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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 2, 2023

 

 

 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-35371   61-1630631
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

555 17th Street, Suite 3700

Denver, Colorado 80202

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 293-9100

 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

  

Title of each class   Trading Symbol   Name of  exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   CIVI   New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 


 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

In connection with the closing of the Hibernia Acquisition and the Tap Rock Acquisition (as each is defined below), on August 2, 2023, Civitas Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment”), among the Company, the guarantors party thereto (the “Guarantors”), the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), which Fourth Amendment amends the terms of that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021 (the “Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the Guarantors, each lender from time to time party thereto, and the Administrative Agent.

 

The Fourth Amendment amends the Credit Agreement to, among other things: (i) extend the maturity date to August 2, 2028, (ii) increase the Borrowing Base (as defined in the Credit Agreement) by $1,150,000,000 for a new cumulative Borrowing Base of $3,000,000,000, (iii) increase the aggregate elected commitments of the lenders under the Company’s existing credit facility by an additional $850,000,000, for a total increased facility size of $1,850,000,000 in aggregate elected commitments and (iv) increase the aggregate maximum credit amounts to a cumulative $4,000,000,000.

 

The foregoing description of the Fourth Amendment is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Fourth Amendment, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information set forth in Item 2.01 is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

Hibernia Acquisition

 

As previously disclosed, on June 19, 2023, the Company entered into a membership interest purchase agreement (the “Hibernia Acquisition Agreement”) with Hibernia Energy III Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( “HE3 Holdings”), and Hibernia Energy III-B Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“HE3-B Holdings” and, collectively with HE3 Holdings, the “Hibernia Sellers”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase all of the issued and outstanding equity ownership interests of Hibernia Energy III, LLC and Hibernia Energy III-B, LLC (collectively, the “Hibernia Interests”).

 

On August 2, 2023, the Company completed the Hibernia Acquisition for a purchase price of approximately $2,250,000,000 in cash paid to the Hibernia Sellers for the Hibernia Interests. The Hibernia Acquisition provides for customary post-closing adjustments to the purchase price based on an effective date of July 1, 2023.

 

Tap Rock Acquisition

 

As previously disclosed, on June 19, 2023, the Company entered into a membership interest purchase agreement (as may be amended from time to time, the “Tap Rock Acquisition Agreement”) with Tap Rock Resources Legacy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock I Legacy”), Tap Rock Resources Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock I Intermediate” and, together with Tap Rock I Legacy, the “Tap Rock I Sellers”), Tap Rock Resources II Legacy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock II Legacy”), Tap Rock Resources II Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock II Intermediate” and, together with Tap Rock II Legacy, the “Tap Rock II Sellers”), Tap Rock NM10 Legacy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NM10 Legacy”), and Tap Rock NM10 Holdings Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NM10 Intermediate” and together with NM10 Legacy, the “NM10 Sellers”, and the NM10 Sellers, together with the Tap Rock I Sellers and Tap Rock II Sellers, the “Tap Rock Sellers”), solely in its capacity as “Sellers’ Representative” (as defined therein) , Tap Rock I Legacy (the “Tap Rock Sellers’ Representative”), and solely for the limited purposes set forth therein, Tap Rock Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase all of the issued and outstanding equity ownership interests of Tap Rock AcquisitionCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Tap Rock Resources II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Tap Rock NM10 Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Tap Rock Interests”) from the Tap Rock I Sellers, the Tap Rock II Sellers and the NM10 Sellers, respectively.

 

 


 

On August 2, 2023, the Company completed the Tap Rock Acquisition for a purchase price of (i) approximately $1,500,000,000 million in cash and (ii) 13,538,472 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”) valued, for purposes of the Tap Rock Acquisition Agreement, at approximately $950,000,000 (the “Tap Rock Stock Consideration”) as total consideration paid to the Tap Rock Sellers for the Tap Rock Interests. The Tap Rock Acquisition provides for customary post-closing adjustments to the purchase price based on an effective date of July 1, 2023.

 

Concurrently with the consummation of the Tap Rock Acquisition, pursuant to the terms of the Tap Rock Acquisition Agreement, the Company and designees of the Tap Rock Sellers entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of August 2, 2023 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to, among other things, file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a shelf registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) covering the resale of the Shares comprising the Tap Rock Stock Consideration issued in the Tap Rock Acquisition.

 

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Financial statements of business to be acquired.

 

The Company intends to file the financial statements required to be filed pursuant to Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K by amendment to this Report not later than 71 calendar days after the date this Report is required to be filed.

(b) Pro forma financial information.

 

The Company intends to file the pro forma financial information required to be filed pursuant to Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K by amendment to this Report not later than 71 calendar days after the date this Report is required to be filed.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
10.1   Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated August 2, 2023, among Civitas Resources, Inc., the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent.
10.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2023, by and between Civitas Resources, Inc. and the persons identified on Schedule I thereto.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL).

 

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: August 2, 2023   Civitas Resources, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Travis L. Counts
  Name: Travis L. Counts
  Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

EX-10.1 2 tm2322539d1_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Fourth Amendment”), dated as of August 2, 2023 (the “Fourth Amendment Effective Date”), is among CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”); each of the undersigned guarantors (the “Guarantors”, and together with the Borrower, the “Credit Parties”); each of the Lenders (including the New Lender referred to below) that is a signatory hereto; and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

Recitals

 

A.            The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the Lenders have, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, made certain credit available to and on behalf of the Borrower.

 

B.            The Borrower has advised the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that it has entered into that certain (a) Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of June 19, 2023 (the “Hibernia MIPA”), pursuant to which the Borrower will acquire 100% of the equity interests of (i) Hibernia Energy III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Hibernia”), and (ii) Hibernia Energy III-B, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Hibernia Acquisition”) and (b) Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of June 19, 2023 (the “Tap Rock MIPA” and together with the Hibernia MIPA, collectively the “Specified MIPAs”), pursuant to which the Borrower will acquire 100% of the equity interests of (i) Tap Rock I AcquisitionCo (such term used herein as defined in the Tap Rock MIPA), (ii) Tap Rock Resources II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock II”), and (iii) Tap Rock NM10 Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Tap Rock Acquisition” and together with the Hibernia Acquisition, the “Specified Acquisitions”).

 

C.            In connection with this Fourth Amendment, each of the entities set forth on Annex I hereto, as applicable (each, a “New Obligated Party” and collectively, the “New Obligated Parties”), will be added as a “Guarantor” under the Credit Agreement and will become a party to (by joinder or otherwise) the Guarantee Agreement and certain Security Instruments.

 

D.            The Borrower has requested that Barclays Bank PLC (the “New Lender”) become a Lender under the Credit Agreement with a Maximum Credit Amount as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date in the amounts shown on Schedule 1.2 to the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby).

 

E.            Immediately after giving effect to this Fourth Amendment, each of Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch and Zions Bancorporation, N.A. dba Amegy Bank (each an “Exiting Lender”, and collectively, the “Exiting Lenders”) will cease to be Lenders under the Credit Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth herein.

 

F.            The parties hereto desire to enter into this Fourth Amendment to, among other things, (i) amend the definition of “Total Net Debt” as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof to be effective as of June 30, 2023, (ii) otherwise amend the Credit Agreement as set forth in Section 2 hereof, (iii) evidence the increase of the Borrowing Base from $1,850,000,000 to $3,000,000,000 as set forth in Section 3.1 hereof and (iv) evidence the increase of the Elected Loan Limit from $1,000,000,000 to $1,850,000,000 as set forth in Section 3.2 hereof, in the case of the foregoing clause (ii) through clause (iv), to be effective as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date.

 

1


 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.      Amendments. In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Fourth Amendment, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 hereof, (a) effective as of June 30, 2023, the definition of “Total Net Debt” shall be amended in the manner provided in Section 2.2 and (b) effective as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Credit Agreement shall otherwise be amended in the manner provided in this Section 2.

 

2.1            Additional Definitions. Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add thereto in alphabetical order the following definitions which shall read in full as follows:

 

“Existing Civitas EBITDAX” means, for any period, EBITDAX for such period attributed to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the New Obligated Parties).

 

“Fourth Amendment” means that certain Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto.

 

“Fourth Amendment Effective Date” means August 2, 2023.

 

“New Obligated Parties” has the meaning given to such term in the Fourth Amendment.

 

“Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of “Revolving Credit Maturity Date”.

 

“Target EBITDAX” means, for any period, EBITDAX for such period attributed to the New Obligated Parties on a consolidated and combined basis; provided that for purposes of this definition, each reference to “Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries” appearing in the definition of “EBITDAX” and each other defined term appearing in the definition of “EBITDAX” shall in each case be deemed to refer to the New Obligated Parties on a consolidated and combined basis.

 

2


 

2.2            Amended Definitions. The following definitions contained in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their respective entireties to read in full as follows:

 

“Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts” at any time shall equal the sum of the Maximum Credit Amounts, as the same may be reduced or terminated pursuant to Section 2.05. As of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts of the Revolving Credit Lenders is $4,000,000,000.

 

“Borrowing Base” means at any time an amount equal to the amount determined in accordance with Section 2.06, as the same may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions. As of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowing Base is $3,000,000,000.

 

“EBITDAX” means, subject to the last sentence of this definition, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus without duplication and to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) income or franchise Taxes paid or accrued; (b) Consolidated Interest Expense; (c) amortization, depletion and depreciation expense; (d) any non-cash losses or charges on any Swap Agreement resulting from the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Section 815-10 (as successor to FASB Statement 133) for that period; (e) oil and gas exploration expenses (including all drilling, completion, geological and geophysical costs) for such period; (f) losses from Transfers of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business) and other extraordinary or non-recurring losses; (g) to the extent actually reimbursed by insurance providers, expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption; and (h) other non-cash charges (excluding accruals for cash expenses made in the ordinary course of business); minus, to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) any non-cash gains on any Swap Agreements resulting from the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Section 815-10 (as successor to FASB Statement 133) for that period; (ii) extraordinary or non-recurring gains; (iii) gains from Transfers of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business); and (iv) cancellation of indebtedness income and other non-cash gains; provided that, with respect to the determination of Borrower’s Leverage Ratio for any Rolling Period, EBITDAX shall be adjusted to give effect, on a pro forma basis and consistent with GAAP, to any acquisitions or Transfers made during such period as if such acquisition or Transfer, as the case may be, was made at the beginning of such period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (A) for the Rolling Period ending September 30, 2023, EBITDAX shall be deemed to be the sum of (1) Existing Civitas EBITDAX for such Rolling Period plus (2) (I) Target EBITDAX for the period from April 1, 2023 through and including September 30, 2023 multiplied by (II) two (2), and (B) for the Rolling Period ending December 31, 2023, EBITDAX shall be deemed to be the sum of (1) Existing Civitas EBITDAX for such Rolling Period plus (2) (I) Target EBITDAX for the period from April 1, 2023 through and including December 31, 2023 multiplied by (II) four-thirds (4/3).

 

3


 

“Free Cash Flow” means, as of any date of determination, the result of (a) EBITDAX for the Rolling Period most recently ended for which a certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(n), minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of the following cash expenses or cash charges to the extent added back in the calculation of EBITDAX for such period: (i) interest, (ii) income and franchise taxes, (iii) exploration expenses, including plugging and abandonment expenses, and (iv) to the extent not included in the foregoing and added back in the calculation of EBITDAX for such period, any other cash expense or cash charge that otherwise served to increase EBITDAX for such period, minus (c) the sum, without duplication, of (i) capital expenditures and (ii) cash principal payments in respect of any Debt for borrowed money (other than the Obligations and any Redemptions made under Section 9.15(b)(iv)) that cannot be reborrowed pursuant to the terms of such Debt, in each case, incurred or made by the Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, and (d) minus the increase (or plus the decrease) in non-cash Working Capital from the last day immediately prior to the Rolling Period for which EBITDAX is calculated pursuant to the foregoing clause (a). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (A) for the Rolling Period ending September 30, 2023, EBITDAX for purposes of this definition shall be deemed to be the sum of (1) Existing Civitas EBITDAX for such Rolling Period plus (2) Target EBITDAX for the period from July 1, 2023 through and including September 30, 2023, (B) for the Rolling Period ending December 31, 2023, EBITDAX for purposes of this definition shall be deemed to be the sum of (1) Existing Civitas EBITDAX for such Rolling Period plus (2) Target EBITDAX for the period from July 1, 2023 through and including December 31, 2023, and (C) for the Rolling Period ending March 31, 2024, EBITDAX for purposes of this definition shall be deemed to be the sum of (1) Existing Civitas EBITDAX for such Rolling Period plus (2) Target EBITDAX for the period from July 1, 2023 through and including March 31, 2024.

 

“Issuing Bank” means (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., KeyBank National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and (b) if requested by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, any other Person who is a Lender at the time of such request and who accepts such appointment in writing with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder. Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. References herein and in the Loan Documents to the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to the Issuing Bank in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all Issuing Banks, as the context requires.

 

4


 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, the Notes, the Letter of Credit Agreements, the Letters of Credit, the Security Instruments, the Guarantee Agreement, any Intercreditor Agreement, and the Fee Letter.

 

“Permitted Pari Term Loan Debt” means secured Debt (other than the Obligations) in the form of senior secured term loans or other debt securities (whether registered or privately placed), so long as (a) after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Debt (and the use of proceeds thereof), the Secured Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, (b) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (c) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt, the unused Commitments available to be borrowed is not less than 20% of the total Commitments then in effect, (d) such Debt has a stated maturity that is no earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date in effect at the time of issuance of such Permitted Pari Term Loan Debt; provided that such Debt may have customary springing maturity mechanics; provided, further, that any springing maturity date provided for in such Debt shall not, in any case, occur on or before the Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (e) such Debt does not have any scheduled prepayment, amortization, or Redemption provisions prior to the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date in effect at the time of issuance (other than (i) customary change of control or asset sale tender offer provisions, (ii) special mandatory Redemption provisions in connection with both Specified Acquisitions failing to close before a specified date, and (iii) scheduled amortization no greater than five percent (5%) per annum of the original principal amount of such Debt per year), (f) such Debt does not contain any financial covenants that are more restrictive than any financial covenants set forth in this Agreement (other than a customary collateral coverage ratio), (g) such Debt is on terms, taken as a whole, not materially less favorable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries than market terms for similar senior secured term loans for borrowers of similar size and credit quality given the then prevailing market conditions, in each case as reasonably determined by the Borrower, (h) such Debt is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations (it being understood that the determination as to whether such Liens are on a pari passu basis shall be made without regard to control of remedies) and is not secured by any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Collateral (and is not secured by any cash collateral provided in accordance herewith), (i) such Debt is not guaranteed by any subsidiary of the Borrower other than the Credit Parties or any Person that becomes a Credit Party in connection with the incurrence of such Debt, (j) the administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee and/or any similar representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Debt shall have become party to a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, providing that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Debt shall rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations (it being understood that the determination as to whether such Liens rank equal in priority shall be made without regard to control of remedies), and (k) if such Debt is being incurred prior to the date on which either of the Specified Acquisitions is consummated and the proceeds of such Debt are intended to be used to fund a portion of the consideration for one or both of the Specified Acquisitions under the terms of such Debt, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary must be irrevocably obligated to Redeem such Debt if neither of the Specified Acquisitions is consummated by a specified date. It is understood and agreed that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Permitted Pari Term Loan Debt may only be incurred in reliance on, and remain outstanding, pursuant to Section 9.02(j) and/or Section 9.02(g).

 

5


 

“Permitted Refinancing” means any Debt of any Credit Party, and Debt constituting Guarantees thereof by any Credit Party, to the extent incurred or issued in exchange for, or to the extent the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund, existing Debt that is permitted under this Agreement, in whole or in part, from time to time; provided that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing (or if such Permitted Refinancing is issued at a discount, the initial issuance price of such Permitted Refinancing) does not exceed the principal amount of the Debt being refinanced (plus the amount of any premiums, accrued and unpaid interest and fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith), (b) such Permitted Refinancing does not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to the date which is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date in effect at the time of issuance for such new Debt (except for any offer to redeem such Debt required as a result of asset sales or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the applicable agreement governing the terms of such Debt), (c) if the Debt being refinanced is unsecured, then such Permitted Refinancing is unsecured, (d) if the Debt being refinanced is secured, then such Permitted Refinancing may be secured but only with the same priority as the Debt being refinanced and such Permitted Refinancing shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, (e) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Permitted Refinancing unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor, and (f) to the extent such Permitted Refinancing is or is intended to be expressly subordinate to the payment in full of all of the Obligations, the subordination provisions contained therein are either (x) at least as favorable to the Secured Parties as the subordination provisions contained in the Debt being refinanced or (y) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders; provided that, in the case of any incurrence or issuance of Debt as to which only a portion of such incurred or issued Debt satisfies the foregoing conditions, the portion thereof that satisfies the foregoing conditions shall be deemed to constitute a Permitted Refinancing, notwithstanding that other portions of such incurred or issued Debt do not constitute a Permitted Refinancing.

 

“Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means the earlier to occur of (a) the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the scheduled maturity of any Permitted Additional Debt and (b) August 2, 2028 (the “Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date”).

 

6


 

“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions (which as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date includes, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

“Total Net Debt” means, as of any date, the difference of (a) consolidated Total Debt of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties and (b) any unrestricted cash and cash equivalents which is subject to a perfected, first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent; provided that the amount in this clause (b) shall not exceed $75,000,000 if any Loans or Letters of Credit are outstanding as of such date of determination; provided, further, that solely for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023 and solely for purposes of Section 9.01(b), the $75,000,000 cap provided for in the first proviso herein shall not apply to any unrestricted cash and cash equivalents that represent the proceeds of any Specified Acquisitions Additional Indebtedness and which are subject to a perfected, first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent.

 

2.3            Amendment to Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement. Section 2.01(b)(i) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the words “the Elected Loan Limit as of the Second Amendment Effective Date is $1,000,000,000”, and inserting the words “the Elected Loan Limit as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date is $1,850,000,000”.

 

2.4            Amendment to Section 2.06 of the Credit Agreement. Section 2.06(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end of such section to read in full as follows:

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.06(b), the first Scheduled Redetermination to occur after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date shall occur on or about May 1, 2024.

 

2.5            Amendments to Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement. Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by:

 

(a)            amending and restating the first sentence of Section 2.07(a) in its entirety to read in full as follows:

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Issuing Bank may (but shall not be required to) through the Issuing Office, at any time and from time to time from and after the date hereof until five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, upon the written request of the Borrower (which written request must be received no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the requested issuance date of any Letter of Credit) accompanied by a duly executed Letter of Credit Agreement and such other documentation related to the requested Letter of Credit as each Issuing Bank may reasonably require, issue Letters of Credit in Dollars for the account of any Credit Party, (x) in an aggregate amount for all Letters of Credit issued hereunder at any one time outstanding by all Issuing Banks not to exceed the Letter of Credit Maximum Amount and (y) with respect to each Issuing Bank, in an aggregate amount for all Letters of Credit issued hereunder by such Issuing Bank at any one time outstanding not to exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Sublimit without the consent of such Issuing Bank.

 

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(b)            amending and restating clause (iii) appearing in Section 2.07(b) in its entirety to read in full as follows:

 

(iii)            if requested by an Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall have delivered to such Issuing Bank at its Issuing Office the Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto (which must be received no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the requested issuance date), together with such other documents and materials as may be reasonably required pursuant to the terms thereof, and the terms of the proposed Letter of Credit shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank;

 

(c)            amending and restating clause (ii) appearing in Section 2.07(f) in its entirety to read in full as follows:

 

(ii)            If any Issuing Bank shall honor a draft or other demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to pay to such Issuing Bank an amount equal to the amount paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit and all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent relative thereto not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York time), in Dollars, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower received notice of such presentment and honor, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York time) or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower received such notice, if such notice is received after 10:00 a.m. (New York time).

 

2.6            Amendment to Section 8.01(c) of the Credit Agreement. Section 8.01(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by:

 

(a)            replacing the semicolon at the end of Section 8.01(c) with a period and

 

(b)            adding a new sentence to the end of Section 8.01(c) to read in full as follows:

 

With respect to each fiscal period ending September 30, 2023, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024, such compliance certificate shall include reasonably detailed calculations of Existing Civitas EBITDAX and Target EBITDAX and reasonable supporting information relating thereto;

 

2.7            Amendment to Section 8.19 of the Credit Agreement. Section 8.19 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read in full as follows:

 

Section 8.19      Swap Agreements. Commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter (each such date, a “Specified Swap Test Date”), the Credit Parties shall be party to Swap Agreements, in the form of fixed-price swaps and purchased put options or collars, in each case, with prices and terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, covering not less than fifty percent (50%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Developed Producing Reserves (as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report prior to such Specified Swap Test Date) for crude oil for each calendar month of the twelve (12) calendar month period commencing with the calendar month immediately following such Specified Swap Test Date; provided that if the Leverage Ratio is less than 1.0 to 1.0 as of the Applicable Leverage Ratio Test Date with respect to any such Specified Swap Test Date, the Credit Parties shall not be required to comply with the foregoing requirements for such Specified Swap Test Date. The Borrower shall not unwind, terminate or enter into any off-setting positions to the hedges required under this Section 8.19 except (i) to the extent necessary to comply with Section 9.14, (ii) in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 9.10(e) or (iii) at the time of such unwinding, termination or off-setting trade, it was not required to comply with this Section 8.19. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of this Section 8.19, the Leverage Ratio as of September 30, 2021 shall be deemed to be less than 1.0 to 1.0 and the Credit Parties shall not be required to comply with this Section 8.19 for the Specified Swap Test Date occurring on December 31, 2021.

 

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2.8            Amendment to Section 9.02(f)(iii) of the Credit Agreement. Section 9.02(f)(iii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the first reference to “Revolving Credit Maturity Date” appearing therein with a reference to “Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date”.

 

2.9            Amendment to Section 9.04 of the Credit Agreement. Section 9.04(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read in full as follows:

 

(d)            any Credit Party may make a Restricted Payment not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.04, provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, and (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, (A) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 1.75 to 1.0 and (B) the Commitment Utilization Percentage does not exceed seventy-five percent (75%); and

 

2.10            Amendments to Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement. Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by:

 

(a)            deleting the word “and” appearing at the end of Section 9.05(l);

 

(b)            replacing the period at the end of Section 9.05(m) with “; and”; and

 

(c)            adding a new clause (n) immediately after clause (m) therein to read in full as follows:

 

(n)            The consummation of the Specified Acquisitions on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date.

 

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2.11            Amendments to Section 9.15 of the Credit Agreement. Section 9.15 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each reference to “Revolving Credit Maturity Date” appearing therein with a reference to “Stated Revolving Credit Maturity Date”.

 

2.12            Amendments to Section 11.08 of the Credit Agreement. Section 11.08 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by:

 

(a)            replacing the second reference to romanette (i) in the third sentence of Section 11.08 with a reference to romanette (iv); and

 

(b)            replacing the second reference to romanette (ii) in the third sentence of Section 11.08 with a reference to romanette (v);

 

2.13            Replacement of Schedule 1.2. Schedule 1.2 to the Credit Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety with Schedule 1.2 hereto, and Schedule 1.2 hereto shall be deemed to be attached as Schedule 1.2 to the Credit Agreement. Immediately after giving effect to this Fourth Amendment and any Borrowings made on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, (a) each Lender (including the New Lender but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Exiting Lenders) who holds Loans in an aggregate amount less than its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of all Loans shall advance new Loans which shall be disbursed to the Administrative Agent and used to repay Loans outstanding to each Lender who holds Loans in an aggregate amount greater than its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of all Loans (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the repayment of all Loans owing to each Exiting Lender), (b) each Lender’s (including the New Lender’s) participation in each Letter of Credit, if any, shall be automatically adjusted to equal its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage, (c) such other adjustments shall be made as the Administrative Agent shall specify so that the Revolving Credit Exposure applicable to each Lender (including the New Lender) equals its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders (and any other such adjustments that the Administrative Agent shall specify that provide for the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest owing to each Exiting Lender) and (d) upon request by each applicable Lender, the Borrower shall be required to make any break funding payments owing to such Lender that are required under Section 5.02 of the Credit Agreement as a result of the reallocation of Loans and adjustments described in this Section 2.13.

 

2.14            Replacement of Schedule 7.14. Schedule 7.14 to the Credit Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety with Schedule 7.14 hereto, and Schedule 7.14 hereto shall be deemed to be attached as Schedule 7.14 to the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 3.      Borrowing Base and Election of Elected Loan Limit.

 

3.1            Borrowing Base. In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Fourth Amendment, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 hereof, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders (including the New Lender) hereby agree that, effective as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowing Base is hereby increased from $1,850,000,000 to $3,000,000,000, and shall remain at $3,000,000,000 until the next Scheduled Redetermination, Interim Redetermination or other adjustment of the Borrowing Base thereafter, whichever occurs first pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. The Borrower and the Lenders acknowledge that the redetermination of the Borrowing Base provided for in this Section 3.1 shall not constitute either a Scheduled Redetermination nor an Interim Redetermination, in each case, for the purposes of Section 2.06 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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3.2            Election of Elected Loan Limit. In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Fourth Amendment, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 hereof, and in connection with the Borrowing Base increase provided for in Section 3.1 hereof, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders (including the New Lender) and the Borrower agree that the Elected Loan Limit shall be increased from $1,000,000,000 to $1,850,000,000, and shall remain $1,850,000,000 until subsequently decreased or increased pursuant to Section 2.01(b) of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 4.      Conditions Precedent. The effectiveness of this Fourth Amendment is subject to the following:

 

4.1            Counterparts. The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Fourth Amendment from (a) each of the Credit Parties (including the New Obligated Parties after giving effect to the Assumption Agreement (as defined below)), (b) each of the Lenders (including the New Lender) and (c) each of the Exiting Lenders.

 

4.2            Fees. The Administrative Agent shall have received, to the extent invoiced at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (including all fees and other amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent on account of the Lenders (including the New Lender)).

 

4.3            Legal Opinion. The Administrative Agent shall have received a signed legal opinion of Kirkland and Ellis LLP, counsel to the Credit Parties (including the New Obligated Parties) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

4.4            Absence of Liens and Applicable Credit Agreement Termination.

 

(a)            The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it (including mortgage releases and UCC-3 financing statement terminations, as applicable) that all Liens on the Equity Interests in the New Obligated Parties and the Properties of the New Obligated Parties have been released or terminated, subject only to the filing of applicable terminations and releases and Permitted Liens.

 

(b)            The Administrative Agent shall have received a payoff letter and/or termination letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent evidencing that, contemporaneously with the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment and the making of any Loans on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, (a) the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2018, among Hibernia, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified) has been repaid in full, (b) the commitments thereunder have been terminated, and (c) the liens securing the Debt under such agreement have been released and terminated.

 

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(c)            The Administrative Agent shall have received documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent evidencing that, contemporaneously with the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment and the making of any Loans on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, (a) each of Tap Rock Holdings, LLC, Tap Rock Midstream, LLC and Tap Rock Minerals, LP is released from its respective obligations as a “Mortgagor”, “Credit Party”, “Grantor” or “Guarantor”, as applicable, under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2022 among Tap Rock Resources, LLC, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Tap Rock I Credit Agreement”) and any of the Loan Documents (as defined in the Tap Rock I Credit Agreement) executed in connection therewith to which it is a party, (b) all liens on the Equity Interests in each of Tap Rock Holdings, LLC, Tap Rock Midstream, LLC and Tap Rock Minerals, LP have been released and terminated and (c) all liens securing the Debt under such agreement granted by each of Tap Rock Holdings, LLC, Tap Rock Midstream, LLC and Tap Rock Minerals, LP have been released and terminated.

 

(d)            The Administrative Agent shall have received a payoff letter and/or termination letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent evidencing that, contemporaneously with the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment and the making of any Loans on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, (a) the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2021 among Tap Rock II, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified) has been repaid in full, (b) the commitments thereunder have been terminated, and (c) the liens securing the Debt under such agreement have been released and terminated.

 

(e)            The Administrative Agent shall have received a payoff letter and/or termination letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent evidencing that, contemporaneously with the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment and the making of any Loans on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, (a) the Loan Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2020 among Tap Rock NM10 Minerals, LLC, as borrower, and Pegasus Bank, as lender (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified) has been repaid in full, (b) the commitments thereunder have been terminated, and (c) the liens securing the Debt under such agreement have been released and terminated.

 

4.5            Lien Searches (New Obligated Parties). The Administrative Agent shall have received appropriate UCC search results reflecting no prior Liens encumbering the Properties of, or the Equity Interest in, the New Obligated Parties for the State of Delaware and any other jurisdiction reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, other than Permitted Liens.

 

4.6            Closing Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the secretary, assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying: (a) that attached to such certificate is a true, accurate and complete copy of each Specified MIPA and all material side letters and each other material agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the “Plan of Merger” (such term used herein as defined in the Tap Rock MIPA)) and instrument executed and delivered in connection with the Specified Acquisitions (collectively, the “Specified Acquisition Documents”), (b) that substantially concurrently with any Borrowings on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower is consummating the Specified Acquisitions substantially in accordance with the terms of the Specified Acquisition Documents (without any material waiver or amendment thereof not otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent) and the Credit Parties (as defined prior to giving effect to this Fourth Amendment) shall, directly or indirectly, own all of the Equity Interests in, and Oil and Gas Properties of, the New Obligated Parties, and (c) that all governmental and third party consents and all equity holder and board of director (or comparable entity management body) authorizations of the Specified Acquisitions that are conditions to the consummation of the Specified Acquisitions have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

 

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4.7            Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate, in form reasonably acceptable to it, from the chief financial officer of the Borrower certifying that, after giving effect to the Specified Acquisitions, the Credit Parties (including the New Obligated Parties) on a consolidated basis are solvent.

 

4.8            Minimum Liquidity. After giving effect to Section 3 hereof, any Borrowing made or Letter of Credit issued on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date and the consummation of the Specified Acquisitions, the sum of (a) the unused Commitments available to be drawn plus (b) the Credit Parties’ (including the New Obligated Parties’) unrestricted cash on hand shall not be less than 20% of the total Commitments.

 

4.9            Security Agreement Supplement. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Security Agreement Supplement as required by Section 8.14 of the Credit Agreement and Section 6.11 of the Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, duly executed and delivered by the New Obligated Parties and the applicable Credit Parties party thereto.

 

4.10            Assumption Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received an Assumption Agreement as required by Section 8.14 of the Credit Agreement and Section 7.13 of the Guarantee Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent duly executed and delivered by the New Obligated Parties (the “Assumption Agreement”).

 

4.11            Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the secretary, assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer of each Credit Party (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each New Obligated Party) setting forth (a) resolutions of the members, board of directors or other appropriate governing body with respect to the authorization of such Credit Party to execute and deliver the Fourth Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, (b) the officers of such Credit Party who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such Credit Party is a party and who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and the other Loan Documents, and the transactions contemplated thereby, (c) specimen signatures of such authorized officers, and (d) the limited liability company agreement, the articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws or other applicable organizational documents of such Credit Party, certified as being true and complete. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Administrative Agent receives notice in writing from the Credit Parties to the contrary.

 

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4.12            UCC Financing Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received a UCC financing statement as the Administrative Agent may request with respect to each New Obligated Party to perfect the Liens granted pursuant to the Security Instruments that may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement.

 

4.13            Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of the appropriate State agencies with respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of each Credit Party (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each New Obligated Party).

 

4.14            KYC Requirements. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received (at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Fourth Amendment Effective Date), and be reasonably satisfied in form and substance with, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including but not restricted to the USA PATRIOT Act, to the extent that Administrative Agent and/or the Lender have requested such documentation or other information at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Fourth Amendment Effective Date.

 

4.15            Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed Revolving Credit Notes payable to each Revolving Credit Lender (including the New Lender) requesting a Revolving Credit Note (to the extent requested at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Fourth Amendment Effective Date) in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Credit Amount (as amended hereby) dated as of the date hereof.

 

Section 5.      New Lender. The New Lender hereby joins in, becomes a party to, and agrees to comply with and be bound by the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and under each and every other Loan Document to which any Lender is required to be bound by the Credit Agreement, to the same extent as if the New Lender was an original signatory thereto. The New Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as the Administrative Agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. The New Lender represents and warrants that (a) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Fourth Amendment, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (b) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 8.01 thereof, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Fourth Amendment and to become a Lender on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (c) from and after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, it shall be a party to and be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder.

 

Section 6.      Post-Closing Matters.

 

6.1            Mortgages, Mortgage Amendments and Legal Opinions. Within forty-five (45) days after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Credit Parties (including the New Obligated Parties, as applicable) shall (a) execute and deliver real property mortgages or deeds of trust in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to the extent necessary so that Security Instruments create first priority, perfected Liens (subject only to Permitted Liens) on at least 90% of the total value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties (including the New Obligated Parties) as set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve Report, (b) execute and deliver duly executed amendments and restatements and/or amendments to any mortgages and deeds of trust that are in effect immediately prior to the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to reflect, among other things, the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts of the Lenders and the Revolving Credit Maturity date, in each case as amended by this Fourth Amendment, and (c) legal opinions (including from local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) covering such mortgage related matters in connection with the foregoing as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

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6.2            Stock Certificates and Powers. Within fifteen (15) days after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Administrative Agent shall have received all certificates representing the Equity Interests of the New Obligated Parties, if any, accompanied by any instruments of transfer and/or undated powers endorsed in blank.

 

6.3            Control Agreements. Within forty-five (45) days after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), with respect to each Deposit Account, Commodity Account and Securities Account of the New Obligated Parties in existence on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (in each case, other than Excluded Accounts), the Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed Control Agreements in accordance with and to the extent required by the Security Agreement.

 

6.4            Insurance Certificates. Within forty-five (45) days after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of insurance coverage of each New Obligated Party evidencing that the New Obligated Parties are carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.12 of the Credit Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement, failure to comply with any provision in this Section 6 within the periods specified herein shall constitute an immediate Event of Default without any cure or grace period.

 

Section 7.      Miscellaneous.

 

7.1            Confirmation and Effect. The provisions of the Credit Agreement (as amended by this Fourth Amendment) shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the effectiveness of this Fourth Amendment, and this Fourth Amendment shall not constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document. Each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof”, “herein”, or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and each reference to the Credit Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement executed and/or delivered in connection with the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

 

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7.2            Ratification and Affirmation of Credit Parties. Each of the Credit Parties hereby expressly (a) acknowledges the terms of this Fourth Amendment, (b) ratifies and affirms its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) acknowledges, renews and extends its continued liability under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (d) agrees, with respect to each Credit Party that is a Guarantor, that its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement remains in full force and effect with respect to the Obligations as amended hereby, (e) represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that each representation and warranty of such Credit Party contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party is true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and after giving effect to the amendments set forth in Section 2 hereof except (i) to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, on and as of the date hereof, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified earlier date, and (ii) to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly qualified by materiality or by reference to Material Adverse Effect, such representation and warranty (as so qualified) shall continue to be true and correct in all respects, (f) represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that the execution, delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this Fourth Amendment are within such Credit Party’s corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company powers (as applicable), have been duly authorized by all necessary action and that this Fourth Amendment constitutes the valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditor’s rights generally, and (g) represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that, after giving effect to this Fourth Amendment, no Default or Event of Default exists.

 

7.3            Counterparts. This Fourth Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of this Fourth Amendment by fax or electronic transmission (e.g. “.pdf”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed original counterpart hereof. The execution and delivery of this Fourth Amendment shall be deemed to include electronic signatures on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as delivery of a manually executed signature, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that, upon the request of any party hereto, such electronic signature shall be promptly followed by the original thereof.

 

7.4            No Oral Agreement. This written Fourth Amendment, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents executed in connection herewith and therewith represent the final agreement between the parties and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or unwritten oral agreements of the parties. There are no subsequent oral agreements between the parties that modify the agreements of the parties in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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7.5            Governing Law. This Fourth Amendment (including, but not limited to, the validity and enforceability hereof) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

7.6            Payment of Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Fourth Amendment, any other documents prepared in connection herewith and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent.

 

7.7            Severability. Any provision of this Fourth Amendment which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

7.8            Successors and Assigns. This Fourth Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

7.9            Exiting Lender Consent. By its execution of this Fourth Amendment, each Exiting Lender hereby (a) consents to this Fourth Amendment in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement solely for purposes of Section 12.02 of the Credit Agreement, and (b) acknowledges and agrees to Section 2.13 of this Fourth Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees and confirms that after giving effect to Section 2.13 of this Fourth Amendment, including after giving effect to the repayment of all Loans and accrued and unpaid interest and fees owing to each Exiting Lender, each Exiting Lender’s Commitment shall be $0.00, each Exiting Lender’s Commitments to lend and all other obligations of each Exiting Lender under the Credit Agreement shall be terminated, and each Exiting Lender shall cease to be a Lender for all purposes under the Loan Documents.

 

[Signature Pages Follow.]

 

17


 

The parties hereto have caused this Fourth Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER: CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Marianella Foschi
  Name: Marianella Foschi
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  GUARANTORS:
   
  BONANZA CREEK ENERGY OPERATING COMPANY, LLC
  CIVITAS NORTH, LLC
  HOLMES EASTERN COMPANY, LLC
  ROCKY MOUNTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE, LLC
  HIGHPOINT RESOURCES CORPORATION
  HIGHPOINT OPERATING CORPORATION
  FIFTH POCKET PRODUCTION, LLC
  EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.
  EXTRACTION FINANCE CORP.
  MOUNTAINTOP MINERALS, LLC
  TABLE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, LLC
  NORTHWEST CORRIDOR HOLDINGS, LLC
  XTR MIDSTREAM, LLC
  7N, LLC
  8 NORTH, LLC
  AXIS EXPLORATION, LLC
  XOG SERVICES, LLC
  RAPTOR CONDOR MERGER SUB 2, LLC
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES GP INC.
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LLC
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LP
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES ACQUISITION COMPANY I LLC
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES OPERATING LLC
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES MIDSTREAM LLC
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES HOLDINGS LLC
  COLLEGIATE HOLDINGS LLC
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS MIDSTREAM LLC
  CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS HOLDINGS LLC

 

  By: /s/ Marianella Foschi
  Name: Marianella Foschi
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  CIVITAS DE BASIN RESOURCES, LLC
  CIVITAS DE BASIN HOLDINGS, LLC
  CIVITAS DE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
  CIVITAS DE BASIN MINERALS, LP
   
  CIVITAS DE BASIN RESOURCES II, LLC
  CIVITAS DE BASIN HOLDINGS II, LLC
  CIVITAS DE BASIN MINERALS II, LLC
   
  CIVITAS DE BASIN NM HOLDINGS, LLC
  CIVITAS DE BASIN NM MINERALS, LLC
   
  CIVITAS MID BASIN ENERGY, LLC
  CIVITAS MID BASIN ENERGY B, LLC
  CIVITAS PERMIAN OPERATING, LLC

 

  By: /s/ Marianella Foschi
  Name: Marianella Foschi
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent and a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Umar Hassan
  Name: Umar Hassan
  Title: Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Ronald E. McKaig
  Name: Ronald E. McKaig
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  CITIBANK, N.A.,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Cliff Vaz
  Name: Cliff Vaz
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  FIFTH THIRD BANK,
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Jonathan H. Lee
  Name: Jonathan H. Lee
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ George McKean
  Name: George McKean
  Title: Senior Vice President

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  PNC BANK,
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Robert Downey
  Name: Robert Downey
  Title: Vice President

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Emilee Scott
  Name: Emilee Scott
  Title: Authorized Signatory

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  TRUIST BANK,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Benjamin L. Brown
  Name: Benjamin L. Brown
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  U.S. BANK NATIONAL
  ASSOCIATION,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Bruce Hernandez
  Name: Bruce Hernandez
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  WELLS FARGO BANK,
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Taylor Morgan
  Name: Taylor Morgan
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  CAPITAL ONE,
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Christopher Kuna
  Name: Christopher Kuna
  Title: Senior Director

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK,
  NEW YORK BRANCH,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Jonathan Schwartz       
  Name: Jonathan Schwartz
  Title: Authorized Signatory

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  BOKF, NA,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Benjamin H. Adler
  Name: Benjamin H. Adler
  Title: Senior Vice President

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  COMERICA BANK,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ William Goodrich
  Name: William Goodrich
  Title: Assistant Vice President

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Andrew Vernon
  Name: Andrew Vernon
  Title: Authorized Signatory

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  ZIONS BANCORPORATION, N.A. dba
  AMEGY BANK,
  as an Exiting Lender
   
  By: /s/ Kathlin Ardell           
  Name: Kathlin Ardell
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  CREDIT SUISSE AG,
  NEW YORK BRANCH,
  as an Exiting Lender
   
  By: /s/ Komal Shah
  Name: Komal Shah
  Title: Authorized Signatory

  

  By: /s/ Michael Wagner
  Name: Michael Wagner
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

  BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
  as New Lender
   
  By: /s/ Sydney G. Dennis
  Name: Sydney G. Dennis
  Title: Director

  

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

 


 

ANNEX I

 

NEW OBLIGATED PARTIES

 

1. Civitas DE Basin Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
2. Civitas DE Basin Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
3. Civitas DE Basin Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
4. Civitas DE Basin Minerals, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

5. Civitas DE Basin Resources II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
6. Civitas DE Basin Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
7. Civitas DE Basin Minerals II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

8. Civitas DE Basin NM Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
9. Civitas DE Basin NM Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

10. Civitas MID Basin Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
11. Civitas MID Basin Energy B, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
12. Civitas Permian Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

 


 

SCHEDULE 1.2

 

ALLOCATIONS

 

Name of Lender   Applicable Revolving Credit
Percentage
    Maximum Credit
Amount
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.   8.783783784 %   $ 351,351,351.35  
Bank of America, N.A.   8.783783784 %   $ 351,351,351.35  
Citibank, N.A.   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
Fifth Third Bank, National Association   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
Goldman Sachs Bank USA   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
KeyBank National Association   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
PNC Bank, National Association   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
Royal Bank of Canada   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
Truist Bank   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
U.S. Bank National Association   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association   7.027027027 %   $ 281,081,081.08  
Barclays Bank PLC   4.864864865 %   $ 194,594,594.60  
Capital One, National Association   4.864864865 %   $ 194,594,594.60  
The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch   4.864864865 %   $ 194,594,594.60  
BOKF, NA   2.297297297 %   $ 91,891,891.89  
Comerica Bank   2.297297297 %   $ 91,891,891.89  
Total   100.00000000 %   $ 4,000,000,000.00  

 

 


 

SCHEDULE 7.14

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.:

 

· BONANZA CREEK ENERGY OPERATING COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· HIGHPOINT RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
· CIVITAS NORTH, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company
· EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC., a Delaware corporation
· RAPTOR CONDOR MERGER SUB 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS DE BASIN RESOURCES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS DE BASIN RESOURCES II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS DE BASIN NM HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS MID BASIN ENERGY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS MID BASIN ENERGY B, LLC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF BONANZA CREEK ENERGY OPERATING COMPANY, LLC:

 

· ROCKY MOUNTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· HOLMES EASTERN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF HIGHPOINT RESOURCES CORPORATION:

 

· HIGHPOINT OPERATING CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF HIGHPOINT OPERATING CORPORATION:

 

· FIFTH POCKET PRODUCTION, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.:

 

· EXTRACTION FINANCE CORP., a Delaware corporation
· MOUNTAINTOP MINERALS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· TABLE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· NORTHWEST CORRIDOR HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· XTR MIDSTREAM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· 7N, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· 8 NORTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· AXIS EXPLORATION, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· XOG SERVICES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

 


 

SUBSIDIARIES OF RAPTOR CONDOR MERGER SUB 2, LLC:

 

· COLLEGIATE HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES ACQUISITION COMPANY I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES GP INC., a Delaware corporation
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LP, a Delaware limited partnership
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES MIDSTREAM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES OPERATING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS MIDSTREAM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF CIVITAS DE BASIN RESOURCES, LLC:

 

· CIVITAS DE BASIN HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS DE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS DE BASIN MINERALS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF CIVITAS DE BASIN RESOURCES II, LLC:

 

· CIVITAS DE BASIN HOLDINGS II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
· CIVITAS DE BASIN MINERALS II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

SUBSIDIARIES OFCIVITAS DE BASIN NM HOLDINGS, LLC:

 

· CIVITAS DE BASIN NM MINERALS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF CIVITAS MID BASIN ENERGY, LLC:

 

· CIVITAS PERMIAN OPERATING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

 

EX-10.2 3 tm2322539d1_ex10-2.htm EXHIBIT 10.2

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated August 2, 2023, is entered into by and among Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the Persons identified on Schedule I hereto (each, an “Initial Holder”).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, Tap Rock Resources Legacy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock I Legacy”), Tap Rock Resources Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock I Intermediate” and together with Tap Rock I Legacy, each a “Tap Rock I Seller” and collectively the “Tap Rock I Sellers”), Tap Rock Resources II Legacy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock II Legacy”), Tap Rock Resources II Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tap Rock II Intermediate” and together with Tap Rock II Legacy, each a “Tap Rock II Seller” and collectively the “Tap Rock II Sellers”), Tap Rock NM10 Legacy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NM10 Legacy”), Tap Rock NM10 Holdings Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NM10 Intermediate” and together with NM10 Legacy, each a “NM10 Seller” and collectively the “NM10 Sellers,” and the NM10 Sellers, together with the Tap Rock I Sellers and Tap Rock II Sellers, collectively, the “Sellers”), and Tap Rock Resources Legacy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (solely in its capacity as Sellers Representative under Section 14.18(b) thereof) (the “Purchase Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, on the date hereof the Company is issuing the Shares (as defined below) to the Initial Holders in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

“Adoption Agreement” means an Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

“Affiliate” means (a) as to any Person, other than an individual Holder, any other Person who directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person and (b) as to any individual, (i) any Relative of such individual, (ii) any trust whose primary beneficiaries are one or more of such individual and such individual’s Relatives, (iii) the legal representative or guardian of such individual or any of such individual’s Relatives if one has been appointed and (iv) any Person controlled by one or more of such individual or any Person referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, (a) (i) the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates and (ii) any fund, entity or account managed, advised or sub-advised, directly or indirectly, by a Holder or any of its Affiliates, shall be considered an Affiliate of such Holder and (b) with respect to any fund, entity or account managed, advised or sub-advised directly or indirectly, by any Holder or any of its Affiliates, the direct or indirect equity owners thereof, including limited partners of any Holder or any Affiliate thereof, shall be considered an Affiliate of such Holder.

 

 


 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

 

“Block Trade” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Business Day” means a day other than a day on which banks in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental agency.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

 

“Company Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c)(i).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

“Existing Holders” means each “Holder” as defined in the Existing RRA.

 

“Existing RRA” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021, by and among the Company and the persons identified on Schedule I thereto.

 

“Financial Counterparty” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

“Governmental Entity” means any federal, state, local or municipal court, governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission or other government authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (which entity has jurisdiction over the applicable Person).

 

“Holder” means a holder of Registrable Securities; “Holder Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c)(i).

 

2 


 

 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

“Initial Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Law” means any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, judgment, order, treaty, convention, governmental directive or other legally enforceable requirement, U.S. or non-U.S., of any Governmental Entity, including common law.

 

“Legend Removal Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

 

“Lock-Up Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

 

“Major Holder” means the Major Institutional Holders and the Major Management Holders, each a “Major Holder” and together, the “Major Holders.”

 

“Major Institutional Holder” means the Tap Rock I Sellers, the Tap Rock II Sellers, the NM10 Sellers and any other Holder that is an Affiliate of NGP Energy Capital Management, L.L.C., each a “Major Institutional Holder” and together, the “Major Institutional Holders.”

 

“Major Management Holder” means each of Ryan Springmeyer and Ryan London, and each of their respective Affiliates, each a “Major Management Holder” and together, the “Major Management Holders.”

 

“Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the lead book-running manager(s) of such Underwritten Offering.

 

“NM10 Intermediate” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“NM10 Legacy” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“NM10 Seller” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Offering Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

“Opt-Out Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

 

“Organized Offering” means a Shelf Underwritten Offering or a Block Trade.

 

“Other Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c)(i).

 

“Participating Majority” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d).

 

“Permitted Transferee” means (i) any Affiliate of a Holder and (ii) with respect to any Initial Holder, any of the direct or indirect partners, shareholders, members or other holders of other equity interests of any Initial Holder, provided that in each case, such Transferee has delivered to the Company a duly executed Adoption Agreement.

 

3 


 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, association, trust, government, governmental agency or other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

 

“Piggyback Underwritten Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).

 

“Proceeding” means any actual or threatened claim (including a claim of a violation of applicable Law), cause of action, action, audit, demand, litigation, suit, proceeding, investigation, citation, inquiry, originating application to a tribunal, arbitration or other proceeding at Law or in equity or order or ruling, in each case whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, whether in contract, in tort or otherwise, and whether or not such claim, cause of action, action, audit, demand, litigation, suit, proceeding, investigation, citation, inquiry, originating application to a tribunal, arbitration or other proceeding or order or ruling results in a formal civil or criminal litigation or regulatory action.

 

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Registrable Securities” shall mean (a) the Shares and (b) any securities issued or issuable with respect to the Shares by way of distribution or in connection with any reorganization or other recapitalization, merger, consolidation or otherwise; provided, however, that a Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Security is disposed of under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as a result of which the Transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144, or (iii) such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a transaction in which the Transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the Transferee pursuant to Article V; and provided, further, that any security that has ceased to be a Registrable Security shall not thereafter become a Registrable Security and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities shall not be a Registrable Security.

 

“Registration Expenses” means (a) all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Article II, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, road show expenses, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants and independent petroleum engineers for the Company, fees and expenses (including counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or “blue sky” laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, and fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on the NYSE (or any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed) or the quotation of Registrable Securities on any inter-dealer quotation system, and (b) reasonable fees and disbursements of one legal counsel for the Selling Holders subject to a maximum fee of $75,000 per Registration Statement filed pursuant to Article II (provided, however, that in the case of any Shelf Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Underwritten Offering in which any Selling Holder reasonably elects to use as its counsel the counsel engaged by the Company with respect to such offering, the foregoing $75,000 maximum shall not apply); in each case, excluding any Selling Expenses.

 

4 


 

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed or to be filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

“Relative” means, with respect to any natural person: (a) such natural person’s spouse, (b) any lineal descendant, parent, grandparent, great grandparent or sibling or any lineal descendant of such sibling (in each case whether by blood or legal adoption), and (c) the spouse of a natural person described in clause (b) of this definition.

 

“Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).

 

“Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. References to any rule under the Securities Act shall be deemed to refer to any similar or successor rule or regulation.

 

“Selling Expenses” means all (a) underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable to the sale of Registrable Securities and (b) transfer taxes allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities; in each case, excluding any Registration Expenses.

 

“Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement;

 

“Shares” means the aggregate 13,538,472 shares of Common Stock being issued to the Initial Holders pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Shelf Underwritten Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

“Shelf Underwritten Offering Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

“Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

“Tap Rock I Intermediate” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Tap Rock I Legacy” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

5 


 

“Tap Rock I Seller” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Tap Rock II Intermediate” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Tap Rock II Legacy” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Tap Rock II Seller” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Transfer” means any offer, sale, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, entry into any contract to sell, grant of an option to purchase, short sale, assignment, transfer, exchange, gift, bequest or other disposition, direct or indirect, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise. “Transfer,” when used as a verb, and “Transferee” and “Transferor” have correlative meanings.

 

“Underwritten Offering” means a registered underwritten offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which Registrable Securities are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public.

 

“Underwritten Offering Filing” means (a) with respect to a Shelf Underwritten Offering, a preliminary prospectus supplement (or prospectus supplement if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) to the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Shelf Underwritten Offering, and (b) with respect to a Piggyback Underwritten Offering, (i) a preliminary prospectus supplement (or prospectus supplement if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) to an effective shelf Registration Statement (other than the Shelf Registration Statement) in which Registrable Securities could be included and the Holders could be named as selling security holders without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto (other than a post-effective amendment that becomes effective upon filing) or (ii) a Registration Statement (other than the Shelf Registration Statement), in each case relating to such Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

 

“WKSI” means a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.1            Shelf Registration.

 

(a)            The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, but in any event, shall file no later than the later of (i) two Business Days following the date hereof and (ii) if the Company has been advised by counsel that the Audited Annual Carve-Out Financials and Unaudited Quarterly Carve-Out Financials (each as defined in the Purchase Agreement) are required by the Securities Act to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement (as defined below), 15 calendar days following the date of receipt of such Audited Annual Carve-Out Financials and Unaudited Quarterly Carve-Out Financials, a “shelf” registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the resale of all the Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become or be declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, including by filing an automatic shelf registration statement that becomes effective upon filing with the Commission in accordance with Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act to the extent the Company is then a WKSI. Following the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall provide written notice of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement to each Holder of Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement.

 

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(b)            The Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on Form S-1 or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities and shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit the Holders to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar rule adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement. The Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for the distribution or resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to a Holder and requested by such Holder.

 

(c)             The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities until all of the Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities or the earlier termination of this Agreement (as to all Holders) pursuant to Section 6.1.

 

(d)            When effective, (i) the Shelf Registration Statement (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) in the case of any prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements are made, not misleading.

 

Section 2.2            Underwritten Shelf Offering Requests.

 

(a)            In the event that one or more Major Holders (the “Offering Holders”) elect to dispose of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering and reasonably expect gross proceeds of at least $150 million from such Underwritten Offering (including proceeds attributable to any Registrable Securities included in a Piggyback Underwritten Offering), the Company shall, at the request (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering Request”) of such Offering Holder(s), subject to the agreement (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld) of the Company on the form of such Underwritten Offering (whether a typical underwritten offering, or an overnight or bought deal), enter into an underwriting agreement in a form as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company with the underwriter or underwriters selected pursuant to Section 2.2(d) and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering and/or the Offering Holders in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering”), including, but not limited to, providing such additional information reasonably requested by the Managing Underwriter (in addition to the minimum information required by law, rule or regulation) in any prospectus relating to the Shelf Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to facilitate or participate in (i) any Shelf Underwritten Offerings that are initiated by any Offering Holder pursuant to this Section 2.2 during a period in which such Shelf Underwritten Offering would be prohibited by Section 2.11 hereof, or (ii) more than three Organized Offerings, in the aggregate, pursuant to this Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 during any subsequent 12-month period; provided, that only one such Organized Offering may be initiated by the Major Management Holders by the mutual consent of such Major Management Holders. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of such Shelf Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Section 2.2(a), such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Company and the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect to such offering; provided, however, that any such withdrawals shall count as Organized Offerings as limited by clause (ii) above, unless the Selling Holder reimburses the Company for, or pays, all Registration Expenses related to such withdrawn Organized Offering.

 

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(b)            If the Company receives a Shelf Underwritten Offering Request, it will give written notice of such proposed Shelf Underwritten Offering to each Major Holder (other than the Offering Holder), which notice shall be held in strict confidence by such Major Holders and shall include the anticipated filing date of the related Underwritten Offering Filing and, if known, the number of shares of Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering, and of such Major Holders’ rights under this Section 2.2(b). Such notice shall be given promptly (and in any event at least five Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing or two Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing in connection with a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering); provided, that if the Shelf Underwritten Offering is a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering and the Managing Underwriter advises the Company and the Offering Holder that the giving of notice pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) would adversely affect the offering, no such notice shall be required (and such Major Holders shall have no right to include Registrable Securities in such bought or overnight Underwritten Offering); and provided further, that the Company shall not so notify any such other Major Holder that has notified the Company (and not revoked such notice) requesting that such Major Holder not receive notice from the Company of any proposed Shelf Underwritten Offering. Each such Major Holder shall then have three Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering or a Shelf Underwritten Offering Request delivered to the Company within one Business Day of the date of this Agreement) after the date on which the Major Holders received notice pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Shelf Underwritten Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Major Holder and such other information as is reasonably required to effect the inclusion of such Registrable Securities). If no request for inclusion from a Major Holder is received within such period, such Major Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Shelf Underwritten Offering.

 

(c)            If the Managing Underwriter of the Shelf Underwritten Offering shall inform the Company and the Offering Holders in writing of its belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering by any other Persons having registration rights with respect to such offering, when added to the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be offered by the Offering Holders, would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Company shall include in the applicable Underwritten Offering Filing, to the extent of the total number of Registrable Securities that the Company is so advised can be sold in such Shelf Underwritten Offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (the “Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares”), Registrable Securities in the following priority:

 

(i)            First, all Registrable Securities that the Offering Holders requested to be included therein (the “Holder Securities”), and

 

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(ii)            Second, to the extent that the number of Holder Securities is less than the Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights with respect to such offering (including any other Major Holders other than the Offering Holders), pro rata among such other Persons based on the number of Registrable Securities each requested to be included.

 

(d)           The Company shall propose three or more nationally prominent firms of investment bankers reasonably acceptable to the Participating Majority to act as the Managing Underwriter or as other underwriters in connection with such Shelf Underwritten Offering from which the Participating Majority shall select the Managing Underwriter and the other underwriters. The “Participating Majority” shall mean, with respect to a Shelf Underwritten Offering, the Holder(s) of a majority of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering. All Major Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement with such underwriter or underwriters in accordance with Section 2.2(a). The Participating Majority shall determine the pricing of the Registrable Securities offered pursuant to any Shelf Underwritten Offering and the applicable underwriting discounts and commissions and determine the timing of any such Shelf Underwritten Offering, subject to Section 2.4.

 

Section 2.3            Block Trades. Subject to the limitations in Section 2.2(a)(ii), in the event that one or more Offering Holders elect to dispose of Registrable Securities pursuant to a block trade with the assistance of the Company and reasonably expect gross proceeds of at least $50 million from such block trade (a “Block Trade”), the Company shall, at the request of the Offering Holders, cooperate with the applicable Offering Holders in allowing the applicable broker, agent, counterparty, underwriter, bank or other institution (each, a “Financial Counterparty”) to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to the Company, including (i) by using commercially reasonable efforts to cause its independent certified public accountants to provide to the Financial Counterparty a “cold comfort” letter in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Financial Counterparty, (ii) by using commercially reasonable efforts to cause its outside counsel to deliver an opinion in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, including a standard “10b-5” letter for such offering, addressed to such Financial Counterparty, and (iii) by providing a standard officer’s certificate from the chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or other officer serving such functions, of the Company addressed to the Financial Counterparty; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to facilitate or participate in any Block Trades that are initiated by the Holder pursuant to this Section 2.3 during a period in which such Block Trade would be prohibited by Section 2.11 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the limitations set forth in clause (ii) of the penultimate sentence of Section 2.2(a) shall apply to this section 2.3.

 

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Section 2.4            Delay and Suspension Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may (i) delay filing or effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or effecting a Shelf Underwritten Offering or (ii) suspend the Holders’ use of any prospectus that is a part of a Shelf Registration Statement upon written notice to the Holders (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material non-public information regarding the Company) (in which event the Holders shall discontinue sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement but may settle any then-contracted sales of Registrable Securities), or (iii) delay a Block Trade, in each case for a period of up to 60 consecutive days, if the Board determines (A) that such delay or suspension is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders generally due to a pending financing or other transaction involving the Company, including a proposed sale of Common Stock pursuant to a Registration Statement, (B) that such registration or offering would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities Laws or (C) that such registration or offering would require disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential (any such period, a “Suspension Period”); provided, however, that in no event shall any Suspension Periods collectively exceed an aggregate of 120 days in any 12-month period. The Company may only exercise its suspension rights under this Section 2.4 if it exercises similar suspension rights with respect to each other holder of securities that is entitled to registration rights under an agreement with the Company. For the purposes of calculating the number of days of one or more Suspension Periods under this Section 2.4, such number shall include any number of days during the applicable period during which the Holders were obligated to discontinue their disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.7(b) of this Agreement.

  

Section 2.5            Piggyback Registration Rights.

 

(a)            Subject to Section 2.5(c), if the Company at any time proposes to file an Underwritten Offering Filing for an Underwritten Offering of shares of Common Stock for its own account or for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights (a “Piggyback Underwritten Offering”), it will give written notice of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering to the Major Holders, which notice shall be held in strict confidence by the Major Holders and shall include the anticipated filing date of the Underwritten Offering Filing and, if known, the number of shares of Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, and of such Major Holders’ rights under this Section 2.5(a). Such notice shall be given promptly (and in any event at least five Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing or two Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing in connection with a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering); provided, that if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering and the Managing Underwriter advises the Company that the giving of notice pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) would adversely affect such offering, no such notice shall be required (and the Major Holders shall have no right to include Registrable Securities in such bought or overnight Underwritten Offering). If such notice is delivered pursuant to this Section 2.5(a), each Major Holder shall then have four Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which such Major Holder received notice pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Major Holder and such other information as is reasonably required to effect the inclusion of such Registrable Securities). If no request for inclusion from a Major Holder is received within such period, such Major Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering. Subject to Section 2.5(c), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities that the Company has been so requested to include by a Major Holder; provided, however, that if, at any time after giving written notice of a proposed Piggyback Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) and prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto, the Company or such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, as applicable, shall determine for any reason not to proceed with or to delay such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, the Company shall give written notice of such determination to the Major Holders participating in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering (which such Major Holders will hold in strict confidence) and (i) in the case of a determination not to proceed, shall be relieved of its obligation to include any Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering (but not from any obligation of the Company to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith), and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay, shall be permitted to delay inclusion of any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in including the shares of Common Stock to be sold for the Company’s account or for the account of such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, as applicable.

 

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(b)            Each Major Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw. Each Major Holder may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to the Company requesting that such Major Holder not receive notice from the Company of any proposed Piggyback Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Major Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Major Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Company shall not, and shall not be required to, deliver any notice to such Major Holder pursuant to this Section 2.5 and such Major Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

 

(c)            If the Managing Underwriter of the Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall inform the Company of its belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be offered by the Company or such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights (and any other shares of Common Stock requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights on parity with the Major Holder with respect to such offering), would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Company shall include in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, to the extent of the total number of securities which the Company is so advised can be sold in such offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (the “Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares”), shares of Common Stock in the following priority:

 

(i)              First, (A) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of the Company, all shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to include for its own account (the “Company Securities”) or, (B) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights (including any Existing Holders), all shares of Common Stock that such Persons propose to include (the “Other Securities”);

 

(ii)             Second, (A) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of the Company, to the extent that the number of Company Securities is less than the Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Common Stock requested to be included by the Major Holder and holders of any other shares of Common Stock requested to be included by Persons having rights of registration on parity with the Major Holders with respect to such offering, pro rata among the Major Holders and such other holders based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included and, (B) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, to the extent that the number of Other Securities is less than the Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Common Stock requested to be included by the Existing Holders pursuant to the Existing RRA; and

 

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(iii)            Third, if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, to the extent that the number of Other Securities is less than the Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Common Stock requested to be included by the Major Holders and holders of any other shares of Common Stock requested to be included by Persons having rights of registration on parity with the Major Holders with respect to such offering, pro rata among the Major Holders and such other holders based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included.

 

Section 2.6            Participation in Underwritten Offerings.

 

(a)            In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.2 or Section 2.5, the underwriting agreement into which the Selling Holders and the Company shall enter into shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities (subject to Article III) and other rights and obligations as are customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder’s authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law.

 

(b)           Any participation by a Holder in a Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall be in accordance with the plan of distribution of the Company.

 

(c)            In connection with any Piggyback Underwritten Offering in which a Major Holder includes Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.5, each such Major Holder agrees (A) to supply any information reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and/or any other documents relating to such registered offering and (B) to execute and deliver any agreements and instruments being executed by all Major Holders on substantially the same terms reasonably requested by the Company or the Managing Underwriter, as applicable, to effectuate such registered offering, including, without limitation, underwriting agreements (subject to Section 2.6(a)), custody agreements, lock-ups or “hold back” agreements pursuant to which such Major Holder agrees with the Managing Underwriter not to sell or purchase any securities of the Company for the shorter of (i) the same period of time following the registered offering as is agreed to by the Company and the other participating Major Holders (not to exceed the shortest number of days that a director of the Company, “executive officer” (as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) of the Company or any stockholder of the Company (other than such Major Holder or director or employee of, or consultant to, the Company) who owns 10% or more of the outstanding Shares contractually agrees with the underwriters of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering not to sell any securities of the Company following such Piggyback Underwritten Offering and (ii) 60 days from the date of the execution of the underwriting agreement with respect to such Piggyback Underwritten Offering), powers of attorney and questionnaires.

 

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Section 2.7            Registration Procedures.

 

(a)            In connection with its obligations under this Article II (other than Section 2.3), the Company will:

 

(i)            promptly notify the Holders of the time when a supplement to any prospectus forming a part of a Registration Statement has been filed;

 

(ii)           promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

(iii)          before filing a Registration Statement (including any Shelf Registration Statement) and any amendments or supplements thereto, furnish to the Holders and to one counsel selected by the Holders of a majority of such Registrable Securities copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment by such counsel;

 

(iv)          furnish to the Holders such number of conformed copies of such Registration Statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including without limitation all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such Registration Statement (including without limitation each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents, as any Holder may reasonably request;

 

(v)           if applicable, use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request, to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect, and to take any other action which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the securities owned by such Holder, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (v) be obligated to be so qualified or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

(vi)          in connection with an Underwritten Offering, use all commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the Selling Holders a copy of any auditor “comfort” letters, customary legal opinions or reports of the independent petroleum engineers of the Company relating to the oil and gas reserves of the Company, in each case that have been provided to the Managing Underwriter in connection with the Underwritten Offering;

 

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(vii)         promptly notify the Holders, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at the request of a Holder promptly prepare and file or furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(viii)        otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;

 

(ix)           provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities and provide a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

(x)            cause all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be listed on any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

 

(xi)           in connection with any Underwritten Offering or Block Trade, enter into such customary agreements and take such other actions as any Holder shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, in the case of a Shelf Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Underwritten Offering, to agree, and to cause its directors and “executive officers” (as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) to agree, to such “lock-up” arrangements for up to 60 days with the underwriters thereof to the extent reasonably requested by the Managing Underwriter, subject to customary exceptions for permitted sales by directors and executive officers during such period);

 

(xii)          in connection with any Underwritten Offering, cause its officers to use their commercially reasonable efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, participation in electronic or telephonic “road shows”);

 

(xiii)         promptly notify the Selling Holders and any underwriter(s) of the notification to the Company by the Commission of its initiation of any proceeding with respect to the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for sale in any jurisdiction, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain promptly the withdrawal of such order;

 

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(xiv)        promptly notify the Selling Holders and any underwriter(s) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction, and

 

(xv)         take such other actions as are reasonably necessary in order to effect the registration of and facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

(b)            Each Holder agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.7(a)(vii), such Holder will forthwith discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.7(a)(vii) as filed with the Commission or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of such Registration Statement may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this Section 2.7(b).

 

Section 2.8            Cooperation by Holders; Expenses. The Company shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of any Holder in any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering if such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities that the Company determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for any registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses and each Selling Holder will pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities hereunder.

 

Section 2.9            Company Obligations Regarding Transfers. The restrictive legend on any shares of Common Stock covered by this Agreement shall be removed if (i) such shares are sold, distributed or otherwise transferred pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act in accordance with the plan of distribution described therein, (ii) such shares may be sold by the applicable Holder free of restrictions without regard to Rule 144(b) under the Securities Act (i.e., such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, and has not been an Affiliate of the Company for the previous three months, and has satisfied the one-year holding period under Rule 144) or (iii) such shares are being sold, assigned or otherwise transferred pursuant to Rule 144; provided that with respect to clause (ii) or (iii) above, the applicable Holder has provided all documentation and evidence as may reasonably be required by the Company or its transfer agent to confirm that the legend may be removed under applicable securities laws (the “Legend Removal Documents”). The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist such Holders in the facilitation of such transfers, including the delivery of instruction letters and legal opinions to the transfer agent. The Company shall cooperate with the applicable Holder covered by this Agreement to effect removal of the legend on such shares pursuant to this Section 2.9 as soon as reasonably practicable. Any fees of the Company, the transfer agent and Company counsel associated with the issuance of any legal opinion required by the Company’s transfer agent or the removal of such legend shall be borne by the Company.

 

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Section 2.10          No Conflicts of Rights. The Company represents and warrants that it is not subject to any registration rights that are inconsistent with or that in any way violate the rights granted to the Holders hereby. The Company shall not, prior to the termination of this Agreement, grant any registration rights that conflict with, would prevent the Company from performing, or are inconsistent with, the rights granted to the Holders hereby (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include granting priority rights superior to those of the Holders in Section 2.2(c) and Section 2.5(c) hereto).

 

Section 2.11          Major Institutional Holder Lock-Up. Each of the Major Institutional Holders agrees that he, she or it will not, during (and to the extent prohibit by the terms of) the Lock-up Period (as defined herein), (i) lend; offer; sell; contract to sell; sell any option or contract to purchase; purchase any option or contract to sell; grant any option, right, or warrant to purchase; or otherwise transfer or dispose of, in each case whether effected directly or indirectly, any Registrable Securities held by such Major Institutional Holder, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such Registrable Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or clause (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Registrable Securities or other securities, in cash, or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce the intention to effect any of the transactions covered in clause (i) and clause (ii) above; provided, that a Major Institutional Holder may enter into a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Registrable Securities so long as such plan does not provide for the transfer of Registrable Securities during the Lock-up Period; provided, further, that nothing herein shall prohibit any Major Institutional Holder from (A) pledging any Registrable Securities in connection with such Person’s entry into a credit facility or any other bona fide borrowing or similar lending arrangement, which shall include margin loans (provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, any pledgee who receives Common Stock following the exercise of remedies shall not be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.11), (B) transferring any Registrable Securities as a distribution or transfer to general partners, limited partners, members or stockholders of any Major Institutional Holder, or to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, investment fund or other entity which controls or manages or is controlled or managed by any such Major Institutional Holder, or to any Affiliate under common control or management with any such Major Institutional Holder, (C) transferring any Registrable Securities in connection with the completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s securityholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property, (D) (x) transferring Registrable Securities pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer for shares of the Company’s capital stock made to all Holders of the Company’s securities or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other similar transaction approved by the Board of the Company the result of which is that any person (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, other than the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company and (y) entering into any lockup, voting or similar agreement pursuant to which the Major Institutional Holder may agree to transfer, sell, tender or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock or such other securities in connection with a transaction described in the immediately foregoing clause (x) above (provided that, in the event that such change of control transaction is not completed, any Registrable Securities shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 2.11), or (E) transferring any Registrable Securities by operation of law or pursuant to a final order of a court or regulatory agency; provided, further, that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (A) through (C), (1) each such transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.11, (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and (3) no public filing or public disclosure shall be required or voluntarily made during the Lock-up Period in connection with any such transfer (other than required filings under Sections 13(d) or 13(g) or Section 16 of the Exchange Act). For purposes of this Section 2.11, the term “Lock-Up Period” shall mean (i) with respect to 25% (rounded to the nearest whole share) of the Shares received by such Major Institutional Holder, the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the 90th day hereafter, (ii) with respect to an additional 25% (rounded to the nearest whole share) of the Shares received by such Major Institutional Holder, the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day hereafter. For avoidance of doubt, (i) any Shares withheld and deposited into an escrow account to cover indemnification obligations of the Sellers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) the 50% of the Shares received by any such Major Institutional Holder that are not referenced in the preceding sentence or the preceding clause (i) shall not be subject to any lock-up restrictions pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.11.

 

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ARTICLE III
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

Section 3.1            Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls such Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such Person in connection with any investigation or Proceeding), expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (“Losses”) as incurred, caused by, arising out of or based upon, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact (a) contained in any Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (b) included in any prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or based on any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided, however, that such indemnity shall not apply to that portion of such Losses caused by, or arising out of, any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement or any such omission or alleged omission, to the extent such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein.

 

Section 3.2            Indemnification by the Holder. Each Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all Losses caused by, arising out of, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact (a) contained in any Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (b) included in any prospectus relating to Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact or necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, only to the extent such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus.

 

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Section 3.3            Indemnification Procedures. In case any Proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2, such Person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing (provided that the failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article III, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice), and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and, unless in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the Indemnified Party a conflict of interest between the Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party may exist in respect of such claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party that it so chooses, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that (i) if the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, (ii) if such Indemnified Party who is a defendant in any action or Proceeding which is also brought against the Indemnifying Party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to such Indemnified Party which are not available to the Indemnifying Party or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct then, in any such case, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties reasonably shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to such party or parties which are not available to the other Indemnified Parties or to the extent representation of all Indemnified Parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct) and the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any expenses therefor. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

 

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Section 3.4            Contribution.

 

(a)            If the indemnification provided for in this Article III is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any Losses in respect of which indemnity is to be provided hereunder, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall to the fullest extent permitted by Law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of such party in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company (on the one hand) and a Holder (on the other hand) shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(b)            The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Article III were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 3.4(a). The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 3.4(a) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article III, a Holder shall not be liable for indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Article III for any amount in excess of the net proceeds of the offering received by such Holder, less the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

ARTICLE IV
RULE 144

 

With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the resale of the Registrable Securities without registration, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(a)            make and keep public information regarding the Company available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

 

(b)            file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

 

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(c)            so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish (i) to the extent accurate, forthwith upon request, a written statement of the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act and (ii) unless otherwise available via the Commission’s EDGAR filing system, to the Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed as the Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing the Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

 

ARTICLE V
TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

The rights of a Holder under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by such Holder to one or more Transferees of Registrable Securities (i) if such Transferee is a Permitted Transferee with respect to the transferring Holder or (ii) if the Company provides written consent to such transfer or assignment, and in each such case, such Transferee has delivered to the Company a duly executed Adoption Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 6.1            Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and the parties shall have no further rights or obligations hereunder on the earlier of (a) the third anniversary of the date hereof or, as to any Holder (b) on such earlier date on which both (i) such individual Holder, together with its Affiliates and its and their respective Permitted Transferees, owns less than 2.0% of the Company’s voting securities and (ii) all Registrable Securities owned by such Holder may be sold without restriction (including any limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale and without the need for current public information) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; provided, however, that Article III shall survive any termination hereof.

 

Section 6.2            Severability and Construction. Each party hereto agrees that, should any court or other competent authority hold any provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such other term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, in response to an order from a court or other competent authority for any party hereto to take any action inconsistent herewith or not to take an action consistent herewith or required hereby, to the extent that a party hereto took an action inconsistent with this Agreement or failed to take action consistent with this Agreement or required by this Agreement pursuant to such order, such party hereto shall not incur any liability or obligation unless such party hereto did not in good faith seek to resist or object to the imposition or entering of such order.

 

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Section 6.3            Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Selection of Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)            THIS AGREEMENT, AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT) THAT MAY BE BASED UPON, ARISE OUT OF RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF.

 

(b)            THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR, IF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR THE DELAWARE SUPREME COURT DETERMINES THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 111 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, THE COURT OF CHANCERY DOES NOT HAVE OR SHOULD NOT EXERCISE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OVER SUCH MATTER, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE SOLELY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTE THAT ARISES IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT THAT IT IS NOT SUBJECT THERETO OR THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED EXCLUSIVELY BY SUCH DELAWARE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 6.6 OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF.

 

(c)            EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.3.

 

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Section 6.4            Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any and all shares of capital stock of the Company or any successor or assignee of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution for the Shares, by reason of any stock dividend, split, reverse split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise in such a manner and with such appropriate adjustments as to reflect the intent and meaning of the provisions hereof and so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the capital stock of the Company as so changed.

 

Section 6.5            Binding Effects; Benefits of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. Except as provided in Article V, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits or obligations hereunder may be assigned or transferred, by operation of law or otherwise, by a Holder without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

Section 6.6            Notices. All notices hereunder shall be deemed given if in writing and delivered, by electronic mail, courier, or registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), to the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be specified by like notice):

 

(a)            If to the Company, to:

 

Civitas Resources, Inc. 

410 17th St. 

Denver, CO 80202 

Attention: Travis Counts, Chief Legal Officer 

E mail: tcounts@civiresources.com

 

(b)            If to a Holder, to the address or electronic mail addresses of such Holder as it appears on such Holder’s signature page attached hereto or such other address as may be designated in writing by such Holder;

 

or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to such other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any notice given by delivery, mail, or courier shall be effective when received.

 

Section 6.7          Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. No course of dealing between the Company and a Holder or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

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Section 6.8          Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein, this Agreement (together with the Purchase Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), and any other documents and instruments executed pursuant hereto or thereto) constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, oral or written, among the parties hereto with respect thereto.

 

Section 6.9          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts and by way of electronic signature and delivery, each such counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same agreement. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, each individual executing this Agreement on behalf of a party hereto has been duly authorized and empowered to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of said party hereto.

 

Section 6.10        Further Assurances. Subject to the other terms of this Agreement, the parties hereto agree to execute and deliver such other instruments and perform such acts, in addition to the matters herein specified, as may be reasonably appropriate or necessary, from time to time, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, as applicable.

 

Section 6.11        Prior Registration Rights. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holders are deemed to have registration rights on parity with the registration rights granted in the Existing RRA.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed by its undersigned duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.

 

  THE COMPANY:
   
  CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
     
  By: /s/ M. Christopher Doyle
  Name: M. Christopher Doyle
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 


 

  HOLDERS: 
   
  TAP ROCK NM10 LEGACY HOLDINGS, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Clayton Sporich
  Name: Clayton Sporich
  Title: Executive Vice President – Land & Legal
     
  TAP ROCK RESOURCES LEGACY, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Clayton Sporich
  Name: Clayton Sporich
  Title: Executive Vice President – Land & Legal
     
  TAP ROCK RESOURCES II LEGACY, LLC 
     
  By: /s/ Clayton Sporich
  Name: Clayton Sporich
  Title: Executive Vice President – Land & Legal

 

 [Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 


 

SCHEDULE I
HOLDERS

 

1. Tap Rock NM10 Legacy Holdings, LLC

 

2. Tap Rock Resources Legacy, LLC

 

3. Tap Rock Resources II Legacy, LLC

 

Schedule I

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

 

This Adoption Agreement (“Adoption Agreement”) is executed by the undersigned transferee (“Transferee”) pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [●], 2023, between Civitas Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) and the Persons identified on Schedule I thereto (as amended from time to time, the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Terms used and not otherwise defined in this Adoption Agreement have the meanings set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

By the execution of this Adoption Agreement, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement among the Company and the Holders.

 

2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the Registrable Securities acquired by Transferee shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Registration Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he, she or it were originally a party thereto.

 

3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Registration Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption Agreement to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Registration Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Signature:  
   
   
   
   
Address:  
Contact Person:  
Telephone No:  
Email:  
Exhibit A  

 

Exhibit A