not be so required), in
reliance
upon such assumption, make available to Borrower on such date a corresponding
amount. If and to the extent any Lender shall not have made its full
amount available to Agent in immediately available funds and Agent
in such
circumstances has made available to Borrower such amount, that Lender
shall on
the Business Day following such Funding Date make such amount available
to
Agent, together with interest at the Defaulting Lender Rate for each
day during
such period. A notice submitted by Agent to any Lender with respect
to amounts owing under this subsection shall be conclusive, absent
manifest
error. If such amount is so made available, such payment to Agent
shall constitute such Lender’s Advance on the date of Borrowing for all purposes
of this Agreement. If such amount is not made available to Agent on
the Business Day following the Funding Date, Agent will notify Borrower
of such
failure to fund and, upon demand by Agent, Borrower shall pay such
amount to
Agent for Agent’s account, together with interest thereon for each day elapsed
since the date of such Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal to the
interest rate
applicable at the time to the Advances composing such Borrowing. The
failure of any Lender to make any Advance on any Funding Date shall
not relieve
any other Lender of any obligation hereunder to make an Advance on
such Funding
Date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Lender to
make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on any Funding
Date.
(iii) Agent
shall not be obligated to transfer to a Defaulting Lender any payments
made by
Borrower to Agent for the Defaulting Lender’s benefit, and, in the absence of
such transfer to the Defaulting Lender, Agent shall transfer any such
payments
to each other non-Defaulting Lender member of the Lender Group ratably
in
accordance with their Commitments (but only to the extent that such
Defaulting
Lender’s Advance was funded by the other members of the Lender Group) or,
if so
directed by Borrower and if no Default or Event of Default had occurred
and is
continuing (and to the extent such Defaulting Lender’s Advance was not funded by
the Lender Group), retain same to be re-advanced to Borrower as if
such
Defaulting Lender had made Advances to Borrower. Subject to the
foregoing, Agent may hold and, in its Permitted Discretion, re-lend
to Borrower
for the account of such Defaulting Lender the amount of all such payments
received and retained by Agent for the account of such Defaulting
Lender. Solely for the purposes of voting or consenting to matters
with respect to the Loan Documents, such Defaulting Lender shall be
deemed not
to be a “Lender” and such Lender’s Commitment shall be deemed to be
zero. This Section shall remain effective with respect to such Lender
until (x) the Obligations under this Agreement shall have been declared
or shall
have become immediately due and payable, (y) the non-Defaulting Lenders,
Agent,
and Borrower shall have waived such Defaulting Lender’s default in writing, or
(z) the Defaulting Lender makes its Pro Rata Share of the applicable
Advance and
pays to Agent all amounts owing by Defaulting Lender in respect
thereof. The operation of this Section shall not be construed to
increase or otherwise affect the Commitment of any Lender, to relieve
or excuse
the performance by such Defaulting Lender or any other Lender of its
duties and
obligations hereunder, or to relieve or excuse the performance by Borrower
of
its duties and obligations hereunder to Agent or to the Lenders other
than such
Defaulting Lender. Any such failure to fund by any Defaulting Lender
shall constitute a material breach by such Defaulting Lender of this
Agreement
and shall entitle Borrower at its option, upon written notice to Agent,
to
arrange for a substitute Lender to assume the Commitment of such Defaulting
Lender, such substitute Lender to be acceptable to Agent. In
connection with the arrangement of such a substitute Lender, the Defaulting
Lender shall have no right to refuse to be replaced hereunder, and
agrees to
execute and deliver a completed form of Assignment and Acceptance in
favor of
the substitute Lender (and agrees that it shall be deemed to have executed
and
delivered such document if it fails to do so) subject only to being
repaid its
share of the outstanding Obligations (other than Bank Product Obligations,
but
including an assumption of its Pro Rata Share of the Risk Participation
Liability) without any premium or penalty of any kind whatsoever; provided,
however, that any such assumption of the Commitment of such Defaulting
Lender
shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of any of the Lender Groups’ or
Borrower’s rights or remedies against any such Defaulting Lender arising out
of
or in relation to such failure to fund.
(d) Protective
Advances and Optional
Overadvances.
(i) Agent
hereby is authorized by Borrower and the Lenders, from time to time
in Agent’s
sole discretion, (A) after the occurrence and during the continuance
of a
Default or an Event of Default, or (B) at any time that any of the
other
applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 are not satisfied,
to
make Advances to Borrower on behalf of the Lenders that Agent, in its
Permitted
Discretion deems necessary or desirable (1) to preserve or protect
the
Collateral, or any portion thereof, (2) to enhance the likelihood of
repayment
of the Obligations (other than the Bank Product Obligations), or (3)
to pay any
other amount due and payable by Borrower pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, including, without duplication, Lender Group Expenses (when
due and
payable in accordance with Section 17.10) and the costs, fees, and
expenses
described in Section 9 (any of the Advances described in this Section
2.3(d)(i)
shall be referred to as “Protective Advances”).
(ii) Any
contrary provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Lenders hereby
authorize Agent or Swing Lender, as applicable, and either Agent or
Swing
Lender, as applicable, may, but is not obligated to, knowingly and
intentionally, continue to make Advances (including Swing Loans) to
Borrower
notwithstanding that an Overadvance exists or thereby would be created,
so long
as (A) after giving effect to such Advances, the outstanding Revolver
Usage does
not exceed the Borrowing Base by more than Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000),
and (B) after giving effect to such Advances, the outstanding Revolver
Usage
(except for and excluding amounts charged to the Loan Account for interest,
fees, or Lender Group Expenses) does not exceed the Maximum Revolver
Amount. In the event Agent obtains actual knowledge that the Revolver
Usage exceeds the amounts permitted by the immediately foregoing provisions,
regardless of the amount of, or reason for, such excess, Agent shall
notify the
Lenders as soon as practicable (and prior to making any (or any additional)
intentional Overadvances (except for and excluding amounts charged
to the Loan
Account for interest, fees, or Lender Group Expenses) unless Agent
determines
that prior notice would result in imminent harm to the Collateral or
its value),
and the Lenders with Revolver Commitments thereupon shall, together
with Agent,
jointly determine the terms of arrangements that shall be implemented
with
Borrower intended to reduce, within a reasonable time, the outstanding
principal
amount of the Advances to Borrower to an amount permitted by the preceding
sentence. In such circumstances, if any Lender with a Revolver
Commitment objects to the proposed terms of reduction or repayment
of any
Overadvance, the terms of reduction or repayment thereof shall be implemented
according to the determination of the Required Lenders. Each Lender
with a Revolver Commitment shall be obligated to settle with Agent
as provided
in Section 2.3(e) for the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any
unintentional Overadvances by Agent reported to such Lender, any intentional
Overadvances made as permitted under this Section 2.3(d)(ii), and any
Overadvances resulting from the charging to the Loan Account of interest,
fees,
or Lender Group Expenses.
(iii) Each
Protective Advance and each Overadvance shall be deemed to be an Advance
hereunder, except that no Protective Advance or Overadvance shall be
eligible to
be a LIBOR Rate Loan and, prior to Settlement therefor, all payments
on the
Protective Advances shall be payable to Agent solely for its own
account. The Protective Advances and Overadvances shall be repayable
on demand, secured by Agent’s Liens, constitute Obligations hereunder, and bear
interest at the rate applicable from time to time to Advances that
are Base Rate
Loans. The provisions of this Section 2.3(d) are for the exclusive
benefit of Agent, Swing Lender, and the Lenders and are not intended
to benefit
Borrower in any way.
(e) Settlement. It
is
agreed that each Lender’s funded portion of the Advances is intended by the
Lenders to equal, at all times, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding
Advances. Such agreement notwithstanding, Agent, Swing Lender, and
the other Lenders agree (which agreement shall not be for the benefit
of
Borrower) that in order to facilitate the administration of this Agreement
and
the other Loan Documents, settlement among the Lenders as to the Advances,
the
Swing Loans, and the Protective Advances shall take place on a periodic
basis in
accordance with the following provisions:
(i) Agent
shall request settlement (“Settlement”) with the Lenders on a weekly basis, or
on a more frequent basis if so determined by Agent (1) on behalf of
Swing
Lender, with respect to the outstanding Swing Loans, (2) for itself,
with
respect to the outstanding Protective Advances, and (3) with respect
to
Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Collections or payments received, as to each by
notifying the Lenders by telecopy, telephone, or other similar form
of
transmission, of such requested Settlement, no later than 2:00 p.m.
(Georgia
time) on the Business Day immediately prior to the date of such requested
Settlement (the date of such requested Settlement being the “Settlement
Date”). Such notice of a Settlement Date shall include a summary
statement of the amount of outstanding Advances, Swing Loans, and
Protective Advances for the period since the prior Settlement
Date. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein (including
Section 2.3(c)(iii)): (y) if a Lender’s balance of the Advances (including
Swing Loans and Protective Advances) exceeds such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the
Advances (including Swing Loans and Protective Advances) as of a Settlement
Date, then Agent shall, by no later than 3:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on
the
Settlement Date, transfer in immediately available funds to a Deposit
Account of
such Lender (as such Lender may designate), an amount such that each
such Lender
shall, upon receipt of such amount, have as of the Settlement Date,
its Pro Rata
Share of the Advances (including Swing Loans and Protective Advances),
and (z)
if a Lender’s balance of the Advances (including Swing Loans and Protective
Advances) is less than such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Advances (including
Swing Loans and Protective Advances) as of a Settlement Date, such
Lender shall
no later than 12:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the Settlement Date transfer
in
immediately available funds to Agent’s Account, an amount such that each such
Lender shall, upon transfer of such amount, have as of the Settlement
Date, its
Pro Rata Share of the Advances (including Swing Loans and Protective
Advances). Such amounts made available to Agent under clause (z) of
the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied against the amounts
of the
applicable Swing Loans or Protective Advances and, together with the
portion of
such Swing Loans or Protective Advances representing Swing Lender’s Pro Rata
Share thereof, shall constitute Advances of such Lenders. If any such
amount is not made available to Agent by any Lender on the Settlement
Date
applicable thereto to the extent required by the terms hereof, Agent
shall be
entitled to recover for its account such amount on demand from such
Lender
together with interest thereon at the Defaulting Lender Rate.
(ii) In
determining whether a Lender’s balance of the Advances, Swing Loans, and
Protective Advances is less than, equal to, or greater than such Lender’s Pro
Rata Share of the Advances, Swing Loans, and Protective Advances as
of a
Settlement Date, Agent shall, as part of the relevant Settlement, apply
to such
balance the portion of payments actually received in good funds by
Agent with
respect to principal, interest, fees payable by Borrower and allocable
to the
Lenders hereunder, and proceeds of Collateral. To the extent that a
net amount is owed to any such Lender after such application, such
net amount
shall be distributed by Agent to that Lender as part of such next
Settlement.
(iii) Between
Settlement Dates, Agent, to the extent Protective Advances or Swing
Loans are
outstanding, may pay over to Agent or Swing Lender, as applicable,
any
Collections or payments received by Agent, that in accordance with
the terms of
this Agreement would be applied to the reduction of the Advances, for
application to the Protective Advances or Swing Loans. Between
Settlement Dates, Agent, to the extent no Protective Advances or Swing
Loans are
outstanding, may pay over to Swing Lender any payments received by
Agent, that
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement would be applied to
the reduction
of the Advances, for application to Swing Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the
Advances. If, as of any Settlement Date, Collections of Borrower or
its Subsidiaries received since the then immediately preceding Settlement
Date
have been applied to Swing Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Advances other than to
Swing Loans, as provided for in the previous sentence, Swing Lender
shall pay to
Agent for the accounts of the Lenders, and Agent shall pay to the Lenders,
to be
applied to the outstanding Advances of such Lenders, an amount such
that each
Lender shall, upon receipt of such amount, have, as of such Settlement
Date, its
Pro Rata Share of the Advances. During the period between Settlement
Dates, Swing Lender with respect to Swing Loans, Agent with respect
to
Protective Advances, and each Lender (subject to the effect of agreements
between Agent and individual Lenders) with respect to the Advances
other than
Swing Loans and Protective Advances, shall be entitled to interest
at the
applicable rate or rates payable under this Agreement on the daily
amount of
funds employed by Swing Lender, Agent, or the Lenders, as
applicable.
(f) Notation. Agent
shall record on its books the principal amount of the Advances (or
portion of
the Term Loan, as applicable) owing to each Lender, including the Swing
Loans
owing to Swing Lender, and Protective Advances owing to Agent, and
the interests
therein of each Lender, from time to time and such records shall, absent
manifest error, conclusively be presumed to be correct and
accurate.
(g) Lenders’
Failure
to
Perform. All Advances (other than Swing Loans and Protective
Advances) shall be made by the Lenders contemporaneously and in accordance
with
their Pro Rata Shares. It is understood that (i) no Lender shall be
responsible for any failure by any other Lender to perform its obligation
to
make any Advance (or other extension of credit) hereunder, nor shall
any
Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of any
failure by
any other Lender to perform its obligations hereunder, and (ii) no
failure by
any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall excuse any other
Lender
from its obligations hereunder.
2.4 Payments.
(a) Payments
by
Borrower.
(i) Except
as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by Borrower shall
be made to
Agent’s Account for the account of the Lender Group and shall be made in
immediately available funds, no later than 2:00 p.m. (Georgia time)
on the date
specified herein. Any payment received by Agent later than 2:00 p.m.
(Georgia
time) shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business
Day and
any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue until such
following
Business Day.
(ii) Unless
Agent receives notice from Borrower prior to the date on which any
payment is
due to the Lenders that Borrower will not make such payment in full
as and when
required, Agent may assume that Borrower has made (or will make) such
payment in
full to Agent on such date in immediately available funds and Agent
may (but
shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, distribute
to each
Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such
Lender. If and to the extent Borrower does not make such payment in
full to Agent on the date when due, each Lender severally shall repay
to Agent
on demand such amount distributed to such Lender, together with interest
thereon
at the Defaulting Lender Rate for each day from the date such amount
is
distributed to such Lender until the date repaid.
(b) Apportionment
and
Application.
(i) So
long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and except as
otherwise
provided with respect to Defaulting Lenders who would otherwise be
entitled to
receive such payments as provided herein, all principal and interest
payments
shall be apportioned ratably among the applicable Lenders (according
to the
unpaid principal balance of the Obligations to which such payments
relate held
by each Lender) and all payments of fees and expenses (other than fees
or
expenses that are for Agent’s separate account) shall be apportioned ratably
among the Lenders having a Pro Rata Share of the type of Commitment
or
Obligation to which a particular fee or expense relates. Except as
otherwise specifically provided in Section 2.4(b)(iv) hereof or in
Section
2.4(d) hereof, all payments to be made hereunder by Borrower shall
be remitted
to Agent and, subject to Section 2.4(b)(iv), all such payments, and
all proceeds
of Collateral received by Agent, shall be applied, so long as no Event
of
Default has occurred and is continuing, to reduce the balance of the
Advances
outstanding or to make scheduled payments to repay the Term Loan as
provided
herein and, thereafter, to Borrower (to be wired to the Designated
Account) or
such other Person entitled thereto under applicable law.
(ii) At
any
time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and except
as
otherwise provided with respect to Defaulting Lenders, all payments
remitted to
Agent and all proceeds of Collateral received by Agent shall be applied
as
follows:
(A) first,
to
pay any Lender Group Expenses (including cost or expense reimbursements)
or
indemnities then due to Agent under the Loan Documents, until paid
in
full,
(B) second,
to pay any fees or premiums then due to Agent under the Loan Documents
until
paid in full,
(C) third,
to
pay interest due in respect of all Protective Advances until paid in
full,
(D) fourth,
to pay the principal of all Protective Advances until paid in full,
(E) fifth,
ratably to pay any Lender Group Expenses (including cost or expense
reimbursements) or indemnities then due to any of the Lenders under
the Loan
Documents, until paid in full,
(F) sixth,
ratably to pay any fees or premiums then due to any of the Lenders
with a
Revolver Commitment or holding any Advance, until paid in full,
(G) seventh,
ratably to pay interest due in respect of the Advances (other than
Protective
Advances), and the Swing Loans, until paid in full,
(H) eighth,
ratably (i) to pay the principal of all Swing Loans until paid in full,
(ii) to
pay the principal of all Advances until paid in full, (iii) to Agent,
to be held
by Agent, for the ratable benefit of Issuing Lender and those Lenders
having a
Revolver Commitment or holding any Advance, as cash collateral in an
amount up
to one hundred five percent (105%) of the Letter of Credit Usage, (iv) to Agent, to be
held by Agent, for
the benefit of the Bank Product Providers, as cash collateral in an
amount up to
one hundred five percent (105%) of the amount of Bank Product Obligations
in
respect of Swap Agreements, and (v) to Agent to be held by Agent for
the benefit
of the Bank Product Obligations as cash collateral in an amount not
to
exceed the amount of the Bank Product Reserve established prior to
the
occurrence of, and not in contemplation of, the subject Event of
Default,
(I) ninth,
ratably to pay any fees or premiums then due to any of the Lenders
with a Term
Loan Commitment or holding any Term Loan, until paid in full,
(J) tenth,
ratably to pay interest due in respect of the Term Loan, until paid
in
full,
(K) eleventh,
to pay the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan (in the inverse
order
of the maturity of the installments due thereunder) until the Term
Loan is paid
in full,
(L) twelfth,
to pay any other Obligations (including the provision of amounts to
Agent, to be
held by Agent, for the benefit of the Bank Product Providers, as cash
collateral
in an amount up to the amount determined by Agent in its Permitted
Discretion as
the amount necessary to secure Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ obligations in
respect of Bank Products), and
(M) thirteenth,
to Borrowers (to be wired to the Designated Account) or such other
Person
entitled thereto under applicable law.
(iii) Agent
promptly shall distribute to each Lender, pursuant to the applicable
wire
instructions received from each Lender in writing, such funds as it
may be
entitled to receive, subject to a Settlement delay as provided in Section
2.3(e).
(iv) In
each
instance, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
Section
2.4(b)(i) and Section 2.4(b)(ii) shall not apply to any payment made
by Borrower to Agent and specified by Borrower to be for the payment
of specific
Obligations then due and payable (or prepayable) under any provision
of this
Agreement.
(v) For
purposes of Section 2.4(b)(ii) (other than clause (L) thereof), “paid in full”
means payment of all amounts owing under the Loan Documents according
to the
terms thereof, including loan fees, service fees, professional fees,
interest
(and specifically including in each case interest and such fees
accrued after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), default
interest, interest on interest, and expense reimbursements, whether
or not any
of the foregoing (other than disallowed interest and disallowed loan
fees, if
any) would be allowed or disallowed in whole or in part in any Insolvency
Proceeding; provided however, that for the purposes of Section 2.4(b)(ii)(L),
“paid in full” means payment of all amounts owing under the Loan Documents
according to the terms hereof, including loan fees, service fees, professional
fees, interest (and specifically including interest and fees accrued
after the
commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), default interest, interest
on
interest, and expense reimbursements, whether or not any of the foregoing
would
be or is allowed or disallowed in whole or in part in any Insolvency
Proceeding.
(vi) In
the
event of a direct conflict between the priority provisions of this
Section 2.4
and any other provision contained in any other Loan Document, it is
the
intention of the parties hereto that such provisions be read together
and
construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with each
other. In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that
cannot be resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of this Section
2.4
shall control and govern.
(c) Prepayments.
(i) Excess
Revolver Usage.
If
at any time the sum
of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Advances, the
outstanding
Letter of Credit Usage, the Bank Product Reserve and the aggregate
amount of
reserves, if any, established by Agent under Section 2.1 exceeds the
lesser of
(x) the Borrowing Base and (y) the Maximum Revolver Amount, Borrower
shall
prepay the Obligations in an amount equal to such excess which prepayments
shall
be applied in the manner set forth in Section 2.4(d).
(ii) Optional
Prepayments. The Term Loan may be voluntarily prepaid in full
or in part at any time; provided that in the case of any prepayment not
associated with a termination pursuant to Section 3.4, (x) no Event
of Default
shall have occurred or be continuing either immediately before or immediately
after such prepayment and (y) there shall be at least Ten Million Dollars
($10,000,000) of Availability both immediately before and after such
prepayment. Each such prepayment shall be in an amount which is an
integral multiple of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) or any greater
amount
which is a multiple of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), shall
be made
by Borrower and shall be irrevocable.
(iii) Mandatory
Prepayments.
(A) Dispositions.
Promptly, and in any event not later than one (1) Business Day following
the
receipt by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of the proceeds of any
voluntary or
involuntary sale or disposition by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
of property
or assets (including casualty losses or condemnations but excluding
sales or
dispositions which qualify as Permitted Dispositions under clauses
(a), (b),
(c), (d), (e) or (f) of the definition of Permitted Dispositions), Borrower
shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Obligations in
accordance
with Section 2.4(d) in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of
such Net Cash Proceeds (including condemnation awards and payments
in lieu
thereof) received by such Person in connection with such sales or dispositions;
provided that, so long as (A) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred
and is continuing, (B) Borrower shall have given Agent prior written
notice of
Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ intention to apply such monies to the costs of
replacement of the properties or assets that are the subject of such
sale or
disposition, (C) the monies are held in a cash collateral account in
which Agent
has a perfected first-priority security interest, and (D) Parent or
its
Subsidiaries, as applicable, complete such replacement within one hundred
eighty
(180) days after the initial receipt of such monies, Parent and its
Subsidiaries
shall have the option to apply such monies to the costs of replacement
of the
property or assets that are the subject of such sale or disposition
unless and
to the extent that such applicable period shall have expired without
such
replacement, purchase or construction being made or completed, in which
case,
any amounts remaining in the cash collateral account shall be paid
to Agent and
applied in accordance with Section 2.4(d). Nothing contained in this
Section 2.4(c)(iii)(A) shall permit Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to
sell or otherwise dispose of any property or assets other than in accordance
with Section 6.4.
(B) Extraordinary
Receipts. (i) Promptly, and in any event not later than one (1) Business
Day
following the receipt by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any Extraordinary
Receipts, Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of
the
Obligations in accordance with Section 2.4(d) in an amount equal to
100% of such
Extraordinary Receipts, net of any reasonable expenses incurred in
collecting
such Extraordinary Receipts; provided however that Borrower shall not
be
obligated to prepay the Obligations in connection with the receipt
by Parent’s
or any of its Subsidiaries’ of a Tax Refunds that is less than $100,000 at any
one time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the amount of
Extraordinary Receipts from Tax Refunds not used to prepay the Obligations
in
accordance with this subsection (B) shall exceed $2,000,000 in the
aggregate
over the term of this Agreement, all Tax Refunds received above such
$2,000,000
(regardless of whether they exceed $100,000 at any one time) shall
be applied to
prepay the Obligations as set forth in this subsection (B).
(C) Debt
or
Issuances of Disqualified Stock. Promptly, and in any event not later
than one (1) Business Day, following the issuance or incurrence by Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness
permitted under Section 6.1) or the issuance by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries of any shares of its or their Stock (other than in the
event that
Parent or any Subsidiary thereof forms a Subsidiary in accordance with
the terms
hereof, the issuance by such Subsidiary of Stock to Parent or such
Subsidiary,
as applicable), Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount
of the
Obligations in accordance with Section 2.4(d) in an amount equal to
100% of the
Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection with such incurrence
of
Indebtedness or such issuance of Stock. The provisions of this Section
2.4(c)(iv)(C) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any such
issuance or
incurrence otherwise prohibited by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
(D) Excess
Cash Flow. Within ten (10) days of delivery to Agent and the Lenders
of audited annual financial statements pursuant to Section 5.3, commencing
with
the delivery to Agent and the Lenders of the financial statements for
Parent’s
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 or, if such financial statements
are not
delivered to Agent and the Lenders on the date such statements are
required to
be delivered pursuant to Section 5.3, ten (10) days after the date such
statements are required to be delivered to Agent and the Lenders pursuant
to
Section 5.3, Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the
Obligations in accordance with Section 2.4(d) in an amount equal to fifty
percent (50%) of the Excess Cash Flow of Parent and its Subsidiaries
for such
fiscal year.
(d) Application
of
Payments. Each prepayment pursuant to any clause of Section
2.4(c)(iii) above shall (A) so long as no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and subject to the last sentence of this
subsection,
be applied, first, to
the outstanding principal amount of the Advances, but solely to the
extent
necessary to increase the Availability at such time to Ten Million
Dollars
($10,000,000) (with no reduction to the Maximum Revolver Amount), second, to the
outstanding
principal amount of the Term Loan until paid in full, third, to the
outstanding
principal amount of the Advances until paid in full, and fourth, to cash
collateralize
the Letters of Credit in an amount equal to one hundred five percent
(105%) of
the then extant Letter of Credit Usage, and (B) if an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, be applied in the manner set
forth in
Section 2.4(b)(ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
prepayment resulting from the sale of any Collateral comprising the
Borrowing
Base shall be applied first to the outstanding principal amount of
the Advances,
and then to the Term Loans to be apportioned among the Term Loan Lenders
pro rata.
2.5 Overadvances. If,
at any time
or for any reason, the amount of Obligations owed by Borrower to the
Lender
Group pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.12 is greater than any of
the
limitations set forth in Section 2.1 or Section 2.12, as applicable
(an
“Overadvance”), Borrower immediately shall pay to Agent, in cash, the amount of
such excess, which amount shall be used by Agent to reduce the Obligations
in
accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 2.4(b). Borrower
promises to pay the Obligations (including principal, interest, fees,
costs, and
expenses) in Dollars in full on the Maturity Date or, if earlier, on
the date on
which the Obligations are declared due and payable pursuant to the
terms of this
Agreement.
2.6 Interest
Rates and Letter of
Credit Fee: Rates, Payments, and
Calculations.
(a) Interest
Rates. Except as provided in Section 2.6(c), all Obligations
(except for undrawn Letters of Credit and except for Bank Product Obligations)
that have been charged to the Loan Account pursuant to the terms hereof
shall
bear interest on the Daily Balance thereof as follows:
(i) if
the
relevant Obligation is an Advance that is (A) a LIBOR Rate Loan, at
a per annum
rate equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the LIBOR Rate Margin applicable
to an Advance
(except to the extent an Advance is converted from a LIBOR Rate Loan
to a Base
Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.13(a)) or (B) a Base Rate Loan, at a per
annum rate equal to the Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin applicable
to an
Advance; or
(ii) if
the
relevant Obligation relates to the Term Loan that is (A) a LIBOR Rate
Loan, at a
per annum rate equal to (a) the LIBOR Rate plus the LIBOR Rate Margin
applicable
to the Term Loan; provided that if an event described in Section 2.13(d)(ii)
shall occur, the interest on the Term Loan shall accrue at a per annum
rate
equal to the Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin applicable to the
Term Loan or
(B) a Base Rate Loan, at a per annum rate equal to the Base Rate plus
the Base
Rate Margin applicable to an Advance.
(b) Letter
of Credit
Fee. Borrower shall pay Agent (for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders with a Revolver Commitment, subject to any agreements between
Agent and
individual Lenders), a Letter of Credit fee (in addition to the charges,
commissions, fees, and costs set forth in Section 2.12(e)) which shall
accrue at
a rate equal to 2.0% per annum times the Daily
Balance of
the undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit.
(c) Default
Rate. At
the election of Agent or the Required Lenders upon the occurrence and
during the
continuation of an Event of Default,
(i) all
unpaid Obligations (except for undrawn Letters of Credit and except
for Bank
Product Obligations) that have been charged to the Loan Account pursuant
to the
terms hereof shall bear interest on the Daily Balance thereof at a
per annum
rate equal to two (2) percentage points above the per annum rate otherwise
applicable hereunder, and
(ii) the
Letter of Credit fee provided for in Section 2.6(b) shall be increased
to two
(2) percentage points above the per annum rate otherwise applicable
hereunder.
(d) Payment. Except
as
provided to the contrary in Section 2.11 or Section 2.13(a), interest,
Letter of
Credit fees, and all other fees payable hereunder shall be due and
payable, in
arrears, on the first day of each calendar month at any time that Obligations
or
Commitments are outstanding. Borrower hereby authorizes Agent to
charge all interest and fees (when due and payable), all Lender Group
Expenses
(after the same become due and payable in accordance with Section 17.10),
all
charges, commissions, fees, and costs provided for in Section 2.12(e) (as
and when due and payable), all fees and costs provided for in
Section 2.11 (as and when due and payable), and all other payments as
and when due and payable under any Loan Document (including the amounts
due and
payable with respect to the Term Loan and including any amounts due
and payable
to the Bank Product Providers in respect of Bank Products up to the
amount of
the Bank Product Reserve) to the Loan Account, which amounts thereafter
shall
constitute Advances hereunder and shall accrue interest at the rate
then
applicable to Advances that are Base Rate Loans. Any interest not
paid when due shall be compounded by being charged to the Loan Account
and shall
thereafter constitute Advances hereunder and shall accrue interest
at the rate
then applicable to Advances that are Base Rate Loans; provided, however
that if,
at any time that any amounts due in respect of interest on the Term
Loan or any
amount due and payable to the Bank Product Reserve are charged to the
Loan
Account, an Event of Default or Overadvance exists, or would result
therefrom,
such amounts shall not constitute Advances but instead shall continue
to remain
outstanding as amounts due in respect of the Term Loan or any amount
due and
payable to the Bank Product Providers in respect of the Bank Products
up to the
amount of the Bank Product Reserve, and such amounts shall be compounded
and
added to the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan; provided,
further,
however, that the failure to make any such payment and the compounding
of such
interest shall nonetheless constitute an Event of Default under Section
7.1.
(e) Computation. All
interest and fees chargeable under the Loan Documents shall be computed
on the
basis of a 360 day year for the actual number of days elapsed. In the
event the Base Rate is changed from time to time hereafter, the rates
of
interest hereunder based upon the Base Rate automatically and immediately
shall
be increased or decreased by an amount equal to such change in the
Base
Rate.
(f) Intent
to Limit Charges to Maximum
Lawful Rate. In no event shall the interest rate or rates
payable under this Agreement, plus any other amounts paid in connection
herewith, exceed the highest rate permissible under any law that a
court of
competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem
applicable. Borrower and the Lender Group, in executing and
delivering this Agreement, intend legally to agree upon the rate or
rates of
interest and manner of payment stated within it; provided, however,
that,
anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if said
rate or rates
of interest or manner of payment exceeds the maximum allowable under
applicable
law, then, ipso facto,
as of the date of this Agreement, Borrower is and shall be liable only
for the
payment of such maximum as allowed by law, and payment received from
Borrower in
excess of such legal maximum, whenever received, shall be applied to
reduce the
principal balance of the Obligations to the extent of such excess.
2.7 Cash
Management.
(a) Borrower
shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to (i) establish and
maintain
cash management services of a type and on terms satisfactory to Agent
(it being
agreed that the terms in effect on the Closing Date are satisfactory)
at one or
more of the banks set forth on Schedule 2.7(a) (each a “Cash Management Bank”),
and shall request in writing and otherwise take such reasonable steps
to ensure
that, except as permitted by Section 6.12, all of its and its Subsidiaries’
Account Debtors forward payment of the amounts owed by them directly
to such
Cash Management Bank, and (ii) deposit or cause to be deposited promptly,
and in
any event no later than three Business Days after the date of receipt
thereof,
all of their Collections (including those sent directly by their Account
Debtors
to Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries) into a bank account (the “Cash
Management Accounts”) at one of the Cash Management Banks.
(b) Each
Cash
Management Bank shall establish and maintain Cash Management Agreements
with
Agent and Borrower. Unless otherwise approved by the Agent, each such
Cash Management Agreement shall provide, among other things, that (i)
the Cash
Management Bank will comply with any instructions originated by Agent
directing
the disposition of the funds in such Cash Management Account without
further
consent by Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, (ii) the Cash
Management
Bank has no rights of setoff or recoupment or any other claim against
the
applicable Cash Management Account other than for payment of its service
fees
and other charges directly related to the administration of such Cash
Management
Account and for returned checks or other items of payment, and (iii)
upon the
instruction of the Agent (an “Activation Instruction”), it will forward by daily
sweep all amounts in the applicable Cash Management Account to the
Agent’s
Account. Agent agrees not to issue an Activation Instruction with
respect to the Cash Management Accounts unless a Triggering Event has
occurred
and is continuing at the time such Activation Instruction is
issued.
(c) So
long
as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower
may
amend Schedule 2.7(a) to add or replace a Cash Management Bank or Cash
Management Account; provided, however, that (i) such prospective Cash
Management
Bank shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent, and (ii) prior to the
time of
the opening of such Cash Management Account, Borrower (or its Subsidiary,
as
applicable) and such prospective Cash Management Bank shall have executed
and
delivered to Agent a Cash Management Agreement. Borrower (or its
Subsidiaries, as applicable) shall close any of its Cash Management
Accounts
(and establish replacement cash management accounts in accordance with
the
foregoing sentence) promptly and in any event within thirty (30) days
of notice
from Agent that the creditworthiness of any Cash Management Bank is
no longer
acceptable in Agent’s reasonable judgment, or as promptly as practicable and in
any event within sixty (60) days of notice from Agent that the operating
performance, funds transfer, or availability procedures or performance
of the
Cash Management Bank with respect to Cash Management Accounts or Agent’s
liability under any Cash Management Agreement with such Cash Management
Bank is
no longer acceptable in Agent’s reasonable judgment.
(d) Each
Cash
Management Account shall be a cash collateral account subject to a
Control
Agreement.
2.8 Crediting
Payments. The
receipt of
any payment item by Agent (whether from transfers to Agent by the Cash
Management Banks pursuant to the Cash Management Agreements or otherwise)
shall
not be considered a payment on account unless such payment item is
a wire
transfer of immediately available federal funds made to Agent’s Account or
unless and until such payment item is honored when presented for
payment. Should any payment item not be honored when presented for
payment, then Borrower shall be deemed not to have made such payment
and
interest shall be calculated accordingly. Anything to the contrary
contained herein notwithstanding, any payment item shall be deemed
received by
Agent only if it is received into Agent’s Account on a Business Day on or before
2:00 p.m. (Georgia time). If any payment item is received into
Agent’s Account on a non-Business Day or after 2:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on
a
Business Day, it shall be deemed to have been received by Agent as
of the
opening of business on the immediately following Business
Day.
2.9 Designated
Account. Agent
is
authorized to make the Advances, and Issuing Lender is authorized to
issue or
cause the issuance the Letters of Credit, under this Agreement based
upon
telephonic or other instructions received from anyone purporting to
be an
Authorized Person or, without instructions, if pursuant to Section
2.6(d). Borrower agrees to establish and maintain the Designated
Account with the Designated Account Bank for the purpose of receiving
the
proceeds of the Advances requested by Borrower and made by Agent or
the Lenders
hereunder. Unless otherwise directed in writing by Borrower and
agreed to by Agent, any Advance, Protective Advance, or Swing Loan
requested by
Borrower and made by Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be made to
the
Designated Account.
2.10 Maintenance
of Loan Account;
Statements of Obligations. Agent
shall
maintain an account on its books in the name of Borrower (the “Loan Account”) on
which Borrower will be charged with the Term Loan, all Advances (including
Protective Advances and Swing Loans) made by Agent, Swing Lender, or
the Lenders
to Borrower or for Borrower’s account, the Letters of Credit issued by Issuing
Lender for Borrower’s account, and with all other payment Obligations hereunder
or under the other Loan Documents (except for Bank Product Obligations),
including, accrued interest, fees and expenses, and Lender Group
Expenses. In accordance with Section 2.8, the Loan Account will be
credited with all payments received by Agent from Borrower or for Borrower’s
account, including all amounts received in Agent’s Account from any Cash
Management Bank. Agent shall render monthly statements regarding the
Loan Account to Borrower, including principal, interest, fees, and
including an
itemization in reasonable detail of all charges and expenses constituting
Lender
Group Expenses owing, and such statements, absent manifest error, shall
be
conclusively presumed to be correct and accurate and constitute an
account
stated between Borrower and the Lender Group unless, within 30 days
after
receipt thereof by Borrower, Borrower shall deliver to Agent written
objection
thereto describing the error or errors contained in any such
statements.
2.11 Fees. Borrower
shall
pay to Agent, as and when due and payable under the terms of the Fee
Letter, the
fees set forth in the Fee Letter.
2.12 Letters
of
Credit.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Lender agrees
to
cause the Underlying Issuer to issue letters of credit for the account
of
Borrower or its Subsidiaries (each, an “L/C”), whether by purchasing
participations, executing indemnities or reimbursement obligations,
or otherwise
(each such commitment, an “L/C Undertaking”) with respect to letters of credit
issued by an Underlying Issuer (the Underlying Issuer shall be Wells
Fargo or
such other bank acceptable to Agent and as may be reasonably approved
by
Borrower) for the account of Borrower. Each request for the issuance
of a Letter of Credit, or the amendment, renewal, or extension of any
outstanding Letter of Credit, shall be made in writing by an Authorized
Person
and delivered to the Issuing Lender and Agent via hand delivery, telefacsimile,
or other electronic method of transmission reasonably in advance of
the
requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal, or extension. Each
such request shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Issuing
Lender
in its Permitted Discretion and shall specify (i) the amount of such
Letter of
Credit, (ii) the date of issuance, amendment, renewal, or extension
of such
Letter of Credit, (iii) the expiration date of such Letter of Credit,
(iv) the
name and address of the beneficiary thereof (or the beneficiary of
the
Underlying Letter of Credit, as applicable), and (v) such other information
(including, in the case of an amendment, renewal, or extension, identification
of the outstanding Letter of Credit to be so amended, renewed, or extended)
as
shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew, or extend such Letter
of
Credit. If requested by the Issuing Lender, Borrower also shall be an
applicant under the application with respect to any Underlying Letter
of Credit
that is to be the subject of an L/C Undertaking. The Issuing Lender
shall have no obligation to issue a Letter of Credit if any of the
following
would result after giving effect to the issuance of such requested
Letter of
Credit:
(i) the
Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Borrowing Base less the outstanding
amount
of Advances, less the
Bank Product Reserve, and less the aggregate
amount of
reserves, if any, established by Agent under Section 2.1(b), or
(ii) the
Letter of Credit Usage would exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000),
or
(iii) the
Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Maximum Revolver Amount less the outstanding
amount
of Advances less the
Bank Product Reserve, and less the aggregate
amount of
reserves, if any, established by Agent under Section 2.1(b).
Each
Letter of Credit (and corresponding Underlying Letter of Credit) shall
be in
form and substance acceptable to the Issuing Lender (in the exercise
of its
Permitted Discretion), including the requirement that the amounts payable
thereunder must be payable in Dollars. If Issuing Lender is obligated
to advance funds under a Letter of Credit, Borrower immediately shall
reimburse
such L/C Disbursement to Issuing Lender by paying to Agent an amount
equal to
such L/C Disbursement (i) not later than 2:00 p.m., Georgia time, on
the date
that such L/C Disbursement is made, if Borrower shall have received
written or
telephonic notice of such L/C Disbursement prior to 1:00 p.m., Georgia
time, on
such date, or, (ii) if such notice has not been received by Borrower
prior to
such time on such date, then not later than 2:00 p.m., Georgia time,
on the
Business Day that Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is
received
prior to 1:00 p.m., Georgia time, on the date of receipt, and, in the
absence of
such reimbursement, the L/C Disbursement immediately and automatically
shall be
deemed to be an Advance hereunder and, initially, shall bear interest
at the
rate then applicable to Advances that are Base Rate Loans. To the
extent an L/C Disbursement is deemed to be an Advance hereunder, Borrower’s
obligation to reimburse such L/C Disbursement shall be discharged and
replaced
by the resulting Advance. Promptly following receipt by Agent of any
payment from Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, Agent shall distribute
such
payment to the Issuing Lender or, to the extent that Lenders have made
payments
pursuant to Section 2.12(b) to reimburse the Issuing Lender, then to
such
Lenders and the Issuing Lender as their interests may appear.
(b) Promptly
following receipt of a notice of L/C Disbursement pursuant to
Section 2.12(a), each Lender with a Revolver Commitment agrees to fund its
Pro Rata Share of any Advance deemed made pursuant to the foregoing
subsection
on the same terms and conditions as if Borrower had requested such
Advance and
Agent shall promptly pay to Issuing Lender the amounts so received
by it from
the Lenders. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment
to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any
further
action on the part of the Issuing Lender or the Lenders with Revolver
Commitments, the Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have granted to
each Lender
with a Revolver Commitment, and each Lender with a Revolver Commitment
shall be
deemed to have purchased, a participation in each Letter of Credit,
in an amount
equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Risk Participation Liability of
such Letter
of Credit, and each such Lender agrees to pay to Agent, for the account
of the
Issuing Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any payments made by the Issuing
Lender under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in
furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender with a Revolver Commitment
hereby
absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to Agent, for the account
of the
Issuing Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each L/C Disbursement made by
the Issuing Lender and not reimbursed by Borrower on the date due as
provided in
Section 2.12(a), or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded
to
Borrower for any reason. Each Lender with a Revolver Commitment
acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to deliver to Agent, for
the account
of the Issuing Lender, an amount equal to its respective Pro Rata Share
of each
L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section
2.12(b)
shall be absolute and unconditional and such remittance shall be made
notwithstanding the occurrence or continuation of an Event of Default
or Default
or the failure to satisfy any condition set forth in Section 3. If
any such Lender fails to make available to Agent the amount of such
Lender’s Pro
Rata Share of each L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Lender in respect
of
such Letter of Credit as provided in this Section, such Lender shall
be deemed
to be a Defaulting Lender and Agent (for the account of the Issuing
Lender)
shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender
together
with interest thereon at the Defaulting Lender Rate until paid in
full.
(c) Borrower
hereby agrees to indemnify, save, defend, and hold the Lender Group
harmless
from any loss, cost, expense, or liability, and reasonable attorneys
fees
incurred by the Lender Group arising out of or in connection with any
Letter of
Credit; provided, however, that Borrower shall not be obligated hereunder
to
indemnify for any loss, cost, expense, or liability to the extent that
it is
caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing
Lender or
any other member of the Lender Group. Borrower agrees to be bound by
the Underlying Issuer’s regulations and interpretations of any Underlying Letter
of Credit or by Issuing Lender’s interpretations of any L/C issued by Issuing
Lender to or for Borrower’s account, even though this interpretation may be
different from Borrower’s own, and Borrower understands and agrees that the
Lender Group shall not be liable for any error, negligence, or mistake,
whether
of omission or commission, in following Borrower’s instructions or those
contained in the Letter of Credit or any modifications, amendments,
or
supplements thereto. Borrower understands that the L/C Undertakings
may require Issuing Lender to indemnify the Underlying Issuer for certain
costs
or liabilities arising out of claims by Borrower against such Underlying
Issuer. Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify, save, defend, and hold
the Lender Group harmless with respect to any loss, cost, expense (including
reasonable attorneys fees), or liability incurred by the Lender Group
under any
L/C Undertaking as a result of the Lender Group’s indemnification of any
Underlying Issuer; provided, however, that Borrower shall not be obligated
hereunder to indemnify for any loss, cost, expense, or liability to
the extent
that it is caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the Issuing
Lender or any other member of the Lender Group. Borrower hereby
acknowledges and agrees that neither the Lender Group nor the Issuing
Lender
shall be responsible for delays, errors, or omissions resulting from
the
malfunction of equipment in connection with any Letter of Credit.
(d) Borrower
hereby authorizes and directs any Underlying Issuer to deliver to the
Issuing
Lender all instruments, documents, and other writings and property
received by
such Underlying Issuer pursuant to such Underlying Letter of Credit
and to
accept and rely upon the Issuing Lender’s instructions with respect to all
matters arising in connection with such Underlying Letter of Credit
and the
related application.
(e) Any
and
all issuance charges, commissions, fees, and costs incurred by the
Issuing
Lender relating to Underlying Letters of Credit shall be Lender Group
Expenses
for purposes of this Agreement and shall be reimbursable by Borrower
to Agent
for the account of the Issuing Lender; it being acknowledged and agreed
by
Borrower that, as of the Closing Date, the issuance charge imposed
by the
Underlying Issuer is 0.825% per annum times the undrawn amount of each
Underlying Letter of Credit, that such issuance charge may be changed
from time
to time, and that the Underlying Issuer also imposes a schedule of
charges for
amendments, extensions, drawings, and renewals.
(f) If
by
reason of (i) any change after the Closing Date in any applicable law,
treaty,
rule, or regulation or any change in the interpretation or application
thereof
by any Governmental Authority, or (ii) compliance by the Underlying
Issuer or
the Lender Group with any direction, request, or requirement (irrespective
of
whether having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority or monetary
authority including, Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board as from
time to
time in effect (and any successor thereto):
(i) any
reserve, deposit, or similar requirement is or shall be imposed or
modified in
respect of any Letter of Credit issued hereunder, or
(ii) there
shall be imposed on the Underlying Issuer or the Lender Group any other
condition regarding any Underlying Letter of Credit or any Letter of
Credit
issued pursuant hereto,
and
the
result of the foregoing is to increase, directly or indirectly, the
cost to the
Lender Group of issuing, making, guaranteeing, or maintaining any Letter
of
Credit or to reduce the amount receivable in respect thereof by the
Lender
Group, then, and in any such case, Agent may, at any time within a
reasonable
period after the additional cost is incurred or the amount received
is reduced,
notify Borrower, and Borrower shall pay on demand such amounts as Agent may
specify to be necessary to compensate the Lender Group for such additional
cost
or reduced receipt, together with interest on such amount from the
date of such
demand until payment in full thereof at the rate then applicable to
Base Rate
Loans hereunder. The determination by Agent of any amount due
pursuant to this Section, as set forth in a certificate setting forth
the
calculation thereof in reasonable detail, shall, in the absence of
manifest or
demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all of the
parties
hereto.
2.13 LIBOR
Option.
(a) Interest
and Interest Payment
Dates. In lieu of having interest on any Advance charged at a
rate based upon the Base Rate, Borrower shall have the option (the
“LIBOR
Option”) to have interest on all or a portion of the Advances be charged
(whether at the time when made (unless otherwise provided herein),
upon
conversion from a Base Rate Loan to a LIBOR Rate Loan, or upon continuation
of a
LIBOR Rate Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan) at a rate of interest based upon
the LIBOR
Rate. Interest on LIBOR Rate Loans shall be payable on the earliest
of (i) the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (provided,
however, that, subject to the following clauses (ii) and (iii), in
the case of
any Interest Period greater than three (3) months in duration, interest
shall be
payable at three (3) month intervals after the commencement of the
applicable
Interest Period and on the last day of such Interest Period), (ii)
the date on
which all or any portion of the Obligations are accelerated pursuant
to the
terms hereof, or (iii) the date on which this Agreement is terminated
pursuant
to the terms hereof. On the last day of each applicable Interest
Period, unless Borrower properly has exercised the LIBOR Option with
respect
thereto, the interest rate applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan automatically
shall convert to the rate of interest then applicable to Base Rate
Loans of the
same type hereunder. At any time that an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, Borrower no longer shall have the option
to request
that Advances bear interest at a rate based upon the LIBOR Rate and
Agent shall
have the right to convert the interest rate on all outstanding LIBOR
Rate Loans
(other than Term Loan) to the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans
hereunder.
(b) LIBOR
Election.
(i) Borrower
may, at any time and from time to time, so long as no Event of Default
has
occurred and is continuing, elect to exercise the LIBOR Option by notifying
Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (Georgia time) at least three (3) Business
Days prior
to the commencement of the proposed Interest Period (the “LIBOR
Deadline”). Notice of Borrower’s election of the LIBOR Option for a
permitted portion of the Advances and an Interest Period pursuant to
this
Section shall be made by delivery to Agent of a LIBOR Notice received
by Agent
before the LIBOR Deadline, or by telephonic notice received by Agent
before the
LIBOR Deadline (to be confirmed by delivery to Agent of a LIBOR Notice
received
by Agent prior to 5:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the same day). Promptly
upon its receipt of each such LIBOR Notice, Agent shall provide a copy
thereof
to each of the affected Lenders.
(ii) Each
LIBOR Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on Borrower. In
connection with each LIBOR Rate Loan, Borrower shall indemnify, defend,
and hold
Agent and the Lenders harmless against any loss, cost, or expense incurred
by
Agent or any Lender as a result of (A) the payment of any principal
of any LIBOR
Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable
thereto
(including as a result of an Event of Default), (B) the conversion
of any LIBOR
Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto,
or (C) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any LIBOR
Rate Loan on
the date specified in any LIBOR Notice delivered pursuant hereto (such
losses,
costs, or expenses, “Funding Losses”). Funding Losses shall, with
respect to Agent or any Lender, be deemed to equal the amount determined
by
Agent or such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (1) the amount of
interest
that would have accrued on the principal amount of such LIBOR Rate
Loan had such
event not occurred, at the LIBOR Rate that would have been applicable
thereto,
for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then
current
Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert,
or
continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period therefor),
minus (2) the amount
of
interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period
at the
interest rate which Agent or such Lender would be offered were it to
be offered,
at the commencement of such period, Dollar deposits of a comparable
amount and
period in the London interbank market. A certificate of Agent or a
Lender delivered to Borrower setting forth any amount or amounts that
Agent or
such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.
(iii) Borrower
shall have not more than five (5) LIBOR Rate Loans in effect at any
given time,
of which no more than one LIBOR Rate Loan may be the Term
Loan. Borrower only may exercise the LIBOR Option for LIBOR Rate
Loans of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and integral multiples
of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in excess thereof.
(c) Conversion. Borrower
may convert LIBOR Rate Loans (other than Term Loan) to Base Rate Loans
at any
time; provided, however, that in the event that LIBOR Rate Loans are
converted
or prepaid on any date that is not the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto, including as a result of any automatic prepayment
through
the required application by Agent of proceeds of Borrower’s and its
Subsidiaries’ Collections in accordance with Section 2.4(b) or for any other
reason, including early termination of the term of this Agreement or
acceleration of all or any portion of the Obligations pursuant to the
terms
hereof, Borrower shall indemnify, defend, and hold Agent and the Lenders
and
their Participants harmless against any and all Funding Losses in accordance
with Section 2.13 (b)(ii) above.
(d) Special
Provisions Applicable to
LIBOR Rate.
(i) The
LIBOR
Rate may be adjusted by Agent with respect to any Lender on a prospective
basis
to take into account any additional or increased costs to such Lender
of
maintaining or obtaining any eurodollar deposits or increased costs,
in each
case, due to changes in applicable law occurring subsequent to the
commencement
of the then applicable Interest Period, including changes in tax laws
(except
changes in taxes constituting taxes of the type described in clauses
(a) and (b)
of the definition of “Excluded Taxes”)) and changes in the reserve requirements
imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or
any
successor), excluding the Reserve Percentage, which additional or increased
costs would increase the cost of funding or maintaining loans bearing
interest
at the LIBOR Rate. In any such event, the affected Lender shall give
Borrower and Agent notice of such a determination and adjustment and
Agent
promptly shall transmit the notice to each other Lender and, upon its
receipt of
the notice from the affected Lender, Borrower may, by notice to such
affected
Lender (x) require such Lender to furnish to Borrower a statement setting
forth
the basis for adjusting such LIBOR Rate and the method for determining
the
amount of such adjustment, or (y) repay the LIBOR Rate Loans with respect
to
which such adjustment is made (together with any amounts due under
this Section
2.13(d)(i). Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand
compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver
of such
Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that Borrower shall not
be
required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any additional
or
increased costs incurred more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior
to the
date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such law giving rise
to such
additional or increased costs and of such Lender’s intention to claim
compensation therefor; providedfurther that if such claim arises by
reason of
the adoption of or change in any law that is retroactive, then the
one hundred
eighty (180) day period day period referred to above shall be extended
to
include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(ii) In
the
event that any change in market conditions or any law, regulation,
treaty, or
directive, or any change therein or in the interpretation of application
thereof, shall at any time after the date hereof, in the reasonable
opinion of
any Lender, make it unlawful or impractical for such Lender to fund
or maintain
LIBOR Rate Loans or to continue such funding or maintaining, or to
determine or
charge interest rates at the LIBOR Rate, such Lender shall give notice
of such
changed circumstances to Agent and Borrower and Agent promptly shall
transmit
the notice to each other Lender and (y) in the case of any LIBOR Rate
Loans of
such Lender that are outstanding, the date specified in such Lender’s notice
shall be deemed to be the last day of the Interest Period of such LIBOR
Rate
Loans, and interest upon the LIBOR Rate Loans of such Lender thereafter
shall
accrue interest at the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans, and
(z) Borrower
shall not be entitled to elect the LIBOR Option until such Lender determines
that it would no longer be unlawful or impractical to do so.
(e) No
Requirement of Matched
Funding. Anything to the contrary contained herein
notwithstanding, neither Agent, nor any Lender, nor any of their Participants,
is required actually to acquire eurodollar deposits to fund or otherwise
match
fund any Obligation as to which interest accrues at the LIBOR
Rate. The provisions of this Section shall apply as if each Lender or
its Participants had match funded any Obligation as to which interest
is
accruing at the LIBOR Rate by acquiring eurodollar deposits for each
Interest
Period in the amount of the LIBOR Rate Loans.
2.14 Capital
Requirements. If,
after the
date hereof, any Lender determines that (i) the adoption of or change
in any
law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital requirements for
banks or
bank holding companies, or any change in the interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the administration
thereof,
or (ii) compliance by such Lender or its parent bank holding company
with any
guideline, request, or directive of any such entity regarding capital
adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law), has the effect of reducing
the return
on such Lender’s or such holding company’s capital as a consequence of such
Lender’s Commitments hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or
such
holding company could have achieved but for such adoption, change,
or compliance
(taking into consideration such Lender’s or such holding company’s then existing
policies with respect to capital adequacy and assuming the full utilization
of
such entity’s capital) by any amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then
such Lender may notify Borrower and Agent thereof. Following receipt
of such notice, Borrower agrees to pay such Lender on demand the amount
of such
reduction of return of capital as and when such reduction is determined,
payable
within ninety (90) days after presentation by such Lender of a statement
in the
amount and setting forth in reasonable detail such Lender’s calculation thereof
and the assumptions upon which such calculation was based (which statement
shall
be deemed true and correct absent manifest error). In determining
such amount, such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution
methods. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand
compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver
of such
Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that Borrower shall not
be
required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any reduction
in
return incurred more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the
date that
such Lender notifies the Borrower of such law, rule, regulation or
guideline
giving rise to such reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim
compensation therefor; provided further that if such claim arises by
reason of
the adoption of or change in any law, rule, regulation or guideline
that is
retroactive, then the one hundred eighty (180) day period referred
to above
shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect
thereof.
3. CONDITIONS;
TERM OF
AGREEMENT.
3.1 Conditions
Precedent to the
Initial Extension of Credit. The
obligation of
each Lender to make its initial extensions of credit provided for hereunder,
is
subject to the fulfillment, to the satisfaction of Agent and each Lender
of each
of the conditions precedent set forth on Schedule 3.1 (the making of
such
initial extension of credit by a Lender being conclusively deemed to
be its
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent ).
3.2 Conditions
Precedent to all
Extensions of Credit. The
obligation of
the Lender Group (or any member thereof) to initially make the Term
Loan, any
Closing Date Advance and thereafter any future Advances hereunder (or
to extend
any other credit hereunder) at any time shall be subject to the following
conditions precedent:
(a) the
representations and warranties of Parent or its Subsidiaries or any
Guarantor
contained in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, certificate
or other
writing delivered to the Agent or any Lender pursuant hereto or thereto
shall be
true and correct in all respects on and as of the date of such extension
of
credit, as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent
that such
representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date);
(b) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on
the date of
such extension of credit, nor shall either result from the making
thereof;
(c) no
injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any nature restricting
or
prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the extending of such credit shall
have
been issued and remain in force by any Governmental Authority against
Borrower,
Agent, or any Lender; and
(d) no
Material Adverse Change shall have occurred since December 31,
2006.
3.3 Term. This
Agreement
shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on September
27, 2011;
provided that if, on or prior to such date, the Convertible Subordinated
Notes
are (i) converted, in their entirety, into equity and there are no
cash payment
obligations (contingent or otherwise) or future commitments outstanding
with
respect thereto at such time, or (ii) otherwise refinanced or replaced
pursuant
to Refinancing Indebtedness with a maturity date not earlier than June
27, 2013,
the term of this Agreement shall end on December 27, 2012 (the “Maturity
Date”). The foregoing notwithstanding, the Lender Group, upon the
election of the Required Lenders, shall have the right to terminate
its
obligations under this Agreement immediately and without notice upon
the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default.
3.4 Effect
of
Termination. On
the date of
termination of this Agreement, all Obligations (including contingent
reimbursement obligations of Borrower with respect to outstanding Letters
of
Credit and including all Bank Product Obligations) immediately shall
become due
and payable without notice or demand (including the requirement that
Borrower
provide (a) Letter of Credit Collateralization, and (b) Bank Product
Collateralization). No termination of this Agreement, however, shall
relieve or discharge Borrower or its Subsidiaries of their duties,
Obligations,
or covenants hereunder or under any other Loan Document and Agent’s Liens in the
Collateral shall remain in effect until all Obligations have been paid
in full
and the Lender Group’s obligations to provide additional credit hereunder have
been terminated. When this Agreement has been terminated and all of
the Obligations have been paid in full and the Lender Group’s obligations to
provide additional credit under the Loan Documents have been terminated
irrevocably, Agent will, at Borrower’s sole expense, without recourse,
representation or warranty, execute and deliver any payoff letters,
termination
statements, lien releases, mortgage releases, re-assignments of trademarks,
discharges of security interests, and other similar discharge or release
documents (and, if applicable, in recordable form) as are reasonably
necessary
to release, as of record, Agent’s Liens and all notices of security interests
and liens previously filed by Agent with respect to the
Obligations. Any remaining cash collateral relating to Letter of
Credit Usage and Bank Product Obligations and any back up letter of
credit with
an undrawn amount shall be returned to Borrower (a) in the case of
any Letter of
Credit surrendered for termination, no later than ten (10) Business
Days
following such surrender to Agent or the Issuing Lender of such Letters
of
Credit, (b) in the case of any Letter of Credit that expires, no later
than
thirty (30) days of the expiration of such Letters of Credit, and (c)
in the
case of the Bank Product Reserve, no later than ten (10) Business Days
following
the termination of the Bank Product Obligations.
3.5 Early
Termination by
Borrower. Borrower
has the
option, at any time upon ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to Agent,
to terminate this Agreement and terminate the Commitments hereunder
by paying to
Agent, in cash, the Obligations (including (a) providing Letter of
Credit
Collateralization with respect to the then existing Letter of Credit
Usage and
(b) providing Bank Product Collateralization with respect to the then
existing
Bank Products), in full. If Borrower has sent a notice of termination
pursuant to the provisions of this Section, then, unless otherwise
agreed by the
Agent, the Commitments shall terminate and Borrower shall be obligated
to repay
the Obligations (including (a) providing Letter of Credit Collateralization
with
respect to the then existing Letter of Credit Usage and (b) providing
Bank
Product Collateralization with respect to the then existing Bank Products),
in
full on the date set forth as the date of termination of this Agreement
in
such notice.
4. REPRESENTATIONS
AND
WARRANTIES.
In
order
to induce the Lender Group to enter into this Agreement, Borrower makes
the
following representations and warranties to the Lender Group which
shall be
true, correct, and complete, in all respects, as of the date hereof,
and at and
as of the date of the making of each Advance (or other extension of
credit) made
thereafter, as though made on and as of the date of such Advance (or
other
extension of credit) (except to the extent that such representations
and
warranties relate solely to an earlier date which shall have been true,
correct
and complete as of such earlier date) and such representations and
warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement:
4.1 No
Encumbrances. Schedule
4.1 (as
updated from time to time) sets forth all Real Property (other than
Oil and Gas
Properties) owned, leased, subleased or used by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries. Parent and
its
Subsidiaries have good and indefeasible title to, or a valid leasehold
interest
in, their personal property assets and good and marketable title to,
or a valid
leasehold interest in, their Real Property (other than Oil and Gas
Properties),
in each case, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted
Liens. Schedule 4.1 (as updated from time to time) also describes any
purchase options, rights of first refusal or other similar contractual
rights in
favor of any Parent or any of its Subsidiaries pertaining to any Real
Property
(other than Oil and Gas Properties) owned or leased by Parent or any
of its
Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date, no portion of any Real Property
(other than Oil and Gas Properties) has suffered any material damage
by fire or
other casualty loss which has not heretofore been repaired and restored
in all
material respects to its original condition or otherwise
remedied. Except as could not reasonably be expected to cause a
Material Adverse Change, all permits required to have been issued or
appropriate
to enable the Real Property (other than Oil and Gas Properties) to
be lawfully
occupied and used for all of the purposes for which they are currently
occupied
and used have been lawfully issued and are in full force and effect
in all
respects.
4.2 Margin
Stock. No
Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party is engaged, nor will
it engage,
principally or as one of its important activities, in the business
of extending
credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin security” as
such terms are defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board
as now and
from time to time hereafter in effect (such securities being referred
to herein
as “Margin Stock”). No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party
owns any Margin Stock, and none of the proceeds of the Term Loan, Advances
or
other extensions of credit under this Agreement will be used, directly
or
indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock,
for the
purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally
incurred
to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or for any other purpose which
might cause
any of the Term Loan, Advances or other extensions of credit under
this
Agreement to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning of Regulation
T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
4.3 Brokers. No
broker or finder acting on behalf of any Loan Party brought about the
obtaining,
making or closing of the Loans and no Loan Party has any obligation
to any
Person in respect of any finder’s or brokerage fees in connection
therewith.
4.4 Jurisdiction
of
Organization; Location of Chief Executive Office; Organizational Identification
Number; Commercial Tort Claims.
(a) The
name
of (within the meaning of Section 9-503 of the Code) and jurisdiction
of
organization of Parent and each of its Subsidiaries is set forth on
Schedule 4.4(a) or as otherwise notified to the Agent pursuant to and
as
permitted by Section 6.5.
(b) The
chief
executive office of Parent and each of its Subsidiaries is located
at the
address indicated on Schedule 4.4(b) or as otherwise notified to the
Agent
pursuant to and as permitted by Section 6.5.
(c) Parent’s
and each of its Subsidiaries’ tax identification numbers and organizational
identification numbers, if any, are identified on Schedule 4.4(c) or
as
otherwise notified to the Agent pursuant to and as permitted by Section
6.5.
(d) As
of the
Closing Date, neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries holds any
commercial
tort claims, except as set forth on Schedule 4.4(d).
4.5 Due
Organization and
Qualification; Compliance with Laws;
Subsidiaries.
(a) Borrower
is duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws
of the
jurisdiction of its organization and qualified to do business in any
state where
the failure to be so qualified reasonably could be expected to result
in a
Material Adverse Change.
(b) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.5(b), is a complete and accurate description of the authorized
capital Stock of Parent, by class, as of the Closing Date, and a description
of
the number of shares of each such class that are issued and outstanding
as of
the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, other than relating to the
Convertible Subordinated Notes and other than as described on Schedule
4.5(b),
there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, or calls relating to
any shares
of Parent’s capital Stock, including any right of conversion or exchange under
any outstanding security or other instrument. Other than relating to
the Convertible Subordinated Notes and other than as described on Schedule
4.5(b), Parent is not subject to any obligation (contingent or otherwise)
to
repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its capital
Stock or any
security convertible into or exchangeable for any of its capital
Stock.
(c) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.5(c), is a complete and accurate description of the authorized
capital Stock of Borrower, by class, and a description of the number
of shares
of each such class that are issued and outstanding. There are no
subscriptions, options, warrants, or calls relating to any shares of
Borrower’s
capital Stock, including any right of conversion or exchange under
any
outstanding security or other instrument. Borrower is not subject to
any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise
acquire or
retire any shares of its capital Stock or any security convertible
into or
exchangeable for any of its capital Stock. Set forth on Schedule 4.5(c) or
as otherwise notified to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.15, is a complete
and
accurate list of Borrower’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries, showing: (i) the
jurisdiction of their organization, (ii) the number of shares of each
class of
common and preferred Stock authorized for each of such Subsidiaries,
and (iii)
the number and the percentage of the outstanding shares of each such
class owned
directly or indirectly by Borrower. Borrower has no joint ventures or
similar arrangements with any Person. All of the outstanding capital
Stock of
each such Subsidiary has been validly issued and is fully paid and
non-assessable.
(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.5(d), there are no subscriptions, options,
warrants, or calls relating to any shares of Borrower’s Subsidiaries’ capital
Stock, including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding
security or other instrument. Neither Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any obligation (contingent or otherwise)
to
repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of Borrower’s Subsidiaries’
capital Stock or any security convertible into or exchangeable for
any such
capital Stock.
(e) (i) Neither
Parent nor any Subsidiary of Parent is in violation of any law, statute,
regulation, ordinance, judgment, order, or decree applicable to it
(other
than Environmental Law which is addressed in Section 4.11 below), which
violation could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse
Change.
(ii) Neither
Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has violated any law in any respect
or failed
to obtain any license, permit, franchise or other authorization from
any
Governmental Authority (other than pursuant to any Environmental Law
which is
addressed in Section 4.11 below) necessary for the ownership of any
of its Oil
and Gas Properties or the conduct of its business which failure could
not
reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. Except as
could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change,
the Oil and
Gas Properties of Parent and its Subsidiaries (and assets and properties
utilized therewith) have been maintained, operated and developed in
a good and
workmanlike manner and in conformity with all applicable laws and all
rules,
regulations and orders of all Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction
(other than pursuant to any Environmental Law which is addressed in
Section 4.11
below) and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases
or other
contracts comprising a part of the Hydrocarbon Interests and other
contracts and
agreements forming a part of such Oil and Gas Properties; specifically
in this
connection, (A) no Oil and Gas Property of Parent (or any of its Subsidiaries)
is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and
regular
allowable production (including the maximum permissible tolerance)
because of
any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the
time) prior
to the Closing Date and (B) none of the wells comprising a part of
any Oil and
Gas Property (or assets and properties utilized therewith) is deviated
from the
vertical, except to the extent such deviation could not reasonably
be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Change, and such wells are, in fact,
bottomed
under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within,
such Oil and
Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on Real Property utilized
therewith, such utilized Real Property) covered by the leases.
4.6 Due
Authorization; No
Conflict.
(a) The
execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower of this Agreement
and the Loan
Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary
action on the part of Borrower and Borrower has full power and authority
to own
and hold under lease its property and to conduct its business substantially
as
currently conducted by it.
(b) The
execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower of this Agreement
and the other
Loan Documents to which it is a party do not and will not (i) violate
any
provision of federal, state, or local law or regulation applicable
to Borrower,
the Governing Documents of Borrower, or any order, judgment, or decree
of any
court or other Governmental Authority binding on Borrower, (ii) conflict
with,
result in a breach of, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time
or both)
a default under any Material Contract of Borrower or require any approval
or
consent of any Person under any Material Contract of Borrower, other
than
consents or approvals that have been obtained and that are still in
force and
effect, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any
Lien of any
nature whatsoever upon any properties or assets of Borrower, other
than
Permitted Liens, or (iv) require any approval of Borrower’s interest holders,
other than approvals that have been obtained and that are still in
force and
effect.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.6, and other than the filing of financing statements,
the recordation of the Mortgages, and other filings or actions necessary
to
perfect Liens granted to Agent in the Collateral, the execution, delivery,
and
performance by Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
to which
Borrower is a party do not and will not require any registration with,
consent,
or approval of, or notice to, or other action with or by, any Governmental
Authority, other than consents or approvals that have been obtained
and that are
still in force and effect and the necessary filings, notices and recording
of
Mortgages and other actions necessary to reflect the Liens granted
to the Agent
in the Collateral.
(d) This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party,
and all
other documents contemplated hereby and thereby, when executed and
delivered by
Borrower will be the legally valid and binding obligations of Borrower,
enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms,
except
as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to
or limiting
creditors’ rights generally.
(e) Agent’s
Liens on all of the assets of the Loan Parties, including the Oil and
Gas
Properties (other than the Oil and Gas Properties that are not expressly
required to be mortgaged under the terms of this Agreement and the
other Loan
Documents), are validly created, perfected (other than any Deposit
Accounts and
Securities Accounts not subject to a Control Agreement as permitted
by Section
6.12, and subject only to the filing of financing statements and the
recordation
of the Mortgages), and first priority Liens, subject only to Permitted
Liens.
(f) The
execution, delivery, and performance by each Guarantor of the Loan
Documents to
which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary action
on the
part of such Guarantor and each Guarantor has full power and authority
to own
and hold under lease its property and to conduct its business substantially
as
currently conducted by it.
(g) The
execution, delivery, and performance by each Guarantor of the Loan
Documents to
which it is a party do not and will not (i) violate any provision of
federal,
state, or local law or regulation applicable to such Guarantor, the
Governing
Documents of such Guarantor, or any order, judgment, or decree of any
court or
other Governmental Authority binding on such Guarantor, (ii) conflict
with,
result in a breach of, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time
or both)
a default under any Material Contract of such Guarantor or require any
approval or consent of any Person under any Material Contract of such
Guarantor,
other than consents or approvals that have been obtained and that are
still in
force and effect, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition
of any
Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any properties or assets of such
Guarantor,
other than Permitted Liens, or (iv) require any approval of such Guarantor’s
interest holders other than approvals that have been obtained and that are
still in force and effect.
(h) Other
than the filing of financing statements, the recordation of the Mortgages,
and
other filings or actions necessary to perfect Liens granted to Agent
in the
Collateral, the execution, delivery, and performance by each Guarantor
of the
Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party do not and will not
require
any registration with, consent, or approval of, or notice to, or other
action
with or by, any Governmental Authority, other than as expressly contemplated
by
the Loan Documents, and consents or approvals that have been obtained
and that
are still in force and effect.
(i) The
Loan
Documents to which each Guarantor is a party, and all other documents
contemplated hereby and thereby, when executed and delivered by such
Guarantor
will be the legally valid and binding obligations of such Guarantor,
enforceable
against such Guarantor in accordance with their respective terms, except
as
enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy,
insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting
creditors’
rights generally.
(j) No
Default or Event of Default exists.
4.7 Litigation. Other
than those
matters disclosed on Schedule 4.7 and other than matters arising after
the
Closing Date that reasonably could not be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change, there are no actions, suits, or proceedings pending
or, to the
best knowledge of Borrower, threatened against Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.
4.8 No
Material Adverse
Change.
(a) All
of
Parent’s consolidated financial statements that have been delivered by Borrower
to the Lender Group have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except,
in the
case of unaudited financial statements, for the lack of footnotes and
being
subject to year-end audit adjustments) and present fairly in all material
respects, the Parent’s and its consolidated Subsidiaries’ financial condition as
of the date thereof and results of operations for the period then
ended. Since the date of the most recent financial statements
included in Parent’s reports filed with the SEC on Form 10-K and 10-Q, as
applicable, there has not been a Material Adverse Change.
(b) The
Projections, including any Projections delivered on or before the Closing
Date,
when submitted to Agent as required pursuant to the Loan Documents
represent
Parent’s and Borrower’s good faith estimate of the future financial performance
of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods set forth
therein. The Projections have been prepared on the basis of the
assumptions set forth therein, which Parent and Borrower believe were fair
and reasonable in light of current and reasonably foreseeable business
conditions at the time submitted to Agent.
4.9 Fraudulent
Transfer.
(a) Each
of
Parent and each of its Subsidiaries is Solvent.
(b) No
transfer of property is being made by Parent or its Subsidiaries and
no
obligation is being incurred by Parent or its Subsidiaries in connection
with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents
with
the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors
of
Parent or its Subsidiaries.
4.10 Employee
Benefits. None
of Parent,
any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their ERISA Affiliates maintains
or
contributes to any Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or other Benefit
Plan.
4.11 Environmental
Condition. Except
as set
forth on Schedule 4.11, or after the date of this Agreement, otherwise
disclosed
in writing, pursuant to Section 5.12, by Parent or Borrower to the
Agent, and
except as would not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse
Change.
(a) Parent,
its Subsidiaries and their businesses and operations, including such
businesses
and operations at any Real Property and any former business and operations
at
real property formerly owned, leased, operated, managed, or occupied
by Parent,
its Subsidiaries or any of their predecessors in interest (the “Former Real
Property”) are and have been in compliance with, and none of Parent nor any
of
its Subsidiaries has liability under, any applicable Environmental
Laws;
(b) Parent
and its Subsidiaries have obtained all permits required for the conduct
of their
business and operations, and the ownership, operation and use of the
Real
Property, under all applicable Environmental Laws (the “Environmental
Permits”). Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the
terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits, and all such Environmental
Permits are valid and in good standing. No expenditures or
operational adjustments, other than those in the ordinary course of
business,
are reasonably anticipated to be required to remain in compliance with
the terms
and conditions of, or to renew or modify such Environmental
Permits;
(c) There
has
been no Release or threatened Release or any handling, management,
generation,
treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Materials on, at, under
or from any
Real Property or Former Real Property that has resulted in, or is reasonably
likely to result in, a material Environmental Liability for Parent
or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(d) There
is
no Environmental Action or Environmental Liability pending or, to the
knowledge
of Parent or its Subsidiaries, threatened against Parent or its Subsidiaries,
or
relating to the operations of Parent or its Subsidiaries, and, to the
knowledge
of Parent or its Subsidiaries, there are no actions, activities, circumstances,
conditions, events or incidents that are reasonably likely to form
the basis of
such an Environmental Action or Environmental Liability against Parent
or any of
its Subsidiaries, including with respect to operations at any Real
Property and
former operations at any Former Real Property;
(e) To
the
knowledge of Parent and its Subsidiaries, no person with an indemnity,
contribution or other obligation to any of Parent or its Subsidiaries
relating
to compliance with or liability under Environmental Law is in default
with
respect to any such indemnity, contribution or other obligation;
(f) None
of
Parent or its Subsidiaries is conducting, financing or is obligated
to perform
any Response Action or otherwise incur any expense under Environmental
Law
pursuant to any Environmental Action or agreement by which it is bound
or has
expressly assumed by contract or agreement;
(g) No
Real
Property or facility owned, operated or leased by Parent or its Subsidiaries
and, to the knowledge of Parent or its Subsidiaries, no Former Real
Property is
(i) listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List
as defined in
and promulgated pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”) or (ii)
included on any similar list maintained by any Governmental Authority
that
indicates that any Parent or Subsidiary has or may have an obligation
to
undertake any Response Action;
(h) No
Environmental Lien has been recorded with respect to any owned Real
Estate
Property or, to the knowledge of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries,
with respect
to any facility leased or operated by Parent or its Subsidiaries, and
to the
knowledge of Parent and its Subsidiaries, no Environmental Lien has
been
threatened with respect to any Real Property;
(i) Parent
or
its Subsidiaries have made available to the Lenders all records and
files in the
possession, custody or control of, or otherwise reasonably available
to, Parent
or its Subsidiaries concerning compliance with or liability or obligation
under
Environmental Law, including those concerning the environmental condition
of the
Real Property or the existence of Hazardous Materials at the Real Property
or
Former Real Property; and
(j) The
representations and warranties set forth in this Section 4.11 shall
be the sole
representations and warranties of Parent and its Subsidiaries under
the Loan
Documents relating to environmental matters.
4.12 Intellectual
Property. Except
with
respect to Seismic Licenses, Parent and its Subsidiaries own, or hold
licenses
in, all trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights,
and
licenses that are necessary to the conduct of its business as currently
conducted, and attached hereto as Schedule 4.12 (as updated from time
to time)
is a true, correct, and complete listing of all material patents, patent
applications, trademarks, trademark applications, copyrights, and copyright
registrations as to which Parent or one of its Subsidiaries is the
owner or is
an exclusive licensee; provided, however, that Borrower may amend Schedule
4.12
to add additional property so long as such amendment occurs by written
notice to
Agent not less than 10 days after the date on which Parent or any Subsidiary
of
Parent acquires any such property after the Closing Date.
4.13 Leases.
Parent
and its
Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession under all leases
covering
any Proved Oil and Gas Property and any other Real Property material
to their
business and to which they are parties or under which they are operating,
and
all of such leases are valid and subsisting and no material default
by Parent or
its Subsidiaries exists under any of them. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.13, there are no leases, subleases, contracts or other operating
agreements that allocate operating expenses to Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries
in excess of its working interest as reflected in the most recent Reserve
Report
in the particular Oil and Gas Property subject to such lease, the sublease,
contract or other operating agreement.
4.14 Deposit
Accounts and
Securities Accounts. Set
forth on
Schedule 4.14 is a listing of all of Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ Deposit
Accounts and Securities Accounts, including, with respect to each bank
or
securities intermediary (a) the name and address of such Person, and
(b) the
account numbers of the Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts maintained
with
such Person. So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, Borrower may amend Schedule 4.14 to add or replace
a Deposit
Account or Securities Account; provided, however, that (i) such prospective
bank
or securities intermediary shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent,
and (ii)
prior to the time of the opening of such Deposit Account or Securities
Account,
Parent (or its Subsidiary, as applicable) and such prospective bank
or
securities intermediary shall have executed and delivered to Agent
a Control
Agreement.
4.15 Complete
Disclosure. None
of the
factual information (taken as a whole) furnished by or on behalf of
Parent or
its Subsidiaries in writing to Agent or any Lender (including all information
contained in the Schedules hereto or in the other Loan Documents) for
purposes
of or in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents,
or any
transaction contemplated herein or therein contains, and none of the
other
factual information (taken as a whole) hereafter furnished by or on
behalf of
Parent or its Subsidiaries in writing to Agent or any Lender will contain,
any
material misstatement of fact or omits, or will omit, to state any
fact
necessary to make such information not misleading in any material respect
at
such time in light of the circumstances under which such information
was
provided, it being understood that the factual information referenced
in this
sentence shall not include the Projections or other forecasts or forward
looking
statements provided to the Agent or the Lender Group. On the Closing
Date, the Projections provided represent, and as of the date on which
any other
projections are delivered to Agent, such additional projections represent,
Borrower’s good faith estimate of its and its Subsidiaries future performance
for the periods covered thereby based upon assumptions believed by
Borrower to
be reasonable at the time of the delivery thereof to Agent (it being
understood
that such projections and forecasts are subject to uncertainties and
contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries and no assurances can be given that such projections or
forecasts
will be realized and further understood that projections concerning
reserves or
production volumes attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties and production
and
cost estimates contained in the projections are necessarily based upon
professional opinions, estimates and projections and that Borrower
and the
Subsidiaries do not warrant that such opinions, estimates and projections
will
ultimately prove to have been accurate, provided that all such projections
shall
be prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by Borrower
to be
reasonable at the time of the delivery thereof to Agent and consistent
with
industry standards).
4.16 Indebtedness. Set
forth on Schedule 4.16 is a true and complete list of all Indebtedness
of Parent
and its Subsidiaries outstanding immediately prior to the Closing Date
that is
to remain outstanding after the Closing Date and such Schedule accurately
sets
forth the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness as of the
Closing
Date.
4.17 Material
Contracts. As
of the Closing Date, set forth on Schedule 4.17 is a list of all Material
Contracts of Parent and its Subsidiaries. Borrower has complied with
its obligations pursuant to Section 5.17. Except for matters which,
either
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected
to result in
a Material Adverse Change, each Material Contract (other than those
that have
expired at the end of their normal terms) (a) is in full force and
effect, and
is binding upon and enforceable against Parent or its Subsidiary, as
applicable,
and, to the Borrower’s knowledge, each other Person that is a party thereto in
accordance with its terms, (b) has not been otherwise amended or modified
(other
than amendments or modifications permitted by Section 6.7(c)) and (c)
is not in
default due to the action or inaction of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries.
4.18 Government
Regulation. Neither
Parent
nor any Subsidiary of Parent is an “investment company” or an “affiliated
person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment
company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as
amended. Neither Parent nor any Subsidiary of Parent is subject to
regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, the
Federal
Power Act, or any other federal or state statute that restricts or
limits its
ability to incur Indebtedness or to perform its obligations hereunder.
The
Advances and the other transactions contemplated hereunder, the application
of
the proceeds thereof and repayment thereof comply in all material respects
with
any such statute or any rule, regulation or order issued by the
SEC.
4.19 Foreign
Assets Control
Regulations, Etc.
(a) Neither
Parent nor any Subsidiary of Parent is in violation in any material
respect of
the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets
control
regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle
B,
Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order
relating
thereto.
(b) Neither
Parent nor any of its respective Subsidiaries (i) is, or will become,
a Person
described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked
Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the
Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) engages or will engage in any dealings or
transactions, or is or will be otherwise associated, with any such
Person. Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all
material respects, with the USA Patriot Act.
(c) No
part
of the proceeds from the loans made hereunder will be used by Borrower,
directly
or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee,
political party, official of a political party, candidate for political
office,
or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain,
retain or
direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the
United
States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
4.20 Insurance
and
Bonds. Schedule
4.20
lists, as of the Closing Date, all insurance policies of any nature
maintained
for current occurrences by Borrower and each Guarantor, as well as
a summary of
the terms of each such policy. Neither Borrower nor any Guarantor is
in default of any obligation under any such policy. Except as set
forth on Schedule 4.20, all such policies are in full force and effect,
all
premiums with respect thereto covering all periods up to and including
the
Closing Date have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination
has
been received with respect to any such policy. Schedule 4.20 contains
an accurate and complete description, as of the Closing Date, of all
performance
bonds related to operations on or pertaining to the Oil and Gas Properties
of
Parent and its Subsidiaries. Such bonds and insurance policies comply
with all
requirements of law and all agreements to which Parent and each of
its
Subsidiaries is a party, except to the extent that such noncompliance
can not
reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change; are valid,
outstanding and enforceable policies; provide adequate coverage in
at least such
amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event
public
liability) as are required by Governmental Authorities and/or usually
insured or
bonded against in the same general area by companies engaged in the
same or a
similar business for the assets and operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries
in
the same or similar locations; will remain in full force and effect
through the
respective dates set forth in Schedule 4.20 without the payment of
additional
premiums except as set forth on Schedule 4.20; and will not in any
way be
affected by, or terminate or lapse by reason of, the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. Neither Parent nor any Subsidiary has been refused
any bonds or insurance with respect to its assets or operations, nor
has its
coverage been limited below usual and customary bond or policy limits,
by any
bonding company or insurance carrier to which it has applied for any
such bond
or insurance or with which it has carried insurance during the three
years prior
to the Closing Date. To the extent any insurance policy has a cash
surrender, rebate or similar value, there is no restriction, Lien or
other
encumbrance affecting any of Parent’s or its Subsidiaries receipt or claim of
such value, and no obligation or agreement to pay, directly or indirectly,
such
value to any other party exists other in favor of the Lenders.
4.21 Government
Contracts. Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.21 and other than leases and other agreements
(but
not excluding agreements pursuant to which or by which receivables
are created
in favor of any Loan Party) relating to Oil and Gas Properties, neither
Parent
nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract or agreement
with any
Governmental Authority and neither Parent’s nor any Subsidiary’s Accounts are
subject to the Federal Assignment of Claims Act, as amended (31
U.S.C. Section 3727).
4.22 Taxes. All
tax returns, reports and statements, including information returns,
required by
any Governmental Authority to be filed by Parent and its Subsidiaries
have been
filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority (and all such returns,
reports
and statements accurately reflect in all material respects all liabilities
of
each respective Parent and its Subsidiaries for the periods covered
thereby) and
all charges have been paid prior to the date on which any material
fine,
penalty, interest or late charge may be added thereto for nonpayment
thereof (or
any such fine, penalty, interest, late charge or loss has been paid),
excluding
charges or other amounts that are subject to a Permitted
Protest. Proper and accurate amounts have been withheld by Parent and
its Subsidiaries from its respective employees for all periods in full
and
complete compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign
law
and such withholdings have been timely paid to the respective Governmental
Authorities. Schedule 4.22 sets forth as of the Closing Date those
taxable years for which Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ tax returns are currently
being audited by the IRS or any other applicable Governmental Authority
and any
assessments or threatened assessments in connection with such audit,
or
otherwise currently outstanding. As of the Closing Date and except as
set forth on Schedule 4.22, there is no action, suit, proceeding, investigation,
audit or claim now pending or threatened by any authority regarding
any taxes
relating to Parent or its Subsidiaries, which, either individually
or in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse
Change or to
result in a material liability to Parent or its Subsidiaries. Except
as described on Schedule 4.22, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries
has
executed or filed with the IRS or any other Governmental Authority
any agreement
or other document extending, or having the effect of extending, the
period for
assessment or collection of any charges or other amounts. None of
Parent or its Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors (or to
Borrower’s
knowledge, as a transferee) are liable for any charges or other amounts
under
any tax agreement (including any tax sharing agreements). As of the
Closing Date, neither Parent nor its Subsidiaries has agreed or been
requested
to make any adjustment under IRC Section 481(a), by reason of a change
in
accounting method or otherwise, which could cause a Material Adverse
Change.
4.23 Gas,
Imbalances,
Prepayments. As
of the date hereof, except as set forth on Schedule 4.23 or on the
most recent
certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.20(c), on a net basis there
are no
gas imbalances, take or pay or other similar arrangements or any prepayment
with
respect to any of the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, which would require such Person either to make cash settlements
for such production or require Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to
deliver
Hydrocarbons produced from the Oil and Gas Properties at some future
time in any
case without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor exceeding
the
amount permitted pursuant to Section 6.17.
4.24 Swap
Agreements. Schedule
4.24 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of
all Swap
Agreements (including any commodity price swap agreements, forward
agreements or
contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment
or delivery
of Hydrocarbons or other commodities) of Parent and its Subsidiaries,
the
material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination
date and notional amounts or volumes), all credit support agreements
relating
thereto (including any margin required or supplied), and the counterparty
to
each such agreement.
4.25 Location
of Real Property
and Leased Premises.
(a) Schedule
4.25 lists completely and correctly as of the Closing Date all material
Oil and
Gas Properties that are Real Property whether leased or owned by Parent
(and its
Subsidiaries, as applicable) and the lands covered or respective addresses
(if
any), as applicable, counties and states thereof.
(b) Parent
(and each of its Subsidiaries) has Defensible Title to all of its Proved
Oil and
Gas Properties set forth on Schedule 4.25 which constitute Real Property
and
good and indefeasible title to all of its Proved Oil and Gas Properties
which
constitute personal property, except for (i) such imperfections of title
which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value thereof
to, or
the use thereof in, the business of Parent (or its Subsidiaries, as
applicable)
and (ii) Permitted Liens. The quantum and nature of the interest of
Parent and its Subsidiaries in and to the Oil and Gas Properties as
set forth in
the Initial Reserve Report or the most recent Reserve Report, as the
case may
be, includes the entire interest of Parent and its Subsidiaries in
such Oil and
Gas Properties as of the date of the Initial Reserve Report or such
applicable
Reserve Report delivered by Borrower to Agent pursuant to Section 5.20,
as the
case may be, and are complete and accurate in all material respects
as of the
date of the Initial Reserve Report or such applicable Reserve Report,
as the
case may be; and there are no “back-in” or “reversionary” interests held by
third parties which could materially reduce the interest of Parent
(or any of
its Subsidiaries, as the case may be) in such Oil and Gas Properties
except as
expressly set forth in the Initial Reserve Report or the most recent
Reserve
Report, as the case may be. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.25, the
ownership of the Oil and Gas Properties by Parent and each of its Subsidiaries
shall not in any material respect obligate Parent or any such Subsidiary
to bear
the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development or
operations of
each such Oil and Gas Property in an amount in excess of the working
interest of
record of Parent (or any such Subsidiary, as applicable) in each Oil
and Gas
Property set forth in the Initial Reserve Report or the most recent
Reserve
Report, as the case may be.
(c) Parent’s
and each of its Subsidiaries’ marketing, gathering, transportation, processing
and treating facilities and equipment, together with any marketing,
gathering,
transportation, processing and treating contracts in effect between
and/or among
Parent, its Subsidiaries and any other Person, are or are reasonably
anticipated
to be sufficient to gather, transport, process and/or treat, volumes
of
production of Hydrocarbons from the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent
and its
Subsidiaries, as applicable, that are contemplated by the Initial Reserve
Report
or most recent Reserve Report, as the case may be.
4.26 Nature
of
Business. Neither
Parent
nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any business other than the
Oil and
Gas Business within the continental United States and Canada.
4.27 Seismic
Licenses. To
the extent not
prohibited by the terms thereof, or any confidentiality agreement,
Schedule 4.27
identifies all of the license agreements relating to the performance
of seismic
exploration on the Oil and Gas Properties (“Seismic Licenses”) to which Parent
and its Subsidiaries are a party as of the date hereof. With respect
to the Seismic Licenses: (i) all Seismic Licenses are in effect and
have not
expired or terminated; (ii) neither Parent nor any Subsidiary is in
material
breach or material default, and there has occurred no event, fact,
or
circumstance, that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice,
or both,
would constitute such a material breach or material default by Parent
or any of
its Subsidiaries, as applicable, with respect to the terms of any Seismic
License; and (iii) neither Parent, nor any Subsidiary thereof, nor,
to the
knowledge of Parent and its Subsidiaries, any other party to any Seismic
License
has given written notice of any action to terminate, cancel, rescind,
or procure
a judicial reformation of any Seismic License or any provision
thereof.
4.28 Marketing
of
Production. Except
for contracts listed and in effect on the date hereof on Schedule 4.28,
and
thereafter either disclosed in writing to Agent or included in the
most recently
delivered Reserve Report (with respect to all of which contracts Borrower
represents that it, the Parent and its Subsidiaries are receiving a
price for
all production sold thereunder which is computed substantially in accordance
with the terms of the relevant contract and are not having deliveries
curtailed
substantially below the subject Property’s delivery capacity), no material
agreements exist which are not cancelable on sixty (60) days notice
or less
without penalty or detriment for the sale of production from Borrower’s or its
Subsidiaries’ (or Parent’s) Hydrocarbons (including, without limitation, calls
on or other rights to purchase, production, whether or not the same
are
currently being exercised) that (a) pertain to the sale of production
at a fixed
price and (b) have a maturity or expiry date of more than six (6) months
from
the date hereof. All proceeds from the sale of Borrower’s (and its
Subsidiaries’ and Parent’s) Hydrocarbon Interests from their Oil and Gas
Properties will be paid in full to the applicable party by the purchaser
thereof
on a timely basis, and none of such proceeds are currently being held
in
suspense by such purchaser or any other Person. Except as set forth
in Schedule 4.28, none of the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent or any
Subsidiary
thereof are subject to any contractual or other arrangement whereby
payment for
production therefrom is to be deferred for a substantial period of
time after
the month in which such production is delivered (i.e., in the case
of oil, not
in excess of sixty (60) days, and in the case of gas, not in excess
of ninety
(90) days).
4.29 Senior
Indebtedness. The Obligations constitute “Senior
Indebtedness” under the terms of the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement,
the Loan Documents constitute “Bank Loan Documents” , the Lenders and Agent
constitute “Senior Lenders” and the Bank Product Providers constitute “Senior
Affiliates” each under the terms of the Subordination and Intercreditor
Agreement.
5. AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS.
Borrower
covenants and agrees that, until termination of all of the Commitments
and
repayment in full of the Obligations, Borrower shall and shall cause
Parent and
each of its Subsidiaries to do all of the following:
5.1 Accounting
System. Maintain
a system
of accounting that enables Parent to produce financial statements in
accordance
with GAAP and maintain records pertaining to the Collateral in accordance
with
customary industry practice.
5.2 Collateral
Reporting. Provide
Agent (and if so requested by Agent, with copies for each Lender) with
each of
the reports set forth on Schedule 5.2 at the times specified
therein.
5.3 Financial
Statements,
Reports, Certificates. Deliver
to Agent,
with copies to each Lender, each of the financial statements, reports,
or other
items set forth on Schedule 5.3 at the times specified therein. In
addition, Borrower agrees that no Subsidiary of Borrower or Parent
will have a
fiscal year different from that of Borrower.
5.4 Guarantor
Reports. Cause
each
Guarantor to deliver its annual financial statements at the time when
Borrower
provides its audited financial statements to Agent, but only to the
extent such
Guarantor’s financial statements are not consolidated with Borrower’s financial
statements.
5.5 Inspection. Permit
Agent, each
Lender, and each of their duly authorized representatives or agents,
at the sole
cost of Borrower, to visit any of the properties of Parent or its Subsidiaries
and inspect any of the assets or books and records of Parent or any
of its
Subsidiaries, to examine and make copies of the books and records of
Parent or
its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances, and accounts
with, and
to be advised as to the same by, the officers and employees of Parent
or its
Subsidiaries at such reasonable times and intervals as Agent or any
such Lender
may designate and, so long as no Event of Default exists, with reasonable
prior
notice to Borrower; provided, however, that so long as no Event of
Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall not be responsible
for the costs
of more than two (2) inspection visits per calendar year.
5.6 Maintenance
of
Properties. Borrower
will,
and will cause each of its Subsidiaries and Parent to:
(a) prudently
operate its Proved Oil and Gas Properties for the production of Hydrocarbons,
operate its other Properties and, to the extent Parent or one of its
Subsidiaries is not the operator of a Property in which it has an interest,
Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operator
to
operate such Property, in each case in accordance with the practices
of the
industry, in material compliance with all applicable Material Contracts,
in the
case of Proved Oil and Gas Properties in accordance with good engineering
practices consistent with industry practice except as could not reasonably
be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, and in all cases,
in compliance
with all applicable laws, including, without limitation, applicable
proration
requirements (other than Environmental Laws, which are addressed in
Section 5.12
below), and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations of every
other
Governmental Authority from time to time constituted to regulate the
development
and operation of its Oil and Gas Properties and the production and
sale of
Hydrocarbons and other minerals therefrom except for the non-compliance
of which
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change;
(b) keep
and
maintain all Property material to the conduct of its business in good
working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and casualty events excepted,
preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, working order (ordinary
wear and
tear and casualty events excepted) all of its material Proved Oil and
Gas
Properties and other material Properties, including, without limitation,
all
equipment, machinery, facilities, and marketing, gathering, transportation
and
processing assets and, from time to time, will make all the reasonably
necessary
repairs, renewals and replacements so that at all times the state and
conditions
of such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties will be
fully
preserved and maintained in a manner sufficient to permit reasonable
operation
in accordance with good oilfield practices, except to the extent a
portion of
such assets is no longer capable of producing Hydrocarbons in economically
reasonable amounts;
(c) except
for payments subject to a Permitted Protest, promptly pay and discharge
prior to
the expiration of any applicable cure period, or make efforts to cause
to be
paid and discharged, all material delay rentals, royalties, expenses
and
indebtedness accruing under Material Contracts affecting or pertaining
to its
Proved Oil and Gas Properties in a manner that could reasonably be
expected to
keep unimpaired their material rights with respect thereto and prevent
any
forfeiture thereof or other default thereunder; and
(d) promptly
perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed,
in
accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each
and all of
the Material Contracts affecting its interests in its Proved Oil and
Gas
Properties and other material Properties in a manner that could
reasonably be expected to keep unimpaired, except for Permitted Liens,
its
rights with respect thereto and prevent any forfeiture thereof, a default
thereunder, or any deficiency payment thereunder, except to the extent
a portion
of such properties is no longer capable of producing Hydrocarbons in
economically reasonable amounts.
5.7 Taxes. Cause
all
assessments and taxes, whether real, personal, or otherwise, due or
payable by,
or imposed, levied, or assessed against Parent, Borrower, their Subsidiaries,
or
any of their respective assets to be paid in full, before delinquency
or before
the expiration of any extension period, except to the extent that the
validity
of such assessment or tax shall be the subject of a Permitted
Protest. Borrower will and will cause its Subsidiaries and Parent to
make timely payment or deposit of all tax payments and withholding
taxes
required of it and them by applicable laws, including those laws concerning
F.I.C.A., F.U.T.A., state disability, and local, state, and federal
income
taxes, and will, upon request, furnish Agent with proof satisfactory
to Agent
indicating that Parent and its Subsidiaries have made such payments
or
deposits.
5.8 Insurance.
(a) At
Borrower’s expense, maintain insurance respecting its and its Subsidiaries’
assets (and the Parent) wherever located, covering loss or damage by
fire,
theft, explosion, and all other hazards and risks as ordinarily are
insured
against by other Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses
operating in
the same or similar locations. The Parent and its Subsidiaries shall
maintain public liability, and product liability insurance, as well
as insurance
against larceny, embezzlement, and criminal misappropriation. In
addition, each of the the Parent and its Subsidiaries shall maintain
performance
bonds in respect of its operations related to its respective Oil and
Gas
Properties in such amounts and in such manner as is customary for companies
engaged in the same or similar business operating in the same or similar
locations. All such policies of insurance shall be in such amounts
and with such insurance companies as are reasonably satisfactory to
Agent, it
being agreed that the insurance policies and amounts maintained by
Parent and
its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date are satisfactory. Borrower
shall deliver copies of all such policies to Agent with an endorsement
naming
Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) as loss payee (under a satisfactory
lender’s
loss payable endorsement) or additional insured, as appropriate. Each
policy of insurance or endorsement shall contain a clause requiring
the insurer
to give not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to Agent
in the
event of cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever. During
the period of the drilling of wells and the construction of any other
improvements comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent
and its
Subsidiaries, Borrower shall, cause its contractors or subcontractors
to (and
shall cause its Subsidiaries and their contractors and subcontractors
to),
obtain and maintain well control insurance (including coverage for
costs and
redrilling) and builder’s risk insurance, as applicable, in such form and
amounts as is customary in the industry (it being understood that such
insurance
is not required with respect to drilling and construction associated
with coal
bed methane wells in Wyoming) and worker’s
compensation insurance covering all Persons employed by Parent and
its
Subsidiaries or its or their agents or subcontractors of any tier in
connection
with any construction affecting such Oil and Gas Properties, including,
without
limitation, all agents and employees of Parent and its Subsidiaries
and its and
their subcontractors with respect to whom death or bodily injury claims
could be
asserted against Parent or any Subsidiary thereof. If Borrower or any
Guarantor at any time or times hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain
any of
the policies of insurance required above or to pay all premiums relating
thereto, Agent may at any time or times thereafter obtain and maintain
such
policies of insurance and pay such premiums and take any other action
with
respect thereto which Agent deems advisable; provided that prior to
a Default or
Event of Default, Agent shall not obtain any new insurance policies
without
prior consultation with Borrower. Agent shall have no obligation to
obtain insurance for Borrower or any Guarantor or pay any premiums
therefor. By doing so, Agent shall not be deemed to have waived any
Default or Event of Default arising from Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s failure
to maintain such insurance or pay any premiums therefor. All sums so
disbursed, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs and other charges
related thereto, shall be payable on demand by Borrower to Agent and
shall be
additional Obligations hereunder secured by the Collateral.
(b) Agent
reserves the right at any time upon any material change in Borrower’s or any
Guarantor’s risk profile (including any change laws affecting the potential
liability of Borrower or such Guarantor) to require additional forms
and limits
of insurance to, in Agent’s reasonable opinion, adequately protect both Agent’s
and Lenders’ interests in all or any portion of the Collateral and to ensure
that each Loan Party is protected by insurance in amounts and with
coverage in compliance with the requirements of Section
5.8(a). If requested by Agent, Borrower or any Guarantor shall
deliver to Agent from time to time a report of a reputable insurance
broker,
satisfactory to Agent, with respect to its insurance policies.
(c) Borrower
shall give Agent prompt notice of any loss exceeding Two Hundred Fifty
Thousand
Dollars ($250,000) covered by such insurance. So long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall have the exclusive
right
to adjust any losses payable under any such insurance
policies. Following the occurrence and during the continuation of an
Event of Default, Agent shall have the exclusive right to adjust any
losses
payable under any such insurance policies, without any liability to
Borrower
whatsoever in respect of such adjustments.
(d) Borrower
will not, and will not suffer or permit its Subsidiaries or Parent
to, take out
separate insurance concurrent in form or contributing in the event
of loss with
that required to be maintained under this Section 5.8, unless Agent
is included
thereon as an additional insured or loss payee under a lender's loss
payable
endorsement. Borrower shall notify Agent promptly whenever such
separate insurance is taken out, specifying the insurer and the type
and amount
of insurance provided thereunder as to the policies evidencing the
same, and
copies of such policies shall be provided to Agent promptly after receipt
by
Loan Parties thereof.
5.9 Compliance
with
Laws. Comply
with the
requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders
of any
Governmental Authority, other than Environmental Laws (which are addressed
in
Section 5.12 below) and laws, rules, regulations, and orders (other
than
Environmental Laws) the non-compliance with which, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse
Change. Each shall obtain and maintain all licenses, permits, franchises,
and
governmental authorizations (other than Environmental Permits, which
are
addressed in Section 5.12 below) required to own its property and to
conduct its
business as conducted on the Closing Date, except as could not reasonably
be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
5.10 [Intentionally
Omitted.]
5.11 Existence. At
all times
preserve and keep in full force and effect Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries and
Parent’s, valid existence and good standing and, except as could not reasonably
be expected (either individually or in the aggregate) to result in
a Material
Adverse Change, any rights, franchises, permits, licenses, accreditations,
authorizations, or other approvals material to their businesses.
5.12 Environmental.
(a) Except
as
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
(i)
keep any Real Property free of any Environmental Liens or (ii) post
bonds or
other financial assurances sufficient to satisfy the obligations or
liability
evidenced by such Environmental Liens, in each case, to the extent
such
Environmental Liens arise from any Environmental Liability of Parents
or its
Subsidiaries;
(b) Except
as
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
comply with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and
maintain in full force and effect all Environmental Permits; and conduct
all
actions, including Response Actions, required under any Environmental
Actions or
applicable Environmental Laws, and in compliance with, the lawful requirements
of any Governmental Authority and applicable Environmental Laws;
(c) Except
as
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
do or
cause to be taken all commercially reasonable steps necessary to prevent
any
Release caused by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or any contractor,
employee
or agent thereof, in, on, under, to or from any Real Property except
in full
compliance with applicable Environmental Laws or an Environmental Permit,
and
(ii) ensure that Parent, any Subsidiary, and any contractor, employee
or agent
thereof, shall not use, store, handle or manage Hazardous Materials
in, on,
under or from any Real Property except those that are used, stored,
handled and
managed in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws;
(d) Except
as
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
undertake all commercially reasonable actions, including Response Actions,
necessary, at the sole cost and expense of Borrower or its Subsidiaries,
to
address (i) any Environmental Action and any obligations thereunder;
(ii) any
Release at, from or onto any Real Property as required pursuant to
Environmental
Law or the requirements of any Governmental Authority; and (iii) Environmental
Liability;
(e) Diligently
pursue and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any Person
with an
indemnity, contribution or other obligation to any of the Loan Parties
or their
Subsidiaries relating to any Environmental Action or compliance with
or
liability under Environmental Law to satisfy such obligations in full
and in a
timely manner; and shall not amend in any way or waive any or all rights
to such
obligations without the prior written consent of Agent, which shall
not be
unreasonably withheld;
(f) Upon
Agent’s reasonable request,
promptly provide to Agent documentation reasonably acceptable
to Agent
of compliance
with items
(a) through (e), including, without limitation, within
45
days following a written request of Agent, but no more frequently than
once each
year unless an Event of Default exists, pursuant to Section 5.12(g)
below, or a
Default caused by reason of a breach of Sections 4.11 or 5.12 herein,
provide
Agent with an environmental assessment, including where appropriate
and
permitted by the applicable lease, any soil and/or groundwater sampling,
prepared by an environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable
to Agent, and
in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent;
(g) Promptly,
but in any event within ten (10) Business Days of its obtaining knowledge
thereof, provide Agent with written notice of, and all data, information
and
reports generated or prepared in connection with, any of the following:
(i) an
Environmental Lien has been filed or is threatened against the Real
Property or
any personal property of Parent or its Subsidiaries, (ii) commencement
of any
material Environmental Action or notice that a material Environmental
Action
will be filed against Parent or its Subsidiaries, and (iii) any Release
or
threatened Release in, on, under, at, from or migrating to any Real
Property
owned, leased or operated by any of Parent or its Subsidiaries that
requires
reporting by Borrower under any Environmental Law, except as otherwise
pursuant
to and in compliance with the terms and conditions of an Environmental
Permit or
any Environmental Law and not including any report required under the
Emergency
Planning and Community Right to Know Act or similar state and local
laws, (iv)
any material non-compliance with, or violation of, any Environmental
Law
applicable to any Parent, any Subsidiary, any Parent’s business and any Real
Property, (v) any Response Action which could reasonably be expected
to result
in a material Environmental Liability to Parent or any Subsidiary,
(vi) any
material notice or other material communication received by any Parent
or
Subsidiary from any Person or Governmental Authority relating to any
material
Environmental Liability of Parent or any Subsidiary. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.12 shall require Parent or any
of its
Subsidiaries to provide any notice or communication that would waive
any
applicable privilege.
5.13 Disclosure
Updates. Promptly
and in
no event later than five (5) Business Days after obtaining knowledge
thereof,
notify Agent if any written information, exhibit, or report furnished
to the
Lender Group contained, at the time it was furnished, any untrue statement
of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make
the
statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of
the
circumstances in which made. The foregoing to the contrary
notwithstanding, any notification pursuant to the foregoing provision
will not
cure or remedy the effect of the prior untrue statement of a material
fact or
omission of any material fact nor shall any such notification have
the effect of
amending or modifying this Agreement or any of the Schedules hereto;
provided,
however, that in no event shall the requirements of this Section 5.13
apply to
any Projections, forecasts or other forward looking statements provided
to the
Agent or the Lender Group.
5.14 Control
Agreements. To
the extent
required under the Loan Documents, take all reasonable steps in order
for Agent
to obtain control in accordance with Sections 8-106, 9-104, 9-105,
9-106, and
9-107 of the Code with respect to (subject to the proviso contained
in Section
6.12) all of its Securities Accounts, Deposit Accounts, and all of
its
electronic chattel paper, investment property, and letter-of-credit rights
other than all such items with an aggregate value not exceeding Five
Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000).
5.15 Formation
of
Subsidiaries. To
the
extent permitted under this Agreement, if at the time that Borrower or any
Guarantor forms any direct or indirect Subsidiary or acquires any direct
or
indirect Subsidiary after the Closing Date, within ten (10) Business
Days
following formation or acquisition, Borrower or such Guarantor shall
(a) cause
such new Subsidiary to provide to Agent a joinder to the Guaranty and
the
Security Agreement, together with such other security documents (including
Mortgages with respect to any Real Property of such new Subsidiary
when required
to satisfy the requirements of Section 5.16), as well as appropriate
financing
statements (and with respect to all property subject to a Mortgage,
fixture
filings), all in form and substance satisfactory to Agent (including
being
sufficient to grant Agent a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted
Liens) in
and to the assets of such newly formed or acquired Subsidiary), (b)
provide to
Agent a pledge agreement and appropriate certificates and powers or
financing
statements, hypothecating all of the direct or beneficial ownership
interest in
such new Subsidiary, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, and
(c)
provide to Agent all other documentation, including, if requested by
Agent, one
or more opinions of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Agent, which
in its
opinion is appropriate with respect to the execution and delivery of
the
applicable documentation referred to above (including policies of title
insurance or other documentation with respect to all property subject
to a
Mortgage, subject to any limitation expressly set forth in Section
5.22);
provided however, that the foregoing obligations shall not apply to
any
Subsidiary prior to such time as it owns assets with more than a de
minimus
value. Any document, agreement, or instrument executed or issued
pursuant to this Section 5.16 shall be a Loan Document.
5.16 Further
Assurances. At
any time upon the request of Agent, Borrower shall within thirty (30)
days
(unless there is an imminent threat to Agent’s or any Lender’s perfection on any
portion of the Collateral, in which case, promptly upon request) execute
or
deliver to Agent, and shall cause its Subsidiaries or the Parent, as
applicable,
to execute or deliver to Agent, any and all financing statements, personal
property security act filings, fixture filings, security agreements,
pledges,
assignments, endorsements of certificates of title, mortgages, deeds
of trust,
opinions of counsel, and all other documents (collectively, the “Additional
Documents”) that Agent may reasonably request in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Agent, to create, perfect, and continue perfected or
to better
perfect Agent’s Liens with respect to Oil and Gas Properties that are required
to be mortgaged pursuant to this Section 5.16 and all of the other
properties
and assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries (whether now owned or hereafter
arising or acquired, tangible or intangible, real or personal), to
create and
perfect Liens in favor of Agent in any Real Property acquired by Parent
or its
Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, and in order to fully consummate
all of the
transactions contemplated hereby and under the other Loan Documents,
provided
that Section 5.21 shall govern the obligation of Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and Parent to deliver title information with respect to Oil and Gas
Properties. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law,
Borrower authorizes Agent to file such executed Additional Documents
in any
appropriate filing office. If at any time the
aggregate Total Reserve Value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties
evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report for which the Agent shall
have
received Mortgages encumbering such Proved Oil and Gas Properties constitutes
less than (a) eighty percent (80%) of the aggregate Total Reserve Value
and (b)
ninety percent (90%) of the aggregate Proved Developed Producing Reserves of all
Oil and Gas Properties of Parent and its Subsidiaries evaluated in
the most
recent Reserve Report, it being agreed that the Proved Reserves not
subject to
any Mortgage shall not constitute a Proved Reserve that is reasonably
necessary
to the integral operation of the Proved Reserves subject to Mortgages,
Borrower
shall (and shall cause Parent or any applicable Subsidiary to) promptly:
(a)
execute and deliver to Agent Mortgages covering additional Oil and
Gas
Properties, amendments to the Mortgages or such other documents as
Agent shall
deem necessary or advisable to grant to Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders, a
perfected first priority Lien on such Oil and Gas Properties with (a)
a Total
Reserve Value consisting not less than eighty percent (80%) of the
aggregate
Total Reserve Value and (b) Proved Developed Producing Reserves consisting
not
less than ninety percent (90%) of the aggregate Proved Developed Producing
Reserves of all Oil and Gas Properties of Parent and its Subsidiaries
evaluated
in the most recent Reserve Report; and (b) take all actions necessary
or
advisable to cause such Lien to be duly perfected in accordance with
all
applicable law, including, without limitation, the filing of Mortgages,
or UCC
financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested
by
Agent; provided, however, that in the case of Oil and Gas Properties,
such
obligations shall be subject to the obtaining of any necessary third
party
consents, which Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to
obtain.
5.17 Material
Contracts. Contemporaneously
with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant hereto, provide
Agent
with copies of (a) each Material Contract entered into since the delivery
of the
previous Compliance Certificate, and (b) each material amendment or
modification
of any Material Contract entered into since the delivery of the previous
Compliance Certificate.
5.18 Intellectual
Property. Parent
and each Subsidiary will use all reasonable efforts to conduct its
business and
affairs without material infringement of or interference with any intellectual
property of any other Person, and, in the event Borrower acquires knowledge
of
any such infringement or interference, will promptly cease such infringement
or
interference.
5.19 Exercise
of
Rights. Borrower
and each Guarantor shall enforce all of its material rights as appropriate
in
its commercially reasonable judgment, including, without limitation,
all
material indemnification rights, and pursue as appropriate in its commercially
reasonable judgment all material remedies available to Borrower or
such
Guarantor with diligence and in good faith in connection with the enforcement
of
any such rights.
5.20 Reserve
Reports.
(a) On
or
before March 3rd and September 3rd of each year, commencing March 3,
2008,
Borrower shall furnish to Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report as
of the
immediately preceding January 1 or July 1, as applicable. The Reserve
Report as of January 1 of each year shall be prepared by Netherland,
Sewell
& Associates, Inc. of Houston, Texas or one or more other independent
third
party Petroleum Engineers reasonably acceptable to Agent and the Reserve
Report
as of July 1 of each year shall be prepared by or under the supervision
of the
chief engineer of Borrower who shall certify such Reserve Report to
be true and
accurate in all material respects and to have been prepared in accordance
with
the procedures used in the immediately preceding January 1 Reserve
Report.
(b) In
the
event of an Interim Redetermination, Borrower shall furnish to Agent
and the
Lenders a Reserve Report prepared by or under the supervision of the
chief
engineer of Borrower who shall certify such Reserve Report to be true
and
accurate in all material respects and to have been prepared in accordance
with
the procedures used in the immediately preceding January 1 Reserve
Report. For any Interim Redetermination requested by Agent or
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1, Borrower shall provide such Reserve
Report
with an “as of” date as required by Agent as soon as possible, but in any event
no later than sixty-two (62) days following the receipt of such
request.
(c) With
the
delivery of each Reserve Report, Borrower shall provide to Agent and
the Lenders
a certificate from a Responsible Officer certifying that in all material
respects: (i) the
information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information
delivered
in connection therewith is true and correct, (ii) Borrower or
its
Subsidiaries owns Defensible Title to the Proved Oil and Gas Properties
evaluated in such Reserve Report, (iii) except as set
forth on an
exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances,
take or
pay or other prepayments in excess of the volume specified in Section
4.23 with
respect to their Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report
that
would require Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to deliver Hydrocarbons
either
generally or produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future
time
without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (iv) none of their
Proved Oil
and Gas Properties have been sold since the date of the last Borrowing
Base
determination except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate,
which
certificate shall list all of its Proved Oil and Gas Properties sold
and in such
detail as reasonably required by Agent, (v) attached to
the certificate
is a list of all marketing agreements entered into subsequent to the
later of
the date hereof or the most recently delivered Reserve Report that
Borrower
could reasonably be expected to have been obligated to list on Schedule
4.28 had
such agreement been in effect on the date hereof, (vi) attached thereto
is a
schedule of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report
that are
Mortgaged Properties and demonstrating the percentage of the present
value that
such Mortgaged Properties represent, and (vii) to the extent
required
under the Loan Documents, all Proved Oil and Gas Properties are subject
to the
Security Documents securing the Obligations, and such Security Documents
constitute legal, valid and duly perfected, first priority security
interests
and Liens in favor of Agent in such properties and in the oil and gas
attributable to such properties and proceeds thereof.
5.21 Title
Information.
(a) On
or
prior to the Closing Date, Borrower will deliver title information
in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to Agent (which the Agent acknowledges
may be in
the form of a title opinion) covering enough of the Proved Oil and
Gas
Properties evaluated by the Initial Reserve Report, so that Agent shall
have
received, together with title information previously delivered to Agent,
reasonably satisfactory title information on at least eighty percent
(80%) of
the Total Reserve Value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated
by the
Initial Reserve Report.
(b) On
or
before the delivery to Agent and the Lenders of each Reserve Report
required by
Section 5.20(a), Borrower will deliver title to Agent covering enough
of the
Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that
were not
included in the immediately preceding Reserve Report, so that Agent
shall have
received together with title information previously delivered to Agent,
reasonably satisfactory title information evidencing Defensible Title
on at
least eighty percent (80%) of the Total Reserve Value of the Proved
Oil and Gas
Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report.
(c) If
Borrower has provided title information for additional Properties under
Section 5.21(b), Borrower shall, within sixty (60) days of notice from
Agent that title defects or exceptions exist with respect to such additional
Properties which render Borrower’s title not a Defensible Title, either (i) cure
to the satisfaction of Agent any such title defects or exceptions (including
defects or exceptions as to priority) which are not permitted by Section
6.2
raised by such information, (ii) substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties
with
Defensible Title having an equivalent value or (iii) deliver revised
title
information in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent so
that Agent
shall have received, together with title information previously delivered
to
Agent, reasonably satisfactory title information on at least eighty
percent
(80%) of the Total Reserve Value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties
evaluated
by such Reserve Report. For purposes of clarity, Agent shall be
permitted to establish reserves against the then-existing Borrowing
Base
pursuant to Section 2.1(b) to the extent that the Agent does not receive
satisfactory title as determined in this clause (c).
(d) If
Borrower is unable to cure any title defect requested to be cured pursuant
to
Section 5.21(c) within the sixty (60)-day period or Borrower does not
comply
with the requirements of Section 5.21(b) to provide acceptable title
information
covering eighty percent (80%) of the Total Reserve Value of the Proved
Oil and
Gas Properties evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report, such default
shall
not be a Default, but instead Agent and/or the Required Lenders shall
have the
right to exercise the following remedy in their reasonable discretion
from time
to time, and any failure to so exercise this remedy at any time shall
not be a
waiver as to future exercise of the remedy by Agent or the
Lenders. To the extent that Agent or the Required Lenders are not
reasonably satisfied with title to any Mortgaged Property after the
60-day
period has elapsed, such unacceptable Mortgaged Property shall not
count towards
“the eighty percent (80%) requirement,” and Agent may send a notice to Borrower
and the Lenders that the then outstanding Borrowing Base shall be reduced
by an
amount as determined by the Required Lenders to cause Borrower to be
in
compliance with the requirement to provide acceptable title information
on
eighty percent (80%) of the Total Reserve Value of the Proved Oil and
Gas
Properties pursuant to this Section 5.21. This new Borrowing Base
shall become effective on the third Business Day after receipt of such
notice.
5.22 Swap
Agreements. Subject
to the provisions of Section 6.24, Borrower shall maintain in effect
(and cause
its Subsidiaries to maintain) one or more Swap Agreements with respect
to its
Hydrocarbon production, with the aggregate notional volumes of Hydrocarbons
covered by such Swap Agreements constituting not less than fifty percent
(50%)
of the aggregate amount of Borrower's (and its Subsidiaries’) estimated
Hydrocarbon production volumes on an Mcf equivalent basis (where one
barrel of
oil is equal to six (6) Mcf of gas) for the succeeding twelve (12)
calendar
months on a rolling twelve (12) month basis for such period from Oil
and Gas
Properties classified as Proved Developed Producing Reserves in the
most recent
Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 5.20. Borrower shall use
(and cause its Subsidiaries to use) such Swap Agreements solely as
a part of
their normal business operations as a risk management strategy and/or
hedge
against changes resulting from market conditions related to their oil
and gas
operations and not as a means to speculate for investment purposes
on trends and
shifts in financial or commodities markets.
5.23 [Intentionally
Omitted].
5.24 Post
Closing
Obligations. No later than January 30, 2008, (i)
Borrower shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to
the Agent a
Collateral Access Agreement with respect to the leased property located
at 1125
17th Street, Suite 2310, Denver, Colorado 80202 and (ii) Borrower shall,
or
shall cause Parent, as applicable, to deliver to Agent Control Agreements
with
American National Bank and Nova Scotia Bank with respect to Deposit
Accounts of
the Loan Parties held at such banks.
6. NEGATIVE
COVENANTS.
Borrower
covenants and agrees that, until termination of all of the Commitments
and
repayment in full of the Obligations, Borrower will not and will not
permit any
of its Subsidiaries and will not cause the Parent to do any of the
following:
6.1 Indebtedness. Create,
incur,
assume, suffer to exist, guarantee, or otherwise become or remain,
directly or
indirectly, liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness
evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together
with
Indebtedness owed to Underlying Issuers with respect to Underlying
Letters of
Credit;
(b) Indebtedness
relating to the Convertible Subordinated Notes and other Indebtedness
set forth
on Schedule 4.16 and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such
Indebtedness;
(c) Permitted
Purchase Money Indebtedness and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect
of such
Indebtedness;
(d) endorsement
of instruments or other payment items for deposit;
(e) Indebtedness
associated with bonds or surety obligations required by Governmental
Requirements or otherwise in the ordinary course of business in connection
with
the operation of the Oil and Gas Properties; provided, that Indebtedness
permitted by this Section 6.1 will not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate
at any
one time outstanding;
(f) Indebtedness
composing Permitted Investments; and
(g) intercompany
Indebtedness described in Section 6.12(a).
6.2 Liens. Create,
incur,
assume, or suffer to exist, directly or indirectly, any Lien on or
with respect
to any of its assets, of any kind, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
or
any income or profits therefrom, except for Permitted Liens.
6.3 Restrictions
on Fundamental
Changes.
(a) Consummate
any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, reorganization, or recapitalization,
or
reclassification of its Stock;
(b) Liquidate,
wind up, or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution);
provided
that any such transaction shall be permitted with respect to a Subsidiary
that
does not own any assets; or
(c) Suspend
or go out of a substantial portion of its or their business;
provided,
that any Guarantor (other than Parent) may merge with or into any other
Guarantor (other than Parent) and any Guarantor (other than Parent)
may merge
with or into Borrower, so long as (i) in the case of a merger of a
Guarantor
with Borrower, Borrower is the surviving entity, (ii) no other provision of
this Agreement would be violated thereby, (iii) Agent receives at least
thirty
(30) days' prior written notice (or such shorter period as may be permitted
by the Agent) of such merger, (iv) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing either before or after giving effect
to such
transaction, and (v) the Lenders' rights in any Collateral, including,
without limitation, the existence, perfection and priority of any Lien
thereon,
are not adversely affected by such merger or consolidation.
6.4 Disposal
of
Assets. Other
than
Permitted Dispositions, convey, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer,
or
otherwise dispose of (or enter into an agreement to convey, sell, lease,
license, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of) any of Parent’s or its
Subsidiaries assets, including the Stock of any of its
Subsidiaries.
6.5 Change
of Jurisdiction,
Corporate Name or Location. (a)
Change Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s jurisdiction of organization
and/or organization and/or organizational identification number (if
any), (b)
change its corporate name or (c) change its chief executive office,
principal
place of business (both in the United States and Canada), offices or
warehouses
or locations at which Collateral is held or stored, or the location
of its
records concerning the Collateral, in any case without at least thirty
(30) days
(or such shorter period as may be permitted by the Agent) prior written
notice
to Agent and after completing any action reasonably requested by Agent
in
connection therewith, including to continue the perfection of any Liens
in favor
of Agent, on behalf of Lenders, in any Collateral, has been completed
or taken,
and provided that any such new location shall be in the continental
United
States (or Canada, in the case of Parent). Without limiting the foregoing,
neither Parent nor any Subsidiary shall change its location, name,
identity or
corporate structure in any manner which might make any financing or
continuation
statement filed in connection herewith seriously misleading within
the meaning
of Section 9-506 of the Code or any other then applicable provision
of the Code
except upon prior written notice to Agent and Lenders and after completing
any
action reasonably requested by the Agent in connection therewith, including
to
continue the perfection of any Liens in favor of Agent, on behalf of
Lenders, in
any Collateral.
6.6 Nature
of
Business. Make
any change
in the nature of the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a
whole, as conducted on the Closing Date or, to the extent permitted
hereunder, acquire any properties or assets that are not reasonably
related to
the conduct of such business activities.
6.7 Prepayments
and
Amendments. Except
in
connection with Refinancing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1,
(a) optionally
prepay, redeem, defease, purchase, or otherwise acquire any Indebtedness
of
Parent or its Subsidiaries, other than the Obligations in accordance
with this
Agreement or terminate any Swap Agreements as determined appropriate
by Parent
in the exercise of its commercially reasonable judgment; provided that
Parent
shall at all times remain in compliance with Section 6.24;
(b) make
any
payment on account of Indebtedness that has been contractually subordinated
in
right of payment if such payment is not permitted at such time under
the
subordination terms and conditions applicable thereto (for the avoidance
of
doubt, this provision shall apply to the payment by the Parent of amounts
due
under the Convertible Subordinated Notes with the effect that such
payments may
be made only to the extent permitted by the Subordination and Intercreditor
Agreement; provided that, no repayment under or with respect to the
Convertible
Subordinated Notes shall be permitted if an Event of Default exists
or, if after
giving effect to such payment, an Event of Default would occur), or
(c) directly
or indirectly, amend, modify, alter, increase, or change any of the
terms or
conditions of (i) any agreement, instrument, document, indenture, or
other
writing evidencing or concerning Indebtedness permitted under Section
6.1(b) or (c), or (ii) any other Material Contract except to the extent
that
such amendment, modification, alteration, increase, or change could
not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a Material
Adverse Change.
6.8 Change
of
Control. Cause,
permit, or
suffer, directly or indirectly, any Change of Control.
6.9 [Intentionally
Omitted].
6.10 [Intentionally
Omitted].
6.11 Accounting
Methods; Fiscal
Year. Modify
or change
its fiscal year or its method of accounting (other than as may be required
to
conform to GAAP).
6.12 Investments. Except
for
Permitted Investments, directly or indirectly, make or acquire any
Investment or
incur any liabilities (including contingent obligations) for or in
connection
with any Investment; provided, however, that (a) a Borrower may make
loans and
advances to a Guarantor and a Guarantor may make loans and advances
to a
Borrower or to another Guarantor, in each case, in the ordinary course
of
business, so long as such Person shall have executed and delivered
to such
lender a global demand note (collectively, the "Intercompany Notes")
to evidence
any such loan and advance by such Person to such other lender, which
Intercompany Note shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to
Agent and shall be pledged and delivered to Agent in accordance with
the terms
of the Security Agreement, and (b) Parent and its Subsidiaries shall
not have
Permitted Investments (other than in the Cash Management Accounts)
in Deposit
Accounts or Securities Accounts in an aggregate amount in excess of
Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($50,000) at any one time unless Parent or its Subsidiary,
as
applicable, and the applicable securities intermediary or bank have
entered into
Control Agreements governing such Permitted Investments in order to
perfect (and
further establish) Agent’s Liens in such Permitted Investments. Subject to
clause (b) of the foregoing proviso, Borrower shall not and shall not
permit its
Subsidiaries and shall not cause Parent to establish or maintain any
Deposit
Account or Securities Account unless Agent shall have received a Control
Agreement in respect of such Deposit Account or Securities Account.
6.13 Transactions
with
Affiliates. Directly
or
indirectly enter into or permit to exist any transaction with any Affiliate
of
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that is not a Loan Party except
for:
(a) transactions
(other than the payment of management, consulting, monitoring, or advisory
fees)
between Parent or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affiliate
of Parent
or its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, so long as such transactions
(i) have
individually a value of less than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($250,000)
, (ii) are upon fair and reasonable terms and fully disclosed to the
Agent and the Required Lenders, and (iii) are no less favorable to Parent
or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, than would be obtained in an arm’s length
transaction with a non-Affiliate;
(b) the
payment of reasonable director, officer and employee compensation (including
bonuses) and other reasonable benefits (including retirement, health,
stock
option and other benefit plans) and indemnification arrangements, each
made in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with industry
practice;
(c) each
of
the transactions set forth on Schedule 6.13;
(d) distributions
permitted in Section 6.10; and
(e) the
consummation of Permitted Investments.
6.14 Use
of
Proceeds. Use
the proceeds
of the Advances and the Term Loan for any purpose other than (a) on
the Closing
Date, (i) to repay, in full, the outstanding principal, accrued interest,
make-whole payment and accrued fees and expenses owing to Existing
Lender and
(ii) to pay transactional fees, costs, and expenses incurred in
connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, and (b) thereafter, consistent with
the terms
and conditions hereof, for general corporate purposes, including the
funding of
capital expenditures and working capital.
6.15 Financial
Covenants.
(a) Minimum
EBITDA. Fail to achieve EBITDA, calculated on the last day of
the quarterly period indicated below, of at least the required amount
set forth
in the following table for the applicable quarterly period set forth
opposite
thereto:
Applicable
Amount
|
|
Applicable
Period
|
$ |
12,750,000
|
|
For
the quarter ending
March 31, 2008
|
$ |
16,600,000
|
|
For
the quarter ending
June 30, 2008
|
$ |
20,400,000
|
|
For
the quarter ending
September 30, 2008
|
$ |
23,300,000
|
|
For
the quarter ending
December 31, 2008
|
$ |
28,300,000
|
|
For
the quarter ending
March 31, 2009
|
$ |
32,300,000
|
|
For
the quarter ending
June 30, 2009
|
$ |
37,300,000
|
|
For
the quarter ending
September 30, 2009, and for each quarter ending
thereafter
|
(b) Minimum
Average Daily
Production. Fail to achieve minimum average daily production
for Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any quarterly period indicated
below, of
at least the required amount set forth in the following table for the
applicable
quarterly period set forth opposite thereto:
Applicable
Amount
|
|
Applicable
Period
|
|
16,800
|
|
For
the quarter ending
March 31, 2008
|
|
23,100
|
|
For
the quarter ending
June 30, 2008
|
|
28,500
|
|
For
the quarter ending
September 30, 2008
|
|
30,200
|
|
For
the quarter ending
December 31, 2008
|
|
29,400
|
|
For
the quarter ending
March 31, 2009
|
|
34,600
|
|
For
the quarter ending
June 30, 2009
|
|
40,600
|
|
For
the quarter ending
September 30, 2009, and for each quarter ending
thereafter
|
;
provided that if a Force Majeure Event occurs during any quarterly
period
indicated above, for purposes of calculating the Minimum Average Daily
Production, the Borrower shall be entitled to exclude the days during
which such
Force Majeure Event was in existence up to an aggregate of forty-five
(45) days
per Force Majeure Event.
(c) Minimum
Asset
Coverage Ratio. Fail
to achieve a
minimum Asset Coverage Ratio, calculated on the last day of each calendar
quarter, of at least 1.60:1.00, based on the Total Reserve Value reflected
in
the most recently delivered report by Borrower.
(d) Interest
Coverage
Ratio. Have an Interest Coverage Ratio, calculated on the
last day of the quarterly period indicated below, of not less than
the required
amount set forth in the following table for the applicable quarterly
period set
forth opposite thereto:
Applicable
Ratio
|
|
Applicable
Period
|
2.50:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
March 31, 2008
|
2.75:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
June 30, 2008
|
3.00:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
September 30, 2008
|
3.25:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
December 31, 2008
|
3.50:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
March 31, 2009, and for each quarter ending
thereafter
|
(e) Leverage
Ratio. Have a Leverage Ratio, calculated on the last day of
the quarterly period indicated below, greater than the applicable ratio
set
forth in the following table for the applicable quarterly period set
forth
opposite thereto:
Applicable
Ratio
|
|
Applicable
Period
|
4.30:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
March 31, 2008
|
3.30:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
June 30, 2008
|
2.70:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
September 30, 2008
|
2.50:1.00
|
|
For
the quarter ending
December 31, 2008, and for each quarter ending
thereafter
|
6.16 Forward
Sales.
Except
in accordance
with the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business and except as
required
under Section
5.22, enter into or permit to exist any advance payment agreement
or
other arrangement pursuant to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
having
received full or substantial payment of the purchase price for a specified
quantity of Hydrocarbons upon entering such agreement or arrangement,
is
required to deliver, in one or more installments subsequent to the
date of such
agreement or arrangement, such quantity of Hydrocarbons pursuant to
and during
the terms of such agreement or arrangement.
6.17 Oil
and Gas
Imbalances.
Enter
into any
contracts or agreements which guarantee production of Hydrocarbons
(other than
Swap Agreements otherwise permitted hereunder) or hereafter allow gas
imbalances, take-or-pay or other prepayment with respect to its Oil
and Gas
Properties which would require Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
to deliver
Hydrocarbons produced on Oil and Gas Properties at some future time
without then
or thereafter receiving full payment therefor to exceed, during any
monthly
period, two percent (2%) of the current aggregate monthly gas production
for
such monthly period from the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries.
6.18 Marketing
Activities.
(a) Neither
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries will engage in marketing activities
for any
Hydrocarbons or enter into any contracts related thereto other than
(i)
contracts for the sale of Hydrocarbons scheduled or reasonably estimated
to be
produced from their Proved Oil and Gas Properties during the period
of such
contract, (ii) contracts for the sale of Hydrocarbons scheduled or
reasonably
estimated to be produced from Proved Oil and Gas Properties of third
parties
during the period of such contract associated with the Oil and Gas
Properties of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries that Borrower (or its Subsidiaries, as
applicable)
has the right to market pursuant to joint operating agreements, unitization
agreements or other similar contracts that are usual and customary
in the oil
and gas business and (iii) other contracts for the purchase and/or
sale of
Hydrocarbons of third parties (A) that have generally offsetting provisions
(i.e., corresponding pricing mechanics, delivery dates and points and
volumes)
such that no “position” is taken and (B) for which appropriate credit support
has been taken to alleviate the material credit risks of the counterparty
thereto.
(b) All
Hydrocarbon produced from the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries shall be marketed on an arm’s length basis using one or more
Persons that are not Affiliates of Borrower.
6.19 Sale-Leasebacks. Engage
in any sale-leaseback, synthetic lease or similar transaction involving
any of
its assets.
6.20 Cancellation
of
Indebtedness. Cancel
any claim or debt owing to it, except for reasonable consideration
negotiated on
an arm’s-length basis.
6.21 No
Amendment of Governing
Documents;
Intercompany Note.
(a)
Amend, modify, supplement, restate or otherwise change its Governing
Documents
to the extent adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders without
the
prior written consent of the Agent or (b) add a Person other than a
Loan Party
to the Intercompany Note.
6.22 No
Impairment of
Intercompany Transfers; Negative Pledge. (a)
Directly or indirectly enter into or become bound by any agreement,
instrument,
indenture or other obligation (other than this Agreement and the other
Loan
Documents) which directly or indirectly restricts, prohibits or requires
the
consent of any Person with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions
or the making or repayment of intercompany loans by a Subsidiary of
Borrower
that is not a Guarantor to Borrower or (b) directly or indirectly enter
into,
incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement (other
than (i) this
Agreement, (ii) Permitted Liens under Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness
permitted under this Agreement, (iii) restrictions on assignment contained
in
licenses, leases and other contracts entered into in the ordinary course
of
business, (iv) restrictions and conditions existing on the date of
this
Agreement identified on Schedule
6.22, and
(v) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating
to
the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions
and
conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that its to be sold and such
sale is
permitted hereunder) that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition
upon the
ability of such Borrower or Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to
exist any
Lien upon any of its property or assets.
6.23 [Intentionally
Omitted].
6.24 Swap
Agreements. Enter
into any Swap Agreements with any Person other than (a) Swap Agreements
in
respect of commodities (i) with an Approved Counterparty and (ii) the
notional
volumes for which (when aggregated with other commodity Swap Agreements
then in
effect other than basis differential swaps on volumes already hedged
pursuant to
other Swap Agreements) do not exceed, as of January 1, 2008, for (A)
natural
gas, ninety percent (90%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production
from Proved Developed Producing Reserves in the most recent Reserve
Report
delivered pursuant to Section
5.20 for each
month during the period commencing on such date and ending on the
date twelve (12) months thereafter, and for each month during any
period after such twelve (12)-month period, eighty-five percent (85%)
of the
reasonably anticipated projected production from such Proved Developed
Producing
Reserves in the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section
5.20
for each month during such period, and (B) crude oil, ninety percent
(90%) of
the reasonably anticipated projected production from Proved Developed
Producing
Reserves in the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to
Section
5.20
for each month during the period commencing on such date and ending
on the date
twelve (12) months thereafter, and for each month during any period
after such
twelve (12)-month period, eighty-five percent (85%) of the reasonably
anticipated projected production from Proved Developed Producing Reserves
for
each month during such period; provided,
that
Borrower shall not enter into any additional Swap Agreements with respect
to
crude oil for which payment dates occur in 2007 or which relate to
periods in
2007, (b) Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates with an Approved
Counterparty, as follows: (i) Swap Agreements effectively converting
interest rates from fixed to floating, the notional amounts of which
(when
aggregated with all other Swap Agreements of Borrower and its Subsidiaries
then
in effect effectively converting interest rates from fixed to floating)
do not
exceed fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding principal amount
of
Borrower’s Indebtedness for borrowed money which bears interest at a fixed rate
and (ii) Swap Agreements effectively converting interest rates from
floating to
fixed, the notional amounts of which (when aggregated with all other
Swap
Agreements of Borrower and its Subsidiaries then in effect effectively
converting interest rates from floating to fixed) do not exceed seventy-five
percent (75%) of the then outstanding principal amount of Borrower’s
Indebtedness for borrowed money which bears interest at a floating
rate and (c)
Swap Agreements listed on Schedule
4.24
hereto. In no event shall any Swap Agreement contain any requirement,
agreement or covenant for Borrower or any Subsidiary to post collateral
or
margin to secure their obligations under such Swap Agreement or to
cover market
exposures except to the extent permitted by Section
6.2.
7. EVENTS
OF
DEFAULT.
Any
one
or more of the following events shall constitute an event of default
(each, an
“Event of
Default”) under this Agreement:
7.1 If
Borrower fails to pay when due and payable, (a) all or any portion
of the
Obligations consisting of scheduled interest or fees and such failure
continues
for three (3) Business Days, (b) other charges due the Lender Group,
reimbursement of Lender Group Expenses, or other amounts (other than
any portion
thereof constituting principal) constituting Obligations (including
any portion
thereof that accrues after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding,
regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a
claim in any
such Insolvency Proceeding) within five (5) Business Days after written
notice
of such failure, or (c) all or any portion of the principal of the
Obligations;
7.2 If
Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries:
(a) fails
to
perform or observe any covenant or other agreement contained in any
of Sections
2.7, 5.2,
5.3,
5.4,
5.5,
5.8,
5.11
(as to Borrower’s
existence only), 5.13,
5.14,
5.15,
5.16,
5.20,
5.21,
5.22 and
Section
6 of this
Agreement or Section 6 of the Security Agreement;
(b) fails
to
perform or observe any covenant or other agreement contained in any
of Sections
5.6, 5.7,
5.9,
5.10,
5.11
(except as set
forth in Section 7.2(a) above), and 5.12 of
this
Agreement and such failure continues for a period of ten (10) days
after the
earlier of (i) the date on which such failure shall first become known
to any
Responsible Officer of Borrower or (ii) written notice thereof is given to
Borrower by Agent; or
(c) fails
to
perform or observe any covenant or other agreement contained in this
Agreement,
or in any of the other Loan Documents, in each case, other than any
such
covenant or agreement that is the subject of another provision of this
Section
7 (in which
event such other provision of this Section
7 shall
govern), and such failure continues for a period of twenty (20) Business
Days
after the earlier of (i) the date on which such failure shall first
become known
to any Responsible Officer of Borrower or (ii) written notice thereof
is given
to Borrower by Agent;
7.3 If
any
material portion of Parent’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets is attached,
seized, subjected to a writ or distress warrant, or is levied upon,
or comes
into the possession of any third Person and the same is not discharged
before
the earlier of thirty (30) days after the date it first arises or five
(5) days
prior to the date on which such property or asset is subject to forfeiture
by
Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary;
7.4 If
an
Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries;
7.5 If
an
Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
and
any of the following events occur: (a) Parent or such Subsidiary consents
to the
institution of such Insolvency Proceeding against it, (b) the petition
commencing the Insolvency Proceeding is not timely controverted, (c)
the
petition commencing the Insolvency Proceeding is not dismissed within
sixty (60)
calendar days of the date of the filing thereof, (d) an interim trustee
is
appointed to take possession of all or any substantial portion of the
properties
or assets of, or to operate all or any substantial portion of the business
of,
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or (e) an order for relief shall
have been
issued or entered therein;
7.6 If
Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries is enjoined, restrained, or in any way prevented
by
court order from continuing to conduct all or any material part of
its business
affairs;
7.7 If
one or
more judgments, orders, or awards involving an aggregate amount of
Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000), or more (except to the extent covered
by
insurance pursuant to which the insurer has not disclaimed liability)
shall be
entered or filed against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or with
respect to
any of their respective assets, and the same is not released, discharged,
bonded
against, or stayed pending appeal before the earlier of sixty (60)
days after
the date it first arises or five (5) days prior to the date on which
such asset
is subject to being forfeited by Borrower or the applicable
Subsidiary;
7.8 If
there
is a default in one or more agreements to which Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party with one or more third Persons relative to
Parent’s or
any of its Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness involving an aggregate amount of Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) or more, and such default
(i) occurs
at the final maturity of the obligations thereunder, or (ii) results
in a right
by such third Person(s), irrespective of whether exercised, to accelerate
the
maturity of Borrower’s or the applicable Subsidiary’s obligations thereunder
(for the avoidance of doubt, any default or event of default arising
under the
Convertible Subordinated Notes shall constitute an Event of Default
hereunder);
7.9 If
any
warranty, representation, statement, or certification made herein or
in any
other Loan Document or delivered to Agent or any Lender in connection
with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document proves to be untrue in any material
respect
(except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to
any
representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified
by
materiality in the text thereof) as of the date of issuance or making
or deemed
making thereof;
7.10 If
the
obligation of any Guarantor under the Guaranty is limited or terminated
by
operation of law or by such Guarantor, or any such Guarantor becomes
the subject
of an Insolvency Proceeding;
7.11 If
the
Security Agreement or any other Loan Document that purports to create
a Lien
shall, for any reason, fail or cease to create a valid and perfected
and, except
to the extent permitted by the terms hereof or thereof, first priority
Lien on
or security interest in the Collateral covered hereby or thereby, except
as a result of
a disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted
under this
Agreement;
7.12 If
any
provision of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason be
declared to
be null and void, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be
contested
by Parent or its Subsidiaries, or a proceeding shall be commenced by
Parent or
its Subsidiaries, or by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction
over
Parent or its Subsidiaries, seeking to establish the invalidity or
unenforceability thereof, or Parent or its Subsidiaries shall deny
that Parent
or its Subsidiaries has any liability or obligation purported to be
created
under any Loan Document;
7.13 The
loss,
suspension or revocation of, or failure to renew, any license or permit
now held
or hereafter acquired by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, if such
loss,
suspension, revocation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected
to
result in a Material Adverse Change;
7.14 The
indictment of Parent or any Subsidiary thereof under any criminal statute,
or
commencement of criminal or civil proceedings against Parent or any
such
Subsidiary, pursuant to which statute or proceedings the penalties
or remedies
sought or available include forfeiture to any Governmental Authority
of any
portion of the property of such Person which would result in a Material
Adverse
Change;
7.15 If
(i) an
ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Pension Plan that has resulted
or
could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Parent or the
Guarantors,
either individually or in the aggregate, under Title IV of ERISA to
the Pension
Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess
of One
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000); (ii) the aggregate amount of Unfunded
Pension Liability among all Pension Plans at any time exceeds One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000); or (iii) Parent or the Guarantor or any
ERISA
Affiliate shall fail to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable
grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal
liability
under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate
amount in
excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000); or
7.16 Any
Material Adverse Change shall have occurred.
8. THE
LENDER GROUP’S RIGHTS AND
REMEDIES.
8.1 Rights
and
Remedies. Upon
the
occurrence, and during the continuation, of an Event of Default, Agent
at the
request of the Required Lenders for the benefit of the Lender Group
shall
without notice or demand, all of which are authorized by Borrower:
(a) Declare
all or any portion of the Obligations, whether evidenced by this Agreement,
by
any of the other Loan Documents, or otherwise, immediately due and
payable;
(b) Cease
advancing money or extending credit to or for the benefit of Borrower
under this
Agreement, under any of the Loan Documents, or under any other agreement
between
Borrower and the Lender Group;
(c) Agent,
on
behalf of the Lender Group, may foreclose any or all of the Mortgages
and sell
the Real Property Collateral or Oil and Gas Properties or cause the
Real
Property Collateral or Oil and Gas Properties to be sold in accordance
with the
provisions of the Mortgages and applicable law, and exercise any and
all other
rights or remedies available to Agent, on behalf of the Lender Group,
under the
Mortgages, any of the other Loan Documents, at law or in equity with
respect to
the Collateral encumbered by the Mortgages;
(d) Terminate
this Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents as to any future
liability or
obligation of the Lender Group, but without affecting any of Agent’s Liens in
the Collateral and without affecting the Obligations; and
(e) The
Lender Group shall have all other rights and remedies available at
law or in
equity or pursuant to any other Loan Document.
The
foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the occurrence of any
Event of
Default described in Section
7.4 or Section
7.5, in
addition to the remedies set forth above, without any notice to Borrower
or any
other Person or any act by the Lender Group, the Commitments shall
automatically
terminate and the Obligations then outstanding, together with all accrued
and
unpaid interest thereon and all fees and all other amounts due under
this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall automatically and immediately
become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, or notice
of any
kind, all of which are expressly waived by Borrower.
8.2 Remedies
Cumulative . The
rights
and remedies of the Lender Group under this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents,
and all other agreements shall be cumulative. The Lender Group shall
have all other rights and remedies not inconsistent herewith as provided
under
the Code, by law, or in equity. No exercise by the Lender Group of
one right or remedy shall be deemed an election, and no waiver by the
Lender
Group of any Event of Default shall be deemed a continuing waiver. No
delay by the Lender Group shall constitute a waiver, election, or acquiescence
by it.
9. TAXES
AND
EXPENSES.
If
Borrower or its Subsidiaries fail to pay any monies (whether taxes,
assessments,
insurance premiums, or, in the case of leased properties or assets,
rents or
other amounts payable under such leases) due to third Persons, or fails
to make
any deposits or furnish any required proof of payment or deposit, all
as
required under the terms of this Agreement, then, Agent, in its sole
discretion,
may do any or all of the following: (a) without prior notice to the
Borrower, make payment of the same or any part thereof, (b) set up
such reserves
against the Borrowing Base or the Maximum Revolver Amount as Agent
deems
necessary to protect the Lender Group from the exposure created by
such failure,
or (c) in the case of the failure to comply with Section
5.8 hereof,
obtain and maintain insurance policies of the type described in Section
5.8 and take
such action with respect to such policies as permitted pursuant to
Section
5.8. Any such amounts paid by Agent shall constitute Lender
Group Expenses and any such payments shall not constitute an agreement
by the
Lender Group to make similar payments in the future or a waiver by
the Lender
Group of any Event of Default under this Agreement. Agent need not
inquire as to, or contest the validity of, any such expense, tax, or
Lien and
the receipt of the usual official notice for the payment thereof shall
be
conclusive evidence that the same was validly due and owing.
10. WAIVERS;
INDEMNIFICATION.
10.1 Demand;
Protest;
etc. Borrower
waives
demand, protest, notice of protest, notice of default or dishonor,
notice of
payment and nonpayment, nonpayment at maturity, release, compromise,
settlement,
extension, or renewal of documents, instruments, chattel paper, and
guarantees
at any time held by the Lender Group on which Borrower may in any way
be
liable.
10.2 The
Lender Group’s Liability
for Collateral. Borrower
hereby
agrees that: (a) so long as Agent complies with its obligations,
if any, under the Code, the Lender Group shall not in any way or manner
be
liable or responsible for: (i) the safekeeping of the Collateral,
(ii) any loss or damage thereto occurring or arising in any manner
or fashion
from any cause, (iii) any diminution in the value thereof, or (iv)
any act or
default of any carrier, warehouseman, bailee, forwarding agency, or
other
Person, and (b) all risk of loss, damage, or destruction of the Collateral
shall
be borne by Borrower.
10.3 Indemnification. Borrower
shall
pay, indemnify, defend, and hold Agent-Related Persons, the Lender-Related
Persons, and each Participant (each, an “Indemnified
Person”)
harmless (to the fullest extent permitted by law) from and against
any and all
claims, demands, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings, liabilities,
fines, costs, penalties, and damages, and all reasonable out of pocket
fees and
disbursements of attorneys, experts, or consultants and all other costs
and
expenses actually incurred in connection therewith or in connection
with the
enforcement of this indemnification (as and when they are incurred
and
irrespective of whether suit is brought), at any time asserted against,
imposed
upon, or incurred by any of them (a) in connection with or as a result
of or
related to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance, or administration
(including any restructuring or workout with respect hereto) of this
Agreement,
any of the other Loan Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby
or
thereby or the monitoring of Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ compliance with
the terms of the Loan Documents, (b) with respect to any investigation,
litigation, or proceeding related to this Agreement, any other Loan
Document, or
the use of the proceeds of the credit provided hereunder (irrespective
of
whether any Indemnified Person is a party thereto), or any act, omission,
event,
or circumstance in any manner related thereto, and (c) in connection with
or arising out of any presence or Release of Hazardous Materials, any
Environmental Actions, any Environmental Liabilities or any Response
Actions
related to any assets or properties of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(each
and all of the foregoing, the “Indemnified
Liabilities”). The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding,
Borrower shall have no obligation to any Indemnified Person under this
Section
10.3 with
respect to any Indemnified Liability that a court of competent jurisdiction
finally determines to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnified Person. This provision shall survive
the termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the
Obligations. If any Indemnified Person makes any payment to any other
Indemnified Person with respect to an Indemnified Liability as to which
Borrower
was required to indemnify the Indemnified Person receiving such payment,
the
Indemnified Person making such payment is entitled to be indemnified
and
reimbursed by Borrower with respect thereto. WITHOUT LIMITATION,
THE FOREGOING
INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO EACH INDEMNIFIED PERSON WITH RESPECT TO INDEMNIFIED
LIABILITIES WHICH IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE CAUSED BY OR ARISE OUT OF
ANY
NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR OF ANY OTHER
PERSON.
11. NOTICES.
Unless
otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices or demands by Borrower
or
Agent to the other relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document
shall
be in writing and (except for financial statements and other informational
documents which may be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid) shall
be
personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid,
return receipt requested), overnight courier, electronic mail (at such
email
addresses as Borrower or Agent, as applicable, may designate to each
other in
accordance herewith), or telefacsimile to Borrower or Agent, as the
case may be,
at its address set forth below:
If
to Borrower:
|
Storm
Cat Energy (USA)
Corporation
|
|
1125
17th
St., Suite
2310
|
|
Denver,
Colorado 80202
|
|
Attn:
Paul Wiesner
|
|
Fax
No.: (303) 991-5075
|
|
|
with
copies to:
|
Hogan
&
Hartson
LLP
|
|
One
Tabor Center, Suite 1500
|
|
1200
Seventeenth Street
|
|
Denver,
Colorado 80202
|
|
Attn:
Richard Mattera, Esq.
|
|
Fax
No.: (303) 899-7333
|
|
|
If
to Agent:
|
Wells
Fargo Foothill,
LLC
|
|
1100
Abernathy Road, Suite 1600
|
|
Atlanta,
Georgia 30328
|
|
Attn:
Business Finance Manager
|
|
Fax
No.: (770) 804-0785
|
|
|
with
copies to:
|
Schulte
Roth & Zabel
LLP
|
|
919
Third Avenue
|
|
New
York, New York 10022
|
|
Attn: Kirby
Chin, Esq.
|
|
Fax
No.: (212) 593-5955
|
|
|
If
to Lenders:
|
To
the addresses set forth on the signature pages under each
Lender’s
name.
|
|
|
with
copies to:
|
Proskauer
Rose
LLP
|
|
One
International Place
|
|
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2600
|
|
Attn: Steven
M. Ellis, Esq.
|
|
Fax
No.: (617) 526-9899
|
Agent,
any Lender and Borrower may change the address at which they are to
receive
notices hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given
to the
other party. All notices or demands sent in accordance with this
Section
11,
other than notices by Agent in connection with enforcement rights against
the
Collateral under the provisions of the Code, shall be deemed received
on the
earlier of the date of actual receipt or three (3) Business Days after
the
deposit thereof in the mail. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that
notices sent by the Lender Group in connection with the exercise of
enforcement
rights against Collateral under the provisions of the Code shall be
deemed sent
when deposited in the mail or personally delivered, or, where permitted
by law,
transmitted by telefacsimile or any other method set forth above.
12. CHOICE
OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL
WAIVER.
(a) THE
VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND
THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY
IN ANOTHER
LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT), THE CONSTRUCTION,
INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF AND THEREOF, AND THE RIGHTS
OF THE
PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER
OR
THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR THERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER,
GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
(b) THE
PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR
PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER
LOAN
DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND, TO THE
EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF
NEW YORK,
STATE OF NEW YORK; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,
THAT ANY
SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY
BE
BROUGHT, AT AGENT’S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE AGENT ELECTS
TO BRING SUCH ACTION OR WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY
BE
FOUND. BORROWER AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP WAIVE, TO THE
EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT EACH MAY HAVE TO ASSERT
THE
DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS
OR TO
OBJECT TO VENUE TO THE EXTENT ANY PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THIS
SECTION
12(b).
(c) BORROWER
AND EACH MEMBER OF THE
LENDER GROUP HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF
ANY CLAIM
OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS
OR ANY
OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS,
TORT
CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY
CLAIMS. BORROWER AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP REPRESENT THAT
EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES
ITS JURY
TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT
OF LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT
TO A
TRIAL BY THE COURT.
13. ASSIGNMENTS
AND PARTICIPATIONS;
SUCCESSORS.
13.1 Assignments
and
Participations.
(a) Any
Lender may at any time assign and delegate to one or more assignees
(each an
“Assignee”)
all
or any portion of the Obligations, the Commitments and the other rights
and
obligations of such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents,
in a
minimum amount (unless waived by Agent and, so long as no Event of
Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, Borrower) of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($2,500,000) (except such minimum amount shall not apply to
(x) an
assignment or delegation by any Lender to any other Lender or an Affiliate
of
any Lender or an Approved Fund, (y) a group of new Lenders, each of
whom is an
Affiliate of each other or a fund or account managed by any such new
Lender or
an Affiliate of such new Lender to the extent that the aggregate amount
to be
assigned to all such new Lenders is at least Three Million Dollars
($3,000,000)
or (z) an Eligible Assignee); provided,
however,
that
Borrower and Agent may continue to deal solely and directly with such
Lender in
connection with the interest so assigned to an Assignee until (i) written
notice
of such assignment, together with payment instructions, addresses,
and related
information with respect to the Assignee, have been given to Borrower
and Agent
by such Lender and the Assignee, (ii) such Lender and its Assignee
have
delivered to Borrower and Agent an Assignment and Acceptance and Agent
has
notified the assigning Lender of its receipt thereof in accordance
with Section
13.1(b), and
(iii) unless waived by Agent, the assigning Lender or Assignee has
paid to Agent
for Agent’s separate account a processing fee in the amount of Three Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500). So long as no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, any proposed assignment pursuant to
this Section
13.1(a) other
than to an Eligible Assignee shall be subject to the consent of Borrower,
which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(b) From
and
after the date that Agent notifies the assigning Lender (with a copy
to
Borrower) that it has received an executed Assignment and Acceptance
and, if
applicable, payment of the required processing fee, (i) the Assignee
thereunder
shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations
hereunder
have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance,
shall have
the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, and
(ii) the
assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder
and
under the other Loan Documents have been assigned by it pursuant to
such
Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights (except with respect
to Section
10.3 hereof)
and be released from any future obligations under this Agreement (and
in the
case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining
portion of an
assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto and thereto),
and
such assignment shall effect a novation among Borrower, the assigning
Lender,
and the Assignee; provided,
however,
that nothing
contained herein shall release any assigning Lender from obligations
that
survive the termination of this Agreement, including such assigning
Lender’s
obligations under Section
15 and Section
17.9(a) of
this Agreement.
(c) By
executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning
Lender
thereunder and the Assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each
other and
the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in
such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation
or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements,
warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement
or
the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency
or
value of this Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished pursuant
hereto,
(ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no
responsibility with respect to the financial condition of Borrower
or the
performance or observance by Borrower of any of its obligations under
this
Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished pursuant hereto, (iii)
such
Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together
with
such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to
make its
own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and
Acceptance,
(iv) such Assignee will, independently and without reliance upon Agent,
such
assigning Lender or any other Lender, and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make
its own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement,
(v) such
Assignee appoints and authorizes Agent to take such actions and to
exercise such
powers under this Agreement as are delegated to Agent, by the terms
hereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, and
(vi) such
Assignee agrees that it will perform all of the obligations which by
the terms
of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
(d) Immediately
upon Agent’s receipt of the required processing fee, if applicable, and delivery
of notice to the assigning Lender pursuant to Section
13.1(b), this
Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to the extent, but only to
the extent,
necessary to reflect the addition of the Assignee and the resulting
adjustment
of the Commitments arising therefrom. The Commitment allocated to
each Assignee shall reduce such Commitments of the assigning Lender
pro tanto.
(e) Any
Lender may at any time sell to one or more commercial banks, financial
institutions, or other Persons (a “Participant”)
participating interests in all or any portion of its Obligations, its
Commitment, and the other rights and interests of that Lender (the
“Originating
Lender”)
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided,
however,
that (i) the
Originating Lender shall remain a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents and the Participant receiving the participating
interest in the Obligations, the Commitments, and the other rights
and interests
of the Originating Lender hereunder shall not constitute a “Lender” hereunder or
under the other Loan Documents and the Originating Lender’s obligations under
this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) the Originating Lender
shall remain
solely responsible for the performance of such obligations, (iii) Borrower,
Agent, and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with
the
Originating Lender in connection with the Originating Lender’s rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iv)
no Lender
shall transfer or grant any participating interest under which the
Participant
has the right to approve any amendment to, or any consent or waiver
with respect
to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except to the extent
such
amendment to, or consent or waiver with respect to this Agreement or
of any
other Loan Document would (A) extend the final maturity date of the
Obligations hereunder in which such Participant is participating,
(B) reduce the interest rate applicable to the Obligations hereunder in
which such Participant is participating, (C) release all or substantially
all of the Collateral or guaranties (except to the extent expressly
provided
herein or in any of the Loan Documents) supporting the Obligations
hereunder in
which such Participant is participating, (D) postpone the payment of,
or reduce
the amount of, the interest or fees payable to such Participant through
such
Lender, or (E) change the amount or due dates of scheduled principal
repayments
or prepayments or premiums, and (v) all amounts payable by Borrower
hereunder
shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation,
except
that, if amounts outstanding under this Agreement are due and unpaid,
or shall
have been declared or shall have become due and payable upon the occurrence
of
an Event of Default, each Participant shall be deemed to have the right
of set
off in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under
this
Agreement to the same extent as if the amount of its participating
interest were
owing directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement. The rights of
any Participant only shall be derivative through the Originating Lender
with
whom such Participant participates and no Participant shall have any
rights
under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any direct rights
as to the
other Lenders, Agent, Borrower, the Collections of Borrower or its
Subsidiaries,
the Collateral, or otherwise in respect of the Obligations. No
Participant shall have the right to participate directly in the making
of
decisions by the Lenders among themselves. The provisions of this
Section
13.1(e)
are solely for the benefit of the Lender Group and Borrower shall not
have any
rights as third party beneficiaries of any such provisions.
(f) In
connection with any such assignment or participation or proposed assignment
or
participation, a Lender may, subject to the provisions of Section
17.9,
disclose all documents and information which it now or hereafter may
have
relating to Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective
businesses.
(g) Any
other
provision in this Agreement notwithstanding, any Lender may at any
time create a
security interest in, or pledge, all or any portion of its rights under
and
interest in this Agreement in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in
accordance
with Regulation A of the Federal Reserve Bank or U.S. Treasury Regulation
31 CFR
§203.24, and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce such pledge or security
interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.
13.2 Successors. This
Agreement
shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and
assigns of
each of the parties; provided,
however,
that
Borrower may not assign this Agreement or any rights or duties hereunder
without
the Lenders’ prior written consent and any prohibited assignment shall be
absolutely void ab
initio. No consent to assignment by the Lenders shall release
Borrower from its Obligations. A Lender may assign this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents and its rights and duties hereunder and thereunder
pursuant to Section
13.1 hereof.
14. AMENDMENTS;
WAIVERS.
14.1 Amendments
and
Waivers. No
amendment or
waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
(other than
Bank Product Agreements), and no consent with respect to any departure
by
Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be in
writing and
signed by the Required Lenders (or by Agent at the written request
of the
Required Lenders) and Borrower and then any such waiver or consent
shall be
effective, but only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose
for
which given; provided,
however,
that no such
waiver, amendment, or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by
all of the
Lenders directly affected thereby and Borrower, do any of the
following:
(a) increase
or extend any Commitment of any Lender,
(b) postpone
or delay any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document
for any
payment of principal, interest, fees, or other amounts due hereunder
or under
any other Loan Document,
(c) reduce
the principal of, or the rate of interest on, any loan or other extension
of
credit hereunder, or reduce any fees or other amounts payable hereunder
or under
any other Loan Document,
(d) change
the Pro Rata Share that is required to take any action hereunder,
(e) amend
or
modify this Section or any provision of this Agreement providing for
consent or
other action by all Lenders,
(f) other
than as permitted by Section
15.11,
release Agent’s Lien in and to any of the Collateral,
(g) change
the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share”,
(h) contractually
subordinate any of Agent’s Liens,
(i) other
than in connection with a merger, liquidation, dissolution or sale
of such
Person expressly permitted by the terms hereof or the other Loan Documents,
release Borrower or any Guarantor from any obligation for the payment
of
money,
(j) amend
any
of the provisions of Section
2.4(b)(i) or
(ii),
(k) change
the definition of Borrowing Base, Maximum Revolver Amount, Term Loan
Amount, or
change Section
2.1(b), or
(l) amend
any
of the provisions of Section
15.
and,
provided
further, however,
that no
amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by
Agent,
Issuing Lender, or Swing Lender, as applicable, affect the rights or
duties of
Agent, Issuing Lender, or Swing Lender, as applicable, under this Agreement
or
any other Loan Document. The foregoing notwithstanding, any
amendment, modification, waiver, consent, termination, or release of,
or with
respect to, any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
that
relates only to the relationship of the Lender Group among themselves,
and that
does not affect the rights or obligations of Borrower, shall not require
consent
by or the agreement of Borrower.
14.2 Replacement
of
Lenders.
(a) If
(i) any action to be taken by the Lender Group or Agent hereunder requires
the
consent, authorization, or agreement of all Lenders, and a Lender (“Holdout
Lender”)
fails to give its consent, authorization, or agreement, or (ii) any
Lender (an
“Increased
Cost
Lender”; Increased Cost Lenders and Holdout Lenders are each referred
to
herein as “Replaceable
Lenders”) shall give notice to Borrowers that such Lender is entitled
to
receive payments under Section
2.13(d)(i)
or Section
2.14, then Agent or Borrower, upon at least 5 Business Days
prior irrevocable notice to the Replaceable Lender, may permanently
replace the
Replaceable Lender with one or more substitute Lenders (each, a “Replacement
Lender”;
provided that neither Borrower or Guarantor nor any Affiliate of Borrower
or
Guarantor or of Permitted Holders shall be permitted to become a Replacement
Lender), and the Replaceable Lender shall have no right to refuse to
be replaced
hereunder. Such notice to replace the Replaceable Lender shall
specify an effective date for such replacement, which date shall not
be later
than 15 Business Days after the date such notice is given.
(b) Prior
to the effective date of such replacement, the Replaceable Lender and
each
Replacement Lender shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance,
subject only to the Replaceable Lender being repaid its share of the
outstanding
Obligations (including an assumption of its Pro Rata Share of the Risk
Participation Liability) without any premium or penalty of any kind
whatsoever. If the Replaceable Lender shall refuse or fail to execute
and deliver any such Assignment and Acceptance prior to the effective
date of
such replacement, the Replaceable Lender shall be deemed to have executed
and
delivered such Assignment and Acceptance. The replacement of any
Replaceable Lender shall be made in accordance with the terms of Section
13.1. Until such time as the Replacement Lenders shall have
acquired all of the Obligations, the Commitments, and the other rights
and
obligations of the Replaceable Lender hereunder and under the other
Loan
Documents, the Replaceable Lender shall remain obligated to make the
Replaceable
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Advances and to purchase a participation in each
Letter of Credit, in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Risk
Participation Liability of such Letter of Credit.
14.3 No
Waivers; Cumulative
Remedies. No
failure by
Agent or any Lender to exercise any right, remedy, or option under
this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or delay by Agent or any Lender
in
exercising the same, will operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver by
Agent or any Lender will be effective unless it is in writing, and
then only to
the extent specifically stated. No waiver by Agent or any Lender on
any occasion shall affect or diminish Agent’s and each Lender’s rights
thereafter to require strict performance by Borrower of any provision
of this
Agreement. Agent’s and each Lender’s rights under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents will be cumulative and not exclusive of any
other right
or remedy that Agent or any Lender may have.
15. AGENT;
THE LENDER
GROUP.
15.1 Appointment
and
Authorization of Agent. Each
Lender hereby
designates and appoints WFF as its representative under this Agreement
and the
other Loan Documents and each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes
Agent to
execute and deliver each of the other Loan Documents on its behalf
and to take
such other action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement
and each
other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties
as are
expressly delegated to Agent by the terms of this Agreement or any
other Loan
Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions
contained in this Section
15. The
provisions of this Section
15 are solely
for the benefit of Agent and the Lenders, and Borrower and its Subsidiaries
shall have no rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions
contained herein, except with respect to Borrower’s consultation rights set
forth in Section
15.9 and Borrower’s right to receive release documentation set forth in
Section
15.11(a). Any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in
this Agreement or in any other Loan Document notwithstanding, Agent
shall not
have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth
herein,
nor shall Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship
with any
Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties,
obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any
other Loan
Document or otherwise exist against Agent; it being expressly understood
and
agreed that the use of the word “Agent” is for convenience only, that WFF is
merely the representative of the Lenders, and only has the contractual
duties
set forth herein. Except as expressly otherwise provided in this
Agreement, Agent shall have and may use its sole discretion with respect
to
exercising or refraining from exercising any discretionary rights or
taking or
refraining from taking any actions that Agent expressly is entitled
to take or
assert under or pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, or of
any other provision of the Loan Documents that provides rights or powers
to
Agent, Lenders agree that Agent shall have the right to exercise the
following
powers as long as this Agreement remains in effect: (a) maintain, in
accordance with its customary business practices, ledgers and records
reflecting
the status of the Obligations, the Collateral, the Collections of Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries, and related matters, (b) execute or file any and
all financing
or similar statements or notices, amendments, renewals, supplements,
documents,
instruments, proofs of claim, notices and other written agreements
with respect
to the Loan Documents, (c) make Advances, for itself or on behalf of
Lenders as
provided in the Loan Documents, (d) exclusively receive, apply, and
distribute
the Collections of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as provided in the
Loan
Documents, (e) open and maintain such bank accounts and cash management
arrangements as Agent deems necessary and appropriate in accordance
with the
Loan Documents for the foregoing purposes with respect to the Collateral
and the
Collections of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (f) perform, exercise, and
enforce any and all other rights and remedies of the Lender Group with
respect
to Borrower or its Subsidiaries, the Obligations, the Collateral, the
Collections of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or otherwise related
to any of
same as provided in the Loan Documents, and (g) incur and pay such
Lender Group
Expenses as Agent may deem necessary or appropriate for the performance
and
fulfillment of its functions and powers pursuant to the Loan
Documents.
15.2 Delegation
of
Duties. Agent
may execute
any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by
or through
agents, employees or attorneys in fact and shall be entitled to advice
of
counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Agent shall
not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or
attorney in
fact that it selects as long as such selection was made without gross
negligence
or willful misconduct.
15.3 Liability
of
Agent. None
of
Agent-Related Persons shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted
to be
taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or
any other
Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its
own gross
negligence or willful misconduct), or (b) be responsible in any manner
to any of
the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation or warranty
made by
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or any officer or
director
thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document,
or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided
for in,
or received by Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or
any other
Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or
sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any
failure of
Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any other party to any Loan Document
to perform
its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person
shall be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire
as to the
observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or
conditions
of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the books
and
records or properties of Borrower or its Subsidiaries.
15.4 Reliance
by
Agent. Agent
shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any
writing,
resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission, telex or
telephone
message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it
to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper
Person
or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including
counsel
to Borrower or counsel to any Lender), independent accountants and
other experts
selected by Agent. Agent shall be fully justified in failing or
refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document
unless Agent shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the
Lenders as it
deems appropriate and until such instructions are received, Agent shall
act, or
refrain from acting, as it deems advisable. If Agent so requests, it
shall first be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Lenders
against
any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason
of taking
or continuing to take any such action. Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this
Agreement or
any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of
the requisite
Lenders and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant
thereto
shall be binding upon all of the Lenders.
15.5 Notice
of Default or Event
of Default. Agent
shall not
be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default
or Event
of Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal,
interest, fees, and expenses required to be paid to Agent for the account
of the
Lenders and, except with respect to Events of Default of which Agent
has actual
knowledge, unless Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender
or
Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event
of
Default, and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” Agent
promptly will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice
or of any
Event of Default of which Agent has actual knowledge. If any Lender
obtains actual knowledge of any Event of Default, such Lender promptly
shall
notify the other Lenders and Agent of such Event of Default. Each
Lender shall be solely responsible for giving any notices to its Participants,
if any. Subject to Section
15.4, Agent
shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default
as may
be requested by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section
8; provided,
however,
that unless
and until Agent has received any such request, Agent may (but shall
not be
obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action,
with respect
to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable.
15.6 Credit
Decision. Each
Lender
acknowledges that none of Agent-Related Persons has made any representation
or
warranty to it, and that no act by Agent hereinafter taken, including
any review
of the affairs of Borrower and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, shall
be deemed
to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person
to any
Lender. Each Lender represents to Agent that it has, independently
and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such
documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal
of and
investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial
and
other condition and creditworthiness of Borrower or any other Person
party to a
Loan Document, and all applicable bank regulatory laws relating to
the
transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter
into this
Agreement and to extend credit to Borrower. Each Lender also
represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any
Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as
it shall
deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis,
appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this
Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems
necessary
to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property,
financial
and other condition and creditworthiness of Borrower or any other Person
party
to a Loan Document. Except for notices, reports, and other documents
expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by Agent,
Agent shall
not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any
credit or
other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property,
financial and other condition or creditworthiness of Borrower or any
other
Person party to a Loan Document that may come into the possession of
any of
Agent-Related Persons.
15.7 Costs
and Expenses;
Indemnification. Agent
may incur
and pay Lender Group Expenses to the extent Agent reasonably deems
necessary or
appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its functions, powers,
and
obligations pursuant to the Loan Documents, including court costs,
attorneys
fees and expenses, fees and expenses of financial accountants, advisors,
consultants, and appraisers, costs of collection by outside collection
agencies,
auctioneer fees and expenses, and costs of security guards or insurance
premiums
paid to maintain the Collateral, whether or not Borrower is obligated
to
reimburse Agent or Lenders for such expenses pursuant to this Agreement
or
otherwise. Agent is authorized and directed to deduct and retain
sufficient amounts from the Collections of Borrower and its Subsidiaries
received by Agent to reimburse Agent for such out-of-pocket costs and
expenses
prior to the distribution of any amounts to Lenders. In the event
Agent is not reimbursed for such costs and expenses by Borrower or
its
Subsidiaries, each Lender hereby agrees that it is and shall be obligated
to pay
to Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. Whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall
indemnify
upon demand Agent-Related Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by
or on behalf
of Borrower and without limiting the obligation of Borrower to do so),
according
to their Pro Rata Shares, from and against any and all Indemnified
Liabilities;
provided,
however,
that no
Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person
of any
portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from such
Person’s
gross negligence or willful misconduct nor shall any Lender be liable
for the
obligations of any Defaulting Lender in failing to make an Advance
or other
extension of credit hereunder. Without limitation of the foregoing,
each Lender shall reimburse Agent upon demand for such Lender’s Pro Rata Share
of any costs or out of pocket expenses (including attorneys, accountants,
advisors, and consultants fees and expenses) incurred by Agent in connection
with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification,
amendment, or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings
or
otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities
under,
this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated
by or
referred to herein, to the extent that Agent is not reimbursed for
such expenses
by or on behalf of Borrower. The undertaking in this Section shall
survive the payment of all Obligations hereunder and the resignation
or
replacement of Agent.
15.8 Agent
in Individual
Capacity. WFF
and its
Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account
of, accept
deposits from, acquire equity interests in, and generally engage in
any kind of
banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting, or other business
with
Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and any other Person party
to any
Loan Documents as though WFF were not Agent hereunder, and, in each
case,
without notice to or consent of the other members of the Lender
Group. The other members of the Lender Group acknowledge that,
pursuant to such activities, WFF or its Affiliates may receive information
regarding Borrower or its Affiliates or any other Person party to any
Loan
Documents that is subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of
Borrower or
such other Person and that prohibit the disclosure of such information
to the
Lenders, and the Lenders acknowledge that, in such circumstances (and
in the
absence of a waiver of such confidentiality obligations, which waiver
Agent will
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain), Agent shall not be under
any
obligation to provide such information to them. The terms “Lender”
and “Lenders” include WFF in its individual capacity.
15.9 Successor
Agent. Agent
may resign
as Agent upon forty-five (45) days notice to the Lenders (unless such
notice is
waived by the Required Lenders). If Agent resigns under this
Agreement, the Required Lenders, in consultation with Borrower, shall
have the
right to appoint a successor Agent for the Lenders; provided that after
the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default or an Event
of Default,
the Required Lenders shall have no obligation to consult Borrower prior
to
appointing a successor Agent. If no successor Agent is appointed prior to
the effective date of the resignation or removal of Agent, Agent may
appoint,
after consulting with the Lenders, a successor Agent. At any time,
Agent may be removed upon prior notice from the Required Lenders to
Agent and
the other Lenders. If Agent has been removed by the Required Lenders,
Required
Lenders may agree in writing to replace Agent with a successor Agent
from among
the Lenders. In any such event, upon the acceptance of its
appointment as successor Agent hereunder, such successor Agent shall
succeed to
all the rights, powers, and duties of the retiring Agent and the term
“Agent”
shall mean such successor Agent and the retiring Agent’s appointment, powers,
and duties as Agent shall be terminated. The fees payable by Borrower
to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor
unless otherwise agreed between Borrower and such successor. After
any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this
Section
15
shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it
while it was Agent under this Agreement. If no successor Agent has
accepted appointment as Agent by the date which is forty-five (45)
days
following a retiring Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Agent’s
resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders
shall
perform all of the duties of Agent hereunder until such time, if any,
as the
Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above.
15.10 Lender
in Individual
Capacity.
Any Lender and its respective Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters
of
credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests
in and
generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory,
underwriting, or other business with Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and
Affiliates and any other Person party to any Loan Documents as though
such
Lender were not a Lender hereunder without notice to or consent of
the other
members of the Lender Group. The other members of the Lender Group
acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, such Lender and its
respective
Affiliates may receive information regarding Borrower or its Affiliates
or any
other Person party to any Loan Documents that is subject to confidentiality
obligations in favor of Borrower or such other Person and that prohibit
the
disclosure of such information to the Lenders, and the Lenders acknowledge
that,
in such circumstances (and in the absence of a waiver of such confidentiality
obligations, which waiver such Lender will use its reasonable best
efforts to
obtain), such Lender shall not be under any obligation to provide such
information to them.
15.11 Collateral
Matters.
(a) The
Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Agent, at its option and in its
sole
discretion, to release any Lien on any Collateral or other collateral
securing
the Obligations (i) upon the termination of the Commitments and payment
and
satisfaction in full by Borrower of all Obligations, (ii) constituting
property
being sold or disposed of if a release is required or desirable in
connection
therewith and if Borrower certifies to Agent that the sale or disposition
is
permitted under Section
6.4 of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents (and Agent may rely conclusively
on any
such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property
in which
Borrower or its Subsidiaries owned no interest at the time Agent’s Lien was
granted nor at any time thereafter, or (iv) constituting property leased to
Borrower or its Subsidiaries under a lease that has expired or is terminated
in
a transaction permitted under this Agreement. Except as provided
above, Agent will not execute and deliver a release of any Lien on
any
Collateral or other collateral securing the Obligations without the
prior
written authorization of (y) if the release is of all or substantially
all of
the Collateral, all of the Lenders, or (z) otherwise, the Required
Lenders. Upon request by Agent or Borrower at any time, the Lenders
will confirm in writing Agent’s authority to release any such Liens on
particular types or items of Collateral or other collateral securing
the
Obligations pursuant to this Section
15.11. Upon receipt (i) by Agent of any
confirmation from all of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable,
or
(ii) the occurrence of an event described above for which collateral
release
does not require the approval of any Lender and upon at least ten (10)
Business
Days’ (or such shorter period as may be approved by Agent) prior written
request
by Borrower, Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by Lenders
to)
execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release
of the Liens
granted to Agent upon such Collateral or other collateral securing
the
Obligations; provided,
however,
that (1)
Agent shall not be required to execute any document necessary to evidence
such
release on terms that, in Agent’s opinion, would expose Agent to liability or
create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the release
of such
Lien without recourse, representation, or warranty, and (2) such release
shall
not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any
Liens
(other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of
Borrower in
respect of) all interests retained by Borrower, including, the proceeds
of any
sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the
Collateral.
(b) Agent
shall have no obligation whatsoever to any of the Lenders to assure
that the
Collateral exists or is owned by Borrower or its Subsidiaries or is
cared for,
protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that Agent’s Liens have been
properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected,
or enforced
or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise at all or
in any
particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity,
or to
continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted
or
available to Agent pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, it being
understood
and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission,
or event
related thereto, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein,
Agent may
act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion given
Agent’s
own interest in the Collateral in its capacity as one of the Lenders
and that
Agent shall have no other duty or liability whatsoever to any Lender
as to any
of the foregoing, except as otherwise provided herein.
15.12 Restrictions
on Actions by
Lenders; Sharing of Payments.
(a) Each
of
the Lenders agrees that it shall not, without the express written consent
of
Agent, and that it shall, to the extent it is lawfully entitled to
do so, upon
the written request of Agent, set off against the Obligations, any
amounts owing
by such Lender to Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any deposit accounts
of
Borrower or its Subsidiaries now or hereafter maintained with such
Lender. Each of the Lenders further agrees that it shall not, unless
specifically requested to do so in writing by Agent, take or cause
to be taken
any action, including, the commencement of any legal or equitable proceedings
to
enforce any Loan Document against Borrower or any Guarantor or to foreclose
any
Lien on, or otherwise enforce any security interest in, any of the
Collateral.
(b) If,
at
any time or times any Lender shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure,
setoff,
or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect
to the
Obligations, except for any such proceeds or payments received by such
Lender
from Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) payments from
Agent in excess of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all such distributions by
Agent, such Lender promptly shall (A) turn the same over to Agent,
in kind, and
with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to
Agent, or in
immediately available funds, as applicable, for the account of all
of the
Lenders and for application to the Obligations in accordance with the
applicable
provisions of this Agreement, or (B) purchase, without recourse or
warranty, an
undivided interest and participation in the Obligations owed to the
other
Lenders so that such excess payment received shall be applied ratably
as among
the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares; provided,
however,
that to the
extent that such excess payment received by the purchasing party is
thereafter
recovered from it, those purchases of participations shall be rescinded
in whole
or in part, as applicable, and the applicable portion of the purchase
price paid
therefor shall be returned to such purchasing party, but without interest
except
to the extent that such purchasing party is required to pay interest
in
connection with the recovery of the excess payment.
15.13 Agency
for
Perfection. Agent
hereby
appoints each other Lender as its agent (and each Lender hereby accepts
such
appointment) for the purpose of perfecting Agent’s Liens in assets which, in
accordance with Article 8 or Article 9, as applicable, of the Code
can be
perfected only by possession or control. Should any Lender obtain
possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify
Agent
thereof, and, promptly upon Agent’s request therefor shall deliver possession or
control of such Collateral to Agent or in accordance with Agent’s
instructions.
15.14 Payments
by Agent to the
Lenders. All
payments to
be made by Agent to the Lenders shall be made by bank wire transfer
of
immediately available funds pursuant to such wire transfer instructions
as each
party may designate for itself by written notice to
Agent. Concurrently with each such payment, Agent shall identify
whether such payment (or any portion thereof) represents principal,
premium,
fees, or interest of the Obligations.
15.15 Concerning
the Collateral
and Related Loan Documents. Each
member of
the Lender Group authorizes and directs Agent to enter into this Agreement
and
the other Loan Documents. Each member of the Lender Group agrees that
any action taken by Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
or the
other Loan Documents relating to the Collateral and the exercise by
Agent of its
powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers
that are
reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the
Lenders.
15.16 Field
Audits and Examination
Reports; Confidentiality; Disclaimers by Lenders; Other Reports and
Information. By
becoming a
party to this Agreement, each Lender:
(a) is
deemed
to have requested that Agent furnish such Lender, promptly after it
becomes
available, a copy of each field audit or examination report respecting
Borrower
or its Subsidiaries (each a “Report”
and
collectively, “Reports”)
prepared by
or at the request of Agent, and Agent shall so furnish each Lender
with such
Reports,
(b) expressly
agrees and acknowledges that Agent does not (i) make any representation
or
warranty as to the accuracy of any Report, and (ii) shall not be liable
for any
information contained in any Report,
(c) expressly
agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits
or
examinations, that Agent or other party performing any audit or examination
will
inspect only specific information regarding Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and
will rely significantly upon Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ books and records,
as well as on representations of Borrower’s personnel,
(d) agrees
to
keep all Reports and other material, non-public information regarding
Borrower
and its Subsidiaries and their operations, assets, and existing and
contemplated
business plans in a confidential manner in accordance with Section
17.9,
and
(e) without
limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained
in this
Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold Agent and any other Lender preparing
a Report
harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or fail to
take or any
conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report
in
connection with any loans or other credit accommodations that the indemnifying
Lender has made or may make to Borrower, or the indemnifying Lender’s
participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a loan or loans of
Borrower, and (ii) to pay and protect, and indemnify, defend and hold
Agent, and
any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless from and against,
the claims,
actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including,
attorneys fees and costs) incurred by Agent and any such other Lender
preparing
a Report as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who
might obtain
all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.
In
addition to the foregoing: (x) any Lender may from time to time request
of Agent
in writing that Agent provide to such Lender a copy of any report or
document
provided by Borrower or its Subsidiaries to Agent that has not been
contemporaneously provided by Borrower or such Subsidiary to such Lender,
and,
upon receipt of such request, Agent promptly shall provide a copy of
same to
such Lender, (y) to the extent that Agent is entitled, under any provision
of
the Loan Documents, to request additional reports or information from
Borrower
or its Subsidiaries, any Lender may, from time to time, reasonably
request Agent
to exercise such right as specified in such Lender’s notice to Agent, whereupon
Agent promptly shall request of Borrower the additional reports or
information
reasonably specified by such Lender, and, upon receipt thereof from
Borrower or
such Subsidiary, Agent promptly shall provide a copy of same to such
Lender, and
(z) any time that Agent renders to Borrower a statement regarding the
Loan
Account, Agent shall send a copy of such statement to each Lender.
15.17 Several
Obligations; No
Liability. Notwithstanding
that certain of the Loan Documents now or hereafter may have been or
will be
executed only by or in favor of Agent in its capacity as such, and
not by or in
favor of the Lenders, any and all obligations on the part of Agent
(if any) to
make any credit available hereunder shall constitute the several (and
not joint)
obligations of the respective Lenders on a ratable basis, according
to their
respective Commitments, to make an amount of such credit not to exceed,
in
principal amount, at any one time outstanding, the amount of their
respective
Commitments. Nothing contained herein shall confer upon any Lender
any interest in, or subject any Lender to any liability for, or in
respect of,
the business, assets, profits, losses, or liabilities of any other
Lender. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for notifying its
Participants of any matters relating to the Loan Documents to the extent
any
such notice may be required, and no Lender shall have any obligation,
duty, or
liability to any Participant of any other Lender. Except as provided
in Section
15.7, no member of the Lender Group shall have any liability for
the acts
of any other member of the Lender Group. No Lender shall be
responsible to Borrower or any other Person for any failure by any
other Lender
to fulfill its obligations to make credit available hereunder, nor
to advance
for it or on its behalf in connection with its Commitment, nor to take
any other
action on its behalf hereunder or in connection with the financing
contemplated
herein.
16. WITHHOLDING
TAXES.
(a) All
payments made by any Loan Party hereunder or under any note or other
Loan
Document will be made without setoff, counterclaim, or other
defense. In addition, all such payments will be made free and clear
of, and without deduction or withholding for, any present or future
Indemnified
Taxes and Other Taxes, and in the event any deduction or withholding
of
Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes is required, each Loan Party shall
comply with
the penultimate sentence of this Section
16(a). If any Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes are so levied
or imposed, each Loan Party agrees to pay the full amount of such Indemnified
Taxes and Other Taxes and such additional amounts as may be necessary
so that
every payment of all amounts due under this Agreement, any note, or
Loan
Document, including any amount paid pursuant to this Section
16(a) after
withholding or deduction for or on account of any Indemnified Taxes
and Other
Taxes, will not be less than the amount provided for herein; provided,
however,
that no such Loan Party shall be required to increase any such amounts
if the
increase in such amount payable results from Agent’s or such Lender’s own
willful misconduct or gross negligence (as finally determined by a
court of
competent jurisdiction). Each Loan Party will furnish to Agent as
promptly as possible after the date the payment of any Indemnified
Tax and Other
Tax is due pursuant to applicable law certified copies of tax receipts
evidencing such payment by such Loan Party.
(b) If
a
Lender claims an exemption from United States withholding tax, Lender
agrees
with and in favor of Agent and Borrower, to deliver to Agent:
(i) if
such
Lender claims an exemption from United States withholding tax pursuant
to its
portfolio interest exception, (A) a statement of the Lender, signed
under
penalty of perjury, that it is not a (I) a “bank” as described in Section
881(c)(3)(A) of the IRC, (II) a 10% shareholder of Borrower (within
the meaning
of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the IRC), or (III) a controlled foreign
corporation
related to Borrower within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the
IRC, and (B)
a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN, before receiving
its first
payment under this Agreement and at any other time reasonably requested
by Agent
or Borrower;
(ii) if
such
Lender claims an exemption from, or a reduction of, withholding tax
under a
United States tax treaty, properly completed and executed IRS Form
W-8BEN before
receiving its first payment under this Agreement and at any other time
reasonably requested by Agent or Borrower;
(iii) if
such
Lender claims that interest paid under this Agreement is exempt from
United
States withholding tax because it is effectively connected with a United
States
trade or business of such Lender, two properly completed and executed
copies of
IRS Form W-8ECI before receiving its first payment under this Agreement
and at
any other time reasonably requested by Agent or Borrower; or
(iv) such
other form or forms, including IRS Form W-9, as may be required under
the IRC or
other laws of the United States as a condition to exemption from, or
reduction
of, United States withholding or backup withholding tax before receiving
its
first payment under this Agreement and at any other time reasonably
requested by
Agent or Borrower.
Lender
agrees promptly to notify Agent and Borrower of any change in circumstances
which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or
reduction.
(c) If
a
Lender claims an exemption from withholding tax in a jurisdiction other
than the
United States, Lender agrees with and in favor of Agent and Borrower,
to deliver
to Agent any such form or forms, as may be required under the laws
of such
jurisdiction as a condition to exemption from, or reduction of, foreign
withholding or backup withholding tax before receiving its first payment
under
this Agreement and at any other time reasonably requested by Agent
or
Borrower.
Lender
agrees promptly to notify Agent and Borrower of any change in circumstances
which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or
reduction.
(d) If
any
Lender claims exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax and
such Lender
sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all
or part of
the Obligations of Borrower to such Lender, such Lender agrees to notify
Agent
and Borrower of the percentage amount in which it is no longer the
beneficial owner of Obligations of Borrower to such Lender. To the
extent of such percentage amount, Agent and Borrower will treat such
Lender’s
documentation provided pursuant to Sections
16(b) or
16(c) as no longer valid. With respect to such percentage
amount, Lender may provide new documentation, pursuant to Sections
16(b) or
16(c), if applicable.
(e) If
any
Lender is entitled to a reduction in the applicable withholding tax,
Agent may
withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an amount equivalent
to the
applicable withholding tax after taking into account such
reduction. If the forms or other documentation required by subsection
(b) or (c)
of this Section
16 are not delivered to Agent, then Agent may withhold from any
interest
payment to such Lender not providing such forms or other documentation
an amount
equivalent to the applicable withholding tax.
(f) If
the
IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the United States or other
jurisdiction asserts a claim that Agent did not properly withhold tax
from
amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender due to a failure on
the part of
the Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not
properly
executed, or because such Lender failed to notify Agent of a change
in
circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding
tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Lender shall indemnify
and hold
Agent harmless for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by Agent,
as tax or
otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including any taxes
imposed by
any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to Agent under this Section
16, together
with all costs and expenses (including attorneys fees and
expenses). The obligation of the Lenders under this subsection shall
survive the payment of all Obligations and the resignation or replacement
of
Agent.
17. GENERAL
PROVISIONS.
17.1 Effectiveness. This
Agreement
shall be binding and deemed effective when executed by Borrower, Agent,
and each
Lender whose signature is provided for on the signature pages
hereof.
17.2 Section
Headings. Headings
and
numbers have been set forth herein for convenience only. Unless the
contrary is compelled by the context, everything contained in each
Section
applies equally to this entire Agreement.
17.3 Interpretation. Neither
this
Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed
against the
Lender Group or Borrower, whether under any rule of construction or
otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by all
parties and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary
meaning
of the words used so as to accomplish fairly the purposes and intentions
of all
parties hereto.
17.4 Severability
of
Provisions. Each
provision of
this Agreement shall be severable from every other provision of this
Agreement
for the purpose of determining the legal enforceability of any specific
provision.
17.5 Bank
Product
Providers. Each
Bank Product
Provider shall be deemed a party hereto for purposes of any reference
in a Loan
Document to the parties for whom Agent is acting; it being understood
and agreed
that the rights and benefits of such Bank Product Provider under the
Loan
Documents consist exclusively of such Bank Product Provider’s right to share in
payments and collections out of the Collateral as more fully set forth
herein.
In connection with any such distribution of payments and collections,
Agent
shall be entitled to assume no amounts are due to any Bank Product
Provider
unless such Bank Product Provider has notified Agent in writing of
the amount of
any such liability owed to it prior to such distribution.
17.6 Lender-Creditor
Relationship. The
relationship
between the Lenders and Agent, on the one hand, and Borrower, on the
other hand,
is solely that of creditor and debtor. No member of the Lender Group
has (or shall be deemed to have) any fiduciary relationship or duty
to Borrower
arising out of or in connection with, and there is no agency or joint
venture
relationship between the members of the Lender Group, on the one hand,
and
Borrower, on the other hand, by virtue of any Loan Document or any
transaction
contemplated therein.
17.7 Counterparts;
Electronic
Execution. This
Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
on
separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered,
shall be
deemed to be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute but one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed
counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic
method of
transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original
executed
counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed
counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic
method of
transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of
this
Agreement but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart
shall not
affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this
Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Loan Document
mutatis
mutandis.
17.8 Revival
and Reinstatement of
Obligations. If
the incurrence
or payment of the Obligations by Borrower or Guarantor or the transfer
to the
Lender Group of any property should for any reason subsequently be
declared to
be void or voidable under any state or federal law relating to creditors’
rights, including provisions of the Bankruptcy Code relating to fraudulent
conveyances, preferences, or other voidable or recoverable payments
of money or
transfers of property (each, a “Voidable
Transfer”),
and if the Lender Group is required to repay or restore, in whole or
in part,
any such Voidable Transfer, or elects to do so upon the reasonable
advice of its
counsel, then, as to any such Voidable Transfer, or the amount thereof
that the
Lender Group is required or elects to repay or restore, and as to all
reasonable
costs, expenses, and attorneys fees of the Lender Group related thereto,
the
liability of Borrower or Guarantor automatically shall be revived,
reinstated,
and restored and shall exist as though such Voidable Transfer had never
been
made.
17.9 Confidentiality.
(a) Agent
and
Lenders each individually (and not jointly or jointly and severally)
agree that
material, non-public information regarding Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
their
operations, assets, and existing and contemplated business plans shall
be
treated by Agent and the Lenders in a confidential manner, and shall
not be
disclosed by Agent and the Lenders to Persons who are not parties to
this
Agreement, except: (i) to attorneys for and other advisors,
accountants, auditors, and consultants to any member of the Lender
Group (it
being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will
be
informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed
to keep
such information confidential), (ii) to Subsidiaries and Affiliates
of any
member of the Lender Group (including the Bank Product Providers),
provided that
any such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall have agreed to receive such
information
hereunder subject to the terms of this Section
17.9, (iii)
as may be required by statute, decision, or judicial or administrative
order,
rule, or regulation, (iv) as may be agreed to in advance by Borrower
or as
requested or required by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any
subpoena or
other legal process, (v) as to any such information that is or becomes
generally
available to the public (other than as a result of prohibited disclosure
by
Agent or the Lenders), (vi) in connection with any assignment, prospective
assignment, sale, prospective sale, participation, prospective participation
or
pledge or prospective or pledge of any Lender’s interest under this Agreement,
provided that any such assignee, prospective assignment, sale, prospective
sale,
participation, prospective participation or pledge or prospective or
pledgee
shall have agreed in writing to receive such information hereunder
subject to
the terms of this Section, and (vii) in connection with any litigation
or other
adversary proceeding involving parties hereto which such litigation
or adversary
proceeding involves claims related to the rights or duties of such
parties under
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. The provisions of this
Section
17.9(a)
shall survive for two (2) years after the payment in full of the
Obligations.
(b) Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, Agent may provide
information
concerning the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other
Loan
Documents to loan syndication and pricing reporting services.
17.10 Lender
Group
Expenses.
Lender
Group Expenses
shall become due and payable ten (10) days after receipt of an invoice
from the
Agent setting forth in reasonable detail the Lender Group Expenses
for which
payment is being demanded. Borrower agrees to pay any and all Lender
Group
Expenses as set forth above and agrees that its obligations contained
in this Section
17.10 shall survive payment or satisfaction in full of all other
Obligations.
17.11 USA
PATRIOT
Act.
Each
Lender that is
subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title 111 of Pub.
L. 107-56
(signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”)
hereby notifies
Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required
to obtain,
verify and record information that identifies Borrower, which information
includes the name and address of Borrower and other information that
will allow
such Lender to identify Borrower in accordance with the Act.
17.12 Integration. This
Agreement,
together with the other Loan Documents, reflects the entire understanding
of the
parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and shall
not be
contradicted or qualified by any other agreement, oral or written,
before the
date hereof.\
[Signature
pages to
follow.]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered
as of the
date first above written.
|
STORM
CAT ENERGY (USA) CORPORATION,
as
Borrower
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Joseph M. Brooker
|
|
Name:
|
Joseph
M. Brooker |
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
WELLS
FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC,
as
Agent and as a Lender
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Eugene P. McDonough
|
|
Name:
|
Eugene P.
McDonough |
|
Title:
|
Vice-President |
|
|
|
|
|
REGIMENT
CAPITAL SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND III, L.P., as a Lender
|
|
By: Regiment
Capital GP, LLC
its
General Partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Richard T. Miller
|
|
Name:
|
Richard
T. Miller |
|
Title:
|
Authorized
Signatory |
|
|
|
Address
for
Notice:
|
|
222
Berkeley Street, 12th
Floor
|
|
Boston,
Massachusetts 02116
|
|
Attn:
Kyle O’Neil
|
|
Fax
No.: (617) 488-1688
|
Schedule
1.1
As
used
in the Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
definitions:
“Account”
means
an
account (as that term is defined in the Code).
“Account
Debtor” means
any Person who is obligated on an Account, chattel paper, or a general
intangible.
“ACH
Transactions”
means any cash management or related services (including the
Automated Clearing
House processing of electronic fund transfers through the direct Federal
Reserve
Fedline system) provided by a Bank Product Provider for the account
of Parent or
its Subsidiaries.
“Act”
has
the meaning
specified therefor in Section
17.11.
“Additional
Documents”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section
5.16.
“Advances”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.1(a).
“Affiliate”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, (a) each Person that, directly or
indirectly,
owns or controls, whether beneficially, or as a trustee, guardian or
other
fiduciary or a joint venturer or partner, ten percent (10%) or more
of the Stock
having ordinary voting power in the election of directors of such Persons,
(b)
each Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with such
Person, (c) each of such Person’s officers, directors, joint venturers and
partners (in the case of joint venturers and partners, to the extent
covered by
clause (a)), and (d) in the case of any Loan Party, the immediate family
members, spouses and lineal descendants of individuals who are Affiliates
of any
Loan Party. For the purposes of this definition, “control”
of
a Person
shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or
cause the direction of its management or policies, whether through
the ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided,
however,
that the
term “Affiliate”
shall
specifically exclude Agent and each Lender.
“Agent”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the preamble to the Agreement.
“Agent-Related
Persons” means Agent, together with its Affiliates, officers, directors,
employees, attorneys, and agents.
“Agent’s
Account”
means the Deposit Account of Agent identified on Schedule A-1.
“Agent’s
Liens” mean
the Liens granted by Parent or its Subsidiaries to Agent under the
Loan
Documents.
“Agreement”
means
the
Credit Agreement to which this Schedule
1.1 is
attached.
“Approved
Counterparty” means (a) any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender, or (b)
any other Person whose long term senior unsecured debt rating is A-/A3
by
S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher.
“Approved
Fund” means
any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate
of a
Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers
or manages
a Lender.
“Asset
Coverage Ratio”
means, as of any date of determination (a) Parent’s Total Reserve Value as
of such date, divided
by (b) the amount of Parent’s Total Debt as of such
date.
“Assignee”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
13.1(a).
“Assignment
and
Acceptance” means an Assignment and Acceptance Agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit
A-1.
“Authorized
Person”
means any one of the individuals identified on Schedule
A-2.
“Availability”
means,
as of any date of determination, the amount that Borrower is entitled
to borrow
as Advances under Section
2.1 of the
Agreement (after giving effect to all then outstanding Obligations
(other than
Bank Product Obligations) and all sublimits and reserves then applicable
hereunder).
“Bank
Product” means
any financial accommodation extended to Borrower or its Subsidiaries
by a Bank
Product Provider (other than pursuant to the Agreement)
including: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c)
debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH Transactions, (f) cash management,
including controlled disbursement, accounts or services, or (g) transactions
under Swap Agreements.
“Bank
Product
Agreements” means those agreements entered into from time to time by
Parent or its Subsidiaries with a Bank Product Provider in connection
with the
obtaining of any of the Bank Products.
“Bank
Product
Collateralization” means providing cash collateral (pursuant to
documentation reasonably satisfactory to Agent) to be held by Agent
for the
benefit of the Bank Product Providers in an amount determined by Agent
as
sufficient to satisfy the reasonably estimated credit exposure with
respect to
the then existing Bank Products.
“Bank
Product
Obligations” means all obligations, liabilities, contingent reimbursement
obligations, fees, and expenses owing by Parent or its Subsidiaries
to any Bank
Product Provider pursuant to or evidenced by the Bank Product Agreements
and
irrespective of whether for the payment of money, whether direct or
indirect,
absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter
arising,
and including all such amounts that Parent or its Subsidiaries are
obligated to
reimburse to Agent or any member of the Lender Group as a result of
Agent or
such member of the Lender Group purchasing participations from, or
executing
indemnities or reimbursement obligations to, a Bank Product Provider
with
respect to the Bank Products provided by such Bank Product Provider
to Parent or
its Subsidiaries.
“Bank
Product
Provider” means Wells Fargo or any of its Affiliates.
“Bank
Product Reserve”
means, as of any date of determination, the lesser of (a) $1,000,000 and
(b) an amount
equal to the amount of reserves that Agent has established (based upon
the Bank
Product Providers’ reasonable determination of the credit exposure of Parent and
its Subsidiaries in respect of Bank Products) in respect of Bank Products
then
provided or outstanding.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means title 11 of the United States Code, as in effect from
time to time or
under any other bankruptcy or insolvency law (including without limitation,
the
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and the Companies Creditors
Arrangement
Act (Canada)).
“Base
LIBOR Rate”
means the rate per annum, determined by Agent in accordance
with its customary
procedures, and utilizing such electronic or other quotation sources
as it
considers appropriate, to be the rate at which Dollar deposits (for
delivery on
the first day of the requested Interest Period) are offered to major
banks in
the London interbank market two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement
of
the requested Interest Period, for a term and in an amount comparable
to the
Interest Period and the amount of the LIBOR Rate Loan requested (whether
as an
initial LIBOR Rate Loan or as a continuation of a LIBOR Rate Loan or
as a
conversion of a Base Rate Loan to a LIBOR Rate Loan) by Borrower in
accordance
with the Agreement, which determination shall be conclusive in the
absence of
manifest error; provided that for purposes of the Term Loan, such rate
shall be
the rate applicable to the rate on a one-, two-, three- or six-month
LIBOR
contract on the relevant date of determination and shall apply to the
entire
Term Loan.
“Base
Rate” means, the
rate of interest announced, from time to time, within Wells Fargo at
its
principal office in San Francisco as its “prime rate”, with the understanding
that the “prime rate” is one of Wells Fargo’s base rates (not necessarily the
lowest of such rates) and serves as the basis upon which effective
rates of
interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto and
is
evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal
publications as Wells Fargo may designate. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if at
any time the Base Rate is less than 6.25%, the Base Rate shall be deemed
to be
6.25% until such time as the Base Rate is at least equal to 6.25%.
“Base
Rate Loan” means
the portion of the Advances or the Term Loan that bears interest at
a rate
determined by reference to the Base Rate.
“Base
Rate Margin”
means (i) for purposes of determining the interest rate applicable
to the Term
Loan or upon the occurrence of an event described in Section
2.13(d)(ii),
5.75% and (ii) for purposes of determining the interest rate applicable
to Base
Rate Loans that are Advances, the applicable Base Rate Margin set forth
in the
table below opposite the Borrowing Base Utilization on the date of
determination:
Tier
|
Borrowing
Base Utilization
|
Base
Rate Margin for Advances
|
I
|
<0.33
|
0.75%
|
II
|
>=0.33
< 0.66
|
1.00%
|
III
|
>=0.66
|
1.25%
|
“Benefit
Plan” means
(i) a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) for which
Borrower or any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate of Borrower has been
an “employer”
(as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA) within the past six (6) years
or (ii) a
“benefit plan” defined under any comparable foreign law that is or was
sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed
by,
Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates.
“Board
of Directors”
means the board of directors (or comparable managers) of Borrower
or any
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of the board of
directors (or
comparable managers).
“Borrower”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the preamble to the Agreement.
“Borrowing”
means
a
borrowing hereunder consisting of Advances made, converted or continued
on the
same day by the Lenders (or Agent on behalf thereof) and, in the case
of
Advances that are LIBOR Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period
is in
effect, or by Swing Lender in the case of a Swing Loan, or by Agent
in the case
of a Protective Advance.
“Borrowing
Base”
means, initially, Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000),
as set forth in
Section 2.1(c), or such other amount as may be determined pursuant
to Section
2.1(d), as
the same may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section
5.21(d) or
clause (g) of the definition of “Permitted Dispositions.”
“Borrowing
Base
Utilization” means the (i) the Revolver Usage divided by (ii) the
Borrowing Base.
“Business
Day” means
any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks
are
authorized or required to close in the state of New York, except that,
if a
determination of a Business Day shall relate to a LIBOR Rate Loan,
the term
“Business Day” also shall exclude any day on which banks are closed for dealings
in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
“Canadian
Pledge
Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of
the date hereof by Parent in favor of Agent.
“Capital
Expenditures”
means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate
of all
expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period
that are
capital expenditures as determined in accordance with GAAP, whether
such
expenditures are paid in cash or financed.
“Capitalized
Lease
Obligation” means that portion of the obligations under a Capital Lease
that is required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital
Lease” means
a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting
purposes in
accordance with GAAP.
“Cash
Equivalents”
means (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally
guaranteed
by, the United States or issued by any agency thereof and backed by
the full
faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within
one (1) year
from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) marketable direct obligations
issued
by any state of the United States or any political subdivision of any
such state
or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one (1) year
from the date
of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one
of the two
highest ratings obtainable from either Standard & Poor’s Rating Group
(“S&P”)
or
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”),
(c)
commercial paper maturing no more than two hundred seventy (270) days
from the
date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a
rating of at
least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody’s, (d) certificates of
deposit, eurodollar-time deposits, bankers’ acceptances maturing within one (1)
year from the date of acquisition thereof either (i) issued by any
bank
organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof
which bank
has a rating of A or A2, or better, from S&P or Moody’s, or (ii)
certificates of deposit less than or equal to Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000)
in the aggregate issued by any other bank insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, (e) Deposit Accounts maintained with (i) any
bank that
satisfies the criteria described in clause (d)(i)
above,
or (ii) any other bank organized under the laws of the United States
or any
state thereof so long as the amount maintained with any such other
bank is less
than or equal to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) and is insured
by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, (f) Investments in money market
funds
substantially all of whose assets are invested in the types of assets
described
in clauses (a) through (e) above, and (g) repurchase obligations with
a term of
not more than one (1) year for underlying securities of the types described
in
(a) and (c) above entered into with any bank that satisfies the criteria
described in clause
(d)(i) above.
“Cash
Management
Account” has the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.7(a).
“Cash
Management
Agreements” means those certain cash management agreements, in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent, each of which is among Borrower or
one of its
Subsidiaries, Agent, and one of the Cash Management Banks.
“Cash
Management Bank”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.7(a).
“Change
of Control”
means that (a) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than Permitted Holder, becomes the
beneficial
owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly,
of twenty percent (20%), or more, of the Stock of Parent having the
right to
vote for the election of members of the Board of Directors (or, in
the case of
Permitted Holder only, the Permitted Holder beneficially own, thirty
percent
(30%) or more of such Stock), (b) a majority of the members of the
Board of
Directors do not constitute Continuing Directors, (c) Parent shall cease to
beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% on a fully
diluted
basis each of the aggregate of the economic and voting interest in
the Stock of
Borrower; (d) except to the extent constituting a Permitted Disposition or
a transaction permitted pursuant to Section
6.3, Borrower
shall cease to directly or indirectly beneficially own and control
100% on a
fully diluted basis of each of the aggregate of the economic and voting
interests in the Stock of any of its Subsidiaries; or (e) a “change of control”
under the Convertible Subordinated Notes has occurred.
“Closing
Date” means
the date of the making of the Term Loan and the initial Advances made
on the
date hereof.
“Code”
means
the
Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, in the State
of New
York.
“Collateral”
means
all
assets and interests in assets and proceeds thereof now owned or hereafter
acquired by Borrower or its Subsidiaries in or upon which a Lien is
granted
under any of the Loan Documents.
“Collateral
Access
Agreement” means a landlord waiver, bailee letter, or acknowledgement
agreement of any lessor, warehouseman, processor, consignee, or other
Person in
possession of, having a Lien upon, or having rights or interests in
Parent’s or
its Subsidiaries’ books and records, Equipment, or Inventory, in each case, in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent.
“Collections”
means
all cash, checks,
notes, instruments, and other items of payment (including insurance
proceeds,
proceeds of cash sales, rental proceeds, and tax refunds).
“Commitment”
means,
with respect to each Lender, its Revolver Commitment, its Term Loan
Commitment,
or its Total Commitment, as the context requires, and, with respect
to all
Lenders, their Revolver Commitments, their Term Loan Commitments, or
their Total
Commitments, as the context requires, in each case as such Dollar amounts
are
set forth beside such Lender’s name under the applicable heading on Schedule
C-1 or in
the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became
a Lender
hereunder, as such amounts may be reduced or increased from time to
time
pursuant to assignments made in accordance with the provisions of Section
13.1.
“Common
Stock” means
common stock of Parent, without par value per share.
“Compliance
Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
C-1 delivered
by the chief financial officer of Borrower to Agent.
“Consolidated
Net
Income” means, with respect to a Person, for any period, such Person’s
and its Subsidiaries’ gross revenues for such period, including any cash
dividends or distributions actually received from any other Person
during such
period, minus such Person’s and its Subsidiaries’ expenses and other proper
charges against income (including taxes on income to the extent imposed),
determined on a consolidated basis after eliminating earnings or losses
attributable to outstanding minority interests and excluding the net
earnings of
any Person other than a Subsidiary in which such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries has an ownership interest. Consolidated Net Income shall not
include: (i) any gain or loss from the sale of assets, (ii) any extraordinary
gains, (iii) any extraordinary noncash losses, (iv) any non-cash income,
gains,
losses or charges resulting from the requirements of SFAS 133, 142,
143 or 144,
or (v) any interest expense associated with the Convertible Subordinated
Notes.
“Continuing
Director”
means (a) any member of the Board of Directors who was a director
(or comparable
manager) of Parent on the Closing Date, and (b) any individual who
becomes a
member of the Board of Directors after the Closing Date if such individual
was
appointed or nominated for election to the Board of Directors by a
majority of
the Continuing Directors, but excluding any such individual originally
proposed
for election in opposition to the Board of Directors in office at the
Closing
Date in an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election
of the
directors (or comparable managers) of Parent and whose initial assumption
of
office resulted from such contest or the settlement thereof.
“Control
Agreement”
means a control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory
to Agent, executed
and delivered by Parent or one of its Subsidiaries, Agent, and the
applicable
securities intermediary (with respect to a Securities Account) or bank
(with
respect to a Deposit Account).
“Convertible
Subordinated
Notes” means the Series A Subordinated Convertible Notes due March
31,
2012 issued by the Parent on January 30, 2007 and the Series B Subordinated
Convertible Notes due March 31, 2012 issued by the Parent on March
30,
2007.
“Copyright
Security
Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the Security
Agreement.
“Daily
Balance” means,
as of any date of determination and with respect to any Obligation,
the amount
of such Obligation owed at the end of such day.
“Default”
means
an
event, condition, or default that, with the giving of notice, the passage
of
time, or both, would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of
Default.
“Defaulting
Lender”
means any Lender that fails to make any Advance (or other extension
of credit)
that it is required to make hereunder on the date that it is required
to do so
hereunder.
“Defaulting
Lender
Rate” means (a) for the first three (3) days from and after the date
the
relevant payment is due, the Base Rate, and (b) thereafter, the interest
rate
then applicable to Advances that are Base Rate Loans (inclusive of
the Base Rate
Margin applicable thereto).
“Defensible
Title”
means that record title of Parent or its Subsidiaries which,
subject to clauses
(a), (b), (c), (k) and (m) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”, (a) entitles
Parent or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to receive from each such
Property
not less than the interests shown in the Reserve Report as the “Net Revenue
Interest” of all Hydrocarbons produced, saved and marketed from or allocated
to
the formations in such Property, all without reduction, suspension
or
termination except as stated in such Reserve Report or otherwise permitted
as
Permitted Liens; and (b) obligates Parent or its Subsidiaries, as applicable,
to
bear a percentage of the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance
and
development of, and operations relating to, the producing formations
in each
such Property not greater than the “Working Interest” shown in the Reserve
Report (without a proportionate increase in the Net Revenue Interest),
all
without increase except as stated in such Reserve Report or otherwise
permitted
under clauses (a), (b), (c), (k) and (m) of the definition of “Permitted
Liens”.
“Deposit
Account”
means any deposit account (as that term is defined in the Code).
“Designated
Account”
means the Deposit Account of Borrower identified on Schedule
D-1.
“Designated
Account
Bank” has the meaning specified therefor in Schedule
D-1.
“Disbursement
Letter”
means an instructional letter executed and delivered by Borrower
to Agent and
Lenders regarding the extensions of credit to be made on the Closing
Date, the
form and substance of which is satisfactory to Agent.
“Disqualified
Stock”
shall mean any Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of
any security into
which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the
happening
of any event, (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option
of the
holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is
one hundred
eighty (180) days following the Maturity Date, (b) is convertible into or
exchangeable for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Stock referred to in
(a) above, in each case at any time on or prior to the date that one
hundred eighty (180) days following the Maturity Date, or (c) is entitled
to receive a dividend or distribution (other than for taxes attributable
to the
operations of the business) prior to the time that the Obligations
are paid in
full, or (d) has the benefit of any covenants or agreements that restrict
the payment of any of the Obligations or that are EBITDA or debt-multiple
based
(i.e. financial covenants).
“Dollars”
or
“$”
means
United
States dollars.
“EBITDA”
means,
for
any period (without duplication), the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income
during
such period (excluding all interest income earned or accrued during
such period
that was included in determining such Consolidated Net Income), plus
(b) all
interest paid or accrued during such period on Indebtedness (including
amortization of original issue discount and the interest component
of any
deferred payment obligations and capital lease obligations) that was
deducted in
determining such Consolidated Net Income, plus (c) all income taxes
that were
deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, plus (d) all
depreciation,
depletion expense, amortization expense (including amortization of
good will and
debt issue costs), and other non-cash charges (including any provision
for the
reduction in the carrying value of assets recorded in accordance with
GAAP and
stock option grants, warrants and similar non-cash charges) and expenses
incurred by Parent and its Subsidiaries that were deducted in determining
such
Consolidated Net Income; provided,
however,
that any
calculation of EBITDA hereunder shall be made using an EBITDA calculated
on a
pro forma basis (inclusive of any acquisitions financed with Funded
Indebtedness, if any, made during the relevant calculation period and,
if any
such acquisition has a value in excess of $500,000, as if such acquisition
had
occurred on the first day of such period); provided,
further,
that EBITDA
shall be calculated as follows for the first three fiscal quarters
following the
Closing Date:
(a)
for
the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2008, EBITDA shall be EBITDA for
the
three-month period ending on such date multiplied by four;
(b)
for
the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2008, EBITDA shall be EBITDA for
the
six-month period ending on such date multiplied by two;
(c)
for
the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2008, EBITDA shall be EBITDA
for the
nine-month period ending on such date multiplied by 4/3;
Thereafter,
EBITDA shall be calculated using EBITDA for the period of four (4)
fiscal
quarters ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding
the
date of determination for which financial statements are available.
“Eligible
Assignee”
means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved
Fund, (d) a
commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any
state
thereof, and having total assets in excess of $250,000,000, (e) a commercial
bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member
of the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or a political
subdivision
of any such country and which has total assets in excess of $250,000,000,
provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located
in the
United States and (f) a finance company, insurance company, or other
financial
institution, or fund that is engaged in making, purchasing, or otherwise
investing in commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business
and having
(together with its Affiliates) total assets in excess of $250,000,000;
provided
that notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt,
“Eligible
Assignee” shall not include Parent, Borrower, any of Parent’s Affiliates or
Subsidiaries.
“Engineering
Reports”
has the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.1(e)(i).
“Environmental
Actions” means any written complaint, summons, citation, notice,
directive, demand, suit, order, claim, litigation, governmental investigation,
judicial or administrative proceeding, judgment, letter, or other communication
to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries from any Governmental Authority,
or any
third party alleging violations of Environmental Laws or liability
for Response
Actions with respect to Releases (a) at, onto or from any assets, properties,
or
businesses of Parent, its Subsidiaries, including the Real Property,
(b) from or
onto adjoining properties or businesses, or (c) from or onto any facilities
which received Hazardous Materials generated by Borrower, its
Subsidiaries.
“Environmental
Law”
means any applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial,
foreign or local
statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, binding and enforceable
guideline, binding and enforceable written policy, or rule of common
law now or
hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, or any applicable
judicial or
administrative interpretation thereof, including any applicable judicial
or
administrative order, consent decree or judgment, issued by a Governmental
Authority, in each case, to the extent binding on Parent or its Subsidiaries,
relating to the environment, health and safety, natural resources or
natural
resource damages, or Hazardous Materials, in each case as amended from
time to
time.
“Environmental
Liabilities” means all liabilities, monetary obligations, losses,
damages, punitive damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs
and
expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses
of counsel,
experts, or consultants, and costs of investigation and feasibility
studies),
fines, penalties, sanctions, and interest that arise under Environmental
Laws or
are incurred as a result of any (i) Environmental Action, (ii)
Release or (iii) Response Action.
“Environmental
Lien”
means any Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority or Person
for
Environmental Liabilities.
“Environmental
Permits” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 4.11(b).
“Equipment”
means
equipment (as that term is defined in the Code).
“ERISA”
means
the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any
successor
statute thereto.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means (a) any Person subject to ERISA whose employees are treated
as employed by
the same employer as the employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries under
IRC
Section 414(b), (b) any trade or business subject to ERISA whose employees
are
treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of Parent
or its
Subsidiaries under IRC Section 414(c), (c) solely for purposes of Section
302 of
ERISA and Section 412 of the IRC, any organization subject to ERISA
that is a
member of an affiliated service group of which Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries
is a member under IRC Section 414(m), or (d) solely for purposes of
Section 302
of ERISA and Section 412 of the IRC, any Person subject to ERISA that
is a party
to an arrangement with Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and whose
employees are
aggregated with the employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries under IRC
Section
414(o).
“ERISA
Event” means,
with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates, (a) any event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA with
respect to
a Title IV Plan; (b) the withdrawal of any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate
from a
Title IV Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which
it was a substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA; (c)
the complete or partial withdrawal of any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate
from
any Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate
a
Title IV Plan or the treatment of a plan amendment as a termination
under
Section 4041 of ERISA; (e) the institution of proceedings to terminate
a Title
IV Plan or Multiemployer Plan by the PBGC; (f) the failure by any Loan
Party or
ERISA Affiliate to make when due required contributions to a Multiemployer
Plan
or Title IV Plan unless such failure is cured within 30 days; (g) any other
event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute
grounds
under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment
of a
trustee to administer, any Title IV Plan or Multiemployer Plan or for
the
imposition of liability under Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; (h)
the
termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the
reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section
4241 of
ERISA; or (i) the loss of a Qualified Plan’s qualification or tax exempt
status.
“Event
of Default” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section
7.
“Excess
Cash Flow”
means, with respect to any fiscal period and with respect to
Parent determined
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (a) EBITDA for such
fiscal
period, minus (b)
without duplication, the sum of (i) the cash portion of Interest Expense
paid
during such fiscal period, (ii) the cash portion of income taxes paid
during
such fiscal period, (iii) all voluntary and scheduled principal payments
made in
respect of the Term Loan during such fiscal period, (iv) the cash portion
of
Capital Expenditures (net of (y) any proceeds reinvested in accordance
with the
proviso to Section
2.4(c)(iii)(A) of the Agreement, and (z) any proceeds of related
financings with respect to such expenditures) made during such period,
and (v)
the cash portion of interest expense paid during the fiscal period
of the
Convertible Subordinated Notes.
“Exchange
Act” means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect from time to
time.
“Excluded
Tax” means,
with respect to Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Lender or any other
recipient of
any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of Borrower
hereunder,
the following Taxes, including interest, penalties or other additions
thereto:
(a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its gross
or net
income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under
the laws of
which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office
is located
or, in which it is otherwise deemed to be engaged in a trade or business
for Tax
purposes or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending
office
is located; (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States
of America
or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which Borrower
is
located; and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax
that is
imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such
Foreign
Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending
office) or
is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section
16(b), (c)
or (d).
“Existing
Lender”
means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
“Extraordinary
Receipts” means any cash received by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
not in the ordinary course of business, including (a) Tax Refunds,
(b) pension
plan reversions, (c) proceeds of insurance (including key man life
insurance and
business interruption insurance, but excluding any casualty insurance),
(d)
judgments, proceeds of settlements or other consideration of any kind
in
connection with any cause of action, (e) indemnity payments arising
out of
acquisitions, and (f) any purchase price adjustment received in connection
with
any purchase agreement following the closing and funding of any applicable
acquisition with the proceeds of any Advance or the Term Loan in whole
or in
part.
“Fee
Letter” means
that certain fee letter between Borrower and Agent, in form and substance
satisfactory to Agent.
“Force
Majeure
Event”
mean
any act or event not within the control of the party claiming suspension,
and
which, by the exercise of due diligence, such party is unable to prevent
or
overcome, and shall include, but not be limited to, acts of God, strikes,
lockouts, or industrial disputes or disturbances, civil disturbances,
arrests
and restraints, interruptions by government or court order, future
orders of any
regulatory body having proper jurisdiction, acts of the public enemy,
wars,
riots, blockades, insurrections, inability
to
secure materials by reason of allocations promulgated by authorized
governmental
agencies, epidemics, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, fires, storms,
floods,
washouts, explosions, breakage or freezing of pipelines, electrical
power
interruptions, inability to obtain permits, easements, rights-of-way or
materials at reasonable cost, the making of repairs, maintenance or
alterations
to lines or pipe, machinery or plants, interruption or curtailment
by downstream
pipeline, or any other cause whether of the kind herein enumerated
or otherwise,
not reasonably within the control of the party claiming "force majeure";
provided, however, in no event shall the failure of, or insufficient,
gas
reserves or gas supply constitute an event of force majeure.
“Foreign
Lender” means
any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other
than the
United States of America or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia.
“Fund”
means
any
Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in
making,
purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and
similar
extensions of credit in the ordinary course.
“Funded
Indebtedness”
means, as of any date of determination, all Indebtedness for
borrowed money or
letters of credit of Borrower, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance
with GAAP, that by its terms matures more than one (1) year after the
date of
calculation, and any such Indebtedness maturing within one (1) year
from such
date that is renewable or extendable at the option of Borrower or its
Subsidiaries, as applicable, to a date more than one (1) year from
such date,
including, in any event, but without duplication, with respect to Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries, the Revolver Usage, the Term Loan and the amount
of their
Capital Lease Obligations.
“Funding
Date” means
the date on which a Borrowing occurs.
“Funding
Losses” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.13(b)(ii).
“GAAP”
means
generally
accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the
United
States, consistently applied.
“Governing
Documents”
means, with respect to any Person, the certificate or articles
of incorporation,
by-laws, or other organizational documents of such Person.
“Governmental
Authority” means any federal (including, the federal government of
Canada), state, local, provincial, territorial or other governmental
or
administrative body, instrumentality, board, department, or agency
or any court,
tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission,
or other
similar dispute-resolving panel or body.
“Guarantors”
means
Parent and each Subsidiary of Borrower and “Guarantor”
means
any
one of them; provided,
that, if
any Subsidiary is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of
Section 957 of the IRC, it shall not be required to be a Guarantor.
“Guaranty”
means
that
certain general continuing guaranty executed and delivered by each
Guarantor in
favor of Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Group and the Bank Product
Providers, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.
“Hazardous
Materials”
means (a) chemical, materials or substances that are regulated
under any
Environmental Law, or defined or listed in, or otherwise classified
pursuant to,
any Environmental Law as “hazardous substances,” “hazardous materials,”
“hazardous wastes,” “toxic substances,” or any other formulation intended to
define, list, or classify substances by reason of deleterious properties
such as
ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, reproductive
toxicity,
or “EP toxicity,” (b) oil, petroleum, or petroleum derived substances, natural
gas, natural gas liquids, synthetic gas, drilling fluids, produced
waters, and
other wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production
of
crude oil, natural gas, or geothermal resources, (c) any flammable
substances or
explosives, (d) any radioactive materials, (e) asbestos in any form,
(f) oil or
dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in
excess of 50
parts per million, (g) lead based paint, (h) urea formaldehyde, (i)
radon, and
(j) pesticides.
“Holdout
Lender” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section
14.2(a).
“Hydrocarbon
Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates now owned or
hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral
leases,
oil, gas and casinghead gas leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon
leases, mineral fee or lease interests, farm-outs, overriding royalty
and
royalty interests, net profit interests, oil payments, production payment
interests and similar mineral interests, including any reserved or
residual
interest of whatever nature.
“Hydrocarbons”
means,
collectively, oil, gas, coal seam gas, casinghead gas, condensate,
distillate,
liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons, all products and byproducts
refined,
separated, settled and dehydrated therefrom and all products and byproducts
refined therefrom, including, without limitation, kerosene, liquefied
petroleum
gas, refined lubricating oils, diesel fuel, drip gasoline, natural
gasoline,
helium, sulfur, geothermal steam, water, carbon dioxide, and all other
minerals.
“Indebtedness”
of
any
Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations for borrowed
money, (b)
all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar
instruments and all reimbursement or other obligations in respect of
letters of
credit, bankers acceptances, interest rate swaps, or other financial
products,
(c) all obligations as a lessee under Capital Leases, (d) all obligations
or
liabilities of others secured by a Lien on any asset of a Person or
its
Subsidiaries, irrespective of whether such obligation or liability
is assumed,
(e) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of assets (other
than
trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business and repayable
in
accordance with customary trade practices provided that such obligations
are not
more than ninety (90) days past due), (f) all obligations owing under
Swap
Agreements, (g) all Disqualified Stock, and (h) any obligation guaranteeing
or
intended to guarantee (whether directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed,
co-made, discounted, or sold with recourse) any obligation of any other
Person
that constitutes Indebtedness under any of clauses (a) through (g)
above.
“Indemnified
Liabilities” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 10.3.
“Indemnified
Person”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section
10.3.
“Indemnified
Taxes”
means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Initial
Reserve
Report” means the report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
dated June 30, 2007 with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries.
“Insolvency
Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under
any provision of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other state or federal
bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of creditors,
formal
or informal moratoria, compositions, extensions generally with creditors,
or
proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar
relief.
“Intercompany
Note”
means that certain Intercompany Note, dated as of the date hereof,
by and among
Borrower, Parent and the other Guarantors, as may be amended, restated,
supplemented, renewed, extended, replaced or otherwise modified from
time to
time.
“Interim
Redetermination” has the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.1(d).
“Interest
Coverage
Ratio” means, with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries for any period,
the ratio of EBITDA to Interest Expense for such period.
“Interest
Expense”
means, for any period, the aggregate of the interest expense
of Parent and its
Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance
with GAAP, less
(A) interest expense associated with the Convertible Subordinated Notes,
and (B)
any non cash amounts including, but not limited to, (i) amortization
of debt
discount, (ii) amortization of debt origination costs and (iii) capitalized
interest; provided that Interest Expense shall be calculated as follows
for the
first three fiscal quarters following the Closing Date:
(a) for
the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2008, Interest Expense shall be
Interest
Expense for the three-month period ending on such date multiplied by
four;
(b) for
the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2008, Interest Expense shall be
Interest
Expense for the six-month period ending on such date multiplied by
two;
(c) for
the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2008, Interest Expense shall
be Interest
Expense for the nine-month period ending on such date multiplied by
4/3.
Thereafter,
Interest Expense shall be calculated using Interest Expense for the
period of
four (4) fiscal quarters ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter
immediately preceding the date of determination for which financial
statements
are available.
“Interest
Period”
means, with respect to (i) each LIBOR Rate Loan (other than
the Term Loan) a
period commencing on the date of the making of such LIBOR Rate Loan
(or the
continuation of a LIBOR Rate Loan or the conversion of a Base Rate
Loan to a
LIBOR Rate Loan) and ending one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6)
months
thereafter; provided,
however,
that (a) if
any Interest Period would end on a day that is not a Business Day,
such Interest
Period shall be extended (subject to clauses (c)-(e) below) to the
next
succeeding Business Day, (b) interest shall accrue at the applicable
rate based
upon the LIBOR Rate from and including the first day of each Interest
Period to,
but excluding, the day on which any Interest Period expires, (c) any
Interest
Period that would end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be
extended to
the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in
another
calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the
next
preceding Business Day, (d) with respect to an Interest Period that
begins on
the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there
is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
Interest
Period), the Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of
the calendar
month that is one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months after the
date on
which the Interest Period began, as applicable, and (e) Borrower may
not elect
an Interest Period which will end after the Maturity Date and (ii)
the Term Loan
(a) with respect to the first interest payment date, the period from
and
including the Closing Date to and including the last day of the calendar
quarter
in which the Closing Date occurs and (b) with respect to any subsequent
interest
payment date, the calendar quarter immediately preceding the quarter
in which
the interest payment occurs; provided,
that if any
Interest Period would otherwise extend beyond the Maturity Date for
which the
interest rate is being calculated, the Interest Period shall end on
such
Maturity Date.
“Inventory”
means
inventory (as that term is defined in the Code).
“Investment”
means,
with respect to any Person, any investment by such Person in any other Person
(including Affiliates) in the form of loans, guarantees, advances,
or capital
contributions (excluding bona
fide Accounts arising in the ordinary course of business consistent
with
past practice), purchases or other acquisitions of Indebtedness, Stock,
or all
or substantially all of the assets of such other Person (or of any
division or
business line of such other Person), and any other items that are or
would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance
with
GAAP.
“IRC”
means
the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect from time to time.
“IRS”
shall
mean the
Internal Revenue Service, or any successor thereto.
“Issuing
Lender” means
WFF or any other Lender that, at the request of Borrower and with the
consent of
Agent, agrees, in such Lender’s sole discretion, to become an Issuing Lender for
the purpose of issuing L/Cs or L/C Undertakings pursuant to Section
2.12.
“L/C”
has
the meaning
specified therefor in Section
2.12(a).
“L/C
Disbursement”
means a payment made by the Issuing Lender pursuant to a Letter
of
Credit.
“L/C
Undertaking” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.12(a).
“Lender”
and
“Lenders”
have
the
respective meanings set forth in the preamble to the Agreement, and
shall
include any other Person made a party to the Agreement in accordance
with the
provisions of Section
13.1.
“Lender
Agreement”
means that certain agreement dated as of the date hereof by
and between the
Lenders.
“Lender
Group” means,
individually and collectively, each of the Lenders (including the Issuing
Lender) and Agent.
“Lender
Group
Expenses” means all (a) costs or expenses (including taxes, and insurance
premiums) required to be paid by Parent or its Subsidiaries under any
of the
Loan Documents that are paid, advanced, or incurred by the Lender Group,
(b)
out-of-pocket fees or charges paid or incurred by Agent in connection
with the
Lender Group’s transactions with Parent or its Subsidiaries, including, fees or
charges for photocopying, notarization, couriers and messengers,
telecommunication, public record searches (including tax lien, litigation,
and
UCC searches and including searches with the patent and trademark office,
the
copyright office, or the department of motor vehicles), filing, recording,
publication, appraisal (including periodic collateral appraisals or
business
valuations to the extent of the fees and charges (and up to the amount
of any
limitation) contained in the Agreement or the Fee Letter), real estate
surveys,
real estate title policies and endorsements, and environmental audits,
(c)
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Agent in the disbursement
of funds
to Borrower or other members of the Lender Group (by wire transfer
or
otherwise), (d) charges paid or incurred by Agent resulting from the
dishonor of
checks, (e) reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses paid or incurred
by the
Lender Group to correct any Default or Event of Default or enforce
any provision
of the Loan Documents, or in gaining possession of, maintaining, handling,
preserving, storing, shipping, selling, preparing for sale, or advertising
to
sell the Collateral, or any portion thereof, irrespective of whether
a sale is
consummated, (f) out-of-pocket audit fees and expenses of Agent related
to any
inspections or audits to the extent of the fees and charges (and up
to the
amount of any limitation) contained in the Agreement or the Fee Letter,
(g)
reasonable costs and expenses of third party claims or any other suit
paid or
incurred by the Lender Group in enforcing or defending the Loan Documents
or in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents
or the
Lender Group’s relationship with Parent or any its Subsidiaries, (h) Agent’s and
each Lender’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including attorneys
fees) incurred in advising, structuring, drafting, reviewing, administering,
or
amending the Loan Documents (whether or not consummated), including
the
reasonable costs and expenses of any independent engineers and consultants
retained by Agent and each Lender in connection herewith, and (i) Agent’s and
each Lender’s reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys, accountants,
consultants, and other advisors fees and expenses) incurred in terminating,
enforcing (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other
advisors
fees and expenses incurred in connection with a “workout,” a “restructuring,” or
an Insolvency Proceeding concerning Parent or its Subsidiaries or in
exercising
rights or remedies under the Loan Documents), or defending the Loan
Documents,
irrespective of whether suit is brought, or in taking any Remedial
Action
concerning the Collateral.
“Lender-Related
Person” means, with respect to any Lender, such Lender, together with
such Lender’s Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, and
agents.
“Letter
of Credit”
means an L/C or an L/C Undertaking, as the context requires.
“Letter
of Credit
Collateralization” means either (a) providing cash collateral (pursuant
to documentation reasonably satisfactory to Agent, including provisions
that
specify that the Letter of Credit fee set forth in the Agreement will
continue
to accrue while the Letters of Credit are outstanding) to be held by
Agent for
the benefit of those Lenders with a Revolver Commitment in an amount
equal to
one hundred five percent (105%) of the then existing Letter of Credit
Usage, (b)
causing the Underlying Letters of Credit to be returned to the Issuing
Lender,
or (c) providing Agent with a standby letter of credit, in form and
substance
reasonably satisfactory to Agent, from a commercial bank acceptable
to Agent (in
its sole discretion) in an equal to one hundred five percent (105%)
of the then
existing Letter of Credit Usage (it being understood that the Letter
of Credit
fee set forth in the Agreement will continue to accrue while the Letters
of
Credit are outstanding and that any such fee that accrues must be an
amount that
can be drawn under any such standby letter of credit).
“Letter
of Credit
Usage” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate undrawn
amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit.
“Leverage
Ratio”
means, as of any date of determination (a) the amount of Parent and its
Subsidiaries’ Funded Indebtedness as of such date, divided
by (b)
the TTM EBITDA of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such date.
“LIBOR
Deadline” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.13(b)(i).
“LIBOR
Notice” means a
written notice in the form of Exhibit
L-1.
“LIBOR
Option” has the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.13(a).
“LIBOR
Rate” means,
for each Interest Period relating to any LIBOR Rate Loan, the rate
per annum
determined by Agent by dividing (a) the Base
LIBOR
Rate for such Interest Period, by (b) 100% minus the Reserve
Percentage. The LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted on and as of the
effective day of any change in the Reserve Percentage. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, if at any time the LIBOR Rate is less than 4.8425%, the
LIBOR Rate
shall be deemed to be 4.8425% until such time as the LIBOR Rate is
at least
equal to 4.8425%, provided,
however,
for the
avoidance of doubt, no change in the LIBOR Rate shall be imposed until
the end
of the applicable Interest Period.
“LIBOR
Rate Loan”
means each portion of an Advance or the Term Loan that bears
interest at a rate
determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate.
“LIBOR
Rate Margin”
means with respect to (a) the Term Loan, 7.00% and (b) any Advances,
the
applicable LIBOR Rate Margin set forth in the table below opposite
the Borrowing
Base Utilization on the date of determination:
Tier
|
Borrowing
Base Utilization
|
LIBOR
Rate Margin for Advances
|
I
|
<0.33
|
2.00%
|
II
|
>=0.33
< 0.66
|
2.25%
|
III
|
>=0.66
|
2.50%
|
“Lien”
means
any
mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, charge,
deposit
arrangement, encumbrance, easement, lien (statutory or other), security
interest, or other security arrangement and any other preference, priority,
or
preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever, including
any
conditional sale contract or other title retention agreement, the interest
of a
lessor under a Capital Lease and any synthetic or other financing lease
having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, including
(a)
any interest in an asset securing an obligation owed to, or a claim
by, any
Person other than the owner of the asset, whether such interest shall
be based
on the common law, statute or contract, whether such interest shall
be recorded
or perfected, and whether such interest shall be contingent upon to
occurrence
of some future event or events or the existence of some future circumstance
or
circumstances and (b) any of the preceding, in addition to any purchase
options,
reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights of way,
covenants,
conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances
affecting any Oil and Gas Properties or Real Property.
“Loan
Account” has the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.10.
“Loan
Documents” means
the Agreement, the Bank Product Agreements, the Cash Management Agreements,
the
Control Agreements, the Copyright Security Agreement, the Canadian
Pledge
Agreement, the Fee Letter, the Guaranty, the Lender Agreement, the
Letters of
Credit, the Mortgages, the Patent Security Agreement, the Security
Agreement,
the Trademark Security Agreement, any note or notes executed by Borrower
in
connection with the Agreement and payable to a member of the Lender
Group, and
any other agreement entered into, now or in the future, by Borrower
or any of
its Subsidiaries and the Lender Group in connection with the
Agreement.
“Loan
Party” means any
Borrower and any Guarantor.
“Margin
Stock” shall
have the meaning specified therefor in Section
4.2.
“Material
Adverse
Change” means (a) a material adverse change in the business, operations,
results of operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial
or otherwise)
of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment
of
the ability of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to perform
their
obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are parties or of
the Lender
Group’s ability to enforce the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral,
or
(c) a material impairment of the enforceability or priority of Agent’s Liens
with respect to the Collateral as a result of an action or failure
to act on the
part of Parent or its Subsidiaries.
“Material
Contract”
means, with respect to any Person, (i) each contract or agreement
to which such
Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party that is (A) a bond or
surety
obligation or (B) an employment agreement with an officer or a director
and (ii)
all other contracts or agreements to which such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party for which breach, non-performance, cancellation
or
failure to renew could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse
Change or operate to materially reduce the “Net Revenue Interest” below the
interest described in the most recently delivered Reserve Report for
Proved Oil
and Gas Properties.
“Maturity
Date” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section
3.3.
“Maximum
Revolver
Amount” means Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000).
“Moody’s”
has the
meaning specified therefor in the definition of Cash Equivalents.
“Mortgages”
means,
individually and collectively, one or more mortgages, deeds of trust,
or deeds
to secure debt, executed and delivered by Parent or its Subsidiaries
in favor of
Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, that encumber the
Oil and
Gas Properties.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, and to
which Borrower, any Subsidiary of Borrower or ERISA Affiliate of Borrower
is
making, is obligated to make, has made or been obligated to make, contributions
on behalf of participants who are or were employed by any of them.
“Net
Cash Proceeds”
means:
(a) with
respect to any sale or disposition by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
of
property or assets, the amount of cash proceeds (other than escrowed
funds to
support obligations reasonably expected to be payable) received (directly
or
indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration or
through the
payment of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of Parent or its
Subsidiaries, in connection therewith after deducting therefrom only
(i) the
amount of any Indebtedness secured by any Permitted Lien on any asset
(other
than (A) Indebtedness owing to Agent or any Lender under the Agreement
or the
other Loan Documents and (B) Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser
of such
asset) which is required to be, and is, repaid in connection with such
sale or
disposition, (ii) fees, commissions, and expenses related thereto and
required
to be paid by Parent or such Subsidiary in connection with such sale
or
disposition and (iii) taxes paid or payable to any taxing authorities
by Parent
or such Subsidiary in connection with such sale or disposition, in
each case to
the extent, but only to the extent, that the amounts so deducted are,
at the
time of receipt of such cash, actually paid or payable to a Person
that is not
an Affiliate of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and are properly
attributable
to such transaction; and
(b) with
respect to the issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness by Parent
or any of
its Subsidiaries, or the issuance by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
of any
shares of its Stock, the aggregate amount of cash (other than escrowed
funds to
support obligations reasonably expect to be payable) received (directly
or
indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration or
through the
payment or disposition of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of
Borrower or
such Subsidiary in connection with such issuance or incurrence, after
deducting
therefrom only (i) fees, commissions, and expenses related thereto and
required to be paid by Parent or such Subsidiary in connection with
such
issuance or incurrence, (ii) taxes paid or payable to any taxing authorities
by
Parent or such Subsidiary in connection with such issuance or incurrence,
in
each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that the amounts so
deducted
are, at the time of receipt of such cash, actually paid or payable
to a Person
that is not an Affiliate of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and
are properly
attributable to such transaction.
“New
Borrowing Base
Notice” shall have the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.1(e)(iii)(A).
“Obligations”
means
(a) all loans (including the Term Loan), Advances, debts, principal,
interest
(including any interest that accrues after the commencement of an Insolvency
Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or
in part as a
claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), contingent reimbursement
obligations
with respect to outstanding Letters of Credit, premiums, liabilities
(including
all amounts charged to Borrower’s Loan Account pursuant to the Agreement),
obligations (including indemnification obligations), fees (including
the fees
provided for in the Fee Letter), charges, costs, Lender Group Expenses
(including any fees or expenses that accrue after the commencement
of an
Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in
whole or in
part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), guaranties, covenants,
and
duties of any kind and description owing by any Loan Party to the Lender
Group
pursuant to or evidenced by the Loan Documents and irrespective of
whether for
the payment of money, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent,
due or
to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, and including all
interest not
paid when due and all other expenses or other amounts that any Loan
Party is
required to pay or reimburse by the Loan Documents or by law or otherwise
in
connection with the Loan Documents, and (b) all Bank Product
Obligations. Any reference in the Agreement or in the Loan Documents
to the Obligations shall include all or any portion thereof and any
extensions,
modifications, renewals, or alterations thereof, both prior and subsequent
to
any Insolvency Proceeding.
“Oil
and Gas Business”
means (a) the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development,
operation and
disposition of interests in Oil and Gas Properties and Hydrocarbons,
(b) the gathering, marketing, treating, processing, storage, selling and
transporting of any production from such interests or properties, including,
without limitation, the marketing of Hydrocarbons obtained from unrelated
Persons, (c) any business relating to or arising from exploration for
or
development, production, treatment, processing, storage, transportation
or
marketing of oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association
therewith, (d) any business relating to oilfield sales and service, and (e)
any activity that is ancillary or necessary or desirable to facilitate
the
activities described in clauses (a) through (d) of this definition.
“Oil
and Gas
Properties” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests; (b) the Properties now or
hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; (c) all presently
existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations
of pooled
units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all
units
created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority)
which
may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; (d) all
operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production
sharing contracts and agreements, which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon
Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing
of
Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests; (e)
all
Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable
to
the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents,
issues,
profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable
to
the Hydrocarbon Interests; (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances
and
Properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental
to the
Hydrocarbon Interests and (g) all Properties, rights, titles, interests
and
estates described or referred to above, including any and all Property,
real or
personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used,
held for
use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development
of any of
such Hydrocarbon Interests or Property (excluding drilling rigs, service
rigs,
trailers, backhoes, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other
personal
Property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling
and servicing
a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all
oil wells,
gas wells, injection wells or other wells, buildings, structures, fuel
separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping
units,
field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves,
fittings,
machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment,
appliances,
tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods,
surface
leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions,
substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and
all of the
foregoing.
“Originating
Lender”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section 13.1(e).
“Other
Taxes” means
any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other
excise or
property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment
made
hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise
with
respect to, this Agreement.
“Overadvance”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.5.
“Parent”
means
Storm
Cat Energy Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of British
Columbia, Canada.
“Participant”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
13.1(e).
“Patent
Security
Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the Security
Agreement.
“PBGC”
shall
mean the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
“Pension
Plan” shall
mean, at any time, an employee benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA, which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries maintains, contributes
to or has
an obligation to contribute to on behalf of participants who are or
were
employed by any Loan Party (or, if such plan were terminated at such
time, would
under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be an employee benefit plan
of such
Loan Party).
“Permitted
Discretion”
means a determination made in the exercise of reasonable (from
the perspective
of a secured lender) business judgment.
“Permitted
Dispositions” means (a) sales or other dispositions of Equipment that is
substantially worn, damaged, surplus or obsolete in the ordinary course
of
business; (b) sales of Inventory to buyers in the ordinary course of
business;
(c) the use or transfer of money or Cash Equivalents in a manner that
is not
prohibited by the terms of the Agreement or the other Loan Documents;
(d) the
licensing, on a non-exclusive basis, of patents, trademarks, copyrights,
and
other intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business;
(e) the
sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business; (f) farmouts
of
undeveloped acreage and assignments in connection with such farmouts;
(g) sales
or other dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties (or any Subsidiary
of Borrower
possessing one or more Oil and Gas Properties (and no other assets)
to the
extent the disposition satisfies each of the following conditions,
including the
limitation on the value of such disposition in subclause (iii) hereof);
provided,
that (i)
one hundred percent (100%) of the consideration received in respect
of such sale
or other disposition shall be cash or like-kind exchange, (ii) the
consideration
received in respect of such sale or other disposition shall be equal
to or
greater than the fair market value of the Oil and Gas Property or interest
therein subject of such sale or other disposition (as reasonably determined
by
Borrower and, if requested by Agent, Borrower shall deliver a certificate
of a
Responsible Officer of Borrower certifying to that effect), (iii) if
such sale
or other disposition of Oil and Gas Property included in the most recently
delivered Reserve Report during any period between two successive Scheduled
Redetermination Dates has a fair market value (as determined by Agent),
individually or in the aggregate, in excess of One Million Five Hundred
Thousand
Dollars ($1,500,000), other than like-kind exchanges for comparable
value, the
Borrowing Base shall be reduced, effective immediately upon such sale
or
disposition, by an amount equal to the value, if any, assigned such
Property as
determined by the Required Lenders in the most recently delivered Reserve
Report
and (iv) in no event shall the value of the dispositions permitted
by subclause
(g) hereof exceed, in the aggregate, Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000)
during the
term of this Agreement; (h) (i) sales, transfers and dispositions of
Property
(A) by any Guarantor to another Guarantor (other than Parent) or to
Borrower,
including the transfer of Oil and Gas Properties into newly created
limited
partnerships or limited liability companies that have become Guarantors
in
accordance with Section
5.15, (ii)
the issuance of any Stock in Borrower or any Guarantor (other than
Parent) to
Borrower or any Guarantor and (iii) issuances of Stock upon conversion
of the
Convertible Subordinated Notes.
“Permitted
Holder”
means the Person identified on Schedule
P-1.
“Permitted
Investments” means (a) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents, (b)
Investments in negotiable instruments for collection, (c) advances
made in
connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course
of
business, (d) Investments received in settlement of amounts due to
Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries effected in the ordinary course of business or
owing to
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of Insolvency Proceedings
involving an Account Debtor or upon the foreclosure or enforcement
of any Lien
in favor of Borrower or its Subsidiaries, (e) subject to the limits
in Section
6.6,
Investments in direct ownership interests in additional Oil and Gas
Properties
and gas gathering systems related thereto or related to farm-out, farm-in,
joint
operating, joint venture or area of mutual interest agreements, gathering
systems, pipelines or other similar arrangements which are usual and
customary
in the oil and gas exploration and production business located within
the
geographic boundaries of the United States of America; provided that
for
purposes of this clause (e), an investment in capital stock, partnership
interests, joint venture interests, limited liability company interests
or other
similar equity interests in a Person shall not constitute a Permitted
Investment, (f) commission, travel and similar advances and loans to
employees,
officers or directors in the ordinary course of business of the Parent
or any of
its Subsidiaries, in each case only as permitted by applicable law,
including
Section 402 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, but in any
event not
to exceed Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in the aggregate at
any time, (g) any guarantee permitted under Section
6.1, (h) any
Swap Agreement permitted under Section
6.24, (i)
Investments (1) made by the Parent in or to the other Guarantors and
(2) made by
any Subsidiary of Borrower in or to the Borrower or any Guarantor (other
than
Parent), (j) deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure
the
performance of (i) letters of credit, (ii) bids, tenders, or obtaining
of any
license from of Governmental Authority, (iii) indemnification obligations,
or
(iv) operating leases, and (k) any Oil and Gas Property received in
an exchange
for another Oil and Gas Property of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
in
connection with a Permitted Disposition.
“Permitted
Liens”
means (a) Liens held by Agent to secure the Obligations, (b)
Liens for unpaid
taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges or levies that either
(i) are
not yet delinquent, or (ii) (A) either (I) do not have priority over
Agent’s
Liens, or (II) secure taxes, assessments, charges or levies in an aggregate
amount not in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000)
and after
the Agent establishes reserves against the then-existing Borrowing
Base or the
Maximum Revolver Amount in such aggregate amount and at least One Dollar
($1.00)
of Availability exists, and (B) the underlying taxes, assessments,
or charges or
levies are the subject of Permitted Protests, (c) judgment Liens that
do not
constitute an Event of Default under Section
7.7 of the
Agreement, (d) Liens set forth on Schedule
P-2,
provided that any such Lien only secures the Indebtedness that it secures
on the
Closing Date and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, (e)
the
interests of lessors under operating leases, (f) purchase money Liens
or the
interests of lessors under Capital Leases permitted under Section
6.1(c) to the
extent that such Liens or interests secure Permitted Purchase Money
Indebtedness
and so long as (i) such Lien attaches only to the asset purchased,
acquired,
constructed or improved and the proceeds thereof, and (ii) such Lien
only
secures the Indebtedness that was incurred to acquire the asset purchased,
acquired, constructed or improved or any Refinancing Indebtedness in
respect
thereof, (g) Liens arising by operation of law in favor of warehousemen,
landlords, carriers, mechanics, materialmen, laborers, or suppliers,
incurred in
the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing
of
money, and which Liens either (i) are for sums not yet delinquent,
or (ii) are
the subject of Permitted Protests, (h) Liens on amounts deposited in
connection
with obtaining worker’s compensation or other unemployment insurance, (i) Liens
on amounts deposited in the ordinary course of business in connection
with
letters of credit, bids, tenders or leases, obtaining any license from
a
Governmental Authority, (j) Liens on amounts deposited as security
for surety or
appeal bonds in connection with obtaining such bonds in the ordinary
course of
business, (k) with respect to any Real Property, easements, rights
of way, and
zoning restrictions and other similar encumbrances that do not materially
interfere with or impair the use or operation thereof, (l) Liens arising
solely
by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens,
rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies and burdening only
deposit
accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution,
and
(m) contractual Liens which arise in the ordinary course of business
under
operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership
agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders,
contracts
for sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization
and
pooling declarations and agreements, processing agreements, net profits
agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production
agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt
water or
other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or
agreements,
and other agreements which are usual and customary in the oil and gas
business
and are for claims which are not delinquent or which are being contested
in good
faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been
maintained
in accordance with GAAP, provided that any such Lien referred to in
this clause
does not materially impair the use of the Property covered by such
Lien for the
purposes of which such Property is held by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or materially impair the value of material Property subject
thereto.
“Permitted
Protest”
means the right of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to protest
any Lien (other
than any Lien that secures the Obligations), taxes (other than payroll
taxes or
taxes that are the subject of a United States federal tax lien), or
rental
payment, provided that (a) a reserve with respect to such obligation
is
established on Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ books and records in such amount as
is required under GAAP, (b) any such protest is instituted promptly
and
prosecuted diligently by Parent or its Subsidiary, as applicable, in
good faith,
and (c) Agent is satisfied that, while any such protest is pending,
there will
be no impairment of the enforceability, validity, or priority of any
of Agent’s
Liens.
“Permitted
Purchase Money
Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, Purchase Money
Indebtedness incurred after the Closing Date in an aggregate principal
amount
outstanding at any one time not in excess of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000).
“Person”
means
natural
persons, corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships,
general partnerships, limited liability partnerships, joint ventures,
trusts,
land trusts, business trusts, or other organizations, irrespective
of whether
they are legal entities, and governments and agencies and political
subdivisions
thereof.
“Petroleum
Engineers”
means such petroleum engineers of recognized national standing
as may be
selected by Loan Parties with the prior consent of Agent.
“Pro
Rata Share”
means, as of any date of determination:
(a) with
respect to a Lender’s obligation to make Advances and right to receive payments
of principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses with respect thereto,
(i)
prior to the Revolver Commitments being terminated or reduced to zero,
the
percentage obtained by dividing (y) such Lender’s Revolver Commitment, by (z)
the aggregate Revolver Commitments of all Lenders, and (ii) from and
after the
time that the Revolver Commitments have been terminated or reduced
to zero, the
percentage obtained by dividing (y) the aggregate outstanding principal
amount
of such Lender’s Advances by (z) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
all Advances,
(b) with
respect to a Lender’s obligation to participate in Letters of Credit, to
reimburse the Issuing Lender, and right to receive payments of fees
with respect
thereto, (i) prior to the Revolver Commitments being terminated or
reduced to
zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (y) such Lender’s Revolver Commitment,
by (z) the aggregate Revolver Commitments of all Lenders, and (ii)
from and
after the time that the Revolver Commitments have been terminated or
reduced to
zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (y) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of such Lender’s Advances by (z) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of all Advances,
(c) with
respect to a Lender’s obligation to make the Term Loan and right to receive
payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, (i)
prior to the
making of the Term Loan, the percentage obtained by dividing (y) such
Lender’s
Term Loan Commitment, by (z) the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Term Loan
Commitments, and (ii) from and after the making of the Term Loan, the
percentage
obtained by dividing (y) the principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the
Term Loan by (z) the principal amount of the Term Loan, and
(d) with
respect to all other matters as to a particular Lender (including the
indemnification obligations arising under Section
15.7), the
percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Revolver Commitment plus the
outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan, by (ii)
the aggregate amount of Revolver Commitments of all Lenders plus the
outstanding
principal amount of the Term Loan; provided,
however,
that in the
event the Revolver Commitments have been terminated or reduced to zero,
Pro Rata
Share under this clause shall be the percentage obtained by dividing
(A) the
outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Advances plus such Lender’s
ratable portion of the Risk Participation Liability with respect to
outstanding
Letters of Credit plus the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s portion
of the Term Loan, by (B) the outstanding principal amount of all Advances
plus
the aggregate amount of the Risk Participation Liability with respect
to
outstanding Letters of Credit plus the outstanding principal amount
of the Term
Loan.
“Projections”
means
Parent’s forecasted (a) balance sheets, (b) profit and loss statements, and
(c)
cash flow statements, all prepared on a basis consistent with Parent’s
historical financial statements, together with appropriate supporting
details
and a statement of underlying assumptions. The Projections shall also
contain a forecast of Capital Expenditures for the period covered
thereby.
“Property”
means
any
interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or
mixed, or
tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, cash, securities,
accounts and contract rights.
“Proposed
Borrowing
Base” has the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.1(e)(i).
“Proposed
Borrowing Base
Notice” has the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.1(e)(ii).
“Protective
Advances”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.3(d)(i).
“Proved
Oil and Gas
Properties” means Oil and Gas Properties that are Proved
Reserves.
“Proved
Reserves”
means “Proved Reserves” as defined in the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves
(in this paragraph, the “Definitions”) promulgated by the Society of Petroleum
Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the
time in
question. “Proved Developed
Producing
Reserves” means Proved Reserves which are categorized as both “Developed”
and “Producing” in the Definitions, “Proved
Developed
Nonproducing Reserves” means Proved Reserves which are categorized as
both “Developed” and “Nonproducing” in the Definitions, and “Proved Undeveloped
Reserves” means Proved Reserves which are categorized as “Undeveloped”
in
the
Definitions.
“Purchase
Money
Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, but
including Capitalized Lease Obligations), incurred at the time of,
or within
thirty (30) days after, the acquisition, construction or improvement
by Borrower
of any capital or fixed assets for the purpose of financing all or
any part of
the acquisition, construction or improvement cost thereof.
“Real
Property” means
any estates or interests in real property owned, leased or operated
by Parent or
its Subsidiaries and the improvements thereto.
“Real
Property
Collateral” means the Real Property identified on Schedule R-1
and
any Real Property hereafter acquired by Parent or its Subsidiaries.
“Record”
means
information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored
in an
electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
“Redetermination
Date”
means, with respect to any Scheduled Redetermination or any
Interim
Redetermination, the date that the redetermined Borrowing Base related
thereto
becomes effective pursuant to Section
2.1(e)(iii)(A).
“Refinancing
Indebtedness” means refinancings, renewals, or extensions of Indebtedness
so long as: (a) the terms and conditions of such refinancings, renewals, or
extensions do not, in Agent’s reasonable judgment, materially impair the
prospects of repayment of the Obligations by Borrower or materially
impair Loan
Party’s creditworthiness, (b) such refinancings, renewals, or extensions
do not
result in an increase in the principal amount of the Indebtedness so
refinanced,
renewed, or extended, (c) such refinancings, renewals, or extensions
do not
result in an increase in the interest rate with respect to the Indebtedness
so
refinanced, renewed, or extended, (d) such refinancings, renewals,
or extensions
do not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of the
Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or extended, nor are they on terms
or
conditions that, taken as a whole, are materially more burdensome or
restrictive
to any Loan Party, (e) if the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed,
or
extended was subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, then
the terms
and conditions of the refinancing, renewal, or extension must include
subordination terms and conditions that are at least as favorable to
the Lender
Group as those that were applicable to the refinanced, renewed, or
extended
Indebtedness, and (f) the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed,
or extended
is not recourse to any Person that is liable on account of the Obligations
other
than those Persons which were obligated with respect to the Indebtedness
that
was refinanced, renewed, or extended.
“Regiment”
means
Regiment Capital Special Situations Fund III, L.P. together with its
permitted
successors and assigns.
“Release”
means
any
spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing,
emanating or migrating of any Hazardous Materials in, into, onto, from
or
through the environment or any Real Property.
“Replacement
Lender”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section
14.2(a).
“Report”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
15.16(a).
“Required
Availability” means Availability of not less than Twenty Million Dollars
($20,000,000).
“Required
Lenders”
means, at any date of determination thereof, collectively, (i)
Regiment, for so
long as it holds at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Term Loan,
(ii) WFF,
for so long as it holds at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Revolver
Commitment and (iii) such other Lenders whose aggregate Pro Rata Shares
(calculated under clause (d) of the definition of Pro Rata Shares)
together with
those of Regiment and/or WFF (to the extent that each such entity is
deemed a
Required Lender) exceed fifty percent (50%).
“Reserve
Percentage”
means, on any day, for any Lender, the maximum percentage prescribed
by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor
Governmental
Authority) for determining the reserve requirements (including any
basic,
supplemental, marginal, or emergency reserves) that are in effect on
such date
with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “eurocurrency
liabilities”) of that Lender, but so long as such Lender is not required or
directed under applicable regulations to maintain such reserves, the
Reserve
Percentage shall be zero.
“Reserve
Report” means
a report, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, setting
forth,
as of each January 1st or July 1st (or such other date in the event
of an
Interim Redetermination) (a) the volumetric quantity and the PV-10
of the oil
and gas reserves estimated to be attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties
of
Parent and its Subsidiaries, together with a projection of the rate
of
production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital
expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, and (b) such other
information customarily contained in such reports as Agent may reasonably
request.
“Response
Action”
means all actions taken to (a) clean up, remove, remediate,
contain, treat,
monitor, assess, investigate, evaluate, correct or in any way address
any
violation of or non-compliance with Environmental Law, any Environmental
Liability, any Release or any Hazardous Materials in the indoor or
outdoor
environment, (b) prevent or minimize a release or threatened release
of
Hazardous Materials so they do not migrate or endanger or threaten
to endanger
public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment, (c)
restore or
reclaim natural resources or the environment, or (d) perform any pre-remedial
studies, investigations, or post-remedial operation and maintenance
activities.
“Responsible
Officer”
means, as to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any
Financial Officer or any Vice President of such Person. Unless
otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein
shall mean a
Responsible Officer of Borrower.
“Revolver
Commitment”
means, with respect to each Lender, its Revolver Commitment,
and, with respect
to all Lenders, their Revolver Commitments, in each case as such Dollar
amounts
are set forth beside such Lender’s name under the applicable heading on Schedule
C-1 or in
the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became
a Lender
hereunder, as such amounts may be reduced or increased from time to
time
pursuant to assignments made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1.
“Revolver
Usage”
means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) the amount
of outstanding
Advances, plus (b) the
amount of the Letter of Credit Usage.
“Risk
Participation
Liability” means, as to each Letter of Credit, all reimbursement
obligations of Borrower to the Issuing Lender with respect to an L/C
Undertaking, consisting of (a) the amount available to be drawn or
which may
become available to be drawn, (b) all amounts that have been paid by
the Issuing
Lender to the Underlying Issuer to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower,
whether by the making of an Advance or otherwise, and (c) all accrued
and unpaid
interest, fees, and expenses payable with respect thereto.
“Scheduled
Redetermination” has the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.1(d).
“SEC”
means
the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor
thereto.
“Securities
Account”
means a securities account (as that term is defined in the Code).
“Security
Agreement”
means a security agreement, in form and substance satisfactory
to Agent,
executed and delivered by Borrower and Guarantors to Agent.
“Security
Documents”
means the Cash Management Agreements, the Control Agreements, the
Security Agreement, Canadian Pledge Agreement, Copyright Security Agreement,
Patent Security Agreement and Trademark Security Agreement.
“Settlement”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.3(e)(i).
“Settlement
Date” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section
2.3(e)(i).
“Solvent”
means,
with
respect to any Person on a particular date, that, at fair valuations,
the sum of
such Person’s assets is greater than all of such Person’s debts.
“S&P”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the definition of Cash Equivalents.
“Stock”
means
all
shares, options, warrants, interests, participations, or other equivalents
(regardless of how designated) of or in a Person, whether voting or
nonvoting,
including common stock, preferred stock, or any other “equity security” (as such
term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations
promulgated
by the SEC under the Exchange Act).
“Subordination
and
Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Subordination and
Intercreditor Agreement by and among JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and
the other
signatories thereto.
“Subsidiary”
of
a
Person means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
or other
entity in which that Person directly or indirectly owns or controls
the shares
of Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board
of
directors (or appoint other comparable managers) of such corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, or other entity.
“Swap
Agreement” means
any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative
transaction or option or similar agreement, whether exchange traded,
“over-the-counter” or otherwise, involving, or settled by reference to, one or
more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or
securities,
or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic,
financial or
pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination
of these
transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing
for
payments only on account of services provided by current or former
directors,
officers, employees or consultants of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
shall
be a Swap Agreement.
“Swing
Lender” means
WFF or any other Lender that, at the request of Borrower and with the
consent of
Agent agrees, in such Lender’s sole discretion, to become the Swing Lender under
Section
2.3(b).
“Swing
Loan” has the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.3(b).
“Tax
Refund” means
foreign, United States, state or local tax refunds.
“Taxes”
means
shall
mean, any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other
charges of
whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction or by
any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to
such payments
(but excluding any tax imposed by any jurisdiction or by any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein measured by or based
on the
net income or net profits of any Lender) and all interest, penalties
or similar
liabilities with respect thereto.
“Term
Loan” has the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.2.
“Term
Loan Amount”
means Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000).
“Term
Loan Commitment”
means, with respect to each Lender, its Term Loan Commitment,
and, with respect
to all Lenders, their Term Loan Commitments, in each case as such Dollar
amounts
are set forth beside such Lender’s name under the applicable heading on Schedule
C-1 or in
the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became
a Lender
hereunder, as such amounts may be reduced or increased from time to
time
pursuant to assignments made in accordance with the provisions of Section
13.1.
“Total
Commitment”
means, with respect to each Lender, its Total Commitment, and,
with respect to
all Lenders, their Total Commitments, in each case as such Dollar amounts
are
set forth beside such Lender’s name under the applicable heading on Schedule
C-1 attached
hereto or on the signature page of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant
to
which such Lender became a Lender hereunder, as such amounts may be
reduced or
increased from time to time pursuant to assignments made in accordance
with the
provisions of Section
13.1.
“Total
Debt” means, at
any date, all Indebtedness, except for Letters of Credit, of the Parent
and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, excluding (i) non-cash obligations
under
FAS 133 or 143, (ii) all obligations owing under Swap Agreements, (iii)
accounts
payable and other accrued liabilities (for the deferred purchase price
of
property or services) from time to time incurred in the ordinary course
of
business which are not greater than sixty (60) days past the date of
invoice or
delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
action and
for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with
GAAP, (iv)
all obligations related to the Convertible Subordinated Notes.
“Total
Reserve Value”
means, with respect to any Proved Reserves expected to be produced
from any Oil
and Gas Properties, the net present value, discounted at ten percent
(10%) per
annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Parent’s and its
Subsidiaries’ during the remaining expected economic lives of such reserves, as
estimated in the most recently delivered Reserve Report with respect
to such Oil
and Gas Properties. Each calculation of such expected future net
revenues shall be made in accordance with the then existing standards
of the
Society of Petroleum Engineers; provided,
that in any
event (a) appropriate deductions shall be made for estimated severance
and ad
valorem taxes, and for estimated operating, gathering, transportation,
marketing, capital and capital expenditure costs required for the production
and
sale of such reserves, (b) appropriate adjustments shall be made for
hedging
operations, provided that Swap Agreements with non-investment grade
counterparties shall not be taken into account to the extent that such
Swap
Agreements improve the position of or otherwise benefit the Borrower
or any of
its Subsidiaries, (c) the pricing assumptions used in determining Total
Reserve
Value for any particular reserves shall be based upon the following
price decks:
(i) for natural gas, the lesser of (A) 85% of Platts’ Inside FERC Gas
Market Report – index futures price for the nearest market index point and
(B) $6.00/Mcf, and (ii) for crude oil, the lesser of (A) 85% of West Texas
Intermediate crude oil from the New York Mercantile Exchange for Cushing,
Oklahoma futures price, and (B) $65.00/Bbl and (d) the cash-flows derived
from the pricing assumptions set forth in clauses (b) and (c) above
shall be
further adjusted to account for heat content, gas shrinkage, transportation
costs, gathering and compression charges, Btu adjustments, basis differentials
and other historical adjustments, in each case, in a manner acceptable
to Agent
and estimated on the basis of the information available to Borrower;
provided
that for
purposes of this calculation, Proved Developed Reserves shall constitute
not
less than 60% of the Total Reserve Value.
“Trademark
Security
Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the Security
Agreement.
“Triggering
Event”
means, as of any date of determination, the occurrence of an
Event of
Default.
“TTM
EBITDA” means, as
of any date of determination, EBITDA of Parent determined on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP, for the twelve (12)-month period most
recently
ended.
“Underlying
Issuer”
means a third Person which is the beneficiary of an L/C Undertaking
and which
has issued a letter of credit at the request of the Issuing Lender
for the
benefit of Borrower.
“Underlying
Letter of
Credit” means a letter of credit that has been issued by an Underlying
Issuer.
“Unfunded
Pension
Liability” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate amount, if any, of the
sum of (a) the amount by which the present value of all accrued benefits
under
each Title IV Plan exceeds the fair market value of all assets of such
Title IV
Plan allocable to such benefits in accordance with Title IV of ERISA,
all
determined as of the most recent valuation date for each such Title
IV Plan
using the actuarial assumptions for funding purposes in effect under
such Title
IV Plan, and (b) for a period of five (5) years following a transaction
which
might reasonably be expected to be covered by Section 4069 of ERISA,
the
liabilities (whether or not accrued) that could be avoided by any Loan
Party or
any ERISA Affiliate as a result of such transaction.
“United
States” means
the United States of America.
“Voidable
Transfer”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section
17.8.
“Wells
Fargo” means
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking
association.
“WFF”
means
Wells
Fargo Foothill, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Schedule
5.2
Collateral
Reporting
Provide
Agent
(with copies for each Lender) with each of the documents set forth
below at the
following times in form satisfactory to Agent:
Quarterly
(as soon as possible and in any event not later than forty-five
(45) days
after end of each quarter)
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(a) lease
operating statements as historically reported by Parent on
a consolidated
basis, showing (i) the gross proceeds from the sale of Hydrocarbon
products produced from any of the Oil and Gas Properties
of Parent and its
Subsidiaries, (ii) the quantity of Hydrocarbon products sold,
(iii) the
aggregate severance, ad valorem, conservation, gross production,
or other
production related taxes deducted from or paid out of the
proceeds, and
(iv) the lease operating expenses;
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On
or before March 3 and September 3 of each fiscal year of
Borrower,
pursuant to Sections 5.20 and 5.21
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(b) (i)
a Reserve Report, prepared by (A) in the case of the Reserve
Report due
March 1, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. or another qualified
independent third party Petroleum Engineer reasonably acceptable
to Agent,
and (B) in the case of the Reserve Report due September 1,
the chief
engineer or chief operating officer of Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
in
each case in accordance with the procedures used in the Initial
Reserve
Report, and together with each such Reserve Report, a certificate
of a
Responsible Officer certifying as to the matters required
under Section
5.20(c) and attaching such exhibits as are required by Section
5.20(c) and
(ii) such title information in respect of the Oil and Gas
Properties of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as is required by Section 5.21
in respect of
at least eighty percent (80%) of the Total Reserve Value
of the Proved Oil
and Gas Properties evaluated by the Reserve Report described
in clause
(i);
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Promptly
upon request by Agent
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(c) notification
of prepayment of Hydrocarbons by any customer of Borrower
or any of its
Subsidiaries, together with a reasonably detailed summary
of the terms of
such transaction, including, without limitation, the amount
of such
prepayment, the quantity of Hydrocarbons to be delivered,
the delivery
schedule of such Hydrocarbons and such other information
as may be
reasonably requested by Agent;
(d) proof
of payment of applicable Taxes, including Real Property,
ad valorem
and
production Taxes; and
(e) such
other reports as to the Collateral of Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries,
as Agent may reasonably request.
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Schedule
5.3
Financial
Statements; Reports;
Certificates
Deliver
to Agent, with copies to each
Lender, each of the financial statements, reports, or other items
set forth set
forth below at the following times in form satisfactory to Agent:
Monthly
(as soon as possible and in any event within ten (10) days
following
receipt by Borrower of reports from swap counterparties)
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(a) a
report setting forth as of the last Business Day of such
month, a summary
of its hedging positions under all Swap Agreements (including
commodity
price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts
of sale which
provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery
of Hydrocarbons
of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries), including the type,
term, effective
date, termination date and notional principal amounts or
volumes, the
hedged price(s), interest rate(s) or exchange rate(s),
as applicable, the
net market to marked value thereof and any credit support
agreements
relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied),
and the
counterparty to each such agreement;
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as
soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30)
days (for each
month that is not the end of one of Borrower’s fiscal quarters) after the
end of each month during each of Borrower’s fiscal years
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(b) report
setting forth, on a consolidated basis, for the trailing
twelve (12)
months, the volume of production and sales attributable
to production (and
the prices at which such sales were made and the revenues
derived from
such sales) for each such calendar month from the Oil and
Gas Properties,
and setting forth the (i) aggregate related ad valorem,
severance and
production taxes, lease operating expenses, (ii) Capital
Expenditures,
(iii) Total Debt and (iv) estimated EBITDA attributable
thereto and
incurred for each such month presented; and
(c) a
summary aging, by vendor, of all accounts payable of Parent
and its
Subsidiaries and any book overdraft, including lease operating
expenses
and royalty payments, together with such other documentation
as my
reasonably be requested by Agent, to demonstrate that such
royalty
payments are being paid on a timely basis;
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as
soon as available, but in any event within forty-five (45)
days after the
end of each of the first three fiscal quarters during each
of Borrower’s
fiscal years
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(d) an
unaudited consolidated balance
sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow covering
the
operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries during such quarterly
period,
and that portion of the fiscal year ending as of the close
of such quarter
and providing (i) a comparison to the corresponding period
in the prior
fiscal year, and (ii) a management report describing the
performance of
Parent and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and
such period of the
fiscal year then ended and explaining any variances between
such results
and the results for the comparable quarter and fiscal period
in the prior
year and the Projections delivered to Agent hereunder;
provided, that so
long as Borrower shall be a reporting company under the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the requirement to provide
the
information required under clauses (i) and (ii) above shall
be satisfied
to the extent Borrower complies with the requirements pursuant
to clause
(i) below; and
(e) a
Compliance
Certificate;
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as
soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90)
days after the end
of each of Borrower’s fiscal years
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(f) consolidated
financial statements
of Parent and its Subsidiaries for each such fiscal year,
audited by Hein
& Associates LLP or another independent certified public
accountants
reasonably acceptable to Agent and certified, without any
(A) “going
concern” or like qualification or exception, or (B) qualification
or
exception as to the scope of such audit, by such accountants
to have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP (such audited financial
statements to
include a balance sheet, income statement, and statement
of cash flow and,
if prepared, such accountants’ letter to management); and
(g) a
Compliance
Certificate;
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within
fifteen (15) days prior to the start of each of Borrower’s fiscal
years,
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(h) copies
of Parent and its
Subsidiaries’ Projections, in form and with underlying assumptions
satisfactory to Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, for
the forthcoming
three (3) years, year by year, and for the forthcoming
fiscal year, month
by month, certified by the chief financial officer of Borrower
as being
such officer’s good faith estimate of the financial performance of Parent
and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during the
period covered
thereby, subject to the same qualifications as those contained
in the
second sentence of Section 4.15 of the Credit Agreement
with respect to
the Projections delivered on the Closing Date;
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if
and when filed by Parent (or the Borrower, as applicable),
notice of any
of the following,
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(i) Form
10-Q quarterly reports, Form
10-K annual reports, and Form 8-K current reports;
(j) any
other material public filings
made by Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, with the
SEC or any
corresponding Canadian or provincial Governmental Authority
to the extent
not duplicative of SEC filings;
(k) any
other information that is
provided by Parent to its shareholders generally;
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promptly,
but in any event within five (5) days after any Loan Party
has knowledge
of (i) any event or condition that constitutes a Default
or an Event of
Default, and (ii) any termination or cancellation of any
Material Contract
that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change,
in each case, that does not otherwise constitute a Default
or an Event of
Default,
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(l) notice
of such event or condition
and a statement of the curative action that such Loan Party
proposes to
take with respect thereto;
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promptly
after the commencement thereof, but in any event within
five (5) days
after the service of process with respect thereto on any
Loan
Party,
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(m) notice
of all actions, suits, or
proceedings brought by or against Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries before
any Governmental Authority in which the party bringing
such action, suit
or proceeding seeks damages in excess of Two Hundred Fifty
Thousand
Dollars ($250,000) or seeks injunctive relief or alleges
any violation of
any Environmental Law or seeks remedies in connection with
any
Environmental Liabilities;
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promptly
upon the request of Agent,
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(l) copies
of all management letters,
exception reports or similar reports or letters received
by Parent and its
Subsidiaries from its independent certified public accountants
in
connection with the preparation or filing of Form 10-Q
quarterly reports
and Form 10-K annual reports or similar reports in connection
with the
Parent being a Canadian public company;
(m) copies
of any material notice or other correspondence sent to,
or received from,
any Governmental Authority related to the Oil and Gas Properties
of Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation,
notice of any
new plugging and abandonment or other performance or other
assurance bond
requirements related to such Oil and Gas Properties;
(n) copies
of any material notices or
notices of default that Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
receives from or
sends to any person in connection with any Material Contract;
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Contemporaneously
with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant
to the Credit
Agreement,
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(o) any
amendments or modifications,
waivers or other changes to any Material Contract;
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upon
the request of Agent or any Lender,
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(p) any
other information reasonably
requested relating to the financial condition of Parent
or any of its
Subsidiaries.
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