APA Corp false 0001841666 0001841666 2024-01-30 2024-01-30

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): January 30, 2024

 

 

APA CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40144   86-1430562

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056-4400

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 296-6000

 

 

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(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.625 par value   APA   Nasdaq Global Select Market

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.

On January 30, 2024, APA Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“APA”), entered into a Credit Agreement among APA, as borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”).

The lenders under the Credit Agreement have committed an aggregate $2.0 billion for senior unsecured delayed-draw term loans to APA, the proceeds of which, subject to satisfaction of certain limited conditions, APA may use to refinance certain indebtedness of Callon Petroleum Company, a Delaware corporation (“Callon”), upon or after closing of APA’s pending acquisition of Callon pursuant to the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger among APA, Astro Comet Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of APA, and Callon, dated January 3, 2024 (the “Merger Agreement”).

Two tranches of term loans would be available to APA for borrowing only on the date of closing of transactions under the Merger Agreement and satisfaction of certain other conditions under the Credit Agreement (the “Closing Date”); of the aggregate $2.0 billion in commitments, $1.5 billion is for term loans that would mature three years after the Closing Date (the “3-Year Tranche Loans”) and $500 million is for term loans that would mature 364 days after the Closing Date (the “364-Day Tranche Loans”).

Indebtedness of Callon that APA could refinance by borrowing under the Credit Agreement on the Closing Date includes indebtedness outstanding under (i) the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated October 19, 2022, among Callon, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (the “Callon Credit Agreement”), (ii) Callon’s 6.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (“Callon’s 2026 Notes”), (iii) Callon’s 8.00% Senior Notes due 2028 (“Callon’s 2028 Notes”), and (iv) Callon’s 7.500% Senior Notes due 2030 (“Callon’s 2030 Notes”, and together with the Callon Credit Agreement, Callon’s 2026 Notes, and Callon’s 2028 Notes, the “Callon Indebtedness”).

Limited conditions to funding on the Closing Date loans requested by APA in accordance with the Credit Agreement include:

 

   

consummation of the transactions under the Merger Agreement without giving effect to changes thereto or waivers thereunder that would be materially adverse to the interests of the lenders or arrangers under the Credit Agreement without their consent;

 

   

accuracy of certain representations of APA in the Credit Agreement and Callon in the Merger Agreement before and after giving effect to consummation of transactions under the Credit Agreement and the Merger Agreement;

 

   

no payment, insolvency, or bankruptcy event of default in respect of APA under the Credit Agreement before and after giving effect to consummation of transactions under the Credit Agreement and the Merger Agreement has occurred and continues;

 

   

no Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) has occurred since the date of the Merger Agreement;

 

   

APA’s certification of its solvency immediately after giving effect to consummation of the transactions under the Credit Agreement and the Merger Agreement;

 

   

each lender’s receipt of specified “know your customer” and beneficial ownership information;

 

   

APA’s delivery of specified audited annual and unaudited interim financial statements of APA and Callon in respect of certain periods before the Closing Date;

 

   

APA’s payment of fees, costs, and expenses then due and payable under the Credit Agreement; and

 

   

repayment of all indebtedness outstanding under the Callon Credit Agreement and Callon’s 2026 Notes, and Callon having no other material indebtedness for borrowed money except for Callon’s 2028 Notes and Callon’s 2030 Notes or as permitted under the Credit Agreement or the Merger Agreement.


Proceeds of loans made under the Credit Agreement may only be used to refinance the Callon Indebtedness and repay fees and expenses related to transactions under the Credit Agreement and the Merger Agreement. To the extent that borrowings by APA under the Credit Agreement are not so used on or before the date that is 120 days after the Closing Date, APA then must prepay the amount of such unused borrowings.

Apache Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of APA, has guaranteed obligations under the Credit Agreement effective until the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness under senior notes and debentures outstanding under Apache’s existing indentures first is less than $1.0 billion.

If $400 million or more in aggregate principal amount of Callon’s 2028 Notes and Callon’s 2030 Notes remains outstanding on the date which is 120 days after the Closing Date, Callon then must guarantee APA’s obligations under the Credit Agreement effective until the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Callon’s 2028 Notes and Callon’s 2030 Notes first is less than $400 million.

APA may at any time prepay loans under the Credit Agreement. APA may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the lenders’ commitments under the Credit Agreement. Unless previously terminated, the lenders’ commitments automatically terminate on the first to occur of: (i) the Closing Date, after giving effect to funding of each lender’s commitments on the Closing Date, (ii) APA’s acquisition of Callon pursuant to the Merger Agreement without loans being made under the Credit Agreement, (iii) termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, and (iv) the Termination Date (as defined in, and may be extended pursuant to, the Merger Agreement).

All borrowings under the Credit Agreement would be in U.S. Dollars and bear interest at one of the following two rate options, as selected by APA, plus the indicated margin:

 

   

One option is a base rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the applicable prime rate, (ii) the greater of the applicable federal funds rate and overnight bank funding rate, plus 0.50%, and (iii) an adjusted secured overnight financing rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“SOFR”) for a one-month interest period plus 1.0%. The margin for this rate option (“Base Rate Margin”) is a rate per annum varying from 0.25% to 1.0% for 364-Day Tranche Loans, 0.375% to 1.125% for 3-Year Tranche Loans until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, and 0.625% to 1.375% for 3-Year Tranche Loans after the second anniversary of the Closing Date, in each case, based on the rating for senior, unsecured, non-credit enhanced, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of APA, or if such indebtedness is not rated and the Apache guaranty is in effect, of Apache (“Long-Term Debt Rating”). Apache’s Long-Term Debt Rating currently applies.

 

   

The second option is an adjusted SOFR rate, plus a margin at a rate per annum varying from 1.25% to 2.0% for 364-Day Tranche Loans, 1.375% to 2.125% for 3-Year Tranche Loans until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, and 1.625% to 2.375% for 3-Year Tranche Loans after the second anniversary of the Closing Date, in each case, based on the Long-Term Debt Rating (“Applicable Margin”). For SOFR-based interest rates, APA may select an interest period of one, three, or six months.

Currently, the Base Rate Margin is 0.625% for 364-Day Tranche Loans and 0.75% for 3-Year Tranche Loans, and the Applicable Margin is 1.625% for 364-Day Tranche Loans and 1.75% for 3-Year Tranche Loans.

The Credit Agreement provides for a ticking fee payable by APA at a rate of 0.225% per annum on the daily average undrawn aggregate commitments thereunder; the ticking fee accrues during the period beginning on the date that is 90 days after January 3, 2024 to the earlier of (i) termination or expiration of the commitments or (ii) the Closing Date.


APA is subject to representations and warranties, covenants, and events of default under the Credit Agreement substantially similar to those in APA’s existing committed syndicated credit agreements entered into in April 2022, such as:

 

   

A financial covenant requires APA to maintain an adjusted debt-to-capital ratio of not greater than 60% at the end of any fiscal quarter. For purposes of this calculation, capital continues to exclude the effects of non-cash write-downs, impairments, and related charges occurring after June 30, 2015.

 

   

A negative covenant restricts the ability of APA and its subsidiaries to create liens securing debt on their hydrocarbon-related assets, with exceptions for liens typically arising in the oil and gas industry; liens securing debt incurred to finance the acquisition, construction, improvement, or capital lease of assets, provided that such debt, when incurred, does not exceed the subject purchase price and costs, as applicable, and related expenses; liens on subsidiary assets located outside of the U.S. and Canada; and liens arising as a matter of law, such as tax and mechanics’ liens. Liens on assets also are permitted if debt secured thereby does not exceed 15% of APA’s consolidated net tangible assets.

 

   

Negative covenants restrict APA’s ability to merge with another entity unless it is the surviving entity, a borrower’s disposition of substantially all of its assets, prohibitions on the ability of certain subsidiaries to make payments to borrowers, and guarantees by APA or certain subsidiaries of debt of non-consolidated entities in excess of the stated threshold.

 

   

After the Closing Date, Lenders may accelerate payment maturity and terminate lending commitments for nonpayment and other breaches; if APA or certain subsidiaries defaults on other indebtedness in excess of the stated threshold, has any unpaid, non-appealable judgment against it for payment of money in excess of the stated threshold, or has specified pension plan liabilities in excess of the stated threshold; or APA undergoes a specified change in control. Such acceleration and termination are automatic upon specified insolvency events of APA or certain subsidiaries.

The Credit Agreement does not permit lenders to accelerate maturity based on unspecified material adverse changes and does not have prepayment obligations in the event of a decline in credit ratings.

The aggregate $2.0 billion in commitments under the Credit Agreement effectively replaced up to $2.0 billion in aggregate commitments under the Bridge Loan Commitment Letter, dated as of January 3, 2024, among APA, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. The amount of aggregate commitments under such commitment letter automatically reduced by the amount of aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement on its effective date.

The foregoing is a summary of the Credit Agreement, does not purport to be complete, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and incorporated herein by reference.

The Credit Agreement has been filed with this report to provide investors and security holders with information regarding its terms; it is not intended to provide any other factual information about APA, Apache, or Callon. Representations, warranties, and covenants in the Credit Agreement were made only for purposes of the Credit Agreement, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Credit Agreement and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures exchanged between the parties in connection with the execution of the Credit Agreement. Representations and warranties in the Credit Agreement may have been made as of specific dates and for purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties instead of establishing matters as facts and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors are not third-party beneficiaries under Credit Agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties, and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of APA or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Credit Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in APA’s public disclosures.

 

Item 2.03

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

The information required by this item is included in Item 1.01 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

10.1    Credit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2024, among APA Corporation, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents party thereto.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, APA intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of APA and Callon and that also constitutes a prospectus of APA common stock. Each of APA and Callon may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the joint proxy statement/prospectus or registration statement or any other document that APA or Callon may file with the SEC. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus (if and when available) will be mailed to shareholders of APA and Callon. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus (if and when available) and other documents containing important information about APA, Callon, and the proposed transaction, once such documents are filed with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by APA will be available free of charge on APA’s website at https://investor.apacorp.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Callon will be available free of charge on Callon’s website at https://callon.com/investors.

Participants in the Solicitation

APA, Callon, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers, and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of APA, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in APA’s proxy statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 11, 2023, and APA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023. Information about the directors and executive officers of Callon, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Callon’s proxy statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2023, and Callon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such materials become available. Investors should read the joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from APA or Callon using the sources indicated above.


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.

 

            APA CORPORATION
Date: January 30, 2024     By:  

/s/ Ben C. Rodgers

            Ben C. Rodgers,
      Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
      Midstream and Marketing

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

LOGO

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of January 30, 2024,

among

APA CORPORATION

as Borrower

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Syndication Agents,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

HSBC BANK USA, N.A.,

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,

MUFG BANK, LTD.,

THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH,

and

TRUIST BANK

as Co-Documentation Agents

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

and

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

as Co-Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.1

  Defined Terms      1  

SECTION 1.2

  Classification of Loans and Borrowings      25  

SECTION 1.3

  Terms Generally      25  

SECTION 1.4

  Accounting Terms; GAAP      26  

SECTION 1.5

  [Reserved]      26  

SECTION 1.6

  Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification      26  
ARTICLE II The Credits      27  

SECTION 2.1

  The Facility; Commitments      27  

SECTION 2.2

  Loans and Borrowings      27  

SECTION 2.3

  Requests for Borrowings      28  

SECTION 2.4

  [Reserved]      29  

SECTION 2.5

  Funding of Borrowings      29  

SECTION 2.6

  [Reserved]      29  

SECTION 2.7

  Interest Elections      29  

SECTION 2.8

  Termination and Reduction of Commitments      30  

SECTION 2.9

  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      31  

SECTION 2.10

  Optional Prepayment of Loans; Other Required Prepayments      32  

SECTION 2.11

  Fees      32  

SECTION 2.12

  Interest      33  

SECTION 2.13

  Alternate Rate of Interest      34  

SECTION 2.14

  Increased Costs      36  

SECTION 2.15

  Break Funding Payments      37  

SECTION 2.16

  Taxes      37  

SECTION 2.17

  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs      41  

SECTION 2.18

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      43  

SECTION 2.19

  [Reserved]      44  

SECTION 2.20

  Defaulting Lenders      44  
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties      45  

SECTION 3.1

  Organization      46  

SECTION 3.2

  Authorization and Validity      46  

SECTION 3.3

  Government Approval and Regulation      46  

SECTION 3.4

  Pension and Welfare Plans      46  

SECTION 3.5

  Regulation U      46  

SECTION 3.6

  Taxes      47  

SECTION 3.7

  Subsidiaries; Restricted Subsidiaries      47  

SECTION 3.8

  No Default or Event of Default      47  

SECTION 3.9

  Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions      47  

 

i


ARTICLE IV Conditions      47  

SECTION 4.1

  Effective Date      47  

SECTION 4.2

  Closing Date      49  
ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants      52  

SECTION 5.1

  Financial Reporting and Notices      52  

SECTION 5.2

  Compliance with Laws      53  

SECTION 5.3

  Maintenance of Properties      54  

SECTION 5.4

  Insurance      54  

SECTION 5.5

  Books and Records      54  

SECTION 5.6

  Purposes      54  

SECTION 5.7

  Target Guaranty      54  
ARTICLE VI Financial Covenant      55  

SECTION 6.1

  Ratio of Total Debt to Capital      55  
ARTICLE VII Negative Covenants      55  

SECTION 7.1

  Liens      55  

SECTION 7.2

  Mergers      56  

SECTION 7.3

  Asset Dispositions      56  

SECTION 7.4

  Transactions with Affiliates      57  

SECTION 7.5

  Restrictive Agreements      57  

SECTION 7.6

  Guaranties      57  
ARTICLE VIII Events of Default      57  

SECTION 8.1

  Listing of Events of Default      57  

SECTION 8.2

  Action prior to Closing Date      59  

SECTION 8.3

  Action after Closing Date      60  

SECTION 8.4

  Application of Payments      60  
ARTICLE IX Agents      61  

SECTION 9.1

  Authorization and Action      61  

SECTION 9.2

  Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.      63  

SECTION 9.3

  Posting of Communications      65  

SECTION 9.4

  The Administrative Agent Individually      66  

SECTION 9.5

  Successor Administrative Agent      66  

SECTION 9.6

  Acknowledgements of Lenders      68  

SECTION 9.7

  Certain ERISA Matters      70  
ARTICLE X Miscellaneous      72  

SECTION 10.1

  Notices      72  

SECTION 10.2

  Waivers; Amendments      74  

SECTION 10.3

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      75  

 

ii


SECTION 10.4

  Successors and Assigns      76  

SECTION 10.5

  Survival      79  

SECTION 10.6

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution      79  

SECTION 10.7

  Severability      81  

SECTION 10.8

  Right of Setoff      81  

SECTION 10.9

  GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS      81  

SECTION 10.10

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      83  

SECTION 10.11

  Headings      83  

SECTION 10.12

  Confidentiality      83  

SECTION 10.13

  Interest Rate Limitation      84  

SECTION 10.14

  [Reserved]      85  

SECTION 10.15

  USA PATRIOT Act Notice      85  

SECTION 10.16

  NO FIDUCIARY DUTY      85  

SECTION 10.17

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      85  

SECTION 10.18

  NO ORAL AGREEMENTS      86  

 

iii


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A    [Reserved]
Exhibit B    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit C    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit D    Form of Borrowing/Interest Election Request
Exhibit E    [Reserved]
Exhibit F    [Reserved]
Exhibit G    [Reserved]
Exhibit H-1    [Reserved]
Exhibit H-2    Form of Guaranty – Apache
Exhibit H-3    Form of Guaranty – Target
Exhibit I    [Reserved]
Exhibit J    [Reserved]
Exhibit K-1    U.S. Tax Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit K-2    U.S. Tax Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit K-3    U.S. Tax Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit K-4    U.S. Tax Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule 2.1    Commitments
Schedule 3.7    Subsidiaries; Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.1    Liens

 

iv


CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 30, 2024, is among APA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“APA” or the “Borrower”), the LENDERS (as defined below) party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, CITIBANK, N.A. and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, HSBC BANK USA, N.A., MIZUHO BANK, LTD., MUFG BANK, LTD., THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH and TRUIST BANK, as Co-Documentation Agents.

Borrower, Lenders, the Administrative Agent, and the other Agents party hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

3-Year Tranche Commitment” means, as to each 3-Year Tranche Lender, its commitment to make 3-Year Tranche Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such 3-Year Tranche Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1, as such commitment may be reduced or adjusted in accordance with this Agreement. The initial amount of each 3-Year Tranche Lender’s 3-Year Tranche Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such 3-Year Tranche Lender shall have assumed its 3-Year Tranche Commitment, as applicable. As of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of 3-Year Tranche Commitments is $1,500,000,000.

3-Year Tranche Lender” means, as of any date of determination, a Lender having a 3-Year Tranche Commitment or holding a 3-Year Tranche Loan.

3-Year Tranche Loans” means Loans made by the 3-Year Tranche Lenders under the 3-Year Tranche Commitments pursuant to this Agreement.

364-Day Tranche Commitment” means, as to each 364-Day Tranche Lender, its commitment to make 364-Day Tranche Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such 364-Day Tranche Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1, as such commitment may be reduced or adjusted in accordance with this Agreement. The initial amount of each 364-Day Tranche Lender’s 364-Day Tranche Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such 364-Day Tranche Lender shall have assumed its 364-Day Tranche Commitment, as applicable. As of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of 364-Day Tranche Commitments is $500,000,000.

364-Day Tranche Lender” means, as of any date of determination, a Lender having a 364-Day Tranche Commitment or holding a 364-Day Tranche Loan.


364-Day Tranche Loans” means Loans made by the 364-Day Tranche Lenders under the 364-Day Tranche Commitments pursuant to this Agreement.

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

ABR Rate Margin” means, for any day, for each Class of Loans, the applicable rate per annum set forth below for such Class of Loans based upon the Applicable Rating Level applicable on such date:

 

Applicable Rating Level

   364-Day Tranche
Loans
ABR Rate Margin (in
basis points)
   3-Year Tranche Loans
ABR Rate Margin (in basis points)
          From the Closing
Date until the date
that is the second
anniversary of the
Closing Date
   After the date that is
the second
anniversary of the
Closing Date

Level I

   25.0 bps    37.5 bps    62.5 bps

Level II

   37.5 bps    50.0 bps    75.0 bps

Level III

   62.5 bps    75.0 bps    100.0 bps

Level IV

   87.5 bps    100.0 bps    125.0 bps

Level V

   100.0 bps    112.5 bps    137.5 bps

Each change in the ABR Rate Margin shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. Changes in the ABR Rate Margin will occur automatically without prior notice.

Acquired Business Debt Refinancing” means the Initial Acquired Business Debt Refinancing and the Other Acquired Business Debt Refinancing.

Acquisition” means APA’s acquisition, by way of merger, of the Target (together with consummation of other transactions contemplated in the Acquisition Agreement) pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement.

Acquisition Agreement” means that Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 3, 2024 (together with the schedules and exhibits thereto) among APA, Acquisition Sub and the Target.

 

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Acquisition Agreement Representations” means the representations made by or on behalf of the Target and its Subsidiaries in the Acquisition Agreement that are material to the interests of the Lenders but only to the extent that the Borrower or its applicable Affiliates has the right to terminate its obligation to consummate the Acquisition (or otherwise does not have an obligation to close) under the Acquisition Agreement as a result of a breach of or a failure of such representations to be accurate in the Acquisition Agreement.

Acquisition Sub” means Astro Comet Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation.

Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

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

Affected Loan” is defined in Section 2.17(f).

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, at a given time, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Agents” means each of the Administrative Agent, each Co-Syndication Agent and each of the Co-Documentation Agent.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 12 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of

 

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interest pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.13(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.6(b).

Anti-Corruption Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and all other laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction concerning bribery, corruption or money laundering, including, without limitation, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom.

Apache” means Apache Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Apache Guaranty” means that certain Guaranty by Apache in favor of the Lenders and the other Lender Parties (as defined therein), in substantially the form of Exhibit H-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, as such Guaranty may from time to time be amended, supplemented, restated, reaffirmed or otherwise modified.

Applicable Lending Office” means, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, such office of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify in writing to the Administrative Agent and Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and/or issued and maintained.

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender’s aggregate Commitments; provided that, when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall be adjusted for purposes of Section 2.20 as set forth in Section 2.20. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and adjustments due to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

Applicable Rating Level” means (a) at any time the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for the Index Debt are equivalent ratings, the level set forth in the chart below under the heading “Applicable Rating Level” (a “Level”) opposite the ratings under the headings “Moody’s” and “S&P”, and (b) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for the Index Debt shall fall within different Levels, the Applicable Rating Level shall be based on the higher rating, provided, however, that for purposes of the foregoing, (i) “≥” means a rating equal to or more favorable than; “≤” means a rating equal to or less favorable than; “>” means a rating greater than; “<” means a rating less than; (ii) in the event that a one rating level split occurs between the Moody’s and S&P ratings, then the rating corresponding to the higher rating shall determine the Applicable Rating Level; (iii) in the event that more than a one rating level split occurs between the Moody’s and S&P ratings, then the Applicable Rating Level shall equal one level lower than the higher rating; (iv) if only one of Moody’s and S&P shall have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the penultimate sentence of this definition), then the Applicable Rating Level shall be the rating that is one Level below the rating established by such party; (v) if there

 

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is no rating for the Index Debt from Moody’s and S&P, then the Applicable Rating Level shall equal Level V; and (vi) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moody’s or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency. Each change in the Applicable Rating Level shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if any such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, APA and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rating Level shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation. Changes in the Applicable Rating Level will occur automatically without prior notice.

 

Applicable Rating Level

   Moody’s    S&P

Level I

   ≥ Baa1    ≥ BBB+

Level II

   Baa2    BBB

Level III

   Baa3    BBB-

Level IV

   Ba1    BB+

Level V

   ≤Ba2    ≤BB

For example, if the Moody’s rating is Baa3 and the S&P rating is BB+, Level III shall apply.

Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.3(a).

Arrangers” is defined in Section 9.1(e).

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit C or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

Authorized Officer” means, with respect to (i) APA, the chief executive officer and/or president, the chief financial officer, or the treasurer of APA and any officer or employee of APA specified as such to the Administrative Agent in writing by any of the aforementioned officers of APA and (ii) Apache, the chief executive officer and/or president, the chief financial officer, or the treasurer of Apache and any officer or employee of Apache specified as such to the Administrative Agent in writing by any of the aforementioned officers of Apache.

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term

 

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rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 2.13.

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

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

Bank Rating” means, with respect to any Person, the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for the senior, unsubordinated, unsecured long-term debt of such Person.

Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or consented to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Term SOFR Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.13.

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1) the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; and

 

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(2) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and APA as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

provided, however, that, if (x) Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR becomes the Benchmark Replacement and (y) thereafter APA reasonably determines that at least three (3) currently outstanding US Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities in the United States utilize a different benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark, then (A) APA shall have the right to request a redetermination of the Benchmark Replacement utilizing clause (2) above for determining the alternate benchmark rate, (B) the Administrative Agent agrees to work with APA to determine such alternative benchmark rate as specified in clause (2) above, and (C) such determined alternative benchmark rate shall become effective in the manner set forth in clause (2) above. If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and APA for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

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

 

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Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

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

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

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

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

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

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such

 

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component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

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

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.13 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.13.

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Bloomberg” means Bloomberg L.P., and any nationally recognized successor thereto.

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble.

Borrowing” means Loans of the same Type and Class, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Request” means a request by Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Bridge Commitment Letter” means that Commitment Letter, dated January 3, 2024, by and between the Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

Business Day” means, any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are not open for business in New York City or Chicago; provided that, in relation to Loans bearing interest based on Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loan, or any other dealings of such Loan, the term “Business Days” shall exclude any such day that is not an U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

Canada” means Canada and any of its provinces or territories.

Capital” means the consolidated shareholder’s equity of APA and its Subsidiaries plus the consolidated Debt of APA and its Subsidiaries, provided that such calculation shall exclude the effects of non-cash write-downs, impairments, and related charges occurring after June 30, 2015, including, without limitation, those which may be required under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 360 or Rule 4-10 (Financial Accounting and Reporting for Oil and Gas Producing Activities Pursuant to the Federal Securities Laws and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or by GAAP.

Cayman Islands” means the Cayman Islands.

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et. seq., as amended from time to time.

Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are 364-Day Tranche Loan or 3-Year Tranche Loans and (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a 364-Day Tranche Commitment or 3-Year Tranche Commitment.

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.2 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2) and the Loans requested pursuant to the Borrowing Request are funded.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement or, with respect to any Lender, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption of or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty by any Governmental Authority, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b)), by any Applicable Lending Office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any)) with any rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy or liquidity promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee

 

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on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” to the extent enacted, adopted, promulgated, or issued by any Governmental Authority or otherwise having the force of law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Co-Documentation Agents” means Bank of America, N.A., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., MUFG Bank, Ltd., The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch and Truist Bank, in their capacity as co-documentation agents.

Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s 364-Day Tranche Commitment or 3-Year Tranche Commitment, as applicable, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.8, (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.4 and (d) terminated pursuant to Section 2.8, Section 8.2 or Section 8.3. The amount of the Commitment represents such Lender’s maximum Credit Exposure hereunder. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is $2,000,000,000.

Commitment Termination Date” means the first to occur of: (i) the consummation of the Acquisition without the making of the Loans, (ii) the termination of the Acquisition Agreement in accordance with its terms and (iii) the Termination Date (as defined in, and including as may be extended pursuant to Section 7.1 of, the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on January 3, 2024).

Communications” is defined in Section 9.3(c).

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total assets of APA and its subsidiaries as of the end of APA’s most recent fiscal quarter for which a consolidated balance sheet of APA and its subsidiaries is available, minus the sum of (i) all current liabilities (excluding the current portion of any long-term debt) of APA and its subsidiaries reflected on such balance sheet, and (ii) total goodwill and other intangible assets of APA and its subsidiaries reflected on such balance sheet, all calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” means (i) the consolidated shareholder’s equity of APA and its Subsidiaries, less (ii) the amount of consolidated intangible assets of APA and its Subsidiaries, plus (iii) the aggregate amount of any non-cash write downs, impairments, and related charges, on a consolidated basis, by APA and its Subsidiaries made since June 4, 2015.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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Controlled Group” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with APA, are treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

Co-Syndication Agents” means each of Citibank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as syndication agent.

Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum calculated in US Dollars of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans at such time.

Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Date, SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Date has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.

Debt” of any Person means indebtedness, including capital leases, shown as debt on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender” means, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with APA, any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans or (ii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or

 

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expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, acting in good faith, to confirm in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon (i) the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such confirmation, and (ii) compliance in full by such Lender with its funding obligations under this Agreement as of the date of such confirmation (subject to any exception to funding set forth in clause (a) above), or (d) has become the subject of (A) a Bankruptcy Event or (B) a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a “Defaulting Lender” solely by reason of events relating to a parent company of such Lender or solely because a governmental authority has been appointed as receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian for such Lender, in each case as described in clause (d) above, if and for so long as both the Administrative Agent and APA, each in its sole and absolute discretion, is satisfied that such Lender will continue to perform its obligations hereunder relating to Loans, such mutual satisfaction being evidenced by written confirmation signed and delivered by the Administrative Agent and APA to the other, either of which may revoke such confirmation by written notice delivered to the other, upon which such Lender will again be a Defaulting Lender.

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

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

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

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.1 of this Agreement are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2 of this Agreement), which date is January 30, 2024.

Effectiveness Notice” means a notice and certificate of APA properly executed by an Authorized Officer of APA addressed to the Lenders and delivered to the Administrative Agent, whereby APA certifies satisfaction of all the conditions precedent to the effectiveness under Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

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Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

Environmental Laws” means all applicable federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, decrees, judgments, injunctions, legally binding notices or legally binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the protection of the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters relating to the exposure of Hazardous Material.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, together with the rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time.

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

Event of Default” is defined in Section 8.1.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.16(e), and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

14


Existing Credit Facility” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2022, among the Target, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate, provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Floor” means zero percent (0.0%).

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent financial statements of APA and its Subsidiaries delivered to the Lenders pursuant hereto.

Good Faith” means honesty in fact in the conduct of the transaction concerned.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantor” means Apache and, only to the extent required by Section 5.7, the Target.

Guaranty” means the Apache Guaranty and, only to the extent required by Section 5.7, the Target Guaranty, in each case, as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented, restated, reaffirmed or otherwise modified.

Hazardous Material” means (a) any “hazardous substance,” as defined by CERCLA; (b) any “hazardous waste,” as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; or (c) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material or substance within the meaning of any other Environmental Law.

 

15


Highest Lawful Rate” is defined in Section 10.13(ii).

Indebtedness” of any Person means all (i) Debt, and (ii) guaranties or other contingent obligations in respect of the Debt of any other Person.

Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a) hereof, Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.3(b).

Index Debt” means senior, unsecured, non-credit enhanced, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of APA that is not guaranteed by any other Person or subject to any other credit enhancement; provided, however, that if (i) there is no rating for such indebtedness from Moody’s and S&P and (ii) the Apache Guaranty is in effect, then “Index Debt” means senior, unsecured, non-credit enhanced, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of Apache that is not guaranteed by any other Person or subject to any other credit enhancement.

Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, or (c) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, with respect to clause (c), such company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business; provided, further, that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Person (other than a Lender) shall be an Ineligible Institution if after giving effect to any proposed assignment to such Person, such Person would hold more than 25% of the then outstanding Credit Exposure or Commitments, as the case may be.

Initial Acquired Business Debt Refinancing” means the repayment, redemption, discharge or defeasance, as applicable, of all outstanding Debt, accrued interest, fees and other amounts outstanding under (i) the Target’s Existing Credit Facility, and (ii) the Target’s 6.375% Senior Notes due 2026.

Interest Election Request” means a request by Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.7, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date and (b) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three (3) months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three (3) months’ duration after the first (1st) day of such Interest Period, and the Maturity Date.

 

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Interest Period” means with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day, or, with the consent of the Administrative Agent, such other day, in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan) or any other period agreeable to all Lenders, in each case as Borrower may elect; provided that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.13(e) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

JPMorgan” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.1 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge, or security interest of any kind, granted or created to secure Indebtedness; provided, however, that, with respect to any prohibitions of Liens on Property, the following transactions shall not be deemed to create a Lien to secure Indebtedness: (i) production payments and (ii) liens required by statute and created in favor of U.S. governmental entities to secure partial, progress, advance, or other payments intended to be used primarily in connection with air or water pollution control.

Loan” means any 364-Day Tranche Loans and any 3-Year Tranche Loans made by the Lenders to Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Loan Document” means this Agreement, the Apache Guaranty, until it has terminated in accordance with its terms, the Target Guaranty (to the extent required by Section 5.7 and until it has terminated in accordance with its terms), any Borrowing Request, any Interest Election Request, any Assignment and Assumption, any election notice, and the agreement with respect to fees described in Section 2.11(a), as such may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Loan Parties” means the (i) Borrower, (ii) until the termination of the Apache Guaranty in accordance with its terms, Apache, and (iii) only to the extent required by Section 5.7 and until the termination of the Target Guaranty in accordance with its terms, the Target.

Material Adverse Effect” means, as to any matter, that such matter could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) of APA and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. No matter shall be considered to result, or be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect unless such matter causes APA and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, to suffer a loss or incur a cost equal to at least ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

Maturity Date” means the earlier of (a)(i) in the case of 364-Day Tranche Loans, the date that is 364 days after the Closing Date and (ii) in the case of 3-Year Tranche Loans, the date that is three years after the Closing Date and (b) the date on which the maturity of the Loans is accelerated in accordance with the terms hereof.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency in the United States.

Non-Defaulting Lender” is defined in Section 2.17(f).

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Obligations” means, at any time, the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of any Loans plus (ii) all accrued and unpaid interest, Ticking Fees and other fees due pursuant to Section 2.11 plus (iii) all other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Lender or any Agent, whether or not contingent, arising under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents.

Other Acquired Business Debt Refinancing” means the repayment, redemption, discharge or defeasance, as applicable, of outstanding Debt, accrued interest, fees and other amounts outstanding under (i) the Target’s 7.50% Senior Notes due 2030 and (ii) the Target’s 8.00% Senior Notes due 2028.

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

 

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Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.18).

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in US Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).

Participant Register” is defined in Section 10.4(g).

Participants” is defined in Section 10.4(e).

Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.6(c).

Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.6(c).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Pension Plan” means a “pension plan,” as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), and to which Borrower or any corporation, trade or business that is, along with Borrower, a member of a Controlled Group, may have liability, including any liability by reason of having been a substantial employer within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by reason of being deemed to be a contributing sponsor under Section 4069 of ERISA.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, joint venture, partnership, association, trust, company, firm, Governmental Authority or any other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City, or, if Administrative Agent ceases to quote such rate, the rate of interest last quoted by Bloomberg as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if Bloomberg ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

 

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Property” means (i) any property owned or leased by APA or any Subsidiary, or any interest of APA or any Subsidiary in property, which is considered by APA to be capable of producing oil, gas, or minerals in commercial quantities, (ii) any interest of APA or any Subsidiary in any refinery, processing or manufacturing plant owned or leased by APA or any manufacturing plant owned or leased by APA or any Subsidiary, (iii) any interest of APA or any Subsidiary in all present and future oil, gas, other liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, and other minerals now or hereafter produced from any other Property or to which APA or any Subsidiary may be entitled as a result of its ownership of any Property, and (iv) all real and personal assets owned or leased by APA or any Subsidiary used in the drilling, gathering, processing, transportation, or marketing of any oil, gas, and other hydrocarbons or minerals, except (a) any such real or personal assets related thereto employed in transportation, distribution or marketing or (b) any interest of APA or any Subsidiary in, any refinery, processing or manufacturing plant, or portion thereof, which property described in clauses (a) or (b), in the opinion of the board of directors of APA, is not a principal plant or principal facility in relation to the activities of APA and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) any Lender, as applicable.

Reference Time” means with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then five (5) Business Days prior to such setting, or (3) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Register” is defined in Section 10.4(c).

Regulation U” means any of Regulations T, U or X of the Board from time to time in effect and shall include any successor or other regulations or official interpretations of said Board or any successor Person relating to the extension of credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System or any successor Person.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Relevant Governmental Body” means, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, as applicable, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto.

Relevant Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.

 

20


Reporting Company” means Apache while it continues to elect to file periodic reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act.

Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.20, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate Credit Exposure and unused Commitments at such time; provided that for the purpose of determining the Required Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent, any Lender that is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower shall be disregarded.

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

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act” means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 690, et seq., as amended from time to time.

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of APA that owns any asset representing or consisting of an entitlement to production from, or other interest in, reserves of oil, gas or other minerals in place located in the United States or Canada or is otherwise designated by APA in writing to the Administrative Agent.

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the so - called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person or vessel with whom Borrower cannot do business due to the person or vessel being listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or by United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person with whom Borrower cannot do business due to the Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person that Borrower knows is owned 50 percent or more by any Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America.

Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder.

 

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SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the NYFRB on the SOFR Administrator’s Website on the immediately preceding Business day.

SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Section 3.1 (solely with respect to the Borrower), Section 3.2(a), Section 3.2(b)(i), Section 3.2(b)(iv), the last sentence of Section 3.2, Section 3.3 (with respect to the second sentence therein), Section 3.5, and Section 3.9.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, at a given time, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other similar entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock (or other equity) having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers or similar governing body or management of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock (or other equity) or any other class or classes of equity of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or entity shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of APA; provided, however, that in all events the following Persons shall not be deemed to be Subsidiaries of APA or any of its Subsidiaries: Apache Offshore Investment Partnership, a Delaware general partnership, and Apache Offshore Petroleum Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Target” means Callon Petroleum Company, a Delaware corporation.

Target Guaranty” means that certain Guaranty by Target in favor of the Lenders and the other Lender Parties (as defined therein), in substantially the form of Exhibit H-3 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, as such Guaranty may from time to time be amended, supplemented, restated, reaffirmed or otherwise modified.

 

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Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”.

Term Benchmark Margin” means, for any day, for each Class of Loans, the applicable rate per annum set forth below for such Class of Loans based upon the Applicable Rating Level, applicable on such date:

 

Applicable Rating Level

   364-Day Tranche
Loans
Term Benchmark
Margin (in basis
points)
   3-Year Tranche Loans
Term Benchmark Margin (in basis points)
          From the Closing
Date until the date
that is the second
anniversary of the
Closing Date
   After the date that is
the second
anniversary of the
Closing Date

Level I

   125.0 bps    137.5 bps    162.5 bps

Level II

   137.5 bps    150.0 bps    175.0 bps

Level III

   162.5 bps    175.0 bps    200.0 bps

Level IV

   187.5 bps    200.0 bps    225.0 bps

Level V

   200.0 bps    212.5 bps    237.5 bps

Each change in the Term Benchmark Margin shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. Changes in the Term Benchmark Margin will occur automatically without prior notice.

Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.

Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

 

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Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than five (5) Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.

Ticking Fee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a).

Ticking Fee Rate” means 0.225% per annum.

Tranche Majority Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders of one Class having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the aggregate Credit Exposures and unused Commitments of such Class at such time, provided that for the purpose of determining the Tranche Majority Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent, any Lender that is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower shall be disregarded.

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by APA of this Agreement and by each Loan Party of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof, the consummation of the Acquisition, and the Acquired Business Debt Refinancing.

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

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

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

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

United Kingdom” or “UK” means the United Kingdom and any country which makes up a part thereof.

 

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United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America, its fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of APA that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

Unused Repayment Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(c).

USA Patriot Act” means the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001).

US Dollars” or “$”refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

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

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16(e)(ii)(B)(3).

Welfare Plan” means a “welfare plan,” as such term is defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA.

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

SECTION 1.2 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan”) or Class (e.g., a “364-Day Tranche Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing”) and Class (e.g. a “Term Benchmark 364-Day Tranche Loan Borrowing”).

SECTION 1.3 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.

 

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Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law, rule or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.4 Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if APA notifies the Administrative Agent that APA requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies APA that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect (i) to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

SECTION 1.5 [Reserved].

SECTION 1.6 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in US Dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.13(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. Except as set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or

 

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characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. Unless otherwise required under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.1 The Facility; Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, so long as the Commitment Termination Date has not occurred, each Lender severally agrees to make Loans denominated in US Dollars to the Borrower on the Closing Date; provided that (i) with respect to 364-Day Tranche Loans, the aggregate principal amount of the 364-Day Tranche Loans made by each 364-Day Tranche Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s 364-Day Tranche Commitment in effect immediately prior to making such 364-Day Tranche Loan and (ii) with respect to 3-Year Tranche Loans, the aggregate principal amount of the 3-Year Tranche Loans made by each 3-Year Tranche Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s 3-Year Tranche Commitment in effect immediately prior to making such 3-Year Tranche Loan. Any amount borrowed under this Section 2.1 and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

SECTION 2.2 Loans and Borrowings.

(a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments under the relevant Class. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b) Subject to Section 2.13, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans in US Dollars as Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (including any continuation or conversion of existing Loans made in connection therewith). At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (including any continuation or conversion of existing Loans made in connection therewith); provided that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten (10) Term Benchmark Borrowings outstanding.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the applicable Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.3 Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request in writing or by telephone (a) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing, or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Any such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by Borrower; provided that a Borrowing Request delivered by APA may state that such notice is conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement), in which case such notice may be revoked by APA (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of such Borrowing) if such condition is not satisfied. Each telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

(ii) the Class(es) of the requested Borrowing;

(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and

(v) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Borrowing, then Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

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SECTION 2.4 [Reserved].

SECTION 2.5 Funding of Borrowings.

(a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the Closing Date solely by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to Borrower by promptly crediting the funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Administrative Agent to an account of Borrower designated by Borrower from time to time in a written notice to the Administrative Agent executed by two Authorized Officers of APA.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the Closing Date that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on the requested date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the NYFRB Rate or a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Loans made in such Borrowing. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

SECTION 2.6 [Reserved].

SECTION 2.7 Interest Elections.

(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type and Class specified in the applicable Borrowing Request (or an ABR Borrowing if no Type is specified) and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request (or one (1) month if no Interest Period is specified). Thereafter, Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. Borrower may, subject to the requirements of Section 2.2(c), elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. A Class of Loan cannot be changed or converted.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.3 if Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request.

 

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(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.

(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(e) If Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing, (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid and provided the Indebtedness has not been accelerated pursuant to Section 8.3, each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.8 Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall automatically terminate on the earlier of (i) the Closing Date after giving effect to the funding of each Lender’s Commitments on such date and (ii) the Commitment Termination Date.

 

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(b) APA may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000.

(c) APA shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under Section 2.8(b) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by APA pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by APA may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by APA (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably between each Class and ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments under such Class.

SECTION 2.9 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

(a) Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay the outstanding Loans as follows: (a) to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of each 364-Day Tranche Lender on the Maturity Date applicable thereto the outstanding principal amount of 364-Day Tranche Loans made to the Borrower then outstanding and (b) to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of each 3-Year Tranche Lender on the Maturity Date applicable thereto the outstanding principal amount of 3-Year Tranche Loans made to the Borrower then outstanding.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type and Class thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent). Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.4) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if any such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

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SECTION 2.10 Optional Prepayment of Loans; Other Required Prepayments.

(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay Loans of any Class in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 2.10(b).

(b) Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that a notice of prepayment delivered by APA may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by APA (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.2. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be allocated to the Classes of Loans as directed by the Borrower and applied ratably to the Loans of such Class included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12 and compensation for break funding, to the extent required by Section 2.15.

(c) To the extent that any proceeds of the Loans have not been applied by the Borrower to the consummation of the Acquired Business Debt Refinancing (and the payment of fees and expenses related to the Transactions) on or prior to the date that is 120 days after the Closing Date (such proceeds, the “Unused Repayment Amount”), the Borrower shall, following the delivery of a prior notice pursuant to Section 2.10(b), prepay Loans in a principal amount equal to the Unused Repayment Amount.

SECTION 2.11 Fees.

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, ticking fees (the “Ticking Fees”) at a rate per annum equal to the Ticking Fee Rate on the daily average undrawn aggregate Commitment of such Lender, accruing during the period from and including the later of (x) the Effective Date and (y) the date that is 90 days after January 3, 2024, to but excluding the earlier of (x) the Commitment Termination Date and (y) the Closing Date (such earlier date, the “Ticking Fee Date”), payable upon the Ticking Fee Date. Ticking Fees shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

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(b) Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts, in US Dollars and at the times separately agreed upon between Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(c) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, and, except with respect to the fees payable directly to the Arrangers pursuant to Section 2.11(c), shall be payable to the Administrative Agent for distribution, in the case of commissions pursuant to Section 2.11(a), to the Lenders. Any and all fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.12 Interest.

(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest on the daily amount outstanding at the Alternate Base Rate plus the ABR Rate Margin.

(b) The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest on the daily amount outstanding at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Term Benchmark Margin.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section, or (ii) in the case of any other amount denominated in US Dollars, at a rate of interest per annum equal to 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in Section 2.12(a).

(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Loans on the applicable Maturity Date; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 2.12(c) shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e) Subject to Section 10.13, all interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first (1st) day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Term Benchmark Rate or Term Benchmark Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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SECTION 2.13 Alternate Rate of Interest.

(a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section, if:

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Term SOFR Rate (including, without limitation, because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR; or

(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.7 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3, (A) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall be ineffective and (B) any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for an ABR Borrowing; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Type of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.13(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.7 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute an ABR Loan on such day.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of

 

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“Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.13, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.13.

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

 

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(f) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to an ABR Borrowing. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.13, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, an ABR Loan on such day.

SECTION 2.14 Increased Costs.

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate); or

(ii) impose on any Lender or the applicable offshore interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Term Benchmark Loans made by such Lender; or

(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then Borrower will pay to such Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section (together with the calculation thereof) shall be delivered to Borrower and shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error. Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.15 Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (b) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.10(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event (other than loss of profit). A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive, together with the calculation thereof, pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to Borrower and to the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error. Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

SECTION 2.16 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the

 

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relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax, then the sum payable by Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made. In addition, Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Payments of Taxes by Borrower. Borrower shall pay the Administrative Agent, each Lender, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto (other than any such penalties or interest arising through the failure of the Administrative Agent or Lender to act as a reasonably prudent agent or lender, respectively), whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.

(c) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.16, Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.4(g) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (d).

 

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(e) Status of Lenders.

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to APA and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by APA or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by APA or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by APA or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by APA or the Administrative Agent as will enable Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.16(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B), (ii)(C) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to APA and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), an executed copy of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax;

(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to APA and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of APA or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

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(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8BEN; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K-2 or Exhibit K-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to APA and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of APA or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit APA or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D) if a payment made to a Lender, the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender, Administrative Agent were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender, Administrative Agent shall deliver to APA and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by APA or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by APA or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for APA and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender, Administrative Agent has complied with the obligations of such Lender, Administrative Agent under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

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Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify APA and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(f) [Reserved].

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been paid pursuant to this Section 2.16 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16), it shall pay to the paying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of payments made under this Section 2.16 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such paying party, upon the request of such party, shall repay to such party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will such party be required to pay any amount to a paying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place such party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such party would have been in if the Tax subject to payment and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any such party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the paying party or any other Person.

(h) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other obligations under any Loan Document.

(i) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.16, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

SECTION 2.17 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

(a) Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Sections 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, or otherwise) prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent, at 4041 Ogletown Stanton Rd, Floor 02 Newark, DE, 19713-3159 , Attention: Jacob McNett, Telephone: 302-634-3367, Email: jacob.mcnett@chase.com. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received

 

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by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in US Dollars.

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties. If insufficient funds are received due to Borrower’s entitlement to withhold amounts on account of Excluded Taxes in relation to a particular Lender, such insufficiency shall not be subject to this Section 2.17(b) but shall be withheld from and shall only affect payments made to such Lender.

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders pursuant to the terms hereof or any other Loan Document (including any date that is fixed for prepayment by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.10(b)) that Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

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(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.5(b), Section 2.17(d) or Section 10.3(c), the Agreement, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Defaulting Lender shall have failed to fund a Loan forming any portion of a Borrowing (each such Loan, an “Affected Loan”), (i) each payment by Borrower on account of the interest on such Borrowing shall be distributed to each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender (each, a “Non-Defaulting Lender”) pro rata based on the outstanding principal amount of such Borrowing owing to all Non-Defaulting Lenders, and (ii) each prepayment of a Borrowing by Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10 shall be distributed (x) to each Non-Defaulting Lender pro rata based on the outstanding principal amount of such Borrowing owing to all Non-Defaulting Lenders, until the principal amount of such Borrowing (other than the Affected Loans) has been repaid in full and (y) to the extent of any remaining amount of such prepayment relating to such Borrowing, to each Lender which has amounts outstanding with respect to such Borrowing pro rata in accordance with such Lender’s Applicable Percentage.

SECTION 2.18 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if Borrower is required to pay any amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Applicable Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.16, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if Borrower is required to pay any amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender hereunder, then Borrower may upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse or expense to, or warranty by, such Lender (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.4), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.14 and 2.16) and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee designated by Borrower which

 

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meets the requirements of Section 10.4(b) that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) the assignee and assignor shall have entered into an Assignment and Assumption, and (iv) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto. Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any assigning Lender in connection with any such assignment.

SECTION 2.19 [Reserved].

SECTION 2.20 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) Ticking Fees shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.11.

(b) Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 8.4 or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.8 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as APA may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and APA, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of

 

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competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(c) The Commitment and Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included (in either the calculation of aggregate Commitments, outstanding Obligations or otherwise) in determining whether the Required Lenders or the Tranche Majority Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.2); provided, that this clause (c) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender as a Lender affected thereby pursuant to Section 10.2(b).

(d) [reserved]

(e) [reserved]

(f) Borrower may elect to replace any Defaulting Lender in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.18(b). In the event that the Administrative Agent and Borrower each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Credit Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment or Loans and on such date, such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

In order to induce the Lenders and the Agents to enter into this Agreement and the Lenders to make Loans hereunder, as of the Effective Date and as of the Closing Date, the Borrower represents and warrants unto the Agents and each Lender as set forth in this Article III (it being understood that the conditions to the Closing Date are only those set forth in Section 4.2).

 

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SECTION 3.1 Organization. APA is a corporation, and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation or other legal entity, in either case duly incorporated or otherwise properly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority, permits and approvals, and is in good standing to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted where the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.2 Authorization and Validity. The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of each Loan Document executed or to be executed by it (a) are within Borrower’s corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other similar powers, as applicable, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other similar action on behalf of it, and (b) do not (i) contravene Borrower’s and Guarantor’s, as applicable, certificate of incorporation or other organizational documents, as the case may be; (ii) contravene any material contractual restriction, law or governmental regulation or court decree or order binding on or affecting Borrower or any Subsidiary; (iii) result in, or require the creation or imposition of, any Lien, not permitted by Section 7.1, on any of Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s properties or (iv) contravene any material debt instruments of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (after giving effect to the Acquisition) governing indebtedness for borrowed money in an outstanding principal amount or committed amount in excess of $250,000,000. Each Loan Document executed by Borrower will, on the due execution and delivery thereof, constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower enforceable in accordance with their respective terms subject as to enforcement only to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditor rights generally and to general principles of equity.

SECTION 3.3 Government Approval and Regulation. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or other Person is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by Borrower of any Loan Document to which it is a party. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SECTION 3.4 Pension and Welfare Plans. During the twelve-consecutive-month period prior to the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the date of any Borrowing hereunder, no steps have been taken to terminate any Pension Plan, and no contribution failure has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA. No condition exists or event or transaction has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan which would result in the incurrence by Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group of any liability, fine or penalty in excess of $150,000,000. Neither Borrower nor any member of the Controlled Group has any contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement benefit under a Welfare Plan, other than liability for continuation coverage described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.

SECTION 3.5 Regulation U. Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any Loan will be used for a purpose which violates, or would be inconsistent with, Regulation U. Terms for which meanings are provided in Regulations U are used in this Section with such meanings.

 

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SECTION 3.6 Taxes. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has to the best knowledge of Borrower after due investigation filed all tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed by it and has paid all taxes and governmental charges thereby shown to be owing, except any such taxes or charges which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books or which the failure to file or pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.7 Subsidiaries; Restricted Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.7 hereto contains an accurate list of all of the presently existing Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization and the percentage of their respective capital stock or, the revenue share attributable to the general and limited partnership interests, as the case may be, owned by APA or its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of such Subsidiaries which are corporations have been duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

SECTION 3.8 No Default or Event of Default. As of the Effective Date, no Default or Event of Default exists.

SECTION 3.9 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to achieve compliance by Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (acting in their capacity as such) with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions in all material respects. None of (i) Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) any director or officer of Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iii) to the knowledge of Borrower, any employee or agent of Borrower or any Subsidiary (in each case, acting in their capacity as such), is a Sanctioned Person. The parties to this Agreement agree that any writing or certificate furnished by or on behalf of Borrower to the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, or any Lender for the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement with respect to Anti-Corruption Laws or Sanctions may be made consistent with this Section 3.9.

ARTICLE IV

Conditions

SECTION 4.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective upon the prior or concurrent satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.1.

(a) Credit Agreement and Apache Guaranty. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement and the Apache Guaranty signed on behalf of such party (which, subject to Section 10.6(b), may include any Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page).

 

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(b) Resolutions and Officers Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received from each of Borrower and Apache a certificate, dated the Effective Date, of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of Borrower and Apache, as applicable, as to (i) resolutions of its governing board, then in full force and effect authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to be executed by it; (ii) the incumbency and signatures of those of its officers authorized to act with respect to this Agreement and each other Loan Document executed by it; (iii) its certificate of incorporation and bylaws and (iv) good standing certificate for the Borrower from its jurisdiction of organization; upon which certificates each Lender may conclusively rely until it shall have received a further certificate of an authorized officer of Borrower or Apache, as applicable, canceling or amending such prior certificate.

(c) Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received opinions, dated the Effective Date, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the other Agents and all Lenders, from Bracewell LLP, counsel to Borrower, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion.

(d) Closing Fees and Expenses. The Administrative Agent shall have received for its own account, or for the account of each Lender and other Agent, as the case may be, all fees, costs and expenses due and payable pursuant hereto.

(e) Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by an Authorized Officer of APA, stating that the audited consolidated financial statements of (i) APA and its Subsidiaries for fiscal year 2022 and (ii) Apache and its Subsidiaries for fiscal year 2022 (collectively, the “2022 Financials”) fairly present the financial condition and results of operations of APA and Apache, respectively, and that prior to the Effective Date no material adverse change in the condition or operations of APA and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that reflected in the 2022 Financials has occurred and is continuing excluding (i) any credit rating downgrades of APA or Apache, respectively, and (ii) the effects of non-cash write-downs, impairments, and related charges of APA or Apache, respectively, including, without limitation, those which may be required under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 360 or Rule 4-10 (Financial Accounting and Reporting for Oil and Gas Producing Activities Pursuant to the Federal Securities Laws and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or by GAAP.

(f) Environmental Warranties. In the ordinary course of its business, APA conducts an ongoing review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of APA and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which it attempts to identify and evaluate associated liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or closure of properties presently or previously owned, any capital or operating expenditures required to achieve or maintain compliance with environmental protection standards imposed by law or as a condition of any license, permit or contract, any related constraints on operating activities, including any periodic or permanent shutdown of any facility or reduction in the level of or change in the nature of operations conducted thereat and any actual or potential liabilities to third parties, including employees, and any related costs and expenses). On the basis of this review, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by an Authorized Officer of APA, stating that after such review APA has reasonably concluded that existing Environmental Laws are unlikely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or that APA has established adequate reserves in respect of any required clean-up or other remediation.

 

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(g) Effectiveness Notice. The Administrative Agent shall have received the Effectiveness Notice.

(h) Litigation. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by an Authorized Officer of APA, stating that no litigation, arbitration, governmental proceeding, Tax claim, dispute or administrative or other proceeding shall be pending or, to the knowledge of APA, threatened against APA or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(i) Regulatory Requirements. The Administrative Agent on behalf of the various Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities with respect to Borrower and any other Loan Party under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules.

(j) Bridge Commitments. The Arrangers party to the Bridge Commitment Letter shall have received from Borrower a bridge reduction notice stating that this Agreement constitutes a “Qualifying Term Loan Facility” (as defined in the Bridge Loan Commitment Letter).

(k) Other Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other instruments and documents as any of the Agents or their counsel may have reasonably requested.

The Administrative Agent shall notify Borrower, the other Agents and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

SECTION 4.2 Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to fund any Loan shall be subject to the satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.2 on or prior to the Commitment Termination Date.

(a) Effective Date. The Effective Date shall have occurred.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) Compliance with Warranties and No Default. Both before and after giving effect to the Transactions, the following statements shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date: (1) there has been no change to the matters previously certified pursuant to Section 4.01(b) (or otherwise providing updates to such certifications); (2) the Specified Representations and the Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (unless stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified); and (3) no Event of Default under Section 8.1(a) or Section 8.1(g) (with respect to the Borrower only) shall have then occurred and be continuing.

(d) Borrowings. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request for such Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date.

 

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(e) Acquisition Agreement. Prior to or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Loans on the Closing Date, the Acquisition shall have been consummated, without giving effect to any amendments, modifications, supplements or waivers by the Borrower or Acquisition Sub (or any of their respective affiliates) thereto or consents by the Borrower or Acquisition Sub (or any of their respective affiliates) thereunder, in each case, that are materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders or the Arrangers, in their capacities as such without each Arranger’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (it being understood and agreed that, without prejudice to any of the other conditions set forth in this Section 4.02, (a) any change in the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” in the Acquisition Agreement shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders and the Arrangers, in their capacities as such, unless the Arrangers shall have provided their written consent thereto (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and (b) any modification, amendment or express waiver or consents by the Borrower or Acquisition Sub (or any of their respective affiliates) that results in (i) an increase to the purchase price of not more than 10% or that is funded with common equity of the Borrower shall be deemed not to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders or the Arrangers, in their capacities as such, so long as such increase is not funded with proceeds of indebtedness or (ii) a decrease to the exchange ratio of not more than 10% shall be deemed not to be materially adverse to the Arrangers and the Lender.

(f) No Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of the Acquisition Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement).

(g) Fees. The Administrative Agent shall have received for its own account, or for the account of each Lender and other Agent, as the case may be, all fees, costs and expenses (to the extent invoiced at least two Business Day prior to the Effective Date) due and payable pursuant hereto.

(h) Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received (a) audited consolidated annual balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its subsidiaries prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the three most recently completed fiscal years ended at least 60 days prior to the Closing Date, (b) U.S. GAAP unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and cash flows of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for any subsequent interim financial period (other than, in each case, the fourth quarter of any fiscal year) ended at least 40 days prior to the Closing Date, and for the comparable period of the prior fiscal year, (c) U.S. GAAP audited consolidated annual balance sheets and related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and shareholders’ equity of the Target for the most recently completed fiscal year ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date, and (d) U.S. GAAP unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and shareholder’s equity of the Target for any subsequent interim fiscal quarter (other than, in each case, the fourth quarter of any fiscal year) ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, and for the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. The public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval of any of the foregoing financial statements, will satisfy the requirements under clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e), as applicable, of the first sentence of this paragraph. The Administrative Agent hereby acknowledge receipt of the financial statements for the Borrower and the Acquired Business for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

 

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(i) KYC and Beneficial Ownership Certification. Each Lender shall have received, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and information as is reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent, at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date, about the Borrower required by U.S. regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation the PATRIOT Act. If the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity” customer under 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230 (the “Beneficial Ownership Regulation”), the Borrower shall have delivered to each requesting Lender at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date (to the extent requested by such Lender at least ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date) a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower. “Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding individual beneficial ownership solely to the extent expressly required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

(j) Refinancing. The Initial Acquired Business Debt Refinancing shall have been consummated prior to, or shall be consummated substantially simultaneously with the borrowing of the Loans on the Closing Date, and the Administrative Agent shall have received customary payoff letters or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it confirming that all Debt with respect thereto shall have been fully repaid or will be repaid, and all commitments thereunder shall have been terminated and cancelled and all liens and guaranties in connection therewith shall have been terminated and released, in each case prior to or substantially concurrently with the borrowing of the Loans on the Closing Date. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, neither the Target nor any of its subsidiaries shall have any material outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money (other than indebtedness subject to the Other Acquired Business Debt Refinancing and any indebtedness permitted hereunder and permitted to remain outstanding under the Acquisition Agreement).

(k) Solvency. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by an Authorized Officer of APA, stating that immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on such date, as of the Closing Date, (i) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis exceeds the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis do not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

 

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ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and all Obligations shall have been paid in full and unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, APA covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.1 Financial Reporting and Notices. APA will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to each Lender and the Administrative Agent copies of the following financial statements, reports, notices and information:

 

  (a)

within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of APA, a copy of the audited annual report for such fiscal year (i) for APA and its Subsidiaries, including therein consolidated balance sheets of APA and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow of APA and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, and (ii) while Apache is a Reporting Company, for Apache and its Subsidiaries, including therein consolidated balance sheets of Apache and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow of Apache and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case certified (without qualification) by independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing selected by APA;

 

  (b)

within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of APA commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2024, (i) unaudited consolidated balance sheets of APA and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow of APA and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, certified by an Authorized Officer of APA and (ii) while Apache is a Reporting Company, unaudited consolidated balance sheets of Apache and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow of Apache and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, certified by an Authorized Officer of Apache;

 

  (c)

together with the financial statements described in (a) and (b), above a compliance certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, executed by an Authorized Officer of APA;

 

  (d)

within five (5) days after the occurrence of each Default, a statement of an Authorized Officer of APA setting forth details of such Default and the action which APA has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

  (e)

promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all material public filings, reports and communications from APA, and all reports and registration statements which APA or any of its Subsidiaries files with the SEC or any national securities exchange;

 

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  (f)

immediately upon becoming aware of the institution of any steps by Borrower or any other Person to terminate any Pension Plan, or the failure to make a required contribution to any Pension Plan if such failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA, or the taking of any action with respect to a Pension Plan which would reasonably be expected to result in the requirement that Borrower furnish a bond or other security to the PBGC or such Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event with respect to any Pension Plan which would reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence by Borrower of any liability, fine or penalty in excess of $150,000,000, or any material increase in the contingent liability of Borrower with respect to any postretirement Welfare Plan benefit, notice thereof;

 

  (g)

[reserved]; and

 

  (h)

such other information respecting the financial condition or operations of APA or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which APA posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on its website (located on the date hereof at www.apachecorp.com) or (ii) on which such documents are posted on APA or Apache’s behalf, as applicable, on the website of the SEC or on IntraLinks or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether made available by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (A) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion, to the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent, or such Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent, or such Lender and (B) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents; provided, further, that, if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Compliance Certificate to be delivered under Section 5.1(c) shall also be delivered in a tangible, physical version or in .pdf format. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such document to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.

SECTION 5.2 Compliance with Laws. Borrower will, and APA will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders where noncompliance therewith may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except where the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

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SECTION 5.3 Maintenance of Properties. Borrower will, and APA will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, preserve, protect and keep valid title to, or valid leasehold interest in, all of its properties and assets, real and personal, tangible and intangible, of any nature whatsoever (including patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and copyrights), free and clear of all Liens, charges or claims (including infringement claims with respect to patents, trademarks, copyrights and the like) except as permitted pursuant to Section 7.1 and except for imperfections and other burdens of title thereto as do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value thereof or for the use thereof in their businesses (taken as a whole).

SECTION 5.4 Insurance. Borrower will, and APA will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained with responsible insurance companies (subject to self-insured retentions) insurance with respect to its properties and business against such casualties and contingencies and of such types and in such amounts as is customary in the case of similar businesses.

SECTION 5.5 Books and Records. Borrower will, and APA will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep books and records which accurately reflect all of its business affairs and transactions and permit the Administrative Agent and the other Agents and each Lender through the Administrative Agent or any of their respective authorized representatives, during normal business hours and at reasonable intervals, to visit all of its offices, to discuss its financial matters with its officers and to examine (and, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such other Agent or Lender or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at the expense of Borrower, photocopy extracts from) any of its books or other records.

SECTION 5.6 Purposes. The proceeds of the Loans will be used by Borrower only to (i) to consummate the Acquired Business Debt Refinancing and (ii) to pay fees and expenses related to the Transactions. Borrower will not, directly, or to Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of any Loan, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or in a European Union member state or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions or applicable Anti-Corruption Laws by any Person (including any Person participating in the Loans whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise).

SECTION 5.7 Target Guaranty. To the extent that on the date that is 120 days after the Closing Date the aggregate principal amount of Debt outstanding under (i) the Target’s 7.50% Senior Notes due 2030 and (ii) the Target’s 8.00% Senior Notes due 2028, is or exceeds $400,000,000, the Borrower shall on such date (or if such date is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) cause the Target to enter into the Target Guaranty and to become a “Guarantor” under the Loan Documents (subject to the termination of the Target Guaranty in accordance with its terms), and shall cause the Target to deliver authorization and officer certificates substantially the same as those delivered by Apache under Section 4.1(b).

 

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ARTICLE VI

Financial Covenant

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and all Obligations shall have been paid in full and unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, APA covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.1 Ratio of Total Debt to Capital. APA will not permit its ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the consolidated Debt of APA and its Subsidiaries to (ii) Capital to be greater than 60% at the end of any fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2024.

ARTICLE VII

Negative Covenants

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated, all Obligations shall have been paid in full and unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, APA covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 7.1 Liens. APA will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon the Property of APA or any of its Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness of Borrower or any other Person except:

 

  (i)

Liens on any property or assets owned or leased by Borrower or any Subsidiary existing at the time such property or asset was acquired (or at the time such Person became a Subsidiary); provided that in the case of the acquisition of a Subsidiary such Lien only encumbers property or assets immediately prior to, or at the time of, the acquisition by Borrower of such Subsidiary;

 

  (ii)

Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition, construction, improvement, or capital lease of assets (including equipment); provided that such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price and costs, as applicable, of acquisition, construction, or improvement of the asset(s) financed and all fees, costs, and expenses relating thereto, including attorney and legal, accounting, expert, and professional advisor fees and expenses;

 

  (iii)

Liens granted by an Unrestricted Subsidiary on its assets to secure Indebtedness incurred by such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (iv)

Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary or Liens on assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary owing to Borrower, to a Restricted Subsidiary or to another Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (v)

Liens existing on the Effective Date set forth on Schedule 7.1;

 

  (vi)

Liens arising under operating agreements;

 

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  (vii)

Liens reserved in oil, gas and/or mineral leases for bonus rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases;

 

  (viii)

Liens pursuant to partnership agreements, oil, gas and/or mineral leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, delivery, purchase, exchange, or processing of oil, gas and/or other hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, operating agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, forward sales of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, and other agreements which are customary in the oil, gas and other mineral exploration, development and production business and in the business of processing of gas and gas condensate production for the extraction of products therefrom;

 

  (ix)

Liens on the stock or other ownership interests of or in any Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (x)

Liens for taxes, assessments or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business, that are not yet due and payable or that are being contested as set forth in Section 3.6;

 

  (xi)

pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of worker’s compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs;

 

  (xii)

Liens imposed by mandatory provisions of law such as for mechanics’, materialmen’s, warehousemen’s, carriers’, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable;

 

  (xiii)

Liens in renewal or extension of any of the foregoing permitted Liens, so long as limited to the property or assets encumbered and the amount of Indebtedness secured immediately prior to such renewal or extension; and

 

  (xiv)

in addition to Liens permitted by clauses (i) through (xiii) above, Liens on property or assets of APA and its Subsidiaries if the aggregate Indebtedness of all such Persons secured thereby does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided that nothing in this definition shall in and of itself constitute or be deemed to constitute an agreement or acknowledgment by the Administrative Agent or any Lender that the Indebtedness subject to or secured by any such Lien ranks (apart from the effect of any Lien included in or inherent in any such Liens) in priority to the Obligations.

SECTION 7.2 Mergers. APA will not liquidate or dissolve, consolidate with, or merge into or with, any other Person unless (a) APA is the survivor of such merger or consolidation, and (b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after giving effect thereto.

SECTION 7.3 Asset Dispositions. APA will not sell, transfer, lease, contribute or otherwise convey, or grant options, warrants or other rights with respect to all or substantially all of their respective assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit any transfer of any assets from Borrower to any Subsidiary of Borrower, from any Subsidiary of Borrower to Borrower or from a Subsidiary of Borrower to another Subsidiary of Borrower.

 

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SECTION 7.4 Transactions with Affiliates. APA will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any material transaction with any of APA’s Affiliates (excluding Apache Offshore Investment Partnership, a Delaware general partnership, and Apache Offshore Petroleum Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership), whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on terms no less favorable to APA or its Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtainable by APA or its Subsidiary, as applicable, at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to any of the following: (i) transactions between or among APA and any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) transactions between or among any of APA’s Subsidiaries, and (iii) transactions involving the purchase or sale of crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons, in the ordinary course of business, so long as such transactions are priced in line with industry accepted benchmark prices.

SECTION 7.5 Restrictive Agreements. APA will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement (excluding this Agreement, or any other Loan Document) limiting the ability of Borrower to amend or otherwise modify this Agreement or any other Loan Document. APA will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement which restricts or prohibits the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to make any payments, directly or indirectly, to Borrower by way of dividends, advances, repayments of loans or advances, reimbursements of management and other intercompany charges, expenses and accruals or other returns on investments, or any other agreement or arrangement which restricts the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to make any payment, directly or indirectly, to Borrower.

SECTION 7.6 Guaranties. APA will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, guaranty any Indebtedness not included in the consolidated Debt of APA and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount at any time exceeding $150,000,000.

ARTICLE VIII

Events of Default

SECTION 8.1 Listing of Events of Default. Each of the following events or occurrences described in this Section 8.1 shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

  (a)

Non-Payment of Obligations. Borrower shall default in the payment or prepayment when due of any principal of any Loan, or Borrower shall default (and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days) in the payment when due of any interest, fee or of any other obligation hereunder.

 

  (b)

Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty of Borrower made or deemed to be made hereunder or in any other Loan Document or any other writing or certificate furnished by or on behalf of Borrower to the Administrative Agent, any other Agent or any Lender for the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any such other Loan Document is or shall be false or misleading when made in any material respect.

 

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  (c)

Non-Performance of Covenants and Obligations. Borrower shall default in the due performance and observance of any of its obligations under Section 7.2 or under Article VI.

 

  (d)

Non-Performance of Other Covenants and Obligations. Borrower or any other Loan Party shall default in the due performance and observance of any other agreement contained herein or in any other Loan Document, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof shall have been given to Borrower by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders.

 

  (e)

Other Indebtedness. A (i) default shall occur in the payment of more than $150,000,000 when due (subject to any applicable grace period), whether by acceleration or otherwise, of the principal amount of any Indebtedness of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (ii) default by Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition pertaining to Indebtedness of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $150,000,000 or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing, or pertaining thereto, and such default shall have resulted in such Indebtedness being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity and, after expiration of any applicable grace period, the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary shall not have fully paid the resulting amount thereof.

 

  (f)

Pension Plans. Any of the following events shall occur with respect to any Pension Plan: (a) the termination of a Pension Plan if, as a result of such termination, Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group could be required to make a contribution to such Pension Plan, or would reasonably expect to incur a liability or obligation to such Pension Plan, in excess of $150,000,000; or (b) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA with respect to a liability or obligation in excess of $150,000,000.

 

  (g)

Bankruptcy and Insolvency. Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall (a) become insolvent or generally fail to pay, or admit in writing its inability or unwillingness to generally pay, debts as they become due; (b) apply for, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian for Borrower, or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any substantial part of the property of any thereof, or make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (c) in the absence of such application, consent or acquiescence, permit or suffer to exist the appointment of a trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian for Borrower, or any Restricted Subsidiary, or for a substantial part of the property of any thereof, and such trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian shall not be discharged within 60 days, provided that Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, each other Agent and each Lender to appear in any court conducting any relevant proceeding during such 60-

 

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  day period to preserve, protect and defend their rights under the Loan Documents; (d) permit or suffer to exist the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization, debt arrangement or other case or proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution, winding up or liquidation proceeding, in respect of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and, if any such case or proceeding is not commenced by Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, such case or proceeding shall be consented to or acquiesced in by Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or shall result in the entry of an order for relief or shall remain for 60 days undismissed, provided that Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent and each Lender to appear in any court conducting any such case or proceeding during such 60-day period to preserve, protect and defend their rights under the Loan Documents; or (e) take any corporate or partnership action authorizing, or in furtherance of, any of the foregoing.

 

  (h)

Judgments. Any judgment or order for the payment of money in an amount of $150,000,000 or more in excess of valid and collectible insurance in respect thereof or in excess of an indemnity with respect thereto reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders shall be rendered against Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and either (a) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (b) such judgment shall have become final and non-appealable and shall have remained outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

  (i)

Change in Control. Any Person or group of Persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act) shall acquire beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act) of 33 1/3% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of APA.

SECTION 8.2 Action prior to Closing Date.

 

  (a)

If any Event of Default described in Section 8.1(a) shall occur prior to the Closing Date and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to APA, declare all Commitments to be terminated and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder to be due and payable, and thereupon all Commitments shall terminate and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and

 

  (b)

If any Event of Default described in Section 8.1(g) (with respect to the Borrower only) shall occur prior to the Closing Date, the Commitments shall automatically terminate, and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall be entitled to exercise any and all other remedies available to them under the Loan Documents and applicable law.

 

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SECTION 8.3 Action after Closing Date (a) .

 

  (a)

If any Event of Default under Section 8.1(g) shall occur after the Closing Date for any reason, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

 

  (b)

If any other Event of Default shall occur after the Closing Date for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, and be continuing, the Administrative Agent at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to APA, declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to exercise any and all other remedies available to them under the Loan Documents and applicable law.

SECTION 8.4 Application of Payments. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the acceleration of the Obligations after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and notice thereof to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or the Required Lenders, all payments received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to Section 2.20, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:

(i) first, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts payable to the Administrative Agent (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent payable under Section 10.3 and amounts pursuant to Section 2.11(a) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such);

(ii) second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (ii) payable to them;

(iii) third, to the payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iii) payable to them;

 

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(iv) fourth, (A) to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iv) payable to them;

(v) fifth, to the payment in full of all other Obligations, in each case ratably among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to them in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and payable; and

(vi) finally, the balance, if any, after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by law.

ARTICLE IX

Agents

SECTION 9.1 Authorization and Action.

(a) Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

(b) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the

 

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foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(i) the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;

(ii) [reserved]; and

(iii) nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

(d) The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

 

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(e) None of the Persons identified on the facing page of this Agreement as the “Co-Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners” (the “Arrangers”), the Co-Syndication Agents, any Co-Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

(f) In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to Borrower under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or other Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.11, 2.12, 2.14, 2.16 and 10.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same as required by this Agreement;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 10.3). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

(g) The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Lender, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

SECTION 9.2 Administrative Agents Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.

(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan

 

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Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by Borrower or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any liabilities, cost or expense suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender as a result of, any determination of the Credit Exposure or Obligations, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or any Dollar Equivalent.

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 10.4, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.4(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of Borrower in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or

 

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intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

SECTION 9.3 Posting of Communications.

(a) Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

(b) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

(c) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

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Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

(d) Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

(e) Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies; provided, however, that Borrower shall have the right at any time, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, to restrict storage of any Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform.

(f) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

SECTION 9.4 The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment and Loans, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender. The terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders”, “Tranche Majority Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or as one of the Required Lenders or Tranche Majority Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

SECTION 9.5 Successor Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, APA shall have the right, in consultation with the Required Lenders, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent,

 

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which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents. In the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower as of the date of its resignation.

(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent. Upon such occurrence, APA shall have the right, in consultation with the Required Lenders, to appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c) Upon the retirement or removal of the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation or removal, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.3, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 9.6 Acknowledgements of Lenders.

(a) Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) in participating as a Lender, it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, in the ordinary course of its business, and not for the purpose of investing in the general performance or operations of the Borrower, or for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing, such as a claim under the federal or state securities laws), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Documentation Agent, any Co-Syndication Agent or any other Lender or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Documentation Agent, any Co-Syndication Agent or any other Lender or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

(c) (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including, without limitation, any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 9.6(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

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(i) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(ii) Borrower hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case, to the extent such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from Borrower or any other Loan Party for the purpose of making such erroneous Payment.

(iii) Each party’s obligations under this Section 9.6(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

 

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SECTION 9.7 Certain ERISA Matters.

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, and the conditions for exemptive relief thereunder are and will continue to be satisfied in connection therewith,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of Borrower or any other Loan Party, that:

 

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(i) none of the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger, any Co-Documentation Agent, any Co-Syndication Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto),

(ii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21, as amended from time to time) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50,000,000, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

(iii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the obligations),

(iv) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger or any their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

(c) The Administrative Agent, and each Arranger, each Co-Syndication Agent and each Co-Documentation Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and any other Loan Document, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.1 Notices.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by electronic mail or, in respect of notices to the Administrative Agent, by telecopy, as follows:

(i) if to APA to:

APA Corporation

2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056-4400

  Attention:

Ben C. Rodgers

 

Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Midstream and

 

Marketing

 

APA Corporation

  Telephone:

(713) 296-6752

  Email:

ben.rodgers@apachecorp.com

with a copy to:

Assistant Treasurer

APA Corporation

2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056-4400

Telephone:  (713) 296-6642

Email:   bryan.patrick@apachecorp.com

Email:   aneil.kochar@apachecorp.com

Email:   cash.mgmt@apachecorp.com

Email:   creditagreement@apachecorp.com

and with copy to each of:

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

APA Corporation

2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056-4400

Telephone:  (713) 296-6204

Email:   anthony.lannie@apachecorp.com

Nora Dobin

Senior Legal Advisor

APA Corporation

 

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2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77056-4400

Telephone:  (713) 296-6744

Email:    nora.dobin@apachecorp.com

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

4041 Ogletown Christiana Rd.,

Floor 02

Newark, Delaware 19713-3159

Attention:  Jacob McNett

Telephone:  302-634-3367

Email:    jacob.mcnett@chase.com

(iii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) provided to the Administrative Agent and Borrower or as set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

(b) Notices and other communications to Borrower, any Loan Party, the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

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

(d) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

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SECTION 10.2 Waivers; Amendments.

(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective except in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Subject to Section 2.13(b) and Section 10.2(c) below and the last sentence of this Section 10.2(b), neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Borrower and the Required Lenders or by Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender or the Commitments without the written consent of such Lender or each Lender, respectively, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Sections 2.17(a) or (c) or the last sentence of Section 2.8(c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or the pro rata reduction in Commitments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change the payment waterfall provisions of Section 2.20(b) or 8.4 without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) except pursuant to its terms, release or assign the Apache Guaranty (or, to the extent required by Section 5.7, the Target Guaranty), without the written consent of each Lender, or (vii) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders”, “Tranche Majority Lenders” or any other provision hereof or thereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder or thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. To the extent any amendment, waiver or consent applies to only one Class of Loans, only the Tranche Majority Lenders (and not the Required Lenders) or all Lenders, as applicable, of such Class shall be needed to approve such amendment, waiver or consent.

 

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(c) If the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective, upon notice to the Lenders, without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.

SECTION 10.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Arrangers and the Agents, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Agents, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) [reserved] and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents or any Lender, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Agents or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder and documentary Taxes, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or this Agreement.

(b) Borrower shall indemnify the Agents, the Arrangers and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”), WHETHER OR NOT RELATED TO ANY NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE, against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.19, (ii) any Loan or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether brought by a third party or by Borrower and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (i) resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (ii) arise in connection with any issue in litigation commenced by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries against any Indemnitee for which a final judgment is entered in favor of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries against such Indemnitee.

 

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(c) Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Borrower under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 10.3 to the Administrative Agent and each Related Party of the Administrative Agent (each, an “Agent Indemnitee”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated or expired and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, and (ii) Agents and Lenders shall not assert, and hereby waive, any claim against Borrower, in each case on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, any Loan Document), the Transactions or any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof, except for any such claim arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or Borrower, as applicable; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this sentence shall limit Borrower’s indemnity obligations with respect to claims asserted by Persons (other than the Agents and the Lenders) to the extent set forth in this Section 10.3.

(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 30 days after written demand therefor.

SECTION 10.4 Successors and Assigns.

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement as a Lender (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that (i) APA must give its prior written consent to such assignment, provided that (1) APA shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent and (2) APA shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof (A) pursuant to Section 10.1 and (B) by electronic mail to cash.mgmt@apachecorp.com, creditagreement@apachecorp.com and such other e-mail contacts that APA notifies the Administrative Agent in writing from time to time pursuant to Section 10.1; (ii) the Administrative Agent must give its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (iii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall be in increments of $1,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000 unless each of Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, (iv) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, (v) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (vi) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; and provided further that any consent of APA otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.1 has occurred and is continuing. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption delivered pursuant to this Section 10.4(b) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 10.3). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement as a Lender that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section.

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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(d) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register and will provide prompt written notice to Borrower of the effectiveness of such Assignment and Assumption; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.5(b), Section 2.17(d) or Section 10.3(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(e) Any Lender may, without the consent of Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, and (iv) if such Participant is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, such Lender shall have given notice to Borrower of the name of the Participant and the amount of such participation. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first proviso to Section 10.2(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section and to Section 2.18(b), Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.8 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender.

(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless Borrower shall expressly agree otherwise in writing. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16 unless Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of Borrower, to comply with Section 2.16(d) as though it were a Lender.

 

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(g) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of, but with no fiduciary duties to, Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

(h) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender to a Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of a Lender organized in a jurisdiction outside of the United States, a comparable Person, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(i) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no assignments or participations shall be made to Borrower or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, any Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent or to any natural person, or to any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause.

SECTION 10.5 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 10.3 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 10.6 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Agents constitute the entire contract

 

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among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

(b) Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 10.1), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each item listed in this clause (z), an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed (i) to include Electronic Signatures and (ii) deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that, except as set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, each party to this Agreement shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of another party to this Agreement, other Loan Document or any Ancillary Document without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic Signature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party to this Agreement hereby (a) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (b) each party to this Agreement may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (c) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect

 

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to any signature pages thereto and (d) waives any claim against any party to this Agreement or any of its Related Parties for any liabilities arising solely from the reliance by another party to this Agreement on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of any party to this Agreement to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

SECTION 10.7 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.8 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Obligations of Borrower shall have been accelerated, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of Borrower against any of and all the obligations of Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. Any Lender exercising its right of setoff pursuant to this Section 10.8 shall provide prompt written notice to the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of such setoff, the amount of such setoff and any other material details of such setoff. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

SECTION 10.9 GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS.

(a) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 10.9(a), THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS PRINCIPLES OR RULES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT SUCH PRINCIPLES OR RULES ARE NOT MANDATORILY APPLICABLE BY STATUTE AND WOULD REQUIRE OR PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION; PROVIDED, THAT (I) THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DEFINITION OF COMPANY MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT (AS DEFINED IN THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT) AND WHETHER OR NOT A COMPANY MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT (AS DEFINED IN THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT) HAS OCCURRED, (II) THE DETERMINATION OF THE ACCURACY OF ANY ACQUISITION AGREEMENT REPRESENTATION AND WHETHER AS A RESULT OF ANY INACCURACY THEREOF, THE BORROWER (OR ITS APPLICABLE AFFILIATES) HAS THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE ITS OBLIGATION TO CONSUMMATE THE ACQUISITION (OR OTHERWISE DOES NOT HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CLOSE) UNDER THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT AS A RESULT OF A FAILURE OF SUCH REPRESENTATIONS IN THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT TO BE ACCURATE AND (III)

 

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THE CONDITIONS TO THE ACQUISITION SET FORTH IN THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT OTHER THAN SUCH CONDITIONS THAT BY THEIR NATURE ARE TO BE SATISFIED UPON THE CLOSING OF THE ACQUISITION, HAVE BEEN SATISFIED OR WAIVED OR ARE EXPECTED TO BE SATISFIED AND WAIVED ON THE CLOSING DATE, IN EACH CASE, SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS (AS DEFINED IN THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE HEREOF) OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS, RULES OR PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).

(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN (OR IF SUCH COURT LACKS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN), AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY (AND ANY SUCH CLAIMS, CROSS-CLAIMS OR THIRD PARTY CLAIMS BROUGHT AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES MAY ONLY) BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE AGENTS OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

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

(d) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

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SECTION 10.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

SECTION 10.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 10.12 Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees, agents (acting in their capacity as such), advisors and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory or self-regulatory authority reasonably purporting to have jurisdiction over it, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any rating agency to the extent required by it or (iii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization to the extent required by it in connection with this Agreement, (g) with the consent of Borrower, or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section by any Person or (y) becomes available to any Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Borrower. Prior to disclosing any Information under clause (c) above, the Agent or Lender required to make such disclosure shall make a good faith effort to give Borrower prior notice of such proposed disclosure to permit Borrower to attempt to obtain a protective order or other appropriate injunctive relief. For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to any Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of information received from Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

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SECTION 10.13 Interest Rate Limitation. It is the intention of the parties hereto to conform strictly to applicable interest, usury and criminal laws and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of Borrower to a Lender or any Agent under this Agreement shall be subject to the limitation that payments of interest shall not be required to the extent that receipt thereof would be contrary to provisions of law applicable to such Lender or Agent limiting rates of interest which may be charged or collected by such Lender or Agent. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby would be illegal, unenforceable, usurious or criminal under laws applicable to a Lender or Agent (including the laws of any jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Lender or Agent notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document but subject to Section 2.12 hereof) then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it is agreed as follows:

(i) the provisions of this Section shall govern and control;

(ii) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under applicable law that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received under this Agreement, or under any of the other aforesaid agreements or otherwise in connection with this Agreement by such Lender or Agent shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount of interest allowed by applicable law (such maximum lawful interest rate, if any, with respect to each Lender and the Agent herein called the “Highest Lawful Rate”), and any excess shall be cancelled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited to Borrower by such Lender or Agent (or, if such consideration shall have been paid in full, such excess refunded to Borrower);

(iii) all sums paid, or agreed to be paid, to such Lender or Agent for the use, forbearance and detention of the indebtedness of Borrower to such Lender or Agent hereunder or under any Loan Document shall, to the extent permitted by laws applicable to such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of such indebtedness until payment in full so that the actual rate of interest is uniform throughout the full term thereof;

(iv) if at any time the interest provided pursuant to this Section or any other clause of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with any other fees or compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document and deemed interest under laws applicable to such Lender or Agent, exceeds that amount which would have accrued at the Highest Lawful Rate, the amount of interest and any such fees or compensation to accrue to such Lender or Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, to that amount which would have accrued at the Highest Lawful Rate, but any subsequent reductions, as applicable, shall not reduce the interest to accrue to such Lender or Agent pursuant to this Agreement below the Highest Lawful Rate until the total amount of interest accrued pursuant to this Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the case may be, and such fees or compensation deemed to be interest equals the amount of interest which would have accrued to such Lender or Agent if a varying rate per annum equal to the interest provided pursuant to any other relevant Section hereof (other than this Section), as applicable, had at all times been in effect, plus the amount of fees which would have been received but for the effect of this Section; and

 

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(v) with the intent that the rate of interest herein shall at all times be lawful, and if the receipt of any funds owing hereunder or under any other agreement related hereto (including any of the other Loan Documents) by such Lender or Agent would cause such Lender to charge Borrower a criminal rate of interest, the Lenders and the Agents agree that they will not require the payment or receipt thereof or a portion thereof which would cause a criminal rate of interest to be charged by such Lender or Agent, as applicable, and if received such affected Lender or Agent will return such funds to Borrower so that the rate of interest paid by Borrower shall not exceed a criminal rate of interest from the date this Agreement was entered into.

SECTION 10.14 [Reserved].

SECTION 10.15 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Borrower that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower and the Guarantor, which information includes the name and address of Borrower and the Guarantor and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify Borrower and the Guarantor in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.

SECTION 10.16 NO FIDUCIARY DUTY. Each Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of Borrower and/or its Affiliates. Borrower agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary duty between any Lender, on the one hand, and Borrower or its Affiliates, on the other. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and Borrower, on the other, and (ii) in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, (x) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of Borrower or its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise Borrower or its Affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to Borrower except the obligations expressly set forth in the Loan Documents and (y) each Agent and Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of Borrower or its Affiliates. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

SECTION 10.17 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

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

 

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

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

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

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

SECTION 10.18 NO ORAL AGREEMENTS. THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

[SIGNATURES BEGIN ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

APA CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Ben C. Rodgers
Name:   Ben C. Rodgers
Title:   Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
Midstream and Marketing

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Justin Carter
Name:   Justin Carter
Title:   Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


CITIBANK, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Maureen Maroney
Name:   Maureen Maroney
Title:   Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Co-Syndication Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Jonathan Herrick
Name:   Jonathan Herrick
Title:   Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Co-Documentation Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Alia Qaddumi
Name:   Alia Qaddumi
Title:   Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Co-Documentation Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Andrew Vernon
Name:   Andrew Vernon
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as a Lender
By:   /s/ Balaji Rajgopal
Name:   Balaji Rajgopal
Title:   Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


MIZUHO BANK, LTD., as a Lender
By:   /s/ Edward Sacks
Name:   Edward Sacks
Title:   Executive Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


MUFG BANK, LTD., as a Lender
By:   /s/ Edward Andrew
Name:   Edward Andrew
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


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

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


TRUIST BANK, as Co-Documentation Agent
By:   /s/ John Kovarik
Name:   John Kovarik
Title:   Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Raymond Qiao
Name:   Raymond Qiao
Title:   Executive Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, New York Branch, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Chan K. Park
Name:   Chan K. Park
Title:   Executive Director
By:   /s/ Peichen Chen
Name:   Peichen Chen
Title:   Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


Bank of Baroda, London Branch, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Swapan Halder
Name:   Swapan Halder
Title:   Chief Manager

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


Mashreqbank psc, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Faizan Siddiqui
Name:   Faizan Siddiqui
Title:   General Manager

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


State Bank of India, Wholesale Banking Branch Los Angeles, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Devendra Panwar
Name:   Devendra Panwar
Title:   Vice President and Head (Credit
management Cell)

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


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

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Cameron Breitenbach
Name:   Cameron Breitenbach
Title:   Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


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

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


REGIONS BANK, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Cody Chance
Name:   Cody Chance
Title:   Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - SENIOR TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY]


AGRICULTURAL BANK OF CHINA NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Nelson Chou
Name:   Nelson Chou
Title:   SVP & Head of Corporate Banking
Department

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE - TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT]

v3.24.0.1
Document and Entity Information
Jan. 30, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Entity Registrant Name APA Corp
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0001841666
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Jan. 30, 2024
Entity Incorporation State Country Code DE
Entity File Number 001-40144
Entity Tax Identification Number 86-1430562
Entity Address, Address Line One 2000 Post Oak Boulevard
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 100
Entity Address, City or Town Houston
Entity Address, State or Province TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 77056-4400
City Area Code (713)
Local Phone Number 296-6000
Written Communications true
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Security 12b Title Common Stock, $0.625 par value
Trading Symbol APA
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company false

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