Issuance of Letters of Credit (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the date that is 15 days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, each Letter of Credit Issuer agrees to issue (or cause its Affiliates or other financial institution with which the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have entered into an agreement regarding the issuance of letters of credit hereunder, to issue on its behalf), upon the request of and for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, letters of credit (each, a “Letter of Credit”) in such form as may be approved by such Letter of Credit Issuer in its reasonable discretion; provided that the Borrower shall be a co-applicant, and be jointly and severally liable, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Restricted Subsidiary.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letter of Credit Obligations at such time, would exceed the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment then in effect, (ii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letter of Credit Obligations and the Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans outstanding at such time, would exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect, (iii) no Letter of Credit shall be required to be issued by a Letter of Credit Issuer the Stated Amount of which, when added to such Letter of Credit Issuer’s Revolving Credit Exposure (whether held directly or through its Affiliates), would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Letter of Credit Issuer (or its Affiliates), (iv) each Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date occurring no later than the earlier of (x) one year after the date of issuance thereof, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer or as provided under Section 3.2(e), and (y) the Letter of Credit Maturity Date, (v) each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars, (vi) no Letter of Credit shall be issued if it would be illegal under any Applicable Law for the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit to have a Letter of Credit issued in its favor, (vii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued after the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer has received a written notice from the Borrower or the Administrative Agent stating that a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing until such time as the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a written notice of (x) rescission of such notice from the party or parties originally delivering such notice or (y) the waiver of such Default or Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1 or that such Default or Event of Default is no longer continuing, (viii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer if such issuance would cause the Letter of Credit Obligations of such Letter of Credit Issuer to exceed the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment Obligation of such Letter of Credit Issuer, (ix) UBS AG, Stamford Branch shall only be required to issue standby letters of credit and (x) in no event shall SunTrust Bank be required to issue commercial or trade letters of credit.
(c) In connection with the establishment of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Additional/Replacement Revolving Credit Commitments and subject to the availability of unused Commitments with respect to such newly established Class and the satisfaction of the Conditions set forth in Section 7, the Borrower may, with the written consent of the Letter of Credit Issuer, designate any outstanding Letter of Credit to be a Letter of Credit issued pursuant to such Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Additional/Replacement Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable. Upon such designation such Letter of Credit shall no longer be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such prior Class and shall instead be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such newly established Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Additional/Replacement Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable.
(d) On the Closing Date, without further action by any party hereto (including the delivery of a Letter of Credit Request or any consent of, or confirmation by or to, the Administrative Agent), subject to the terms of this Section 3, (i) each Existing Letter of Credit set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) hereto issued by a Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder shall become a Letter of Credit outstanding under this Agreement, shall be deemed to be a Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement and shall be subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including Section 4.1) as if each such Letter of Credit was issued by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) each Letter of Credit Issuer that has issued an Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have granted each Letter of Credit Participant in respect thereof and each Letter of Credit Participant in respect thereof shall be deemed to have acquired from such Letter of Credit Issuer, on the terms and conditions of Section 3.3 hereof, for such Letter of Credit Participant’s own account and risk, an undivided participation interest in such Letter of Credit Issuer’s obligations and rights under each such Existing Letter of Credit equal to such Letter of Credit Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage, as applicable, of (A) the outstanding amount available to be drawn under such Existing Letter of Credit and (B) the aggregate amount of any outstanding reimbursement obligations in respect thereof.
CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the performance by each of the Loan Parties of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such Loans or issuance of such Letters of Credit and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
Issuance of Letters of Credit and Purchase of Participations Therein (a) Letters of Credit. Company may request, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5(a), from time to time on or prior to the 10th day prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, that a Revolving Lender issue one or more Letters of Credit denominated in either Approved Currency for the account of Company for the purposes specified in Section 2.7. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties of Company herein set forth, any Revolving Lender may, but (except as provided in Section 2.5(c) in respect of Issuing Bank) shall not be obligated to, issue such Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5(a); provided that Company shall not request that any Revolving Lender issue (and no Revolving Lender shall issue):
(i) any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, the Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit;
(ii) any Letter of Credit having an expiration date later than the earlier of (x) 5 days prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and (y) the date which is one year from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, provided that the immediately preceding clause (y) shall not prevent any Issuing Lender from agreeing that a Letter of Credit will automatically be extended for one or more successive periods not to exceed one year each unless such Issuing Lender elects not to extend for any such additional period; provided, further, that such Issuing Lender shall not extend such Letter of Credit if it has knowledge that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (which has not been waived in accordance with Section 10.5) at the time such Issuing Lender must elect whether or not to allow such extension; or
(iii) any Letter of Credit issued for the purpose of supporting indebtedness for borrowed money. The Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.5, shall be participated in by the Lenders as set forth in Section 2.5(f), and shall be subject to all other terms of this Agreement applicable to Letters of Credit. This Agreement shall constitute all of the terms and conditions with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit and supersedes any and all prior agreements, oral or written (other than the Existing Letters of Credit themselves and the related applications, each of which shall remain in full force and effect), between the Issuing Lender and the Credit Parties with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit.
Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, by a single L/C Issuer selected by the Borrower, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the applicable L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to such L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the applicable L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as such L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless an L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Credit Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary thereof or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from such L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the first anniversary of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided, however, that no L/C Issuer shall permit any such extension if (A) such L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
(iv) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit”). Unless otherwise directed by an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer to permit such reinstatement. Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits an L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “Non-Reinstatement Deadline”), such L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause) and, in each case, directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.
(v) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(vi) If the expiry date of any Letter of Credit would occur after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, the Borrower hereby agrees that it will at least thirty (30) days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (or, in the case of a Letter of Credit issued or extended on or after thirty (30) days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, on the date of such issuance or extension, as applicable) Cash Collateralize such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to 105% of the L/C Obligations arising or expected to arise in connection with such Letter of Credit.
Terms of Letters of Credit At the time of issuance, the amount, form, terms and conditions of each Letter of Credit, and of any drafts or acceptances thereunder, shall be subject to approval by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may (i) the expiration date of any Letter of Credit extend beyond the Revolving Termination Date, or (ii) any Letter of Credit have an initial duration in excess of one year; provided, however, a Letter of Credit may contain a provision providing for the automatic extension of the expiration date in the absence of a notice of non-renewal from the applicable Issuing Bank but in no event shall any such provision permit the extension of the expiration date of such Letter of Credit beyond the Revolving Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Letter of Credit may, as a result of its express terms or as the result of the effect of an automatic extension provision, have an expiration date of not more than one year beyond the Revolving Termination Date (any such Letter of Credit being referred to as an “Extended Letter of Credit”) so long as the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the applicable Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders no later than 30 days prior to the Revolving Termination Date, Cash Collateral for such Letter of Credit for deposit into the Letter of Credit Collateral Account in an amount equal to the Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit; provided, that the obligations of the Borrower under this Section in respect of Extended Letters of Credit shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall remain in effect until no Extended Letters of Credit remain outstanding. If the Borrower fails to provide Cash Collateral with respect to any Extended Letter of Credit by the date 30 days prior to the Revolving Termination Date, such failure shall be treated as a drawing under such Extended Letter of Credit (in an amount equal to the maximum Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit), which shall be reimbursed (or participations therein funded) by the Revolving Lenders in accordance with the immediately following subsections (i) and (j), with the proceeds being utilized to provide Cash Collateral for such Letter of Credit. The initial Stated Amount of each Letter of Credit shall be at least $500,000 (or such lesser amount as may be acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower).
Collateral for Undrawn Letters of Credit (a) If the prepayment of the amount available for drawing under any or all outstanding Letters of Credit is required under Section 1.8(b), Section 1.14, Section 9.2 or Section 9.3 above, the Borrower shall forthwith pay the amount required to be so prepaid, to be held by the Administrative Agent as provided in subsection (b) below.
(b) All amounts prepaid pursuant to subsection (a) above shall be held by the Administrative Agent in one or more separate collateral accounts (each such account, and the credit balances, properties, and any investments from time to time held therein, and any substitutions for such account, any certificate of deposit or other instrument evidencing any of the foregoing and all proceeds of and earnings on any of the foregoing being collectively called the “Collateral Account”) as security for, and for application by the Administrative Agent (to the extent available) to, the reimbursement of any payment under any Letter of Credit then or thereafter made by the L/C Issuer, and to the payment of the unpaid balance of all other Obligations (and to all Hedging Liability and Bank Product Obligations). The Collateral Account shall be held in the name of and subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the L/C Issuer. If and when requested by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall invest funds held in the Collateral Account from time to time in direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America with a remaining maturity of one year or less, provided that the Administrative Agent is irrevocably authorized to sell investments held in the Collateral Account when and as required to make payments out of the Collateral Account for application to amounts then due and owing from the Borrower to the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders. If the Borrower shall have made payment of all obligations referred to in subsection (a) above required under Section 1.8(b) hereof, if any, at the request of the Borrower the Administrative Agent shall release to the Borrower amounts held in the Collateral Account so long as at the time of the release and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default is then continuing. If the Borrower shall have made payment of all obligations referred to in subsection (a) above required under Section 9.2 or 9.3 hereof, so long as no Letters of Credit, Commitments, Loans or other Obligations, Hedging Liability, or Bank Product Obligations remain outstanding, at the request of the Borrower the Administrative Agent shall release to the Borrower any remaining amounts held in the Collateral Account.
(c) At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 1.14(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.
New Swingline Loans/Letters of Credit So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swingline Loan and (ii) no Issuing Lender shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
New Letters of Credit So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
Use of Loans and Letters of Credit The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit shall be used for working capital, for lease acquisitions, for exploration and production operations, for development (including the drilling and completion of producing xxxxx), for the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and for any other general business purposes. The Credit Parties are not engaged principally, or as one of its or their important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board). No part of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose which violates the provisions of Regulations T, U or X of the Board.
Loans and Letters of Credit On the Closing Date:
