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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration Number 333-188173

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Offer to Exchange

Up to $750,000,000 of

5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023

That Have Not Been Registered Under the Securities Act,

which are referred to as the “old notes,”

for

Up to $750,000,000 of

5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023

That Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act,

which are referred to as the “new notes.”

 

 

Terms of the New Notes Offered in the Exchange Offer:

 

•

The terms of the new notes are substantially identical to the terms of the old notes that were issued on March 18, 2013, except that the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and will not contain restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for payment of additional interest.

Terms of the Exchange Offer:

 

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We are offering to exchange up to $750,000,000 of our old notes for an equal principal amount of new notes with substantially identical terms that have been registered under the Securities Act and are freely tradable.

 

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We will exchange old notes that are validly tendered and not properly withdrawn before the Exchange Offer expires for an equal principal amount of new notes.

 

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The Expiration Date for the Exchange Offer is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 18, 2013, unless extended.

 

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Tenders of old notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer.

 

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The exchange of new notes for old notes will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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We will not receive any proceeds from the Exchange Offer.

 

 

You should carefully consider the risks set forth under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus before participating in the Exchange Offer.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. See “Plan of Distribution.”

The date of this prospectus is May 20, 2013

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About this Prospectus			ii
Certain Terms Used in this Prospectus			ii
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			iii
Prospectus Summary			1
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			7
Risk Factors			8
Exchange Offer			11
Use of Proceeds			18
Description of the Notes			19
Plan of Distribution			49
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences			50
Legal Matters			50
Experts			50
Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference			51
Annex A: Letter of Transmittal			A-1

 

 

This prospectus incorporates by reference business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to these filings unless we have specifically incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, upon written or oral request and at no cost. Requests should be made by writing us at the following address: 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 or by calling (817) 870-2601. To obtain timely delivery, you must request the information no later than June 11, 2013.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-4 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. Before you decide to participate in this Exchange Offer, please review the full registration statement, including the information set forth under the heading the “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus, the documents described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus, the exhibits to the registration statement and any additional information you may need to make your investment decision. You should rely only on the information contained in the registration statement, including this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information and if anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date as set forth on the front cover. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may have changed since that date. We will disclose any material changes to such in an amendment to this prospectus or a prospectus supplement.

We are not making an offer to sell these securities or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.

We are not making any representation to you regarding the legality of your participation in the Exchange Offer under applicable law. You should consult with your own legal advisors as to the legal, tax, business, financial and related aspects of participating in the Exchange Offer.

CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS

All references in this prospectus to “Range,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Range Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless indicated or the context otherwise requires.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference herein contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements include statements relating to our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In general, all statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. However, management’s assumptions and our future performance are subject to a wide range of business risks and uncertainties and we cannot assure you that these goals and projections can or will be met. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:

 

•

production variance from expectations;

 

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volatility of natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil prices;

 

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hedging results;

 

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the need to develop and replace reserves;

 

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the substantial capital expenditures required to fund operations;

 

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exploration risks;

 

•

environmental risks;

 

•

uncertainties about estimates of reserves;

 

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competition;

 

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litigation;

 

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access to capital;

 

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government regulation;

 

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political risks;

 

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our ability to implement our business strategy;

 

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costs and results of drilling new projects;

 

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mechanical and other inherent risks associated with natural gas and oil production;

 

•

weather;

 

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availability of drilling equipment;

 

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changes of interest rates; and

 

•

other risks detailed in our filings with the SEC.

Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of natural gas and oil that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by our reserve engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions would change the schedule of any further production and development drilling. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ from the quantities of natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil that are ultimately recovered.

 

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Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements.

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this prospectus or the documents we incorporate by reference, or should underlying assumptions, prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

All forward-looking statements express or implied included in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference and attributable to Range are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Range or persons acting on its behalf may issue.

 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider and evaluate all the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risks described below, before you decide to make an investment in the new notes. In addition, you should read the risk factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of the new notes could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial individually or in the aggregate may also impair our business operations.

This prospectus and documents incorporated by reference herein also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the risks and uncertainties faced by us described below or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Risks Related to Investment in the Notes

If you do not properly tender your old notes, you will continue to hold unregistered old notes and your ability to transfer old notes will remain restricted and may be adversely affected.

We will only issue new notes in exchange for old notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes and you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender your old notes. Neither we nor the Exchange Agent is required to tell you of any defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of old notes.

If you do not exchange your old notes for new notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the old notes you hold will continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions. In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not plan to register old notes under the Securities Act unless our Registration Rights Agreement with the initial purchasers of the old notes requires us to do so. Further, if you continue to hold any old notes after the Exchange Offer is consummated, you may have trouble selling them because there will be fewer of these notes outstanding.

Your right to receive payments on these notes is effectively subordinated to the rights of our senior indebtedness and structurally subordinated to the rights of existing and future creditors of any subsidiaries that are not guarantors on the notes

Holders of our senior indebtedness will have claims that are prior to your claims as holders of the notes. In the event of any distribution of our assets in any foreclosure, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, or other, bankruptcy proceeding, holders of senior indebtedness will have prior claim to all of our assets. Holders of the notes will participate ratably with all holders of our senior subordinated indebtedness that is deemed to be of the same class as the notes, based upon the respective amounts owed to each holder or creditor, in our remaining assets. In any of the foregoing events, we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient assets to pay amounts due on the notes. As a result, holders of notes may receive less, ratably, than holders of senior indebtedness.

As of March 31, 2013, we had total senior debt under our bank credit facility of approximately $2.9 billion. Any additional indebtedness we are permitted to incur under the Indenture or the indentures may be senior to the notes.

In addition, we conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries. In addition, we may be able to designate one or more subsidiaries in the future as unrestricted subsidiaries. As a result, holders of the

 

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notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of any such subsidiaries, including trade creditors. Therefore, in the event of the insolvency or liquidation of an unrestricted subsidiary, following payment by such subsidiary of its liabilities, such subsidiary may not have sufficient remaining assets to make payments to us as a shareholder or otherwise. In the event of a default by any such subsidiary under any credit arrangement or other indebtedness, its creditors could accelerate such debt, prior to such subsidiary distributing amounts to us that we could have used to make payments on the notes.

We may not be able to repurchase the notes

Under the terms of the Indenture, you may require us to repurchase all or a portion of your notes in the event of a change in control. We may not have enough funds to pay the repurchase price on a purchase date (in which case, we could be required to issue common stock to pay the repurchase price). Our existing bank credit facility provides, and any future credit agreements or other debt agreements to which we become a party may provide, that our obligation to purchase or redeem the notes would be an event of default under such agreement. As a result, we may be restricted or prohibited from repurchasing or redeeming the notes. If we are prohibited from repurchasing or redeeming the notes, we could seek the consent of our then-existing lenders to repurchase or redeem the notes or we could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If we are unable to obtain a consent or refinance the debt, we could not repurchase or redeem the notes. Our failure to redeem tendered notes would constitute a default under the Indenture and might constitute a default under the terms of other indebtedness that we incur.

The term “change in control” is limited to certain specified transactions and may not include other events that might adversely affect our financial condition. Our obligation to repurchase the notes upon a change in control would not necessarily afford holders of notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, merger or similar transaction involving us.

The notes may receive a lower rating than anticipated

If one or more rating agencies assigns the notes a rating lower than the rating expected by investors, or reduces their rating in the future, the market price of the notes would be adversely affected.

Your ability to transfer the notes may be limited by the absence of an active trading market, and there is no assurance that any active trading market will develop for the new notes.

The old notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and may not be resold by holders thereof unless the old notes are subsequently registered or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. However, we cannot assure you that, even following registration or exchange of the old notes for new notes, that an active trading market for the old notes or the new notes will exist, and we will have no obligation to create such a market. At the time of the private placement of the old notes, the initial purchasers advised us that they intended to make a market in the old notes and, if issued, the new notes. The initial purchasers are not obligated, however, to make a market in the old notes or the new notes, and any market making may be discontinued at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or trading market for the old notes or the new notes.

The liquidity of any trading market for the new notes and the market price quoted for the new notes will depend upon the number of holders of the new notes, the overall market for high yield securities, our financial performance or prospects or the prospects for companies in our industry generally, the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the new notes and other factors.

Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws may permit a court to void the notes and the guarantees and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes

The issuance of the notes and the guarantees may be subject to review under federal and state fraudulent transfer and conveyance statutes. While the relevant laws may vary from state to state, under such laws the

 

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payment of consideration will be a fraudulent conveyance if (1) we paid the consideration with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors or (2) we or any of our subsidiary guarantors, as applicable, received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for issuing either the notes or a guarantee and, in the case of (2) only, one of the following is also true:

 

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we or any of our subsidiary guarantors were or was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of the indebtedness;

 

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payment of the consideration left us or any of our subsidiary guarantors with an unreasonably small amount of capital to carry on the business; or

 

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we or any of our subsidiary guarantors intended to, or believed that we or it would, incur debts beyond our or its ability to pay as they mature.

If a court were to find that the issuance of the notes or a guarantee was a fraudulent conveyance, the court could void the payment obligations under the notes or such guarantee or subordinate the notes or such guarantee to presently existing and future indebtedness of ours or such guarantor, or require the holders of the notes to repay any amounts received with respect to the notes or such guarantee. In the event of a finding that a fraudulent conveyance occurred, you may not receive any repayment on the notes. Further, the voidance of the notes could result in an event of default with respect to our other debt and that of our subsidiaries that could result in acceleration of such debt.

Generally, an entity would be considered insolvent if at the time it incurred indebtedness:

 

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the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all its assets;

 

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the present fair saleable value of its assets were less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts and liabilities, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or

 

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it could not pay its debts as they become due.

We cannot be certain as to the standards a court would use to determine whether or not we or the subsidiary guarantors were solvent at the relevant time, or regardless of the standard that a court uses, that the issuance of the notes and the guarantees would not be subordinated to our or any guarantor’s other debt.

If the guarantees were legally challenged, any guarantee could also be subject to the claim that, since the guarantee was incurred for our benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of the guarantor, the obligations of the applicable guarantor were incurred for less than fair consideration. A court could thus void the obligations under the guarantees, subordinate them to the applicable guarantor’s other debt or take other action detrimental to the holders of the notes.

 

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EXCHANGE OFFER

General

Concurrently with the closing of the old notes offering on March 18, 2013, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with the initial purchasers of the old notes that requires us to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the new notes and, upon the effectiveness of the registration statement, to offer to the holders of the old notes the opportunity to exchange their old notes for a like principal amount of new notes.

The Registration Rights Agreement provides that we must (a) promptly commence the Exchange Offer after such registration statement is declared effective, (b) use our commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer no later than 60 days after such registration statement becomes effective and (c) complete the Exchange Offer no later than 365 days after the Issue Date.

A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement has been incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Following the completion of the Exchange Offer, holders of old notes not tendered will not have any further registration rights other than as set forth in the paragraphs below, and the old notes will continue to be subject to certain restrictions on transfer.

Subject to certain conditions, including the representations set forth below, the new notes will be issued without a restrictive legend and generally may be reoffered and resold without registration under the Securities Act. In order to participate in the Exchange Offer, a holder must represent to us, among other things, that:

 

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the new notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such new notes, whether or not such person is a holder;

 

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neither the holder nor, to the knowledge of such holder, any other person is engaged in or intends to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the new notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act;

 

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neither such holder nor, to the knowledge of such holder, any other person receiving new notes from such holder has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the new notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act;

 

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neither such holder nor, to the knowledge of such holder, any other person receiving new notes from such holder is an “affiliate” of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act or, if such Person is an “affiliate,” that such holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable; and

 

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if the holder is a broker-dealer, such holder will receive the new notes for its own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that such holder will deliver a prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a prospectus) in connection with any resale of such new notes.

Based on an interpretation by the SEC’s staff set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties unrelated to us, we believe that, with the exceptions set forth below, the new notes issued in the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by the holder of new notes without further registration under the Securities Act, unless the holder:

 

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is an “affiliate” of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

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is a broker-dealer who purchased old notes directly from us for resale under Rule 144A, Regulation S or any other available exemption under the Securities Act;

 

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acquired the new notes other than in the ordinary course of the holder’s business;

 

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has an arrangement or understanding with any person to engage in the distribution of the new notes; or

 

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is prohibited by any law or policy of the SEC from participating in the Exchange Offer.

Any holder who tenders in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes cannot rely on this interpretation by the SEC’s staff and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction. Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account in exchange for old notes, where such old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new note. See “Plan of Distribution.” Broker-dealers who acquired old notes directly from us and not as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities may not rely on the staff’s interpretations discussed above, and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in order to sell the old notes.

Terms of the Exchange Offer

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept any and all old notes validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City Time on Expiration Date. We will issue $1,000 in principal amount of new notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of old notes accepted in the Exchange Offer. Holders may tender some or all of their old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Old notes may be tendered only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The new notes will evidence the same debt as the old notes and will be issued under the terms of, and entitled to the benefits of, the indenture relating to the old notes. As of the date of this prospectus, $750.0 million in aggregate principal amount of old notes are outstanding. This prospectus, together with the letter of transmittal, is being sent to all registered holders of old notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of old notes entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer. We intend to conduct the Exchange Offer in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Holders who tender old notes in the Exchange Offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of old notes in the Exchange Offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes, applicable to the Exchange Offer. See “—Fees and Expenses.”

Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments

The Expiration Date shall be 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on June 18, 2013, unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the Exchange Offer, in which case the Expiration Date shall be the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended. We reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

 

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to extend the Exchange Offer or, if any of the conditions set forth under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” shall not have been satisfied or waived, to terminate the Exchange Offer, or

 

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to amend or modify the terms of the Exchange Offer in any manner or waive any conditions to the Exchange Offer. In the event of a material modification, including the waiver of a material condition, we will extend the offer, if necessary so that at least five business days remain after notice of the amendment and before the Expiration Date.

In order to extend the Exchange Offer, we will notify the Exchange Agent and each registered holder of any extension by oral or written notice prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City Time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date and will also disseminate notice of any extension by press release or other public announcement prior to 9:00 a.m. New York City Time on such date.

 

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During any extension of the Exchange Offer and consent solicitation, all old notes previously validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the Exchange Offer. Any waiver, amendment or modification of the Exchange Offer will apply to all old notes previously validly tendered and not validly withdrawn.

Procedures for Tendering

When the holder of old notes tenders, and we accept such notes for exchange pursuant to that tender, a binding agreement between us and the tendering holder is created, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal.

General. If you wish to participate in the Exchange Offer, you must validly tender (and not validly withdraw) your old notes to the Exchange Agent at or prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with the procedures described below. In order to meet this deadline, custodians and clearing systems may require you to act on a date prior to the Expiration Date. Additionally, they may require further information in order to process all requests to tender. Holders are urged to contact their custodians and clearing systems as soon as possible to ensure compliance with their procedures and deadlines.

The method of delivery of the old notes, the letter of transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the election and risk of the holder. Where applicable, holders should use an overnight or hand delivery service, properly insured. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure delivery to and receipt by the Exchange Agent at or prior to the Expiration Date. Do not send the letter of transmittal or any old notes to anyone other than the Exchange Agent.

If you have questions regarding tender or consent procedures or require additional copies of this prospectus or the letter of transmittal, please contact the Exchange Agent. Contact information for the Exchange Agent are set forth below under the heading “—Exchange Agent.” Holders whose old notes are held by a custodial entity such as a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee can also contact such custodial entity for assistance in tendering their old notes.

Valid Tender of Old Notes. If you are a holder of old notes and you wish to tender your old notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer, on or prior to the Expiration Date you must:

 

(1)

agree to be bound by the terms of the Exchange Offer by transmitting either:

 

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a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, which accompanies this prospectus, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal, with all signature guarantees and other documents required by the letter of transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below under the heading “—Exchange Agent”; or

 

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a computer-generated message transmitted by means of DTC’s ATOP, as described below, and received by the Exchange Agent in which you acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal; and

 

(2)

deliver the old notes to the Exchange Agent by either:

 

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transmitting a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your old notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfers described below; or

 

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if the old notes are held in physical form, delivering the old notes to the Exchange Agent as described below.

Delivery of Physical Letter of Transmittal. You may transmit your acceptance of the terms of the Exchange Offer by delivering a properly completed and duly executed physical letter of transmittal, which accompanies this prospectus, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal, with all signature guarantees and other documents required by the letter of transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below under the heading “—Exchange Agent.”

 

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Signatures on all letters of transmittal must be guaranteed by a recognized participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (each, a “Medallion Signature Guarantor”), unless the old notes tendered thereby are tendered (i) by a holder of old notes (or by a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of such old notes) who has not completed the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal, or (ii) for the account of a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of FINRA or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

Delivery of Letter of Transmittal Through ATOP. In lieu of physically completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering it to the Exchange Agent, DTC participants that have the old notes credited to their DTC account and held of record by DTC’s nominee may electronically transmit their acceptance of the Exchange Offer through ATOP, for which the transaction will be eligible. In accordance with ATOP procedures, DTC will then verify the acceptance of the Exchange Offer and send an agent’s message to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance. An “agent’s message” is a message transmitted by DTC, received by the Exchange Agent, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgement from you that you have received the Exchange Offer documents and agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, and that we may enforce such agreement against you.

Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent. If you desire to tender your old notes through DTC, you must allow sufficient time for completion of the ATOP procedures during the normal procedures of DTC. We will have the right, which may be waived, to reject the defective tender of old notes as invalid and ineffective.

Holders whose old notes are held by DTC should be aware that DTC may have deadlines earlier than the Expiration Date for the Exchange Offer. Accordingly, such holders are urged to contact DTC as soon as possible.

Book-Entry Delivery of Old Notes. The Exchange Agent has or will establish an account with respect to the old notes at DTC for purposes of the Exchange Offer, and any financial institution that is a participant in the DTC system and whose name appears on a security position listing as the record owner of the old notes may make book-entry delivery of old notes by causing DTC to transfer the old notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedure for transfer.

Delivery of Old Notes Held in Physical Form. We do not believe any old notes exist in physical form. If you believe you hold old notes in physical form, please contact the Exchange Agent regarding procedures for participating in the Exchange Offer. Any old notes in physical form must be tendered using a physical letter of transmittal and such old notes must be delivered to the Exchange Agent at its address set forth below under the heading “—Exchange Agent.”

Tendering with Respect to Old Notes Held Through a Custodian. Any holder whose old notes are held by a custodial entity such as a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender old notes should contact such custodial entity promptly and instruct such custodial entity to tender the old notes and deliver consents on such holder’s behalf.

A custodial entity cannot tender old notes on behalf of a holder of old notes without such holder’s instructions. Holders whose old notes are held by a custodial entity such as a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee should be aware that such nominee may have deadlines earlier than the Expiration Date. Accordingly, such holders are urged to contact any custodial entity such as a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee through which they hold their old notes as soon as possible in order to learn of the applicable deadlines of such nominees.

 

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Determination of Validity. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of any tendered old notes pursuant to any of the procedures described above, and the form and validity (including time of receipt of notices of withdrawal) of all documents will be determined by us in our sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding absent a finding to the contrary by a court of competent jurisdiction. We reserve the absolute right to reject any or all tenders of any old notes determined by us not to be in proper form, or if the acceptance of or exchange of such old notes may, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful or result in a breach of contract. A waiver of any defect or irregularity with respect to the tender of one old note shall not constitute a waiver of the same or any other defect or irregularity with respect to the tender of any other old note. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we do not expect to treat any holder of old notes differently from other holders to the extent they present the same facts or circumstances.

Your tender of old notes will not be deemed to have been validly made until all defects or irregularities in your tender have been cured or waived. None of us, the Exchange Agent or any other person or entity is under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any tender or withdrawal of any old notes, or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.

Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Delivery of New Notes Issued in the Exchange Offer

Upon satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions to the Exchange Offer, and assuming we do not otherwise terminate the Exchange Offer, we will accept, promptly after the Expiration Date, all old notes validly tendered that have not been validly withdrawn and will issue new notes registered under the Securities Act in exchange for the tendered old notes. For purposes of the Exchange Offer, we shall be deemed to have accepted properly tendered old notes for exchange when, as and if we have given oral or written notice to the Exchange Agent, with written confirmation of any oral notice to be given promptly thereafter, and complied with the applicable provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. If any tendered old notes are not accepted for any reason described in the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, such unaccepted old notes will be returned to the tendering holder at our expense promptly after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer. Any withdrawn or unaccepted old notes will be credited to the tendering holder’s account at DTC or, if the tendered old notes are held in physical form, by delivering the withdrawn or unaccepted old notes to the tendering holder. Under no circumstances will we be required to accept old notes for exchange that have not been validly tendered in accordance with the procedures set forth in this prospectus. See “—Procedures for Tendering.”

For each old note accepted for exchange, the holder will receive a new note registered under the Securities Act having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered old note. New notes will be delivered in book-entry form by deposit with DTC. DTC will transmit the new notes to holders in accordance with its procedures. Registered holders of new notes issued in the Exchange Offer on the relevant record date for the first interest payment date following the consummation of the Exchange Offer will receive interest accruing from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the issue date of the old notes. Holders of new notes will not receive any payment in respect of accrued interest on old notes otherwise payable on any interest payment date, the record date for which occurs on or after the consummation of the Exchange Offer. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, we may be required to make payments of additional interest to the holders of the old notes under circumstances relating to the timing of the Exchange Offer.

Withdrawal of Tenders

Tenders of old notes may be validly withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer. For a withdrawal of a tender to be effective, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal, or a properly transmitted “request message” through ATOP, must be received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date at its address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent.” Any such written or facsimile-transmitted notice must:

 

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specify the name of the tendering holder of old notes;

 

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bear a description of the old notes to be withdrawn;

 

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specify, in the case of old notes tendered by physical delivery of certificates, the certificate numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing those old notes;

 

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specify the aggregate principal amount represented by those old notes;

 

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specify, in the case of old notes tendered by physical delivery of certificates for those old notes, the name of the registered holder, if different from that of the tendering holder, or specify, in the case of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer, the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn old notes;

 

•

specify, in the case of old notes tendered by physical delivery of certificates for those old notes, mailing instructions for the return of such notes to the tendering holder; and

 

•

be signed by the holder of those old notes in the same manner as the original signature on the letter of transmittal and consent, including any required signature guarantees, or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to us that the person withdrawing the tender has succeeded to the beneficial ownership of those old notes.

Any withdrawn old notes will be credited to the tendering holder’s account at DTC or, if the withdrawn old notes are held in certificated form, will be returned to the tendering holder at our expense. Withdrawal of tenders of old notes may not be rescinded, and any old notes validly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Validly withdrawn old notes may, however, be re-tendered by again following the procedures described in “—Procedures for Tendering” on or prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer.

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of any withdrawal of old notes pursuant to the procedures described above, and the form and validity (including time of receipt) of all documents will be determined by us in our sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding absent a finding to the contrary by a court of competent jurisdiction. None of us, the Exchange Agent or any other person or entity is under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any withdrawal of any old notes, or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer, we will not be required to deliver any new notes, and we may terminate the Exchange Offer or, at our option, modify, extend or otherwise amend the Exchange Offer, if we determine, in our reasonable judgment, that (i) the Exchange Offer violates applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC; (ii) an action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which might materially impair our ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer or a material adverse development shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to us; or (iii) all governmental approvals that we deem necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer have not been obtained.

The foregoing conditions are for our sole benefit and may be asserted by us regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by us in whole or in part at any time and from time to time. The failure by us at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any of those rights and each of those rights shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any old notes tendered, and no new notes will be issued in exchange for those old notes, if at such time the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part has not been declared effective by the SEC, or if at such time any stop order shall be threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In any of those events we are required to use commercially

 

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reasonable efforts to have the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part be declared effective by the SEC and obtain the withdrawal of any stop order at the earliest possible moment, as applicable.

Consequences of Not Tendering

Old notes that are not tendered or are tendered but not accepted will, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer, continue to accrue interest and to be subject to the provisions in the indenture regarding the transfer and exchange of the old notes and the existing restrictions on transfer set forth in the legend on the old notes relating to the old notes. After the completion of the Exchange Offer, we will have no further obligation to provide for the registration under the Securities Act of those old notes except in limited circumstances with respect to specific types of holders of old notes. In general, old notes, unless registered under the Securities Act, may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Exchange Agent

All executed letters of transmittal should be directed to the Exchange Agent. U.S. Bank National Association has been appointed as Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer. Questions, requests for assistance and requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal should be directed to the Exchange Agent addressed as follows:

By Registered and Certified Mail, Overnight Courier, Regular Mail and Hand Delivery:

U.S. Bank National Association

Attention: Specialized Finance

60 Livingston Avenue, EP-MN-WS2N

St. Paul, MN 55107

Fees and Expenses

We will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The estimated cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer will be paid by us and will include fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent, accounting, legal, printing and related fees and expenses.

Accounting Treatment

We will record the new notes at the same carrying value as the old notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of the exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes as the terms of the new notes are substantially identical to those of the old notes. The expenses of the Exchange Offer will be amortized over the term of the new notes.

Transfer Taxes

Holders who tender their old notes for exchange will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection with that tender or exchange, except that holders who instruct us to register new notes in the name of, or request that old notes not tendered or not accepted in the Exchange Offer be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax on those old notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The Exchange Offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. We will not receive any additional proceeds from the issuance of the new notes. In consideration for issuing the new notes as contemplated by this prospectus, we will receive old notes in a like principal amount. The form and terms of the new notes are substantially identical in all respects to the form and terms of the old notes, except the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act and will not contain restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. Old notes surrendered in exchange for new notes will be retired and cancelled and will not be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the new notes will not result in any change in outstanding indebtedness.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The new notes will be issued and the old notes were issued under an Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated March 18, 2013 between us, the initial Subsidiary Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The terms of the notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture. It does not restate that agreement in its entirety. We urge you to read the Indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the notes. A copy of the Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You can find the definitions of terms used in this description of notes below under the caption “—Certain Definitions.” Capitalized terms used in this description but not defined below under the caption “—Certain Definitions” have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. In this description, the words “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “Range” and “us” refer only to Range Resources Corporation and any successor obligor on the notes, and not to any of its subsidiaries. References to the “notes” in this description include the old notes and the new notes, unless the context otherwise provides.

The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the Indenture.

If the Exchange Offer is consummated, holders of old notes who do not exchange those notes for new notes in the Exchange Offer will vote together with holders of the new notes for all relevant purposes under the Indenture. In that regard, the Indenture requires that certain actions by the holders thereunder must be taken, and certain rights must be exercised, by specified minimum percentages of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities issued under the Indenture. In determining whether holders of the requisite percentage in principal amount have given any notice, consent or waiver or taken any other action permitted under the Indenture, any old notes that remain outstanding after the exchange offer will be aggregated with the new notes, and the holders of the old notes and the new notes will vote together as a single class for all such purposes. Accordingly, all references herein to specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the notes outstanding shall be deemed to mean, at any time after the exchange offer is consummated, such percentages in aggregate principal amount of the old notes and the new notes then outstanding.

Brief Description of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees

The Notes

The notes:

 

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are unsecured senior subordinated obligations of Range, subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Debt of Range in accordance with the subordination provisions of the Indenture;

 

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were issued in an initial aggregate principal amount of $750.0 million, subject to our ability to issue additional notes in accordance with the Indenture;

 

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are jointly, severally and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by certain of the material domestic Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company and any future material domestic Restricted Subsidiary of the Company. The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Guarantees are general unsecured obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors and are subordinated in right of payment to all obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of Senior Debt;

 

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rank junior in right of payment to any existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company;

 

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rank equally with all of our senior subordinated unsecured debt, including our $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022, $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 5 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2021, $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 6 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020 and $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019;

 

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•

mature on March 15, 2023;

 

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were issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

 

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are represented by one or more registered notes in global form, and, except in limited circumstances, were not issued in definitive form.

Interest

Like the old notes, interest on the new notes will compound semi-annually and:

 

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accrue at the rate of 5% per annum;

 

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accrue from March 18, 2013 or, if interest has already been paid, from the most recent interest payment date;

 

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be payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 2013;

 

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be payable to the holders of record on the March 1 and September 1 immediately preceding the related interest payment dates; and

 

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be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Additional Notes

Subject to the covenants described below, following the initial issuance of notes under the Indenture, we may issue additional notes under the Indenture having the same terms as the initial notes; provided, however, that if the additional notes are not fungible with the initial notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number. The initial notes and any such additional notes would be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture and will vote together as one class on all matters with respect to the notes.

No Mandatory Redemption or Sinking Fund

Except as set forth below under “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders,” we will not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.

Guarantees

The Company’s payment obligations under the notes will be jointly, severally and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), initially by the Company’s material domestic Restricted Subsidiaries and by any future material domestic Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company. The Guarantees will be subordinated to Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the same extent and in the same manner as the notes are subordinated to the Senior Debt. Each Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor will be limited in an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor without rendering such Guarantee, as it relates to such Subsidiary Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting rights of creditors generally.

The Indenture provides that no Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person whether or not affiliated with such

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor, unless (i) subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to a supplemental Indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee in respect of the notes, the Indenture and the Guarantees; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (iii) such transaction does not violate any of the covenants described under the heading “—Certain Covenants.”

The Indenture provides that in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor to a third party or an Unrestricted Subsidiary in a transaction that does not violate any of the covenants in the Indenture, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor, then such Subsidiary Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of such a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor) or the Person acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor) will be released from and relieved of any obligations under its Guarantee.

Any Subsidiary Guarantor that is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture shall be released and relieved of its obligations under its Guarantee.

Optional Redemption

Except as otherwise described below, the notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to March 15, 2018. Thereafter, the notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year		% of principal amount
2018			102.500	%
2019			101.667	%
2020			100.833	%
2021 and thereafter			100.000	%

Prior to March 15, 2016, the Company may, at its option, on any one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to 105% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with all or a portion of the net proceeds of public sales of Equity Interests of the Company; provided that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of the related sale of such Equity Interests.

In addition, before March 15, 2018, the Company may redeem all or, from time to time, any part of the notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Make-Whole Premium plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

“Make-Whole Premium” means, with respect to a note at any redemption date, the excess of (A) the present value at such time of (1) the redemption price, excluding accrued interest, of such note at March 15, 2018, (as set forth in the table above) plus (2) all required interest payments, excluding accrued interest, due on such note through March 15, 2018, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such note.

 

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“Treasury Rate” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two business days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to March 15, 2018; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to March 15, 2018 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to March 15, 2018 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

If the optional redemption date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, the accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the person in whose name the note is registered at the close of business, on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to holders whose notes will be subject to redemption by the Company.

Subordination

The payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes and any other payment obligations of the Company in respect of the notes (including any obligation to repurchase the notes) will be subordinated in certain circumstances in right of payment, as set forth in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt, whether outstanding on the date of the Indenture or thereafter incurred.

Upon any payment or distribution of property or securities to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, or in an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of the Company’s assets and liabilities, the holders of Senior Debt will be entitled to receive payment in full of all Obligations due in respect of such Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt, whether or not a claim for such interest would be allowed in such proceeding) before the Holders of notes will be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the notes, and until all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt are paid in full, any distribution to which the Holders of notes would be entitled shall be made to the holders of Senior Debt (except in each case that Holders of notes may receive securities that are subordinated at least to the same extent as the notes are subordinated to Senior Debt and any securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt and payments made from the trust described under “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance”).

The Company may not make any payment (whether by redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance or otherwise) upon or in respect of the notes (except in such subordinated securities or from the trust described under “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance”) if (i) a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Designated Senior Debt occurs or (ii) any other default occurs and is continuing with respect to Designated Senior Debt that permits, or with the giving of notice or passage of time or both (unless cured or waived) will permit, holders of the Designated Senior Debt as to which such default relates to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of such default (a “Payment Blockage Notice”) from the Company or the holders of any Designated Senior Debt. Cash payments on the notes shall be resumed (a) in the case of a payment default, upon the date on which such default is cured or waived and (b) in case of a nonpayment default, the earliest of the date on which such nonpayment default is cured or waived, the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is retracted by written notice to the Trustee or 90 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received, unless the maturity of any Designated Senior Debt has been accelerated or a default of the type described in clause (ix) under the caption “Events of Default” has occurred and is continuing. No new period of payment blockage may be commenced unless and until 360 days have elapsed since the date of commencement of the payment blockage period resulting from the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice. No

 

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nonpayment default in respect of Designated Senior Debt that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice.

The Indenture further requires that the Company promptly notify holders of Senior Debt if payment of the notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default.

As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of a liquidation or insolvency of the Company, Holders of notes may recover less ratably than creditors of the Company who are holders of Senior Debt. The Indenture limits, subject to certain financial tests, the amount of additional Indebtedness, including Senior Debt, that the Company and its Subsidiaries can incur. See “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock.”

Repurchase at the Option of Holders

Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless a notice of redemption has been given with respect to the notes, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offer to repurchase the notes pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice. The Change of Control Payment shall be made on a business day not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all the notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all the notes or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of such notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new note will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the Indenture will not contain provisions that permit the Holders of notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all notes (or portions thereof) validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

The Credit Agreement prohibits the Company from repurchasing any notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer prior to the repayment in full of the Senior Debt under the Credit Agreement. Moreover, the occurrence of certain change of control events identified in the Credit Agreement will constitute a default under the Credit Agreement. Any future Credit Facilities or other agreements relating to the Senior Debt to which the Company

 

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becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. If a Change of Control were to occur, the Company may not have sufficient available funds to pay the Change of Control Payment for all notes that might be delivered by Holders of notes seeking to accept the Change of Control Offer after first satisfying its obligations under the Credit Agreement or other agreements relating to Senior Debt, if accelerated. The failure of the Company to make or consummate the Change of Control Offer or pay the Change of Control Payment when due constitutes a Default under the Indenture and otherwise gives the Trustee and the Holders of notes the rights described under “—Events of Default and Remedies.”

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a developing body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of notes to require the Company to repurchase such notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

Asset Sales

The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 85% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale, plus all other Asset Sales since the date of the Indenture, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or any guarantee thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability shall be treated as cash for the foregoing purposes.

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option, (a) to reduce Senior Debt, (b) to acquire a controlling interest in another Oil and Gas Business, (c) to make capital expenditures in respect of the Company’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Business, (d) to purchase long-term assets that are used or useful in such Oil and Gas Business or (e) to repurchase any notes. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce Senior Debt that is revolving debt or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph will (after the expiration of the periods specified in this paragraph) be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to all Holders of notes and, to the extent required by the terms thereof, to all holders or lenders of pari passu Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of the notes and any such pari passu Indebtedness to which the Asset Sale Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to, in the case of the notes, 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase, or, in the case of any other pari passu Indebtedness, 100% of the principal amount thereof (or with respect to discount pari passu Indebtedness, the accreted value thereof) on the date of purchase, in each case in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture or the agreements governing the pari passu Indebtedness, as applicable. To the extent that the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as the case may be) of the notes and pari passu Indebtedness

 

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tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the notes surrendered by Holders thereof and the aggregate principal amount or accreted value, as the case may be, of other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee and the trustee or other lender representatives for the pari passu Indebtedness shall select the notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis, based on the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) thereof surrendered in such Asset Sale Offer. Upon completion of such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

The Credit Agreement prohibits the Company from purchasing any notes from the Net Proceeds of Asset Sales. Any future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Senior Debt to which the Company becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. In the event an Asset Sale Offer occurs at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing the notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders to the purchase or could attempt to refinance the Senior Debt that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such a consent or repay such Senior Debt, the Company may remain prohibited from purchasing the notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture which would, in turn, constitute a default under the Credit Agreement and possibly a default under other agreements relating to Senior Debt. In such circumstances, the subordination provisions in the Indenture would likely restrict payments to the Holders of the notes.

Certain Covenants

The Indenture provides that the Company may, in certain circumstances, designate one or more of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, which generally are not subject to the restricted covenants of the Indenture. Currently, the Company does not have any subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Indenture contains covenants including, among others, the following:

Restricted Payments

The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment to holders of the Company’s Equity Interests in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company; (iii) make any principal payment on, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes, except at final maturity; or (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and

(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described below under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock”; and

(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date of the Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted

 

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by clauses (2), (3), (5) and (6) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (i) the dollar amount calculated as of the date of the Indenture under Section 4.07(c) of that certain Indenture dated July 21, 2003 among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor trustee to Bank One, National Association, plus (ii) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter commencing prior to the date of the Indenture to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus (iii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company from the issue and sale since the date of the Indenture of Equity Interests of the Company or of debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company and other than Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock), plus (iv) 100% of the amount of net cash proceeds received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from the sale within 12 months of the related acquisition of any of the following that are acquired after the date of the Indenture in exchange for Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued to a Subsidiary of the Company): (A) any property or assets (other than Indebtedness and Capital Stock); (B) them Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; or (C) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary, plus (v) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of the Indenture is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (A) the net proceeds of such sale, liquidation or repayment and (B) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment.

The foregoing provisions will not prohibit: (1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Indenture; (2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of other Equity Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (c)(iii) or (c)(iv) of the preceding paragraph; (3) the defeasance, redemption or repurchase of Subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Debt or the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (c)(iii) or (c)(iv) of the preceding paragraph; (4) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company held by any of the Company’s (or any of its Subsidiaries’) employees pursuant to any equity subscription agreement or stock option agreement in effect as of the date of the Indenture; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed $2.0 million in any twelve-month period; and provided further that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after such transaction; (5) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options; and (6) cash payments made by the Company for the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) proposed to be transferred by the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. Not later than five days after the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by the covenant “Restricted Payments” were computed.

 

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Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default. For purposes of making such determination, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be a Restricted Investment or, if applicable, a Permitted Investment at the time of such designation and must comply with the covenant “Restricted Payments.” All such outstanding Investments will be deemed to constitute Investments in an amount equal to the greater of the fair market value or the book value of such Investments at the time of such designation. Such designation will only be permitted if such Restricted Payment would be permitted at such time and if such Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock

The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and that the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if:

(i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least 2.5 to 1, determined on a pro forma basis as set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio; and

(ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued or would occur as a consequence of the incurrence of the additional Indebtedness or the issuance of the Disqualified Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indenture does not prohibit any of the following (collectively, “Permitted Indebtedness”): (a) the Indebtedness evidenced by the notes initially issued under the Indenture; (b) the Indebtedness evidenced by the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes; (c) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness pursuant to Credit Facilities, so long as the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (c) and outstanding under all Credit Facilities does not, at any one time, exceed the greater of (i) $1.5 billion and (ii) an amount equal to the sum of (A) $50.0 million plus (B) 30% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined after the incurrence of such Indebtedness (including the application of the proceeds therefrom); (d) the guarantee by any Subsidiary Guarantor of any Indebtedness that is permitted by the Indenture to be incurred by the Company; (e) all Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence as of the date of the Indenture; (f) intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (i) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinate to the payment in full of all Obligations with respect to the notes and (ii)(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be; (g) Indebtedness in connection with one or more standby letters of credit, guarantees, performance bonds or other reimbursement obligations, in each case, issued in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit (other than advances or credit on open account, includible in current liabilities, for goods and services in the ordinary course of business and on terms and conditions which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business, and other than the extension of credit represented by such letter of credit, guarantee or performance bond itself), not to exceed in the aggregate at any given time 5% of Total Assets; (h) Indebtedness under Interest Rate Hedging Agreements entered into for the purpose of limiting interest rate risks, provided that the obligations under such

 

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agreements are related to payment obligations on Indebtedness otherwise permitted by the terms of this covenant and that the aggregate notional principal amount of such agreements does not exceed 105% of the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such agreements relate; (i) Indebtedness under Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts, provided that such contracts were entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of limiting risks that arise in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; (j) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness not otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this paragraph, provided that the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (j) together with all Permitted Refinancing Debt incurred pursuant to clause (k) of this paragraph in respect of Indebtedness previously incurred pursuant to this clause (j), does not exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding; (k) Permitted Refinancing Debt incurred in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refinance, extend, renew, replace, defease or refund, Indebtedness that was permitted by the Indenture to be incurred (including Indebtedness previously incurred pursuant to this clause (k) and Indebtedness referred to in clause (e) above); (l) accounts payable or other obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of goods or services; and (m) Indebtedness consisting of obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments, guarantees or indemnities in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets.

The Indenture provides that the Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to incur any Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; provided, however, if any such Indebtedness ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt, such event shall be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company.

For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness incurred pursuant to and in compliance with this covenant: (A) Indebtedness permitted by this covenant need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this covenant permitting such Indebtedness, (B) in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness permitted by this covenant to be incurred, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of incurrence (or later reclassify such Indebtedness from or after the first date on which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under one or more other of such provisions) and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of such provisions as it determines; and (C) the amount of any Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

No Layering

The Indenture provides that (i) the Company will not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Debt and senior in any respect in right of payment to the notes and (ii) the Subsidiary Guarantors will not directly or indirectly incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Debt and senior in any respect in right of payment to the Guarantees, provided, however, that the foregoing limitations will not apply to distinctions between categories of Indebtedness that exist by reason of any Liens arising or created in respect of some but not all such Indebtedness.

Liens

The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien securing Indebtedness of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments under the notes are secured by such Lien prior to, or on an equal and ratable basis with, the Indebtedness so secured for so long as such Indebtedness is secured by such Lien.

 

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Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i)(x) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (y) pay any indebtedness owed by it to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (a) the Credit Agreement and the indentures governing the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes, each as in effect as of the date of the Indenture, and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof or any other Credit Facility or indenture or other financing agreement or instrument, provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements, refinancings or other Credit Facilities or indentures or other financing agreements or instruments are not materially more restrictive taken as a whole with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Credit Agreement and such indentures as in effect on the date of the Indenture, (b) the Indenture and the notes, (c) applicable law, (d) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except, in the case of Indebtedness, to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred, (e) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in leases and customary provisions in other agreements that restrict assignment of such agreement or rights thereunder, entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, (f) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) above on the property so acquired, or (g) Permitted Refinancing Debt, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Debt are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Substantially All Assets

The Indenture provides that the Company will not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, and the Company may not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or series of transactions if such transaction or series of transactions would, in the aggregate, result in a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company to another Person, in either case unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made (the “Surviving Entity”) is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the Surviving Entity (if the Company is not the continuing obligor under the Indenture) assumes all the obligations of the Company under the notes and the Indenture pursuant to a supplemental Indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions no Default or Event of Default exists; and (iv) the Company or the Surviving Entity (if the Company is not the continuing obligor under the Indenture) will, at the time of such transaction or series of transactions and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction or series of transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock.” Notwithstanding the restrictions

 

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described in the foregoing clause (iv), any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, and any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary.

Transactions with Affiliates

The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any of its Affiliates (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee (a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million but less than or equal to $10.0 million, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above, (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million but less than or equal to $25.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions complies with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions has been approved in good faith by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are disinterested with respect to such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions (which resolution shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) and (c) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, the Company delivers a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved in good faith by a resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are disinterested with respect to such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions and an opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal, engineering or investment banking firm of national standing (which resolution and fairness opinion shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision); provided that the following shall not be deemed Affiliate Transactions: (1) transactions contemplated by any employment agreement or other compensation plan or arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (2) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (3) Restricted Payments and Permitted Investments that are permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the caption “—Restricted Payments,” (4) indemnification payments made to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to charter, bylaw, statutory or contractual provisions, and (5) transactions with entities that are Affiliates of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary only because of the ownership by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests in such entity.

Additional Subsidiary Guarantees

The Indenture provides that if the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall acquire or create another material Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the Indenture, then such newly acquired or created Restricted Subsidiary will be required to execute a Guarantee and deliver an opinion of counsel, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; provided that, in no event will any non-U.S. Subsidiary of the Company be required to execute a Guarantee. For purposes of the foregoing, a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be “material” if it would not be a minor subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 3-10(h) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

 

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Business Activities

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any material respect in any business other than the Oil and Gas Business.

Commission Reports

Notwithstanding that the Company may not be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to the extent permitted by the Exchange Act, the Company will file with the Commission and provide, within 15 days after such filing, the Trustee and Holders and prospective Holders (upon request) with the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports which are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (but without exhibits in the case of the Holders and prospective Holders). In the event that the Company is not permitted to file such reports, documents and information with the Commission, the Company will provide substantially similar information to the Trustee, the Holders and prospective Holders (upon request) as if the Company were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company will also comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

At any time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the Notes are not freely transferrable under the Securities Act, upon the request of a holder of the Notes, the Company will promptly furnish or cause to be furnished the information specified under Rule 144A(d)(4) of the Securities Act to such holder, or to a prospective purchaser of a Note designated by such holder, in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act.

Events of Default and Remedies

The Indenture provides that each of the following constitutes an Event of Default: (i) a default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the notes (whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture); (ii) a default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the notes (whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture); (iii) the failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under “Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” above; (iv) the failure by the Company for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions described under the captions “Repurchase at the Option of Holders” and “Certain Covenants” other than the provisions described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”; (v) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture or the notes; (vi) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or a Subsidiary Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee; (vii) a default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”) or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there is then existing a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more; provided, that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 10 days from the continuation of such default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default under the Indenture and any consequential acceleration of the notes shall be automatically rescinded; (viii) the failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final, non-appealable judgments

 

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aggregating in excess of $10.0 million, which judgments remain unpaid or discharged for a period of 60 days; and (ix) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.

If any Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (ix) above) and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on such notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration the principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately; provided, however, that so long as any Designated Senior Debt or any commitment therefor is outstanding, any such notice or declaration shall not become effective until the earlier of (a) five Business Days after such notice is delivered to the representative for the Designated Senior Debt or (b) the acceleration of any Designated Senior Debt and thereafter, payments on the Securities pursuant the above provisions shall be made only to the extent permitted pursuant to the subordination provisions of the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of notes may not enforce the Indenture or notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium on, or the principal of, the notes.

The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, within five business days of becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

No Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. This waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the Commission that such a waiver is against public policy.

Amendment, Supplements and Waivers

Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the Indenture, the notes or the Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of such Indenture, the notes or the Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the notes).

 

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Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any the notes held by a non-consenting Holder): (i) reduce the principal amount of the notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver, (ii) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the notes (other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders”, “—Asset Sales” and “—Change of Control”), (iii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note, (iv) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the notes by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration), (v) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the notes, (vi) make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the notes or (vii) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions. In addition, any amendment to the provisions described under “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders” or the provisions of Article 10 of the Indenture (which relate to subordination) will require the consent of the Holders of at least 66 ²/₃% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding if such amendment would adversely affect the rights of Holders of such notes. However, no amendment may be made to the subordination provisions of the Indenture that adversely affects the rights of any holder of Senior Debt then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Debt (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consents to such change.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder of the notes the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes, to add Subsidiary Guarantors, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to Holders of the notes in the case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to secure the notes or to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all notes issued thereunder, when: (1) either (a) all notes that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, or (b) all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable (including pursuant to a notice of redemption duly given) within one year and the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; (2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any instrument (other than the Indenture) to which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is bound; (3) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it under the Indenture; and (4) the Company has delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an opinion of counsel to the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding notes (“Legal Defeasance”) except for (i) the rights of Holders of such outstanding notes to

 

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receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to below, (ii) the Company’s obligations with respect to such notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of such notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (iv) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture. In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Company released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events with respect to the Company) described under “Events of Default and Remedies” will no longer constitute an Event of Default.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, (i) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date; (ii) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to such Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred; (iii) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to such Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; (iv) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) or insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit; (v) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound; (vi) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of notes over the other creditors of the Company, or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and (vii) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Concerning the Trustee

U.S. Bank National Association is the Trustee under the Indenture. The Trustee and its affiliates also perform and may in the future perform certain banking and other services for us in the ordinary course of their business. The Trustee is the paying agent, transfer agent, bid solicitation agent, exchange agent and registrar for the notes.

The Trustee assumes no responsibility for this prospectus and has not reviewed or undertaken to verify any information contained in this prospectus.

 

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Book-entry, Delivery and Form

The new notes will be issued initially only in the form of one or more global notes (collectively, the “Global Notes”). The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be held through Euroclear Bank, S.A./ N.V. as the operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), and Clearstream Banking, S.A. (“Clearstream”) (as indirect participants in DTC).

Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for definitive notes in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes.” Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form.

In addition, transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream), which may change from time to time.

Depository Procedures

The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. The Company takes no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urges investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.

DTC has advised the Company that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between the Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the initial purchasers), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.

DTC has also advised the Company that, pursuant to procedures established by it:

(1) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of the Participants designated by the initial purchasers with portions of the principal amount of the Global Notes; and

(2) ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes).

Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants may hold their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who are not Participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are Participants. Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the Global Notes on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in their respective names on the books of their respective depositories, which are Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator

 

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of Euroclear, and Citibank, N.A., as operator of Clearstream. All interests in a Global Note, including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such Persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of the Participants, which in turn act on behalf of the Indirect Participants, the ability of a Person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to Persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.

Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes and will not be considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.

Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the trustee will treat the Persons in whose names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the trustee nor any agent of any of them has or will have any responsibility or liability for:

(1) any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or

(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants. DTC has advised the Company that its current practice, at the due date of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or the Company. Neither the Company nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and the Company and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.

Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

Cross-market transfers between the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its depository; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its depository to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

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DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for legended notes in certificated form, and to distribute such notes to its Participants.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such procedures at any time. Neither the Company nor the trustee nor any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes

A Global Note is exchangeable for Certificated Notes only if:

(1) DTC (a) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Note or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and in each case the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days;

(2) the Company, at its option, notifies the trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Certificated Notes (DTC has advised the Company that, in such event, under its current practices, DTC would notify its Participants of the Company’s request, but will only withdraw beneficial interests from a Global Note at the request of each Participant); or

(3) a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and DTC notifies the trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Note for Certificated Notes.

In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).

Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes

Certificated Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture.

Same Day Settlement and Payment

The Company will make payments in respect of the notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC or its nominee. The Company will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, with respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. The Company expects that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds. Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised the Company that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of

 

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interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

Governing Law

The Indenture, the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees provide that they will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Certain Definitions

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for a full definition of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided. References to Statements of Financial Accounting Standards of the Financial Accounting Standards Board do not reflect the new nomenclature resulting from the FASB’s codification of such Statements in its ASC 105, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, issued in June 2009, but are deemed to include the codified Statements under their current nomenclature.

“Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person, (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

“Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, (i) the sum of (a) discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with the Commission’s guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, with no less than 80% of the discounted future net revenues estimated by one or more nationally recognized firms of independent petroleum engineers in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (1) estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired since the date of such year-end reserve report, and (2) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since the date of such year-end reserve report due to exploration, development or exploitation activities, in each case calculated in accordance with the Commission’s guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report) increased by the accretion of the discount from the date of the reserve report to the date of determination, and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (3) estimated proved oil and gas reserves produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end reserve report and (4) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since the date of such year-end reserve report due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated in accordance with the Commission’s guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report); provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clause (1) through (4), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers, unless in the event that there is a Material Change as a result of such acquisitions, dispositions or revisions, then the discounted future net revenues utilized for purposes of this clause (i)(a) shall be confirmed in writing by one or more nationally recognized firms of independent petroleum engineers, (b) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, (c) the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (d) the greater of (1) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements or (2) the book value of other tangible assets (including, without duplication, investments in unconsolidated Restricted Subsidiaries and mineral rights held under lease or other contractual arrangements) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or

 

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quarterly financial statements, minus (ii) the sum of (a) minority interests, (b) any gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest audited financial statements, and (c) the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with the Commission’s guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenues specified in (i)(a) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto. If the Company changes its method of accounting from the successful efforts method to the full cost method or a similar method of accounting, “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” will continue to be calculated as if the Company was still using the successful efforts method of accounting.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall be deemed to be control.

“Asset Sale” means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition (but excluding the creation of or disposition pursuant to a Lien) of any assets including, without limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and/or the provisions described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Substantially All Assets” and not by the provisions described above under “— Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”, and (ii) the issuance or sale by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (including the sale by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests in an Unrestricted Subsidiary), in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (a) that have a fair market value in excess of $5.0 million or (b) for net proceeds in excess of $5.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales: (i) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or by a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) the making of a Permitted Investment or Restricted Payment that is permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments,” (iv) the abandonment, farm-out, lease or sublease of undeveloped oil and gas properties in the ordinary course of business, (v) the trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any oil and gas property owned or held by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for any oil and gas property owned or held by another Person, which the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith to be of approximately equivalent value, (vi) the trade or exchange by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of any oil and gas property owned or held by the Company or such Subsidiary for Equity Interests in another Person engaged primarily in the Oil and Gas Business which, together with all other such trades or exchanges (to the extent excluded from the definition of Asset Sale pursuant to this clause (vi)) since the date of the Indenture, does not exceed 5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined after such trade or exchange, (vii) the sale or transfer of hydrocarbons or other mineral products or other inventory or surplus or obsolete equipment in the ordinary course of business or (viii) sales of assets or property (including Capital Stock) described in paragraph (c)(iv) of the covenant described above under “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.”

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with

 

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GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

“Capital Stock” means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (iv) in the case of a limited liability company or similar entity, any membership or similar interests therein and (v) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, in each case excluding debt securities convertible or exchangeable for any of the foregoing.

“Cash Equivalents” means (i) United States dollars, (ii) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition, (iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding-six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thompson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better, (iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above, (v) commercial paper having a rating of at least P1 from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or its successor) and a rating of at least A1 from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (or its successor) and (vi) investments in money market or other mutual funds substantially all of whose assets comprise securities of the types described in clauses (ii) through (v) above.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or group of related “persons” (a “Group”) (as such terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, acquisition, disposition, merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) or Group becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of more than 40% of the aggregate voting power of all classes of Capital Stock of the Company having the right to elect directors under ordinary circumstances or (iv) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period plus (i) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss, plus any net loss realized in connection with an Asset Sale (together with any related provision for taxes), to the extent such losses were included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iii) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with

 

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respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Interest Rate Hedging Agreements), to the extent that any such expense was included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iv) depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles) for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses were included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (v) exploration expenses for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent such exploration expenses were included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (vi) other non-cash charges (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such other non-cash charges were included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes on the income or profits of, and the depreciation, depletion and amortization and other non-cash charges and expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the referent Person by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof, (ii) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, (iii) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded, (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded, (v) any impairments or write-downs of oil and natural gas assets shall be excluded, provided, however, that ceiling limitation write-downs in accordance with GAAP shall be treated as capitalized costs, as if such write-downs had not occurred, (vi) extraordinary non-cash losses shall be excluded, (vii) any non-cash compensation expenses realized for grants of performance shares, stock options or stock awards to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded and (viii) any unrealized non- cash gains or losses or charges in respect of hedge or non-hedge derivatives (including those resulting from the application of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging) shall be excluded.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of original issuance of the notes or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination.

“Credit Agreement” means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 18, 2011, as amended as of February 21, 2012, as further amended as of April 9, 2012 and as further amended as of April 8, 2013, by and among the Company, certain Subsidiaries of the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of America, N.A., Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of Montreal, Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A., Compass Bank, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Natixis, The Bank of Nova Scotia, SunTrust Bank, Union Bank, N.A.,

 

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Capital One, N.A., Comerica Bank, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, KeyBank National Association, Société Générale, UBS Loan Finance LLC, U.S. Bank National Association, Sovereign Bank, N.A., BOKF, NA dba Bank of Texas, Amegy Bank National Association, Frost Bank, PNC Bank, N.A., Branch Banking and Trust Company and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, New York Agency, (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Lenders”, and individually, “Lender”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank, as such credit agreement has been amended or supplemented to the date hereof, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced, in whole or in part, from time to time, whether or not with the same lenders or agents.

“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, production payment financing, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

“Default” means any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.

“Designated Senior Debt” means (i) the Credit Agreement and (ii) any other Senior Debt permitted under the Indenture the principal amount of which is $25 million or more and that has been designated by the Company as “Designated Senior Debt.”

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock to the extent that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the notes mature.

“Dollar-Denominated Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

“Existing Senior Subordinated Notes” means the Company’s 8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019, 6 ³/₄% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020, 5 ³/₄% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2021 and 5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees or redeems any Indebtedness (other than revolving credit borrowings) or issues preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the date on which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period. In addition, for purposes of making the computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that have been made by the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any-related financing transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date (including, without limitation, any acquisition to occur on the Calculation Date) shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference

 

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period shall be calculated without giving effect to clause (iii) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income, (ii) the net proceeds of Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock issued by the referent Person pursuant to the first paragraph of the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock” during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have been received by the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and applied to its intended use on such date, (iii) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, and (iv) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date.

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Interest Rate Hedging Agreements), (ii) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period, (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon) and (iv) the product of (a) all cash dividend payments (and non-cash dividend payments in the case of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary) on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification^® (Codification). Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.

“Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (i) in respect of borrowed money, (ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, (iii) evidenced by letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker’s acceptances, (iv) representing Capital Lease Obligations, (v) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, (vi) representing any obligations in respect of Interest Rate Hedging Agreements or Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts, and (vii) in respect of any Production Payment, (b) all indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such indebtedness is assumed by such Person), (c) Attributable Debt of such Person, and (d) to the extent not otherwise included in the foregoing, the guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person, provided that the indebtedness described in clauses (a)(i), (ii), (iv) and (v) shall be included in this definition of Indebtedness only if, and to the extent that, the indebtedness described in such clauses would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Interest Rate Hedging Agreements” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

 

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“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of direct or indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations, but excluding trade credit and other ordinary course advances customarily made in the oil and gas industry), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that the following shall not constitute Investments: (i) an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other securities by the Company for consideration consisting of common equity securities of the Company, (ii) Interest Rate Hedging Agreements entered into in accordance with the limitations set forth in clause (h) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” set forth under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock”, (iii) Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts entered into in accordance with the limitations set forth in clause (i) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” set forth under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock” and (iv) endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement with respect to a lease not intended as a security agreement).

“Material Change” means an increase or decrease (excluding changes that result solely from changes in prices) of more than 20% during a fiscal quarter in the estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with clause (i)(a) of the definition of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however, that the following will be excluded from the calculation of Material Change: (i) any acquisitions during the quarter of oil and gas reserves that have been estimated by one or more nationally recognized firms of independent petroleum engineers and on which a report or reports exist and (ii) any disposition of properties existing at the beginning of such quarter that have been disposed of as provided in the “Asset Sales” covenant.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss).

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale, but excluding cash amounts placed in escrow, until such amounts are released to the Company), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees and expenses, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under any Credit Facility) secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP and any reserve established for future liabilities.

 

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“Net Working Capital” means (i) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, minus (ii) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness, in each case as set forth in financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging).

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides any guarantee or credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), or (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise); (ii) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and (iii) the explicit terms of which provide that there is no recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

“Oil and Gas Business” means (i) the acquisition, exploration, development, operation and disposition of interests in oil, gas and other hydrocarbon properties, (ii) the gathering, marketing, treating, processing, storage, distribution, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties, (iii) any business relating to exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing, storage, transportation or marketing of oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith and (iv) any activity that is ancillary to or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this definition.

“Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts” means any oil and gas purchase or hedging agreement, and other agreement or arrangement, in each case, that is designed to provide protection against oil and gas price fluctuations.

“pari passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that ranks pari passu in right of payment to the notes.

“Permitted Indebtedness” has the meaning given in the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Sock.”

“Permitted Investments” means (a) any Investment in the Company or in a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition; (c) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if, as a result of such Investment and any related transactions that at the time of such Investment are contractually mandated to occur, (i) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (d) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”; (e) other Investments in any Person or Persons having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (e) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed $10.0 million; (f) any Investment acquired by the Company in exchange for Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); (g) shares of Capital Stock received in connection with any good faith settlement of a bankruptcy proceeding involving a trade creditor; (h) entry into operating agreements, joint ventures, partnership agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements, farm-out agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, area of mutual interest agreements, production sharing agreements or other similar or customary agreements, transactions,

 

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properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business, excluding, however, Investments in corporations other than any Investment received pursuant to the Asset Sale provision; and (i) the acquisition of any Equity Interests pursuant to a transaction of the type described in clause (vi) of the exclusions from the definition of “Asset Sale.”

“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary or Liens securing Senior Debt, in each case, that is outstanding on the date of issuance of the notes and Liens securing Senior Debt that is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred; (ii) Liens in favor of the Company; (iii) Liens on property or assets existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and Liens on property or assets of a Subsidiary existing at the time it became a Subsidiary, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of the acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than the acquired property; (iv) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other kinds of social security, or to secure the payment or performance of tenders, statutory or regulatory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (including lessee or operator obligations under statutes, governmental regulations or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals on state or federal lands or waters); (v) Liens existing on the date of the Indenture; (vi) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor; (vii) statutory liens of landlords, mechanics, suppliers, vendors, warehousemen, carriers or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business; (viii) judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as any appropriate legal proceeding that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceeding may be initiated shall not have expired; (ix) Liens on, or related to, properties or assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business for the exploration, drilling, development, or operation thereof; (x) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise under operation of law; (xi) Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil or natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; (xii) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases; (xiii) Liens securing the notes; and (xiv) Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (i) through (xiii) that are incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding.

“Permitted Refinancing Debt” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under a Credit Facility) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that: (i) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Debt does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith); (ii) such Permitted Refinancing Debt has a final maturity date on or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; (iii) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the notes, such Permitted Refinancing Debt has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the notes on terms at least as favorable taken as a whole to the Holders of notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

 

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“Production Payments” means Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments, collectively. “Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Senior Debt” means (i) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under or in respect of any Credit Facility, whether for principal, interest (including interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding pursuant to any bankruptcy law, whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees, commissions, expenses, indemnities or other amounts, and (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted under the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the notes; provided that the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes shall be deemed to rank on parity with the notes and shall not be Senior Debt. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing sentence, Senior Debt will not include (w) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture (other than Indebtedness under (i) any Credit Agreement or (ii) any other Credit Facility that is incurred on the basis of a representation by the Company to the applicable lenders that it is permitted to incur such Indebtedness under the Indenture).

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article I, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date hereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock, entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

“Subsidiary Guarantors” means initially the following Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company existing on the date of the Indenture: American Energy Systems, LLC; Energy Assets Operating Company, LLC; Range Energy Services Company, LLC; Range Operating New Mexico, LLC; Range Production Company; Range Resources—Appalachia, LLC; Range Resources—Midcontinent, LLC; Range Resources—Pine Mountain, Inc. and Range Texas Production, LLC and any other future Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and, in each case, their respective successors and assigns, provided that, in no event shall any future acquired or created foreign Subsidiary be a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture.

“Total Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of such Person.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company which at the time of determination shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Board of Directors of the Company, as provided below) and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger or consolidation or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if (a) such Subsidiary does not own any Capital Stock of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary; (b) all the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall, at the date of designation, and will at

 

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all times thereafter, consist of Non-Recourse Debt; (c) the Company certifies that such designation complies with the “Restricted payments” covenant; (d) such Subsidiary, either alone or in the aggregate with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (e) such Subsidiary does not, directly or indirectly, own any Indebtedness of or Equity Interest in, and has no investments in, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (f) such Subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (1) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (2) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and (g) on the date such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with terms substantially less favorable to the Company than those that might have been obtained from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company. Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions. As of the date of the Indenture, the Company does not have any Subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred as of such date. The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that (i) immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (excluding Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to the first paragraph of the “Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock” covenant on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation and (ii) such Subsidiary executes a Guarantee pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

“Volumetric Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

You may transfer new notes issued under the Exchange Offer in exchange for the old notes if:

 

•

you acquire the new notes in the ordinary course of your business;

 

•

you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such new notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act; and

 

•

you are not our “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or, if you are an “affiliate,” you will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable; and.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for old notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.

If you wish to exchange new notes for your old notes in the Exchange Offer, you will be required to make representations to us as described in “The Exchange Offer—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer” and “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering—Your Representations to Us” in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal. In addition, if you are a broker-dealer who receives new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired by you as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale by you of such new notes.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time on one or more transactions in any of the following ways:

 

•

in the over-the-counter market;

 

•

in negotiated transactions;

 

•

through the writing of options on the new notes or a combination of such methods of resale;

 

•

at market prices prevailing at the time of resale;

 

•

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

•

at negotiated prices.

Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such new notes.

Any broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for old notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. We agreed to permit the use of this prospectus for a period of up to 180 days after the completion of the exchange offer by such broker-dealers to satisfy this prospectus delivery requirement. Furthermore, we agreed to amend or supplement this prospectus during such period if so requested in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any new notes by broker-dealers.

We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer other than fees and expenses of counsel to the holders, certain fees and expenses of counsel to the underwriters, underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, and will indemnify the holders of the old notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion is a summary of the material federal income tax considerations relevant to the exchange of old notes for new notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions now in effect, all of which may be subject to change at any time by legislative, judicial or administrative action. These changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of new notes. Some holders, including financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities or currencies, persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, or persons who hold the notes as part of a hedge, conversion transaction, straddle or other risk reduction transaction may be subject to special rules not discussed below. We recommend that each holder consult his own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of exchanging such holder’s old notes for new notes, including the applicability and effect of any foreign, state, local or other tax laws or estate or gift tax considerations.

We believe that the exchange of old notes for new notes will not be an exchange or otherwise a taxable event to a holder for United States federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a holder will not recognize gain or loss upon receipt of a new note in exchange for an old note in the exchange, and the holder’s basis and holding period in the new note will be the same as its basis and holding period in the corresponding old note immediately before the exchange.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the new notes offered in this Exchange Offer will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Range Resources Corporation appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and the effectiveness of Range Resources Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Certain information presented and incorporated by reference in this prospectus regarding estimated quantities of oil and natural gas reserves occurred by us, the future net revenues from those reserves and their present value is based on estimates of the reserves and present values prepared by or derived from estimates prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton and Wright & Company, Inc. The reserve information is presented and incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firms as experts with respect to such reports.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also access the information we file electronically with the SEC through our website at http://www.rangeresources.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information included on, or linked from, our website (other than to the extent specified elsewhere herein), and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus. You may also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about Range Resources Corporation at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, NY 10005.

We “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained expressly in this prospectus. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is current as of any date other than the date on the cover page of this prospectus.

Any information that we file under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this document until the notes offering pursuant to this registration statement is terminated, and that is deemed “filed” with the SEC, will automatically update and supersede this information. We also incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

 

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed on February 27, 2013;

 

•

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 filed on April 25, 2013; and

 

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2013, January 16, 2013, January 31, 2013, February 14, 2013, February 27, 2013, March 4, 2013, March 4, 2013, March 6, 2013, March 19, 2013, April 1, 2013, April 26, 2013 and May 2, 2013 (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any such Current Report on Form 8-K).

You can obtain copies of any of these documents without charge upon written or oral request by requesting them in writing or by telephone at:

Range Resources Corporation

100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

(817) 870-2601

 

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ANNEX A:

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

TO TENDER

OLD 5% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2023

OF

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 20, 2013

THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON JUNE 18, 2013 (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”), UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS EXTENDED BY THE ISSUER.

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

 

By Registered & Certified Mail:		By Regular Mail or Overnight Courier:		In Person by Hand Only:
U.S. Bank National Association 60 Livingston Ave, EP-MN-WS2N St. Paul, MN 55107 Attention: Specialized Finance		U.S. Bank National Association 60 Livingston Ave, EP-MN-WS2N St. Paul, MN 55107 Attention: Specialized Finance		U.S. Bank National Association 60 Livingston Ave, EP-MN-WS2N St. Paul, MN 55107 Attention: Specialized Finance
By Facsimile (for Eligible Institutions only):
(651) 466-7372 Attention: Specialized Finance
For Information or Confirmation by Telephone:
(800) 934-6802

If you wish to exchange your issued and outstanding 5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 (“old notes”) for an equal aggregate principal amount of newly issued 5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 (“new notes”) with materially identical terms that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) pursuant to the exchange offer, you must validly tender (and not withdraw) your old notes to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date.

We refer you to the Prospectus, dated May 20, 2013 (the “Prospectus”), of Range Resources Corporation (the “Issuer”), and this Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which together describe the Issuer’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange the old notes for a like aggregate principal amount of new notes. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meaning given to them in the Prospectus.

The Issuer reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend the Exchange Offer at its discretion, in which event the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended. The Issuer shall notify the Exchange Agent and each registered holder of the old notes of any extension by oral or written notice prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by holders of the old notes. Tender of old notes is to be made according to the Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering.” DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s DTC account. DTC will then send a computer generated message known as an “agent’s message” to the Exchange Agent for its

 

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acceptance. For you to validly tender your old notes in the Exchange Offer, the Exchange Agent must receive, prior to the Expiration Date, an agent’s message under the ATOP procedures that confirms that:

 

•

DTC has received your instructions to tender your old notes; and

 

•

you agree to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal.

BY USING THE ATOP PROCEDURES TO TENDER OLD NOTES, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS, AND YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IT CONTAINS, JUST AS IF YOU HAD SIGNED IT.

 

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PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal.

2. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you represent and warrant that you have (1) full authority to tender the old notes described above and will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Issuer to be necessary or desirable to complete the tender of old notes, (2) the Issuer will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title to the tendered old notes, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and other encumbrances, and (3) the old notes tendered hereby are not subject to any adverse claims or proxies.

3. You understand that the tender of the old notes pursuant to all of the procedures set forth in the Prospectus will constitute an agreement between you and the Issuer as to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

4. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you acknowledge that the Exchange Offer is being made in reliance upon interpretations contained in no-action letters issued to third parties by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Exxon Capital Holdings Corp., SEC No-Action Letter (available April 13, 1989), Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., SEC No-Action Letter (available June 5, 1991) and Shearman & Sterling, SEC No-Action Letter (available July 2, 1993), that the new notes issued in exchange for the old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act (other than a broker-dealer who purchased old notes exchanged for such new notes directly from the Issuer to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act and any such holder that is an “affiliate” of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), provided that such new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders’ business and such holders are not participating in, and have no arrangement with any other person to participate in, the distribution of such new notes.

5. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you hereby represent and warrant that:

 

(a)

the new notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of you, whether or not you are the holder;

 

(b)

you have not engaged in and do not intend to engage in the distribution of the new notes;

 

(c)

you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of old notes or new notes within the meaning of the Securities Act;

 

(d)

you are not an “affiliate,” as such term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act, of the Issuer; and

 

(e)

if you are a broker-dealer, that you will receive the new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that you acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a prospectus) in connection with any resale of such new notes.

You may, if you are unable to make all of the representations and warranties contained in Item 5 above and as otherwise permitted in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), elect to have your old notes registered in the shelf registration statement described in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2013 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), by and among the Issuer, the Initial Guarantors (as defined therein), and the Representatives (as defined therein). Such election may be made by notifying the Issuer in writing at 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Attention: General Counsel. By making such election, you agree, as a holder of old notes participating in a shelf registration, to indemnify and

 

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hold harmless the Issuer, each of the directors of the Issuer, each of the officers of the Issuer who signs such shelf registration statement, each person who controls the Issuer within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and each other holder of old notes, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any shelf registration statement or prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or caused by the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; but only with respect to information relating to you furnished in writing by or on behalf of you expressly for use in a shelf registration statement, a prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto. Any such indemnification shall be governed by the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions regarding notice, retention of counsel, contribution and payment of expenses set forth therein. The above summary of the indemnification provision of the Registration Rights Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by the Registration Rights Agreement.

6. If you are a broker-dealer that will receive new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you acknowledge by tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, you will not be deemed to admit that you are an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

7. If you are a broker-dealer and old notes held for your own account were not acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, such old notes cannot be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

8. Any of your obligations hereunder shall be binding upon your successors, assigns, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal and personal representatives.

 

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INSTRUCTIONS

FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

1.	Book-Entry Confirmations.

Any confirmation of a book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer (a “Book-Entry Confirmation”), as well as Agent’s Message and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date.

 

2.	Partial Tenders.

Tenders of old notes will be accepted only in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The entire principal amount of old notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise communicated to the Exchange Agent. If the entire principal amount of all old notes is not tendered, then old notes for the principal amount of old notes not tendered and new notes issued in exchange for any old notes accepted will be delivered to the holder via the facilities of DTC promptly after the old notes are accepted for exchange.

 

3.	Validity of Tenders.

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance, and withdrawal of tendered old notes will be determined by the Issuer, in its sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding. The Issuer reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders not in proper form or the acceptance for exchange of which may, in the opinion of counsel for the Issuer, be unlawful. The Issuer also reserves the absolute right to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer or any defect or irregularity in the tender of any old notes. The Issuer’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions on the Letter of Transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be cured within such time as the Issuers shall determine. Although the Issuer intends to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes, neither the Issuer, the Exchange Agent, nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any old notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in the Letter of Transmittal, promptly following the Expiration Date.

 

4.	Waiver of Conditions.

The Issuer reserves the absolute right to waive, in whole or part, up to the expiration of the Exchange Offer, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus or in this Letter of Transmittal.

 

5.	No Conditional Tender.

No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tender of old notes will be accepted.

 

6.	Request for Assistance or Additional Copies.

Requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus or this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address or telephone number set forth on the cover page of this Letter of Transmittal. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.

 

7.	Withdrawal.

Tenders may be withdrawn only pursuant to the limited withdrawal rights set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders.”

 

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8.	No Guarantee of Late Delivery.

There is no procedure for guarantee of late delivery in the Exchange Offer.

IMPORTANT: BY USING THE ATOP PROCEDURES TO TENDER OLD NOTES, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS, AND YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IT CONTAINS, JUST AS IF YOU HAD SIGNED IT.

 

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