SUBORDINATED GUARANTY AGREEMENT
BY
BRIGHAM EXPLORATION COMPANY
in favor of
SHELL CAPITAL INC., AS AGENT
AND EACH OF THE LENDERS
PARTY TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT
October 31, 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1 GENERAL TERMS 1
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Section 1.1 Terms Defined Above 2
Section 1.2 Certain Definitions 2
Section 1.3 Credit Agreement Definitions 2
ARTICLE 2 THE GUARANTY 3
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Section 2.1 Liabilities Guaranteed 3
Section 2.2 Nature of Guaranty 3
Section 2.3 Agent's Rights 3
Section 2.4 Guarantor's Waivers 3
Section 2.5 Maturity of Liabilities; Payment 4
Section 2.6 Agent's Expenses 4
Section 2.7 Liability 4
Section 2.8 Events and Circumstances Not Reducing Or
Discharging Guarantor's Obligations 4
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS 6
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Section 3.1 By Guarantor 6
Section 3.2 No Representation by Lenders 10
ARTICLE 4 SUBORDINATION OF INDEBTEDNESS 11
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Section 4.1 Subordination of All Guarantor Claims 11
Section 4.2 Claims in Bankruptcy 11
Section 4.3 Payments Held in Trust 11
Section 4.4 Liens Subordinate 12
Section 4.5 Guarantor's Enforcement Rights 12
ARTICLE 5 CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS 12
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Section 5.1 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 12
Financial Statements 12
Section 5.2 NEGATIVE COVENANTS 13
ARTICLE 6 MISCELLANEOUS 18
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Section 6.1 Successors and Assigns 18
Section 6.2 Notices 18
Section 6.3 Business and Financial Information 18
Section 6.4 Construction 18
Section 6.5 Invalidity 18
Section 6.6 Entire Agreement 19
SUBORDINATED GUARANTY AGREEMENT
THIS SUBORDINATED GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this "GUARANTY AGREEMENT") by
BRIGHAM EXPLORATION COMPANY (hereinafter called "GUARANTOR"), is in favor of
SHELL CAPITAL INC., as agent (the "AGENT") for the lenders (the "LENDERS") that
are or become parties to the Credit Agreement defined below, and the Lenders.
W I T N E S S E T H:
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, on even date herewith, BRIGHAM OIL & GAS, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (hereinafter called "BORROWER"), the Agent and the Lenders
have entered into that certain Subordinated Credit Agreement (as the same may be
amended from time to time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"); and
WHEREAS, Borrower has entered into that certain Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement with Bank of Montreal, as agent (the "SENIOR AGENT") and the
Lenders that are or become parties thereto (the "SENIOR LENDER") dated as of
February 17, 2000 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the "SENIOR
CREDIT AGREEMENT"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Senior Credit Agreement,
Guarantor has entered into that certain Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement
in favor of Senior Agent for the Senior Lender dated as of February 17, 2000 (as
the same may be amended from time to time, the "SENIOR GUARANTY AGREEMENT");
WHEREAS, one of the terms and conditions stated in the Credit Agreement
for the making of the loans described therein is the execution and delivery to
the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of this Guaranty Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, (i) in order to comply with the terms and conditions of
the Credit Agreement, (ii) to induce the Lenders, at any time or from time to
time, to loan monies, with or without security to or for the account of Borrower
in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, (iii) at the special
insistence and request of the Lenders, and (iv) for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL TERMS
Section 1.1 TERMS DEFINED ABOVE. As used in this Guaranty Agreement,
the terms "Borrower", "Credit Agreement", "Guarantor", "Lenders", "Senior
Agent", "Senior Credit
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Agreement", "Senior Guaranty Agreement" and "SeniorLender" shall have the
meanings indicated above.
Section 1.2 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Guaranty Agreement,
the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context
otherwise requires:
"GUARANTOR CLAIMS" shall have the meaning indicated in Section 4.1
hereof.
"GUARANTY AGREEMENT" shall mean this Guaranty Agreement, as the same
may from time to time be amended or supplemented.
"LIABILITIES" shall mean
(a) any and all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities now
or hereafter incurred by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement,
including without limitation, the unpaid fees and principal of and
interest on the Notes;
(b) payment of and performance of any and all present or
future obligations of Borrower to a Lender according to the terms of
any Hedging Agreement;
(c) any additional "Indebtedness", as defined in the Credit
Agreement,
(d) all renewals, rearrangements, increases, extensions for
any period, amendments or supplement in whole or in part of the Notes
or any documents evidencing the above.
"SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Intercreditor and
Subordination Agreement of even date herewith among the Senior Agent,
Senior Lender, Agent, Lender Guarantor, each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors and Borrower.
"SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR" shall mean a Subsidiary of the Guarantor which
is itself a "Guarantor" under the Credit Agreement.
Section 1.3 CREDIT AGREEMENT DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise defined
herein, all terms beginning with a capital letter which are defined in the
Credit Agreement shall have the same meanings herein as therein.
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ARTICLE II
THE GUARANTY
Section 2.1 LIABILITIES GUARANTEED. Guarantor hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees the prompt payment at maturity of the Liabilities.
Section 2.2 NATURE OF GUARANTY. This Guaranty Agreement is an absolute,
irrevocable, completed and continuing guaranty of payment and not a guaranty of
collection, and no notice of the Liabilities or any extension of credit already
or hereafter contracted by or extended to Borrower need be given to Guarantor.
This Guaranty Agreement may not be revoked by Guarantor and shall continue to be
effective with respect to debt under the Liabilities arising or created after
any attempted revocation by Guarantor and shall remain in full force and effect
until the Liabilities are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated,
notwithstanding that from time to time prior thereto no Liabilities may be
outstanding. Borrower and the Lenders may modify, alter, rearrange, extend for
any period and/or renew from time to time, the Liabilities, and the Lenders may
waive any Default or Events of Default without notice to the Guarantor and in
such event Guarantor will remain fully bound hereunder on the Liabilities. This
Guaranty Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case
may be, if at any time any payment of the Liabilities is rescinded or must
otherwise be returned by any of the Lenders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or
reorganization of Borrower or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been
made. This Guaranty Agreement may be enforced by the Agent and any subsequent
holder of any of the Liabilities and shall not be discharged by the assignment
or negotiation of all or part of the Liabilities. Guarantor hereby expressly
waives presentment, demand, notice of non-payment, protest and notice of protest
and dishonor, notice of Default or Event of Default, and also notice of
acceptance of this Guaranty Agreement, acceptance on the part of the Lenders
being conclusively presumed by the Lenders' request for this Guaranty Agreement
and delivery of the same to the Agent.
Section 2.3 AGENT'S RIGHTS. Guarantor authorizes the Agent, without
notice or demand and without affecting Guarantor's liability hereunder, to take
and hold security for the payment of this Guaranty Agreement and/or the
Liabilities, and exchange, enforce, waive and release any such security; and to
apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the Agent
in its discretion may determine; and to obtain a guaranty of the Liabilities
from any one or more Persons and at any time or times to enforce, waive,
rearrange, modify, limit or release any of such other Persons from their
obligations under such guaranties.
Section 2.4 GUARANTOR'S WAIVERS.
(a) GENERAL. Guarantor waives any right to require any of the Lenders
to (i) proceed against Borrower or any other person liable on the Liabilities,
(ii) enforce any of their rights against any other guarantor of the Liabilities
(iii) proceed or enforce any of their rights against or exhaust any security
given to secure the Liabilities (iv) have Borrower joined with Guarantor in any
suit arising out of this Guaranty Agreement and/or the Liabilities, or (v)
pursue any other remedy in the Lenders' powers whatsoever. The Lenders shall not
be required to mitigate damages or take any action to reduce, collect or enforce
the Liabilities. Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any
disability, lack of corporate authority or power, or other defense of Borrower
or any other guarantor of the Liabilities, and shall remain liable hereon
regardless of whether Borrower or any
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other guarantor be found not liable thereon for any reason. Whether and when to
exercise any of the remedies of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents
shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Agent, and no delay by the
Agent in enforcing any remedy, including delay in conducting a foreclosure sale,
shall be a defense to the Guarantor's liability under this Guaranty Agreement.
(b) SUBROGATION. Until the Liabilities have been paid in full, the
Guarantor waives all rights of subrogation or reimbursement against the
Borrower, whether arising by contract or operation of law (including, without
limitation, any such right arising under any federal or state bankruptcy or
insolvency laws) and waives any right to enforce any remedy which the Lenders
now have or may hereafter have against the Borrower, and waives any benefit or
any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by the Agent or
any Lender.
Section 2.5 MATURITY OF LIABILITIES; PAYMENT. Guarantor agrees that if
the maturity of any of the Liabilities is accelerated by bankruptcy or
otherwise, such maturity shall also be deemed accelerated for the purpose of
this Guaranty Agreement without demand or notice to Guarantor. Guarantor will,
forthwith upon notice from the Agent, pay to the Agent the amount due and unpaid
by Borrower and guaranteed hereby. The failure of the Agent to give this notice
shall not in any way release Guarantor hereunder.
Section 2.6 AGENT'S EXPENSES. If Guarantor fails to pay the Liabilities
after notice from the Agent of Borrower's failure to pay any Liabilities at
maturity, and if the Agent obtains the services of an attorney for collection of
amounts owing by Guarantor hereunder, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect
of any of their rights under this Guaranty Agreement, or if suit is filed to
enforce this Guaranty Agreement, or if proceedings are had in any bankruptcy,
probate, receivership or other judicial proceedings for the establishment or
collection of any amount owing by Guarantor hereunder, or if any amount owing by
Guarantor hereunder is collected through such proceedings, Guarantor agrees to
pay to the Agent the Agent's reasonable attorneys' fees.
Section 2.7 LIABILITY. It is expressly agreed that the liability of the
Guarantor for the payment of the Liabilities guaranteed hereby shall be primary
and not secondary.
Section 2.8 EVENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES NOT REDUCING OR DISCHARGING
GUARANTOR'S OBLIGATIONS. Guarantor hereby consents and agrees to each of the
following to the fullest extent permitted by law, and agrees that Guarantor's
obligations under this Guaranty Agreement shall not be released, diminished,
impaired, reduced or adversely affected by any of the following, and waives any
rights (including without limitation rights to notice) which Guarantor might
otherwise have as a result of or in connection with any of the following:
(a) MODIFICATIONS, ETC. Any renewal, extension, modification, increase,
decrease, alteration or rearrangement of all or any part of the
Liabilities, or of the Notes, or the Credit Agreement or any instrument
executed in connection therewith, or any contract or
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understanding between Borrower and any of the Lenders, or any other Person,
pertaining to the Liabilities;
(b) ADJUSTMENT, ETC. Any adjustment, indulgence, forbearance or
compromise that might be granted or given by any of the Lenders to
Borrower or Guarantor or any Person liable on the Liabilities;
(c) CONDITION OF BORROWER OR GUARANTOR. The insolvency, bankruptcy
arrangement, adjustment, composition, liquidation, disability,
dissolution, death or lack of power of Borrower or Guarantor or any
other Person at any time liable for the payment of all or part of the
Liabilities; or any dissolution of Borrower or Guarantor, or any sale,
lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of Borrower or Guarantor,
or any changes in the shareholders, partners, or members of Borrower or
Guarantor; or any reorganization of Borrower or Guarantor;
(d) INVALIDITY OF LIABILITIES. The invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability of all or any part of the Liabilities, or any document
or agreement executed in connection with the Liabilities, for any
reason whatsoever, including without limitation the fact that the
Liabilities, or any part thereof, exceed the amount permitted by law,
the act of creating the Liabilities or any part thereof is ULTRA VIRES,
the officers or representatives executing the documents or otherwise
creating the Liabilities acted in excess of their authority, the
Liabilities violate applicable usury laws, the Borrower has valid
defenses, claims or offsets (whether at law, in equity or by agreement)
which render the Liabilities wholly or partially uncollectible from
Borrower, the creation, performance or repayment of the Liabilities (or
the execution, delivery and performance of any document or instrument
representing part of the Liabilities or executed in connection with the
Liabilities, or given to secure the repayment of the Liabilities) is
illegal, uncollectible, legally impossible or unenforceable, or the
Credit Agreement or other documents or instruments pertaining to the
Liabilities have been forged or otherwise are irregular or not genuine
or authentic;
(e) RELEASE OF OBLIGORS. Any full or partial release of the liability
of Borrower on the Liabilities or any part thereof, of any
co-guarantors, or any other Person now or hereafter liable, whether
directly or indirectly, jointly, severally, or jointly and severally,
to pay, perform, guarantee or assure the payment of the Liabilities or
any part thereof, it being recognized, acknowledged and agreed by
Guarantor that Guarantor may be required to pay the Liabilities in full
without assistance or support of any other Person, and Guarantor has
not been induced to enter into this Guaranty Agreement on the basis of
a contemplation, belief, understanding or agreement that other parties
other than the Borrower will be liable to perform the Liabilities, or
the Lenders will look to other parties to perform the Liabilities.
(f) OTHER SECURITY. The taking or accepting of any other security,
collateral or guaranty, or other assurance of payment, for all or any
part of the Liabilities;
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(g) RELEASE OF COLLATERAL, ETC. Any release, surrender, exchange,
subordination, deterioration, waste, loss or impairment (including
without limitation negligent, willful, unreasonable or unjustifiable
impairment) of any collateral, property or security, at any time
existing in connection with, or assuring or securing payment of, all or
any part of the Liabilities;
(h) CARE AND DILIGENCE. The failure of the Lenders or any other Person
to exercise diligence or reasonable care in the preservation,
protection, enforcement, sale or other handling or treatment of all or
any part of such collateral, property or security;
(i) STATUS OF LIENS. The fact that any collateral, security, security
interest or lien contemplated or intended to be given, created or
granted as security for the repayment of the Liabilities shall not be
properly perfected or created, or shall prove to be unenforceable or
subordinate to any other security interest or lien, it being recognized
and agreed by Guarantor that Guarantor is not entering into this
Guaranty Agreement in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits
of, the validity, enforceability, collectibility or value of any of the
collateral for the Liabilities;
(j) PAYMENTS RESCINDED. Any payment by Borrower to the Lenders is held
to constitute a preference under the bankruptcy laws, or for any reason
the Lenders are required to refund such payment or pay such amount to
Borrower or someone else; or
(k) OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN OR OMITTED. Any other action taken or omitted
to be taken with respect to the Credit Agreement, the Liabilities, or
the security and collateral therefor, whether or not such action or
omission prejudices Guarantor or increases the likelihood that
Guarantor will be required to pay the Liabilities pursuant to the terms
hereof; it being the unambiguous and unequivocal intention of Guarantor
that Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the Liabilities when due,
notwithstanding any occurrence, circumstance, event, action, or
omission whatsoever, whether contemplated or uncontemplated, and
whether or not otherwise or particularly described herein, except for
the full and final payment and satisfaction of the Liabilities.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
Section 3.1 BY GUARANTOR. In order to induce the Lenders to accept this
Guaranty Agreement, Guarantor represents and warrants to the Lenders (which
representations and warranties will survive the creation of the Liabilities and
any extension of credit thereunder) that:
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(a) BENEFIT TO GUARANTOR. Guarantor's guaranty pursuant to this
Guaranty Agreement reasonably may be expected to benefit, directly or
indirectly, Guarantor.
(b) CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Guarantor is a corporation duly organized,
legally existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and is duly qualified in all jurisdictions wherein the
property owned or the business transacted by it makes such
qualification necessary.
(c) CORPORATE POWER AND AUTHORIZATION. Guarantor is duly authorized and
empowered to execute, deliver and perform this Guaranty Agreement and
all corporate action on Guarantor's part requisite for the due
execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty Agreement has been
duly and effectively taken.
(d) BINDING OBLIGATIONS. This Guaranty Agreement constitutes valid and
binding obligations of Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its
terms (except that enforcement may be subject to any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws generally affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights) or by general principles of equity.
(e) NO CONSENT. Guarantor's execution, delivery and performance of this
Guaranty Agreement does not require the consent or approval of any
other Person, including without limitation any regulatory authority or
governmental body of the United States or any state thereof or any
political subdivision of the United States or any state thereof.
(f) SOLVENCY. The Guarantor hereby represents that (i) it is not
insolvent as of the date hereof and will not be rendered insolvent as a
result of this Guaranty Agreement, (ii) it is not engaged in business
or a transaction, or about to engage in a business or a transaction,
for which any property or assets remaining with such Guarantor is
unreasonably small capital, and (iii) it does not intend to incur, or
believe it will incur, debts that will be beyond its ability to pay as
such debts mature.
(g) FINANCIAL CONDITION. The audited consolidated balance sheet of the
Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1999 and
the related consolidated statement of income, stockholders' equity and
cash flow of the Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the
fiscal year ended on said date, with the opinion thereon of Price
Waterhouse heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders and the
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2000 and their related
consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flow
of the Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the six-month
period ended on such date heretofore furnished to the Agent, are
complete and correct and fairly present the consolidated financial
condition of the Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at said
dates and the results of its operations for the fiscal year and the
six-month period on said dates, all in accordance with GAAP, as applied
on a consistent basis (subject, in the case of the interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments). Neither the Guarantor nor
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any of its Subsidiaries has on the Closing Date any material Debt,
Trade Payables, contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual
forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses
from any unfavorable commitments, except as referred to or reflected or
provided for in the Financial Statements or in Schedule 7.02 of the
Credit Agreement. Since December 31, 1999, there has been no change or
event having a Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of the Financial
Statements, neither the business nor the Properties of the Guarantor
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have been
materially and adversely affected as a result of any fire, explosion,
earthquake, flood, drought, windstorm, accident, strike or other labor
disturbance, embargo, requisition or taking of Property or cancellation
of contracts, permits or concessions by any Governmental Authority,
riot, activities of armed forces or acts of God or of any public enemy.
(h) LITIGATION. Except as disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 7.03 of
the Credit Agreement, at the Closing Date there is no litigation,
legal, administrative or arbitral proceeding, investigation or other
action of any nature pending or, to the knowledge of the Guarantor
threatened against or affecting the Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries which both (a) involves the possibility of any judgment or
liability against the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries not fully
covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles), and (b) would be
more likely than not to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) NO BREACH. Neither the execution and delivery of this Guaranty
Agreement, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will
conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent which
has not been obtained as of the Closing Date under, the respective
charter or by-laws of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or any
Governmental Requirement or any material agreement or instrument to
which the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
it is bound or to which it or its Properties are subject, or constitute
a default under any such agreement or instrument, or result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the material revenues or
assets of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the
terms of any such agreement or instrument other than the Liens created
by the Loan Documents.
(j) ERISA.
(1) The Guarantor, its Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate
have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where
applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.
(2) Each Plan is, and has been, maintained in substantial
compliance with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.
(3) No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could
result in imposition on the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of an amount of
$100,000 or more as (i) either a civil penalty assessed pursuant
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to section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to
Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty
liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.
(4) No Plan (other than a defined contribution plan) or any
trust created under any such Plan has been terminated since September
2, 1974. No liability to the PBGC in excess of $100,000 (other than for
the payment of current premiums which are not past due) by the
Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has been or
is expected by the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan. No ERISA Event with
respect to any Plan has occurred which could reasonably expected to
result in liabilities of $100,000 or more.
(5) Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which
the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is
required under the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as
contributions to such Plan, and no accumulated funding deficiency in an
amount of $100,000 or more (as defined in section 302 of ERISA and
section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to
any Plan.
(6) The actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities
under each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA does not, as of
the end of the Guarantor's most recently ended fiscal year, exceed the
current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in
accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such
benefit liabilities by $100,000 or more. The term "actuarial present
value of the benefit liabilities" shall have the meaning specified in
section 4041 of ERISA.
(7) None of the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee
welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including,
without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to
former employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by the
Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole
discretion at any time without any material liability.
(8) None of the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any
time in the preceding six calendar years, sponsored, maintained or
contributed to, any Multiemployer Plan.
(9) None of the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security under section
401(a)(29) of the Code due to a Plan amendment that results in an
increase in current liability for the Plan.
(k) TAXES. Except as set out in Schedule 7.09 of the Credit Agreement,
each of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries has filed all United States
Federal income tax returns and all other tax returns which are required
to be filed by it and has paid all material taxes due pursuant to such
returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Guarantor or any
of
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its Subsidiaries, except for any taxes which are being contested in
good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate
reserves are being maintained. The charges, accruals and reserves on
the books of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes and
other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Guarantor,
adequate. No tax lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the
Guarantor, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such tax, fee
or other charge, except for any taxes, fees or other charges which are
being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against
which adequate reserves are being maintained.
(l) TITLE TO OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN GENERAL PARTNER AND LIMITED PARTNERS
OF BORROWER. The Guarantor has good and unencumbered title to all of
the capital stock of the General Partner of the Borrower and, directly
or indirectly, all of the ownership interests in the limited partners
of the Borrower.
(m) INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. Neither the Guarantor nor any of its
Subsidiaries is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an
"investment company," within the meaning of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
(n) PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT. Neither the Guarantor nor any
of its Subsidiaries is a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company"
of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of
a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or a "public utility"
within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935,
as amended.
(o) SUBSIDIARIES. Except as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto or as
permitted by Section 9.16 of the Credit Agreement, the Guarantor has no
Subsidiaries.
(p) COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. Neither the Guarantor nor any of its
Subsidiaries has violated any Governmental Requirement or failed to
obtain any license, permit, franchise or other governmental
authorization necessary for the ownership of any of its Properties or
the conduct of its business, which violation or failure would have (in
the event such violation or failure were asserted by any Person through
appropriate action) a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.2 NO REPRESENTATION BY LENDERS. Neither the Lenders nor any
other Person has made any representation, warranty or statement to the Guarantor
in order to induce the Guarantor to execute this Guaranty Agreement.
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ARTICLE IV
SUBORDINATION
Section 4.1 SUBORDINATION.
(a) SUBORDINATION OF ALL GUARANTOR CLAIMS. As used herein, the term
"GUARANTOR CLAIMS" shall mean all debts and liabilities of Borrower or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower to Guarantor, whether such debts and
liabilities now exist or are hereafter incurred or arise, or whether
the obligation of Borrower or such Subsidiary thereon be direct,
contingent, primary, secondary, several, joint and several, or
otherwise, and irrespective of whether such debts or liabilities be
evidenced by note, contract, open account, or otherwise, and
irrespective of the person or persons in whose favor such debts or
liabilities may, at their inception, have been, or may hereafter be
created, or the manner in which they have been or may hereafter be
acquired by Guarantor. The Guarantor Claims shall include without
limitation all rights and claims of Guarantor against Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the Borrower arising as a result of subrogation or
otherwise as a result of Guarantor's payment of all or a portion of the
Liabilities. Until the Liabilities shall be paid and satisfied in full
and Guarantor shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder,
Guarantor shall not receive or collect, directly or indirectly, from
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other party any
amount upon the Guarantor Claims.
(b) SUBORDINATION OF THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT. The payment and
performance of this Guaranty Agreement is subordinated pursuant to the
terms and provisions of the Subordination Agreement.
Section 4.2 CLAIMS IN BANKRUPTCY. In the event of receivership,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, debtor's relief, or other insolvency
proceedings involving Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, as debtor, the
Lenders shall have the right to prove their claim in any proceeding, so as to
establish their rights hereunder and receive directly from the receiver, trustee
or other court custodian, dividends and payments which would otherwise be
payable upon Guarantor Claims. Guarantor hereby assigns such dividends and
payments to the Lenders. Should the Agent or any Lender receive, for application
upon the Liabilities, any such dividend or payment which is otherwise payable to
Guarantor, and which, as between Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and
Guarantor, shall constitute a credit upon the Guarantor Claims, then upon
payment in full of the Liabilities, Guarantor shall become subrogated to the
rights of the Lenders to the extent that such payments to the Lenders on the
Guarantor Claims have contributed toward the liquidation of the Liabilities, and
such subrogation shall be with respect to that proportion of the Liabilities
which would have been unpaid if the Agent or a Lender had not received dividends
or payments upon the Guarantor Claims.
Section 4.3 PAYMENTS HELD IN TRUST. In the event that notwithstanding
Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above, Guarantor should receive any funds, payments, claims
or distributions which is prohibited
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by such Sections, Guarantor agrees to hold in trust for the Lenders an amount
equal to the amount of all funds, payments, claims or distributions so received,
and agrees that it shall have absolutely no dominion over the amount of such
funds, payments, claims or distributions except to pay them promptly to the
Agent, and Guarantor covenants promptly to pay the same to the Agent.
Section 4.4 LIENS SUBORDINATE. Guarantor agrees that any liens,
security interests, judgment liens, charges or other encumbrances upon
Borrower's or any Subsidiary of the Borrower's assets securing payment of the
Guarantor Claims shall be and remain inferior and subordinate to any liens,
security interests, judgment liens, charges or other encumbrances upon
Borrower's or any Subsidiary of the Borrower's assets securing payment of the
Liabilities, regardless of whether such encumbrances in favor of Guarantor, the
Agent or the Lenders presently exist or are hereafter created or attach.
Section 4.5 GUARANTOR'S ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS. Without the prior written
consent of the Lenders, Guarantor shall not (a) exercise or enforce any
creditor's right it may have against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower, or (b) foreclose, repossess, sequester or otherwise take steps or
institute any action or proceeding (judicial or otherwise, including without
limitation the commencement of or joinder in any liquidation, bankruptcy,
rearrangement, debtor's relief or insolvency proceeding) to enforce any lien,
mortgages, deeds of trust, security interest, collateral rights, judgments or
other encumbrances on assets of Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower held
by Guarantor.
ARTICLE V
CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
Section 5.1 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Guarantor shall cause the Borrower
to deliver as and when required, the financial statements and other information
called for in Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement and Guarantor shall:
(a) NOTICE OF DEFAULT. Promptly after the Guarantor knows that any
default in any covenant herein has occurred, the Guarantor will give
notice of such default to the Agent, describing the same in reasonable
detail and the action the Guarantor proposes to take with respect
thereto.
(b) PAYMENT OF TRADE PAYABLES. The Guarantor will pay and cause all of
its Subsidiaries to pay all of their respective Trade Payables now or
hereafter incurred within 60 days of the date of invoice, unless
subject to legal offset or unless being contested in good faith by
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appropriate proceedings and reserves adequate under GAAP shall have
been established therefor.
Section 5.2 NEGATIVE COVENANTS. The Guarantor covenants and agrees
that, so long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full
of the Liabilities hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable
by the Guarantor hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Majority
Lenders:
(a) DEBT. The Guarantor will not and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Debt,
except:
(1) the Notes or other Indebtedness arising under the Loan
Documents or any guaranty of or suretyship arrangement for the Notes or
other Indebtedness arising under the Loan Documents;
(2) Debt existing on the Closing Date which is reflected in
the Financial Statements or is disclosed in Schedule 9.01 to the Credit
Agreement, and any renewals or extensions (but not increases) thereof;
(3) Debt permitted under the Credit Agreement;
(4) Debt owing to the Borrower, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary
Guarantor which (other than Debt owing to the Borrower) is subordinated
to the Indebtedness as provided in the Guaranty Agreement of the
Guarantor or such Subsidiary Guarantor;
(5) Debt of the Guarantor not described in Sections 5.2 (1)
through (4) above which together with all Debt of the Borrower allowed
under Section 9.01(h) of the Credit Agreement does not exceed
$1,000,000 at any one time outstanding; and
(6) The Senior Indebtedness and any other Debt arising under
or otherwise in relation to the Senior Loan Documents.
(b) LIENS. The Guarantor will not and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on
any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired), except:
(1) Liens securing the payment of any Indebtedness;
(2) Excepted Liens;
(3) Liens created, incurred, assumed or permitted to
exist by the Borrower and the Borrower's Subsidiaries
as permitted under the Credit Agreement; and
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(4) Liens securing the payment of the Senior
Indebtedness.
(c) INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ADVANCES. The Guarantor will not and will
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to remain outstanding any loans or
advances to or investments in any Person, except that the foregoing
restriction shall not apply to:
(1) investments, loans or advances by the Guarantor or a
Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a Subsidiary of the
Borrower) in or to the Borrower, the Guarantor or a
Subsidiary Guarantor; and
(2) any other investments, loans and advances by the
Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower as permitted
under Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.
(d) DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS. The Guarantor will not
declare or pay any dividend, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for
value any of its stock now or hereafter outstanding, return any capital
to its stockholders or make any distribution of its assets to its
stockholders; provided that Guarantor may pay dividends on its
preferred equity securities so long as they are paid in kind and not in
cash.
(e) SALES AND LEASEBACKS. The Guarantor will not and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any arrangement, directly or
indirectly, with any Person whereby such Person shall sell or transfer
any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and
whereby such Person shall then or thereafter rent or lease as lessee
such Property or any part thereof or other Property which such Person
intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the
Property sold or transferred.
(f) NATURE OF BUSINESS. The Guarantor will not allow any material
change to be made in the character of its business as presently
conducted.
(g) LIMITATION ON LEASES. The Guarantor will not and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
obligation for the payment of rent or hire of Property of any kind
whatsoever (real or personal including capital leases but excluding
leases of Hydrocarbon Interests and the equipment used thereon), under
leases or lease agreements which would cause the aggregate amount of
all payments made by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries pursuant to all
such leases or lease agreements to exceed $2,000,000 in any period of
twelve consecutive calendar months during the life of such leases.
(h) MERGERS, ETC. The Guarantor will not and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person
or sell, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or
in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property
or assets to any other Person unless the Guarantor, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary
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Guarantor whose Guaranty Agreement is in full force and effect is the
surviving entity and no Default exists or will be created thereby.
(i) ERISA COMPLIANCE. The Guarantor will not and will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to at any time:
(1) Engage in, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to engage in, any
transaction in connection with which the Guarantor, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a
civil penalty assessed pursuant to section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA
or a tax imposed by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code in excess of
$100,000;
(2) Terminate, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to terminate, any
Plan in a manner, or take any other action with respect to any Plan,
which could reasonably be expected to result in any liability of the
Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC
in excess of $100,000;
(3) Fail to make, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to fail to
make, full payment when due of all amounts which under the provisions
of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the
Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required
to pay as contributions thereto;
(4) Permit to exist, or allow any ERISA Affiliate to permit to
exist, any accumulated funding deficiency in excess of $100,000 within
the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code, whether
or not waived, with respect to any Plan;
(5) Permit, or allow any ERISA Affiliate to permit, the
actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under any Plan
maintained by the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliate which is regulated under Title IV of ERISA to exceed the
current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in
accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such
benefit liabilities by an amount in excess of $100,000. The term
"actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities" shall have the
meaning specified in section 4041 of ERISA;
(6) Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or
permit any ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to
contribute to, any Multiemployer Plan;
(7) Acquire, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to acquire, an
interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA
Affiliate with respect to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate if such
Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the
six-year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored, maintained,
or contributed to, (a) any Multiemployer Plan, or (b) any other Plan
that is subject to Title IV of ERISA under which the actuarial present
value of the benefit liabilities under such Plan exceeds the current
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value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance
with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit
liabilities;
(8) Incur, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to incur, a liability
to or on account of a Plan under sections 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4201
or 4204 of ERISA which in the aggregate for all such liability exceeds
$100,000;
(9) Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or
permit any ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to
contribute to, any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section
3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained
to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not
be terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time
without any material liability; or
(10) Amend or permit any ERISA Affiliate to amend, a Plan
resulting in an increase in current liability such that the Guarantor,
any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide
security to such Plan under section 401(a)(29) of the Code.
(j) SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES. The Guarantor will not and will
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to discount or sell (with or without
recourse) any of its notes receivable or accounts receivable.
(k) CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The Guarantor will not and will not permit
Borrower to exceed the capital expenditure limitations provided in
Section 9.20 of the Credit Agreement.
(l) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. The Guarantor will not and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to cause or permit any of its Property to be in
violation of, or do anything or permit anything to be done which will
subject any such Property to any remedial obligations under any
Environmental Laws, assuming disclosure to the applicable Governmental
Authority of all relevant facts, conditions and circumstances, if any,
pertaining to such Property where such violations or remedial
obligations would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. The Guarantor will not and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any transaction,
including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of
Property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate unless
such transactions are otherwise not in violation of the Credit
Agreement, are in the ordinary course of its business and are upon fair
and reasonable terms no less favorable to it (or, if the Borrower is
involved, no less favorable to the Borrower) than it would obtain in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.
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(n) SUBSIDIARIES. The Guarantor will not and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, create any additional Subsidiaries except for the
Subsidiaries of the Borrower as permitted by the Credit Agreement.
(o) NEGATIVE PLEDGE AGREEMENTS. The Guarantor will not and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any contract, agreement or understanding (other than the Loan
Documents and the Senior Loan Documents) which in any way prohibits or
restricts the granting, conveying, creation or imposition of any Lien
on any of its Property or which requires the consent of or notice to
other Persons in connection therewith.
(p) CAPITAL STOCK OF GENERAL PARTNER OF BORROWER. The Guarantor will
not permit any of the capital stock of the General Partner of the
Borrower or any ownership interest in any limited partner of the
Borrower to be owned or controlled by any Person other than the
Guarantor or Brigham Inc..
(q) CURRENT RATIO. The Guarantor will not permit its ratio of (i)
consolidated current assets of the Guarantor and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any unused and available
Aggregate Commitments) to (ii) their consolidated current liabilities
(excluding the Indebtedness) to be less than 1.0 to 1.0 at any time.
(r) INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. The Guarantor will not permit its Interest
Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Guarantor
(calculated quarterly at the end of each fiscal quarter) to be less
than the ratio set forth below for such period. INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO
shall mean the ratio of (i) EBITDA to (ii) the sum of all required
payments of interest (whether paid in cash or in kind) during such
period on borrowed money:
(i) not less than .75 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending September 30, 2000;
(ii) not less than .80 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending December 31, 2000;
(iii) not less than .90 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending March 31, 2001;
(iv) not less than 1.3 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending June 30, 2001;
(v) not less than 1.5 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending September 30, 2001;
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(vi) not less than 1.7 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending December 31, 2001;
(vii) not less than 2.0 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending March 31, 2002;
(viii) not less than 2.25 to 1.0 for the twelve (12) month
period ending June 30, 2002; and
(ix) thereafter, not less than 2.50 to 1.0 for the twelve
(12) month period ending September 30, 2002, and each
twelve (12) month period ending at the end of each
fiscal quarter of Guarantor.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Guaranty Agreement is and
shall be, in every particular, available to the successors and assigns of the
Lenders and is and shall always be fully binding upon the legal representatives,
heirs, successors and assigns of Guarantor, notwithstanding that some or all of
the monies, the repayment of which this Guaranty Agreement applies, may be
actually advanced after any bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization, death,
disability or other event affecting Guarantor.
Section 6.2 NOTICES. Any notice or demand to Guarantor under or in
connection with this Guaranty Agreement may be given and shall conclusively be
deemed and considered to have been given and received in accordance with Section
12.02 of the Credit Agreement, addressed to Guarantor at the address on the
signature page hereof or at such other address provided to the Agent in writing.
Section 6.3 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Subject to any
applicable confidentiality agreements, the Guarantor will promptly furnish to
the Agent and the Lenders from time to time upon request such information
regarding the business and affairs and financial condition of the Guarantor and
its subsidiaries as the Agent and the Lenders may reasonably request.
Section 6.4 CONSTRUCTION. This Guaranty Agreement is a contract made
under and shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Texas.
Section 6.5 INVALIDITY. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Guaranty Agreement shall, for any reason, be held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
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respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any
other provision of this Guaranty Agreement.
Section 6.6 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS WRITTEN GUARANTY AGREEMENT EMBODIES
THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE LENDERS AND THE GUARANTOR AND
SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN SUCH PARTIES RELATING
TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF. THIS WRITTEN GUARANTY AGREEMENT
REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED
BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE
PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
WITNESS THE EXECUTION HEREOF, as of this the 31st day of October, 2000.
BRIGHAM EXPLORATION COMPANY
By: /s/ Curtis F. Harrell
Name: Curtis F. Harrell
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Address for Notices:
6300 Bridge Point Parkway
Building 2, Suite 500
Austin, Texas 78730
Telecopier No.: (512) 427-3400
Telephone No.: (512) 427-3300
Attention:
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SCHEDULE I
SUBSIDIARIES OF BRIGHAM EXPLORATION
Brigham Exploration has the following Subsidiaries:
1. Brigham, Inc., a Nevada corporation, all of whose shares are
owned by Brigham Exploration.
2. Brigham Holdings I, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company,
whose only member is Brigham Exploration.
3. Brigham Holdings II, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company,
whose only member is Brigham, Inc.
4. Borrower, a Delaware limited partnership, whose only General
Partner is Brigham, Inc., and whose only limited partners are
Brigham Holdings I, LLC and Brigham Holdings II, LLC.
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