Exhibit 10.27

 

BRIDGE LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

dated as of June 6, 2024

 

by and among

 

DP MUSTANG HOLDCO LLC,

as Borrower,

 

DP MUSTANG EQUITY HOLDCO LLC

as Holdings and Guarantor

 

THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES

SIGNATORY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

 

VARIOUS LENDERS,

 

UMB BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent and Account Bank,

 

and

 

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as Facility Agent, Lead Arranger and Sole Structuring Agent

 

 

 

$80,000,000 Senior Secured Bridge Term Loan Facility

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        Page
       
I. DEFINITIONS   1
         
  1.1 Defined Terms   1
  1.2 Certain Terms, Interpretation, etc.   38
  1.3 Rates   40
  1.4 Pro Forma Calculations   40
  1.5 Timing of Payment and Performance   41
       
II. LOANS, PAYMENTS, INTEREST AND COLLATERAL   41
         
  2.1 Commitments; Term Loans   41
  2.2 [Reserved]   41
  2.3 Request for Term Loan   41
  2.4 Register; Notes   42
  2.5 Interest on the Term Loans   42
  2.6 Optional Conversion of Loans   46
  2.7 Prepayments and Repayments of the Term Loans; Commitment Reductions   46
  2.8 Priority of Payments   48
  2.9 [Reserved]   49
  2.10 Grant of Security Interest; Collateral   49
  2.11 Collateral Administration   53
  2.12 Power of Attorney   54
  2.13 Release of Lien on Subject Assets   54
  2.14 [Reserved.]   55
  2.15 Payments Generally   56
  2.16 Contribution of Additional Assets   56
       
III. FEES AND OTHER CHARGES   57
         
  3.1 [Reserved]   57
  3.2 Yield Protection and Illegality   57
  3.3 Fees   59
       
IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT   59
         
  4.1 Closing Date   59
       
V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   62
         
  5.1 Organization, Powers, Capitalization, Good Standing, Business   62
  5.2 Authorization of Borrowing, Authority, etc.   62
  5.3 Subject Assets   63
  5.4 Subject Asset Related Agreements   64
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  5.5 Litigation; Adverse Facts   64
  5.6 Payment of Taxes   64
  5.7 Performance of Agreements; No Material Adverse Effect   65
  5.8 Compliance with Law; ERISA   65
  5.9 Governmental Regulation   65
  5.10 [Reserved]   65
  5.11 Employee Benefit Plans   65
  5.12 Solvency   65
  5.13 Use of Proceeds and Margin Security   65
  5.14 [Reserved]   65
  5.15 Investments; Ownership of the Loan Parties   65
  5.16 Environmental Compliance   66
  5.17 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions   66
  5.18 Separate Legal Entity   67
  5.19 Financial Statements   67
  5.20 Accuracy of Disclosure   67
  5.21 Beneficial Ownership   67
  5.22 Risk Retention   67
       
VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   68
         
  6.1 Financial Statements, Reports and Other Information   68
  6.2 Payment of Obligations   71
  6.3 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence and Subject Assets   71
  6.4 Compliance with Legal and Other Obligations   71
  6.5 Insurance   72
  6.6 True Books; Underlying Collateral Matters   72
  6.7 [Reserved]   72
  6.8 Further Assurances; Additional Loan Parties   72
  6.9 Use of Proceeds   73
  6.10 Performance of Agreements   73
  6.11 Interest Reserve   73
  6.12 Cash Management Systems   74
  6.13 [Reserved]   76
  6.14 [Reserved]   76
  6.15 Inspection   76
  6.16 [Reserved]   76
  6.17 Risk Retention   76
  6.18 Management Agreement   76
  6.19 Hedge Agreements   77
  6.20 Post-Closing Actions   79
  6.21 Separateness Covenants   79
       
VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS   81
         
  7.1 Indebtedness   81
  7.2 Liens; Negative Pledges   82
  7.3 Restricted Payments   82

  7.4 Transactions with Affiliates   82
  7.5 Organizational Documents; Fiscal Year; Use of Proceeds   82
  7.6 Transfer of Collateral   82
  7.7 Contingent Obligations and Risks   83
  7.8 Permitted Activities of Holdings   83
  7.9 Anti-Terrorism   84
  7.10 [Reserved]   84
  7.11 [Reserved]   84
  7.12 [Reserved]   84
  7.13 [Reserved]   84
  7.14 LTV Ratio Covenant   84
  7.15 DSCR Covenant   84
  7.16 Production Tracking Covenant   84
       
VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT   85
       
IX. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES AFTER DEFAULT   88
         
  9.1 Additional Rights and Remedies   88
  9.2 Application of Proceeds   90
  9.3 Rights to Appoint Receiver   90
  9.4 Attorney-in-Fact   91
  9.5 Rights and Remedies not Exclusive   91
       
X. WAIVERS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS   91
         
  10.1 Waivers   91
  10.2 Delay; No Waiver of Defaults   91
  10.3 Jury Waiver; Jurisdiction   92
  10.4 Amendment and Waivers   92
       
XI. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION   95
         
  11.1 Effectiveness and Termination   95
  11.2 Survival   95
       
XII. MISCELLANEOUS   96
         
  12.1 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Venue   96
  12.2 Successors and Assigns; Assignments and Participations   97
  12.3 Application of Payments   100
  12.4 Indemnity   100
  12.5 Notices   101
  12.6 Severability; Captions; Counterparts; Electronic Signatures   103
  12.7 Expenses   104
  12.8 Entire Agreement   104
  12.9 Approvals and Duties   104
  12.10 Publicity and Confidentiality   105

  12.11 Cooperation   106
  12.12 [Reserved]   106
  12.13 Recognition of U.S. Special Resolution Regimes   106
  12.14 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions   107
  12.15 Original Issue Discount Legend   109
       
XIII. AGENT PROVISIONS; SETTLEMENT   109
         
  13.1 Administrative Agent   109
  13.2 Lender Consent   118
  13.3 Set-off and Sharing of Payments   118
  13.4 Disbursement of Funds   119
  13.5 Availability of Lenders’ Pro Rata Share; Return of Payments   119
  13.6 Dissemination of Information   120
  13.7 Defaulting Lender   120
  13.8 Taxes   120
  13.9 Patriot Act and other KYC Requirements   125
  13.10 [Reserved]   125
  13.11 Withholding Tax   125
  13.12 Interest Rate Protection Agreements   125
  13.13 Erroneous Payments   126
  13.14 Facility Agent   128
       
XIV. GUARANTY   132
         
  14.1 Guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations   132
  14.2 Payment by Guarantors   132
  14.3 Liability of Each Guarantor Absolute   132
  14.4 Waivers by the Guarantors   134
  14.5 Each Guarantor’s Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc.   135
  14.6 Subordination of Other Obligations   135
  14.7 Continuing Guaranty   135
  14.8 Authority of the Guarantors or the Borrower   136
  14.9 Financial Condition of the Borrower   136
  14.10 Bankruptcy, etc.   136
       
XV. THE ACCOUNT BANK   137
         
  15.1 Duties of the Account Bank   137
  15.2 Certain Matters Affecting the Account Bank   139
  15.3 Account Bank’s Disclaimer   142
  15.4 [Reserved]   142
  15.5 Fees and Expenses of Account Bank; Indemnification of the Account   142
  15.6 [Reserved]   143
  15.7 Resignation and Removal of Account Bank   143
  15.8 Successor Account Bank   144
  15.9 Merger or Consolidation of Account Bank   144

  15.10 Multiple Roles   144
  15.11 Multiple Roles   145

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A [Reserved.]
Exhibit B [Reserved.]
Exhibit C Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit D Form of Risk Retention Letter
Exhibit E Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit F Form of Assignment Agreement
Exhibit G Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit H Form of Secured Party Designation Notice
Exhibit I [Reserved.]
Exhibit J Form of Management Agreement
Exhibit K Form of Reserve Report
Exhibit L Form of Mortgage
Exhibit M Form of Administrative Questionnaire

 

ANNEXES

 

Annex 1 Commitments

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1.1(a) [Reserved]
Schedule 1.1(b) [Reserved]
Schedule 1.1(c) [Reserved]
Schedule 1.1(d) Operated Wellbore Interests
Schedule 1.1(e) Non-Operated Wellbore Interests
Schedule 2.8(f) Scheduled Amortization Amounts
Schedule 2.10 Pledged Equity Interests
Schedule 5.15 Schedule of Investments
Schedule 12.5 Notice Addresses
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BRIDGE LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This BRIDGE LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of June 6, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among DP Mustang Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Borrower”), DP Mustang Equity Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), each of the Asset Entities from time to time party hereto as Subsidiary Guarantors, each of the financial institutions from time to time party hereto as Lenders, UMB Bank, N.A. (“UMB”), as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “Administrative Agent”), UMB, as account bank (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “Account Bank”) and Barclays Bank PLC, as facility agent for itself and for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “Facility Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.1;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, the Borrower has requested that (i) on the Effective Date, the Lenders extend $80,000,000 in Commitments to the Borrower and (ii) on the Closing Date, the Lenders lend to the Borrower Term Loans in an initial aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Maximum Loan Amount, the proceeds of which will be used on the Closing Date to finance the Transactions and thereafter for any general corporate purposes of the Borrower in its discretion; and

 

WHEREAS, each Loan Party has agreed to (x) secure the Secured Obligations by granting to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, a Lien on substantially all of its assets, including without limitation, all right, title and interest in and to any Subject Assets owned by such Loan Party on the Closing Date or thereinafter acquired, and (y) provide the Guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations, in each case on the terms set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which hereby are acknowledged, the Loan Parties, Administrative Agent and Lenders hereby agree as follows:

 

I. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1          Defined Terms. For purposes of the Transaction Documents, in addition to the definitions above and elsewhere in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the terms listed in this Article I shall have the meanings given such terms in this Article I.

 

Account Bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Recitals.

 

Account Bank Control Agreement” shall mean the account control agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Account Bank, with respect to the Trust Accounts.

 

Account Bank Fee” shall mean the fees, expenses and indemnities to be paid to the Account Bank pursuant to the UMB Fee Letter.


Account Collateral” shall mean all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Pledged Accounts, the Reserves, all monies and amounts which may from time to time be on deposit therein, all monies, checks, notes, instruments, documents, deposits, and credits from time to time in the possession of the Administrative Agent representing or evidencing such Pledged Accounts and Reserves and all earnings and investments held therein and proceeds thereof.

 

Account Control Agreement” shall mean (i) with respect to any Trust Account, the Account Bank Control Agreement and (ii) with respect to any other applicable Pledged Account, each agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), pursuant to which the Administrative Agent, the applicable Loan Party and the bank maintaining the applicable Deposit Account have agreed, among other things, that (i) the Administrative Agent shall have “control” over such Deposit Account (within the meaning of the UCC) and (ii) solely upon the trigger events set forth in such Account Control Agreement, such bank will comply with instructions originated by the Administrative Agent directing disposition of the funds in such Deposit Account without further consent from any other Person (including the Borrower).

 

Account Debtor” shall mean any Person who is obligated or may become obligated to another Person under, with respect to, or on account of, an Account.

 

Accounts” shall mean “accounts” (as such term is defined in the UCC) in which any Person now or hereafter has rights.

 

Additional Assets” shall mean any additional assets (that are upstream assets similar to the Wellbore Interests) purchased and acquired by the Borrower (or any other Loan Party) from any Person for a mutually-agreeable purchase price substantially equivalent to the fair market value of such assets pursuant to an executed asset purchase agreement that includes representations, warranties and indemnification obligations with respect to such Person that are (i) substantially similar to those included in the documentation effecting the Closing Date Subject Asset Transfers or (ii) otherwise consented to by the Requisite Lenders; provided that the terms of such asset purchase agreement are on the whole not materially less favorable than those that would be reasonably expected to be available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis as determined in good faith by the Borrower.

 

Additional Documents” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.10(e).

 

Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the introductory paragraph hereof.

 

Administrative Agent Fee” means the fees, expenses and indemnities to be paid to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the UMB Fee Letter.

 

Administrative Agent’s Account” shall mean the account of the Administrative Agent as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form attached hereto as Exhibit M.

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Affiliate” or “affiliate” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (and the correlative terms, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through ownership of securities or other interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the introductory paragraph hereof.

 

Agent” means, the Administrative Agent and/or the Facility Agent, as the context may require.

 

Agent Related Parties” means, (i) with respect to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent’s Affiliates and the officers, directors, employee, agents, members, managers, partners, advisors and other representatives of the Administrative Agent and of each of the Administrative Agent’s Affiliates and the permitted successors and assigns of the foregoing, (ii) with respect to the Facility Agent, the Facility Agent’s Affiliates and the officers, directors, employee, agents, members, managers, partners, advisors and other representatives of the Facility Agent and of each of the Facility Agent’s Affiliates and the permitted successors and assigns of the foregoing and (iii) with respect to the Account Bank, the Account Bank’s Affiliates and the officers, directors, employee, agents, members, managers, partners, advisors and other representatives of the Account Bank and of each of the Account Bank’s Affiliates and the permitted successors and assigns of the foregoing.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Applicable Law” shall mean any and all federal, state, local and/or applicable foreign statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, court orders and decrees, administrative orders and decrees, and other legal requirements applicable to any Loan Party, including, but not limited to, all applicable state and federal usury laws.

 

Applicable Margin” shall mean on any date:

 

(I) from and after the Closing Date to, but excluding, the first date in the Initial Step-Up Period, (a) for any SOFR Loan, 3.75% per annum and (b) for any Base Rate Loan, 2.75 % per annum;

 

(II) during the Initial Step-Up Period, (a) for any SOFR Loan, 4.75% per annum and (b) for any Base Rate Loan, 3.75% per annum;

 

(III) during the Second Step-Up Period, (a) for any SOFR Loan, 5.75% per annum and (b) for any Base Rate Loan, 4.75% per annum; and

 

(IV) during the Third Step-Up Period, (a) for any SOFR Loan, 6.75% per annum and (b) for any Base Rate Loan, 5.75% per annum.

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Asset Entities” shall mean any bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity that is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or Holdings and party hereto pursuant to a Joinder Agreement that holds any relevant Subject Assets.

 

Assignment Agreement” shall mean an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, the tenor for such Benchmark pursuant to this Agreement as of such date.

 

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et. seq., as amended from time to time.

 

Base Rate” means, on any day, a rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1.00% and (c) Term SOFR for an Interest Period of one month in effect on such day plus 1.00%; provided that changes in any rate of interest calculated by reference to the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with each change in the Base Rate and the Base Rate will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Rate or Term SOFR for any reason, the Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) or (c) above, as applicable, until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist.

 

Base Rate Loans” means any Loan that bears interest at the Base Rate as provided in this Agreement.

 

Basel III” shall mean the agreements on capital requirements, leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on 16 December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated.

 

Benchmark” means, initially, Term SOFR; provided that, if a Benchmark Transition Event and the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto have occurred with respect to Term SOFR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.5(g).

 

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that (x) can be determined by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (y) is administratively feasible as determined by the Administrative Agent:

 

(1)          Daily Simple SOFR; and

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(2)          the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) (in consultation with the Borrower) as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar denominated secured financings or securitizations relating to the relevant asset class, as applicable at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

If at any time the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to this definition would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

 

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) and the Borrower giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated secured financing or securitization transactions at such time; provided that such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall be administratively feasible as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of Term SOFR or any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including but not limited to changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, the definition of “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) and the Borrower decide may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) determines that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as (x) the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) determines (in consultation with the Borrower) is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and (y) is administratively feasible as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark, or if the then-current Benchmark is Term SOFR, with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate:

 

(1)          in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the applicable Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

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(2)          in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to the applicable Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(1)          a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

(2)          a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(3)          a public statement or publication of information by or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) is no longer representative.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification” shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

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Beneficial Ownership Regulation” shall mean 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Beneficiary” shall mean the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty in respect of any Secured Swap Obligations.

 

Borrower” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the introductory paragraph hereof.

 

Business Day” shall mean any day other than (a) a Saturday, a Sunday or any day which is a federal holiday or (b) any day on which banking institutions or trust companies in New York City, the State of New York or the State of Delaware are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed; provided that when used in connection with any interest rate settings for any Term SOFR Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day that is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

 

Casualty Event” shall mean any event that gives rise to the receipt by any Loan Party of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

 

Change in Law” shall mean the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in law, rule or treaty in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

Change of Control” shall mean the failure of Holdings, directly or indirectly through Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, to own all of the Equity Interests in the Borrower (other than during the short-term pendency of any Permitted Reorganization to the extent such interim failure to own is reasonably necessary or advisable to effectuate such Permitted Reorganization); it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that (i) any Permitted Reorganization that results in one or more “co-holdings”, directly or indirectly through Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, owning all of the Equity Interests in one or more “co-borrowers” shall not trigger a “Change of Control” for any purpose under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document so long as each such “co-holdings” is a Loan Party and the Equity Interests in such “co-borrowers” owned by such “co-holdings” are subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent and constitute Pledged Collateral hereunder, (ii) any Permitted Change of Control shall not trigger a “Change of Control”, Default, Event of Default or Rapid Amortization Event for any purpose under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; and (iii) any Permitted Equity Sale shall not trigger a “Change of Control”, Default, Event of Default or Rapid Amortization Event for any purpose under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

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Closing Date” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.1.

 

Closing Date Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.1(b).

 

Closing Date Natural Gas Hedge Percentage” the aggregate notional volume of Hedge Agreements executed by the Borrower as of the Closing Date with respect natural gas production basis risk expressed as the percentage of projected natural gas output from the Subject Assets for each month classified as “proved, developed and producing” in the initial Reserve Report.

 

Closing Date Subject Assets Transfers” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.20(c).

 

Closing Date Transaction Documents” shall mean, collectively and each individually, this Agreement, the Notes (if any issued on the Closing Date), the Management Agreement, the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement executed and delivered on the Closing Date, the Risk Retention Letter, the Funding Direction Letter, the UMB Fee Letter and the Facility Agent Fee Letter.

 

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.10(a) and shall exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, any Excluded Property.

 

Collections” shall mean all amounts paid to each Loan Party or the Manager (solely in its capacity as such) from whatever source on or with respect to the Subject Assets and all amounts paid to Operator from whatever source with respect to the Subject Assets (subject in all respects to the expense and reimbursement provisions of the Subject Assets Joint Operating Agreement).

 

Collections Accounts” shall mean any Deposit Account of a Loan Party used to receive proceeds of Subject Assets.

 

Collection Period” shall mean, (i) with respect to any Quarterly Determination Date, the most recently completed Quarterly Collection Period and (ii) for all other purposes under this Agreement, the most recently completed Monthly Collection Period.

 

Commitment” shall mean the commitment of a Lender to make a Term Loan and “Commitments” shall mean such commitments of all Lenders in the aggregate. The amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Annex 1 or in the applicable Assignment Agreement, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Commitments as of the Effective Date is $80,000,000.

 

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Commodity Hedge Counterparty” any Eligible Hedge Counterparty that enters into a Permitted Hedge Agreement in accordance with Sections 6.19(b).

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Competitor” shall mean any Person engaged primarily in the business of owning and operating oil & gas wellbores and other similar structures and other activities entered into in furtherance of the foregoing.

 

Compliance Certificate” shall mean a compliance certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E or in any other form approved by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) and the Borrower.

 

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

 

Contingent Obligations” shall mean, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation, or (d) otherwise to assure or to hold harmless the owner of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

Controlled Account” shall mean a Pledged Account of a Loan Party subject to an Account Control Agreement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Loan Account).

 

Convert”, “Conversion” and “Converted” each refers to a conversion of Loans of one Type into Loans of the other Type pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

 

Counterparty” shall mean the counterparty under any Hedge Agreement.

 

Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.13.

 

Credit Date” shall mean the date of the making of a Term Loan.

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“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal SOFR for the day that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Day prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR.

 

Damages” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.4.

 

“Debt Service Coverage Ratio” or “DSCR” means, as of any Quarterly Determination Date, beginning with the Payment Date occurring in October 2024, an amount equal to (a) the Securitized Net Cash Flow over the immediately preceding Quarterly Collection Period less the aggregate amount of fees paid or payable with respect to such Quarterly Collection Period pursuant to the first step of the Priority of Payments, divided by (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate interest accrued on the Term Loans over such three (3) immediately preceding Payment Dates and any unpaid interest for such Term Loans at the beginning of the Payment Date three (3) months prior to such Determination Date, (ii) the aggregate Scheduled Amortization Amounts due and payable over such three (3) immediately preceding Payment Dates, and (iii) without duplication, any unpaid Scheduled Amortization Amounts at the beginning of the Payment Date three (3) months prior to such Quarterly Determination Date.

 

Debtor Relief Law” shall mean, collectively, the Bankruptcy Code and all other United States or foreign applicable liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws from time to time in effect affecting the rights of creditors generally, as amended from time to time.

 

Default” shall mean any event, fact, circumstance or condition that, with the giving of applicable notice or passage of time, if any, or both, would constitute, be or result in an Event of Default.

 

Default Rate” shall mean, as of any time of determination, (x) with respect to any Base Rate Loan, the rate of interest otherwise applicable to such Loan as of such time pursuant to Section 2.5(a), plus 2.00% per annum and (y) with respect to any SOFR Loan or any other Obligations, the rate of interest otherwise applicable to SOFR Loans as of such time pursuant to Section 2.5(b), plus 2.00% per annum.

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Defaulting Lender” shall mean any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Term Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Term Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Term Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such public statement absent written notification thereof, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has other than via an Undisclosed Administration a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) become the subject of a bail-in action, or (iii) had publicly appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state, federal, provincial or territorial regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, a Defaulting Lender shall not have any voting or consent rights under or with respect to any Transaction Document or constitute a “Lender” for any voting or consent rights under or with respect to any Transaction Document for as long as such Lender remains a Defaulting Lender.

 

Deposit Account” shall mean a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

 

Disposition” shall mean any sale, transfer, irrevocable right of use with respect thereto, lease or otherwise disposition of any asset (including any Casualty Event).

 

Diversified Parties” shall mean each of Diversified Production, DP Legacy Central LLC (“DP Legacy”), the Manager, the Operator and each Loan Party

 

Diversified Production” shall mean Diversified Production LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company.

 

Dollars” and “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Effective Date” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the introductory paragraph hereof.

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Eligible Account” shall mean a separate and identifiable account from all other funds held by the holding institution, which account is either (i) an account maintained with an Eligible Bank or (ii) a segregated trust account maintained by a corporate trust department of a federal depositary institution or a state chartered depositary institution subject to regulations regarding fiduciary funds on deposit similar to Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations §9.10(b), which institution, in either case, has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 and has corporate trust powers and is acting in its fiduciary capacity and which institution’s long-term debt obligations are rated at least “BBB-” by Fitch (or its equivalent from at least one NRSRO) or short-term debt obligations are rated at least “F3” by Fitch (or its equivalent from at least one NRSRO); provided that, if any Account ceases to be an Eligible Account, the Borrower shall establish a new Account that is an Eligible Account in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.12. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Loan Parties’ accounts and other funds in existence as of the Closing Date shall constitute Eligible Accounts.

 

Eligible Assignee” shall mean a financial institution that is a commercial bank, trust company or other Person reasonably acceptable to the Borrower with offices in the U.S. having combined capital and surplus in excess of $1,000,000,000 (or such lesser amount as determined by the Borrower in its sole discretion) as of the date of the assignment, and that is not a Competitor.

 

Eligible Bank” shall mean (x) any Person that is a Lender or an Agent (or any Affiliate of the foregoing) on the date on which such account is established or (y) a bank that satisfies the Rating Criteria.

 

Eligible Hedge Counterparty” shall mean any Counterparty which is (x) a Person that is a Lender or an Agent (or any Affiliate of the foregoing) on the date on which the relevant Hedge Agreement is executed, (y) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce or an Affiliate thereof or (z) a bank that satisfies (or has an Affiliate that satisfies) the Rating Criteria.

 

Employee Benefit Plan” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (excluding any Multiemployer Plan) which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or to Section 412 of the Code.

 

Environmental Laws” shall mean Applicable Laws pertaining to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning environmental protection (including regulations concerning health and safety to the extent relating to human exposure to Hazardous Materials), contamination or clean-up or the handling, generation, release or storage of Hazardous Material affecting the Subject Assets including, to the extent applicable to the Subject Assets, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Substances Transportation Act, as amended, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, the Clean Water Act, as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended (to the extent relating to human exposure to Hazardous Materials), any statutes allowing the imposition of an environmental “superlien” to recover costs incurred by federal, state, provincial or territorial agencies for remediation of property contaminated by Hazardous Materials and other applicable environmental clean-up statutes and all regulations adopted in respect of the foregoing laws whether now or hereafter in effect, but excluding any historic preservation or similar laws of any Governmental Authority relating to historical resources and historic preservation not related to (i) protection of the environment or (ii) Hazardous Materials.

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Equity Interests” shall mean, with respect to any Person, its equity ownership interests, its common stock and any other capital stock or other equity ownership units of, or beneficial interests in, such Person authorized from time to time, and any other shares, options, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of or in such Person, whether voting or nonvoting, including, without limitation, common stock, limited liability membership interests, options, warrants, preferred stock, phantom stock, membership units (common or preferred), partnership interests (including, without limitation, general partnership interests), stock appreciation rights, membership unit appreciation rights, convertible notes or debentures, stock purchase rights, membership unit purchase rights and all securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable, certificated or uncertificated, in whole or in part, into any one or more of the foregoing.

 

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

 

Event of Default” shall mean the occurrence of any event set forth in Article VIII.

 

Excluded Property” shall mean, collectively: (A) any lease, license, franchise, charter, authorization, contract or agreement to which any Loan Party is a party, and any of its rights or interests thereunder, and any other assets if and to the extent that a security interest (i) would be prohibited or restricted by Applicable Law (or would require obtaining the consent of any Governmental Authority or third party and the applicable Loan Party has used reasonable efforts to obtain such consent) or (ii) would reasonably be expected to result in adverse regulatory consequences or would be prohibited by enforceable anti-assignment provisions of any contract or would violate the terms of any contract (not entered into in contemplation hereof) with respect to any assets (in each case, after giving effect to relevant provisions of the UCC and other relevant legislation and including restrictions under existing real property mortgages or sale leaseback transactions) or would trigger termination pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision under such contract and the applicable Loan Party has used reasonable efforts to obtain a consent or waiver for such anti-assignment, “change of control” or similar provision, (B) any intent-to-use trademark application to the extent that and solely for the period in which, creation by a Loan Party of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark applications or the marks that are subject thereof under applicable federal law, (C) [reserved], (D) any “Margin Stock” (as such term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof), (E) any general intangible and any lease, sublease, license, occupancy agreement, permit or other agreement or any property or right subject thereto (including pursuant to a purchase money security interest, finance lease obligation or similar arrangement or, in the case of after-acquired property, pre-existing secured debt not incurred in anticipation of the acquisition by the applicable Loan Party of such property) permitted hereunder to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such item or create a breach, default or right of termination in favor of or otherwise require consent thereunder from any other party thereto (other than any Loan Party) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC notwithstanding such prohibition and the applicable Loan Party has used reasonable efforts to obtain a consent or waiver for such provision and (F) any other assets in circumstances where the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) and the Borrower reasonably agree that the cost, burden or consequences (including adverse tax consequences) of obtaining a security interest in such assets is excessive in relation to the practical benefit to the Lenders (in their capacities as such) afforded thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may from time to time elect to cause any asset that would otherwise constitute Excluded Property hereunder to become Collateral under the Transaction Documents (but shall have no obligation to do so); provided that the Administrative Agent shall have received such security documents as are customary for the applicable jurisdiction and reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders).

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Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason not to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor becomes effective with respect to such related Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Existing Joint Operating Agreement” shall mean that certain Joint Operating Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2022, among Diversified Production as operator and the non-operator parties thereto.

 

Facility” shall mean the credit facility created on the Effective Date consisting of the Commitments and the Loans made thereunder from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Facility Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Recitals.

 

Facility Agent Fees” means the fees, expenses and indemnities to be paid to the Facility Agent pursuant to the Facility Agent Fee Letter.

 

Facility Agent Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter agreement, originally executed on May 3, 2024, and amended and restated as of June 6, 2024, between Barclays and Diversified Production.

 

Facility Collection Account” shall mean that certain segregated non-interest bearing trust account at Account Bank held in the name of the Borrower, with account number ending in 3179.1.

 

FATCA” shall mean sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or other official interpretations thereof or official guidance with respect thereto.

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FCPA” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.17(b).

 

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day and (b) if the Federal Funds Rate for any day is less than zero, the Federal Funds Rate for such day will be deemed to be zero.

 

Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter, dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Financial Covenant” shall mean each covenant set forth in Sections 7.14, 7.15 or 7.16.

 

Financial Covenant Default” means any failure to comply with any Financial Covenant after giving effect to any applicable grace periods expressly provided for in Sections 7.14, 7.15 or 7.16.

 

Fitch” shall mean Fitch Ratings, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

Floor” shall mean a percentage equal to 0.00% per annum.

 

Funding Direction Letter” means that certain Letter of Direction, dated on or prior to the Closing Date, by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, pursuant to which the Borrower requests the disbursement of the Closing Date Loans and directs the Administrative Agent to distribute the net proceeds of the Closing Date Loans in accordance with the Funds Flow attached thereto.

 

Funds Flow” shall mean that funds flows delivered by the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders

 

GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect on the Closing Date.

 

Governmental Authority” shall mean any federal, state, provincial, municipal, national, local or other governmental department, court, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative or judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case, whether of the United States or a state, territory, province or possession thereof, a foreign sovereign entity or country or jurisdiction or the District of Columbia, including any supra-national bodies (such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

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Guaranteed Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.1.

 

Guarantors” shall mean, collectively, Holdings, each Subsidiary Guarantor and, other than as to its own obligations, the Borrower.

 

Guaranty” shall mean the guaranty of the Guarantors set forth in Article XIV.

 

Hazardous Materials” shall mean any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable Law, including asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances..

 

Hedge Agreement” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no convertible Indebtedness (nor any agreement or instrument with respect thereto) shall constitute a Hedge Agreement.

 

Holdings” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the introductory paragraph hereof.

 

Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, minerals, and other gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons or any combination of the foregoing.

 

Indebtedness” as applied to any Person, shall mean, without duplication: (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money; (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to capital leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in conformity with GAAP (it being understood and agreed that lease obligations that do not constitute financing lease obligations shall not constitute Indebtedness hereunder); (iii) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money; (iv) any obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding any such obligations incurred under ERISA); (v) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person; (vi) the face amount of any letter of credit issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings; (vii) all Contingent Obligations; and (viii) all net payments that such Person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such Person is being determined, in respect of outstanding Swap Obligations; provided that Indebtedness shall not include (A) trade and other ordinary-course payables, accrued expenses, and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) prepaid or deferred revenue or (C) all intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

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Indemnified Persons” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.4.

 

Independent Petroleum Engineer” means (a) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., (b) Ryder Scott Petroleum Consultants, L.P., (c) DeGolyer and MacNaughton, (d) Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., (e) Wright & Company, (f) W.D. Von Gonten & Co., and (e) any other independent petroleum engineer reasonably acceptable to the Requisite Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty that is party to a Hedge Agreement permitted by Section 6.19(b) hereof.

 

Initial Step-Up Period” shall mean the period commencing on the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date and ending on, and excluding, the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the Closing Date.

 

Insurance Premiums” shall mean the annual insurance premiums for the Insurance Policies required to be maintained by the Loan Parties with respect to the Subject Assets under Section 6.5.

 

Insurance Policies” shall mean the insurance policies maintained by the Borrower in accordance Section 6.5.

 

Insurance Proceeds” shall mean all of the proceeds received under the Insurance Policies.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to Convert or continue a Loan in accordance with Section 2.6 substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto.

 

Interest Period” shall mean with respect to any SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date of the borrowing of such Loan and ending on the Payment Date that is approximately one month thereafter, as set forth in the applicable Funding Direction Letter or Interest Election Request; provided that with respect to the Closing Date Loans, the initial Interest Period with respect thereto shall commence on the Closing Date and end on the Payment Date that is approximately one month thereafter as set forth in the applicable Funding Direction Letter (and Term SOFR for such initial Interest Period shall be Term SOFR for a term of one month determined as of the Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day in respect of such initial Interest Period).

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Interest Rate Protection Agreement” shall mean any Hedge Agreement constituting an interest rate cap agreement (together with the confirmation and schedules relating thereto), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the applicable Counterparty and the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), between the Borrower and such Counterparty and any renewal or replacement thereof, which agreement shall be pledged as Collateral hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms of the Interest Rate Protection Agreement shall be those at the time of execution in accordance with Section 6.19(a) and the Borrower shall furnish a copy of such Interest Rate Protection Agreement within five (5) Business Days of the date of execution and delivery thereof.

 

Interest Reserve Account” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.11Interest Reserve Required Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.11.

 

Involuntary Bankruptcy” shall mean, in respect of any Person, any involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, in which the Borrower is a debtor or any asset of any such entity is property of the estate therein.

 

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), pursuant to which the applicable Person assumes all rights and obligations of an “Asset Entity”, “Subsidiary Guarantor” and “Loan Party” hereunder.

 

Knowledge” whenever used in this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or in any document or certificate executed pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents (whether by use of the words “knowledge” or “known”, or other words of similar meaning, and whether or not the same are capitalized), shall mean actual knowledge (without independent investigation unless otherwise specified) of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of such corporation; with respect to any limited liability company, any of the officers listed previously with respect to a corporation or any managing member or sole member of the limited liability company; with respect to any partnership, any general partner thereof; and with respect to any other entity, a similar situated Person.

 

Lender” and “Lenders” shall mean each financial institution listed on the signature pages hereto as a Lender, and any other Person that becomes a lender party hereto pursuant to an Assignment Agreement (in each case, other than any such Person that ceases to be a Lender pursuant to an Assignment Agreement).

 

Lending Office” shall mean the office or offices of any Lender set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire, as updated from time to time in writing from such Lender to the Administrative Agent.

 

Lien” shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, or pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement), or any other arrangement and/or agreement of any kind pursuant to which title to the property is retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes.

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Loan” shall mean any Term Loan hereunder.

 

Loan Account” shall mean, with respect to any proposed borrowing of Loans (i) an account designated in writing by the Borrower in the Funding Direction letter for the Closing Date Loans or (ii) a Deposit Account at the Account Bank in the name of the Borrower designated in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date, as the context may require.

 

Loan Party” or “Loan Parties” shall mean individually and collectively, Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

LTV Ratio” shall mean, with respect to any Quarterly Determination Date, a ratio equal to (a) the excess of the Total Outstandings as of such date of determination over the amount then on deposit in the Facility Collection Account divided by (b) the sum of the PV-10 as of such date of determination. The LTV Ratio shall be determined on each Semi-Annual Determination Date; provided that, if the PV-10 shall have been re-calculated as a result of an updated Reserve Report being obtained prior to any otherwise scheduled annually updated Reserve Report (as described in the definition of “PV-10”), then the LTV Ratio shall be re-calculated giving effect to such re-calculation of the PV-10 and on the basis of the then-current amounts specified in the preceding clause (a).

 

Manager” shall mean Diversified Production and/or any other Parent Company of the Borrower who becomes a Manager pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Management Agreement from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

Manager Report” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Management Agreement.

 

Management Agreement” shall mean that certain Management Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Borrower and the Manager and any other parties thereto.

 

Management Fee” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Management Agreement.

 

Material” with respect to any Person means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of such Person.

 

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (i) the business, operations, affairs, assets, properties, prospects, financial condition or results of operation of any Diversified Party or the Borrower, (ii) the validity, priority or enforceability of the Liens on the Collateral, taken as a whole, (iii) the ability of any Diversified Party, the Manager or the Operator to perform any Material obligation under any Transaction Document to which it is a party, (iv) the ability of the Administrative Agent to enforce against any Diversified Party, the Manager or the Operator obligations under the Transaction Documents to which such Person is a party in any Material respect, or (v) the validity or enforceability against any Diversified Party, the Manager or the Operator of any Transaction Document to which such Person is a party.

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Material Indebtedness” shall mean any third-party Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by a Loan Party with an outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

Material Manager Default” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Management Agreement.

 

Maturity Date” shall mean, the date that is sixty (60) months after the Closing Date.

 

Maximum Loan Amount” shall mean, as of any time of determination, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders at such time and (b) $72,000,000.

 

Maximum Rate” shall mean the highest lawful and non-usurious rate of interest applicable to the Term Loans, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged, or received on the Term Loans and the Obligations under Applicable Law to the extent allowed by such Applicable Laws.

 

Minimum DSCR Draw Condition” shall mean a condition which is satisfied with respect to the initial disbursement of the Term Loans on the Closing Date hereunder if the DSCR is greater than or equal to 1.65:1.00.

 

Moody’s” means Moody Investors Service, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

Monthly Subject Asset Operating Expenses” means with respect to any calendar month, without duplication, all direct costs and expenses of operating and maintaining the Subject Assets and related assets (including utilities) (but excluding (x) the Management Fee, (y) the cost of portfolio support personnel provided by the Manager and (z) any expected insurance expenses, local or other property and similar taxes (including payments in lieu of taxes)) payable with respect to the Subject Assets allocated on a monthly basis, if applicable. Monthly Subject Asset Operating Expenses do not include discretionary capital expenditures.

 

Monthly Collection Period” shall mean, with respect to any Payment Date, the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in which such Payment Date occurs or, with respect to the first Payment Date following the Closing Date, the period from and including the Closing Date to and including the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in which such Payment Date occurs.

 

Mortgage” shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of Secured Obligations, on real property of the Loan Parties, including any amendment, restatement, modification or supplement thereto.

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Net Proceeds” shall mean, with respect to any Prepayment Event, (a) the proceeds received in respect of such event in cash or cash equivalents, including (i) any cash or cash equivalents received in respect of any non-cash proceeds, including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment or earn-out (but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a Casualty Event, insurance proceeds that are actually received in cash and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments that are actually received in cash, minus (b) all fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with such event (including attorney’s fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes and similar taxes, underwriting discounts and commissions, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant, accountant and other customary fees), minus  (c) the amount of any liabilities directly associated with such asset and retained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, minus (d) the amount of all taxes paid (or estimated by the Borrower in good faith to be payable) (including pursuant to tax sharing arrangements or that are or would be imposed on intercompany distributions) with such proceeds, minus (e) the amount of any costs associated with unwinding any related swap, minus (f) the amount of any reserves established by Holdings, the Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries to fund contingent liabilities estimated by the Borrower in good faith to be payable, that are directly attributable to such event; provided that any reduction at any time in the amount of any such reserves (other than as a result of payments made in respect thereof) shall be deemed to constitute the receipt at such time of Net Proceeds in the amount of such reduction.

 

Net Revenue Interest” means, for any Well, the holder’s share of the Hydrocarbons produced, saved and marketed therefrom (after satisfaction of all Burdens).

 

Note(s)” shall mean, individually and collectively, the Notes payable to the order of a Lender, executed by the Borrower evidencing the Commitment of, and Term Loans made by, such Lender.

 

Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.4 and (b) has been approved by the Requisite Lenders.

 

Non-Operated Wellbore Interests” means an undivided 100% (the “Borrower’s Non-Operated Share”) of all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to (i) the wellbore of each well identified on Schedule 1.01(e) (collectively, the “Non-Operated Wellbores”), (ii) the hydrocarbons produced from each such Non-Operated Wellbore, (iii) portions of the leasehold rights of the Borrower covering the Non-Operated Wellbores insofar and only insofar as such leasehold rights are necessary to produce hydrocarbons and participate in operations from and affecting each such Non-Operated Wellbore, and (iv) to the extent assignable, an undivided interest equal to Borrower’s Non-Operated Share in and to certain other production operating assets (including the applicable Joint Operating Agreement) necessary for the ownership and operation of the Non-Operated Wellbores that have been acquired for the joint account of the co-owners in such Non-Operated Wellbores.

 

Non-U.S. Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.8(f).

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Obligations” shall mean, without duplication, all present and future obligations under this Agreement, any other Indebtedness and liabilities of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at any time and from time to time of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, secured or unsecured, joint and several, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, matured or unmatured, now existing or hereafter arising, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, in each case under any of the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, interest, all applicable fees, charges and expenses and/or all amounts paid or advanced by Administrative Agent or any Lender on behalf of or for the benefit of any Loan Party for any reason at any time, and including, in each case, obligations of performance as well as obligations of payment and interest that accrue after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law by or against any Loan Party.

 

OFAC” shall mean the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 

Operated Wellbore Interests” means an undivided 100% (the “Borrower’s Operated Share”) of all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to (i) the wellbore of each well identified on Schedule 1.1(d) (collectively, the “Operated Wellbores”), (ii) the hydrocarbons produced from each such Operated Wellbore, (iii) portions of the leasehold rights of the Borrower covering the Operated Wellbores insofar and only insofar as such leasehold rights are necessary to produce hydrocarbons and participate in operations from and affecting each such Operated Wellbore, and (iv) to the extent assignable, an undivided interest equal to Borrower’s Operated Share in and to certain other production operating assets (including the applicable Joint Operating Agreement) necessary for the ownership and operation of the Operated Wellbores that have been acquired for the joint account of the co-owners in such Operated Wellbores.

 

Organizational Documents” shall mean (i) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization, as amended, its by-laws, as amended, and any stockholders’ agreement, as amended, (ii) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership, as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (iii) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as amended, (iv) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization, as amended, and its operating agreement, as amended and (v) with respect to any trust, its declaration of trust. In the event any term or condition of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such governmental official.

 

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Lender or Administrative Agent, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender or Administrative Agent and the jurisdiction imposing such tax (except for connections arising from such Lender or Administrative Agent having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Transaction Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Transaction Document).

 

Other Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.7.

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Other Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.8(b).

 

Parent Company” means (a) Holdings and (b) any other Person or group of Persons that are Affiliates of Holdings of which the Borrower is an indirect Subsidiary.

 

Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.2(e).

 

Participant Register” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.2(e).

 

Patriot Act” shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, P.L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), as amended.

 

Payment Date” shall mean (a) the 28th day of each calendar month (commencing July 28, 2024), or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day and (b) the Maturity Date.

 

Permitted Affiliate Transactions” shall mean: (i) the Guaranty set forth herein, (ii) any existing or future assignments of any Additional Assets to a Loan Party, and all agreements, certificates and other documents related thereto or delivered in connection therewith and (iii) any transactions contemplated by (x) the Management Agreement, (y) the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement or (z) any other Transaction Document.

 

Permitted Affiliate Payment” shall mean any amounts payable to the Manager or any other Affiliate in connection with a Permitted Affiliate Transaction.

 

Permitted Change of Control” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions in which any Permitted Change of Control New Owner shall at any time have acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership of voting power of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of Holdings having more than 50.0% of such outstanding voting Equity Interests of Holdings; provided that, in connection therewith, (a) at least fifteen (15) Business Days (or such later date acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders)) prior to the date of effectiveness of such Permitted Change of Control (the “Permitted Change of Control Closing Date”), the Borrower shall have delivered written notice to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) of such Permitted Change of Control and of the identity of such proposed Permitted Change of Control New Owner; (b) the Administrative Agent and the Requisite Lenders shall have received at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Permitted Change of Control Closing Date (or such shorter period agreed among the Borrower and the applicable Lender or Administrative Agent), (x) all documentation and other information about the Permitted Change of Control New Owner that is reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Permitted Change of Control Closing Date (or such shorter period agreed among the Borrower and the applicable Lender or Administrative Agent) and is required by United States regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation Title III of the Patriot Act and (y) if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulations, a Beneficial Ownership Certification (limited to a single LSTA form beneficial ownership certification) in relation to the Borrower, so long as such information is requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Permitted Change of Control Closing (or such shorter period agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Lender or Administrative Agent); and (c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, the security interests of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral, taken as a whole, would not be materially impaired (as determined by the Borrower in good faith).

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Permitted Change of Control New Owner” shall mean (i) any public company with any class or series of Equity Interests listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) any private equity fund, similar investment fund, sovereign wealth fund, other financial institution or similar entity or fund(s) or consortium of private equity funds, similar investment funds, sovereign wealth funds, other financial institution or similar entity or fund(s) acting in concert that (x) are not directly or indirectly controlled or sponsored by natural persons domiciled or organized in any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, Canada, the European Union or the United Kingdom and (y) together with their affiliated funds, partnerships and/or co-investors (if applicable) have committed capital and/or assets under management in excess of $1,000,000,000 at the time of entry into a commitment for a Permitted Change of Control, in each case excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Holdings; provided that in the case of any acquisition by any Person described in clauses (i) and (ii), the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders in their reasonable discretion) shall have consented to the identity of such Permitted Change of Control New Owner.

 

Permitted Dispositions” shall mean any of the following:

 

(a)          Dispositions of (i) surplus, obsolete, used or worn out property, assets or equipment or other property, assets or equipment in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired, if made in the good faith determination of the Borrower and/or in the ordinary course of business and (ii) property no longer used or useful to, or economically practicable or commercially reasonable to maintain;

 

(b)          (i) Dispositions or consignments of equipment or other assets (including leasehold or licensed interests in real property), including on an intercompany basis in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the leasing or subleasing of real property in the ordinary course of business and (iii) to the extent constituting a Disposition, the expiration of any option or similar agreement in respect of real or personal property;

 

(c)          Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property, or other assets or services of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business (including transactions covered by Section 1031 of the Code) as determined by the Borrower in good faith or (ii) an amount equal to the Net Proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of similar replacement property, or other assets or services of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business;

 

(d)          Dispositions of property to any other Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof;

 

(e)          Dispositions consisting of Liens permitted by Section 7.2, Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.3 and/or Investments permitted by Section 7.8;

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(f)          Dispositions constituting, and terminations of, leases, assignments, subleases, licenses, sublicenses or cross-licenses, the Disposition or termination of which (i) is made in the ordinary course of business, (ii) does not materially interfere with the business of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole and (iii) is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders in their capacities as such;

 

(g)         transfers of property subject to, or otherwise as a result of, Casualty Events;

 

(h)         foreclosures on assets or Dispositions of assets required by Applicable Law, governmental regulation or any Governmental Authority;

 

(i)          the Transactions and any Disposition contemplated in connection with the Transactions, including any Disposition consummated in accordance with the Transaction Documents;

 

(j)          Dispositions in connection with the undertaking or consummation of any Permitted Reorganization or Permitted Change of Control;

 

(k)         the surrender or waiver of contractual rights and the surrender, release, settlement or waiver of contractual or litigation claims in the ordinary course of business or otherwise if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders in their capacities as such;

 

(l)          the termination, settlement, extinguishment, unwinding, netting or set-off of obligations in respect of any swap or derivative transaction otherwise permitted hereunder relating to any Loan Party;

 

(m)        Dispositions in connection with cash management services, treasury arrangements and related activities, in each case, in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(n)         the Disposition of Collateral at a price or value equal to fair market value at the time of such sale, subject to the following limitations: (i) Collateral Dispositions pursuant to this clause (n) do not exceed $5,000,000 on a cumulative basis; (ii) the selection procedures used in selecting such Collateral would not reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the Lenders or any Eligible Hedge Counterparty; (iii) the DSCR shall not be less than 1.85:1.00 on a pro forma basis and the Leverage Ratio shall not be more than 55.0% after giving effect to such Disposition and the application of the proceeds therefrom; and (iv) no disposition of Collateral under this paragraph may occur during the continuance of any Default, Event of Default, or Rapid Amortization Event.

 

provided that any such Disposition shall only constitute a Permitted Disposition to the extent that the proceeds received by the relevant Loan Party with respect to such Disposition are sufficient (together with other funds available for such purpose) to pay any breakage or termination amounts (including any interest thereon) owing to any Hedge Counterparty as a result of any termination of hedges required in connection with such Disposition; provided further, however, that in the event any Permitted Disposition could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any Eligible Hedge Counterparty or any Lender, the Borrower shall obtain the prior written consent of each such Eligible Hedge Counterparty and Lender with respect to such Permitted Disposition.

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Permitted Distributions” shall mean, without duplication, with respect to any Payment Date, cash distributions by any Subsidiary to any Loan Party and/or by the Borrower or Holdings to any other direct or indirect Parent Company from time to time of:

 

(a)          amounts held by Borrower in the Facility Collection Account as of such date following the payment of all amounts due and payable in accordance with Section 2.8(l) on or before such Payment Date; and

 

(b)          amounts held in the Loan Account at the direction of the Manager solely to pay amounts due in connection with the construction, development and installation of the Subject Assets; and

 

(c)          amounts constituting Closing Date Distributions.

 

Permitted Equity Sale” shall mean shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions executed by Diversified Production pursuant to which any Person shall at any time have acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership of voting power of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of Holdings, provided that (i) the amount of such Equity Interests transferred to such Person is less than or equal to 80%, (ii) after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, the security interest of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral, taken as a whole, is not materially impaired, and (iii) no such transaction or series of transactions results in Diversified Production ceasing to be the Operator under the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be entitled to receive any notice of a Permitted Equity Sale prior to, and no consent shall be required for, the consummation thereof or have any right to approve or disapprove the Person acquiring direct or indirect beneficial ownership of voting power of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of Holdings (subject to the limitations set forth in this definition) in a Permitted Equity Sale, and such Person shall not be required to qualify as a Permitted Change of Control New Owner. If a transaction or series of related transactions could qualify as either a Permitted Equity Sale or a Permitted Change of Control, or both, it shall be deemed to constitute a Permitted Equity Sale rather than a Permitted Change of Control unless Holdings and Borrower elect to treat such transaction or series of related transactions as a Permitted Change of Control.

 

Permitted Hedge Agreement”: shall mean (i) (a) any Interest Rate Protection Agreement permitted by Section 6.19(a) hereof or (b) any Hedge Agreement permitted by Section 6.19(b) hereof and (ii) with a Counterparty that is an Eligible Hedge Counterparty as of the date of execution of such Hedge Agreement.

 

Permitted Indebtedness” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.1.

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Permitted Investments” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof, or shares of money market funds that invest solely in such obligations, (ii) obligations fully guaranteed by the United States of America and certificates of deposit issued by, or bankers’ acceptances of, or time deposits, demand deposits or overnight deposits with, any bank, trust company or national banking association incorporated or doing business under the Laws of the United States of America or one of the states thereof having combined capital and surplus and retained earnings of at least $250,000,000, (iii) commercial paper of companies, banks, trust companies or national banking associations incorporated or doing business under the Laws of the United States of America or one of the states thereof and in each case having a rating assigned to such commercial paper by S&P or Moody’s (or, if neither such organization shall rate such commercial paper at any time, by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization in the United States of America) equal to the highest rating assigned by such organizations and (iv) money market funds which (a) invest primarily in obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof, corporate bonds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper rated AAAmmf or better by Fitch and P-1 or better by Moody’s, repurchase agreements, time deposits and (b) have a rating assigned to such fund by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P equal to “Aaa-mf”, “AAAmmf”, or “AAm”, respectively, or better. In no event shall any investment be eligible as a “Permitted Investment” unless the final maturity or date of return of such investment is thirty-one (31) days or less from the date of purchase thereof.

 

Permitted Liens” shall mean, collectively, (i) Liens created pursuant to the Transaction Documents; (ii) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental charges, levies or claims not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and as to which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP with respect to such Liens; (iii) Liens created pursuant to zoning, subdivision and building laws and regulations of general application to the Subject Assets; (iv) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction or other like Liens (1) arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (2) for which the Loan Parties are adequately indemnified by another party (other than an Affiliate); (v) [reserved]; (vi) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, restrictions, encroachments and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of the business of the Borrower or, with respect to the Subject Assets, existing on the date of the acquisition of such Subject Assets, which, in the aggregate, do not materially (1) interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower, taken as a whole, or (2) impair the use or operations of the interest of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in the Wellbores; (vii) Liens arising in connection with any Remedial Work (as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) not in excess of $1,000,000 in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding (excluding any portion thereof for which the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries have been indemnified by another party other than an Affiliate), with respect to which a cash reserve in an amount equal to the remediation costs has been provided for and funded; (viii) pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements; (ix) Liens created by lease agreements, statute or common law to secure the payments of rental amounts or other sums not yet delinquent thereunder; (x) Liens on real property that is leased, licensed or occupied by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to an easement, license or other agreement created or caused by an owner or lessor thereof or arising out of the fee interest therein; (xi) [reserved]; (xii) Liens incurred or created in the ordinary course of business on cash and cash equivalents to secure performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds, bids or tenders; (xiii) Liens securing the payment of judgments which do not result in an Event of Default; (xiv) Liens arising as a consequence of liens imposed as a result of the failure of the real property owner to pay taxes, assessments or similar charges; (xv) defects or irregularities in the chain of title: (i) consisting of the failure to recite marital status or omissions of heirship proceedings in documents; (ii) arising out of lack of evidence of, or other defects with respect to, authorization, execution, delivery, acknowledgement, or approval of any instrument in the chain of title, provided that such Liens do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (xvi) resulting from lack of survey, unless a survey is expressly required by applicable Law; (xvii) resulting from failure to record rights-of-way, releases of liens, production payments, or mortgages that have expired by their own terms and the enforcement of which are barred by the applicable statute(s) of limitations or prescription; or resulting from or related to probate proceedings or the lack thereof that have been outstanding for ten years or more; (xviii) defects arising from the leases failing to have pooling provisions; (xix) defects that affect only which Person has the right to receive royalty payments (rather than the amount of the proper payment of such royalty payment); (xx) liens created under operating agreements in respect of obligations that are not yet due and will not become due prior to the Maturity Date; (xxi) any other encumbrances or irregularities affecting the Operating Wellbore Interests and Non-Operating Wellbore Interests that, individually or in the aggregate, do not materially and adversely affect the ownership or operation of the same as owned and operated immediately prior to the date hereof and would be acceptable to a reasonably prudent owner of similar assets as determined by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders); (xxii) conventional rights of reassignment, to the extent not triggered prior the Maturity Date; (xxiii) all rights to consent by, required notices to or filings with Governmental Authorities in connection with the conveyance (by operation of applicable Law) of the Subject Assets, if the same are customarily sought and received after assignment, disposition or transfer of interests therein.

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Permitted Reorganization” shall mean any corporate reorganization and/or restructuring (or similar transaction or event) undertaken (each, a “Reorganization”), and each step reasonably undertaken to effect such Reorganization; provided that, in connection therewith, (a) immediately after giving effect to such Reorganization, the security interests of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral, taken as a whole, would not be materially impaired and (b) the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) consents thereto in its reasonable discretion; provided that any such Reorganization will be deemed to have the consent of the Administrative Agent, and not materially impair the security interest of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral if either (x) in connection with such Reorganization, assets of existing Loan Parties would be transferred, directly or indirectly, into any newly-formed Persons who become Loan Parties in connection therewith (including any “co-borrower” or “co-guarantor”) or (y) the Borrower provides written notice to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) of any such Reorganization, describing such Reorganization in reasonable detail, and the Administrative Agent shall have received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of such Borrower notice, written notice of consent to such Reorganization from the Requisite Lenders.

 

Permitted Tax Distribution” shall mean amounts not greater than the income, franchise or other tax actually due in respect of income solely attributable to the assets and operations of the Loan Parties in an applicable Collection Period, payable with the consent of the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders).

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Person” shall mean an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, a business trust, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated association, a joint venture, a Governmental Authority or any other entity of whatever nature.

 

Pledged Accounts” shall mean, collectively, the Collections Accounts, the Facility Collection Account, the Reserve Accounts, the Loan Account and any other accounts pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Prepayment Event” shall mean: (a) any non-ordinary course sale, transfer or other Disposition of any Collateral of the Borrower or any other Loan Party in connection with a Casualty Event and resulting in Net Proceeds exceeding $1,000,000 individually; or (b) the incurrence by the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any Indebtedness, other than Permitted Indebtedness (or other Indebtedness consented to by the Requisite Lenders).

 

Post-Closing Actions” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.20 hereof.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders)).

 

Priority of Payments” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.8.

 

Proceeds” shall mean, with respect to any portion of the Collateral, all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, including, whatever is receivable or received when such portion of Collateral is sold, liquidated, foreclosed, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary, and includes all rights to payment with respect to any insurance relating thereto.

 

Production Tracking Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Semi-Annual Determination Date beginning with the Payment Date occurring in January 2025, the quotient of (a) the aggregate production volume with respect to the Subject Assets actually realized over the six (6) calendar months immediately preceding such date of determination over (b) the aggregate production volume with respect to the Subject Assets projected in the most recent Reserve Report for the six (6) corresponding calendar months.

 

Pro Forma Basis”, “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant hereunder, that such test or covenant shall have been calculated in accordance with Section 1.4.

 

Pro Rata Share” shall mean (i) for all funding matters hereunder, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the unfunded Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate unfunded Commitments of all Lenders at such time, and (ii) with respect to all other matters, including the receipt of payments hereunder, with respect to each Lender at any time, the Pro Rata Share shall be determined based on each such Lender’s pro rata share of the aggregate Total Outstandings at such time.

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PV-10” means the value calculated in the most recent Reserve Report delivered hereunder consisting of the discounted present value (using ten percent (10.0%) discount rate) of the sum of (i) the projected net cash flows from the Wellbore Interests categorized as proved, developed and producing, using commodity strip prices and (ii) the positive or negative aggregate mark-to-market value determined as of such date of determination of all Hedge Agreements, calculated in the aggregate for all Hydrocarbons hedged, calculated on an annual basis (or, to the extent the Manager in its discretion obtains an updated Reserve Report prior to any otherwise scheduled annually updated Reserve Report, calculated on a more frequent basis to reflect the projected proceeds described in such updated Reserve Report).

 

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.13.

 

Quarterly Collection Period” shall mean, with respect to any applicable Payment Date or Quarterly Determination Date, the three most recently completed Monthly Collection Periods immediately preceding the date on which such Payment Date or Quarterly Determination Date, as applicable, occurs.

 

Quarterly Determination Date” shall mean each Payment Date occurring in the months of January, April, July and October; provided that, other than for purposes of a Pro Forma Basis determination, the first Quarterly Determination Date shall be October, 2024.

 

Rapid Amortization Event” shall mean any of the following events:

 

(i) as of any Quarterly Determination Date, a Financial Covenant Default shall have occurred and be continuing (but solely to the extent required for the Borrower to be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the Financial Covenants);

 

(ii) the failure of any of the Post-Closing Actions to occur within the period of time after the Closing Date as specified in Section 6.20;

 

(iii) the occurrence of a Material Manager Default; provided that any such Material Manager Default (x) shall only constitute a Rapid Amortization Event hereunder if such event or condition is unremedied and is not waived prior to the applicable Payment Date and (y) shall not result in a Rapid Amortization Event hereunder while any grace or notice (or similar) period applicable to such event or condition remains in effect under the Management Agreement;

 

(iv) failure to repay the Term Loans in full by the Maturity Date; or

 

(v) the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing and the Administrative Agent (at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) or the Requisite Lenders have provided written notice to the Borrower that the Lenders have elected to cause a Rapid Amortization Event (provided that, in the case of any Specified Event of Default, no such written notice shall be required to cause a Rapid Amortization Event for purposes of this definition).

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Rating Criteria” with respect to any Person, shall mean the long-term unsecured debt obligations of such Person are rated at least Baa1 by Moody’s, BBB+ by S&P or BBB+ by Fitch.

 

RBL Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated August 2, 2022, by and among DP RBL Co LLC, as borrower, KeyBank National Association (“KeyBank”), as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto (as further amended, amended and restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time).

 

Receipt” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.5(a).

 

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is Term SOFR, the time set forth in the definition of Term SOFR, and (2) if such Benchmark is not Term SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

 

Register” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.4(b).

 

Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any partner, member, shareholder, principal or Affiliate of such Person.

 

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

 

Remedial Work” shall mean any investigation, site monitoring, cleanup or other remedial work of any kind required under applicable Environmental Laws because of or in connection with any presence or release of any Hazardous Materials on, under or from any Subject Assets.

 

Requisite Lenders” shall mean, as of any time of determination, the Lenders having Commitments and holding Total Outstandings representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Outstandings and aggregate amount of Commitments of all Lenders at such time; provided that so long as there are two or more Lenders that are not Affiliates and are not Defaulting Lenders, “Requisite Lenders” shall require at least two Lenders who are not Affiliates; provided further, as of any date of determination on which there are no Total Outstandings and the Commitments have been terminated and any of the Permitted Hedge Agreements with Eligible Hedge Counterparties remain outstanding or any payments thereunder, including the termination value, remain unpaid, “Requisite Lenders” shall mean the Eligible Hedge Counterparties until such time that all of the Permitted Hedge Agreements with the Eligible Hedge Counterparties have terminated and all payments thereunder, including the termination value, have been paid in full.

 

Reserves” shall mean the reserve funds held by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) pursuant to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, including the funds held in the Reserve Accounts.

 

Reserve Accounts” shall mean the Interest Reserve Account.

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Reserve Report” shall mean a reserve audited or prepared by an Independent Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit K hereto and delivered in accordance with Section 6.1(d) hereof and otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Requisite Lenders, setting forth as of the date of the report the oil and gas reserves of Holdings and the Borrower, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, Taxes and capital expenditures with respect to the Subject Assets as of that date based on good faith and reasonable economic assumptions provided by the Manager, containing customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions; provided, that upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders may independently audit the economic assumptions provided by the Manager.

 

Responsible Officer” shall mean, with respect to (i) the Account Bank, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Account Bank, including any trust officer or any other officer of the Account Bank who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Agreement and (ii) any other Person, the chief executive officer, president, vice president, senior vice president, executive vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, secretary or assistant secretary of such Person, or any other officer of such Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders); or, with respect to compliance with financial covenants or delivery of financial information, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, assistant treasurer or the controller of such Person, or any or any other officer of such Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders). Any document delivered hereunder or under any other Transaction Document that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Person shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Person and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person in such Responsible Officer’s official capacity on behalf of such Person.

 

Restricted Payment” shall mean (i) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of the Equity Interests of Borrower now or hereafter outstanding; (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interest of Borrower now or hereafter outstanding; and (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire any Equity Interest of Borrower now or hereafter outstanding.

 

Retained Collections” shall mean, with respect to a Collection Period, the amount of Collections received in such Collection Period.

 

Risk Retention Letter” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.1(i).

 

Sanctioned Country” shall mean, at any time, a country or territory that is subject to comprehensive Sanctions.

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Sanctioned Person” shall mean, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned 50.1% or more or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

 

Sanctions” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.17(a).

 

Scheduled Amortization Amount” means the Scheduled Amortization Amount for the applicable date of determination set forth on Schedule 2.8(f).

 

Scheduled Cash Sweep Percentage” means:

 

(a) during the period of time between the Closing Date and the end of the Initial Step-Up Period, 25%;

 

(b) during the Second Step-Up Period, 50%; and

 

(c) during the Third Step-Up Period, 100%.

 

Second Step-Up Period” shall mean the period commencing on the first date after the Initial Step-Up Period and the date that is twelve (12) months after the first date after the Initial Step-Up Period.

 

Secured Obligations” shall mean (a) the Obligations and (b) the Secured Swap Obligations.

 

Secured Party” shall mean each Lender, Eligible Hedge Counterparty and the Administrative Agent.

 

Secured Party Designation Notice” shall mean a notice in the form of Exhibit H executed by the Borrower and an Eligible Hedge Counterparty and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

Secured Swap Obligations” shall mean (a) any obligations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries under any Permitted Hedge Agreement and (b) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries under a Permitted Hedge Agreement, in each case that is (or was) entered into with an Eligible Hedge Counterparty and designated in writing by the Borrower and such Eligible Hedge Counterparty to constitute “Secured Swap Obligations” pursuant to a Secured Party Designation Notice delivered to the Administrative Agent; provided, that no such Secured Party Designation Notice shall be required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent in respect of any Secured Swap Obligations of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and its Affiliates, it being understood that all obligations in respect of Hedge Agreements with such Counterparties will at all times constitute Secured Swap Obligations; provided further, that with respect to any Loan Party, Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party shall not constitute Secured Swap Obligations.

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Securitized Net Cash Flow means, as of any Quarterly Determination Date, an amount equal to the excess of (i) Retained Collections for the most recently completed Quarterly Collection Period over (ii) the sum (without duplication) of (x) the Management Fee for such Quarterly Collection Period, (y) the Monthly Subject Asset Operating Expenses for the months in such Quarterly Collection Period and (z) insurance expenses and local or other property and similar taxes (including payments in lieu of taxes) paid by the Loan Parties with respect to the Subject Assets during such Quarterly Collection Period.

 

Security Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Account Bank Control Agreement, each other Account Control Agreement, each Mortgage and any other agreement delivered in connection therewith as required pursuant to this Agreement to create or perfect the Liens in the Collateral.

 

Semi-Annual Determination Date” means the Quarterly Determination Date in the month of July.

 

SOFR” means a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

 

SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at Term SOFR, other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of Base Rate.

 

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

Specified Event of Default” means any Event of Default described in clause (a), (c), (d) or (e) of Article VIII.

 

Subject Assets” shall mean, collectively, the Wellbore Interests and any Additional Assets, collectively, and all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest whether now or hereafter acquired, and wherever located, in and thereto, and all monies received thereon and in respect thereof.

 

Subject Assets Transfers” shall mean, collectively, (i) the Closing Date Subject Assets Transfer and (ii) any other direct or indirect, contribution, sale and/or other transfer of Additional Assets to the applicable Loan Parties after the Closing Date, including pursuant to Section 2.16(a).

 

Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement” shall mean that Join Operating Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which Diversified Production shall serve as operator with respect to the Subject Assets (in such capacity, the “Operator”).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person: (a) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person meeting this definition of “Subsidiary” or a combination thereof; and (b) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which (i) more than 50% of the voting interests or general partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person meeting this definition of “Subsidiary” or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise; and (ii) such Person or any subsidiary of such Person meeting this definition of “Subsidiary” is a controlling general partner or otherwise directly or indirectly controls such entity. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

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Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean, collectively, (i) each of the Asset Entities and (ii) each other Subsidiary of the Borrower or Holdings formed or acquired after the Closing Date.

 

Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.13.

 

Swap” means any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap.

 

Target LTV Ratio” shall mean, as of any Quarterly Determination Date:

 

(a) during the period of time between the Closing Date and the first date of the Initial Step-Up Period, 57.0% plus 5.0%;

 

(b) during the Initial Step-Up Period, 57.0%;

 

(c) during the Second Step-Up Period, 57.0% minus 2.5%; and

 

(d) during the Third Step-Up Period, 57.0% minus 7.5%.

 

Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.8(a).

 

Term Loan” shall mean a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.1, including the Closing Date Loans.

 

Term SOFR” means:

 

(a)          for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and

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(b)          for any calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day;

 

provided, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

 

Term SOFR Administrator” shall mean the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by Requisite Lenders in their reasonable discretion).

 

Term SOFR Loan” means any Term Loan during such time as interest thereon accrues at a rate of interest based upon Term SOFR, other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of Base Rate.

 

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

 

Termination Date” shall mean the first date on which (i) all Commitments have expired or terminated and (ii) the principal of, and interest on, each Loan, all amounts owing in respect of Secured Swap Obligations and all fees, expenses and other Secured Obligations (other than indemnity obligations under the Transaction Documents that are not then due and payable or for which any events or claims that would give rise thereto are not then pending) have been paid in full in cash.

 

Third Step-Up Period” shall mean the period commencing on the first date after the Second Step-Up Period and ending on the Maturity Date.

 

Threshold Amount” shall mean $1,000,000.

 

Total Outstandings” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans as of such date.

 

Transaction Costs” shall mean the fees, premiums, expenses and other transaction costs payable or otherwise borne by any Parent Company, the Borrower and/or their respective subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, any Subject Assets Transfers from time to time on and after the Closing Date).

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Transaction Documents” shall mean, collectively and each individually, (i) each of the Closing Date Transaction Documents, (ii) each (if any) of the Notes, Security Documents, Account Control Agreements or Hedge Agreements executed and delivered on or after the Closing Date and (iii) any other agreements, documents, instruments and certificates executed or delivered by a Loan Party on or after the Closing Date in connection with any of the foregoing and designated by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent as a “Transaction Document.” Any reference in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to a Transaction Document shall include all appendices, exhibits and/or schedules thereto.

 

Transactions” shall mean, collectively and individually, (a) the Loan Parties’ entry into this Agreement and the borrowing of the Loans and use of proceeds thereof, (b) the distribution by the Borrower of the proceeds of the Closing Date Loans to Diversified Production in an amount equal to the amount of funds necessary to finance Diversified Production’s acquisition of OCM Denali Holdings, LLC (“OCM Denali”, and the Subject Assets held by OCM Denali, the “OCM Denali Subject Assets”) (c) [reserved], (d) the consummation of the Closing Date Subject Assets Transfers, (e) the termination of the Existing Joint Operating Agreement and the execution of the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement, (f) the execution and delivery of the Management Agreement and each other Transaction Document; and (g) the payment of all Transaction Costs (including original issue discount or upfront fees).

 

Trust Accounts” shall mean the Interest Reserve Account and Facility Collection Account.

 

Type” shall mean whether a Loan is a SOFR Loan or a Base Rate Loan.

 

UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York; provided, that if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

 

UMB Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter agreement, dated as of June 5, 2024, between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Account Bank.

 

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

Undisclosed Administration” means, in relation to a Lender or its direct or indirect parent company that is a solvent person, the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian, or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender or such parent company is subject to home jurisdiction, if applicable law requires that such appointment not be disclosed.

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United States” and “US” shall each mean the United States of America.

 

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, or any successor thereto, recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

 

U.S. Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 13.8(f).

 

U.S. Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary incorporated or organized under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

Wellbores” shall mean, collectively, the Operated Wellbores and the Non-Operated Wellbores.

 

Wellbore Interests” shall mean, collectively, the Operated Wellbore Interests and the Non-Operated Wellbore Interests.

 

Working Interest” means, for any Well, that share of costs and expenses associated with the exploration, maintenance, development, and operation of such Well that the holder of the interest is required to bear and pay.

 

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares required to be held by foreign nationals) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

1.2 Certain Terms, Interpretation, etc.

 

(a)          All capitalized terms used which are not specifically defined shall have the meanings provided in Article 9 of the UCC in effect on the date hereof to the extent the same are used or defined therein. Unless otherwise specified, as used in the Transaction Documents or in any certificate, report, instrument or other document made or delivered pursuant to any of the Transaction Documents, all accounting terms not defined in Section 1.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to such terms in and shall be interpreted in accordance with GAAP.

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(b)          Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. References herein to any Section, Annex, Schedule or Exhibit shall be to a Section, an Annex, a Schedule or an Exhibit, as the case may be, hereof unless otherwise specifically provided. The use herein of the word “include” or “including,” when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not no limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” The words “ordinary course of business” or “ordinary course” shall, with respect to any Person, be deemed to refer to items or actions that are consistent with practice in, or norms of, the industry in which such Person operates or such Person’s past practice (in each case, as determined by Borrower in good faith). Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of, or reference to, any agreement, instrument or other document herein or in any Transaction Document shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document (in each, together with all schedules, exhibits, annexes and other attachments thereto) as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or extended, replaced or refinanced (subject to any restrictions or qualifications on such amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, supplements or modifications or extensions, replacements or refinancings expressly set forth herein), (ii) any reference to any Applicable Law herein or in any other Transaction Document shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, superseding or interpreting such Applicable Law, (iii) any reference herein or in any other Transaction Document to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iv) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, when used in any Transaction Document, shall be construed to refer to such Transaction Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (v) in the computation of periods of time herein or in any other Transaction Document from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including”, (vi) the words “asset” and “property”, when used herein or in any other Transaction Document shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, (vii) the words “permitted” shall be construed to also refer to actions or undertakings that are “not prohibited”, (viii) any reference to the end date for any fiscal quarter or fiscal year shall mean the date on or around such specified date on which the applicable period actually ends (as determined by Borrower in good faith), (ix) the fair market value of any asset or property shall be determined by Borrower in good faith, (x) any determination as to whether an event or change has caused or evidenced, or would reasonably be expected to cause or evidence a Material Adverse Effect shall be made by Borrower in good faith, (xi) the word “or” shall be construed to be not exclusive, (xii) in the case of any agreement, document, instrument, matter or other item that is required under the terms of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to be consented or agreed to, approved by, determined by, selected by, or acceptable or satisfactory to, an Agent “acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders” (or words of similar import) (each, an “Agent Directed Approval Items”), such Agent shall, if requested by the Borrower in writing (which may be via email), promptly (and, in any event, within one (1) Business Day after receipt of such request from the Borrower) provide notice of such Agent Directed Approval Item to all the Lenders and (xiii) unless expressly stated to the contrary, any determination of reasonableness (including as to whether something is reasonable or unreasonable, or whether a Person has acted reasonably or unreasonable) hereunder or under any other Transaction Document shall be made by the Borrower in good faith.

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1.3          Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

1.4 Pro Forma Calculations

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, financial ratios and tests (including any determination of the Maximum Loan Amount at any time), shall be calculated in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.4.

 

(b)          In the event that any Loan Party incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness subsequent to the Quarterly Collection Period for which any LTV Ratio or DSCR (each, a “Ratio”) is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the applicable Ratio is made (the “Ratio Calculation Date”), then the applicable Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Quarterly Collection Period.

 

(c)          For purposes of making the computation referred to above, investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and Subject Asset Transfers made during the Quarterly Collection Period or subsequent to such Quarterly Collection Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with GAAP (except as set forth in the last sentence of clause (d) below) assuming that all such investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and Subject Asset Transfers (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Securitized Net Cash Flow resulting therefrom had occurred on the first day of the Quarterly Collection Period. If since the beginning of such Quarterly Collection Period any Person that subsequently became a Loan Party or was merged with or into any Loan Party since the beginning of such Quarterly Collection Period shall have made any investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation and Subject Asset Transfers, in each case that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.4, then the applicable Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such Quarterly Collection Period as if such investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation and Subject Asset Transfers (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Securitized Net Cash Flow resulting therefrom) had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Quarterly Collection Period.

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(d)          For purposes of making the computation referred to above, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower or the Manager on its behalf. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire Quarterly Collection Period (taking into account any Swap Obligations or the Interest Rate Protection Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness); provided that in the case of repayment of any Indebtedness to the extent actual interest related thereto was included during all or any portion of the applicable Quarterly Collection Period, the actual interest may be used for the applicable portion of such Quarterly Collection Period and to give pro forma effect to such repayment. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrower may designate.

 

1.5         Timing of Payment and Performance. When payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of “Interest Period”) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.

 

II. LOANS, PAYMENTS, INTEREST AND COLLATERAL

 

2.1         Commitments; Term Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to (a) provide, on the Effective Date, its Commitment to the Borrower in the amount set forth on Annex 1, subject to any adjustment or reduction thereof pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof and (b) make on the Closing Date, one or more Term Loans (the “Closing Date Loans”) to Borrower in Dollars in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the lesser of (x) such Lender’s Commitment and (y) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of an amount equal to the Maximum Loan Amount as of such date. Each Lender’s Commitment shall terminate immediately and without further action in full immediately upon the funding of the Closing Date Loans.

 

2.2 [Reserved].

 

2.3         Request for Term Loan. The Closing Date Loans shall be made on notice, given not later than the Effective Date, by delivery from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of the Funding Direction Letter, copies of which shall be distributed promptly by the Administrative Agent to each Lender by electronic mail. The Funding Direction Letter shall be delivered by electronic mail and specify the requested (i) date of such Loan (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) Type of Loan, (iii) aggregate amount of such Loan, (iv) wiring instructions for the Loan Account and (v) in the case of a Loan consisting of a SOFR Loan, initial Interest Period for such Loan. Each Lender shall, before 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of such Loan, make available to the Administrative Agent to the Administrative Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Loan. After the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.1 the Administrative Agent will make such funds received available to the Borrower in same day funds at the Loan Account.

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2.4 Register; Notes.

 

(a)          Each Lender shall maintain on its internal records an account or accounts evidencing the Obligations of Borrower to such Lender, including the amounts of the Term Loans made by it and each repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on Borrower, absent manifest error; provided, that the failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect any Lender’s Commitments or Borrower’s Obligations in respect of any applicable Term Loans; and provided, further, in the event of any inconsistency between the Register and any Lender’s records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.

 

(b)          The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrower, shall maintain a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitments and Term Loans of each Lender from time to time (the “Register”). The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. The Administrative Agent shall record in the Register the Commitments and the Term Loans, and each repayment or prepayment in respect of the principal amount (and each payment of stated interest) of the Term Loans, and any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and each Lender, absent manifest error. The Borrower hereby designates the entity serving as the Administrative Agent to serve as Borrower’s non-fiduciary agent solely for purposes of maintaining the Register as provided in this Section 2.4(b), and the Borrower hereby agrees that, to the extent such entity serves in such capacity, the entity serving as the Administrative Agent and its officers, directors, employees, agents and Affiliates shall constitute “Indemnified Persons.”

 

2.5 Interest on the Term Loans.

 

(a)          Base Rate Loans. During such periods as any Loan is a Base Rate Loan, interest shall accrue on such Base Rate Loan at a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of

 

(A) the Base Rate in effect at such time plus (B) the Applicable Margin applicable to Base Rate Loans in effect at such time, in each case as determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Requisite Lenders, payable in arrears on each Payment Date in an amount equal to the interest accrued on the Total Outstandings that are Base Rate Loans during each day of the most recently ended Monthly Collection Period, and on the date such Base Rate Loan shall be Converted or paid in full.

 

(b)          SOFR Loans. During such periods as any Loan is a SOFR Loan, interest shall accrue on such SOFR Loan at a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Loan to the sum of (A) Term SOFR for such Interest Period at such time for such Loan plus (B) the Applicable Margin applicable to SOFR Loans in effect at such time, in each case as determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Requisite Lenders, payable in arrears on each Payment Date in an amount equal to the interest accrued on the Total Outstandings that are SOFR Loans during each day of the most recently ended Monthly Collection Period (for the avoidance of doubt, without any penalty or other fees owed for not paying such interest at the end of an Interest Period).

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(c)          Default Rate. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, after the occurrence and during the continuation of any Specified Event of Default, interest on all overdue Obligations shall accrue at the applicable Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law.

 

(d)          Computation of Interest. Interest on the Term Loans and all other Obligations owing to the Lenders shall be computed on the basis of a 365-day year, and shall be charged for the actual number of days elapsed during any interest period or other accrual period.

 

(e)          Interest Laws. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in the Note or the other Transaction Documents, the Borrower shall not be required to pay, and Lender shall not be permitted to collect, any amount of interest in excess of the maximum amount of interest permitted by law (the “Excess Interest”). If any Excess Interest is provided for, whether in the Default Rate, through any contingency or event, or otherwise, or is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been provided for herein or in the Note or in any of the other Transaction Documents, then in such event: (1) the provisions of this subsection shall govern and control; (2) the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any Excess Interest; (3) any Excess Interest that any Lender may have received hereunder shall be, at such Lender’s option, to the fullest extent provided by applicable law: (a) applied as a credit against either or both of the outstanding principal balance of the Loan or accrued and unpaid interest thereunder (not to exceed the maximum amount permitted by law), (b) refunded to the payor thereof or (c) any combination of the foregoing; (4) the Applicable Margin provided for herein shall be automatically reduced to the maximum lawful rate allowed from time to time under applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”), and this Agreement, the Note and the other Transaction Documents shall be deemed to have been and shall be, reformed and modified to reflect such reduction; and (5) the Borrower shall not have any action against any Lender for any monetary damages arising out of the payment or collection of any Excess Interest, other than arising solely from any Lender’s gross negligence or willful conduct in exercising its remedies under this Section 2.5(e). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if for any period of time interest on any Obligation is calculated at the Maximum Rate rather than the applicable rate under the Note of any Lender, and thereafter such applicable rate becomes less than the Maximum Rate, the rate of interest payable on such Obligations shall, to the extent permitted by law, remain at the Maximum Rate until such Lender shall have received or accrued the amount of interest which such Lender would have received or accrued during such period on Obligations had the rate of interest not been limited to the Maximum Rate during such period. If the Default Rate shall be finally determined to be unlawful, then the Applicable Margin shall be applicable during any time when the Default Rate would have been applicable hereunder; provided, however, that if the Maximum Rate is greater or lesser than the Applicable Margin, then the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall apply.

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(f)          Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation or administration of Term SOFR or a Benchmark Replacement, Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) will have the right, with the consent of the Borrower, to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Transaction Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (and the Lenders hereby (i) authorize and direct the Administrative Agent to make any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes (and to enter into any modifications to this Agreement or other Transaction Documents implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes) that have been consented or agreed to by the Requisite Lenders, or in respect of which the Administrative Agent has received a direction from the Requisite Lenders to implement and (ii) acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to all of the exculpations, protections and indemnifications provided for in this Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent in implementing any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes (or in entering into any modifications to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents implementing the same) that have been consented or agreed to by the Requisite Lenders, or in respect of which the Administrative Agent has received a direction from the Requisite Lenders to implement).

 

(g) Benchmark Replacement.

 

(i)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Transaction Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto have occurred prior to the Reference Time in connection with any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then such Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes under this Agreement and under any other Transaction Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without requiring any amendment to, or requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

 

(ii)        Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) will promptly notify all the parties hereto of (i) any occurrence of (A) a Benchmark Transition Event and (B) the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, and (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

 

(iii)       Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.5, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document except as otherwise expressly set forth herein.

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(iv)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Transaction Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) may, in consultation with the Borrower, modify by providing notice thereof (which may be via email) to the Borrower and the Lenders the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) may modify by providing notice thereof (which may be via email) to the Borrower and the Lenders the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

(v)       Other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation (i) to monitor, determine or verify the unavailability or cessation of the Term SOFR Reference Rate (or any other applicable Benchmark) or whether or when there has occurred, or to give notice to any other transaction party of the occurrence of (except as directed by the Requisite Lenders), any termination date relating to the Term SOFR Reference Rate (or any other applicable Benchmark), (ii) to select determine or designate any alternative rate, or other successor or replacement benchmark index, or whether any conditions to the designation of such a rate have been satisfied, (iii) to select, determine or designate any other modifier to any alternative rate or (iv) to determine whether or what alternative rate changes are necessary or advisable, if any, in connection with any of the foregoing. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any inability, failure or delay on its part to perform any of its duties set forth in this Agreement as a result of the unavailability of the Term SOFR Reference Rate (or any other applicable Benchmark) and absence of a designated replacement benchmark, including as a result of any inability, delay, error or inaccuracy on the part of the Requisite Lenders in providing any direction, instruction, notice or information required or contemplated by the terms of this Agreement and reasonably required for the performance of such duties. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to any alternate replacement index to the Term SOFR Reference Rate, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternate replacement index to the Term SOFR Reference Rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or have the same volume or liquidity as did the Term SOFR Reference Rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

 

(h)          In no event shall the Account Bank have any liability or obligation with respect to any determination of (i) the occurrence of (A) a Benchmark Transition Event and (B) the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes or (iv) any other determination, decision or election that may be made by pursuant to this Section 2.5.

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2.6          Optional Conversion of Loans. The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon written notice given to the Administrative Agent in the form of an Interest Election Request not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion or continuation, (x) Convert Loans of one Type comprising the same Loan into Loans of the other Type or (y) continue Loans of one Type as a Loan of the same Type. Each such Interest Election Request shall specify (a) the date of such Conversion or continuation (which date shall be a Payment Date), (b) the Loans to be Converted or continued (and whether the resulting Loan is to be a Base Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan) and (c) if such Conversion or continuation is into SOFR Loans, the initial Interest Period for such Loan. Each Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. If the Borrower fails to notify the Administrative Agent that a SOFR Loan shall be Converted or continued by the end of its Interest Period, such SOFR Loan shall continue as a SOFR Loan for an Interest Period of one month.

 

2.7 Prepayments and Repayments of the Term Loans; Commitment Reductions.

 

(a)          Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon prior written notice to the Administrative Agent provided to the Administrative Agent no later than (x) 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed prepayment date in the case of a SOFR Loan or (y) no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) one (1) Business Day prior to the proposed prepayment date in the case of a Base Rate Loan (which notice shall state the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment), and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of such Loans in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid. All voluntary prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.7(a) shall be without penalty or fee to Borrower.

 

(b)          Mandatory Prepayments. In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by the Borrower or any other Loan Party in respect of any Prepayment Event, (x) the Borrower shall furnish the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof pursuant to Section 2.7(c) and (y) within five (5) Business Days of receipt of such Net Proceeds, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, in respect of the principal of the Loans, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders:

 

(i)         in the case of a Prepayment Event described in clause (a) of the definition thereof, an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds; provided that, with respect to this clause (i), if the Borrower or any other Loan Party invests (or commits to invest) the Net Proceeds from such Prepayment Event (or a portion thereof) within three months after receipt of such Net Proceeds by the Borrower or such other Loan Party (including pursuant to any permitted acquisition, capital expenditures, acquisition of intellectual property and/or other investments permitted hereunder), then, at the option of the Borrower, no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this clause (i) in respect of such Net Proceeds in respect of such Prepayment Event (or, the applicable portion of such Net Proceeds, if applicable) except to the extent of the amount of any such Net Proceeds therefrom that have not been so invested (or committed to be invested) by the end of such three-month period (or if committed to be so invested within such three-month period, have not been so invested within three months after the end of the initial three-month period), at which time a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to 100% of the amount of such Net Proceeds that have not been so invested (or committed to be invested); provided, further that (x) the Borrower may elect to deem expenditures that otherwise would be permissible investments that occur prior to receipt of the Net Proceeds from such Prepayment Event to have been invested in accordance with the provisions hereof (it being agreed that such deemed expenditure shall have been made no earlier than the earliest of (A) notice of such intended Prepayment Event, (B) execution of a definitive agreement for such Prepayment Event (if applicable) and (C) consummation of such Prepayment Event) and (y) for the avoidance of doubt, during such reinvestment period, notwithstanding any further prepayment obligations arising from this clause (i), the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, utilize such Net Proceeds for purposes not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement; and

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(ii)        in the case of a Prepayment Event described in clause (b) of the definition thereof, an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the amount of such Net Proceeds.

 

(c)          Notification and Application of Prepayments. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by email or other written transmission of any voluntary prepayment of the Loans under Section 2.7(a) not later than the deadline set forth in Section 2.7(a). By no later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time), three (3) Business Days prior to any prepayment of the Loans under Section 2.7(b), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by email or other written transmission, and include the amount of the applicable prepayment. Promptly following Receipt of any notice of prepayment, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the contents thereof, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Term Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

 

(d) Repayment of Loans.

 

(i)         If, as of any Payment Date, the Scheduled Amortization Amount is greater than 0, the Borrower shall be obligated to, and shall, make repayments of outstanding Loans on such Payment Date, in accordance with the Priority of Payments, in an amount equal to the amount allocated under clause sixth of the Priority of Payments. To the extent not previously paid, on the Maturity Date for the Loans, the Borrower shall repay Loans in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding on such date.

 

(ii)        On each Payment Date, the Borrower shall be obligated to, and shall, make repayments of outstanding Loans in accordance with the Priority of Payments, in an amount equal to the amount allocated under clause eighth of the Priority of Payments. To the extent not previously paid, on the Maturity Date for the Loans, the Borrower shall repay Loans in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding on such date.

 

(e) [Reserved.]

 

(f)          All prepayments of the Term Loans pursuant to Sections 2.7(a) or 2.7(b) shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the date of prepayment, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.2.

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2.8          Priority of Payments. On each Payment Date, funds on deposit in the Facility Collection Account and, to the extent there is any shortfall on payment of any interest, funds on deposit in the Interest Reserve Account (collectively, the “Available Funds”) shall be allocated and distributed by the Account Bank in accordance with the Manager Report, pursuant to the following priorities (the “Priority of Payments”) (provided, however, the amounts received by the Borrower pursuant to the Interest Rate Protection Agreement shall be allocated and distributed first to clause (c) and thereafter to priorities following clause (c)):

 

(a)          first, without duplication, in each case to the extent applicable on such Payment Date, pro rata and pari passu (A) to the Administrative Agent for payment of Administrative Agent Fees and other fees, costs, expenses and indemnities owing to the Administrative Agent as of such Payment Date pursuant to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, (B) to the Account Bank for payment of the Account Bank Fees and other costs, expenses and indemnities owing to the Account Bank pursuant to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and (C) to the Facility Agent for payment of the Facility Agent Fees and other costs, expenses and indemnities owing to the Facility Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents;

 

(b) second, [reserved];

 

(c)          third, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders and the Eligible Hedge Counterparties, pro rata and pari passu, in respect of interest due as of such Payment Date with respect to the Loans, as to the Lenders, and, as to the Eligible Hedge Counterparties, the net payments due and payable by any Loan Party under the relevant Permitted Hedge Agreements (other than termination amounts owed with respect to any Eligible Hedge Counterparties);

 

(d)          fourth, to the Manager, the Management Fee with respect to the preceding Collection Period;

 

(e)          fifth, so long as no Rapid Amortization Event or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the Interest Reserve Account until the amount on deposit therein equals the Interest Reserve Required Amount as of such Payment Date;

 

(f)          sixth, pro rata and pari passu (i) to the extent required pursuant to Section 2.7(d), to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders to pay the Scheduled Amortization Amounts in respect of principal and (ii) to the Eligible Hedge Counterparties, any termination payments owed by any Loan Party in connection with any relevant Permitted Hedge Agreement;

 

(g) seventh, to the Manager, Permitted Tax Distributions;

 

(h)          eighth, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders to pay the Scheduled Cash Sweep Percentage of any remaining Available Funds in the Facility Collection Account to the Lenders, pro rata, in respect of principal;

 

(i) ninth, [reserved];
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(j)           tenth, solely to the extent a Rapid Amortization Event is then continuing, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders to pay 100% of any remaining Available Funds in the Facility Collection Account to the Lenders, pro rata, in respect of principal;

 

(k)          eleventh, to the Manager, for reimbursement for any advance made by the Manager, along with the interest payable thereon;

 

(l)           twelfth, pro rata and pari passu, to the Secured Parties, any other amounts constituting Secured Obligations then due and payable but not paid in accordance with the clauses above; and

 

(m)         thirteenth, any remaining Available Funds, to the Loan Account or to such other account or location as may be directed by the Borrower (including, at the direction of the Manager or the Borrower, to the Collections Account), or distributed to any direct or indirect parent company of Borrower.

 

2.9 [Reserved].

 

2.10 Grant of Security Interest; Collateral.

 

(a)          To secure the timely payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, each Loan Party hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the other Beneficiaries, a continuing security interest (the “Security Interest”) in, and Lien upon, and pledges to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the other Beneficiaries, all of such Loan Party’s right, title and interest in, to and under all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Loan Party or in which such Loan Party now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest:

 

(i) the Account Collateral;

 

(ii) (x) all Subject Assets and (y) all the personal property of such Loan Party, including, but not limited to:

 

(A) all Equipment (as defined in the UCC);

 

(B) all Fixtures (as defined in the UCC);

 

(C) all Documents (as defined in the UCC);

 

(D) all Accounts (as defined in the UCC);

 

(E) all Inventory (as defined in the UCC);

 

(F) all Goods (as defined in the UCC);

 

(G) all Commercial Tort Claims (as defined in the UCC);
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(H)        all General Intangibles (as defined in the UCC), including any limited liability company or other ownership interests which are not “securities” as provided under Section 8-103 of the UCC;

 

(I)         all Investment Property (as defined in the UCC), excluding Pledged Collateral pledged pursuant to clause (iii) below;

 

(J)         all Money, cash, cash equivalents, Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts (each as defined in the UCC), including the Reserve Accounts, each Collections Account and the Loan Account;

 

(K) all Chattel Paper (as defined in the UCC);

 

(L) all Instruments (as defined in the UCC);

 

(M)        to the extent not otherwise included, (1) the Management Agreement, the Hedge Agreements and the other Transaction Documents and (2) any and all rights, remedies and proceeds under the foregoing and derived therefrom (including all rights to payment thereunder, if any);

 

(N)        all books and records pertaining to the foregoing Collateral described in this clause (ii); and

 

(O)        to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds (as defined in the UCC) and products of the foregoing and all supporting obligations, collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing (all of the foregoing described in this clause (ii), collectively, the “Article 9 Collateral”); and

 

(iii)        (A) the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by such Loan Party, including, without limitation, any such Equity Interests set forth on Schedule 2.10, (B) any additional Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Loan Party, (C) all of its voting rights in respect of such Equity Interests owned by it, (D) the certificates, if any, representing such Equity Interests and any interest of it on the books and records of the issuer of such Equity Interests or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such Equity Interest, (E) any Instruments, debt securities and promissory notes issued to or otherwise acquired by such Loan Party and (F) all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or Proceeds (as defined in the UCC) from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such Equity Interests and Investments (collectively, the “Pledged Collateral”, and together with the Article 9 Collateral and the Account Collateral, the “Collateral”);

 

provided, that in no event shall the Security Interest attach to any right, title or interest of any Loan Party in, to or under any Excluded Property (it being understood that, to the extent the Security Interest shall not have attached to any such asset as a result of such asset being an Excluded Property, the term “Collateral” shall not include such asset); provided, however, that the Security Interest shall immediately attach to, and the Collateral shall immediately include, any such asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion) ceasing to be Excluded Property.

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(b)          Each Loan Party has full right and power to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the other Beneficiaries, a perfected, first-priority security interest in and Lien on the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, subject to the terms of this Section 2.10. This Agreement is effective to create a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on, and security interest in, the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the UCC, and, subject to the terms of this Section 2.10 and the satisfaction of the applicable perfection actions with respect to the Security Interest, the Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected Lien on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations to the extent required by this Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and upon (i) filing of the necessary and appropriate financing statements with the office of the Secretary of State or other appropriate office of the state of organization of each applicable Loan Party, (ii) delivery of all Instruments, Chattel Paper and certificated Equity Interests and pledged indebtedness, in each case together with instruments of transfer executed in blank, (iii) execution of the applicable Account Control Agreement establishing the Administrative Agent’s “control” (within the meaning of Section 8-106, 9-106 or 9-104 of the UCC, as applicable) with respect to the Controlled Accounts, (iv) recordation and/or filing of the Security Interest granted hereunder in patents, trademarks and copyrights in the applicable intellectual property registries, including but not limited to the filing of appropriate assignments, notices or appropriate filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, without any further action, the Administrative Agent will have a good, valid and first-priority perfected Lien and security interest in the personal property and Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens. As of the Closing Date, no financing statement relating to any of the Collateral, as applicable, is on file in any public office except those on behalf of the Administrative Agent and those related to the Permitted Liens. As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party is party to any agreement, document or instrument that conflicts with this Section 2.10.

 

(c)          Each Loan Party hereby authorizes, but does not obligate, the Administrative Agent (or its designee) to prepare and file financing statements (including transmitting utility financing statements) provided for by the UCC (which financing statements may describe the Collateral as “all assets” of the Loan Parties) and to take such other action as may be required, in the Administrative Agent’s or Requisite Lenders’ judgment, in order to perfect and to continue the perfection of Administrative Agent’s security interests in the Collateral, as applicable, unless prohibited by Applicable Law.

 

(d)          The Borrower agrees that it will take any or all steps in order for Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, to obtain control in accordance with Sections 8-106, 9-104, 9-105, 9-106, and 9-107 of the UCC with respect to all of its Pledged Accounts and Pledged Collateral that constitute Collateral. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and provided the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) shall have provided five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower (solely for an Event of Default that is not a Specified Event of Default, and a Specified Event of Default shall not require any prior written notice to the Borrower), the Administrative Agent may notify any bank or securities intermediary to liquidate the applicable Pledged Account or any related investment property maintained or held thereby and remit the proceeds thereof to the Administrative Agent.

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(e)          At any time upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, the Loan Parties shall execute or deliver to the Administrative Agent, any and all financing statements, security agreements, pledges, assignments, written description of such commercial tort claims, endorsements of certificates of title, and all other documents (collectively, the “Additional Documents”) that the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders may request in its reasonable discretion, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), to create, perfect, continue or improve the priority of the Administrative Agent’s Liens in the Collateral of the Loan Parties (whether now owned or hereafter arising or acquired, tangible or intangible, real or personal). To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Loan Party authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute any such Additional Documents in such Loan Party’s name and authorizes the Administrative Agent to file such executed Additional Documents in any appropriate filing office.

 

(f)          ​

 

(i)         Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, and provided the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) shall have provided five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower (solely for an Event of Default that is not a Specified Event of Default, and a Specified Event of Default shall not require any prior written notice to the Borrower), all rights of the applicable Loan Parties to exercise or refrain from exercising the voting and other consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the applicable Organizational Documents in respect of the Pledged Collateral, as well as the rights of such Loan Party to receive any distributions, payments or other proceeds on the applicable Pledged Collateral, shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent who shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights, as well as rights to receive any distributions, payments or other proceeds on such Pledged Collateral, as if it were the absolute owner thereof; provided that upon the cure or waiver of such Event of Default, the foregoing rights shall automatically and immediately, without any further action, revert to the applicable Loan Parties; and

 

(ii)        in order to permit the Administrative Agent to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it may be entitled to exercise pursuant hereto and to receive all dividends and other distributions which it may be entitled to receive hereunder, upon an Event of Default occurring and continuing, and provided the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) shall have provided five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower (solely for an Event of Default that is not a Specified Event of Default, and a Specified Event of Default shall not require any prior written notice to the Borrower), each Loan Party hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Loan Party and in the name of such Loan Party or in its own name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Section 2.10(f), to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.10(f); provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to so act except upon direction from the Requisite Lenders. Anything in this Section 2.10(f) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this Section 2.10(f) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) shall have provided five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower (solely for an Event of Default that is not a Specified Event of Default, and a Specified Event of Default shall not require any prior written notice to the Borrower). Each Loan Party acknowledges that the Administrative Agent may utilize the power of attorney set forth herein in connection therewith.

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(g)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (a) each applicable Loan Party shall remain liable for all obligations with respect to its applicable Collateral pledged hereunder and nothing contained herein is intended or shall be construed to be a delegation of duties to Administrative Agent or any Lender; provided that following any foreclosure or transfer in lieu thereof, such obligations and duties of ownership of the Collateral shall pass to the succeeding owner thereof, (b) each applicable Loan Party shall remain liable under each of the agreements with respect to its respective Collateral to perform all of the obligations undertaken by it thereunder all in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and provisions thereof, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation or liability under any of such agreements by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or any other document related thereto nor shall the Administrative Agent nor any Lender have any obligation to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by it or have any obligation to take any action to collect or enforce any rights under any agreement related to its respective Collateral, and (c) the exercise by the Administrative Agent of any of its rights hereunder shall not release any applicable Loan Party from any of its duties or obligations under such contracts or agreements.

 

2.11 Collateral Administration.

 

(a)          As and when determined by the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders in its or their reasonable discretion, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default or an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, may, at the Borrower’s expense, perform UCC, judgment, litigation, tax Lien and other similar searches, in any jurisdictions determined by Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders from time to time, against any Loan Party.

 

(b)          The Borrower, and Manager, as applicable, shall keep accurate and complete records of the Subject Assets and all payments and Collections thereon and shall submit such records to Administrative Agent on such periodic basis (and at least quarterly) as the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders may reasonably request. If requested by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), the Borrower, and each other Loan Party, as applicable, shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, formal written assignments or allonges, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), of any or all of the contracts related to the Subject Assets as the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) may reasonably request, together with copies of claims, invoices and/or other information related thereto.

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2.12        Power of Attorney. Each Loan Party, as applicable, hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably made, constituted and appointed the true and lawful attorney for such Loan Party (without requiring Administrative Agent to act as such) with full power of substitution to do the following upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (in each case, so long as the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) shall have provided five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower (solely for an Event of Default that is not a Specified Event of Default, and a Specified Event of Default shall not require any prior written notice to the Borrower) prior to taking any of the following actions): (i) endorse the name of the Borrower upon any and all checks, drafts, money orders and other instruments for the payment of money that are payable to the Borrower and constitute Collections on Subject Assets or other Accounts of the Borrower; (ii) execute and/or file in the name of such Loan Party any financing statements, amendments to financing statements, schedules to financing statements, releases or terminations thereof, assignments, instruments or documents that it is obligated to execute and/or file under any of the Transaction Documents (to the extent such Loan Party fails to so execute and/or file any of the foregoing within two (2) Business Days of the Administrative Agent’s written request or the time when such Loan Party is otherwise obligated to do so); and (iii) do such other and further acts and deeds in the name of such Loan Party that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary to enforce, make, create, maintain, continue, enforce or perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest, Lien or rights in any Collateral.

 

2.13 Release of Lien on Subject Assets.

 

(a)          Release Upon Sale. With respect to any Collateral or any Guarantor, in connection with a Disposition by any Loan Party of such Collateral (or in respect of any such Guarantor) in a Permitted Disposition of this Agreement (other than any such sale, transfer or other Disposition to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (it being understood and agreed that, in the case of a transfer among Loan Parties, the applicable Lien shall be released with respect to the transferor Loan Party to the extent such asset will be (substantially contemporaneously therewith) pledged by the transferee Loan Party)), the Security Interest and other Liens in such Collateral created by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, and any applicable Guaranty by such Guarantor, shall in each case be automatically released upon the consummation of any such sale, transfer or other Disposition. Upon such sale, transfer or other Disposition, the Administrative Agent shall (and the Lenders and Eligible Hedge Counterparties hereby irrevocably authorize and direct the Administrative Agent to), upon receipt of the related Net Proceeds thereof for prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Agreement, (x) deliver to the Borrower (at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense), any evidence of release, satisfaction, discharge and/or termination agreements or similar instruments or filings reasonably requested by the Borrower and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to evidence in the public record such automatic release and (y) return any applicable Collateral to the Borrower, or any other Loan Party, as applicable; provided, that prior to delivery of any such evidence of release, satisfaction, discharge and/or termination from the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that such release, satisfaction, discharge and/or termination, as applicable, is permitted under the Transaction Documents and this Section 2.13(a) (and the Lenders and Eligible Hedge Counterparties hereby authorize and direct the Administrative Agent to rely on such certificate in performing its obligations under this Section 2.13(a)).

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(b) [Reserved].

 

(c)          Release Upon Termination of Transaction Documents. On the Termination Date, the security interests and other Liens in all the Collateral created by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, and the Guaranty by each Guarantor, shall in each case be automatically and irrevocably terminated and released. Promptly upon such termination and release, at the request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall (and Lenders and Eligible Hedge Counterparties hereby irrevocably authorize and direct Administrative Agent to) (i) execute and deliver such documents, at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense, as are reasonably requested by the Borrower to evidence such automatic termination and release and (ii) return the Collateral to the Borrower, or any other Loan Party, as applicable; provided, however, that the parties agree that, notwithstanding any such termination or release or the execution, delivery or filing of any such documents or the return of any Collateral, if and to the extent that any such payment made or received with respect to the Obligations is subsequently invalidated, determined to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, defeased or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver, common law or equitable cause or any other Applicable Law, then the Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment shall be revived and shall continue as if such payment had not been received by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have made any representation or warranty with respect to any Collateral so delivered except that such Collateral is free and clear, on the date of such delivery, of any and all Liens arising from the Administrative Agent’s own acts.

 

(d)          Release as Permitted by Transaction Documents. At the Borrower’s sole cost and expense, promptly upon receipt of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower confirming that any conditions under the Transaction Documents pursuant to which Collateral may be released from the Lien under the Transaction Documents (and/or any Guarantor released from its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents) has been met, the Administrative Agent shall (and the Lenders and Eligible Hedge Counterparties hereby irrevocably authorize and direct Administrative Agent to) (x) deliver any necessary documents to the Borrower or its designee to evidence such termination and release and (y) return any applicable Collateral to the Borrower, or any other Loan Party, as applicable; provided that such release documents may be delivered to an escrow agent acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for release to the Borrower or its designee immediately following the Administrative Agent’s confirmation that such conditions have been satisfied (or the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the certificate of the Borrower, as applicable), as reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

2.14 [Reserved.]
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2.15 Payments Generally.

 

(a)          The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it under any Transaction Document (whether of principal, interest, fees or other amounts) on or prior to the time expressly required hereunder or under such other Transaction Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, on or prior to 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without setoff or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to such account as may be specified by the Administrative Agent, except that payments pursuant to Section 3.2, Section 12.4 and Section 12.7 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other Transaction Documents shall be made to the Persons specified therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment (other than payments on the SOFR Loans) under any Transaction Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a SOFR Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day (other than any such payment due and payable on the Maturity Date which shall be governed by, and subject to, Section 1.5), the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate for the period of such extension. All payments under each Transaction Document shall be made in Dollars.

 

(b)          If at any time insufficient funds are received by, and available to, the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, subject to Section 2.8 hereof, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties (with such amounts being applied to fees prior to interest), and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

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

 

2.16 Contribution of Additional Assets

 

(a)          Contribution of Additional Assets. From time to time the Manager may, but is not required to, effect additional Subject Asset Transfers as additional Collateral for the Secured Obligations; provided that in connection with each such Subject Asset Transfer, (i) the Person that is the transferee with respect to the applicable Additional Asset either (x) is an Asset Entity party hereto or (y) concurrently therewith, executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent, a Joinder Agreement to become an Assent Entity and party hereto as a Loan Party and (ii) immediately after giving effect thereto, the Manager’s reasonable estimate of the Securitized Net Cash Flow attributable to such proposed additional Collateral, as delivered to the Administrative Agent by the Manager, shall be included on a Pro Forma Basis as “Securitized Net Cash Flow” for all purposes under this Agreement (including with respect to determining compliance with any LTV Ratio or DSCR test hereunder).

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III. FEES AND OTHER CHARGES

 

3.1 [Reserved].

 

3.2 Yield Protection and Illegality.

 

(a) Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy.

 

(i)         If any Change in Law shall (A) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or (B) subject any Lender to any Taxes (other than (x) Taxes indemnified pursuant to Section 13.8, (y) Taxes that are excluded from indemnification by reason of Section 13.8(g) or (i), or (z) any Connection Income Taxes on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto, and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining the Term Loans (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Term Loans) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

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(iii)       A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, as the case may be, as specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, shall be delivered to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof; provided that with respect to any notice given to the Borrower under this Section 3.2 the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to pay any amount with respect to any period prior to the date that is nine (9) months prior to such notice; provided, further, if the Change in Law giving rise to such Increased Costs is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. A Lender will, within a reasonable period of time after the officer of such Lender having primary responsibility for administering the Loan becomes aware of the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that would entitle such Lender to receive payments under this Section 3.2, to avoid or reduce any increased or additional costs or any other amounts payable by Borrowers under this Section 3.2, to the extent not inconsistent with the internal policies of such Lender and any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts to (i) make, issue, fund or maintain its portion of the Term Loan through another office of such Lender, or (ii) take such other measures as such Lender may deem reasonable, if as a result thereof the circumstances which would cause the additional amounts which would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender pursuant to this Section 3.2 to be materially reduced and if, as determined by such Lender in its reasonable discretion, the making, issuing, funding or maintaining of its portion of the Term Loan through such other office or in accordance with such other measures, as the case may be, would not otherwise adversely affect the interests of such Lender.

 

(iv)       Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided, however, Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.2 for any increased costs or reductions or other amounts suffered more than sixty (60) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies Borrower of the event or the existence of a condition that would entitle such Lender to receive payments under this Section 3.2.

 

(b)          Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Applicable Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender to continue to make Term Loans or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Term SOFR Reference Rate, such Lender shall give notice thereof to Borrower through Administrative Agent. Upon Receipt of such notice, Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to Administrative Agent), either (i) prepay in full all Term Loans owing to such Lender, either on the next succeeding Payment Date in respect of thereof, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain Term Loans until such date, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to do so, or (ii) at the option of Borrower, pay interest on such Lender’s Term Loans at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate (determined without giving effect to clause (c) thereof) (taking into account any increased cost to such Lender of continuing to maintain Term Loans). Upon any such prepayment, Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid, but such prepayment shall not be subject to any prepayment penalty or fee.

 

(c)          Inability to Determine Rates. If (x) Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) determines that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist (other than as a result of a Benchmark Transition Event in respect of which a Benchmark Replacement for Term SOFR has been implemented in accordance with the terms hereof) for determining Term SOFR for any period for any Term Loans, or (y) the Requisite Lenders determine that Term SOFR with respect to any period for any Term Loans does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of maintaining such Term Loans, Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) will promptly so notify Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the Term Loans shall bear interest at the Base Rate (determined without giving effect to clause (c) thereof) until Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) determines that the conditions giving rise to such change no longer exist.

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(d)          Funding Losses. Upon demand, from time to time, of any Lender (with a copy to Administrative Agent), Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for, and hold such Lender harmless from, any loss and any cost or expense incurred by it as a result of any payment or prepayment of any Term Loan (whether by reason of acceleration or otherwise) on a day other than a Payment Date, the Maturity Date, or on the date specified in a notice of prepayment issued in accordance with Section 2.7(c), including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to purchase, hold or make Term Loans or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by Borrower to any Lender under this Section 3.2(d), such Lender shall be deemed to have funded Term Loans at the Applicable Margin thereto by a matching deposit or other borrowing for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not the Term Loans were in fact so funded; in each case, provided, that such Lender delivers to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a certificate showing in reasonable detail the calculations used in determining the amounts payable by the Borrower under this Section 3.2(d).

 

3.3 Fees.

 

(a)          Closing Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to each Lender, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Fee Letter.

 

(b)          Administrative Agent Fees / Account Bank Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to (i) the Administrative Agent, for its own account and (ii) the Account Bank, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the UMB Fee Letter.

 

(c)          Facility Agent Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Facility, on its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Facility Agent Fee Letter.

 

IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

4.1          Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to fund its Closing Date Loans shall become effective on the first date on which each of the following conditions precedent are satisfied (or waived) to the satisfaction of 100% of the Lenders (such date, the “Closing Date”):

 

(a)          subject to the last paragraph of this Section 4.1, the Facility Agent (or its counsel) and the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received fully executed copies of this Agreement and each other Closing Date Transaction Document;

 

(b)          subject to the last paragraph of this Section 4.1, the Facility Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) a report of UCC financing statement, tax, judgment and litigation Lien searches performed with respect to each Loan Party in such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, as applicable, and/or the State(s) of operation of the Wellbores constituting Subject Assets, and such report shall show no Liens on the Collateral (other than Permitted Liens) and (ii) each document (including, without limitation, drafts of any UCC financing statement) required by any Closing Date Transaction Document to be filed, registered or recorded to create, in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, a first priority and perfected security interest upon the Collateral that constitutes personal property and a perfected security interest upon the Collateral that constitutes fixtures;

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(c)          the Facility Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a certificate of (or on behalf of) each Loan Party, dated on or prior to the Closing Date and executed by a secretary, assistant secretary or other senior officer (as the case may be) thereof, which shall (i) certify that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of each Organizational Document of each applicable Loan Party, certified by the appropriate governmental office; (ii) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of (x) the officers, managers, directors or authorized signatories of such Loan Party authorized to sign the applicable Transaction Documents to which it is a party on the Closing Date and/or (y) the individuals to whom such officers, managers, directors or other authorized signatories of such Loan Party have granted powers of attorney to sign such Transaction Documents; (iii) certify that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the resolutions (or other evidence of authorization acceptable to the Facility Agent) of the board of directors or similar governing body of each such Loan Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and that such resolutions (or other evidence of authorization) have not been modified, rescinded or amended (other than as attached thereto) and are in full force and effect as of the Closing Date; and (iv) attach thereto a good standing certificate for each applicable Loan Party as of a recent date from the applicable Governmental Authority of such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation;

 

(d)          the Facility Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a customary written opinion of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, in its capacity as special counsel to the Loan Parties, (x) dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (y) in substance reasonably satisfactory to the Facility Agent;

 

(e)          immediately after giving effect to the borrowing of the Closing Date Loans hereunder, no “Default” or “Event of Default” (each as defined in the RBL Credit Agreement) shall have occurred or be continuing under the RBL Credit Agreement on account of the consummation of the Transactions;

 

(f)          prior to (or substantially concurrently with) the initial funding of the Loans hereunder, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received (i) all fees required to be paid by the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the Transaction Documents (including pursuant to Section 3.3) and (ii) all expenses required to be paid by the Borrower for which reasonably detailed invoices have been presented at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such shorter period agreed among the Borrower and the applicable Lender or Administrative Agent) (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Milbank LLP in its capacity as legal counsel for the Lenders and Alston & Bird LLP in its capacity as legal counsel for the Administrative Agent and Account Bank), in each case, which amounts, in the Borrower’s sole discretion, may be offset against the proceeds of the Loans (other than amounts consisting of fees and expenses owing to the Administrative Agent and Account Bank or their legal counsel) or may be paid from the proceeds of the Loans, and the Administrative Agent and the Account Bank shall have received a fully executed copy of the UMB Fee Letter;

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(g)         the Facility Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a customary written opinion of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, in its capacity as special counsel to the Loan Parties, with respect to non-consolidation and true sale in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Facility Agent;

 

(h)         the Facility Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a solvency certificate dated as of the Closing Date in substantially the form of Exhibit C from the chief financial officer (or other officer with reasonably equivalent responsibilities) of Holdings or the Borrower certifying as to the matters set forth therein;

 

(i)          the Facility Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a risk retention letter agreement dated as of the Closing Date in substantially the form of Exhibit D from Diversified Production (the “Risk Retention Letter”);

 

(j)          the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) (for distribution by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and each other Agent) shall have received a Funding Direction Letter from the Borrower for the Closing Date Loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Maximum Loan Amount; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the aggregate amount of the Closing Date Loans funded on the Closing Date may be reduced by the Borrower in its sole discretion in satisfaction of the condition set forth in this clause;

 

(k)         the Facility Agent (or its counsel) (on behalf of the Lenders) and the Administrative Agent shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such shorter period agreed among the Borrower and the applicable Lender or Administrative Agent), (x) all documentation and other information about the Loan Parties that is reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such shorter period agreed among the Borrower and the applicable Lender or Administrative Agent) and is required by United States regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation Title III of the Patriot Act and (y) if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulations, a Beneficial Ownership Certification (limited to a single LSTA form beneficial ownership certification) in relation to the Borrower, so long as such information is requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such shorter period agreed among the Borrower and the applicable Lender or Administrative Agent);

 

(l)          on or prior to the Closing Date, the termination of the Existing Joint Operating Agreement and the execution and delivery to the Facility Agent (or its counsel) of the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent;

 

(m)        on or prior to the Closing Date, the execution and delivery to the Facility Agent (or its counsel) of the Management Agreement; and

 

(n)         immediately after giving effect to the borrowing of the Closing Date Loans, the Minimum DSCR Condition shall be satisfied.

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For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.1, each Lender that has delivered an executed signature page to this Agreement shall be deemed to have received, consented to, approved accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be received, consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein or in any other Transaction Document to the contrary, to the extent any lien search or, if applicable, Collateral (including the creation or perfection of any security interest) is not or cannot be provided on the Closing Date (other than, if applicable, the perfection of Liens on Collateral that may be perfected by the filing of financing statements under the UCC (including both “all assets” UCC-1 financing statements in the jurisdictions of organization of the Loan Parties and “transmitting utility” UCC financing statements in the jurisdiction of operation of the applicable Asset Entity) and the delivery of stock certificates of the Borrower and each Asset Entity (in each case, to the extent certificated) evidencing the Equity Interests required to be pledged pursuant to this Agreement with respect to which a Lien may be perfected by the delivery of a stock or equivalent certificate) after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so without undue burden or expense, then the provision of any such lien search and/or Collateral (including the creation or perfection of any security interest) shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability or funding of the Closing Date Loans on the Closing Date, but may instead be provided within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date pursuant to arrangements reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) or the Requisite Lenders (including pursuant to Section 6.20), in each case subject to such extensions as are reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) and/or the Requisite Lenders.

 

V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Loan Party, as applicable, represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Account Bank and each Secured Party, as of the Closing Date and each Credit Date, as follows:

 

5.1 Organization, Powers, Capitalization, Good Standing, Business.

 

(a)          Organization and Powers. It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the law of the jurisdiction in which such entity was organized and it has the full power and authority under its Organizational Documents to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, and to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use.

 

(b)          Qualification. It is duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction where necessary to carry on its present businesses and operations, except in jurisdictions in which the failure to be qualified and in good standing has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.2          Authorization of Borrowing, Authority, etc.. It has the power and authority to incur or guarantee the Indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by it of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company, corporate or other action, as the case may be.

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(a)          No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by it of the Transaction Documents to which each is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby do not: (1) contravene (x) any provision of its applicable Organizational Documents or any resolution adopted by any of its board of directors, managers, partners, stockholders, members or partners, as applicable, (y) in any material respect any provision of law applicable to it (except where such violation will not cause a Material Adverse Effect) or (z) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority binding on it or any of its property (except where such violation will not cause a Material Adverse Effect); (2) result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any contractual obligation binding upon it or its property (except where such breach or default will not cause a Material Adverse Effect); or (3) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than the Lien of the Transaction Documents or any other Permitted Lien) upon its assets.

 

(b)          Consents. The execution and delivery by it of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby do not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Governmental Authority or any other Person which has not been obtained or made and is in full force and effect, other than any of the foregoing the failure to have made or obtained which will not cause a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)          Binding Obligations. This Agreement is, and each of the other Transaction Documents to which such Loan Party is a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party will be, the legally valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against it in accordance with its respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

5.3          Subject Assets. Each of the Loan Parties has an interest in the Subject Assets, held by it, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens. Upon the filing of appropriate financing statements with the office of the Secretary of State or other appropriate office of the state of organization of the applicable Loan Party, (i) a perfected security interest in all personal property constituting Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest is created and may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in such office will, upon such filing be a perfected first-priority security interests in and to such personal property in connection therewith and upon the filing of appropriate financing statements with the appropriate office of the state in which the fixtures are located, (ii) a perfected security interest in all fixtures constituting Collateral in which a security interest is created and may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in such office will, upon such filing be a perfected security interests in all such fixtures, in each case of (i) and (ii), subject only to Permitted Liens. There are (i) no proceedings in condemnation or eminent domain affecting any of the Subject Assets, and to the Knowledge of the Loan Parties, none is threatened, that in either case would individually or in the aggregate cause a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) no mechanic’s, materialman’s or other similar liens or claims which have been filed for work, labor or materials affecting the Subject Assets the effect of which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Permitted Liens, in the aggregate, do not (w) materially interfere with the benefits of the security intended to be provided by the UCC financing statements and this Agreement, (x) materially and adversely affect the value of the Subject Assets taken as a whole, (y) materially impair the use or operations of the Subject Assets or (z) materially impair the Loan Parties’ ability to pay their respective obligations in a timely manner.

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5.4 Subject Asset Related Agreements.

 

(a)          Subject Asset Related Agreements. The Loan Parties have delivered to the Lenders a list of all material agreements affecting the operation and management of the Subject Assets as in effect on the Closing Date, and such material agreements have not been modified or amended, except pursuant to amendments or modifications made available to the Administrative Agent. Except for the rights of the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement and the rights of the Operator pursuant to the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement, no Person has any right or obligation to manage any of the Subject Assets on behalf of the Loan Parties or to receive compensation in connection with such management.

 

(b)          Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement. The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date, and such Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement has not been modified or amended, except pursuant to amendments or modifications delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Subject Asset Joint Operating Management Agreement is in full force and effect and no default by any of the parties thereto exists thereunder.

 

(c)          Management Agreement. The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of the Management Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date, and such Management Agreement has not been modified or amended, except pursuant to amendments or modifications delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Management Agreement is in full force and effect and no default by any of the parties thereto exists thereunder.

 

5.5          Litigation; Adverse Facts. There are no judgments outstanding against the Loan Parties, or affecting any of the Subject Assets or any property of the Loan Parties, nor to the Loan Parties’ Knowledge is there any action, charge, claim, demand, suit, proceeding, petition, governmental investigation or arbitration now pending or threatened in writing against the Loan Parties, respectively, or any of the Subject Assets that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.6          Payment of Taxes. All federal, state, provincial, territorial, local and foreign tax returns and reports of the Borrower and each other Loan Party required to be filed have been timely filed (or each such Person has timely filed for an extension and the applicable extension has not expired), and all taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges (including any payments in lieu of taxes) upon such Persons and upon their respective properties, assets, income, profits, businesses and franchises which are due and payable have been timely paid except to the extent (i) the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and as to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP or (ii) the effect of the failure to file such tax returns and reports or to pay such taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

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5.7         Performance of Agreements; No Material Adverse Effect. To the Borrower’s Knowledge, neither the Borrower nor the Loan Parties are in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any contractual obligation of any such Persons which would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.8         Compliance with Law; ERISA. Each Loan Party is in compliance with all material Applicable Laws except where failure to do so, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party has received any written notice that such Loan Party is not in material compliance in any respect with any of the requirements of any of the foregoing. No Loan Party has established, nor does it maintain or contribute to any “benefit plan” that is covered by Title IV of ERISA.

 

5.9         Governmental Regulation. None of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time. The Borrower does not constitute a “covered fund” within the meaning of the final regulations issued on December 10, 2013, implementing Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010), also known as the Volcker Rule.

 

5.10 [Reserved].

 

5.11       Employee Benefit Plans. The Loan Parties do not maintain or contribute to, or have any obligation (including any Contingent Obligation) under, any Employee Benefit Plans.

 

5.12       Solvency. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, Holdings and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent; provided that this representation shall be satisfied by delivery of the certificate described in Section 4.1(h).

 

5.13       Use of Proceeds and Margin Security. No portion of the proceeds of the Term Loans shall be used by the Borrower or, to the Knowledge of the Borrower any other Person, to purchase or carry any “Margin Stock” (as such term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof) or to refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or for any other purpose, in each case in a manner that constitutes a violation of the provisions of Regulations U or X of the Board of Governors.

 

5.14 [Reserved].

 

5.15       Investments; Ownership of the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties have no (i) direct or indirect Equity Interest in any other Person (other than any other Loan Party) or (ii) direct or indirect loan, advance or capital contribution to any other Person (other than another Loan Party or disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Requisite Lenders in writing after the Closing Date). Schedule 5.15 (as may be updated from time to time by the Borrower to reflect any new Loan Parties) correctly sets forth (x) the direct holders of the ownership interests of the Borrower and each of the other Loan Parties and (y) the respective Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties.

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5.16        Environmental Compliance. Except to the extent the effect of the following representations not being true would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: the Subject Assets are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; no written notice of violation of such Environmental Laws has been issued by any Governmental Authority which has not been resolved; and no Hazardous Materials are present at the Subject Assets, except in quantities that do not violate applicable Environmental Laws.

 

5.17        Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. (a) None of the Loan Parties nor any director, officer, nor to their Knowledge, any agent, employee or Affiliate or other person acting on behalf of such Loan Party is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the Governments of the United States, United Kingdom, or European Union and any European Union member states, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (collectively, “Sanctions”); nor is such relevant entity located, organized or resident in a country or territory which is the target of comprehensive country or territory-wide sanctions, which presently includes Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Crimea, Syria, Afghanistan, occupied territories in “Kherson” region of Ukraine, occupied territories in “Zaporizhzhia” region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic; the Borrower shall not directly or knowingly indirectly make payments in violation of Sanctions and the Loan Parties (or the Manager on their behalf) maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, compliance with Sanctions.

 

(b)          None of the Loan Parties nor any Affiliate, director, officer, manager, member, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of such Loan Party, has in the past five (5) years (i) made any direct or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, indirect unlawful payment to any domestic governmental official or “foreign official” (as defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”)) in violation of the FCPA; (ii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA, the Bribery Act of 2010 of the United Kingdom or any applicable non-U.S. anti-bribery statute or regulation of any other jurisdiction in which it operates its business, including, in each case, the rules and regulations thereunder, in violation of such anti-bribery statutes or regulations; or (iii) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment in violation of the FCPA or applicable anti-bribery statutes or regulations; and the Loan Parties (or the Manager on their behalf) maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, compliance with the FCPA.

 

(c)          The operations of the Loan Parties are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the any of the Loan Parties with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened.

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5.18        Separate Legal Entity. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges that the Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty are entering into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents in reliance upon such Loan Party’s identity as a legal entity separate from any other Person. Each Loan Party has taken all reasonable steps to continue Borrower’s identity as a separate legal entity and to make it apparent to third Persons that such Loan Party is an entity with assets and liabilities distinct from those of any other Person, and is not a division of any other Person.

 

5.19        Financial Statements. All financial statements which have been furnished by or on behalf of the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.1(a) present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the Persons covered thereby in accordance with GAAP or otherwise as expressly set forth therein.

 

5.20        Accuracy of Disclosure. As of the Closing Date, to the Knowledge of the Borrower, no written information (other than customary financial statement forecasts of the Borrower and other forward-looking information (“Projections”), and information of a general economic or general industry specific nature) (such non-excluded items, the “Information”), in each case as modified or supplemented by supplements, updates and other information so furnished to the Lenders in connection with the Transactions, when taken as a whole, did not, when furnished, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made (in each case after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto from time to time); provided that, with respect to the Projections, the Loan Parties only represent such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable (at the time furnished), it being understood that (i) such Projections are predictions as to future events, and by their nature, are inherently uncertain and contingent and are not to be viewed as facts, (ii) such Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties, (ii) no assurances are being given that the results reflected in the Projections will be achieved and (iv) actual results during the period or periods covered thereby may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material.

 

5.21        Beneficial Ownership. The information included in the most recent Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to the Lenders with respect to the Borrower is true and correct in all material respects.

 

5.22        Risk Retention. To the Knowledge of the Borrower, the “SR Retention Holder” (as defined in the Risk Retention Letter) retains the SR Retained Interest (as defined in the Risk Retention Letter).

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VI.     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

From the Closing Date until the Termination Date, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor party hereto hereby covenants and agrees that:

 

6.1 Financial Statements, Reports and Other Information.

 

(a)          Manager Report; Financial Reports. Holdings shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, or cause to be furnished (or, in the case of clause (i) below, use reasonable best efforts to cause the Manager to furnish) to the Administrative Agent (for distribution by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders, each Eligible Hedge Counterparty, each other Agent and, in the case of clause (i) below, the Account Bank), each of the following:

 

(i)         after the end of each calendar month (commencing with the first full month after the Closing Date), and in any event at least three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Payment Date, a copy of the Manager Report for the month then ended (which Manager Report shall include an updated progress report on approval and non-approval of the Closing Date Subject Asset Transfers);

 

(ii)        within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Holdings (commencing with the first full fiscal quarter after the Closing Date), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related (x) unaudited consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (y) unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments; and

 

(iii)       within one-hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings (beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024), a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

 

(b)          Quarterly Compliance Certificate. No later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a)(ii) and (a)(iii), the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (for distribution by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, which Compliance Certificate shall set forth, as of the last day of the applicable fiscal quarter (i) the DSCR as of such date, (ii) the LTV Ratio as of such date and (iii) a statement of Securitized Net Cash Flow.

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(c) Notices.

 

(i)          The Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty), within three (3) Business Days of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or Holdings becoming aware thereof, notice of any matter (including in regard to any court suit or action) that has resulted in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect (including, to the extent resulting in, or would result in a Material Adverse Effect, (x) copies of any and all notices of a material default or breach which is reasonably expected to result in a termination of any material agreement to which it is a party (provided that, after and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty) copies of any and all notices of a material default or breach which is reasonably expected to result in a termination of any material agreement to which it is a party) and (y) copies of all notices received with respect to a default under any term or condition related to any Material Indebtedness of any Loan Party).

 

(ii)        The Borrower shall promptly, after any Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains Knowledge thereof, deliver to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty) notice of the occurrence of any event which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default hereunder.

 

(d)          Reserve Reports. The Borrower will be required to deliver, or to cause the Manager to deliver, to the Administrative Agent and each Commodity Hedge Counterparty (i) an updated Reserve Report within ninety (90) days of the commencement of each calendar year (which report shall be audited or prepared by an Independent Petroleum Engineer) and (ii) an updated Reserve Report within sixty (60) days of June 30 of each year (which report shall be internally prepared by the Borrower); provided, that the Borrower must deliver an updated Reserve Report within forty-five (45) days of any Permitted Disposition or combination of related Permitted Dispositions of an aggregate amount of Subject Assets exceeding 5% of the PV-10 of the Subject Assets as of the Closing Date (it being understood that (i) such updated Reserve Report may be the same report as the most recently delivered Reserve Report, rolled forward by or under the supervision of the Chief Operating Officer (or similarly titled position) of the Manager and (ii) to the extent a Reserve Report with respect to a Permitted Disposition or combination of related Permitted Dispositions has been so delivered to the Administrative Agent, the foregoing shall not require the delivery of an additional Reserve Report upon additional related Permitted Dispositions unless and until the aggregate amount of such additional related Permitted Dispositions exceeds 5% of the PV-10 of the Subject Assets as of the Closing Date), and, to the extent the Borrower, or the Manager on the Borrower’s behalf, in its discretion obtains an updated Reserve Report prior to any otherwise scheduled annually updated Reserve Report, the Borrower, or the Manager on the Borrower’s behalf, will be required to deliver each such updated Reserve Report to such persons promptly upon its receipt thereof. The Reserve Report shall be prepared by or under the supervision of the Chief Operating Officer (or similarly titled position) of the Manager, who shall certify such Reserve Report to be true and accurate and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding Reserve Report (and, with respect to the first Reserve Report delivered by the Borrower under this Agreement, the Transfer Agreement Reserve Report). With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and each Commodity Hedge Counterparty a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Manager certifying that in all material respects the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and correct, the Borrower owns good and defensible title to the Assets evaluated in such Reserve Report, such Assets are free of all Liens except for Permitted Liens and that, to the extent there has been a change in the Net Revenue Interest or Working Interest, that change is identified in an exhibit to the certificate. With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent, each Commodity Hedge Counterparty and each Rating Agency a report that shows any change, set forth to the eighth decimal place, in the Net Revenue Interest relating to the prior year or Working Interest relating to the prior year with respect to any Well from the Net Revenue Interest or Working Interest provided in the previous Reserve Report, and except to the extent already included in a report under this Section 6.1(d). The Administrative Agent shall promptly make any such Reserve Reports, certificates and other reports delivered pursuant to this Section 6.1 as well as any other documentation, notices, certificates or reports delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any other terms of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document available to the Lenders and the Commodity Hedge Counterparties by posting any such Reserve Reports, certificates or other reports delivered pursuant to this Section 6.1 or any such other documentation notices, certificates or reports delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any other terms of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, to its internet website located at “www.debtx.com.”

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Notwithstanding the foregoing (but subject to the immediately preceding sentence), the obligations in clause (a) of this Section 6.1 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of Holdings or any other Parent Company or (B) the Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions) of any Parent Company; provided that (x) to the extent such information relates to Holdings or any other Parent Company and such Person has material assets, operations or liabilities aside from its ownership of the Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or such other Parent Company), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand, (y) in the case of clause (B), the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility for, or obligation or duty with respect to, providing notice to the Lenders of any such filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions) and (z) where applicable, appropriate notation shall be made on such consolidated financial statements of such Parent Company to indicate the separateness of the Borrower and the Loan Parties from such Affiliates and to indicate that the Loan Parties’ assets and credit are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of such Parent Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, or anything herein or any other Transaction Document to the contrary, none of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof shall be required to disclose or provide any information (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective customers and/or suppliers, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any authorized representative designated by the Requisite Lenders is then prohibited by law or contract (not created in contemplation thereof), (iii) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product or (iv) in respect of which Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof owes confidentiality obligations to any third party.

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.1 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower (or any Parent Company thereof) posts such documents and provides a link thereto to the Administrative Agent, at the website address listed on Schedule 12.5 or such other website as may be identified in a written notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as long as the Borrower provides the Administrative Agent with a direct link to the site where such document is posted; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks or another relevant website (including without limitation the EDGAR website of the Securities and Exchange Commission), if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent), and with respect to which the Borrower has provided the Administrative Agent with a link thereto.

 

6.2          Payment of Obligations. Borrower shall make full and timely payment in cash of the principal of and interest on the Term Loans and each Loan Party shall make full and timely payment in cash of all other Obligations thereof when due and payable (other than contingent indemnification Obligations in respect of which no claim has been asserted).

 

6.3          Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence and Subject Assets. Each Loan Party shall (a) conduct its business in accordance with its Organizational Documents and its current business practices and in which failure to conduct its business in such a manner would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) maintain all of its Collateral used or useful in its business in good repair, working order and condition (normal wear and tear excepted and except as may be disposed of in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents) and in which failure to maintain such Collateral would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (c) from time to time to make all necessary repairs, renewals and replacements thereof and in which failure to make such repairs would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (d) maintain and keep in full force and effect (x) its existence and (y) all material Permits and qualifications to do business and good standing in its jurisdiction of formation and each other jurisdiction in which the ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such Permits or qualification necessary and in which failure to maintain such Permits or qualification would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (e) remain in good standing and maintain operations in all jurisdictions in which currently located, except where the failure to remain in good standing or maintain operations would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (g) maintain, comply with and keep in full force and effect its existence and all intellectual property and permits necessary to conduct its business, except in each case where the failure to maintain, comply with or keep in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.4          Compliance with Legal and Other Obligations. Except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Loan Party shall (a) comply with all Applicable Laws, (b) pay all taxes, assessments, fees, governmental charges, claims for labor, supplies, rent and all other obligations or liabilities of any kind when due and payable, except liabilities being contested in good faith and against which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, (c) perform, in all material respects, in accordance with its terms each contract, agreement or other arrangement to which it is a party or by which it or any of the Collateral is bound and (d) properly file all reports required to be filed with any Governmental Authority.

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6.5          Insurance. From and after the Closing Date, the Borrower will maintain (or cause to be maintained), with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to its properties (including all Subject Assets) and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles, co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated, and, within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date, the Issuer shall cause the Administrative Agent to be named as a loss payee or an additional insured. For the avoidance of doubt, any proceeds received by the Borrower or the Manager for the benefit of the Borrower with respect to any claim under such insurance policy shall be deemed to be Collections with respect to the Collection Period in which such proceeds are received and promptly, but in any event within two (2) Business Days, deposited into the Facility Collection Account.

 

6.6          True Books; Underlying Collateral Matters. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Manger to) (a) keep true, complete and accurate (in accordance with GAAP, except for the omission of footnotes and year-end adjustments in interim financial statements) books of record and account in accordance with commercially reasonable business practices in which true and correct entries are made of all of its dealings and transactions in all material respects; and (b) set up and maintain on its books such reserves as may be required by GAAP with respect to doubtful accounts and all taxes, assessments, charges, levies and claims and with respect to its business.

 

6.7 [Reserved].

 

6.8 Further Assurances; Additional Loan Parties.

 

(a)          At the Borrower’s reasonable cost and expense, each Loan Party shall after Administrative Agent’s or the Requisite Lenders’ written demand, take such further actions, obtain such consents and approvals and shall duly execute and deliver such further agreements, assignments, instructions or documents as Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders may request (in good faith) in its reasonable discretion in order to effectuate the express terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents, whether before, at or after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default or Event of Default.

 

(b)          The Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the creation or acquisition (including by division) of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, within fifteen (15) Business Days of such creation or acquisition, cause such Subsidiary to (A) become a Loan Party by guaranteeing the Guaranteed Obligations, and grant a security interest in all Collateral (subject to the exceptions specified herein) owned by such Subsidiary, by delivering to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Joinder Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) shall deem appropriate for such purpose, (B) deliver to the Administrative Agent such opinions, documents and certificates of the type referred to in Section 4.1 as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, (C) if the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary are certificated, deliver to the Administrative Agent such original certificated Equity Interests of such Person, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank, in each case as applicable, (D) deliver to the Administrative Agent an updated Schedule 2.10 to this Agreement as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders with respect to such Subsidiary and (E) deliver to the Administrative Agent such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders to create or perfect the security interest in the Collateral of such Subsidiary to the extent otherwise expressly required by the terms of this Agreement, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders).

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6.9          Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Term Loans (i) to finance all or a portion of the Transactions (including (x) pursuant to the Closing Date Distributions and/or (y) any fees required to be paid on or after the Closing Date and the payment of the other Transaction Costs) and (ii) for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

6.10        Performance of Agreements. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Loan Party to, duly and timely perform, observe and comply in all material respects with all of the terms, provisions, conditions, covenants and agreements on its part to be performed, observed and complied with (i) hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, (ii) under all material agreements related to the Subject Assets and (iii) all other agreements entered into or assumed by such Person in connection with the Subject Assets, and will not suffer or permit any material default or any event of default (giving effect to any applicable notice requirements and cure periods) to exist under any of the foregoing except where the failure to perform, observe or comply with any agreement referred to in clause (ii) or (iii) of this Section 6.10 would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party shall consent to any amendment, waiver or termination of, or with respect to, any Transaction Document (or any agreement which requires consent of any Loan Party to amend under the terms of any Transaction Document) without consent of the Administrative Agent and/or the Requisite Lenders, as applicable, if so required by Section 10.4.

 

6.11        Interest Reserve. The Borrower shall be required, as of the Closing Date and as of each Payment Date thereafter, to maintain on reserve in a segregated non-interest bearing trust account at Account Bank held in the name of Borrower, for the benefit of the Lenders (with account number ending in 3179.2 as of the Closing Date) (the “Interest Reserve Account”), an amount, determined as of the date of submission of the Funding Direction Letter and then as of the date of delivery of each Manager Report thereafter, equal to interest on the Facility for the succeeding six (6) months of interest, pro-forma for the then-current drawn amount as of such date of determination based on the less of (a) the amount of interest that would accrue on such pro-forma outstanding amount of Loans, assuming such Loans are Term SOFR Loans with an Interest Period of six (6) months commencing on such date of determination and (b) the amount of interest that would accrue on such pro-forma outstanding amount of Loans, assuming such Loans accrue interest at the applicable strike rate for the Interest Rate Protection Agreement as of such date of determination (the “Interest Reserve Required Amount”). Such Interest Reserve Account shall be funded in connection with each borrowing of Loans and refilled in accordance with the Priority of Payments as of each Payment Date to the extent the amount on deposit as of such date is less than the Interest Reserve Required Amount. The Borrower may deposit additional amounts into the Interest Reserve Account beyond the Interest Reserve Required Amount at its option on the Closing Date and thereafter from time to time prior to the first date of the Initial Step-Up Period. On any date that the amount on deposit in the Interest Reserve Account is greater than the Interest Reserve Required Amount, such excess amount may be withdrawn from the Interest Reserve Account in the Borrower’s (or the Manager’s on its behalf) discretion and deposited into the Facility Collection Account for distribution in accordance with the Priority of Payments on the next applicable Payment Date. In the event that on any Payment Date, the amount on deposit in the Facility Collection Account available pursuant to Section 2.8(c) is insufficient for the payment of accrued interest payable on such Payment Date, the Account Bank pursuant to the Manager Report shall withdraw from the Interest Reserve Account an amount equal to the lesser of (x) the amount of such insufficiency and (y) the amount on deposit therein, and shall apply such funds in accordance with Section 2.8(c).

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6.12        Cash Management Systems. (a) The Borrower shall at all times maintain the Interest Reserve Account and the Facility Collection Account with the Account Bank (each, a “Designated Account”). If any Designated Account ceases to be an Eligible Account, within forty-five (45) days (or such later date approved by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) or the Requisite Lenders) of obtaining Knowledge thereof, the Borrower shall (i) establish a new Interest Reserve Account and/or Facility Collection Account, as applicable, that is an Eligible Account and (ii) cause the depositary maintaining such new Interest Reserve Account and/or Facility Collection Account, as applicable, to assume the obligations of the existing Account Bank under this Agreement.

 

(b)          With respect to each Loan Party’s Collections Accounts existing as of the Closing Date, within the time period set forth on Schedule 6.20 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) or the Requisite Lenders may agree in their reasonable discretion) or, if opened following the Closing Date, within 45 days of the opening of such Collections Account (or such later date as the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) or the Requisite Lenders may agree in their reasonable discretion), (i) each Loan Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all payments received from any Account Debtor with respect to Accounts shall be deposited into such Collections Account promptly following receipt thereof (and no later than two (2) Business Days following receipt thereof), (ii) each Loan Party shall instruct (the “Collections Account Instruction”) each bank or other depository institution that maintains such Collections Account to cause all amounts on deposit and available at the close of business on each Friday of each calendar week in such Collections Account (net of any required minimum balance and solely to the extent the Manager has identified such amounts as constituting Collections) to be swept (including by wire transfer (or transfer via the ACH System)) to the Facility Collections Account every Business Day and (iii) each Loan Party shall obtain from each bank or other depository institution that maintains such Collections Account an Account Control Agreement with respect to such Collections Account that provides for such bank or other depository institution, following its receipt of a written notice of exclusive control from the Administrative Agent, at the instruction of the Requisite Lenders (it being understood that the Administrative Agent and the Requisite Lenders shall not provide and/or instruct the Administrative Agent to provide any such notice unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to comply with instructions originated by the Administrative Agent directing disposition of the funds in such Collections Account without further consent from any other Person (including the Borrower). From and after the dates required as set forth above, the Borrower shall ensure that the foregoing provisions of clauses (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) are satisfied in all material respects at all times; it being understood and agreed that if any Collections Account ceases to be a Controlled Account, within forty-five (45) days (or such later date approved by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) or the Requisite Lenders) of obtaining Knowledge thereof, the Borrower shall establish a new Collections Account that is a Controlled Account satisfying the requirements of this Section 6.12(b).

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(c)          The Loan Parties acknowledge and confirm that they have established and will maintain the Loan Account subject to an Account Control Agreement into which the proceeds of all Loans will be deposited in accordance with Section 2.3(a). The Loan Parties (or the Manager on their behalf) may only withdraw funds from the Loan Account for use in accordance with Section 6.9.

 

(d)          The Account Bank shall, from time to time and in accordance with the direction of the Manager, without regard to the limitations described under Section 2.3, make withdrawals from the Facility Collection Account (i) to pay to the Persons entitled thereto any amounts deposited in error, (ii) to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Account Bank and the Facility Agent, the Administrative Agent Fee, the Account Bank Fee and the Facility Agent Fee, respectively, and, in each case, accrued and unpaid expenses and indemnities payable to the Administrative Agent and the Account Bank, as applicable, and (iii) on the Termination Date, to such account(s) and/or Person(s) as the Borrower (or its designee) may direct (it being understood and agreed that, on the Termination Date, the Account Bank is hereby authorized to clear and terminate the Facility Collection Account upon direction from the Borrower (or its designee).

 

(e)          If, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.12, the Loan Parties or the Manager receives any the Collections, the Loan Parties or the Manager shall deposit such amounts in a Collections Account or the Facility Collection Account within five (5) Business Days of Knowledge thereof and the identification of such amounts.

 

(f) [Reserved].

 

(g) [Reserved.]

 

(h)          Sums on deposit in the Facility Collection Account, Loan Account and the Reserve Accounts shall be invested in Permitted Investments. Each of the Permitted Investments may be purchased by the Account Bank or through an Affiliate of the Account Bank. Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Manager, acting on behalf of the Borrower, shall have the right to direct the Account Bank in writing, which may be standing instructions, to invest sums on deposit in the Facility Collection Account, Loan Account or the Reserve Accounts in Permitted Investments; provided, however, in no event shall the Manager direct the Account Bank to make a Permitted Investment if the maturity or liquidation date of that Permitted Investment is later than the Business Day prior to the date on which the invested sums are required for payment of an obligation for which the Account was created. In the absence of such written instruction, such funds shall remain uninvested. After an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Account Bank shall have received written notice thereof and during the continuance thereof, sums on deposit in the Facility Collection Account, Loan Account and the Reserve Accounts shall remain uninvested, unless otherwise directed in writing by the Requisite Lenders. The Loan Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Account Bank to apply any interest or income earned from Permitted Investments to the Facility Collection Account and the respective Reserve Accounts in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 2.8 hereof with any such interest or income available on any Payment Date being deemed to be attributable to the immediately preceding Collection Period for such purposes. The Loan Parties shall be responsible for payment of any federal, state or local income or other tax applicable to income earned from Permitted Investments. The Facility Collection Account, the Loan Account and the Reserve Accounts shall be assigned the federal tax identification number of the Borrower. In no event shall the Account Bank be responsible for, or incur any liability with respect to, any investment losses on investments made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

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6.13 [Reserved].

 

6.14 [Reserved].

 

6.15       Inspection. The Borrower shall permit, and shall cause each Loan Party to permit, any authorized representative designated by the Requisite Lenders and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower to visit and inspect at such reasonable times during normal business hours its Subject Assets and its business, including its financial and accounting records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and business with its officers and independent public accountants (with such party’s representative(s) present), at such reasonable times during normal business hours to be agreed, and in each case upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, any such inspection visit is conducted in such a manner as to not unreasonably interfere with such Loan Party’s business and in compliance with all safety rules and programs of Borrower; provided, however, that no subsurface investigations or other investigations that would reasonably be deemed to be intrusive shall be conducted. Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Requisite Lenders shall not be entitled to more than one (1) such visit and inspection.

 

6.16 [Reserved].

 

6.17       Risk Retention. The Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the “SR Retention Holder” (as defined in the Risk Retention Letter) to comply with the provisions of the Risk Retention Letter.

 

6.18 Management Agreement.

 

(a)          The Borrower shall, or shall cause the applicable Loan Party to, (i) perform and observe all of the material terms, covenants and conditions of the Management Agreement on the part of such Loan Party to be performed and observed, (ii) promptly notify the Manager of any notice to the Borrower of any material default under the Management Agreement of which it has Knowledge, and (iii) other than in connection with a Material Manager Default prior to any automatic termination of the Manager in accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement, use commercially reasonable efforts to renew the Management Agreement prior to each expiration date thereunder in accordance with its terms. If any Loan Party shall default in the performance or observance of any material term, covenant or condition of the Management Agreement on the part of a Loan Party to be performed or observed, then, without limiting the Lenders’ other rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, and without waiving or releasing such Loan Party from any of its obligations hereunder or under the Management Agreement, the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent on its behalf the right, upon prior written notice to such Loan Party and a failure to cure the same within seven (7) Business Days, to pay any sums and to perform any act as may be reasonably appropriate to cause such material conditions of the Management Agreement on the part of such Loan Party to be performed or observed; provided that the Administrative Agent shall not have any obligation to pay any such sums or perform any such acts as may be reasonably appropriate to cause such material conditions of the Management Agreement on the part of such Loan Party to be performed or observed.

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(b)          The Borrower shall not surrender, terminate, cancel, or modify (other than non-material changes), the Management Agreement, or enter into any other Management Agreement with any new Manager (other than an Acceptable Manager), or consent to the assignment by the Manager of its interest under the Management Agreement, in each case without written consent of the Requisite Lenders. If at any time the Requisite Lenders consent to the appointment of a new Manager, then the Borrower shall, as a condition of the Lenders’ consent, execute a subordination of management agreement in substantially the form delivered on the Closing Date.

 

6.19 Hedge Agreements.

 

(a)          Interest Rate Protection. If on any date the DSCR is less than 1.50:100, then the Borrower shall enter into one or more Interest Rate Protection Agreements with Eligible Hedge Counterparties within thirty (30) days following such date, which Interest Rate Protection Agreements (i) shall be in effect until the repayment of the corresponding Loans covered thereby, (ii) shall have a strike rate that is reasonably expected to satisfy a DSCR of no less than 1.45:1.00, determined by the Borrower in good faith as of the date of entry into such Interest Rate Protection Agreement (or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders)) and (iii) shall have an aggregate notional amount equal to no less than 75% of the Total Outstandings as of each date such Interest Rate Protection Agreements are in effect. Any net amounts received by the Borrower pursuant to any Interest Rate Protection Agreement (other than payments related solely to the termination or unwinding of an Interest Rate Protection Agreement) shall be deposited in the Facility Collection Account (or another Controlled Account determined by the Borrower) for distribution in accordance with the Priority of Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall furnish a copy of such Interest Rate Protection Agreement within five (5) Business Days of the execution and delivery thereof.

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(b)          Natural Gas Hedging. The Borrower shall enter into on or prior to the Closing Date, and thereafter maintain until the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the discharge in full of all Obligations hereunder (such period of time, the “Natural Gas Hedge Period”), Hedge Agreements with Eligible Hedge Counterparties with an aggregate notional volume of (and fixing the price exposure with respect to) at least 85% but, at all times, including after the Natural Gas Hedge Period, no more than 95% of the projected natural gas output from the Subject Assets for each month classified as “proved, developed and producing” and as described in the Reserve Report (the “Natural Gas Hedge Percentage”), including by way of an initial hedging strategy consisting of one or more NYMEX-Henry Hub swap transactions and/or swaptions and/or collars mitigating basis risk of the applicable natural gas output from the Subject Assets described in the Reserve Report on a twenty-four (24) month rolling basis, which establish a minimum price level based on a Reserve Report updated on at least a semi-annual basis; provided, however, that, in each case, the Borrower shall not enter into or maintain any Hedge Agreements for purposes of speculation or investment; provided, however, nothing shall prevent Borrower from novating hedges to maintain compliance with the terms set forth herein even in cases where such novated hedges may differ from prevailing market prices, provided further, (i) for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not prohibit Borrower from selling call options or swaptions and (ii) the Borrower’s compliance with the 95% limit in the Natural Gas Hedge Percentage shall be determined after giving effect to any offsetting or similar Hedge Agreements that result in a position that is opposite and equivalent to all or a portion of an existing Hedge Agreement (including any transaction thereunder). Neither the Borrower, nor any party otherwise having authority to act on behalf of the Borrower, is authorized to, or will, enter into an amendment to any Hedge Agreement without obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders); provided that Administrative Agent consent shall not be required (other than in accordance with the Hedge Agreements) and nothing in this sentence shall restrict the Borrower (i) from entering into Hedge Agreements during and after the Natural Gas Hedge Period or terminating Hedge Agreements, in part or in whole, in order to maintain compliance with the terms set forth herein or (ii) from optimizing, novating, transferring, rolling or terminating Hedge Agreements. Any amounts received by the Borrower pursuant to any Permitted Hedge Agreement entered into pursuant to this Section 6.19(b) (other than payments related solely to the termination or unwinding of such a Permitted Hedge Agreement) shall be deposited in the Facility Collection Account (or another Controlled Account determined by the Borrower) for distribution in accordance with the Priority of Payments.

 

(c) [Reserved].

 

(d)          Hedge Terminations. The Borrower shall not early terminate or unwind any Hedge Agreement other than (i) in the Borrower’s discretion in connection with an “Event of Default” (where the relevant Counterparty is the “Defaulting Party”) or “Termination Event” (where the Borrower is a party permitted to terminate pursuant to the terms of the relevant Hedge Agreement) under a Hedge Agreement, as applicable or (ii) as a result of a good faith determination by the Borrower or Manager that such Counterparty or Hedge Agreement should be replaced or terminated, but not primarily to recognize a gain, provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Borrower remains subject to its obligations to maintain compliance with the hedging requirements set forth in Sections 6.19(a) and (b), in connection with any early termination or unwind of any Hedge Agreement. Any net amounts received by the Borrower in connection with any termination of a Hedge Agreement (a “Borrower Hedge Termination Receipt”) shall be either (A) promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days, applied to the acquisition of a replacement Hedge Agreement or (B) to the extent not applied pursuant to clause (A), transferred to the Facility Collection Account at the direction of the Borrower for treatment as Available Funds and applied in accordance with the Priority of Payments. For the avoidance of doubt, any determination of the amounts owing pursuant to the foregoing proviso shall be determined after giving effect to amounts owing pursuant to the Priority of Payments on the applicable Payment Date.

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6.20        Post-Closing Actions. The Borrower and Holdings agrees that it will, or will cause its relevant Subsidiaries to, complete each of (1) the actions described in clauses (a) and (c) by no later than thirty (30) days following the Closing Date and (2) the actions described in clause (d) below by no later than sixty (60) days following the Closing Date.

 

(a)          the Borrower shall distribute the proceeds of the Closing Date Loans to Diversified Production in an amount equal to the OCM Denali Purchase Price and Diversified Production shall use such proceeds to finance the acquisition of OCM Denali;

 

(b) [Reserved];

 

(c)          on the Closing Date, (i) Diversified Production will, directly or indirectly, contribute, sell and/or otherwise transfer to the Borrower the OCM Denali Subject Assets, or will cause such contribution, sale, or other transfer and (ii) DP Legacy will, directly or indirectly, contribute, sell and/or otherwise transfer to the Borrower the portion of the Subject Assets held by DP Legacy immediately prior to the Closing Date (clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Closing Date Subject Assets Transfers”), which Closing Date Subject Assets Transfers shall constitute permitted dispositions; and

 

(d)          the Borrower shall cause the execution of Mortgages, each in substantially the form of Exhibit L hereto, with respect to at least 85% of the Subject Assets, to be validly recorded in favor of the parties holding Secured Obligations hereunder.

 

Each of the distributions to be made by the Borrower referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above shall be “Closing Date Distribution.” Each of the transactions referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) immediately above shall be “Post-Closing Actions.”

 

6.21        Separateness Covenants. Each of Holdings and the Borrower agrees that it will, and will cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to (as applicable):

 

(a)          pay its debts and liabilities (including, as applicable, shared personnel, overhead expenses and any compensation due to its Independent manager or member) solely from its own assets as the same shall become due and payable, except for expenses paid on its behalf pursuant to arm’s length contractual arrangements providing for operating, maintenance or administrative services;

 

(b)          observe all limited liability company or organizational formalities, maintain books, records, financial statements and bank accounts separate from those of its Affiliates, except as permitted by the Transaction Documents. None of its assets will be listed as assets on the financial statement of any other entity except as required by IFRS or GAAP; provided, however, that appropriate notation shall be made on any consolidated statements to indicate its separateness from any Affiliates and to indicate that its assets and credit are not available to satisfy the debt and other obligations of such Affiliate or any other Person except as otherwise contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

 

(c)          hold itself out to the public as, a legal entity separate and distinct from any other entity (including any Affiliate). Each Loan Party will conduct and operate its business and in its own name;

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(d)         other than as contemplated in the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement, each Loan Party will hold all of its assets in its own name and will not commingle its funds and other assets with those of any Affiliate;

 

(e)         will not conduct the business of or act on behalf of any other Person (except as required by the Transaction Documents);

 

(f) [reserved];

 

(g)         correct any known misunderstanding regarding its status as a separate entity, conduct business solely in its own name, and to not identify itself as a division of any of its Affiliates or any of its Affiliates as a division of any other Loan Party (except for income tax purposes);

 

(h)         not permit its name to be used by any Affiliate of any other Loan Party in the conduct of such Affiliate’s business, and will not use the name of any Affiliate in the conduct of its business;

 

(i)          file its own tax returns, if any, as may be required under applicable Law, to the extent (1) not part of a consolidated group filing a consolidated return or returns or (2) not treated as a division for tax purposes of another taxpayer, and pay any taxes required to be paid under applicable Law;

 

(j)          maintain its assets, including the Collateral, in such a manner that it would not be costly or difficult to identify, segregate or ascertain its assets from those of any other Person;

 

(k)         will maintain an arm’s length relationship with its Affiliates, and not enter into any transaction with any Affiliate unless such transaction is (i) on such terms and conditions (including terms relating to amounts paid thereunder) as would be generally available if such business transaction were with an entity that was not an Affiliate in comparable transactions, and (ii) pursuant to enforceable agreements;

 

(l)          not hold out its credit or assets as being available to satisfy the obligations of others nor guarantee the obligation of any Person;

 

(m)        maintain adequate capital in light of its contemplated business purpose, transactions, and liabilities (provided, that no member of any Loan Party shall have any obligation to make any contribution of capital to the Borrower);

 

(n) not grant a security interest in its assets to secure the obligations of any other Person;

 

(o)         not, directly or indirectly, engage in any business or activity other than the actions that are both (i) required or permitted to be performed under its Organizational Documents and (ii) permitted by the terms of the Transaction Documents.

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(p)          not incur any indebtedness, liability, obligation, or expense, or own any assets, other than in each case those that are both (i) necessary to achieve the purposes set forth in its Organizational Documents and (ii) permitted by the Transaction Documents;

 

(q)          make or permit to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or own or acquire any stock or securities of, any Person, other than as permitted by the Transaction Documents;

 

(r)          maintain complete records of all transactions (including all transactions with any Affiliate);

 

(s)          comply with all requirements of applicable Law regarding its operations and shall comply with the provisions of this Agreement and its Organizational Documents; and

 

(t)           will not form, acquire, or hold any Subsidiary other than as permitted hereunder with respect to the formation, acquisition or holding of Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

VII.     NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

From the Closing Date until the Termination Date, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor party hereto hereby covenants and agrees that (and, solely with respect to Section 7.8, Holdings agrees that):

 

7.1          Indebtedness. No Loan Party shall create, incur, assume, guarantee, or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness except for the following (collectively, “Permitted Indebtedness”):

 

(a)          (i) the Secured Obligations and (ii) Swap Obligations (excluding Swap Obligations entered into for speculative purposes);

 

(b)          Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of its business as expressly permitted under its Organizational Documents in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time;

 

(c)          Indebtedness owed to any Loan Party; and

 

(d)          Other Indebtedness with the prior written consent of the Requisite Lenders; provided, however, that any such Indebtedness is subordinate to the obligations owed to the Lenders and Eligible Hedge Counterparties, in all respects.

 

In no event shall any Indebtedness (including any Permitted Indebtedness) other than the Secured Obligations be secured, in whole or in part, by the Collateral or other Subject Assets or any portion thereof or interest therein or any proceeds of any of the foregoing (other than Permitted Liens).

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7.2          Liens; Negative Pledges. No Loan Party shall create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of the Collateral or any of its properties or assets or any of its shares, securities or other equity or ownership interests, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for Permitted Liens. The Borrower shall not enter into or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that (I) prohibits the ability of any Loan Party to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Obligations or (II) requires that any Subject Assets originated or otherwise acquired by any Loan Party be financed or pledged under any other credit facility for borrowed money.

 

7.3          Restricted Payments. No Loan Party shall make any Restricted Payment at any time that there is any uncured Default or Event of Default.

 

7.4 Transactions with Affiliates.

 

(a)          No Loan Party shall enter into or consummate any transaction of any kind with any of its Related Parties other than (i) the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents (including, execution, delivery and performance of its obligations under the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement, the Management Agreement and the other Transaction Documents from time to time), (ii) (x) Permitted Affiliate Transactions and (y) other transactions upon fair and reasonable terms materially no less favorable to such Loan Party than would be obtained in a comparable arms-length transaction with a non-Affiliate (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), (iii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.3 and Permitted Dispositions of Subject Assets, (iv) transactions approved by the majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of Holdings in good faith, (v) transactions among the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (vi) transactions undertaken or consummated or otherwise be subject to any Permitted Reorganization or Permitted Change of Control.

 

(b) [Reserved]

 

7.5          Organizational Documents; Fiscal Year; Use of Proceeds. Without the consent of the Requisite Lenders, no Loan Party shall (a) amend, modify, restate, change or terminate any of its Organizational Documents in any way that would cause it to cease to comply with the requirements hereunder or that would be materially adverse to the Lenders or any Eligible Hedge Counterparty, taken as a whole (in their capacities as such), (b) change its state of organization or change its corporate name without written notice to Administrative Agent within fifteen (15) Business Days of any such change, (c) change its fiscal year without fifteen (15) calendar days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, (d) [reserved], (e) use any proceeds of any Term Loan for any purchase not contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or (f) certificate, or cause to have certificated, any Equity Interest in any Loan Party in existence as of the Closing Date that is not evidenced by a certificate as of the Closing Date that is Collateral subject to this Agreement, in each case unless such certificated Equity Interest is delivered to the Administrative Agent together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank.

 

7.6 Transfer of Collateral.

 

(a)          No Loan Party shall Dispose of any Collateral to any Person (other than a Loan Party) outside of the ordinary course of business other than (x) Permitted Dispositions with respect to which the net proceeds thereof are deposited to the Facility Collection Account, (y) otherwise as expressly permitted by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (z) as agreed to by Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty).

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(b)          Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary (and subject to the relevant provisions of this Agreement), the Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty), (i) consent to any agreement in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any Subject Assets, including, without limitation, voting for a plan of reorganization, (ii) [reserved], (iii) deposit Collections (including any sale proceeds referenced in clause (ii) above) in any manner other than as set forth in Section 6.12 or (iv) take any other action or make or propose any modification or amendment to the Subject Asset Joint Operating Agreement that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.7          Contingent Obligations and Risks. Other than Permitted Indebtedness, no Loan Party shall create or become or be liable with respect to any material Contingent Obligation outside the ordinary course of business.

 

7.8          Permitted Activities of Holdings. Holdings shall not engage at any time in any active trade or any material operations or business other than through the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; it being understood and agreed that Holdings shall not:

 

(a)          incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money other than (i) the Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Holdings under the Transaction Documents or otherwise in connection with the Transactions, (ii) Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary thereof, which Indebtedness or other obligations are otherwise permitted hereunder, (iii) Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder and (iv) any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Obligations;

 

(b)          create or suffer to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it securing Indebtedness for borrowed money other than (i) the Liens created under this Agreement and the other Security Documents, (ii) any other Lien created in connection with the Transactions and (iii) Permitted Liens; or

 

(c)          engage in any material business activity or own any material assets other than (i) holding the Equity Interests in the Borrower and, indirectly, any other Subsidiary of the Borrower; (ii) performing its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and other Indebtedness, Liens (including the granting of Liens) and Guarantees permitted hereunder; (iii) issuing its own Equity Interests (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the making of any dividend or distribution on account of, or any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value of, any shares of any class of capital stock permitted hereunder); (iv) filing tax reports and paying taxes; (v) preparing reports to Governmental Authorities and to its shareholders; (vi) holding director and shareholder meetings, preparing organizational records and other organizational activities required to maintain its separate organizational structure or to comply with Applicable Law; (vii) effecting any initial public offering of its capital stock; (viii) holding (A) cash, cash equivalents and other assets received in connection with permitted distributions or dividends received from, or Permitted Investments or Permitted Dispositions made by, any of its subsidiaries or permitted contributions to the capital of, or proceeds from the issuance of capital stock of, Holdings pending the application thereof, or otherwise received and held so long as such other assets are not “operated” and (B) the proceeds of Permitted Indebtedness; (ix) providing indemnification for its officers, directors, members of management, employees and advisors or consultants; (x) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters; (xi) performance of its obligations under any document, agreement and/or Investment contemplated by the Transactions or otherwise not prohibited under this Agreement; (xii) complying with Applicable Law (including with respect to the maintenance of its existence); (xiii) financing activities, including the issuance of securities, incurrence of debt, receipt and payment of dividends and distributions, making contributions to the capital of its Subsidiaries and guaranteeing the obligations of the Borrower and its other Subsidiaries to the extent permitted hereunder; (xiv) consummating any Permitted Reorganization or any Permitted Equity Sale; (xv) any transaction expressly permitted pursuant to clause (a) and/or (b) of this Section 7.8; and (xvi) activities incidental or reasonably related to any of the foregoing.

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7.9          Anti-Terrorism. No Loan Party shall (a) be or become a Sanctioned Person, (b) engage in any dealings or transactions prohibited by anti-terrorism law, or otherwise be associated with any Sanctioned Person in any manner violative of any anti-terrorism law, or (c) use the proceeds of any borrowing or contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds for the purpose of making payments in violation of Sanctions or any anti-terrorism law.

 

7.10 [Reserved].

 

7.11 [Reserved].

 

7.12 [Reserved].

 

7.13 [Reserved]

 

7.14 LTV Ratio Covenant.

 

The Borrower will not permit the LTV Ratio as of any Quarterly Determination Date to be greater than the Target LTV Ratio; provided that a breach of this covenant may be cured upon the delivery of an updated Reserve Report audited or prepared by an Independent Petroleum Engineer on or prior to the next required delivery date of the Reserve Report hereunder, which would result in, as of the date of the next Semi-Annual Determination Date or, if earlier, the effective date of such Reserve Report, the LTV Ratio being less than the Target LTV Ratio.

 

7.15        DSCR Covenant. The Borrower will not permit the DSCR as of any Quarterly Determination Date to be less than 1.45:1.00.

 

7.16        Production Tracking Covenant. The Borrower will not permit the Production Tracking Rate as of any Quarterly Determination Date to be less than 80%.

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VIII.     EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

The occurrence of any one or more of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

(a)          (i) the Borrower fails to pay interest or principal when and as required to be paid on any applicable Payment Date as set forth herein and such failure shall not have been remedied or waived within three (3) Business Days (it being understood that the failure of the Borrower to pay any scheduled principal payments or amortization amounts on any such Payment Date for which funds are not available in accordance with Section 2.8(f) or Section 2.8(j) of the Priority of Payments shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder); or (ii) the Loan Parties fail to pay, on the Maturity Date, all amounts outstanding under the Facility;

 

(b)          (i) the Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.1(d)(iv), 6.3(d)(x) (solely with respect to the obligation of the Borrower to maintain its existence) or Article VII (other than with respect to any Financial Covenant) or (ii) any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement (other than with respect to any Financial Covenant) contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (not specified in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b)(i) above) and such failure continues unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (x) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower or (y) the date on which the Manager obtains Knowledge thereof; provided, however, if such default or breach is reasonably susceptible of cure, but not cured within such 30-day period, then the applicable Loan Party may be permitted up to an additional 30 days to cure such default or breach in the manner provided in the Transaction Documents provided that such Loan Party diligently and continuously pursues such cure;

 

(c)          a court enters a decree or order for relief with respect to any Loan Party in an Involuntary Bankruptcy, which decree or order is not stayed or other similar relief is not granted under any applicable law unless dismissed within sixty (60) days; (ii) the occurrence and continuance of any of the following events for sixty (60) days unless dismissed or discharged within such time: (x) an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, is commenced, in which any Loan Party is a debtor or any portion of the Subject Assets is property of the estate therein, (y) a decree or order of a court for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or other official having similar powers over any Loan Party, over all or a substantial part of its or their property, is entered, or (z) an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian is appointed without the consent of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries for all or a substantial part of the property of such Person;

 

(d)         an order for relief is entered with respect to any Loan Party or any Loan Party commences a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case under any such law or consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee, custodian or other official having similar powers for Borrower or any of the direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Borrower, for all or any part of the property of the Guarantors or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries; (ii) any Loan Party makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iii) the board of directors or other governing body of any Loan Party or any of the direct or indirect subsidiaries of any Loan Party adopts any resolution or otherwise authorizes action to approve any of the actions referred to in this Section 8(d);

 

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(e)          other than as described in either of clauses (c) or (d), all or any material portion of the Collateral becomes property of the estate or subject to the automatic stay in any case or proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect (provided that if the same occurs in the context of an involuntary proceeding, it shall not constitute an Event of Default if it is dismissed or discharged within sixty (60) days following its occurrence);

 

(f)          any monetary default by any Loan Party under any Transaction Document, other than this Agreement, which monetary default continues beyond the applicable cure period set forth in the corresponding Transaction Document, or if no cure period is set forth in such Transaction Document, such default continues unremedied for a period of fifteen (15) Business Days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent;

 

(g)         any representation or warranty made to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders contained herein or in any other Transaction Document shall be incorrect in any material respect when made and such incorrect representation or warranty (if curable) shall remain incorrect for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (x) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower or (y) the date on which the Manager obtains Knowledge thereof;

 

(h)         (i) any of the Transaction Documents ceases to be in full force and effect (other than (x) in accordance with its terms, including as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder or thereunder or (y) as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or any other Beneficiary or the satisfaction of the Obligations on the Termination Date), or (ii) except as otherwise permitted under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, either (X) any Lien created hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents ceases to constitute a valid perfected Lien on a material portion of the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens) or (Y) any material portion of the Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) in each case other than (A) as a result of the Administrative Agent’s (or any other Beneficiary’s) failure to maintain possession of any stock certificate, promissory note or other instrument actually delivered to it pursuant to the Transaction Documents) or to take any other action it is obligated to take with respect to the Collateral (it being agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to (x) file UCC financing statements, continuation statements or amendments or (y) take other actions with respect to the Collateral, except as expressly provided in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party), (B) as a result of the Administrative Agent’s filing of a UCC amendment, termination or release statement or its recording or filing of any termination, release or transfer of any Collateral subject to a filing by the Administrative Agent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or of any filing or recording therewith, in any case, not made in accordance with this Agreement, (C) as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder or thereunder, including as a result of the sale or other disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction not prohibited by this Agreement, (D) as to Collateral consisting of real property, to the extent that (x) such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied coverage or (y) such deficiency arose through no fault of any Loan Party and such deficiency is corrected with reasonable diligence upon obtaining actual Knowledge thereof or (E) solely as a result of acts or omissions of the Administrative Agent or any other Beneficiary in contravention of such Person’s duties under the applicable Transaction Document.

 

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(i)           (i) an ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which, when taken either alone or together with all such other ERISA Events, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) a Loan Party 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 which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) the assets of the Borrower constitute or become assets of an ERISA Plan, and, as a result, one or more of the transactions entered into pursuant to this Agreement constitutes or will constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code;

 

(j)           there occurs any Change of Control; provided, however, that in no event will a Permitted Change of Control or Permitted Equity Sale be deemed to cause a Change of Control or an Event of Default;

 

(k)          the adoption in final form of a statute, rule or regulation by a competent legislative or governmental rule-making body that becomes effective following the Closing Date, or the entry of a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that is rendered following the Closing Date, which has a material adverse effect on (a) the validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents, or (b) the ability of the Borrower to make payments on the Loans or its obligations under any of the Permitted Hedge Agreements; or

 

(l)          any transactions under any Permitted Hedge Agreements with Eligible Hedge Counterparties remain outstanding as of the date that all principal and interest upon the Loans are paid in full, excluding only any Permitted Hedge Agreements for which the Eligible Hedge Counterparty thereunder has agreed in writing to accept cash collateral or other security immediately prior to the date of such payment in full.

 

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In any such event, notwithstanding any other provision of any Transaction Document, (x) Administrative Agent may (and at the request of Requisite Lenders, shall), by notice to the Loan Parties (with a copy of any such notice to be promptly provided to each Eligible Hedge Counterparty) (i) terminate their obligations hereunder, including the Commitments, (ii) substitute immediately any third party Manager acceptable to Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders in their sole discretion), for Manager in all of Manager’s roles and functions as contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the Management Agreement, and any fees, costs and expenses of, for or payable to any third party Manager acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders in their sole discretion), shall be at the Loan Parties’ sole cost and expense, (iii) with respect to the Collateral, (A) terminate the Management Agreement (or replace any Manager) and service the Collateral, including the right to institute collection, foreclosure and other enforcement actions against the Collateral; (B) enter into modification agreements and make extension agreements with respect to payments and other performances; (C) release Persons liable for performance; (D) settle and compromise disputes with respect to payments and performances claimed due, all without notice to any Loan Party, and all at the Administrative Agent’s direction (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders in their sole discretion) and without relieving Loan Party from performance of the obligations hereunder; (E) receive, collect, open and read all mail of any Loan Party for the purpose of obtaining all items pertaining to the Collateral and any collateral described in any Transaction Document; provided, that the Administrative Agent promptly returns all mail containing correspondence not on or otherwise related to any Collateral; (F) collect all interest, principal, prepayments (both voluntary and mandatory), and other amounts of any and every description payable pursuant to any the terms of any Subject Asset or any other related documents or instruments; and (G) apply all amounts in or subsequently deposited in the Facility Collection Account or the Interest Reserve Account to the payment of the unpaid Obligations or otherwise as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion shall determine; and (iv) declare all or any of the Term Loans and/or Notes, all interest thereon and all other Obligations to be due and payable immediately (except in the case of an Event of Default under clauses (c) or (d) above, in which event all of the foregoing shall automatically and without further act by the Administrative Agent or Lenders be due and payable and Administrative Agent’s or Lenders’ obligations hereunder shall terminate), in each case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Loan Parties.

 

IX.     ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES AFTER DEFAULT

 

9.1         Additional Rights and Remedies.

 

(a)          In addition to the acceleration provisions set forth in Article VIII above, upon the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent shall have the right to (and at the written direction of Requisite Lenders, shall) exercise any and all rights, options and remedies provided for in any Transaction Document, under the UCC or at law or in equity, including, without limitation, the right to (i) apply any property of any Loan Party held by Administrative Agent to reduce the Secured Obligations as provided herein, (ii) foreclose the Liens created under the Transaction Documents, (iii) realize upon, take possession of and/or sell any Collateral or securities pledged, with or without judicial process; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may not sell or otherwise liquidate the Collateral following an Event of Default, unless (A) the Requisite Lenders consent thereto or (B) the proceeds of such sale or liquidation distributable to the Secured Parties are sufficient to discharge in full all amounts then due and unpaid to the Lenders with respect to any accrued interest or principal amounts of the Loans and all amounts then due under the Permitted Hedge Agreements with Eligible Hedge Counterparties or that would be due and payable if the Permitted Hedge Agreements were terminated on the date of such sale (including any termination payments and any other amounts owed thereunder or that would be due and payable if the Permitted Hedge Agreements with Eligible Hedge Counterparties were terminated on the date of such sale), (iv) exercise all rights and powers with respect to the Collateral as any Loan Party might exercise, (v) collect and send notices regarding the Collateral, with or without judicial process, (vi) by its own means or with judicial assistance, enter any premises at which Collateral and/or pledged securities are located, or render any of the foregoing unusable or dispose of the Collateral and/or pledged securities on such premises without any liability for rent, storage, utilities, or other sums, and no Loan Party shall resist or interfere with such action, (vii) at the Loan Parties’ expense, require that all or any part of the Collateral be assembled and made available to Administrative Agent at any place designated by Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) and/or (viii) relinquish or abandon any Collateral or securities pledged or any Lien thereon. Notwithstanding any provision of any Transaction Document, upon the earlier of (x) the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, (y) the date Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) determines the actions described in clauses (A) through (D) below are necessary to preserve Administrative Agent’s Lien priority or any other similar exigent circumstances, Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), shall have the right, at any time that any Loan Party fails to do so, and from time to time, without prior notice, to: (A) obtain insurance covering any of the Collateral to the extent required hereunder; (B) pay for the performance of any of the Obligations; (C) discharge taxes, levies and/or Liens on any of the Collateral that are in violation of any Transaction Document unless the Loan Parties are in good faith with due diligence by appropriate proceedings contesting those items; and (D) pay for the maintenance, repair and/or preservation of the Collateral. Such expenses and advances shall be deemed Loans hereunder and shall be added to the Secured Obligations until reimbursed to Administrative Agent, for its own account and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties, and shall be secured by the Collateral, and such payments by Administrative Agent, for its own account and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties, shall not be construed as a waiver by Administrative Agent or any Secured Party of any Event of Default or any other rights or remedies of Administrative Agent or Lenders. Administrative Agent shall provide Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty reasonably prompt notice of any actions taken pursuant to Article VIII or Article IX.

 

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(b)         Each Loan Party agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days’ notice to such Loan Party of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions. At any sale or disposition of Collateral, Administrative Agent may (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) purchase all or any part thereof free from any right of redemption by any Loan Party which right is hereby waived and released. Each Loan Party covenants and agrees not to interfere with or impose any obstacle to Administrative Agent’s exercise of its rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral. In dealing with or disposing of the Collateral or any part thereof, Administrative Agent shall not be required to give priority or preference to any item of Collateral or otherwise to marshal assets or to take possession or sell any Collateral with judicial process.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement, (i) the Lenders shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of all principal and interest amounts owed by the Borrower with respect to any Loans on or after the date such amounts become due and payable hereunder, (ii) each Eligible Hedge Counterparty shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of any obligations of the Loan Parties under the Permitted Hedge Agreements (including the termination amounts and any other amounts owed thereunder) on or after the respective due dates thereof expressed in the applicable Permitted Hedge Agreement or in this Agreement, and (iii) each Lender and each eligible Hedge Counterparty shall have the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Lender or such Eligible Hedge Counterparties.

 

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9.2        Application of Proceeds. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.8), in addition to any other rights, options and remedies Administrative Agent and Secured Parties have under the Transaction Documents, the UCC, at law or in equity, all dividends, interest, rents, issues, profits, fees, revenues, income and other proceeds collected or received from collecting, holding, managing, renting, selling, or otherwise disposing of all or any part of the Collateral or any proceeds thereof upon exercise of its remedies hereunder upon the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default (or upon the acceleration of the Obligations) or otherwise received by the Administrative Agent after such time shall be applied in the following order of priority: (i) first, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts payable to the Administrative Agent and Account Bank in their capacity as such, (ii) second, to the payment of all costs and expenses of such collection, storage, lease, holding, operation, management, sale, disposition or delivery and of conducting the Borrower’s business and of maintenance, repairs, replacements, alterations, additions and improvements of or to the Collateral, and to the payment of all sums which Administrative Agent or Secured Parties may be required or may elect to pay, if any, for taxes, assessments, insurance and other charges upon the Collateral or any part thereof, and all other payments that Administrative Agent or Secured Parties may be required or authorized to make under any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, in each such case, legal expenses, search, audit, recording, professional and filing fees and expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees and all expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred in connection therewith) payable to third parties, including fees, expenses and indemnities to the Account Bank; (iii) third, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest with respect to the Loans and any hedge settlement payments or termination amount with respect to the Permitted Hedge Agreements) payable to the Secured Parties, ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause third payable to them; (iv) fourth, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations, pro rata and pari passu, (a) to the Lenders, in respect of interest due as of such date (other than interest at the Default Rate or post-petition interest) with respect to the Loans and (b) to the Eligible Hedge Counterparties, the net payments due by any Loan Party under the relevant Permitted Hedge Agreements (other than with respect to any termination amounts owed to any Eligible Hedge Counterparties), (v) fifth, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations pro rata and pari passu (a) to the Lenders, in respect of unpaid principal of the Loans (b) to the Eligible Hedge Counterparties, any amounts due and payable under Permitted Hedge Agreements that have not otherwise been paid pursuant to clause (v), (vi) sixth, to the payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations, pro rata and pari passu, to the Lenders in respect of interest at the Default Rate or post-petition interest with respect to the Loans, and (vii) seventh, to the payment of any surplus then remaining to Borrower, unless otherwise provided by Applicable Law or directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; (other than contingent indemnification Obligations in respect of which no claim has been asserted) or any of the other items referred to in this Section (other than clause (vii) above to the extent the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations in respect of which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full in cash).

 

9.3        Rights to Appoint Receiver. Without limiting and in addition to any other rights, options and remedies Administrative Agent and Lenders have under the Transaction Documents, the UCC, at law or in equity, upon the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent shall have the right to apply for and have a receiver appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction in any action taken by Administrative Agent and/or any Secured Party to

 

enforce its rights and remedies in order to manage, protect and preserve the Collateral and continue the operation of the business of the Loan Parties and to collect all revenues and profits thereof and apply the same to the payment of all expenses and other charges of such receivership including the compensation of the receiver and to the payments as aforesaid until a sale or other disposition of such Collateral shall be finally made and consummated.

 

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9.4        Attorney-in-Fact. Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably appoints Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact in accordance with Section 2.12.

 

9.5        Rights and Remedies not Exclusive. The Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders) shall have the right in its sole discretion to determine which rights, Liens and/or remedies Administrative Agent and Secured Parties may at any time pursue, relinquish, subordinate or modify, and such determination will not in any way modify or affect any of Administrative Agent’s or Secured Parties’ rights, Liens or remedies under any Transaction Document or Applicable Law. The enumeration of any rights and remedies in any Transaction Document is not intended to be exhaustive, and all rights and remedies of Administrative Agent and Secured Parties described in any Transaction Document are cumulative and are not alternative to or exclusive of any other rights or remedies which Administrative Agent and Secured Parties otherwise may have. The partial or complete exercise of any right or remedy shall not preclude any other further exercise of such or any other right or remedy.

 

X.     WAIVERS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

 

10.1      Waivers. Except as expressly provided for herein, each Loan Party hereby waives set off, counterclaim (except compulsory counterclaims), demand, presentment, protest, all defenses with respect to any and all instruments and all notices (except if such notice is expressly required to be given to Loan Party hereunder) and demands of any description, and the pleading of any statute of limitations as a defense to any demand under any Transaction Document. Each Loan Party hereby waives any and all defenses and counterclaims (except compulsory counterclaims and the defense of actual performance) it may have or could interpose in any action or procedure brought by Administrative Agent to obtain an order of court recognizing the assignment of, or Lien of Administrative Agent in and to, any Collateral.

 

10.2      Delay; No Waiver of Defaults. No course of action or dealing, renewal, release or extension of any provision of any Transaction Document, or single or partial exercise of any such provision, or delay, failure or omission on Administrative Agent’s part in enforcing any such provision shall affect the liability of any Loan Party or operate as a waiver of such provision or preclude any other or further exercise of such provision. No Loan made hereunder shall constitute a waiver of any condition to any Lender’s obligation to make such a Loan unless such waiver is in writing and executed by the Requisite Lenders. No waiver by any party to any Transaction Document of any one or more defaults by any other party in the performance of any of the provisions of any Transaction Document shall operate or be construed as a waiver of any future default, whether of a like or different nature, and each such waiver shall be limited solely to the express terms and provisions of such waiver. Notwithstanding any other provision of any Transaction Document, by entering into this Agreement and/or by making Loans, Administrative Agent and Lenders do not waive any breach of any representation or warranty under any Transaction Document, and all of Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s claims and rights resulting from any such breach or misrepresentation are specifically reserved.

 

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10.3      Jury Waiver; Jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY (i) EXPRESSLY, KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, AND (ii) AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENTS OF THE PARTIES TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

10.4      Amendment and Waivers.

 

(a)         Other than as set forth in Section 10.4(b), no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (other than any Hedge Agreements), and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Requisite Lenders, the Borrower and acknowledged by Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(i)               extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood that (x) neither the consent of the Requisite Lenders nor the consent of any other Lender shall be required in connection therewith and (y) no amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any condition precedent to funding of a Loan, Default, Event of Default, representation, warranty, covenant, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

 

(ii)              postpone any date fixed for any payment of the principal amount or interest due to the Lenders (or any of them) without the written consent of such Lender(s) (it being understood that (x) neither the consent of the Requisite Lenders nor the consent of any other Lender shall be required in connection therewith and (y) a waiver of any Default, Event of Default, representation, warranty, covenant, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments (including any amendment of any ratio used in the calculation of such prepayment or reduction amount or in the component definitions thereof and any extensions for administrative convenience as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders)) shall not constitute a postponement of any such date);

 

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(iii)             reduce the principal amount of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Term Loan, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Transaction Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that no amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any Default, Event of Default, representation, warranty, covenant, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments (including any amendment of any ratio used in the calculation of such prepayment or reduction amount or in the component definitions thereof) and no change to the definition of any ratio used in the calculation of interest rate or fees therein or in the component definitions, shall in any such case be construed as such a reduction or forgiveness; it being further understood that neither the consent of the Requisite Lenders nor the consent of any other Lender shall be required in connection therewith); provided, however, that only the consent of the Requisite Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” to reduce the Default Rate or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

 

(iv)            alter the pro rata sharing of payments required by this Agreement without the written consent of each Lender and each Permitted Hedge Counterparty directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that neither the consent of the Requisite Lenders nor the consent of any other Lender nor any other Permitted Hedge Counterparty shall be required in connection therewith);

 

(v)             change any provision of this Section 10.4(a) or the definition of “Requisite Lenders”, “Beneficiary”, “Eligible Hedge Counterparty”, “Permitted Hedge Agreement”, “Secured Party”, “Secured Swap Obligations” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Permitted Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender and each Permitted Hedge Counterparty directly and adversely affected thereby;

 

(vi)            except as otherwise expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, release a material portion of the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations, or all or substantially all of the Guaranty, in each case without the written consent of each Lender and each Permitted Hedge Counterparty;

 

(vii)            change the definition of “Permitted Change of Control New Owner” without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

(viii)           subordinate the Obligations hereunder or the Liens granted hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents to any other Indebtedness or Lien (including without limitation any Indebtedness or Lien issued under this Agreement or any other agreement), as the case may be, without the written consent of each Lender and each Permitted Hedge Counterparty directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that neither the consent of the Requisite Lenders nor the consent of any other Lender nor any other Permitted Hedge Counterparty shall be required in connection therewith);

 

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and provided, further, that (x) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders and Permitted Hedge Counterparties required above, affect the rights or duties of Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (y) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by Account Bank in addition to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and Permitted Hedge Counterparties required above, affect the rights or duties of Account Bank under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document and (z) any amendment or modification to the UMB Fee Letter, or waiver of any rights or privileges thereunder, shall only require the consent of the Borrower, the Account Bank and the Administrative Agent.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Loan Parties shall be permitted to rely on any consent or waiver executed by Administrative Agent as binding upon Lenders and conclusive evidence that the Requisite Lenders shall have approved, if required under the terms hereof.

 

(b)         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and subject to the following sentence, this Agreement may be amended in writing by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent without the consent of any other party for the purpose of providing for Subsidiary Guarantors (including Designated Guarantors) to become party hereto and to hold Collateral to the extent 100% of the equity interest in such subsidiary guarantors is pledged as additional Collateral. In furtherance of the foregoing sentence, the Administrative Agent may post a copy of such amendment for the Lenders and if by 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the fifth (5th) Business Day following such posting the Administrative Agent has not received objections from Lenders (or Permitted Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) constituting Requisite Lenders, then such amendment shall be deemed consented to by the Requisite Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon such consent to execute any such amendment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.4, this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and any guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents executed by Loan Parties in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders and each Permitted Hedge Counterparty) and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, amended and restated, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender (1) in order to comply with local Applicable Law or advice of local counsel (to the extent such amendment does not materially impact the perfection of any Lien on the Collateral), (2) to cure any ambiguity, mistake, defect, inconsistency, obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or administrative nature or to effect any necessary or desirable technical change and/or (3) in order to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended in writing by the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the Administrative Agent without the consent of any other party for the purpose of making certain mechanical, technical or administrative amendments in order to align payment provisions of this Agreement with the Interest Rate Protection Agreement.

 

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(d)         No amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by Account Bank, affect the rights or duties of Account Bank under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (i) the Management Agreement may be amended in accordance with Section 6.18 without the need to obtain any additional consents not set forth therein and (ii) the Account Bank Control Agreement may be amended as set forth therein without the need to obtain any additional consents.

 

(f)          Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent or any other Agent to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any Eligible Hedge Counterparty any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Loans or the rights of any Lender thereof or the Permitted Hedge Agreements or the rights of any Eligible Hedge Counterparty thereof, or to authorize any Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any Eligible Hedge Counterparty in any suit in equity, action at Law or other judicial or administrative proceeding.

 

XI.     EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION

 

11.1      Effectiveness and Termination. This Agreement, including the Commitments provided hereunder, shall become effective on the Effective Date and, subject to the Administrative Agent’s right to accelerate the Term Loans and terminate the Commitments upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default (in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of Article VIII), this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect from and after the Effective Date until the Maturity Date, unless terminated sooner as provided in Article II. All of the Obligations shall be immediately due and payable upon the earlier of the Maturity Date or the date upon which the Administrative Agent declares all or any of the Obligations to be due and payable pursuant to the terms of Article VIII. Notwithstanding any other provision of any Transaction Document, no termination of this Agreement shall affect the Administrative Agent’s or any Secured Party’s rights or any of the Secured Obligations existing as of the effective date of such termination to the extent that, by their express terms, such rights or Secured Obligations survive such termination as set forth in Section 11.2, and the provisions of the Transaction Documents shall continue to be fully operative until the Termination Date. The Liens granted to the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the Security Documents and the financing statements filed pursuant thereto and the rights and powers of the Administrative Agent shall continue in full force and effect until the Termination Date.

 

11.2      Survival. All obligations, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties, waivers and indemnities made by any Loan Party in any Transaction Document shall survive the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the making and funding of the Term Loans and any termination of this Agreement until all Secured Obligations (other than indemnity obligations under the Transaction Documents that are not then due and payable or for which any events or claims that would give rise thereto are not then pending) are fully performed and paid in full in cash. The obligations and provisions of Sections 3.2, 10.1, 10.3, 12.4, 12.7, 12.10, 13.1, 13.8, 13.11, 13.13, 13.14 and 15.5 shall survive termination of the Transaction Documents and any payment, in full or in part, of the Secured Obligations, and with respect to the obligations and provisions of Sections 12.4, 12.7, 13.1, 13.8, 13.11, 13.13, and 15.5, such obligations and provisions shall also survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or Account Bank, as applicable.

 

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XII.     MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Venue.

 

(a)         THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY DISPUTE, SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCEDURAL LAWS) WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW) THEREOF.

 

(b)         BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF EACH TRANSACTION DOCUMENT TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)          EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (b) ABOVE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

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(d)         EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 12.5. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

12.2      Successors and Assigns; Assignments and Participations.

 

(a)          Conditions to Assignment by Lenders. Except as provided herein, each Lender may assign all or any portion of its Commitments or Term Loans and other rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Persons (an “Acquiring Lender”) pursuant to an Assignment Agreement executed by such Acquiring Lender, such assigning Lender, and the Borrower and delivered to the Administrative Agent for recording in the Register, with the prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Borrower and, unless such assignment is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, the Administrative Agent; provided, that no consent of the Borrower will be required for an assignment in whole or in part (i) to another Lender or an Affiliate thereof, (ii) to an Eligible Assignee; provided, that any such assignment to an Eligible Assignee without the consent of the Borrower shall be of Commitments or Term Loans in an amount of at least $25,000,000, or (iii) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided, further, that each such assignment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 (or, if less, the then outstanding amount of such Lender’s Term Loans and/or Commitment) or such lesser amount consented to by Administrative Agent. Upon each such recordation, the assigning Lender agrees to pay to Administrative Agent a registration fee in the sum of $3,500 (unless waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion). The assignee, if it is not an existing Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) its applicable tax form, (y) an Administrative Questionnaire and (z) all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent reasonably requests under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation Title III of the Patriot Act. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment Agreement, and the receipt by the Administrative Agent of the registration fee referenced in this Section 12.2(a), (1) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent provided in such Assignment Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder, and (2) the assigning Lender shall, to the extent provided in such Assignment Agreement be released from its obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding the foregoing, each Lender may assign to any Affiliate and to the Federal Reserve at any time, pre or post Default, without the Borrower’s consent.

 

(b)         [Reserved].

 

(c)          Register. Borrower, Administrative Agent and Lenders shall deem and treat the Persons listed as Lenders in the Register as the holders and owners of the corresponding Commitments and Term Loans listed therein for all purposes hereof, and no assignment or transfer of any such Commitment or Term Loan shall be effective, in each case, unless and until an Assignment Agreement effecting the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been delivered to and accepted by Administrative Agent and recorded in the Register. Prior to such recordation, all amounts owed with respect to the applicable Commitment or Term Loan shall be owed to the Lender listed in the Register as the owner thereof, and any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is listed in the Register as a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or transferee of the corresponding Commitments or Term Loans.

 

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(d)          Record of Assignments. Promptly following its receipt of an Assignment Agreement executed by the parties to such assignment, Administrative Agent shall record the information contained therein in the Register.

 

(e)          Participations. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any Lender may, from time to time and at any time, sell participations in all or any portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or any portion of its Commitments and the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans owing to it) to any financial institution that invests in loans (such Person, a “Participant”); provided, that the terms of any such participation shall not entitle the Participant to direct such Lender as to the manner in which it votes in connection with any amendment, supplement or other modification of this Agreement or any waiver or consent with respect to any departure from the terms hereof, in each case unless and to the extent that the subject matter thereof is one as to which the consent of all Lenders is required in order to approve the same; provided, further, (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any Lender that sells a participation hereunder shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal and corresponding interest amount of each participant’s interest in the Term Loans, Commitments or other Obligations (the “Participant Register”); provided, that no Lender shall be required to disclose or share the information contained in such Participant Register with Borrower or any other Person, except as required by law and to satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation 5f.103-1(c). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.2 and 13.8 (subject to the limitations and requirements of such Sections) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment; provided, however, that a Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.2 or Section 13.8, with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive except to the extent such entitlement to a greater payment results from a Change in Law after the sale of the participation takes place. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(f)           Miscellaneous Assignment Provisions. Any assigning Lender shall retain its rights to be indemnified pursuant to Section 12.4 with respect to any claims or actions arising prior to the date of such assignment. Anything contained in this Section 12.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a Lien in all or any portion of its interest and rights under this Agreement (including all or any portion of its Notes) to secure its obligations, including to any of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks organized under § 4 of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. § 341. Any foreclosure or similar action by any Person in respect of such pledge or assignment shall be subject to the other provisions of this Section 12.2; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(g)          Assignment by the Loan Parties. No Loan Party shall assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Requisite Lenders).

 

(h)         Replacement Lender. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.2(a), or if the Borrower is required to pay any amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 13.8 or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Article XII (and with the $3,500 assignment fee being payable by the Borrower)) all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Transaction Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

 

(i)               such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Term Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents (including any amounts under Section 2.7) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(ii)              in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.2(a) or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 13.8, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

(iii)             such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law; and

 

(iv)             in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

 

Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 12.2 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment Agreement executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

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12.3      Application of Payments. To the extent that any payment made or received with respect to the Obligations is subsequently invalidated, determined to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, defeased or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver, custodian or any other Person under any Debtor Relief Law, common law or equitable cause or any other Applicable Law, then the Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment shall be revived and shall continue as if such payment had not been received by Administrative Agent and the Liens created hereby shall be revived automatically without any action on the part of any party hereto and shall continue as if such payment had not been received by Administrative Agent. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, any payments with respect to the Obligations received shall be credited and applied in such manner and order as Administrative Agent shall decide in its sole discretion.

 

12.4      Indemnity. Each Loan Party, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend, release and hold harmless each of the Administrative Agent, the Account Bank, the Facility Agent, each Lender, each Participant, its Affiliates and each of their respective managers, members, officers, employees, Affiliates, agents, representatives, successors, assigns, accountants and attorneys (collectively, the “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, taxes, proceedings at law or in equity, fees, charges and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) (“Damages”), which Damages may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnified Person with respect to or arising out of, or in any litigation, proceeding or investigation instituted or conducted by any Person with respect to any aspect of, or any transaction contemplated by, or any matter related to this Agreement, the Term Loans (or the use of proceeds thereof), any other Transaction Document (including in connection with the enforcement hereof (including enforcement of this Section 12.4) or thereof) or any act of or omission by any Loan Party or any of their officers, directors, agents, including, without limitation (i) any willful misrepresentation with respect to any Loan Party or the Collateral, (ii) any acts of fraud by any Loan Party related to the Term Loans or made in connection with this Agreement or any Transaction Document, (iii) any theft of any Collateral by any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates, (iv) any misappropriation of funds or use of the proceeds of the Term Loans that is not in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (v) any transfer, sale, encumbrance or other disposal of the Collateral not permitted by the Loan Agreement or the other Transaction Document or (vi) to the extent related to the foregoing, any liability of the Loan Parties arising under Environmental Law, in each case expressly excluding (i) any special, consequential or punitive damages (except to the extent such special, consequential or punitive damages are paid or payable to any third party) or (ii) those damages arising solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Person as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgement. The Loan Parties shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any matter for which indemnification may be required under this Section 12.4 (other than any matter in which the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent Related Parties is subject) and to employ counsel at their own expense to assist in the handling of such matter. Any Indemnified Person may, in its reasonable discretion, take such actions as it deems necessary and appropriate to investigate, defend or settle any event or take other remedial or corrective actions with respect thereto as may be necessary for the protection of such Indemnified Person or the Collateral, subject to (other than any such litigation, proceeding or matter involving the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent Related Parties) the Loan Parties’ prior approval of any settlement, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. To the extent that Administrative Agent obtains recovery from a third party other than an Indemnified Person of any of the amounts that any Loan Party has paid to Administrative Agent pursuant to the indemnity set forth in this Section 12.4 (and no amounts are then due and owing to the Administrative Agent or any other Indemnified Person from any Loan Party), then Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to such Loan Party the amount of such recovery. Without limiting any of the foregoing, each Loan Party indemnifies the Indemnified Parties for all claims for brokerage fees or commissions (other than claims of a broker with whom such Indemnified Party has directly contracted in writing) which may be made in connection with respect to any aspect of, or any transaction contemplated by or referred to in, or any matter related to, any Transaction Document or any agreement, document or transaction contemplated thereby. No Indemnified Person shall have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages or losses or any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) relating to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith, irrespective of whether the Indemnified Parties have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. For avoidance of doubt, this Section 12.4 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

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12.5      Notices.

 

(a)          Except as otherwise expressly set forth in any other Transaction Document, all notices and other communications provided for herein and in the other Transaction Documents shall be in writing (including by electronic communication) and shall be delivered as follows: (x) if to the Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Account Bank or the Administrative Agent, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 12.5; (y) if to any Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower); and (z) if to any Eligible Hedge Counterparty, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in the relevant Permitted Hedge Agreement with respect to such Eligible Hedge Counterparty. Any notice or request hereunder shall be given only by, and shall be deemed to have been received upon (each, a “Receipt”): (i) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, on the date on which such received as indicated in such return receipt, (ii) delivery by a nationally recognized overnight courier, one (1) Business Day after deposit with such courier, or (iii) electronic transmission, in each case upon further electronic communication from the recipient acknowledging receipt (whether automatic or manual from recipient), as applicable.

 

(b)         Notices and other communications to the Lenders or Eligible Hedge Counterparties hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent or Loan Party may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

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

 

(d)         The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, DebtDomain or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders or Eligible Hedge Counterparties (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information (within the meaning of United States federal and state securities laws) and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that it will identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 12.10); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) prior to distributing any Borrower Materials that contain material non-public information (i.e., not marked “PUBLIC”), the Borrower will notify each Public Lender that such information constitutes material non-public information and will not distribute such materials to the Administrative Agent to be distributed on the Platform without the consent of all Public Lenders or directly to any Public Lender without the consent of such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”; provided, however, that the following Borrower Materials shall be deemed to be marked “PUBLIC” unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent promptly that any such document contains material non-public information: 

(1) the Transaction Documents, (2) any notification of changes in the terms of the Facilities and

(3) all information delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a).

 

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(e)          The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF ANY PLATFORM, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR ANY PLATFORM. In no event shall any Administrative Agent or any of its Agent Related Persons have any liability to any Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the internet.

 

12.6      Severability; Captions; Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. If any provision of any Transaction Document is adjudicated to be invalid under Applicable Laws, such provision shall be inapplicable to the extent of such invalidity without affecting the validity or enforceability of the remainder of the Transaction Documents which shall be given effect so far as possible. The captions in the Transaction Documents are intended for convenience and reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents may be executed in one or more counterparts (which taken together, as applicable, shall constitute one and the same instrument) and portable document format (.pdf), or other electronic transmission, which signatures shall be considered original executed counterparts. The words “delivery,” “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Transaction Document or any other document executed in connection herewith shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved in writing (which may be by electronic mail) by Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided, that, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, upon the request of Administrative Agent, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

 

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12.7      Expenses. The Loan Parties shall pay, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated or any proposed Term Loan after the Closing Date occurs, all fees, costs and expenses incurred or earned, including, without limitation, documentation and diligence fees and expenses, all search, audit, appraisal, recording, professional and filing fees and expenses and all other charges and expenses (including, without limitation, UCC and judgment and tax Lien searches and UCC filings and fees for post-closing UCC and judgment and tax Lien searches and wire transfer fees and audit expenses), and external attorneys’ fees and expenses (limited to the reasonable and documented or invoiced legal fees and expenses of a single lead counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Account Bank, taken as a whole, and a single lead counsel to the Lenders, taken as a whole, and of a single local counsel to the Administrative Agent, a single local counsel to the Facility Agent and a single local counsel to the Lenders, taken as a whole, in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and of such other counsel retained with the prior written consent of the Borrower), by (a) the Administrative Agent, the Account Bank, the Facility Agent and/or its or their respective Affiliates, (i) in any effort to enforce, protect or collect payment of any Obligation or to enforce any Transaction Document or any related agreement, document or instrument, (ii) in connection with entering into, negotiating, preparing, reviewing and executing the Transaction Documents and/or any related agreements, documents or instruments (including without limitation in conjunction with any proposed Term Loan to be made after the Closing Date), (iii) arising in any way out of administration of the Obligations or the taking or refraining from taking by Administrative Agent, the Account Bank or the Facility Agent of any action under the Transaction Documents, (iv) in connection with instituting, maintaining, preserving, enforcing and/or foreclosing on Administrative Agent’s Liens in any of the Collateral or securities pledged under the Transaction Documents, whether through judicial proceedings or otherwise, (v) in defending or prosecuting any actions, claims or proceedings arising out of or relating to the Administrative Agent’s, the Account Bank’s, the Facility Agent’s or any Lender’s transactions with Borrower or any other Loan Party, (vi) arising out of or relating to any Default or Event of Default or occurring thereafter or as a result thereof, (vii) in connection with all actions, visits, audits and inspections undertaken by Administrative Agent or its Affiliates pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and/or (viii) in connection with any modification, restatement, supplement, amendment, waiver or extension of any Transaction Document and/or any related agreement, document or instrument and (b) any Lender and/or its Affiliates, (i) in any effort to enforce, protect or collect payment of any Obligation or to enforce any Transaction Document or any related agreement, document or instrument, (ii) in defending or prosecuting any actions, claims or proceedings arising out of or relating to any Lender’s transactions with Borrower or any other Loan Party and/or (iii) arising out of or relating to any Default or Event of Default or occurring thereafter or as a result thereof. All of the foregoing shall be part of the Obligations. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower shall pay all Taxes, if any, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

 

12.8      Entire Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS EMBODY THE FINAL, ENTIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, AGENT AND THE LENDERS AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PRIOR COMMITMENTS, AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED OR VARIED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ANY PARTIES HERETO. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THERE ARE NO ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN ANY LOAN PARTY AND ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT ORAL AGREEMENTS AND ORAL COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT OR TO FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE.

 

12.9      Approvals and Duties. Unless expressly provided herein to the contrary, any approval, consent, waiver or satisfaction of Administrative Agent with respect to any matter that is subject of any Transaction Document may be granted or withheld by Administrative Agent and Lenders, as applicable, in their sole and absolute discretion. Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility for or obligation or duty with respect to any of the Collateral or any matter or proceeding arising out of or relating thereto, including, without limitation, any obligation or duty to collect any sums due in respect thereof or to protect or preserve any rights pertaining thereto.

 

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12.10    Publicity and Confidentiality.

 

(a)          [Reserved].

 

(b)         Each of the Agents, the Account Bank, and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ officers, directors, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, including any numbering, administration or settlement service providers who need to know such information in connection with this Agreement (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 (provided that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as applicable, shall be responsible for such Persons’ compliance with this Section 12.10(b)), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or quasi-regulatory authority (such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) having jurisdiction, as applicable, over the Administrative Agent or the Lenders (in which case such Persons agree (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, to inform you promptly thereof prior to disclosure and to use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any such information disclosed is accorded confidential treatment), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar compulsory legal process (in which case such Persons agree (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, to inform you promptly thereof prior to disclosure and to use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any such information disclosed is accorded confidential treatment), (d) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents or any suit, action or proceeding relating to the enforcement of its rights hereunder or thereunder, (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 12.10(b), to (i) any actual or prospective assignee of or participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (in each case, other than any Competitor) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Loan Party or any of their respective obligations (in each case, other than any Competitor), (f) with the consent of the Borrower, (g) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of improper disclosure by such Person or any of its affiliates or any related parties thereto in violation of any confidentiality obligations owing to any Loan Party (including those set forth in this paragraph), (h) in coordination with any Loan Party, to rating agencies or (i) to any other party to this Agreement. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” shall mean all information received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender, as applicable, from or on behalf of any Loan Party and related to the Loan Parties or their respective business. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to be fully responsible for any breach of this Section 12.10(b) by any officer, director, employee or agent, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, of it or its Affiliates that has not entered into a separate written confidentiality agreement with the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and having substantially the same requirements as this Section 12.10(b). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any disclosure of such Information be made to any Competitor known to the Administrative Agent or the applicable Lender, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 12.10 shall prohibit any Person from voluntarily disclosing or providing any Information within the scope of this confidentiality provision to any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization (any such entity, a “Regulatory Authority”) to the extent that any such prohibition on disclosure set forth in this Section 12.10 shall be prohibited by the laws or regulations applicable to such Regulatory Authority.

 

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12.11   Cooperation. In any litigation, arbitration or other dispute resolution proceeding relating to any Transaction Document, each Loan Party waives any and all defenses, objections and counterclaims (other than mandatory or compulsory counterclaims) it may have or could interpose with respect to (i) any of its directors, officers, employees or agents being deemed to be employees or managing agents of such Loan Party for purposes of all Applicable Law regarding the production of witnesses by notice for testimony (whether in a deposition, at trial or otherwise) and (ii) using all commercially reasonable efforts to produce in any such dispute resolution proceeding, at the time and in the manner requested by Administrative Agent or such other Lender, all Persons, documents (whether in tangible, electronic or other form) and other things under its control and relating to the dispute.

 

12.12    [Reserved].

 

12.13    Recognition of U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

(a)          To the extent that the Transaction Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedge Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Transaction Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States), in the event a covered entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Transaction Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Transaction Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

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(b)         For purposes of this Section 12.13:

 

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

 

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

12.14     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Transaction Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Transaction Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)           the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

 

(b)           the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)           a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)          a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; or

 

(iii)         the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

For purposes of this Section 12.14:

 

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

 

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Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country” means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

 

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

 

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Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

12.15    Original Issue Discount Legend.

 

THE TERM LOANS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE AMOUNT OF ISSUE PRICE, ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, YIELD TO MATURITY AND ISSUE DATE OF THE TERM LOANS MAY BE OBTAINED BY WRITING TO THE BORROWER AT ITS ADDRESS AS SPECIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

 

XIII.     AGENT PROVISIONS; SETTLEMENT

 

13.1      Administrative Agent.

 

(a)          Appointment. Each Lender hereby designates and appoints UMB as the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes UMB, as Administrative Agent for such Lender, to take such action or to refrain from taking such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are delegated to Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Administrative Agent agrees to act as such on the conditions contained in this Article XIII. The provisions of this Article XIII are solely for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Lenders (and the Account Bank to the extent provided thereto pursuant to the terms of Sections 13.1(c) or 15.1(g) hereof), and no Loan Party shall have rights as third-party beneficiaries of any of the provisions of this Article XIII. Regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing and without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Transaction Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

 

The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Transaction Documents, and each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the collateral agent of such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 13.1(k) for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Transaction Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article XIII, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Transaction Documents as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto, and all references to Administrative Agent in this Article XIII shall, where applicable, be read as including a reference to the Administrative Agent acting as collateral agent.

 

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Any corporation or association into which the Administrative Agent may be converted or merged, or with which it may be consolidated, or to which it may sell or transfer all or substantially all of its corporate trust business and assets as a whole or substantially as a whole, or any corporation or association resulting from any such conversion, sale, merger, consolidation or transfer to which the Administrative Agent is a party, will be and become the successor Administrative Agent to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party and will have and succeed to the rights, powers, duties, immunities and privileges as its predecessor, without the execution or filing of any instrument or paper or the performance of any further act.

 

(b)         Nature of Duties. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement, Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of Lenders, and its duties are administrative and shall be deemed purely ministerial in nature, and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed, any obligation toward or relationship of agency or trust with or for Lenders or any Loan Party. Administrative Agent shall have no duties, obligations or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents, Administrative Agent shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender.

 

Each Lender acknowledges that the Administrative Agent has not made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent to any Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent has disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent 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 the Loan Parties, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent 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 Transaction 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 the Borrower and the other Loan Parties.

 

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(c)          Rights, Exculpation, Etc. Neither Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, managers, members, equity owners, employees, attorneys or agents shall be liable for any action taken or omitted by them hereunder or under any of the other Transaction Documents, or in connection herewith or therewith; provided, that the foregoing shall not prevent Administrative Agent from being liable to the extent of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction on a final and nonappealable basis. Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any apportionment or distribution of payments made by it in good faith, and if any such apportionment or distribution is subsequently determined to have been made in error, the sole recourse of any Lender to whom payment was due but not made shall be to recover from the other Lenders any payment in excess of the amount to which they are determined to be entitled (and such other Lenders hereby agree promptly to return to such Lender any such erroneous payments received by them). Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for, or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into, (i) any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party herein, (ii) the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby, or for the financial condition of any Loan Party, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, or conditions of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents, (iv) the financial condition of any Loan Party, (v) the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default, (vi) the creation, validity, priority or perfection of any Lien securing or purporting to secure the Obligations or the existence, value or sufficiency of any of the Collateral or (vii) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein or in any other Transaction Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Transaction Document unless it shall first receive such written advice or concurrence of the Requisite Lenders (or such other number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby) as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to request and receive instructions from the Requisite Lenders and in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document in accordance with a written request or consent of the Requisite Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender or Loan Party shall have any right of action whatsoever against Administrative Agent as a result of Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the instructions of the applicable percentage of Lenders and, notwithstanding the instructions of Lenders, Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to take any action if it, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent or its counsel, is contrary to any Transaction Document, or applicable Law, or if it believes that such action exposes Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, managers, members, equity owners, employees, attorneys or agents to any personal liability unless Administrative Agent receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from Lenders with respect to such action.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Transaction Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Requisite Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Transaction Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Transaction Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any related documents because of circumstances beyond the Administrative Agent’s control, including, but not limited to, a failure, termination, or suspension of a clearing house, securities depositary, settlement system or central payment system in any applicable part of the world or acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), civil or military disturbances or hostilities, nuclear or natural catastrophes, political unrest, explosion, sabotage, epidemics, pandemics, interruptions, severe weather or accident, earthquake, terrorism, fire, riot, labor disturbances, strikes or work stoppages for any reason, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations or the like (whether domestic, federal, state, county or municipal or foreign) which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Agreement or any related documents, or the unavailability of communications or computer facilities, the failure of equipment or interruption of communications or computer facilities, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility, or any other causes beyond the Administrative Agent’s control whether or not of the same class or kind as specified above.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to calculate or confirm the calculations of any financial covenants set forth herein or the other Transaction Documents or in any of the financial statements of the Loan Parties.

 

Nothing in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers under the Transaction Documents.

 

The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation for (a) perfecting, maintaining, monitoring, preserving, creating, validating or protecting the security interest or Lien granted under this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby; (b) the filing, re-filing, recording, re-recording, or continuing of any document, financing statement, mortgage, assignment, notice, instrument of further assurance, agreement, consent or other paper or instrument in any public office at any time or times; (c) enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise and enforce its rights under this Agreement with respect to the security interest or Lien granted under this Agreement; or (d) providing, maintaining, monitoring, or preserving insurance on or the payment of taxes with respect to any Collateral. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or liability (i) in connection with the acts or omissions of any Loan Party in respect of the foregoing or (ii) for or with respect to the legality, validity and enforceability of any security interest created in the Collateral or the perfection and priority of such security interest.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Competitors. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Competitor or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Term Loans or Commitments, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Competitors. The Administrative Agent may assume performance by all such Persons of their respective obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have no enforcement or notification obligations relating to breaches of representations or warranties of any other Person.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default and/or Event of Default, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.”

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be required to provide any direction or instruction under any Account Control Agreement or securities account control agreement to which it is a party, unless the Administrative Agent has received a direction from the Requisite Lenders directing it to provide such direction or instruction.

 

The Administrative Agent shall have no liability for any action taken, or errors in judgment made, in good faith by it or any of its officers, employees or agents, unless it shall have been negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

The permissive rights of the Administrative Agent to do things enumerated in this Agreement shall not be construed as a duty and, with respect to such permissive rights, the Administrative Agent shall not be answerable for other than its gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

So long as UMB is both the Administrative Agent and the Account Bank, all rights, protections, immunities and indemnities afforded to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document shall also be afforded to the Account Bank as if such rights, protections, immunities and indemnities were initially made directly for the benefit of the Account Bank, mutatis mutandis.

 

Knowledge of the Administrative Agent shall not be attributed or imputed to UMB’s other roles in the transaction (other than those where the roles are performed by the same group or division within UMB or otherwise share the same Responsible Officers), or any affiliate, line of business, or other division of UMB (and vice versa).

 

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(d)         Reliance. Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, acting or refraining from acting upon, upon any written notices, statements, certificates, orders, judgments, resolutions, instruments, opinions, reports, requests, directions, consents, bonds, debentures, notes, other evidence of indebtedness or other papers or documents or any telephone message or other communication (including any writing, telex, telecopy or telegram) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, not only as to due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, and with respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

(e)         Indemnification. Each Lender, severally and not (i) jointly, or (ii) jointly and severally, agrees to reimburse and indemnify, defend, release and hold harmless Administrative Agent and its Agent Related Parties (to the extent not reimbursed by the Loan Parties), ratably according to their respective Ratable Shares (as defined below) in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this clause (e) (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Term Loans shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated, ratably in accordance with their Ratable Shares immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, advances, proceedings at law or in equity, fees, charges or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against Administrative Agent, the Account Bank or any of their officers, directors, managers, members, equity owners, employees, attorneys or agents in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or any action taken or omitted by Administrative Agent or the Account Bank, as applicable, under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, advances proceedings at law or in equity, fees, charges or disbursements to the extent resulting from Administrative Agent’s or Account Bank’s, as applicable, gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction on a final and non-appealable basis, provided, however, that no action taken in furtherance of the directions of the Requisite Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Transaction Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Account Bank and each of their Agent Related Parties upon demand for its Ratable Share on the date on which reimbursement is sought (or, if reimbursement is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Term Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares in effect immediately prior to such date) of any documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Account Bank, as applicable, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise and including the enforcement of this Agreement (including this Section 13.1(e) and/or any other Transaction Document) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder shall not diminish the obligations of the Borrower to indemnify and reimburse the Administrative Agent for such amounts. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “Ratable Share” shall mean a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of (x) the aggregate unused Commitments of such Lender at such time and (y) aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of such Lender at such time, and the denominator of which is the sum of the (x) the aggregate outstanding unused Commitments of all Lenders at such time and (y) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans held by all Lenders at such time. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent or the Account Bank, as applicable, to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Transaction Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent, the Account Bank and each of their Agent Related Parties under this Section 13.1(e). The obligations of Lenders under this Article XIII shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations, the termination of this Agreement and the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or the Account Bank, as applicable.

 

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(f)          Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. With respect to the Loans made by it, if any, UMB and its successors as Administrative Agent shall have, and may exercise, the same rights and powers under the Transaction Documents, and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities, as and to the extent set forth in the Transaction Documents, as any other Lender. The terms “Lenders” or “Requisite Lenders” or any similar terms shall include, if applicable, Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender. Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of lending, banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with, Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower as if it were not acting as Administrative Agent pursuant hereto.

 

(g)         Successor Administrative Agent.

 

(i)               Resignation. Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent at any time by giving at least thirty (30) calendar days’ prior written notice to Borrower and Lenders and each Eligible Hedge Counterparty.

 

(ii)              Appointment of Successor. Upon any such notice of resignation pursuant to clause (i) above, Requisite Lenders shall appoint (with prompt notice to each Eligible Hedge Counterparty) a successor Administrative Agent. If a successor Administrative Agent shall not have been so appointed within said thirty (30) calendar day period referenced in clause (i) above, the retiring Administrative Agent, may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of Lenders, appoint (with prompt notice to each Eligible Hedge Counterparty) a successor Administrative Agent who shall serve as Administrative Agent until such time as Requisite Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. Prior to the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, Borrower shall be entitled to approve (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) any successor Administrative Agent appointed in accordance with the foregoing to the extent such successor Administrative Agent is not an affiliate of retiring Administrative Agent. If no successor administrative agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent by the date thirty (30) days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent may deliver any Collateral held hereunder to the Requisite Lenders and (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents and (ii) the Requisite Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Requisite Lenders appoint a successor administrative agent as provided for above.

 

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(iii)             Successor Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent under the Transaction Documents by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights (other than any rights of reimbursement for any costs, expenses, indemnities or other amounts due and owing to the Administrative Agent prior to the resignation or removal thereof), powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and, upon the earlier of such acceptance or the effective date of the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Transaction Documents; provided, that any indemnity and expense rights or other rights in favor of such retiring Administrative Agent shall continue after and survive such resignation and succession. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent under the Transaction Documents, the provisions of this Article XIII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under the Transaction Documents.

 

(h)         Collateral Matters.

 

(i)               Collateral. Each Secured Party agrees that any action taken by Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders (or, where required by the express terms of this Agreement, a greater number of Lenders) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or of the other Transaction Documents relating to the Collateral, and the exercise by Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders (or, where so required, such greater number of Lenders) of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Secured Parties and Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to (i) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for the Secured Parties with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection herewith and with the Transaction Documents in connection with the Collateral; (ii) execute and deliver each Transaction Document relating to the Collateral and accept delivery of each such agreement delivered by Borrower or any other Loan Party; (iii) act as verification agent for the Secured Parties; (iv) manage, supervise and otherwise deal with the Collateral; (v) take such action as is necessary or desirable to maintain the perfection and priority of the security interests and Liens created or purported to be created by the Transaction Documents relating to the Collateral; and (vi) except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof or of any other Transaction Document, exercise all right and remedies given to such Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral under the Transaction Documents relating thereto, Applicable Law or otherwise.

 

(ii)              Release of Collateral. Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by Administrative Agent, for the benefit the of Secured Parties, upon any Collateral covered by the Transaction Documents (A) upon the occurrence of the Termination Date or (B) in accordance with Section 2.13.

 

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(iii)             Absence of Duty. Administrative Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Secured Party or any other Person to assure that the Collateral covered by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents exists or is owned by any Loan Party or is cared for, protected or insured or has been encumbered or that the Liens granted to Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, herein or pursuant hereto have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, enforced or maintained 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 Administrative Agent in this Section 13.1(h) or in any of the Transaction Documents.

 

(i)          Agency for Perfection. Each Secured Party hereby appoints Administrative Agent as agent for the purpose of perfecting Secured Parties’ security interest in Collateral which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC in any applicable jurisdiction, can be perfected only by possession. Should any Secured Party (other than Administrative Agent) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Secured Party shall hold such Collateral for purposes of perfecting a security interest therein for the benefit of the Secured Parties, notify Administrative Agent thereof and, promptly upon Administrative Agent’s request therefor, deliver such Collateral to Administrative Agent or otherwise act in respect thereof in accordance with Administrative Agent’s instructions. Except for reasonable care of any related Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty as to any related Collateral or responsibility for (1) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any related Collateral, whether or not the Administrative Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (2) taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against third parties or any other rights pertaining to any related Collateral.

 

(j)           Exercise of Remedies. Except as set forth in Section 13.3, each Lender agrees that it will not have any right individually to enforce or seek to enforce this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or to realize upon any Collateral security for the Term Loans or other Obligations; it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised only by Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents.

 

(k)          Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document by or through one or more sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact may perform any of its duties and exercise any its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties, and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to obtain and rely upon the advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the acts, omissions, negligence or misconduct omissions of any sub-agent or attorney-in-fact except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact.

 

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13.2      Lender Consent.

 

(a)         In the event Administrative Agent requests the consent of a Lender and does not receive a written denial thereof within five (5) Business Days after such Lender’s Receipt of such request, then the Commitment of, and Total Outstandings held by, such Lender will be disregarded for the purposes of determining whether the Requisite Lenders have given consent thereto; provided that this Section 13.2(a) shall not apply to any action that requires the consent of every Lender or each Lender affected thereby.

 

(b)         In the event Borrower requests the consent of a Lender in a situation where such Lender’s consent would be required and such consent is denied (or no response is given by such Lender as set forth in Section 13.2(a)), then Borrower may, at its option, require such Lender to assign its outstanding Term Loans and its Commitments to an assignee lender for a price equal to the then outstanding principal amount thereof due such Lender plus accrued and unpaid interest and fees due such Lender, which principal, interest and fees will be paid to the Lender when collected from Borrower. In the event that Borrower elects to require any Lender to assign its interest pursuant to this Section 13.2, the Borrower will so notify such Lender and the Administrative Agent in writing within five (5) Business Days following such Lender’s denial, and such Lender will assign its interest in accordance with the terms hereof no later than five (5) calendar days following Receipt of such notice.

 

13.3         Set-off and Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain, on account of any Term Loan held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Term Loans held by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Term Loan pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in this Section 13.3 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off, but subject to Section 12.3), with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of Borrower in the amount of such participation. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 13.3 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

 

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13.4      Disbursement of Funds. Administrative Agent may, on behalf of Lenders, disburse funds to Borrower for the Term Loans or any other Loan. Each Lender shall reimburse Administrative Agent on demand for its Pro Rata Share of all funds disbursed on its behalf by Administrative Agent, or if Administrative Agent so requests, each Lender shall remit to Administrative Agent its Pro Rata Share of any Loan before Administrative Agent disburses such Loan to or on account of Borrower. If Administrative Agent shall have disbursed funds to Borrower on behalf of any Lender and such Lender fails to pay the amount of its Pro Rata Share forthwith upon Administrative Agent’s demand, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Borrower, and Borrower shall as promptly as reasonably possible, but in no event less than one (1) Business Day after such notice, repay such amount to Administrative Agent. Any repayment by Borrower required pursuant to this Section 13.4 shall be without prepayment fee, premium or penalty. Nothing in this Section 13.4 or elsewhere in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 13.5, shall be deemed to require Administrative Agent to advance funds on behalf of any Lender or to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that Administrative Agent or Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

 

13.5      Availability of Lenders’ Pro Rata Share; Return of Payments.

 

(a)         Availability of Lenders