LINN ENERGY, LLC LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP. AND THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HEREOF 12.00% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2020 INDENTURE Dated as of November 20, 2015 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As Trustee

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

LINN ENERGY, LLC

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.

AND

THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HEREOF

12.00% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2020

INDENTURE

Dated as of November 20, 2015

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

As Trustee

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2015, between Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by Linn Energy, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”). Each holder of Indenture Second Lien Obligations (as defined therein), by its acceptance of such Indenture Second Lien Obligations (i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Second Lien Secured Parties. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Lien Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to Linn Energy, LLC, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*


Trust Indenture Act Section		Indenture Section
310(a)(1)		7.10
(a)(2)		7.10
(a)(3)		N/A
(a)(4)		N/A
(a)(5)		7.10
(b)		7.10
(c)		N/A
311(a)		7.11
(b)		7.11
(c)		N/A
312(a)		2.04
(b)		11.03
(c)		11.03
313(a)		7.06
(b)(1)		7.06
(b)(2)		7.06, 7.07
(c)		7.06, 11.02
(d)		7.06
314(a)		4.03, 4.04, 11.02
(b)		N/A
(c)(1)		11.04
(c)(2)		11.04
(c)(3)		N/A
(d)		N/A
(e)		11.05
(f)		N/A
315(a)		7.01
(b)		7.05, 11.02
(c)		7.01
(d)		7.01
(e)		6.11
316(a)(last sentence)		2.07
(a)(1)(A)		6.05
(a)(1)(B)		6.04
(a)(2)		N/A
(b)		6.07
(c)		9.04
317(a)(1)		6.08
(a)(2)		6.09
(b)		2.03
318(a)		11.01
(b)		N/A
(c)		11.01

N/A means not applicable.

*	This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE			1

Section 1.01	Definitions		1
Section 1.02	Other Definitions		45
Section 1.03	Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act		45
Section 1.04	Rules of Construction		46

ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES			46

Section 2.01	Form and Dating.		46
Section 2.02	Execution and Authentication		47
Section 2.03	Registrar and Paying Agent		47
Section 2.04	Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust		48
Section 2.05	Noteholder Lists		48
Section 2.06	Transfer and Exchange		48
Section 2.07	Replacement Notes		48
Section 2.08	Outstanding Notes		49
Section 2.09	Temporary Notes		49
Section 2.10	Cancellation		49
Section 2.11	Defaulted Interest		50
Section 2.12	CUSIP Numbers		50
Section 2.13	Issuance of Additional Notes		50
Section 2.14	Persons Deemed Owners		51

ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT			51

Section 3.01	Notices to Trustee		51
Section 3.02	Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed		51
Section 3.03	Notice of Redemption		52
Section 3.04	Effect of Notice of Redemption		53
Section 3.05	Deposit of Redemption Price		53
Section 3.06	Notes Redeemed in Part		54
Section 3.07	Optional Redemption		54
Section 3.08	Mandatory Redemption		55
Section 3.09	Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds		55

ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS			57

Section 4.01	Payment of Notes		57
Section 4.02	Maintenance of Office or Agency		57
Section 4.03	Reports		58
Section 4.04	Compliance Certificate		59
Section 4.05	Taxes		59
Section 4.06	Stay, Extension and Usury Laws		59


Section 4.07	Limitation on Restricted Payments	59
Section 4.08	Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries	65
Section 4.09	Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock	67
Section 4.10	Limitation on Asset Sales	72
Section 4.11	Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates	74
Section 4.12	Limitation on Liens	77
Section 4.13	Additional Subsidiary Guarantees	77
Section 4.14	Existence	77
Section 4.15	Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control	78
Section 4.16	No Partial Inducements	80
Section 4.17	Limitations on Finance Corp. Activities	81
Section 4.18	Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries	81
Section 4.19	Covenant Termination	81

ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS		81

Section 5.01	Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets	81
Section 5.02	Successor Substituted	84

ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES		84

Section 6.01	Events of Default	84
Section 6.02	Acceleration	87
Section 6.03	Other Remedies	87
Section 6.04	Waiver of Past Defaults	88
Section 6.05	Control by Majority	88
Section 6.06	Limitation on Suits	88
Section 6.07	Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment	89
Section 6.08	Collection Suit by Trustee	89
Section 6.09	Trustee is Authorized to File Proofs of Claim	89
Section 6.10	Priorities	90
Section 6.11	Undertaking for Costs	90

ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE		90

Section 7.01	Duties of Trustee	90
Section 7.02	Rights of Trustee	92
Section 7.03	Individual Rights of Trustee	93
Section 7.04	Trustee’s Disclaimer	93
Section 7.05	Notice of Defaults	93
Section 7.06	Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes	93
Section 7.07	Compensation and Indemnity	94
Section 7.08	Replacement of Trustee	95
Section 7.09	Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.	96
Section 7.10	Eligibility; Disqualification	96
Section 7.11	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers	96


ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE		96

Section 8.01	Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	96
Section 8.02	Legal Defeasance and Discharge	97
Section 8.03	Covenant Defeasance	97
Section 8.04	Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance	98
Section 8.05	Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions	99
Section 8.06	Repayment to Issuers	100
Section 8.07	Reinstatement	100
Section 8.08	Discharge	100

ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER		101

Section 9.01	Without Consent of Holders of Notes	101
Section 9.02	With Consent of Holders of Notes	103
Section 9.03	Compliance with Trust Indenture Act	104
Section 9.04	Revocation and Effect of Consents	105
Section 9.05	Notation on or Exchange of Notes	105
Section 9.06	Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc	105
Section 9.07	Acts of Holders	106

ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES OF NOTES		107

Section 10.01	Subsidiary Guarantees	107
Section 10.02	Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms	108
Section 10.03	Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees	109
Section 10.04	Limitation on Guarantor Liability	109
Section 10.05	“Trustee” to Include Paying Agent	109

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS		110

Section 11.01	Trust Indenture Act Controls	110
Section 11.02	Notices	110
Section 11.03	Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes	111
Section 11.04	Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent	111
Section 11.05	Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion	112
Section 11.06	Rules by Trustee and Agents	113
Section 11.07	No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders	113
Section 11.08	Governing Law	113
Section 11.09	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements	113
Section 11.10	Successors	113
Section 11.11	Severability	113
Section 11.12	Table of Contents, Headings, etc	113

iii


Section 11.13	Counterparts	114
Section 11.14	Benefits of Indenture	114
Section 11.15	Language of Notices, Etc	114

ARTICLE 12 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY		114

Section 12.01	Security Interest	114
Section 12.02	Post-Initial Issuance Date Collateral Requirements	115
Section 12.03	Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property	115
Section 12.04	Intercreditor Agreement	119
Section 12.05	Collateral Trust Agreement	119
Section 12.06	Release of Liens in Respect of Notes	119
Section 12.07	Collateral Trustee	120
Section 12.08	Insurance	121

APPENDIX AND ANNEX

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX		App. - 1

EXHIBIT 1 Form of Initial Note		Exhibit 1 to App. - 1

EXHIBIT 2 Form of Exchange Note		Exhibit 2 to App. - 1

ANNEX A Form of Supplemental Indenture		A – 1

This INDENTURE, dated as of November 20, 2015 is among LINN ENERGY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), the guarantors listed on the signature page hereof (each, a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Guarantors”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Issuers’ Initial Notes, Exchange Notes and Additional Notes:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

“Act of Parity Lien Debtholders” means, as to any matter at any time, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Trustee by or with the written consent of the holders of Parity Lien Debt representing the Required Parity Lien Debtholders.

“Additional Assets” means:

(1) any assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, other than Indebtedness or Capital Stock;

(2) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(3) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that any such Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (2) or (3) is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

“Additional Interest” means all Additional Interest then owing pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to in clause (1) of the definition of “Registration Rights Agreement” in the Appendix. Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references to “interest” in this Indenture or the Notes shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest.

“Additional Notes” means, subject to the Issuers’ compliance with Section 4.09, 12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 issued from time to time after the Initial Issuance Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.09, Section 3.06, Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 9.05 of this Indenture or Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 of the Appendix and other than Exchange Notes issued pursuant to an exchange offer for Initial Notes outstanding under this Indenture).

“Additional Secured Debt Designation” means the written agreement of the holders of any Series of Parity Lien Debt or their Parity Lien Representative, as set forth in the indenture,

credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Priority Lien Debt, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and each existing and future holder of Priority Liens:

(1) that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

(2) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

(3) consenting to and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other security documents establishing Parity Liens.

“Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination:

(1) the sum of:

(a) discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Issuers and the Guarantors calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal or other income taxes, as estimated by the Company in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the fiscal year of the Company for which audited financial statements are available, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue from:

(i) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Issuers and the Guarantors attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such reserve report, which reserves were not reflected in such reserve report, and

(ii) estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Issuers and the Guarantors attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions,

in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices for the fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of determination), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue attributable to:

(A) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Issuers and the Guarantors reflected in such reserve report produced or disposed of since the date of such reserve report, and

(B) reductions in the estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Issuers and the Guarantors reflected in such reserve report since the date of such reserve report due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices for the fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of determination);

provided, however, that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (A) and (B) above, such increases and decreases shall be estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers;

(b) the capitalized costs that are attributable to crude oil and natural gas properties of the Issuers and the Guarantors to which no proved crude oil and natural gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements;

(c) the Net Working Capital of the Company as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements; and

(d) the greater of:

(i) the net book value of other tangible assets of the Issuers and the Guarantors as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements, and

(ii) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of the Issuers and the Guarantors as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (provided that the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed);

minus

(2) the sum of:

(a) Minority Interests in any Guarantors;

(b) to the extent not otherwise taken into account in determining Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, any net natural gas balancing liabilities of the Issuers and the Guarantors reflected in the Company’s latest audited financial statements;

(c) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year end reserve report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties;

(d) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year end reserve report), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

(e) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in clause (1)(a) above, would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

If the Company changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” of the Company will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the full cost method of accounting.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

“Applicable Law,” except as the context may otherwise require, means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court or governmental or congressional agency or authority and rules, regulations, orders, licenses and permits of any United States federal, state, municipal, regional, or other governmental body, instrumentality, agency or authority.

“Applicable Procedures” of a Depository means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depository, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

“Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a Production Payment or a sale and leaseback transaction or mergers, consolidations or otherwise); provided, however, that the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will not be an “Asset Sale,” but will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 and/or the provisions of Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10; and

(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by Applicable Law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company).

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves properties or assets having a fair market value of less than $20.0 million;

(2) a disposition of assets between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3) an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) any disposition, abandonment, relinquishment or expiration of equipment, inventory, products, accounts receivable or other properties or assets in the ordinary course of business;

(5) the disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

(6) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 or a Permitted Investment (or a disposition that would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusion from the definition thereof);

(7) the farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil or natural gas properties owned or held by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or in exchange for crude oil and natural gas properties owned or held by another Person;

(8) (i) any trade or exchange by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hydrocarbon properties or other properties or assets for Hydrocarbon properties or other properties or assets owned or held by one or more other Persons, and (ii) any transfer or sale of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, (A) in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements), and/or (B) in exchange for such transferee, lessee or assignee (or an Affiliate thereof) agreeing to pay all or a portion of the costs and expenses related to the exploration, development, completion and/or production (and related activities) of properties of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and/or (C) in exchange for properties or assets satisfying the requirements of clause (i) above ((A), (B) and (C) being referred to herein as a “carry”); provided that the fair market value of the properties or assets traded, exchanged, transferred, sold, leased, assigned or subleased by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (together with any cash and Cash Equivalents) is reasonably equivalent or of less market value to the fair market value of the properties, assets, services or carry (together with any cash and Cash Equivalents) expected to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as determined in good faith by the Company, and provided further that any cash received must be applied in accordance with the provisions described in Section 4.10;

(9) the creation or perfection of a Lien (but not, except to the extent contemplated in clause (10) below, the sale or other disposition of the properties or assets subject to such Lien);

(10) the creation or perfection of a Permitted Lien and the exercise by any Person in whose favor a Permitted Lien is granted of any of its rights in respect of that Permitted Lien;

(11) a surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(12) the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license or sublicense of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property, including without limitation licenses of seismic data;

(13) the disposition of oil and natural gas properties in connection with tax credit transactions complying with Section 45K of the Code or any successor or analogous provisions of the Code;

(14) the sale or other disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of oil and gas properties, provided at the time of such sale or other disposition such properties do not have associated with them any proved reserves, and provided further that the sale or other disposition is for not less than the fair market value of such oil and gas properties, as determined in good faith by the Company;

(15) any sale or other disposition of Equity Interests in, or other ownership interests in or assets or property, including Indebtedness, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(16) any disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition; and

(17) the sale and leaseback of any asset within 180 days of the acquisition thereof.

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP. As used in the preceding sentence, the “net rental payments” under any lease for any period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

“Availability” means with respect to the Linn Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facility in each case that provides for revolving borrowings as in effect from time to time the aggregate amounts available to be borrowed thereunder.

“Available Cash” has the meaning assigned to such term in the LLC Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

“Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Company or any Guarantor by any holder of Priority Lien Debt or Person that was a holder of Priority Lien Debt at the time of agreeing to provide such services or, in each case, any affiliate thereof: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) Treasury Management Arrangements (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

“Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Company or any Guarantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Code, as may be amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have correlative meanings.

“Xxxxx” means Xxxxx Petroleum Company, LLC, a Subsidiary of the Company.

“Xxxxx Borrowing Base” means the maximum amount in United States dollars determined or re-determined by the lenders under the Xxxxx Credit Facility as the aggregate lending value to be ascribed to the Oil and Gas Properties of Xxxxx against which commercial banks are prepared to provide loans or other Indebtedness to Xxxxx under the Xxxxx Credit Facility, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve based loans and which are generally applied by commercial lenders to borrowers in the Oil and Gas Business, as determined semi-annually during each year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for by the Xxxxx Credit Facility, and which is based upon, inter alia, the review by such lenders of the Hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of Xxxxx.

“Xxxxx Credit Facility” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2010, among Xxxxx Petroleum Company, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

“Xxxxx Guarantor Event” means that either (i) Xxxxx has become a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture or (ii) Xxxxx has merged or consolidated with a Guarantor, and the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor) (x) unconditionally assumes, pursuant to agreements or instruments substantially in the form of Annex A hereto and substantially in the forms specified in the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents or as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, all the Obligations of that Guarantor under the Note Documents to which it is a party on terms set forth therein and (y) takes such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause any property or assets that constitute Collateral owned by such Person to continue to constitute Collateral and to be subject to the Parity Liens in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents.

“Xxxxx Senior Notes” means the 6.75% senior notes due 2020 issued by Xxxxx Petroleum Company on November 1, 2010 and the 6.375% senior notes due 2022 issued by Xxxxx Petroleum Company on March 9, 2012.

“Board of Directors” means:

(1) with respect to Finance Corp., the board of directors of Finance Corp.;

(2) with respect to the Company, the board of directors of the Company or any authorized committee thereof; and

(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in Houston, Texas or in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

“Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests, as applicable; and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person,

but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) United States dollars;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

(3) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A” or better from either S&P or Xxxxx’x;

(4) certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million;

(5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Xxxxx’x or S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition; and

(7) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 90 days of the consummation of such transaction;

(2) the adoption by the unitholders of the Company of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like, which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 90 days of the consummation of such transaction.

Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such

transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity, and, in either case no “person” Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A., or any successor securities clearing agency.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Collateral” means all property wherever located and whether now owned or at any time acquired after the Initial Issuance Date by the Company or any Guarantor as to which a Lien is granted under the Security Documents to secure the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee.

“Collateral Trust Agreement” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the Initial Issuance Date, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time

“Collateral Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, the collateral trustee for all holders of Parity Lien Obligations pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, and any successor thereof.

“Consolidated ACNTA Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Modified ACNTA to (y) the aggregate principal amount of Secured Debt that is then outstanding.

“Consolidated ACNTA Senior Secured Coverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Modified ACNTA to (y) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt that is then outstanding.

“Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication:

(1) an amount equal to any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(3) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(4) depreciation, depletion, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, depletion, amortization, impairment and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(5) unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(6) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or expense; minus

(7) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business; and minus

(8) to the extent increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and (b) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments;

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that:

(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members;

(3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

(4) any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of such Person or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any sale or leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person will be excluded;

(5) any asset impairment writedowns on oil and gas properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines will be excluded;

(6) unrealized losses and gains under Hedging Contracts included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation, those resulting from the application of FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” will be excluded;

(7) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Net Income, any non-cash or nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded;

(8) items classified as extraordinary or nonrecurring gains and losses (less all fees and expenses related thereto) and the related tax effects, in each case according to GAAP, will be excluded; and

(9) income resulting from transfers of assets (other than cash) between such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person, on the other hand, will be excluded.

“Consolidated Net Worth” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the sum of:

(1) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of, or the consolidated capital of the unitholders of, such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date; plus

(2) the respective amounts reported on such Person’s balance sheet as of such date with respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such preferred stock.

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the office of the Trustee located at U.S. Bank National Association, Corporate Trust Services, 0000 Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000, and as may be located at such other address as the Trustee may give notice to the Issuers and the Guarantors.

“Credit Agreement Agent” means , at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the Linn Credit Agreement or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Linn Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

“Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Linn Credit Agreement and the Xxxxx Credit Facility), commercial paper facilities or Debt Issuances, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables), letters of credit or other borrowings or Debt Issuances, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including refinancing with any capital markets transaction) in whole or in part from time to time.

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“date of this Indenture” means November 20, 2015.

“Debt Issuance” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more issuances after the date of this Indenture of Indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar securities or instruments.

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

“De Minimis Guaranteed Amount” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $5.0 million.

“Depository” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Description of Notes” means the description of notes of the Issuers attached as an exhibit to the Purchase Agreement.

“Designated Noncash Consideration” means the fair market value of noncash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale, redemption or payment of, on or with respect to such Designated Noncash Consideration.

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the final stated maturity date of the Notes. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if (x) the

terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 or (y) the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions prior to the Company’s purchase of the Notes as is required to be purchased pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. The amount (or principal amount) of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

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

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

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

“Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) made for cash on a primary basis by the Company after the date of this Indenture.

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. or any successor securities clearing agency.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exchange Notes” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Existing Indebtedness” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Linn Credit Agreement, the Xxxxx Credit Facility and intercompany Indebtedness, but including the Existing Unsecured Notes and the Xxxxx Senior Notes) in existence on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

“Existing Unsecured Notes” means the 8.625% senior notes due 2020 issued by the Issuers on April 6, 2010, the 7.75% senior notes due 2021 issued by the Issuers on September 13, 2010, the 6.50% senior notes due 2019 issued by the Issuers on May 13, 2011 and September 9, 2014, the 6.25% senior notes due 2019 issued by the Issuers on March 2, 2012 and the 6.50% senior notes due 2021 issued by the Issuers on September 9, 2014.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Issuers for such period to the Fixed Charges of the Issuers for such period. In the event that the Issuers or their Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness

(other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the Issuers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business), or any Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the Issuers or their Restricted Subsidiaries, and including in each case any related financing transactions and increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the applicable four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, and the Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period will be calculated giving pro forma effect to any expense and cost reductions or synergies that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the Company (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto);

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

(4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

(5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at any time during such four-quarter period; and

(6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any obligations arising under any Hedging Contract applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Contract has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts; plus

(2) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon (other than a Lien of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”); plus

(4) all dividends on any series of preferred securities of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that was not formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.

“Global Note” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

The term “guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness or entered

into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part). When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a correlative meaning.

“Guarantors” means each of (a) the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, other than Finance Corp., LinnCo, LLC, Xxxxx, Xxxx Acquisition Company, LLC, Marathon 85-II Limited Partnership, Marathon 85-III Limited Partnership, Lake Canyon Transportation and Gathering, LLC, Wilderness Energy, L.C., Wilderness Xxxxxxx Gas Processing LP and Wilderness Energy Services LP, executing this Indenture as initial Guarantors, (b) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that executes a supplement to this Indenture in accordance with Section 4.13 or Section 10.02 hereof and (c) the respective successors and assigns of such Restricted Subsidiaries in each case until such time as any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of its obligations pursuant to Section 4.13, Section 8.02, Section 8.03 or Section 10.04 hereof.

“Hedging Contracts” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates, or to otherwise reduce the cost of borrowing of such Person or any of such Restricted Subsidiaries, with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

(2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

(3) any commodity futures contract, commodity swap, commodity option, commodity forward sale or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates,

and in each case are entered into only in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes.

“Holder” or “Noteholder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

“Hydrocarbon Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

“Hydrocarbons” means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(3) in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable or that is payable solely in Capital Stock; or

(6) representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien (other than Liens described in clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”) on any asset of the specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person (provided that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person), and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guarantees of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment, but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not constitute or be deemed “Indebtedness”:

(i) any indebtedness which has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Cash Equivalents (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens, and the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such indebtedness;

(ii) any obligation of a Person in respect of a farm-in agreement or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or gas property;

(iii) any obligations arising from agreements of a Person providing for indemnification, guarantees, adjustment of purchase price, holdbacks, contingent payment obligations based on a final financial statement or performance of acquired or disposed of assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of Indebtedness), in each case, incurred or assumed by such Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets (including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise);

(iv) subject to the parenthetical at the end of the preceding sentence, any Dollar-Denominated Production Payments or Volumetric Production Payments;

(v) any Disqualified Stock; and

(vi) Indebtedness secured by any Lien of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

The amount (or principal amount) of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

(2) in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date; and

(3) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date.

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Initial Issuance Date” means November 20, 2015.

“Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness” means Indebtedness secured by a Junior Lien for which certain requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement have been satisfied that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with the applicable Secured Debt Documents.

“Initial Junior Lien Trustee” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “collateral trustee” or “collateral agent” under the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness, together with its successors in such capacity.

“Initial Notes” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement among the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties from time to time party thereto, to be entered into on the Initial Issuance Date, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Xxxxx’x and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans, advances or extensions of credit (including guarantees or similar arrangements, but excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), or capital contributions or purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities (excluding any interest in a crude oil or natural gas leasehold to the extent constituting a security under applicable law), together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07. The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

“Joint Venture” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.

“Junior Debt” means Junior Lien Debt, Indebtedness that is unsecured and Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

“Junior Lien” means a Lien, junior to the Priority Liens and the Parity Liens as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, granted by the Company or any Guarantor in favor of holders of Junior Lien Debt (or any collateral trustee or representative in connection therewith), at any time, upon any property of the Company or any Guarantor to secure Junior Lien Obligations.

“Junior Lien Collateral Agent” means the Initial Junior Lien Trustee (or such Person designated by the Initial Junior Lien Trustee), or if the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness ceases to exist, the collateral trustee or other representative of lenders or holders of Junior Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Junior Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

“Junior Lien Debt” means:

(1) the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness, and

(2) any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of an Issuer or any Guarantor that is secured by a Junior Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document;

provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this definition:

(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Junior Lien Collateral Agent and Collateral Trustee as (x) in the case of Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness, as “Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness” and (y) in the case of all Junior Lien Debt, as “Junior Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated “Junior Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Parity Lien Debt or Priority Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

(b) the collateral agent or other representative with respect to such Indebtedness, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Junior Lien Collateral Agent, the Collateral Trustee, the Company, each applicable Guarantor have duly executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement (or a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement or a new Intercreditor Agreement substantially similar to the Intercreditor Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture, and in a form reasonably acceptable to each of the parties thereto);

(d) all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Lien Debt to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

“Junior Lien Documents” means, collectively, any indenture, credit agreement or other agreement or instrument pursuant to which Junior Lien Debt is incurred and the documents pursuant to which Junior Lien Obligations are granted.

“Junior Lien Obligations” means Junior Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under Applicable Law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.

“Linn Borrowing Base” means the maximum amount in United States dollars determined or re-determined by the lenders under the Linn Credit Agreement as the aggregate lending value to be ascribed to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Guarantors against which commercial banks are prepared to provide loans or other Indebtedness to the Company and the Guarantors under the Linn Credit Agreement, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve based loans and which are generally applied by commercial lenders to borrowers in the Oil and Gas Business, as determined semi-annually during each year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for by the Linn Credit Agreement, and which is based upon, inter alia, the review by such lenders of the Hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Linn Credit Agreement” means that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2013, among the Company, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

“LLC Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Linn Energy, LLC, dated as of September 3, 2010, as in effect on the date of this Indenture and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

“Make Whole Premium” means, with respect to a Note at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such time of (i) the redemption price of such Note at December 15, 2018 pursuant to Section 3.07(a) plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such Note through December 15, 2018 (except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate at such time plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

“Measurement Date” means October 1, 2015.

“Minority Interest” means the percentage interest represented by any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that are not owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

“Modified ACNTA” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and the Guarantors calculated as of a date not more than 60 days prior to the date of determination (the “Modified ACNTA Calculation Date”), on the following basis:

(a) in lieu of commodity pricing of future net revenues based on SEC guidelines, Modified ACNTA Prices shall be used as determined in good faith by the Company, and

(b) such calculation shall be based on then current estimates of costs determined in good faith by the Company in light of prevailing market conditions.

“Modified ACNTA Prices” means, as of any date of determination, the forward month prices for the most comparable hydrocarbon commodity applicable to such future production month for a five year period (or such shorter period if forward month prices are not quoted for a reasonably comparable hydrocarbon commodity for the full five year period), with such prices held constant thereafter based on the last quoted forward month price of such period, as such prices are (i) quoted on the NYMEX (or its successor) as of the Modified ACNTA Calculation Date (as defined in the definition of Modified ACNTA) and (ii) adjusted for energy content, quality and basis differentials; provided that with respect to estimated future production for which prices are defined, within the meaning of SEC guidelines, by contractual arrangements excluding escalations based upon future conditions, then such contract prices shall be applied to future production subject to such arrangements.

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

“Mortgages” means all mortgages, debentures, hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness and similar documents, instruments and agreements (and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof) creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens on Oil and Gas Properties and other related assets to secure payment of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees or any part thereof.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

(1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(2) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

(1) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, title and recording tax expenses and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale,

(2) taxes paid or payable or required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements,

(3) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale,

(4) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures as a result of such Asset Sale, and

(5) any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be.

“Net Working Capital” means (a) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, less (b) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness and any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business and current liabilities associated with asset retirement obligations related to oil and gas properties, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”).

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c) is the lender (except in the case of items (a) and (b), a Lien of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”);

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

(3) the explicit terms of which provide there is no recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, except as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.09, in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

“Note Documents” means this Indenture, the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

“Notes” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Notes Custodian” has the meaning specified in the Appendix.

“NYMEX” means the New York Mercantile Exchange.

“Obligations” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of each of the Company and Finance Corp. by two of its Officers, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company or Finance Corp., as the case may be, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof.

“OID Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b)(vi) of the Appendix.

“Oil and Gas Business” means:

(1) the acquisition, exploration, development, production, operation and disposition of interests in oil, gas and other Hydrocarbon properties;

(2) the gathering, marketing, treating, processing (but not refining), storage, distribution, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties;

(3) any business relating to exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing (but not refining), storage, transportation or marketing of, oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith;

(4) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code; and

(5) any activity that is ancillary, complementary or incidental to or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

“Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests; (b) the Properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any governmental authority) that may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, that relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests; (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and that may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and Properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests and (g) all Properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all Property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or Property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other personal Property that may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil xxxxx, gas xxxxx, injection xxxxx or other xxxxx, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights of way, easements and servitudes, together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

“Parity Lien” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Security Document, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any Guarantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

“Parity Lien Debt” means:

(1) the Notes issued on the date of this Indenture and Subsidiary Guarantees thereof and any Exchange Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees thereof; and

(2) any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of an Issuer or any Guarantor (including Additional Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees thereof) that is secured equally and ratably with the Notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (2) of this definition:

(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by an Issuer or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement; provided further that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated as “Parity Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

(b) other than in the case of Additional Notes issued under this Indenture, such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation and, in each case, the Parity Lien Representative of such Parity Lien Debt (other than Additional Notes) shall have executed a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement in the form provided; and

(c) all requirements set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (c) will be conclusively established if the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Parity Lien Debt”).

“Parity Lien Documents” means, collectively, the Note Documents and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Security Documents.

“Parity Lien Obligations” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

“Parity Lien Representative” means:

(1) in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; or

(2) in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who (a) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to this Indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (b) has become a party to the Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

“Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) incurred or issued to finance an acquisition (or other purchase of assets) or (ii) to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any other Person existing at the time (a) such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (b) such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (c) assets of such Person were acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness was assumed in connection therewith (excluding any such Indebtedness that is repaid contemporaneously with such event), provided that on the date such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was incurred or issued or the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the date such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or on the date of such asset acquisition, as applicable, either:

(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09,

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction, or

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company would be greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

“Permitted Additional Parity Lien Debt” means Parity Lien Debt permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (3) of the definition of Permitted Debt; provided (i) the interest rate on such Parity Lien Debt does not exceed the interest rate on the Notes and (ii) the stated maturity and any “springing maturity” of such Parity Lien Debt is no earlier than the stated maturity and “springing maturity” of the Notes.

“Permitted Business Investments” means Investments made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business, including investments or expenditures for actively exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing,

processing, gathering, marketing or transporting Hydrocarbons through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risk or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including without limitation:

(1) direct or indirect ownership of crude oil, natural gas, other restricted Hydrocarbon properties or any interest therein, gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems, or ancillary real property interests and interests therein; and

(2) the entry into operating agreements, joint ventures, processing agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, production sharing agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business, excluding, however, Investments in corporations and publicly-traded limited partnerships.

“Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(2) any Investment in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from:

(a) an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10; or

(b) any other disposition of assets deemed not to be Asset Sales under the definition of “Asset Sale;”

(5) any Investment in any Person (a) in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, or (b) with the net cash

proceeds from a substantially concurrent (i) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company or (ii) issuance of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with an issuance being deemed substantially concurrent with such Investment if occurring not more than 120 days after such issuance; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds will be excluded or deducted from the calculation of Available Cash and Incremental Funds;

(6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of, or upon satisfaction of judgments with respect to, (a) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes (including pursuant to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings) with Persons who are not Affiliates;

(7) Hedging Contracts;

(8) Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09;

(9) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business;

(10) Permitted Business Investments;

(11) Investments that are in existence on the date of this Indenture;

(12) Investments in any Person to the extent such Investments consist of prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(13) guarantees of performance or other obligations (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course in the Oil and Gas Business, including obligations under oil and natural gas exploration, development, joint operating and related agreements and licenses or concessions related to the Oil and Gas Business;

(14) loans or advances to officers, directors or employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary and otherwise in compliance with Section 4.11 of this Indenture;

(15) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the date of this Indenture or of any entity merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.01 of this Indenture, the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(16) Investments received as a result of a foreclosure by, or other transfer of title to, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(17) Liens of the type described in clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(18) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (18) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $50.0 million and (ii) 1% of the Company’s Modified ACNTA (after giving effect to any dividends, interest payments, return of capital and subsequent reduction in the amount of any Investment made pursuant to this clause as a result of the repayment or other disposition thereof, in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Investments previously made pursuant to this clause); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (18) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (18) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary; and

(19) Investments in joint ventures of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (19) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed $25.0 million (after giving effect to any dividends, interest payments, return of capital and subsequent reduction in the amount of any Investment made pursuant to this clause as a result of the repayment or other disposition thereof, in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Investments previously made pursuant to this clause); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (19) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (19) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

provided, however, that with respect to any Investment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, allocate all or any portion of any Investment and later re-allocate all or any portion of any Investment to one or more of the above clauses (1) through (19) so that the entire Investment would be a Permitted Investment.

“Permitted Liens” means:

(1) Liens securing (x) any Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt under any Credit Facility incurred under subclause (a) of clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted

Debt” and Liens securing Banking Services Obligations and Obligations in respect of Hedging Contracts constituting Priority Lien Obligations and (y) Indebtedness or other Obligations under the Xxxxx Credit Facility incurred under subclause (a) of clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and Liens securing Obligations in respect of Hedging Contracts related thereto;

(2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;

(3) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;

(5) any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Capital Lease Obligation;

(6) Liens on any asset or property acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (a) such Liens are in favor of the seller of such asset or property, in favor of the Person or Persons developing, constructing, repairing or improving such asset or property, or in favor of the Person or Persons that provided the funding for the acquisition, development, construction, repair or improvement cost, as the case may be, of such asset or property, (b) such Liens are created within 360 days after the acquisition, development, construction, repair or improvement, (c) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the greater of (i) the cost of the asset or property so acquired, constructed or improved plus related financing costs and (ii) the fair market value (as determined by an executive officer involved in or otherwise familiar with such acquisition, construction or improvement of such asset or property, if such fair market value is greater than $25.0 million but less than $50.0 million, or, if such fair market value is $50.0 million or more, the Board of Directors of the Company) of the asset or property so acquired, constructed or improved, measured at the date of such acquisition, or the date of completion of such construction or improvement, and (d) such Liens are limited to the asset or property so acquired, constructed or improved (including the proceeds thereof, accessions thereto, upgrades thereof and improvements thereto);

(7) Liens existing on the date of this Indenture other than Liens permitted under clauses (1) and (31) of this definition;

(8) Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, government contracts, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(9) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

(10) Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(11) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

(12) Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

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

(14) Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 4.09;

(15) Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, and Liens securing other obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under this Indenture;

(16) Liens to secure payment and performance of Hedging Contracts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(17) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent by more than sixty (60) days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

(18) landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or like Liens arising by contract or statute in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts which are not yet delinquent by more than sixty (60) days or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(19) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (A) in connection with leases, tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, government contracts, performance bonds and similar obligations, or (B) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security or similar legislation;

(20) any attachment or judgment Lien that does not constitute an Event of Default;

(21) survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(22) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained or deposited with a depositary institution; provided that (A) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (B) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to provide collateral to the depositary institution;

(23) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(24) leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(25) Liens arising under this Indenture in favor of the Trustee for its own benefit and similar Liens in favor of other trustees, agents and representatives arising under instruments governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, provided, however, that such Liens are solely for the benefit of the trustees, agents or representatives in their capacities as such and not for the benefit of the holders of such Indebtedness;

(26) Liens arising from the deposit of funds or securities in trust for the purpose of decreasing or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds or securities and such decreasing or defeasing of Indebtedness are permitted under Section 4.07 of this Indenture;

(27) Liens (other than Liens securing Indebtedness) on, or related to, assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business for the exploration, drilling, development, production, processing, transportation, marketing, storage or operation thereof;

(28) Liens arising from royalties, overriding royalties, revenue interests, net revenue interests, net profit interests, reversionary interests, production payments, preferential rights of purchase, working interests and other similar interests, all as ordinarily exist with respect to properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or otherwise as are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

(29) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding and secured by any Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (29) does not exceed the amount set forth in clause (17) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 of this Indenture;

(30) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture and incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured, provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property or assets that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

(31) Liens securing Parity Lien Debt incurred pursuant to clause (3) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt;

(32) any Lien securing Junior Lien Obligations under any Indebtedness incurred under either subclause (a) or subclause (b) of clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is Junior Lien Debt;

(33) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Guarantor to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes Junior Lien Debt and was incurred to refinance Indebtedness that is unsecured; and

(34) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (33) above, Liens of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness (excluding Priority Lien Debt and Parity Lien Debt) and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding which does not exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (b) 1.0% of the Company’s Modified ACNTA outstanding in the aggregate at the time of incurrence; provided, such aggregate principal amount shall not be deemed to be exceeded as a result of the incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

If a Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Liens described in clauses (1) through (34) of this definition, the Company may classify, or later reclassify, such Lien in whole or in part in any manner that complies with this definition, including by allocation to more than one other type of Permitted Lien.

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Disqualified Stock of the Company incurred or issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, discharge, refund or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or any Disqualified Stock of the Company; provided that:

(1) the principal amount, or in the case of Disqualified Stock, the amount thereof as determined in accordance with the definition of Disqualified Stock, of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness or amount of the Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired (plus all accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness or accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, and the amount of all fees, expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, (a) later than the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired or (b) later than 90 days after the final maturity date of the Notes;

(3) if the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is contractually subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired; and

(4) such Indebtedness is not incurred (other than by way of a guarantee) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) if the Company is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or retired.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

“Priority Lien” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Guarantor in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property or asset of the Company or any Guarantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

“Priority Lien Collateral Agent” means the Credit Agreement Agent (or other Person designated by the Credit Agreement Agent), or if the Linn Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

“Priority Lien Debt” means:

(1) Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors under the Linn Credit Agreement (including letters of credit (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) that is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and permitted to be incurred and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; and

(2) additional Indebtedness of the Issuers and the Guarantors under any other Credit Facility that is secured with the Linn Credit Agreement by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Issuers and the Guarantors, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated as “Priority Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

(b) the collateral agent or other representative with respect to such Indebtedness, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Collateral Trustee, the Company and each applicable Guarantor have duly executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement (or a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement or a new Intercreditor Agreement substantially similar to the Intercreditor Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture, and in a form reasonably acceptable to each of the parties thereto); and

(c) all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied;

provided that all such Indebtedness (other than any DIP Financing (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) that is permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) is pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of Priority Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, but the principal amount of Indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment. Any such Indebtedness (other than any such DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing requirement for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the Indebtedness under the Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Priority Lien Debt.

“Priority Lien Documents” means the Linn Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and the documents pursuant to which Priority Lien Obligations are granted.

“Priority Lien Obligations” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt, Hedging Contracts and Banking Services Obligations, in each case, that are secured by the Priority Liens.

“Priority Lien Representative” means (1) the Credit Agreement Agent or (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.

“Production Payments” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.

“Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment (whether volumetric or dollar denominated), partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

“Property” means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including cash, accounts, contract rights, Capital Stock and other securities issued by any other Person (but excluding Capital Stock or other securities issued by such first mentioned Person).

“Proved Reserves” means “Proved Reserves” as defined in the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves (the “Reserve Definitions”) promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the time in question.

“Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the amount under clause (1)(a) of the definition of “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” (as adjusted to reflect Modified ACNTA Prices in accordance with the provisions of the definition of “Modified ACNTA”) as of the latest Reserve Report to (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Secured Debt as of the date of determination.

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

“Rating Category” means:

(1) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and

(2) with respect to Xxxxx’x, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories).

“Rating Decline” means a decrease in the rating of the Notes by either Xxxxx’x or S&P by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories). In determining whether the rating of the Notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories, namely + or— for S&P, and 1, 2, and 3 for Xxxxx’x, will be taken into account; for example, in the case of S&P, a rating decline either from BB+ to BB or BB- to B+ will constitute a decrease of one gradation.

“Ratings Agencies” means each of Xxxxx’x and S&P.

“Redeemed” means, with respect to any series of Indebtedness, that such series has been cancelled or retired as a result of a redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or shall have otherwise been discharged or defeased or called for redemption (with funds to effect such redemption irrevocably deposited with the trustee or otherwise set aside for purposes of such redemption).

“Registered Exchange Offer” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Regulation S” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Reporting Default” means a Default described in Section 6.01(d).

“Required Parity Lien Debtholders” means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding.

“Reserve Definitions” has the meaning set forth for such term in the definition of “Proved Reserves” herein.

“Reserve Report” means a report setting forth, as of each December 31st or June 30th, the Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, in each case in the form delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Linn Credit Agreement, or if there is no Linn Credit Agreement requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by the Company with the form of Reserve Report required under the Linn Credit Agreement as in effect on the Initial Issuance Date.

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Restricted Global Note” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) of the Appendix.

“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Finance Corp. shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

“Rule 144A” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Debt” means Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt and Junior Lien Debt.

“Secured Debt Documents” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Documents and the Junior Lien Documents.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Security Documents” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, each joinder agreement required by the Collateral Trust Agreement, and all security agreements, pledge agreements, hypothecs, collateral assignments, Mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, collateral agency agreements, debentures, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee (including, without limitation, the financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant state), in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

“Senior Debt” means:

(1) all Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under Credit Facilities and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;

(2) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and

(3) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

(a) any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Affiliates; or

(b) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

For the avoidance of doubt, “Senior Debt” will not include any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Series of Junior Lien Debt” means, severally, each issue or series of Junior Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

“Series of Parity Lien Debt” means, severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

“Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Linn Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

“Series of Secured Debt” means each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt and each Series of Junior Lien Debt.

“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

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

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(2) any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means the joint and several guarantee pursuant to ARTICLE 10 hereof by a Guarantor of the Obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Notes.

“surrender” shall have the same meaning as “deliver” in the context of the surrender of a Note.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) and the rules and regulations thereunder, as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA (except as provided in Section 9.01(h) and Section 9.03 hereof).

“Transfer Restricted Securities” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

“Treasury Management Arrangement” means any agreement or other arrangement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overdraft, credit or debit card, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

“Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to December 15, 2018; provided, however, that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to December 15, 2018 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (b) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Make Whole Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

“Trustee” means the party named as such in the introductory paragraph hereto until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time, except where context requires otherwise.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company (excluding any agreement or transaction of the type described in clauses (6), (10) and (12) of the covenant described in Section 4.11);

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 and Section 4.18. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09, the Company will be in default of such covenant.

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

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of

principal, including payment at final maturity or redemption, in respect of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

(2) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.


Term		Defined in Section
“Affiliate Transaction”		4.11
“Appendix”		2.01
“Asset Sale Offer”		3.09
“Change of Control Offer”		4.15
“Change of Control Payment”		4.15
“Change of Control Purchase Date”		4.15
“Change of Control Settlement Date”		4.15
“Covenant Defeasance”		8.03
“Discharge”		8.08
“Event of Default”		6.01
“Excess Proceeds”		4.10
“Incremental Funds”		4.07
“incur”		4.09
“Legal Defeasance”		8.02
“Offer Amount”		3.09
“Offer Period”		3.09
“Paying Agent”		2.03
“Payment Default”		6.01
“Permitted Debt”		4.09
“Register”		2.03
“Registrar”		2.03
“Restricted Payments”		4.07
“Settlement Date”		3.09
“Termination Date”		3.09

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. Any terms incorporated in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;

(7) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole (as amended or supplemented from time to time) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture;

(8) “including” means “including, without limitation”; and

(9) references to “second lien” or “second-priority” Liens means Liens that may be junior in priority to the Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations, to the extent permitted to be incurred or to exist under the Intercreditor Agreement, and to Permitted Liens (other than Liens described in clauses (32) and (33) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and Liens in respect thereof under clause (30) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”).

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

Provisions relating to the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix”) which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication therefor shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication therefor shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 to the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which an Issuer is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in the Appendix are part of the terms of this Indenture.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

An Officer of each Issuer shall sign the Notes on behalf of such Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer of either Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

On the Initial Issuance Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $1,000,000,000 of 12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in a written order of the Issuers. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and to whom the Notes shall be registered and delivered and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.13 after the Initial Issuance Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuers shall at all times maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “Register”). The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Issuers shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on each due date of the principal and interest on any Note, an Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Noteholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. If the Issuers, a Guarantor or another Subsidiary of the Issuers acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Each Paying Agent shall otherwise comply with TIA § 317(b).

Section 2.05 Noteholder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Noteholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee in writing, at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Noteholders.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer. When a Note is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. The Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.06, Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 9.05).

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond

sufficient in the judgment of the Issuers and the Trustee to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note. In the event any such Note shall have matured, instead of issuing a new Note, the Trustee may pay the same without surrender thereof upon the Holder furnishing the Issuers and the Trustee with indemnity satisfactory to them and complying with such other reasonable regulations as the Trustee may prescribe and paying such reasonable expenses as the Issuers and the Trustee may incur in connection therewith.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuers.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as otherwise provided in TIA § 316(a), a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee, any provider of an indemnity bond and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 11:00 a.m. New York time, on a redemption date or other maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, interest, premium, if any, and Additional Interest, if any, payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall cease to be outstanding and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on them shall cease to accrue.

Section 2.09 Temporary Notes.

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes.

Section 2.10 Cancellation.

An Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, replacement or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, replacement, payment or cancellation. Upon written request, the Trustee will deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Issuers unless the Issuers direct the Trustee to deliver canceled Notes to the Issuers instead. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuers shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner at the rate provided in the Notes. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Noteholders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Noteholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers.

The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.

Section 2.13 Issuance of Additional Notes.

The Issuers shall be entitled, subject to their compliance with Section 4.09, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, and any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided, however, that if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes shall be issued under a separate CUSIP number (and, if applicable, ISIN).

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(2) the issue price, the issue date (and the corresponding date from which interest shall accrue thereon and the first interest payment date therefor) and the CUSIP number and any corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes; and

(3) whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Initial Notes as set forth in Exhibit 1 to the Appendix or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit 2 to the Appendix.

Section 2.14 Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on, such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any other agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of Section 3.07 pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price, and (v) whether the Issuers request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to the sending of notice of such redemption to any Holder and shall thereupon be void and of no effect.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes as follows: (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or (2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented by a note in global form will be selected by such method as DTC may require). In the event of partial redemption other than on a pro rata basis, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, not less than five (5) Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) prior to the giving of notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs of this Section 3.02 shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a Global Note, whether such Global Note is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Global Note shall be in an authorized denomination.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date (except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge), the Issuers shall send or cause to be sent a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(a) the redemption date;

(b) the redemption price or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the manner in which it is to be determined;

(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued in the name of the applicable Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(f) that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on Notes called for redemption shall cease to accrue on and after the redemption date, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of any condition to redemption, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

(h) any condition to such redemption; and

(i) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

If any of the Notes to be redeemed is in the form of a Global Note, then the Issuers shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to redemption.

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of optional redemption in the Issuers’ names and at their expense; provided, however, that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, as provided in Section 3.01, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the second preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, subject to the following sentence, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the applicable redemption date at the applicable redemption price, unless the redemption is subject to a condition precedent that is not satisfied or waived. Notice of any redemption, including, without limitation, upon an Equity Offering, may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering; provided that, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person. If sent in the manner provided for in Section 3.03, the notice of redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary thereof is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.04 hereof) money sufficient in same day funds to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Paying Agent by an Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed.

If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest and Additional Interest, if any, shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes shall be to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of an Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful, on any interest and Additional Interest, if any, not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue in the name of the applicable Holder and the Trustee shall authenticate for such Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 3.07, the Issuers shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07 prior to December 15, 2018. On or after December 15, 2018, the Issuers shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:


YEAR		PERCENTAGE
2018		112.000%
2019 and thereafter		106.000%

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at any time prior to December 15, 2018, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 112.00% of the principal amount thereof, with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), provided that, with respect to each such redemption:

(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and

(2) such redemption occurs within 180 days after the date of the closing of the related Equity Offering.

(c) Prior to December 15, 2018, the Issuers may redeem on any one or more occasions all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

(1) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus

(2) the Make Whole Premium at the redemption date, plus

(3) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

(d) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through Section 3.06 hereof.

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption.

Except as set forth under Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 hereof, neither of the Issuers shall be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”), it shall follow the procedures specified below.

The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by Applicable Law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Settlement Date”), the Company shall purchase and pay for the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes validly tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the manner prescribed in the Notes.

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open, including the time and date the Asset Sale Offer will terminate (the “Termination Date”);

(b) the Offer Amount and the purchase price;

(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any;

(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any, after the Settlement Date;

(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, properly endorsed for transfer, together with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed and such customary documents as the Company may reasonably request, to the Company or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, before the Termination Date;

(f) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, prior to the Termination Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(g) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders, and Parity Lien Debt surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount the Company is required to repurchase, the Trustee shall select the Notes and Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Parity Lien Debt (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased); and

(h) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

If any of the Notes subject to an Asset Sale Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases.

Promptly after the Termination Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer in the aggregate principal amount required by Section 4.10 hereof, and prior to the Settlement Date it shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall issue a new Note, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or before the Settlement Date.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the due date money deposited by an Issuer or a Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes to the extent lawful; and they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) in New York, New York where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and they shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. Further, if at any time there shall be no such office or agency in the City of New York where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, the Issuers shall forthwith designate and maintain such an office or agency in the City of New York, in order that the Notes shall at all times be payable in the City of New York. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.02.

With respect to any Global Notes, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the office or agency where such Global Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Notes may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depository shall be deemed to have been effected at such office or agency in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 4.03 Reports.

(a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing, in which case the Company will furnish to the Trustee and, upon its prior request, to any of the Holders of the Notes, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations):

(1) all quarterly and annual financial information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

If required by Applicable Law, the Company shall at all times comply with TIA § 314(a).

(b) For as long as the Notes remain outstanding, if at any time the Company is not required to file the reports required by this Section 4.03 with the SEC, the Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to the Holders of the Notes, and to securities analysts and prospective investors in the Notes, upon their request, the information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. The Company will be deemed to have provided such information to the Holders of the Notes, securities analysts and prospective investors in the Notes if it has filed reports containing such information with the SEC via the XXXXX filing system and such reports are publicly available. If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material, the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

(c) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein.

(d) The availability of the foregoing information or reports on the SEC’s web site will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery requirements.

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending on or after December 31, 2015, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Issuers and their Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto).

(b) The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any of their respective Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Taxes.

The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

Each of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity

Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (other than in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock));

(3) make any principal payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is secured by a Junior Lien, that is unsecured or that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee (excluding (a) any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is secured by a Junior Lien, that is unsecured or that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees purchased, redeemed, defeased or otherwise acquired or retired for value in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within 90 days of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, and (c) any payment of principal at the Stated Maturity thereof); or

(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”),

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, (i) no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment and (ii) if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment is not less than 2.25 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (8), (9), (11), (12), (13), (14) and (15) of the next succeeding paragraph) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than or equal to the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) to the extent that at the time of making a Restricted Payment specified in clause (1) of the definition thereof, the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio as of the most recent Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date is not less than 1.5 to 1.0, Available Cash as of the end of the Company’s preceding fiscal quarter, plus

(b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of any Capital Stock of Persons engaged primarily in the Oil and Gas Business or any other assets that are used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, in each case received by the Company after the Measurement Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), plus

(c) the amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person since the Measurement Date resulting from:

(i) repurchases or redemptions of such Restricted Investments by such Person, proceeds realized upon the sale of such Restricted Investment to a purchaser other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets (including by way of dividend or distribution) by such Person to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; plus

(ii) the redesignation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries or the merger or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary with and into, or the transfer of its assets to, or liquidation into, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (valued in each case as provided in the definition of “Investment”) not to exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Restricted Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus

(iii) any amount which previously qualified as a Restricted Payment on account of any guarantee entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, to the extent that such guarantee has not been called upon and the obligation arising under such guarantee no longer exists or has been reduced; plus

(iv) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary making any Investment in a Person that, as a result of or in connection with such Investment, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Restricted Investment in such Person prior to the time it became a Restricted Subsidiary or the time of such merger or consolidation, in each case to the extent such amounts have not been included in Available Cash for any period commencing on or after the Measurement Date (items (b) and (c) being referred to as “Incremental Funds”), minus

(d) the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended pursuant to this paragraph.

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of its declaration, if at the date of declaration the payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any Junior Debt or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with a sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or acquisition occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided, however, that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition will be excluded or deducted from the calculation of Available Cash and Incremental Funds;

(3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of Junior Debt with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of, or in exchange for, Junior Debt that constitutes Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, with an incurrence of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness being deemed substantially concurrent if such defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or acquisition occurs not more than 120 days after such incurrence;

(4) the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests on a pro rata basis or on a basis more favorable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(5) so long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any director or employee equity subscription agreement or equity option agreement or other employee benefit plan or to satisfy obligations under any Equity Interests appreciation rights or option plan or similar arrangement; provided, however, that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $5.0 million in any calendar year (with any portion of such $5.0 million amount that is unused in any calendar year to be carried forward to successive calendar years and added to such amount) plus, to the extent not previously applied or included, the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from sales of Equity Interests of the Company to employees or directors of the Company or its

Affiliates that occur after the date of this Indenture (to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of subclause (b) of the first clause (ii) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.07); and the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date of this Indenture.

(6) any purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of Indebtedness that is secured by a Junior Lien, that is unsecured or that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees at a purchase price not greater than (i) 101% of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in the event of a Change of Control or (ii) 100% of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in the event of an Asset Sale, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, in connection with any change of control offer or asset sale offer required by the terms of such Indebtedness, but only if:

(a) in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations under Section 4.15; or

(b) in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with Section 4.10;

(7) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company representing fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a merger or consolidation involving the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or any other transaction permitted by this Indenture;

(8) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise or conversion of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise or conversion price thereof;

(9) the defeasance, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the exercise or vesting of any equity compensation (including, without limitation, stock options, restricted stock and phantom stock) in order to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to such exercise or vesting;

(10) any payments in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture not to exceed $10.0 million in the aggregate after the date of this Indenture;

(11) any purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of Indebtedness that is secured by a Junior Lien, that is unsecured or that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees

in an aggregate amount paid under this clause (11) since the Initial Issuance Date not to exceed $350.0 million, provided that, after giving effect to each such payment, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have cash, Cash Equivalents and undrawn Availability under Credit Facilities totaling at least $250.0 million;

(12) so long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby, other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (i) $50.0 million and (ii) 1% of Modified ACNTA (after giving effect to any dividends, interest payments, return of capital and subsequent reduction in the amount of any Investments made pursuant to this clause as a result of the repayment or other disposition thereof, in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Investments previously made pursuant to in this clause); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (12) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Investments” and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (12) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(13) any purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of Junior Debt purchased, redeemed, defeased of otherwise retired for value in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, but only if the Company has made an offer to all Holders of Notes to purchase the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding at an offer price, payable in cash, equal to or greater than the applicable redemption price for the Notes at such time as set forth in Section 3.07 and such offer shall have expired in accordance with applicable law within 90 days of such date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of such Junior Debt and the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations with respect to such offer;

(14) any purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of Xxxxx Senior Notes that, as a result of or in connection with such purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of the Xxxxx Senior Notes, the Xxxxx Guarantor Event occurs; provided the Xxxxx Guarantor Event occurs no later than 90 days after such purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition; and

(15) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of Junior Debt with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Additional Parity Lien Debt, with a defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition being deemed substantially concurrent with an incurrence or exchange if occurring not more than 90 days after such issuance or exchange.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment, except that (i) the amount of a non-cash Restricted Payment referred to in clause (1) of the first paragraph of this covenant will be the Fair Market Value on the date of declaration and (ii) the amount of a non-cash Restricted Payment referred to in clause (3) of the first paragraph of this covenant consisting of an exchange of securities will be the aggregate principal amount of the securities issued in exchange therefor. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined, in the case of amounts in excess of $25.0 million but no greater than $50.0 million, by an officer of the Company and, in the case of amounts over $50.0 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, (x) in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in the preceding clauses (1) — (15), the Company will be permitted to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07; and (y) in the event a Restricted Payment is made pursuant to the first clause (ii) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.07, the Company will be permitted to classify whether all or any portion thereof is being (and in the absence of such classification shall be deemed to have classified the minimum amount possible as having been) made with Incremental Funds.

Section 4.08 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to:

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

However, the preceding restrictions of this Section 4.08 will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(4) agreements (including in respect of any Credit Facilities) as in effect on the date of this Indenture and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements (or the agreements referred to in this clause (1)) or the Indebtedness to which those agreements (or the agreements referred to in this clause (1)) relate, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements,

renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of this Indenture, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its reasonable and good faith judgment;

(5) the Note Documents;

(6) Applicable Law or similar restriction;

(7) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

(8) instruments governing other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into subsequent to the date of this Indenture in accordance with Section 4.09; provided that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such instruments are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the provisions contained in the Linn Credit Agreement and in this Indenture as in effect on the date of this Indenture, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its reasonable and good faith judgment;

(9) customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements or in licenses or leases, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(10) Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;

(11) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;

(12) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its reasonable and good faith judgment;

(13) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

(14) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into (a) in the ordinary course of business, or (b) with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, which limitations are applicable only to the assets or property that are the subject of such agreements;

(15) any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the date of this Indenture, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisition;

(16) restrictions on cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers or lessors under contracts or leases entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(17) customary encumbrances and restrictions contained in agreements of the types described in the definition of “Permitted Business Investments”;

(18) Hedging Contracts permitted from time to time under this Indenture;

(19) the issuance of preferred securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such preferred securities is permitted pursuant to Section 4.09 and the terms of such preferred securities do not expressly restrict the ability of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Equity Interests (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such preferred securities prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Equity Interests); and

(20) any Permitted Investment.

Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness, the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock, and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any preferred securities; provided, however, that the Issuers and any Guarantors may incur Indebtedness or the Company may issue Disqualified Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued, as the case may be,

would have been at least 2.25 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The first paragraph of this Section 4.09 will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness or the issuance of any Disqualified Stock described in clause (5), (12) or (15) or any preferred securities described in clause (11) below (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of:

(a) Indebtedness (including letters of credit) incurred under one or more Credit Facilities pursuant to this clause 1(a), up to an aggregate principal amount (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) (together with the aggregate principal amount of all other such Indebtedness at any time outstanding pursuant to this clause (1)(a)) not to exceed the greatest of (i) $3,600 million, or upon the occurrence of the Xxxxx Guarantor Event, $4,250 million, (ii) an amount equal to 60% of the Company’s Modified ACNTA determined as of the date of such incurrence and (iii) the Linn Borrowing Base as of the date of such incurrence if incurred under the Linn Credit Agreement, plus until the date of the Xxxxx Guarantor Event, the Xxxxx Borrowing Base as of the date of such incurrence if incurred under the Xxxxx Credit Facility; provided that Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1)(a) shall not be issued or incurred in exchange for Existing Unsecured Notes; and

(b) Indebtedness (other than Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt) incurred pursuant to this clause 1(b), up to an aggregate principal amount such that after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated ACNTA Coverage Ratio would be no less than 1.1 to 1.0; provided that for purposes of determining the amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred under this clause 1(b), all unsecured Indebtedness that is incurred under this clause 1(b) (together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (5) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” in respect thereof) shall be deemed to be included in clause (y) of the definition of “Consolidated ACNTA Coverage Ratio”;

(2) the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness (excluding the Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date and any related Subsidiary Guarantees thereof);

(3) Parity Lien Debt (including the Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, the Exchange Notes thereof, any Additional Notes and any related

Subsidiary Guarantees thereof) in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding (together, with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (5) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” in respect thereof to refinance the foregoing) not to exceed (i) $1,500.0 million, plus, (ii) after the occurrence of the Xxxxx Guarantor Event, the lesser of (a) an aggregate principal amount such that after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated ACNTA Senior Secured Coverage Ratio would be no less than 1.5 to 1.0 and (b) $500.0 million; provided that the aggregate amount of Parity Lien Debt (including the Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, the Exchange Notes thereof and any related Subsidiary Guarantees) under part (i) of this clause (3) issued or incurred in exchange for Existing Unsecured Notes shall not exceed $1,000.0 million;

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and related financing costs, and Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, refund, discharge or otherwise retire for value any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $50.0 million and (b) 1.0% of the Company’s Modified ACNTA determined as of the date of such incurrence;

(5) the incurrence or issuance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, discharge, refund or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or Disqualified Stock of the Company, in each case that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under this Indenture pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 and part (b) of clause (1), clause (2), clause (3), this clause (5) and clause (12) of this Section 4.09;

(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among any of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:

(a) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness and a Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, or if a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Company nor another Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor; and

(b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence (as of the date of such issuance, sale or transfer) of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts;

(8) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

(9) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness relating to net gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);

(11) the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any preferred securities; provided, however, that:

(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred securities being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

(b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred securities to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance (as of the date of such issuance, sale or transfer) of such preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (11);

(12) Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

(13) the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;

(14) the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(15) accounts payable or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of goods or services;

(16) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn outs, or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition or acquisition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Subsidiary in a transaction permitted by this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred or assumed by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; and

(17) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness or the issuance by the Company of additional Disqualified Stock, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued under this clause (17) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $50.0 million and (b) 1.0% of the Company’s Modified ACNTA.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (17) above, or is entitled to be incurred or issued pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Company will be permitted to divide and classify (or later classify, reclassify or re-divide in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Any Indebtedness under the Linn Credit Agreement and the Xxxxx Credit Facility on the date of this Indenture shall be considered incurred under clause (1)(a) of the second paragraph of this Section 4.09. For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this covenant, (i) guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such amount shall not also be included and (ii) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility and are being treated as incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included.

The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or preferred securities in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or preferred securities will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred securities for purposes of this Section 4.09, provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued.

Section 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or any Person assuming responsibilities for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise), determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale, at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Asset Sale (determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) and all other Asset Sales since the date of this indenture, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Subsidiary from further liability;

(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 180 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

(c) accounts receivable of a business retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, following the sale of such business, provided that such accounts receivable (i) are not past due more than 90 days and (ii) do not have a payment date greater than 120 days from the date of the invoices creating such accounts receivable; and

(d) any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (d) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 2% of Modified ACNTA at the time of the receipt of each item of Designated

Noncash Consideration (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

(I) to prepay, repay, redeem, defease or repurchase Priority Lien Debt and other outstanding Priority Lien Obligations or Parity Lien Debt and other outstanding Parity Lien Obligations, including the Notes; provided that with respect to Parity Lien Obligations, such prepayment, repayment, redemption, defeasance or repurchase must be made either by a pro rata redemption, defeasance, prepayment or repayment of outstanding Parity Lien Obligations or by an offer to purchase on a pro rata basis made to all holders of Parity Lien Obligations;

(II) to invest in or acquire Additional Assets; or

(III) to make capital expenditures in respect of the Company’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Business.

The requirement of clause (II) or (III) of the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be satisfied if a bona fide binding contract committing to make the investment, acquisition or expenditure referred to therein is entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Company within the time period specified in the preceding paragraph and such Net Proceeds are subsequently applied in accordance with such contract within the later of six months following the date such agreement is entered into and 365 days from the consummation of the Asset Sale.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under Credit Facilities or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

On the 366th day after an Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $35.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes, and to all holders of other Parity Lien Debt then outstanding containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Section 4.10 with respect to offers to purchase or redeem, on a pro rata basis, with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may

use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds allocated for purchase of the Notes, the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased). Upon surrender of a Note that is repurchased in part, the Issuers shall issue in the name of the applicable Holder and the Trustee shall authenticate for such Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the non-repurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such compliance.

Section 4.11 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $15.0 million, unless:

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person or, if in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million but no greater than $50.0 million, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.11; and

(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set

forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company.

The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph of this Section 4.11:

(1) any employment agreement or arrangement, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement, severance agreement or other compensation plan or arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, and payments, awards, grants or issuances of securities pursuant thereto;

(2) transactions between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction);

(3) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or indirectly, an Equity Interest in, or otherwise controls, such Person;

(4) customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance;

(5) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to, or receipt of capital contributions from, Affiliates of the Company;

(6) any Permitted Investments or Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07 (and any transaction that would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusions from the definition thereof);

(7) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that would not otherwise constitute an Affiliate Transaction except for the fact that one director of such other Person is also a director of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable; provided that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, on any matter involving such other Person;

(8) the existence of, and the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of, any written agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party on the date of this Indenture and which is described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, then Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 or September 30, 2015 or the

Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2015, February 20, 2015, April 23, 2015, May 15, 2015, May 21, 2015, July 7, 2015, July 9, 2015, August 27, 2015, September 24, 2015 or October 22, 2015, as such agreements may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time; provided, however, that any amendment, modification or supplement entered into after the date of this Indenture will be permitted to the extent that its terms are not materially more disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the Holders of the Notes than the terms of the agreements in effect on the date of this Indenture;

(9) any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of clause (1) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.11;

(10) (a) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of performance of obligations of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (b) pledges by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(11) any Affiliate Transaction with a Person in its capacity as a holder of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company if such Person is treated no more favorably than the other holders of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(12) transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries, customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or lessors or lessees of property, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are, in the aggregate (taking into account all the costs and benefits associated with such transactions), not materially less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person, in the good faith determination of the Company’s Board of Directors or any executive officer of the Company involved in or otherwise familiar with such transaction, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(13) transactions entered into by a Person prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated into the Company or a Subsidiary (provided such transaction is not entered into in contemplation of such event); and

(14) dividends and distributions to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture.

Section 4.12 Limitation on Liens.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), securing Indebtedness, provided, however, that in respect of any asset that does not constitute Collateral, any Lien on such assets shall be permitted notwithstanding that it is not a Permitted Lien if all payments due under this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees are secured on an equal and ratable basis with (or, in the case of any such Indebtedness which is subordinated Indebtedness, on a prior basis) the obligations so secured by a Lien on such asset until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien on such asset.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the paragraph above shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of each of the Liens described in the first paragraph above.

Section 4.13 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

If, after the date of this Indenture, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not already a Guarantor guarantees any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor in excess of the De Minimis Guaranteed Amount, or any Domestic Subsidiary, if not then a Guarantor, incurs any Indebtedness under any of the Credit Facilities (other than incurrences by Xxxxx under the Xxxxx Credit Facility unless the Issuers or Guarantors guarantee or otherwise incur Indebtedness under the Xxxxx Credit Facility), then in either case that Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Annex A hereto and delivering it to the Trustee within 30 Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness, as the case may be, together with any Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.06; provided, however, that the preceding shall not apply to Subsidiaries of the Company that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with this Indenture for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding, any Subsidiary Guarantee of a Restricted Subsidiary that was incurred pursuant to this Section 4.13 shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released at such time as such Guarantor ceases both (x) to guarantee any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers and any Indebtedness of any other Guarantor (except as a result of payment under any such other guarantee) and (y) if such Guarantor is a Domestic Subsidiary, to be an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility.

Each Subsidiary Guarantee shall also be released in accordance with ARTICLE 10.

Section 4.14 Existence.

Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms hereof (including consolidation and merger permitted by Section 5.01), the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its limited liability company existence, and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same

may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve the existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except Finance Corp.) if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $1,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Payment”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the date of settlement (the “Change of Control Settlement Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. Within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company shall send a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction that constitutes the Change of Control and stating:

(a) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment;

(b) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days but no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”);

(c) that the Change of Control Offer will expire as of the time specified in such notice on the Change of Control Purchase Date and that the Company shall pay the Change of Control Payment for all Notes purchased properly tendered prior to the expiration date specified in such notice promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date;

(d) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any;

(e) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any, after the Change of Control Settlement Date;

(f) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, properly endorsed for transfer, together with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed and such customary documents as the Company may reasonably request, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer on the Change of Control Purchase Date;

(g) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased; and

(h) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

If any of the Notes subject to a Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases. Further, the Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.15, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such compliance.

Promptly after expiration of the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company shall:

(i) deposit with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

(ii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Paying Agent shall send to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depository) and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, however, that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Settlement Date.

The Change of Control provisions described in this Section 4.15 shall be applicable whether or not any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this Section 4.15, but in any event no later than the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Company or any Guarantor shall either repay

all of its other outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing such Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.15.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (2) notice of redemption of all Notes has been given pursuant to Section 3.07, unless there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for such Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer. If a Change of Control Offer is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of a Change of Control shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Change of Control Purchase Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or the Change of Control Payment may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Change of Control Purchase Date, or by the Change of Control Purchase Date so delayed.

In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and do not withdraw and the Company (or the third party making the Change of Control Offer as provided in this Section 4.15) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to such Change of Control Offer, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a purchase price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to such date of redemption).

Section 4.16 No Partial Inducements.

The Company shall not, and the Company shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries, either directly or indirectly, to pay (or cause to be paid) any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Beneficial Owner or Holder of the Notes for or as an inducement to any consent to any waiver, supplement or amendment of any terms or provisions of the Note Documents, unless such consideration is offered to be paid (or agreed to be paid) to all Beneficial Owners and Holders of the Notes that are “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A of the Securities Act, who, upon request, confirm that they are “qualified institutional buyers,” which so consent in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent.

Section 4.17 Limitations on Finance Corp. Activities.

Finance Corp. shall not incur Indebtedness unless (1) the Company is a co-issuer or guarantor of such Indebtedness or (2) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are loaned to the Company, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Company or used to repay Indebtedness of the Company as permitted under Section 4.09. Finance Corp. shall not engage in any business not related directly or indirectly to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section 4.07 or represent Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation shall only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

Section 4.19 Covenant Termination.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture or of the Notes to the contrary, if at any time (a) the ratings assigned to the Notes by both Ratings Agencies is an Investment Grade Rating, (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture and (c) the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying to the foregoing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to Section 4.07, Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.17 and Section 5.01(d) of this Indenture and no Default or Event of Default shall result from any failure to comply with any of the provisions of such Sections.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

Neither of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly, (x) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the survivor), or (y) sell, assign, transfer, lease,

convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions to another Person, unless:

(a) either (1) such Issuer is the survivor or (2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however, that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement so long as the Company is not a corporation;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Note Documents to which such Issuer is a party pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(d) in the case of a transaction involving the Company and not Finance Corp., either

(i) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will, at the time of such transaction immediately after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transaction as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; or

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the Company’s most recently ended four full quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of the transactions, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; or

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will be greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

(e) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than an Issuer), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made will take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause any property or assets that constitute Collateral owned by or transferred to such Person to continue to constitute Collateral and to be subject to the Parity Liens in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents; and

(f) such Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in the foregoing clause (c) and (d), any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than an Issuer) may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, and the Company will not be required to comply with the preceding clause (f) in connection with any such consolidation, merger or disposition.

Notwithstanding the second preceding paragraph of this Section 5.01, the Company may reorganize as any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures provided that:

(1) the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Company into a form of entity other than a limited liability company formed under Delaware law;

(2) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

(3) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Note Documents to which the Company is a party pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(4) immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(5) such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes (for purposes of this clause (5) a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations with the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Code or any similar state or local law).

For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

Section 5.02 Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of an Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, in which such Issuer is not the surviving entity, the successor formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as such Issuer herein and shall be substituted for such Issuer (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” or “Finance Corp.,” as the case may be, shall refer instead to the successor and not to the Company or Finance Corp., as the case may be); and thereafter (except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of such Issuer’s assets), such Issuer shall be discharged and released from all obligations and covenants under the Note Documents. The Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor and such discharge and release of such Issuer.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

An “Event of Default” occurs if one of the following shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be involuntary or be effected by operation of law):

(a) an Issuer defaults in the payment when due of interest or Additional Interest, if any, with respect to the Notes, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(b) an Issuer defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when due at their Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon acceleration or otherwise;

(c) the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01 hereof or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.09, Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 hereof;

(d) the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 4.03 for 180 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

(e) failure by the Company for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.11, Section 4.12, Section 4.13 and Section 4.17;

(f) the Company fails to comply with any other covenant or other agreement in the Note Documents (including the provisions of Section 3.09, Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 to the extent not described in clause (c) of this Section 6.01) for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

(g) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the Initial Issuance Date, if such default:

(i) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of any grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”); or

(ii) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more; provided, however, that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the expiration of the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;

(h) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 consecutive days;

(i) (1) any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or (2) any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, except, in each case, by reason of the release of such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;

(j) the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(1) commences a voluntary case,

(2) consents in writing to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

(3) consents in writing to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

(4) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

(5) admits in writing it generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

(k) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(1) is for relief against the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, in an involuntary case;

(2) appoints a Custodian (x) of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, or (y) for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company; or

(3) orders the liquidation of the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company;

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(l) the occurrence of the following:

(1) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Note Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (l)(1) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Note Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Note Documents on Collateral,

individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Parity Lien; provided further that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period;

(2) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Note Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; and

(3) the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Parity Liens.

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, Additional Interest, if any, and premium, if any, thereon. Notwithstanding the preceding, if an Event of Default specified in clause (j) or (k) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, Additional Interest, if any, and premium, if any, thereon. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, that have become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Note Documents.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive (including, without limitation, in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be furnished reasonable indemnification from the Holders of the Notes against all loss, liability and expenses caused by the taking or not taking of such action.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

(e) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers and the Guarantors for the whole amount of principal of, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and Additional Interest, if any, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Trustee is Authorized to File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10 Priorities.

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, if the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, their agents and attorneys for amounts due to each under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee’s and the Collateral Trustee’s costs and expenses of collection;

Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, respectively; and

Third: to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with an Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(f) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. In case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holder unless such Holder has furnished to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense.

(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and in its capacity as Trustee under any other agreement executed in connection with the Indenture to which the Trustee is a party.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both to be provided. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult at the Issuers’ expense, with counsel of its own selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed by it with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from an Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of such Issuer. The Trustee may, from time to time or at any time, request that the Issuers deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers of each Issuer authorized at such time to deliver, on behalf of such Issuer, an Officers’ Certificate or order to, or otherwise take specified actions on behalf of such Issuer with respect to, the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed on behalf of such Issuer by any person authorized, on behalf of such Issuer, to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered by such Issuer.

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holder shall have furnished to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(g) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s covenants in ARTICLE 4 hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except: (1) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) hereof; or (2) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

(h) The permissive right of the Trustee to act hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

(i) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(j) The delivery of documents and information to the Trustee under Section 4.03 is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from the information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder, except to the extent that such documents and information would constitute notice under Section 7.02(g) of this Indenture.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the TIA) after a Default has occurred and is continuing, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as Trustee (if this Indenture is then qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 and Section 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for either Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to an Issuer or upon either Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, or interest, premium, or Additional Interest, if any, on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

Within 60 days after each April 15 beginning with the April 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting

date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2), to the extent applicable, and § 313(b)(1). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed to the Issuers and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on or de-listed from any stock exchange.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation as the Issuers and the Trustee may agree in writing for the Trustee’s acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall indemnify the Trustee, jointly and severally, against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses, including taxes (other than those based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) and the reasonable out of pocket fees and expenses of counsel, incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuers and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by an Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability, damage, claim or expense may be attributable to its gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers and the Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel; provided that the Issuers and the Guarantors will not be required to pay such fees and expenses if they assume the Trustee’s defense with counsel acceptable to and approved by the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) and there is no conflict of interest between the Issuers and the Trustee in connection with such defense. The Issuers and the Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

The Issuers and Guarantors shall not be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

To secure the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(j) or Section 6.01(k) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

The Trustee may resign in writing upon thirty (30) days notice at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of Notes of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the consent of the Issuers. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuers or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction, at the expense of the Issuers, for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee, to the Issuers and to the Guarantors. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates with, or merges or converts into, or transfers or sells all or substantially all of its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the successor corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Issuers and the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Notes shall serve as a Trustee.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers.

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuers may, at the option of their respective Boards of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, exercise their rights under either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof with respect to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this ARTICLE 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have discharged their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee, on the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged its Subsidiary Guarantee (which in each case shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below) and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes or Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Section 2.03, Section 2.04, Section 2.07, Section 2.09 and Section 4.02 hereof and the Appendix, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this ARTICLE 8. Subject to compliance with this ARTICLE 8, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option under Section 8.03 hereof.

If the Issuers exercise their Legal Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and the Collateral and any other security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in ARTICLE 4 (other than those in Section 4.01, Section 4.02 and Section 4.06 and, solely with respect to the Issuers, Section 4.14) and in clause (d) of Section 5.01 hereof on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”) and any covenants contained in the other Note Documents, and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers and any Guarantor may

omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Section 6.01(d) and Sections 6.01(g) through Section 6.01(i) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

If the Issuers exercise their Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any covenants contained in the other Note Documents applicable to the Company and the Guarantors, and the Collateral and any other security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(a) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment banking firm, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the date of fixed maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to the date of fixed maturity or to a particular redemption date;

(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

(1) the Issuers have received a ruling from, or a ruling has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service; or

(2) since the Initial Issuance Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness or other borrowing of funds or the grant of Liens securing such Indebtedness or other borrowing, all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be applied to such deposit pursuant to this Section 8.04);

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture or any other Note Document) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(f) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders over the other creditors of the Issuers or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Issuers or others; and

(g) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 or Section 8.08 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or Section 8.08 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this ARTICLE 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the written request of the Issuers any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 or Section 8.08 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment banking, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, as the case may be.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers.

Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by an Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, or interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their written request or (if then held by an Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money or non-callable Government Securities, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuers.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ obligations under the Note Documents shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof; provided, however, that, if an Issuer makes any payment of principal of, interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities deposited with or held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

Section 8.08 Discharge.

This Indenture and the other Note Documents shall be satisfied and discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except for (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in clause (b) of this Section 8.08, and as more fully set forth in such clause (b), payments in respect of the principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Section 2.03, Section 2.04, Section 2.07, Section 2.09 and Section 4.02 hereof and the Appendix and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith),

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and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to all the Notes, when:

(1) either:

(a) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the sending of a notice of redemption or otherwise, and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, accrued interest, premium, if any, and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of fixed maturity or redemption;

(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or will occur as a result of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness or other borrowing of funds or the grant of Liens securing such Indebtedness or other borrowing, all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture or any other Note Document) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(3) the Issuers and the Guarantors have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by them under this Indenture;

(4) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at fixed maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be; and

(5) the Issuers have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture (“Discharge”) have been satisfied.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (if applicable) may amend or supplement the Note Documents without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

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(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(c) to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of Notes pursuant to ARTICLE 5 or ARTICLE 10 hereof, as applicable;

(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Note Documents of any such Holder, provided that any change to conform the Note Documents to the Description of Notes shall not be deemed to adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

(e) to secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.12 or otherwise;

(f) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

(g) to add any additional Guarantor or Collateral with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee or the release of any Liens in accordance with this Indenture or the other Note Documents, as applicable;

(h) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(i) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or a successor Collateral Trustee;

(j) to conform the text of the Note Documents to any provision described in the Description of Notes;

(k) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the Note Documents;

(l) to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral in accordance with the Note Documents;

(m) with respect to the Note Documents, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement; and

(n) to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Lien with respect to or securing the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees when such release, termination or discharge is provided for in accordance with the Note Documents.

In addition, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement may be amended in accordance with their terms and without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee

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with the consent of the parties thereto or otherwise in accordance with their terms, including to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent thereof or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding, in each case to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents. The Intercreditor Agreement also provides that in certain circumstances the Security Documents may be amended automatically without the consent of Holders of Notes, the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee in connection with any amendments to corresponding security documents creating Priority Liens.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

Except as provided above in Section 9.01 and below in this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (if applicable) may amend or supplement the Note Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Note Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, tender offer or exchange offer for Notes). However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) reduce the percentage of principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Notes (other than the provisions relating to the covenants in Section 3.09, Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 hereof);

(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes (except a rescission of

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acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(e) make any Note payable in currency other than that stated in the Notes;

(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or Events of Default or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes (except as permitted in clause (g) below);

(g) waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Section 3.09, Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 hereof);

(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(i) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

In addition, the consent of Holders representing at least 66.67% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes will be required to release the Liens for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes on all or substantially all of the Collateral, other than in accordance with the Note Documents.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by Board Resolutions authorizing their execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture, unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver.

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

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A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder given in connection with a purchase, tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes shall not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and, except as provided in the second succeeding paragraph, thereafter binds every Holder.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the second to last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date except to the extent that the requisite number of consents to the amendment, supplement or waiver have been obtained within such 90-day period or as set forth in the next paragraph of this Section 9.04.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (i) of Section 9.02, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers, in exchange for all Notes, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this ARTICLE 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If any such amendment or supplement does adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee, the Trustee may, but need not, sign such amended or supplemented Indenture. In executing any amended or supplemental

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indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

Section 9.07 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

Without limiting the generality of this Section, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, (i) a Holder, including a Depository or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Note, may give, make or take, by an agent or agents duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders, and a Depository or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Note may duly appoint in writing as its agent or agents members of, or participants in, such Depository holding interests in such Global Note in the records of such Depository; and (ii) with respect to any Global Note the Depository for which is The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), any consent or other action given, made or taken by an “agent member” of DTC by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other customary procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, DTC shall be deemed to constitute the “Act” of the Holder of such Global Note, and such Act shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Company and the Trustee upon the delivery by DTC of an “agent’s message” or other notice of such consent or other action having been so given, made or taken in accordance with the customary procedures of DTC.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a Person acting in a capacity other than such Person’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the authority of the Person executing the same. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

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(d) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give, make or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so, or duly appoint in writing any Person or Persons as its agent or agents to do so, with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES OF NOTES

Section 10.01 Subsidiary Guarantees.

Subject to this ARTICLE 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees, on a senior secured second lien basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes held thereby and the Obligations of the Issuers hereunder and thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, and (to the extent permitted by law) interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee under the Indenture or the Notes will be promptly paid in full and performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders or Trustee to accelerate the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Issuers.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against an Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of an Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against an Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to an Issuer, the Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee or other similar official acting in relation to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid by an Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full

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force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of the Obligations guaranteed hereby.

Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in ARTICLE 6 hereof for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in ARTICLE 6 hereof, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

Section 10.02 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

(a) No Guarantor shall sell or otherwise dispose of, in one or more related transactions, all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person (other than the Company or another Guarantor), unless, (i) either (1)(x) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or a Guarantor) unconditionally assumes, pursuant to agreements or instruments substantially in the form of Annex A hereto or in the forms specified in the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents or as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Notes, this Indenture, its Subsidiary Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents to which it is a party on terms set forth therein and (y) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or a Guarantor) shall take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause any property or assets that constitute Collateral owned by or transferred to such Person to continue to constitute Collateral and to be subject to the Parity Liens in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents; or (2) such transaction or series of related transactions does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10, and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Default or Event of Default exists.

(b) In the case of any such consolidation or merger and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, of the Subsidiary Guarantee of, and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants of this Indenture to be performed by, the applicable Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for such Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

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Section 10.03 Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees.

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released: (1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate Section 4.10; (2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate Section 4.10 and such Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such disposition; (3) if such Guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary and the Company designates such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.18 of this Indenture; (4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or Discharge in accordance with ARTICLE 8; (5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing; (6) at such time as such Guarantor ceases both (x) to guarantee any other Indebtedness of either of the Issuers and any Indebtedness of any other Guarantor (except as a result of payment under any such other guarantee) and (y) to be an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility; or (7) upon such Guarantor consolidating with, merging into or transferring all of its properties or assets to the Company or another Guarantor, and as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction such Guarantor dissolving or otherwise ceasing to exist.

Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (1) – (7) has occurred, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this ARTICLE 10.

Section 10.04 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Section 10.05 “Trustee” to Include Paying Agent.

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this ARTICLE 10 shall in each case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this ARTICLE 10 in place of the Trustee.

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ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA § 318(c), such TIA-imposed duties shall control. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the TIA which is required to be a part of and govern this Indenture, such required provision of the TIA shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the TIA shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or shall be excluded, as the case may be.

Section 11.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by an Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the other parties hereto is duly given if in writing (in the English language) and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to their respective addresses:

If to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors:

Linn Energy, LLC

000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000

Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Xxxxx Xxxxx L.L.P.

Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxxxxxx

Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000

Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx

Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000

If to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association

Corporate Trust Services

0000 Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000

Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000

Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx

Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000

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An Issuer, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the other parties hereto, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if sent by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, in each case to the address shown above.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. All notices and communications to a Holder shall be deemed to have been duly given: five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, in each case to the address of the Holder shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If either of the Issuers mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Note, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depository for such Note (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

Section 11.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

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Section 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by an Issuer to the Trustee to take any action or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, such Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant has been satisfied; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of, or representation by, counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

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Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 11.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders.

No past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under any Note Documents for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 11.08 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 11.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 11.10 Successors.

All agreements of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 11.11 Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 11.12 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

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Section 11.13 Counterparts.

This Indenture may be signed in counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 11.14 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Holders of Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 11.15 Language of Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

ARTICLE 12

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 12.01 Security Interest.

(a) The due and punctual payment of the Obligations on the Notes and the Obligations of the Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guarantees, when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest (to the extent permitted by law), on the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and performance and payment of all other obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee and/or the Collateral Trustee under the Note Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder (collectively, the “Notes Obligations”), are secured, as provided in the Security Documents. The Company and each of the Guarantors consent and agree to be bound by the terms of the Security Documents to which they are parties, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and agree to perform their obligations thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree that the Collateral Trustee shall hold the Collateral on behalf of and for the benefit of all of the Holders and the other holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

(b) Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof and of the Subsidiary Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and amendments to the Security Documents) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and authorizes and appoints U.S. Bank National Association as the Trustee and as the Collateral Trustee. The Trustee hereby authorizes and appoints U.S. Bank National Association as Collateral Trustee and each Holder of Notes and the Trustee direct the Collateral Trustee to enter into the Security Documents

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(including any amendments thereto contemplated by Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement and any security documents to secure additional Parity Lien Debt in accordance with Section 5.3 of the Collateral Trust Agreement, all as more particularly described in the Collateral Trust Agreement) and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, including, without limitation, the limitations on duties of the Collateral Trustee provided in Section 5.12 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and each Holder of Notes, by accepting the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees of the Guarantors, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Security Documents, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, for the benefit of all the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee, and the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents and actions that may be taken thereunder.

Section 12.02 Post-Initial Issuance Date Collateral Requirements.

(a) Within 90 days of the Initial Issuance Date, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, (i) execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, such Mortgages, together with satisfactory evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion) of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement), against the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Guarantors that are subject to Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations on the Initial Issuance Date and (ii) on the date that each such Mortgage is so filed or recorded, cause its counsel for the jurisdiction in which the relevant Oil and Gas Properties are located to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a favorable legal opinion with respect thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee.

(b) Any Security Documents entered into after the Initial Issuance Date shall be substantially in the form of the corresponding security document securing the Priority Liens Obligations, or to the extent there is no such corresponding security document, the corresponding security documents securing the Priority Lien Obligations in place on the Initial Issuance Date, in each case, with such changes as are reasonably necessary to reflect the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and with such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, all as certified to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate of the Company.

Section 12.03 Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property.

(a) The Company and each of the Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Trustee from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit

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of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected second-priority Liens upon the Collateral (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Liens) (including any acquired Property or other Property required by any Parity Lien Document to become Collateral after the Initial Issuance Date), in each case, as contemplated by, and, to the extent required to be perfected, with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents, and in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale of assets of the Company or any Guarantor, the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into the Company or any Guarantor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and the Company or such Guarantor shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Parity Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Parity Lien Documents.

(b) Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Documents, instruments, certificates, financing statements, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided, that no such Security Document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Company and the Guarantors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the Initial Issuance Date, including pursuant to Section 12.02) by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with the issuance of the Notes on or about the Initial Issuance Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or the Security Documents, and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to take any action to perfect a security interest in any Collateral other than (i) to file financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created under the Security Documents and (ii) recording and filings of Mortgages, as described in Section 12.02(a).

(c) From and after the Initial Issuance Date, if the Company or any Guarantor acquires any Property that constitutes collateral for the Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, if and to the extent that any Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document, as applicable, requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, timely (but not in any event no later than the date that is 30 Business Days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Documents or Junior Lien Documents, as applicable), to the extent permitted by the Parity Lien Documents and applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Documents (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary in the Collateral Trustee’s reasonable discretion to grant the Collateral Trustee a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of

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the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders and holders of any other Parity Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents, if the Company or any Guarantor creates any additional Lien upon any Property that would constitute Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing Lien on Collateral, in each case for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Debt or the holders of Junior Lien Debt, after the Initial Issuance Date, the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, must, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within 30 Business Days after such Lien is granted or other action taken, grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien upon such property or asset, or take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Holders and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Priority Lien Representative or Junior Lien Agent, as applicable, in each case as security for the Notes Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Section 12.03(c) shall not be required.

(d) At no time will the Collateral include any of the following, whether or not subject to a Priority Lien generally in favor of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations (together, the “Excluded Assets”):

(i) any lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder if and only for so long as the grant of a Lien under the Security Documents is prohibited by any law, rule or regulation or will constitute or result in a breach, termination or default, or requires any governmental consent not obtained, under any such lease, license, contract, property right or agreement (other than to the extent that any such applicable law, rule, regulation or term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law or principles of equity); provided that such lease, license, contract, property right or agreement will be an Excluded Asset only to the extent and for so long as the consequences specified above will result and will cease to be an Excluded Asset and will become subject to the Lien granted under the Security Documents, immediately and automatically, at such time as such consequences will no longer result;

(ii) any Capital Stock issued by any first tier Foreign Subsidiaries directly owned by the Company or any Guarantor in excess of 65% of the voting Capital Stock issued by such first tier Foreign Subsidiaries and any Capital Stock issued by any Foreign Subsidiaries other than first tier Foreign Subsidiaries;

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(iii) property and assets owned by the Company or any Guarantor that are the subject of Permitted Liens described in clause (6) of the definition thereof;

(iv) properties or assets of the Company or any Guarantor that is or may be provided to certain bank product and account providers or issuers of letters of credit and certain counterparties in respect of Hedging Contracts pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents rather than generally to the holders of Priority Lien Obligations or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations as a whole; and

(v) other property or assets owned by the Company or any Guarantor that are not required to be subject to a Lien securing the Priority Lien Obligations pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents;

provided, that “Excluded Assets” will not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Assets (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Assets).

(e) The Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee semi-annually on or before April 1 and October 1 in each calendar year, beginning April 1, 2016, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that, as of the date of such certificate, the Collateral includes Oil and Gas Properties that include not less than 80% of the total value attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Guarantors (or such greater amount as then required under the Linn Credit Agreement), as evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report, after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of such Reserve Report (the “Minimum Collateral Requirement”). For all purposes of the Note Documents, any valuation of the Minimum Collateral Requirement made at any time when the Linn Credit Agreement is outstanding shall be made in the same manner as similar valuations under the Linn Credit Agreement. In the event that the Minimum Collateral Requirement is not satisfied, then the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, within sixty (60) days of delivery of the certificate required under this Section 12.03(e), execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee: (i) such executed Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as may be necessary to cause the Minimum Collateral Requirement to be satisfied, (ii) satisfactory evidence of the completion of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages, amendments or supplements in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) and (iii) local counsel opinion or opinions (each, subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Liens) with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties that are subject to the applicable Mortgage; provided that, to the extent Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent; provided, further that, to the extent that, immediately after giving effect to the applicable Mortgages or amendments or

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supplements to prior Mortgages, the value attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties that constitute Collateral of the Company and the Guarantors in the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages represent less than 5% of the total value attributable the total value attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Guarantors, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in connection with corresponding mortgages securing the Priority Lien Obligations.

(f) The Company will deliver to the Trustee copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents.

Section 12.04 Intercreditor Agreement. This ARTICLE 12 and the provisions of each other Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Holder to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Holders as Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In addition, each Holder authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Linn Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 12.05 Collateral Trust Agreement. This ARTICLE 12 and the provisions of each Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms therewith. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and (b) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Holders and each other holder of Parity Lien Obligations to enter into the Collateral Trust Agreement as Collateral Trustee on behalf of such holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

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Section 12.06 Release of Liens in Respect of Notes. The Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under this Indenture or any other Notes Obligations, and the right of the Holders to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

(a) upon Discharge in accordance with ARTICLE 8 hereof;

(b) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with ARTICLE 8 hereof;

(c) upon payment in full in cash and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all other Notes Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture and the other Note Documents at the time the Notes are paid in full in cash and discharged (other than contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made);

(d) as to any Collateral of the Company or a Guarantor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that does not violate Section 4.10 (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Asset Sale as provided in such provision) and is permitted by all of the other Note Documents, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is subject to Section 5.01;

(e) in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of aggregate principal amount of Notes in accordance with Section 9.02 hereof;

(f) with respect to the assets of any Guarantor, at the time that such Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in accordance with Section 10.03; or

(g) if and to the extent required by Section 4.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

In addition, the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral will be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

Section 12.07 Collateral Trustee.

(a) The Collateral Trustee will hold (directly or through co-trustees or agents) and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will be entitled to enforce all Liens on the Collateral created by the Security Documents.

(b) Except as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement or as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated:

(i) to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any Person;

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(ii) to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any Lien; or

(iii) to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the Security Documents, the Liens created thereby or the Collateral.

Section 12.08 Insurance. Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the Collateral Trustee information as to their property and liability insurance carriers. Within 60 days of making any change in coverage or carrier with respect to any such policy, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Collateral Trustee to be named as an additional insured on all liability insurance policies of the Company and the Guarantors that insure the Collateral, and the Collateral Trustee to be named as loss payee on all property and casualty insurance policies of the Company and the Guarantors that insure the Collateral.

[Signatures on following pages]

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SIGNATURES

Issuers

LINN ENERGY, LLC
LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.

By:		/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:		Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

GUARANTORS LINN ENERGY HOLDINGS, LLC LINN EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION MICHIGAN LLC LINN MIDSTREAM, LLC (formerly Linn Gas Marketing, LLC) LINN MIDWEST ENERGY LLC LINN OPERATING, INC. MID-CONTINENT I, LLC MID-CONTINENT II, LLC MID-CONTINENT HOLDINGS I, LLC MID-CONTINENT HOLDINGS II, LLC

By:		/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:		Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

LINN EXPLORATION MIDCONTINENT, LLC

By:		Mid-Continent Holdings II, LLC, its sole member, as Member/Manager

By:		/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:		Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Indenture


TRUSTEE

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE

By:		/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:		Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title:		Vice President

Signature Page to Indenture

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

PROVISIONS RELATING TO NOTES

1.	Definitions

1.1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depository institution hereinafter appointed by the Company.

“Exchange Notes” means (1) the 12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer, if any, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.

“Initial Notes” means (1) $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 issued pursuant to this Indenture on the Initial Issuance Date, (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (3) any 12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 issued pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(ii) hereof in exchange for any Initial Notes.

“Initial Purchasers” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, the Persons purchasing such Initial Notes and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Notes” means the Initial Notes (including any Additional Notes, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act) and the Exchange Notes (including any Additional Notes, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act), treated as a single class.

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Purchase Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, the Exchange Agreements dated November 13, 2015 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and each of the respective Initial Purchasers party thereto, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Issuers and the Persons purchasing or underwriting such Additional Notes.

“Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Issuers, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Notes, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, the Registration Rights Agreements dated as of November 20, 2015 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Initial Notes and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Issuers and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related purchase agreement, in each case, as amended from time to time.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

“Transfer Restricted Securities” means Initial Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) hereof.

“Unrestricted Initial Notes” means any Initial Notes that are not Transfer Restricted Securities.

1.2 Other Definitions.


Term		Defined in Section:
“Agent Members”		2.1(b)
“Certificated Notes”		2.1(c)
“Distribution Compliance Period”		2.1(b)
“Global Note”		2.1(a)
“Regulation S”		2.1(a)
“Regulation S Notes”		2.1(a)
“Resale Restriction Termination Date”		2.3(b)
“Restricted Global Note”		2.1(a)
“Restricted Period”		2.1(b)
“Rule 144A”		2.1(a)
“Rule 144A Notes”		2.1(a)

2.1 The Notes.

(a) Form and Dating. Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”) under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) or in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”) under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”), in each case as provided in a Purchase Agreement, shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global Notes legend, Restricted Notes legend and, if applicable, the OID Legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, unless and until becoming an Unrestricted Initial Note in accordance with

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Section 2.3(b)(ii) below, a “Restricted Global Note”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the holders of the Initial Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository (or with such other custodian as the Depository may direct), and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Initial Notes sold in reliance on either Rule 144A or Regulation S may be held through Euroclear or Clearstream, as indirect participants in the Depository. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Exchange Notes shall be issued in global form (with the global Notes legend and, if applicable, the OID Legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto) or in certificated form as provided in Section 2.4 of this Appendix. Exchange Notes issued in global form, Unrestricted Initial Notes issued in global form and Restricted Global Notes are sometimes referred to in this Appendix as “Global Notes.”

(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

The Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository. If such Global Notes are Restricted Global Notes, then separate Global Notes shall be issued to represent Rule 144A Notes and Regulation S Notes so long as required by law or the Depository.

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the custodian of the Depository or under such Global Note, and the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

Prior to the expiration of the period through and including the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of any Initial Notes and the closing of such offering (such period, the “Restricted Period”), beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Notes only if (i) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the Notes pursuant to Rule 144A, (ii) the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that the Notes are being transferred to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A and is purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (iii) the transfer is in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. After the expiration of the Restricted Period, such certification requirements shall not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes.

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Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).

(c) Certificated Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or Section 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in registered, certificated form (“Certificated Notes”). Certificated Notes shall not be exchangeable for beneficial interests in Global Notes.

2.2 Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Initial Issuance Date, an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000 12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020, (2) at any time or from time to time, any Additional Notes for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Issuers pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Indenture and (3) at any time or from time to time, Exchange Notes for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Notes, in each case upon a written order of the Issuers. Such order (x) shall specify (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which such Notes are to be authenticated and to whom such Notes shall be registered and delivered; (ii) whether or not such Notes constitute Initial Notes or Exchange Notes; (iii) whether or not such Notes constitute Additional Notes; and (iv) if such Notes constitute Additional Notes, the issue price, the issue date (and the corresponding date from which interest shall accrue thereon and the first interest payment date therefor) and the CUSIP number and any corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes and whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Initial Notes as set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit 2 hereto and (y) in the case of any issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12 of the Indenture. The Trustee shall also authenticate and deliver Notes at the times and in the manner specified in Section 2.3 and Section 2.4 hereof and in Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.09, Section 3.06, Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 9.05 of the Indenture.

2.3 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. (i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

App. - 4

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix, a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iii) In the event that a Restricted Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(b) Legend.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER SUCH NOTES NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF ANY NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING SUCH NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE) OR THE LAST DAY ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WERE THE OWNERS OF SUCH NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE) (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”), OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO AN ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED

App. - 5

INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM SUCH NOTE IS TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) THAT IS (A) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (2)(D) PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 40 DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (B) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (2)(F) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES IN CLAUSES (i)(A) OR (B), TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED AS TO ANY NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY UPON DELIVERY TO THE TRUSTEE BY THE COMPANY OR THE HOLDER THEREOF OF A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR THE REMOVAL HEREOF, IN ANY CASE AT ANY TIME AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

(ii) The Company, acting in its discretion, may remove the legend set forth in paragraph (i) above from any Transfer Restricted Security at any time on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Security. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company may effect such removal by issuing and delivering, in exchange for such Transfer Restricted Security, an Unrestricted Initial Note without such legend, registered to the same Holder and in an equal principal amount, and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written order of the Company stating that the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Security has occurred and requesting the authentication and delivery of an Unrestricted Initial Note in exchange therefor (which order shall not be required to be accompanied by any Opinion of Counsel or any other document) given at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed date of exchange specified therein (which shall be no earlier than such Resale Restriction Termination Date), the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Unrestricted Initial Note to the Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or hold such Note as Note Custodian for the Depository and shall request the Depository to, or, if the Trustee is Note Custodian of such Transfer Restricted Security, shall itself, surrender such Transfer Restricted Security in exchange for such Unrestricted Initial Note without such legend and thereupon cancel such Transfer Restricted Security so surrendered, all as directed in such order. For purposes of determining whether the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred with respect to any Notes evidenced by a

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Transfer Restricted Security or delivering any order pursuant to this Section 2.3(b)(ii) with respect to such Notes, (i) only those Notes which a Principal Officer of the Company actually knows (after reasonable inquiry) to be or to have been owned by an Affiliate of the Company shall be deemed to be or to have been, respectively, owned by an Affiliate of the Company; and (ii) “Principal Officer” means the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

For purposes of this Section 2.3(b)(ii), all provisions relating to the removal of the legend set forth in paragraph (i) above shall relate, if the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred only with respect to a portion of the Notes evidenced by a Transfer Restricted Security, to such portion of the Notes so evidenced as to which the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred.

Each holder of any Note evidenced by any Restricted Global Note, by its acceptance thereof, (A) authorizes and consents to, (B) appoints the Company as its agent for the sole purpose of delivering such electronic messages, executing and delivering such instruments and taking such other actions, on such holder’s behalf, as the Depository or the Trustee may require to effect, and (C) upon the request of the Company, agrees to deliver such electronic messages, execute and deliver such instruments and take such other actions as the Depository or the Trustee may require, or as shall otherwise be necessary to effect, the removal of the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) (including by means of the exchange of all or the portion of such Restricted Global Note evidencing such Note for a certificate evidencing such Note that does not bear such legend) at any time after the Resale Restriction Termination Date.

(iii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Restricted Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated Note that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).

(iv) After a transfer of any Initial Notes pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Note will cease to apply, the requirement that any such Initial Note issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Note or an Initial Note in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Notes upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Initial Note or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Note, as applicable.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Exchange Notes in certificated or global form will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.

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(vi) Each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof), unless not required in the Company’s reasonable determination, shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (the “OID Legend”).

SOLELY FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, THIS NOTE MAY BE TREATED AS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”). UPON REQUEST, THE COMPANY WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO A HOLDER OF THIS NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND ISSUE DATE OF THIS NOTE, (2) THE AMOUNT OF OID, (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS NOTE, AND (4) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE BY U.S. TREASURY REGULATIONS. HOLDERS SHOULD CONTACT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 000 XXXXXX, XXXXX 0000, XXXXXXX, XXXXX 00000.

(c) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

(d) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon any exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.06, Section 4.10, Section 4.15 and Section 9.05 of the Indenture).

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any,

App. - 8

on, such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange. Accordingly, for purposes of clause (3) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 of this Indenture, “the Notes issued and sold on the Initial Issuance Date” shall be deemed to refer to and include any Notes issued in exchange for, or upon registration of transfer of, or in lieu of, any such Notes (or any predecessor Notes thereof) pursuant to Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 hereof or Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.09, Section 3.06, Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 9.05 of this Indenture.

(e) No Obligation of the Trustee. (i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of optional redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under Applicable Law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

2.4 Certificated Notes.

(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Note or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and in either case a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 90 days, (ii) the Issuers, at their option, but subject to DTC’s

App. - 9

requirements, notify the Trustee in writing that they elect to cause the issuance of the Certificated Notes, or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and DTC notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Notes for Certificated Notes.

(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository or the Notes Custodian to the Trustee located at its Corporate Trust Office to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any certificated Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b), bear the Restricted Notes legend and, if applicable, the OID Legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.4(a), the Issuers shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.

App. - 10

EXHIBIT 1 TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO AN ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[Restricted Notes Legend]

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING SUCH NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) OR THE LAST DAY ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WERE THE OWNERS OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”), OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO AN ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE

Exhibit 1 to App. - 1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) THAT IS (A) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (2)(D) PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 40 DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (B) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (2)(F) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE, TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES IN CLAUSES (i)(A) OR (B), TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON DELIVERY TO THE TRUSTEE BY THE COMPANY OR THE HOLDER THEREOF OF A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR THE REMOVAL HEREOF, IN ANY CASE AT ANY TIME AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[OID Legend]

Exhibit 1 to App. - 2

LINN ENERGY, LLC

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.


No. [ ]		Principal Amount $[ ]
		CUSIP No. [ ]
		ISIN No. [ ]

12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020

Linn Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Linn Energy Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto]¹ on December 15, 2020; provided, however, that if:

(i) on February 12, 2019, the aggregate principal outstanding amount of 6.50% senior notes due May 2019 issued by the Issuers which shall not have been Redeemed exceeds $250.0 million (or, if earlier, 92 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date), such amount will be paid on February 13, 2019 (or, if earlier, 91 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date),

(ii) on August 1, 2019 the aggregate principal outstanding amount of 6.25% senior notes due November 2019 issued by the Issuers which shall not have been Redeemed exceeds $250.0 million (or, if earlier, 92 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date), such amount will be paid on August 2, 2019 (or, if earlier, 91 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date),

(iii) on January 14, 2020, the aggregate principal outstanding amount of 8.625% senior notes due April 2020 issued by the Issuers which shall not have been Redeemed exceeds $250.0 million (or, if earlier, 92 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date), such amount will be paid on January 15, 2020 (or, if earlier, 91 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date),

(iv) on November 1, 2020, the aggregate principal outstanding amount of 7.75% senior notes due February 2021 issued by the Issuers which shall not have been Redeemed exceeds $250.0 million (or, if earlier, 92 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date), such amount will be paid on November 2, 2020 (or, if earlier, 91 days prior to the “springing maturity date” of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date) and

(v) at any time during the term of the Notes any other Indebtedness that is unsecured with an aggregate principal amount outstanding which shall not have been Redeemed on the date 92

¹	If this is a Global note, add this provision.

Exhibit 1 to App. - 3

days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Indebtedness that is unsecured exceeds $250.0 million (or, if earlier, 92 days prior to the “springing maturity” date of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date), such amount will be paid on the date that is 91 days prior the Stated Maturity of such Indebtedness that is unsecured (or, if earlier, 91 days prior to the “springing maturity” date of any such Junior Lien Debt).

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15

Record Dates: June 1 and December 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.


LINN ENERGY, LLC

By:
Name:
Title:

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.

By:
Name:
Title:

Exhibit 1 to App. - 4


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:
		Authorized Signatory

Dated:

Exhibit 1 to App. - 5

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL NOTE]

12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Linn Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Linn Energy Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 12.00% per annum from November 20, 2015 until maturity and shall pay Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuers will pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing June 15, 2016. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the interest payment to be made on such Interest Payment Date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, and no additional interest will accrue solely as a result of such delayed payment. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date, except in the case of the original issuance of Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. The Issuers shall pay (i) interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes and (ii) interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, due at maturity. The Notes will be payable as to principal, interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to any amounts due on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this Note is a Global Note, payment may be made pursuant to the Applicable

Exhibit 1 to App. - 6

Procedures of the Depository as permitted in the Indenture. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

4. Indenture. The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of November 20, 2015 (“Indenture”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. The Notes are secured senior obligations of the Issuers, and the aggregate principal amount of the Notes is unlimited. The Notes are entitled to the benefits of the Security Documents, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, all as more fully set forth in the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Paragraph 5, the Issuers shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to December 15, 2018. On or after December 15, 2018, the Issuers shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, upon prior notice as set forth in Paragraph 6, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:


YEAR		PERCENTAGE
2018		112.000%
2019 and thereafter		106.000%

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to December 15, 2018, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 112.00% of the principal amount thereof, with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date); provided that, with respect to each such redemption, (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (ii) such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of the related Equity Offering.

Exhibit 1 to App. - 7

(c) Prior to December 15, 2018, the Issuers may redeem on any one or more occasions all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (1) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (2) the Make Whole Premium at the redemption date, plus (3) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

6. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge) before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. If sent in the manner provided for in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, the notice of optional redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest and Additional Interest, if any, cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. The notice of redemption with respect to a redemption described in paragraph 5(c) above need not set forth the Make Whole Premium but only the manner of calculation thereof.

7. Mandatory Redemption.

Except as set forth in Paragraph 8 below, neither of the Issuers shall be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

8. Repurchase at Option of Holder.

(a) Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $1,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of settlement (the “Change of Control Settlement Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. Within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company shall send a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction that constitutes the Change of Control and setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by Section 4.15 of the Indenture.

(b) On the 366th day after an Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $35.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”) pursuant to

Exhibit 1 to App. - 8

Section 3.09 of the Indenture, and to all holders of any Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, containing provisions similar to those set forth in Section 4.10 of the Indenture, to purchase, on a pro rata basis, the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, a thereon to the date of settlement, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the date of settlement, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds allocated for the purchase of the Notes, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased) on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Parity Lien Debt. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.

9. Guarantees. The payment by the Issuers of the principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior secured second lien basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

10. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes due on transfer or exchange. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, they need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

11. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

12. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Note Documents may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Note Documents may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Note Documents may be amended or supplemented (1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, (2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, (3) to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes pursuant to ARTICLE 5 or

Exhibit 1 to App. - 9

ARTICLE 10 of the Indenture, as applicable, (4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Note Documents of any such Holder, provided that any change to conform the Indenture to the Description of Notes shall not be deemed to adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder, (5) to secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to Section 4.12 of the Indenture or otherwise, (6) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, (7) to add any additional Guarantor or Collateral with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee or the release of any Liens, in each case as provided in the Indenture or the other Note Documents, as applicable, (8) to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, (9) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee or a successor Collateral Trustee, (10) to conform the text of the Note Documents to any provision described in the Description of Notes, (11) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the Note Documents; (12) to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral in accordance with the Note Documents; (13) with respect to the Note Documents, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement; and (14) to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Lien with respect to or securing the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees when such release, termination or discharge is provided for in accordance with the Note Documents.

13. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when due at their Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon acceleration or otherwise; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with Section 5.01 of the Indenture or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.09, Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company for 180 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with Section 4.03 of the Indenture; (v) failure by the Company for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.11, Section 4.12, Section 4.13 and Section 4.17 of the Indenture, (vi) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other agreements in the Note Documents; (vii) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the Initial Issuance Date, if such default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of any grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”) or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days

Exhibit 1 to App. - 10

from the expiration of the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree; (viii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 consecutive days; (ix)(a) any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or (b) any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, except in each case, by reason of the release of such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture; (x) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company as specified in Section 6.01(j) or Section 6.01(k) of the Indenture; and (xi) the occurrence of the following: (a) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Note Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (xi)(a) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Note Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Note Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Parity Lien; provided further that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; (b) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Note Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; and (c) the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Parity Liens. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of an Event of Default arising from such events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in Section 6.01(j) or Section 6.01(k) of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes or any other Note Document except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power conferred on it. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, interest, premium, or Additional Interest, if any) if a committee of Responsible Officers in good faith

Exhibit 1 to App. - 11

determines that withholding notice is in their interests. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, that have become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes. The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuers are required upon any of their respective Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

14. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

15. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under any Note Documents, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

16. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

17. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

18. Removal of Restricted Notes Legend. Each holder of any Note evidenced by any Restricted Global Note, by its acceptance thereof, (A) authorizes and consents to, (B) appoints the Company as its agent for the sole purpose of delivering such electronic messages, executing and delivering such instruments and taking such other actions, on such holder’s behalf, as the Depository or the Trustee may require to effect, and (C) upon the request of the Company, agrees to deliver such electronic messages, execute and deliver such instruments and take such other actions as the Depository or the Trustee may require, or as shall otherwise be necessary to effect, the removal of the Restricted Notes Legend set forth on the face of such Note (including by means of the exchange of all or the portion of such Restricted Global Note evidencing such Note for a certificate evidencing such Note that does not bear such Restricted Notes Legend) at any time after the Resale Restriction Termination Date.

Exhibit 1 to App. - 12

19. Additional Rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of the Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreements dated as of November 20, 2015, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and applicable Initial Purchasers party thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

20. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

21. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

22. Successors. In the event a successor assumes all the obligations of an Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the terms thereof, such Issuer will be released from all such obligations.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture or any Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

Linn Energy, LLC

000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000

Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000

Attention: Investor Relations

Exhibit 1 to App. - 13

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)


and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:	Your signature:
		Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

Signature Guarantee:

(Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to one year after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (or, in the case of Regulation S Notes, prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with their terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW


(1)	¨	to an Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof; or

(2)	¨	pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

Exhibit 1 to App. - 14


(3)	¨	to a person who the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)	¨	pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(5)	¨	pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(6)	¨	pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, (other than Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933).

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (6) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

Signature

Exhibit 1 to App. - 15

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers and any Guarantors as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.


Dated:
				Notice: To be executed by an executive officer

Exhibit 1 to App. - 16

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

¨ Section 4.10 ¨ Section 4.15

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denomination of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) you elect to have purchased: $


Date:	Your Signature
		(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)


		Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.:


Signature Guarantee:
		(signature must be guaranteed)

Exhibit 1 to App. - 17

[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTE]

SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:


Date	Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note	Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note	Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase	Signature of authorized officer of Trustee or Notes Custodian

Exhibit 1 to App. - 18

EXHIBIT 2 TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE]

*/ If the Note is to be issued in global form, add the Global Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix and the attachment from such Exhibit 1 captioned “[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE.”

*/ To the extent applicable, add the OID Legend from Exhibit 1 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix.

All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Initial Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 1

[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE]

LINN ENERGY, LLC

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.


No. [ ]		Principal Amount $[ ]
		CUSIP No. [ ]
		ISIN No. [ ]

12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020

Linn Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Linn Energy Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars on [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto]¹ on December 15, 2020; provided, however, that if:

¹	If this is a Global note, add this provision.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 2

(v) at any time during the term of the Notes any other Indebtedness that is unsecured with an aggregate principal amount outstanding which shall not have been Redeemed on the date 92 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Indebtedness that is unsecured exceeds $250.0 million (or, if earlier, 92 days prior to the “springing maturity” date of any outstanding Junior Lien Debt which contains a “springing maturity” date), such amount will be paid on the date that is 91 days prior the Stated Maturity of such Indebtedness that is unsecured (or, if earlier, 91 days prior to the “springing maturity” date of any such Junior Lien Debt).

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15

Record Dates: June 1 and December 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.


LINN ENERGY, LLC

By:
Name:
Title:

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.

By:
Name:
Title:

Exhibit 2 to App. - 3


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the
Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:
		Authorized Signatory

Dated:

Exhibit 2 to App. - 4

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE NOTE]

12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 5

5. Optional Redemption.


YEAR		PERCENTAGE
2018		112.000%
2019 and thereafter		106.000%

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to December 15, 2018, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 112.000% of the principal amount thereof, with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date); provided that, with respect to each such redemption, (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (ii) such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of the related Equity Offering.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 6

7. Mandatory Redemption.

8. Repurchase at Option of Holder.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 7

11. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 8

Exhibit 2 to App. - 9

from the expiration of the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree; (viii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 consecutive days; (ix)(a) any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or (b) any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, except in each case, by reason of the release of such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture; (x) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Company, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company as specified in Section 6.01(j) or Section 6.01(k) of the Indenture; and (xi) the occurrence of the following: (a) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Note Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (xi)(a) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Note Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Note Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Parity Lien; provided further that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; (b) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Note Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; and (c) the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Parity Liens. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of an Event of Default arising from such events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in Section 6.01(j) or Section 6.01(k) of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes or any other Note Document except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power conferred on it. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, interest, premium, or Additional Interest, if any) if a committee of Responsible Officers in good faith

Exhibit 2 to App. - 10

determines that withholding notice is in their interests. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, that have become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or interest, premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes. The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuers are required upon any of their respective Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

14. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

16. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 11

19. [Additional Rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of the Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 20, 2015, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and applicable Initial Purchasers party thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).]²

21. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture [or any Registration Rights Agreement].³ Requests may be made to:

Linn Energy, LLC

000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000

Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000

Attention: Investor Relations

²	Delete if this Note is not being issued in exchange for an Initial Note.

³	Delete if this Note is not being issued in exchange for an Initial Note.

Exhibit 2 to App. - 12

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers.

The agent may substitute another to act for him.


Date:	Your signature:
		Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

Signature Guarantee:


(Signature must be guaranteed)

Exhibit 2 to App. - 13

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

¨ Section 4.10 ¨ Section 4.15


Date:	Your Signature
		(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)


		Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.:


Signature Guarantee:
		(signature must be guaranteed)

Exhibit 2 to App. - 14

ANNEX A

LINN ENERGY, LLC

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.

and

the Guarantors named herein

12.00% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2020

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

DATED AS OF ,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

As Trustee

A - 1

This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of , (this “Supplemental Indenture”) is among Linn Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Linn Energy Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation ( “Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), [ ] (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), which is a subsidiary of the Company, each of the existing Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Issuers, the initial Guarantors and the Trustee entered into an Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2015 (as heretofore amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company has issued 12.00% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor (as defined in the Indenture);

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(g) of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture in order to add any additional Guarantor with respect to the Notes, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by law and by the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws (or comparable constituent documents) of the Issuers, of the Guarantors and of the Trustee necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

NOW, THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in consideration of the above premises, the Issuers, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the other Guarantors and the Trustee covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders of the Notes as follows:

Section 1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

Section 2. Relation to Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 3. Effectiveness of Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Issuers, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the other Guarantors and the Trustee.

Section 4. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees, by its execution of this Supplemental Indenture, to be bound by the provisions of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors to the extent provided for in ARTICLE 10 thereof.

A - 2

Section 5. Ratification of Obligations. Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed (mutatis mutandis) and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

Section 6. The Trustee. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto.

Section 7. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 8. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

[Signatures on following pages]

A - 3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.


ISSUERS

LINN ENERGY, LLC

By:
Name:
Title:

LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP.

By:
Name:
Title:

GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY
[ ]

By:
Name:
Title:

EXISTING GUARANTORS¹

TRUSTEE

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE

By:
Name:
Title:

¹	Insert signature blocks for each of the Guarantors existing at the time of execution of this Supplemental Indenture.

A - 4

Document Metadata

Table of Contents

LINN ENERGY, LLC LINN ENERGY FINANCE CORP. AND THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HEREOF 12.00% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2020 INDENTURE Dated as of November 20, 2015 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As Trustee

Document Metadata