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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 4, 2015

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

RICE ENERGY INC.

(AND CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF RICE ENERGY INC. IDENTIFIED IN FOOTNOTE (*) BELOW)

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		1311		46-3785773
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

400 Woodcliff Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

(724) 746-6720

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Daniel J. Rice

Chief Executive Officer

Rice Energy Inc.

400 Woodcliff Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

(724) 746-6720

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

 

Copies to:

Douglas E. McWilliams

Alan Beck

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 758-2222

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

 

If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer		¨		Accelerated filer		¨
Non-accelerated filer		x  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		¨

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issue Tender Offer)  ¨

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)  ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class ofSecurities to Be Registered		Amount to be Registered		Amount of Registration Fee(1)
7.25% Senior Notes due 2023		$400,000,000		$40,280
Guarantees of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2023(2)

 

(1)	Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(f)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933.

(2)	Each subsidiary of Rice Energy Inc. that is listed on the Table of Additional Registrant Guarantors has guaranteed the notes being registered.

(3)	Pursuant to Rule 457(n) of the Securities Act of 1933, no registration fee is required for the Guarantees.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

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TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANT GUARANTORS

 

*	The following are co-registrants that guarantee the debt securities:

 

Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor(1)		State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Formation		IRS Employer Identification Number
Rice Marketing LLC		Delaware			47-2089524
Rice Energy Marketing LLC		Delaware			45-4877837
Rice Energy Appalachia, LLC		Delaware			61-1671607
Rice Drilling B LLC		Delaware			26-1953720
Rice Drilling C LLC		Pennsylvania			27-0970344
Rice Drilling D LLC		Delaware			90-0779528
Blue Tiger Oilfield Services LLC		Delaware			61-1671607
Alpha Shale Holdings, LLC		Delaware			27-1785095
Alpha Shale Resources, LP		Delaware			27-1785246

 

(1)	The address for each Registrant Guarantor is 400 Woodcliff Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317, and the telephone number for each Registrant Guarantor is (724) 746-6720. The Primary Industrial Classification Code for each Registrant Guarantor is 1311.

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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated December 4, 2015

PROSPECTUS

 

Rice Energy Inc.

Offer to Exchange

Up To $400,000,000 of

7.25% Senior Notes due 2023

That Have Not Been Registered Under

The Securities Act of 1933

For

Up To $400,000,000 of

7.25% Senior Notes due 2023

That Have Been Registered Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

Terms of the New 7.25% Senior Notes due 2023 Offered in the Exchange Offer:

 

•

The terms of the new notes are identical to the terms of the old notes that were issued on March 26, 2015, except that the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and will not contain restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest.

Terms of the Exchange Offer:

 

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We are offering to exchange up to $400,000,000 of our old notes for new notes with materially identical terms that have been registered under the Securities Act and are freely tradable.

 

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We will exchange all old notes that you validly tender and do not validly withdraw before the exchange offer expires for an equal principal amount of new notes.

 

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The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                 , 2016, unless extended.

 

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Tenders of old notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

 

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Broker-dealers who receive new notes pursuant to the exchange offer acknowledge that they will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes.

 

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Broker-dealers who acquired the old notes as a result of market-making or other trading activities may use the prospectus for the exchange offer, as supplemented or amended, in connection with resales of the new notes.

 

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 7 of this prospectus before participating in the exchange offer.

We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2015.

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This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			ii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			1
RISK FACTORS			7
EXCHANGE OFFER			13
USE OF PROCEEDS			20
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			21
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES			22
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			71
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES			72
LEGAL MATTERS			73
EXPERTS			73
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			74
Annex A – Letter of Transmittal			A-1

 

 

This prospectus incorporates by reference business and financial information about Rice Energy Inc. that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. Such information is available without charge to holders of old notes upon written or oral request made to the office of Rice Energy Inc., 400 Woodcliff Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317 (Telephone: (724) 746-6720). To obtain timely delivery of any requested information, holders of old notes must make any request no later than                 , 2016 which is five business days prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

In this prospectus, unless the context indicates or otherwise requires, “Rice Energy,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms refer to Rice Energy Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference herein, includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this prospectus, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and income/losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, the words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.

Forward-looking statements may include statements about our:

 

•

business strategy;

 

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reserves;

 

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financial strategy, liquidity and capital required for our development program;

 

•

realized natural gas, NGL and oil prices;

 

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timing and amount of future production of natural gas, NGLs and oil;

 

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hedging strategy and results;

 

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future drilling plans;

 

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competition and government regulations;

 

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pending legal or environmental matters;

 

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marketing of natural gas, NGLs and oil;

 

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leasehold or business acquisitions;

 

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costs of developing our properties and conducting our gathering and other midstream operations;

 

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consummation of our planned midstream joint venture with Gulfport Energy Corporation;

 

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operations of Rice Midstream Partners LP;

 

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general economic conditions;

 

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credit and capital markets;

 

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uncertainty regarding our future operating results; and

 

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plans, objectives, expectations and intentions contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus that are not historical.

We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to the exploration for and development, production, gathering and sale of natural gas, NGLs and oil. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility; inflation, lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services; environmental risks; drilling and other operating risks; regulatory changes; the uncertainty inherent in estimating natural gas reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital; the timing of development expenditures; and the other risks described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of natural gas, NGLs and oil that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by reserve engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions could change the schedule of any further production and development drilling. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of natural gas, and NGLs and oil that are ultimately recovered.

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described or incorporated by reference in this prospectus occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this prospectus or are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information and data included in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference as provided under “Where You Can Find More Information,” including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 before deciding to participate in the exchange offer. In addition to the other information set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, investors should carefully consider the following factors relating to the notes and the exchange offer before making an investment in the new notes.

Risks Related to Exchange Offer

If you do not properly tender your old notes, you will continue to hold unregistered old notes and your ability to transfer old notes will remain restricted and may be adversely affected.

We will only issue new notes in exchange for old notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes and you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender your old notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent is required to tell you of any defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of old notes.

If you do not exchange your old notes for new notes pursuant to the exchange offer, the old notes you hold will continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions. In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not plan to register old notes under the Securities Act unless our registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the old notes requires us to do so. Further, if you continue to hold any old notes after the exchange offer is consummated, you may have trouble selling them because there will be fewer of these notes outstanding.

Risks Related to the Notes

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under applicable debt instruments, which may not be successful.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our indebtedness obligations, including our revolving credit facility, our 6.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “existing notes”) and the notes, depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We may not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance indebtedness. Our ability to restructure or refinance indebtedness will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict business operations. The terms of existing or future debt instruments may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In addition, any failure to make payments of interest and principal on outstanding indebtedness on a timely basis would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness. In the absence of sufficient cash flows and capital resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet debt service and other obligations. Our revolving credit facility and the indentures governing our existing notes and the old notes currently restrict our ability to dispose of assets and our use of the proceeds from such disposition. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions, and the proceeds of any such disposition may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet scheduled debt service obligations.

 

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The borrowing base under our revolving credit facility is currently $750.0 million. Our next scheduled borrowing base redetermination is expected to occur in April 2016. In the future, we may not be able to access adequate funding under our revolving credit facility as a result of a decrease in borrowing base due to the issuance of new indebtedness, the outcome of a subsequent borrowing base redetermination or an unwillingness or inability on the part of lending counterparties to meet their funding obligations and the inability of other lenders to provide additional funding to cover the defaulting lender’s portion. Declines in commodity prices could result in a determination to lower the borrowing base in the future and, in such a case, we could be required to repay any indebtedness in excess of the redetermined borrowing base. As a result, we may be unable to implement our drilling and development plan, make acquisitions or otherwise carry out business plans, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to service our indebtedness.

Our leverage and debt service obligations may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business prospects and our ability to make payments on the notes.

As of September 30, 2015, we and our restricted subsidiaries had approximately $1,297.1 million of outstanding indebtedness, including no borrowings under our revolving credit facility, $125.4 million of outstanding letters of credit, and we had approximately $524.6 million of borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility. Our level of indebtedness could affect our operations in several ways, including the following:

 

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require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our existing debt, thereby reducing the cash available to finance our operations and other business activities;

 

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limit management’s discretion in operating our business and our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

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increase our vulnerability to downturns and adverse developments in our business and the economy generally;

 

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limit our ability to access the capital markets to raise capital on favorable terms or to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions or to refinance existing indebtedness;

 

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place restrictions on our ability to obtain additional financing, make investments, lease equipment, sell assets and engage in business combinations;

 

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make it more likely that a reduction in our borrowing base following a periodic redetermination could require us to repay a portion of our then-outstanding bank borrowings;

 

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make us vulnerable to increases in interest rates as our indebtedness under any revolving credit facility may vary with prevailing interest rates;

 

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place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to competitors with lower levels of indebtedness in relation to their overall size or less restrictive terms governing their indebtedness; and

 

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make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations under the notes or other debt and increase the risk that we may default on our debt obligations.

The notes and the guarantees are unsecured obligations and are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to liabilities of any non-guarantor subsidiaries.

The notes and the guarantees are general unsecured senior obligations ranking effectively junior to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness (including all borrowings under our revolving credit facility) to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. If we or a guarantor is declared bankrupt, becomes insolvent or is liquidated or reorganized, the holders of our secured indebtedness or the secured indebtedness of such guarantor will be entitled to be paid in full from the proceeds of the assets, if any, securing

 

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such indebtedness before any payment may be made with respect to the notes or the affected guarantees. Holders of the notes will participate ratably in any remaining proceeds with all holders of our unsecured indebtedness, including unsecured indebtedness incurred after the notes are issued that does not rank junior to the notes, including trade payables and all of our other general indebtedness, based on the respective amounts owed to each holder or creditor. In any of the foregoing events, there may not be sufficient funds to pay amounts due on the notes. As a result, holders of the notes would likely receive less, ratably, than holders of secured indebtedness.

The notes are structurally subordinated to any indebtedness and other liabilities of any subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes. The indenture governing the notes permits us to form or acquire additional subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the notes in certain circumstances.

Holders of the notes will have no claim as a creditor against any of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. See “Description of Notes—Brief Description of the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees—The Subsidiary Guarantees.”

We and the guarantors may incur substantial additional indebtedness. This could increase the risks associated with the notes.

Subject to the restrictions in the indenture governing the notes, the indenture governing our existing notes and other instruments governing our other outstanding indebtedness (including our revolving credit facility), we and our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness (including secured indebtedness) in the future. Although the indenture governing the notes, the indenture governing our existing notes and our revolving credit facility contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to waiver and a number of significant qualifications and exceptions, and indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial.

If we or a guarantor incurs any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the notes (or with the guarantees thereof), including additional unsecured indebtedness or trade payables, the holders of that indebtedness will be entitled to share ratably with holders of the notes in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up of us or a guarantor. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to holders of the notes in connection with such a distribution.

Any increase in our level of indebtedness will have several important effects on our future operations, including, without limitation, whether:

 

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we will have additional cash requirements in order to support the payment of interest on our outstanding indebtedness;

 

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increases in our outstanding indebtedness and leverage will increase our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic and industry conditions, as well as to competitive pressure; and

 

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depending on the levels of our outstanding indebtedness, our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, general corporate and other purposes may be limited.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or improve our leverage position.

An element of our business strategy involves maintaining a disciplined approach to financial management. However, we are also seeking to acquire, exploit and develop additional reserves which may require the incurrence of additional indebtedness. Although we will seek to maintain or improve our leverage position, our ability to maintain or reduce our level of indebtedness depends on a variety of factors, including future performance and our future debt financing needs. General economic conditions, oil, NGL and natural gas prices and financial, business and other factors will also affect our ability to maintain or improve our leverage position. Many of these factors are beyond our control.

 

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Our revolving credit facility, the indenture governing our existing notes and the indenture governing our notes have restrictive covenants that could limit our financial flexibility. Our revolving credit facility, the indenture governing the notes and the indenture governing our existing notes contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. Our ability to borrow under our revolving credit facility is subject to compliance with certain financial covenants, including the maintenance of certain financial ratios, including a minimum current ratio, an asset coverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. Our revolving credit facility, the indenture governing our existing notes and the indenture governing the notes contain covenants, that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

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incur additional indebtedness;

 

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sell assets;

 

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pay dividends or make certain investments;

 

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create liens that secure indebtedness;

 

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enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

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merge or consolidate with another company.

See “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants.” Our failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness. We would not have sufficient working capital to satisfy our debt obligations in the event of an acceleration of all or a significant portion of our outstanding indebtedness.

The borrowing base under our revolving credit facility is subject to periodic redetermination.

The borrowing base under our revolving credit facility is redetermined at least semi-annually. The administrative agent under the revolving credit facility may elect to cause interim redeterminations under certain circumstances. In addition, we and the administrative agent may each request one additional redetermination in each 12-month period. Redeterminations are based upon a number of factors, including commodity prices and reserve levels. In addition, our lenders have substantial flexibility to reduce our borrowing base due to subjective factors. As of September 30, 2015, our borrowing base was $650.0 million. In October 2015 we had a redetermination of our borrowing base under our revolving credit facility which increased the borrowing base to $750.0 million. The next redetermination is scheduled for April 2016. We could be required to repay a portion of our bank debt to the extent that after a redetermination our outstanding borrowings at such time exceed the redetermined borrowing base. We may not have sufficient funds to make such repayments, which could result in a default under the terms of the facility and an acceleration of the loans thereunder requiring us to negotiate renewals, arrange new financing or sell significant assets, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.

If we are unable to comply with the restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing the notes and our other indebtedness, there could be a default under the terms of these agreements, which could result in an acceleration of payment of funds that we have borrowed and would affect our ability to make principal and interest payments on the notes.

Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness that is not cured or waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of any such indebtedness, could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, or special interest, if any, on the notes and substantially decrease the market value of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, or special interest, if any, on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the agreements governing our indebtedness (including covenants in our revolving credit facility, the

 

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indenture governing the existing notes and the indenture governing the notes), we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default:

 

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the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest;

 

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the lenders under our revolving credit facility could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets; and

 

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we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to obtain waivers under our revolving credit facility to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under our revolving credit facility and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under the facilities, the lenders could exercise their rights, as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control.

If we experience certain kinds of changes of control followed by a rating decline, we may be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control because we may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the notes that are tendered following a change of control. In addition, the terms of our revolving credit facility would prohibit, and the terms of other future indebtedness may prohibit, us from repurchasing notes upon a change of control. Our failure to repurchase the notes upon a change of control could cause a default under the indenture governing the notes and could lead to a cross default under our revolving credit facility. Additionally, using cash to fund the potential consequences of a change of control may impair our ability to obtain additional financing in the future, which could negatively impact our ability to conduct our business operations. See “Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control.”

Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees and require noteholders to return payments received from guarantors.

Federal bankruptcy and state fraudulent transfer laws permit a court to avoid all or a portion of the obligations of a guarantor pursuant to its guarantee of the notes, or to subordinate any guarantor’s obligations under such guarantee to claims of its other creditors, reducing or eliminating the noteholders’ ability to recover under such guarantee. Although laws differ among these jurisdictions, in general, under applicable fraudulent transfer or conveyance laws, a guarantee could be voided as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance if (i) the guarantee was incurred with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors; or (ii) the guarantor received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for incurring the guarantee and either:

 

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the guarantor was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of the guarantee or subsequently became insolvent for other reasons;

 

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the incurrence of the guarantee left the guarantor with an unreasonably small amount of capital to carry on the business; or

 

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the guarantor intended to, or believed that it would, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.

A court would likely find that a guarantor did not receive reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for its guarantee if the guarantor did not substantially benefit directly or indirectly from the issuance of the notes. If a court were to void a guarantee, you would no longer have a claim against the guarantor. Sufficient funds to

 

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repay the notes may not be available from other sources, including the remaining guarantors, if any. In addition, the court might direct you to repay any amounts that you already received from the guarantor. The measures of insolvency for purposes of fraudulent transfer laws vary depending upon the governing law of the applicable jurisdiction. Generally, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:

 

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the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all its assets;

 

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the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they became absolute and mature; or

 

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it could not pay its debts as they became due.

Each guarantee will contain a provision intended to limit the guarantor’s liability under the guarantee to the maximum amount that the guarantor could incur without causing the incurrence of obligations under its guarantee to be deemed a fraudulent transfer. This provision may not be effective to protect the guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer law.

Many of the covenants contained in the indenture will be terminated if the notes are rated investment grade by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s and no default has occurred and is continuing.

Many of the covenants in the indenture governing the notes will be terminated if the notes are rated investment grade by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, provided at such time no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing. These covenants include restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, to incur debt and to enter into certain transactions. There can be no assurance that the notes will ever be rated investment grade. However, termination of these covenants would allow us to engage in certain transactions that would not have been permitted while these covenants were in force. The covenant termination will continue even if the notes are subsequently downgraded below investment grade. See “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—Covenant Termination.”

We face risks related to rating agency downgrades.

We expect one or more rating agencies to rate the notes. If such rating agencies either assign the notes a rating lower than the rating expected by the investors, or reduce the rating in the future, the market price of the notes may be adversely affected, raising capital may become more difficult and borrowing costs under our revolving credit facility and other future borrowings may increase.

Your ability to transfer the notes may be limited by the absence of an active trading market, and there is no assurance that any active trading market will develop for the notes.

The old notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and may not be resold by purchasers thereof unless the old notes are subsequently registered or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. However, we cannot assure you that, even following registration or exchange of the old notes for new notes, that an active trading market for the old notes or the new notes will exist, and we will have no obligation to create such a market. At the time of the private placement of the old notes, the initial purchasers advised us that they intended to make a market in the old notes and, if issued, the new notes. The initial purchasers are not obligated, however, to make a market in the old notes or the new notes and any market-making may be discontinued at any time at their sole discretion. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or trading market for the old notes or the new notes.

The liquidity of any trading market for the notes and the market price quoted for the notes will depend upon the number of holders of the notes, the overall market for high yield securities, our financial performance or prospects or the prospects for companies in our industry generally, the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the notes and other factors.

 

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EXCHANGE OFFER

Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer

At the closing of the offering of the old notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers pursuant to which we agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the old notes, at our cost, to do the following:

 

•

file an exchange offer registration statement with the SEC with respect to the exchange offer for the new notes,

 

•

use reasonable best efforts to cause the exchange offer registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act, and

 

•

use reasonable best efforts to have the exchange offer completed by the 365th day following the date of the initial issuance of the notes (March 26, 2016).

Upon the SEC’s declaring the exchange offer registration statement effective, we agreed to offer the new notes in exchange for surrender of the old notes. We agreed to use reasonable best efforts to cause the exchange offer registration statement to be effective continuously, to keep the exchange offer open for a period of not less than 20 business days and to use reasonable best efforts to cause the exchange offer to be commenced promptly after the exchange offer registration statement is declared effective by the SEC.

For each old note surrendered to us pursuant to the exchange offer, the holder of such old note will receive a new note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered old note. Interest on each new note will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the surrendered old note, November 1, 2015. The registration rights agreement also obligates us to include in the prospectus for the exchange offer certain information necessary to allow a broker-dealer who holds old notes that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other ordinary course trading activities (other than old notes acquired directly from us or one of our affiliates) to exchange such old notes pursuant to the exchange offer and to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements in connection with resales of new notes received by such broker-dealer in the exchange offer. We agreed to amend or supplement the prospectus contained in the exchange offer registration statement for a period of 180 days after the last exchange date, which period may be extended under certain circumstances.

The preceding agreement is needed because any broker-dealer who acquires old notes for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities is required to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. This prospectus covers the offer and sale of the new notes pursuant to the exchange offer and the resale of new notes received in the exchange offer by any broker-dealer who held old notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities other than old notes acquired directly from us or one of our affiliates.

Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that the new notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer would in general be freely tradable after the exchange offer without further registration under the Securities Act. However, any purchaser of old notes who is an “affiliate” of ours or who intends to participate in the exchange offer for the purpose of distributing the related new notes:

 

•

will not be able to rely on the interpretation of the staff of the SEC,

 

•

will not be able to tender its old notes in the exchange offer, and

 

•

must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or transfer of the old notes unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements.

 

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Each holder of the old notes (other than certain specified holders) who desires to exchange old notes for the new notes in the exchange offer will be required to make the representations described below under “—Procedures for Tendering—Your Representations to Us.”

We further agreed to file with the SEC a shelf registration statement to register for public resale of old notes held by any holder who provides us with certain information for inclusion in the shelf registration statement if:

 

i.

the exchange offer would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC,

 

ii.

the exchange offer is not consummated within 365 days of the issuance of the old notes,

 

iii.

any initial purchaser so requests with respect to the old notes not eligible to be exchanged for the new notes and held by it following the consummation of the exchange offer, or

 

iv.

any holder, other than a broker-dealer, is not eligible to participate in the exchange offer, or if any holder, other than a broker-dealer, that participates in the exchange offer does not receive freely tradable new notes in exchange for tendered old notes.

We have agreed, at our expense, (a) as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after such filing obligation arises) to file a shelf registration statement, (b) to use our reasonable best efforts to cause the shelf registration statement to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) under the Securities Act on or prior to March 26, 2016 in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above and on or prior to the 180th day after the date on which the shelf registration statement is required to be filed in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv) above, and (c) to keep effective the shelf registration statement until two years after its effective date (or such shorter period that will terminate when all the notes covered thereby have been sold pursuant thereto or in certain other circumstances).

If (a) the exchange offer is not consummated on or before to the 365th calendar day following the date of issuance of the old notes, (b) a shelf registration statement applicable to the notes is not filed or declared effective when required, or (c) a registration statement applicable to the notes is declared effective as required but thereafter fails to remain effective or usable in connection with resales for more than 60 days (each such event referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above, a “Registration Default”), we will pay liquidated damages in the form of additional interest in cash to each holder of notes in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate principal amount of notes for the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the Registration Default until such time as no Registration Default is in effect, which rate shall increase by 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period during which such Registration Default continues up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, such additional interest will cease to accrue and the interest rate on the notes will revert to the original rate; provided, however, that, if after the date such additional interest ceases to accrue, a different Registration Default occurs, such additional interest may again commence accruing pursuant to the foregoing provisions. All references herein to “interest” include any additional interest payable pursuant to this paragraph.

Holders of the old notes will be required to make certain representations to us (as described in the registration rights agreement) in order to participate in the exchange offer and may be required to deliver information to be used in connection with the shelf registration statement and to provide comments on the shelf registration statement within the time periods set forth in the registration rights agreement in order to have their old notes included in the shelf registration statement.

This summary of the material provisions of the registration rights agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the registration rights agreement, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement which includes this prospectus.

Except as set forth above, after consummation of the exchange offer, holders of old notes which are the subject of the exchange offer have no registration or exchange rights under the registration rights agreement. See “—Consequences of Failure to Exchange.”

 

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Terms of the Exchange Offer

Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept for exchange any old notes properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. We will issue new notes in principal amount equal to the principal amount of old notes surrendered in the exchange offer. Old notes may be tendered only for new notes and only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of old notes being tendered for exchange.

As of the date of this prospectus, $400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the old notes is outstanding. This prospectus and the letter of transmittal are being sent to all registered holders of old notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of old notes entitled to participate in the exchange offer.

We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the registration rights agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Old notes that the holders thereof do not tender for exchange in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest. These old notes will continue to be entitled to the rights and benefits such holders have under the indenture relating to the notes and the registration rights agreement.

We will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered old notes when we have given oral or written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent and complied with the applicable provisions of the registration rights agreement. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the new notes from us.

If you tender old notes in the exchange offer, you will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of old notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection with the exchange offer. It is important that you read the section labeled “—Fees and Expenses” for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in the exchange offer.

We will return any old notes that we do not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

Expiration Date

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2016, unless, in our sole discretion, we extend it.

Extensions, Delays in Acceptance, Termination or Amendment

We expressly reserve the right, at any time or various times, to extend the period of time during which the exchange offer is open. We may delay acceptance of any old notes by giving oral or written notice of such extension to their holders. During any such extensions, all old notes previously tendered will remain subject to the exchange offer, and we may accept them for exchange.

In order to extend the exchange offer, we will notify the exchange agent orally or in writing of any extension. We will notify the registered holders of old notes of the extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

 

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If any of the conditions described below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have not been satisfied, we reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

 

•

to delay accepting for exchange any old notes,

 

•

to extend the exchange offer, or

 

•

to terminate the exchange offer,

by giving oral or written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent. Subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement, we also reserve the right to amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner.

Any such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed promptly by oral or written notice thereof to the registered holders of old notes. If we amend the exchange offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose such amendment by means of a prospectus supplement. The supplement will be distributed to the registered holders of the old notes. Depending upon the significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to the registered holders, we may extend the exchange offer. In the event of a material change in the exchange offer, including the waiver by us of a material condition, we will extend the exchange offer period if necessary so that at least five business days remain in the exchange offer following notice of the material change.

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

We will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange any new notes for, any old notes if the exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder of old notes, would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. Similarly, we may terminate the exchange offer as provided in this prospectus before accepting old notes for exchange in the event of such a potential violation.

In addition, we will not be obligated to accept for exchange the old notes of any holder that has not made to us the representations described under “—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer,” “—Procedures for Tendering” and “Plan of Distribution” and such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to allow us to use an appropriate form to register the new notes under the Securities Act.

We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer, and to reject for exchange any old notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions to the exchange offer specified above. We will give prompt oral or written notice of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the holders of the old notes as promptly as practicable.

These conditions are for our sole benefit, and we may assert them or waive them in whole or in part at any time or at various times in our sole discretion. If we fail at any time to exercise any of these rights, this failure will not mean that we have waived our rights. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at any time or at various times.

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any old notes tendered, and will not issue new notes in exchange for any such old notes, if at such time any stop order has been threatened or is in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture relating to the notes under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Procedures for Tendering

In order to participate in the exchange offer, you must properly tender your old notes to the exchange agent as described below. It is your responsibility to properly tender your notes. We have the right to waive any defects. However, we are not required to waive defects and are not required to notify you of defects in your tender.

 

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If you have any questions or need help in exchanging your notes, please call the exchange agent, whose address and phone number are set forth in “Prospectus Summary—The Exchange Offer—Exchange Agent.”

All of the old notes were issued in book-entry form, and all of the old notes are currently represented by global certificates held for the account of DTC. We have confirmed with DTC that the old notes may be tendered using the Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) instituted by DTC. The exchange agent will establish an account with DTC for purposes of the exchange offer promptly after the commencement of the exchange offer and DTC participants may electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange offer by causing DTC to transfer their old notes to the exchange agent using the ATOP procedures. In connection with the transfer, DTC will send an “agent’s message” to the exchange agent. The agent’s message will state that DTC has received instructions from the participant to tender old notes and that the participant agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal.

By using the ATOP procedures to exchange old notes, you will not be required to deliver a letter of transmittal to the exchange agent. However, you will be bound by its terms just as if you had signed it.

There is no procedure for guaranteed late delivery of the notes.

Determinations Under the Exchange Offer

We will determine in our sole discretion all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt, acceptance of tendered old notes and withdrawal of tendered old notes. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any old notes not properly tendered or any old notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defect, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular old notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, all defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be cured within such time as we shall determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any old notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly following the expiration date.

When We Will Issue New Notes

In all cases, we will issue new notes for old notes that we have accepted for exchange under the exchange offer only after the exchange agent timely receives:

 

•

a book-entry confirmation of such old notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC; and

 

•

a properly transmitted agent’s message.

Return of Old Notes Not Accepted or Exchanged

If we do not accept any tendered old notes for exchange or if old notes are submitted for a greater principal amount than the holder desires to exchange, the unaccepted or non-exchanged old notes will be returned without expense to their tendering holder. Such non-exchanged old notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC. These actions will occur promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

Your Representations to Us

By agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things:

 

•

any new notes that you receive will be acquired in the ordinary course of your business;

 

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•

you have no arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in the distribution of the new notes;

 

•

you are not our “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act; and

 

•

if you are a broker-dealer that will receive new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes, you acquired those notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and you will deliver a prospectus (or to the extent permitted by law, make available a prospectus) in connection with any resale of such new notes.

Withdrawal of Tenders

Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may withdraw your tender at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. For a withdrawal to be effective you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC’s ATOP system. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with withdrawn old notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of DTC.

We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility and time of receipt of notice of withdrawal. Our determination shall be final and binding on all parties. We will deem any old notes so withdrawn not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer.

Any old notes that have been tendered for exchange but are not exchanged for any reason will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the old notes. This crediting will take place as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer. You may retender properly withdrawn old notes by following the procedures described under “—Procedures for Tendering” above at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

Fees and Expenses

We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders. The principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, we may make additional solicitation by facsimile, telephone, electronic mail or in person by our officers and regular employees and those of our affiliates.

We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its related reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

We will pay the cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer. They include:

 

•

all registration and filing fees and expenses;

 

•

all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or securities laws;

 

•

accounting and legal fees, disbursements and printing, messenger and delivery services, and telephone costs; and

 

•

related fees and expenses.

Transfer Taxes

We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of old notes under the exchange offer. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of old notes under the exchange offer.

 

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Consequences of Failure to Exchange

If you do not exchange new notes for your old notes under the exchange offer, you will remain subject to the existing restrictions on transfer of the old notes. In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes unless the offer or sale is either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from the registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the old notes under the Securities Act.

Accounting Treatment

We will record the new notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the old notes. This carrying value is the aggregate principal amount of the old notes less any bond discount, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with the exchange offer.

Other

Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.

We may in the future seek to acquire untendered old notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any old notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered old notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement. We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the new notes in the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the new notes as contemplated by this prospectus, we will receive old notes in a like principal amount. The form and terms of the new notes are identical in all respects to the form and terms of the old notes, except the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act and will not contain restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. Old notes surrendered in exchange for the new notes will be retired and cancelled and will not be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the new notes will not result in any change in outstanding indebtedness.

 

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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratios of consolidated earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented:

 

		Year Ended December 31,(b)																				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
		2010				2011				2012				2013				2014
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a)(c)			(2.14	)x			0.20x				(0.33	)x			0.24x				6.82x				1.36x

 

(a)

For purposes of calculating the ratios of consolidated earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consists of pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations, (income) loss from equity investees, distributed income of equity investees and interest capitalized, plus fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, including amortization of discounts, interest capitalized and deferred financing amortization.

(b)	We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $24.6 million, $25.2 million, $6.9 million, $3.9 million to achieve coverage of 1:1 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

(c)	We had no preferred stock outstanding for any period presented, and accordingly, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

The new notes will be issued and the old notes were issued (in this section, together, the “Notes”) under an indenture dated as of March 26, 2015 (the “Indenture”) by and among itself, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), in a private transaction that is not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. 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 (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement. It does not restate those agreements in their entirety. The Company urges you to read the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement because they, and not this description, define the rights of Holders of the Notes. Copies of the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheadings “—Certain Definitions,” “—Principal, Maturity and Interest” and “—Registration Rights.” In this description, the word “Company” refers only to Rice Energy Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

The registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered holders of Notes have rights under the Indenture.

Brief Description of the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees

The Notes

The Notes:

 

•

will be general unsecured senior obligations of the Company;

 

•

will be equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior Indebtedness of the Company;

 

•

will be effectively subordinate in right of payment to any secured Indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the collateral securing such Indebtedness, including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement;

 

•

will be senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of the Company;

 

•

will be effectively subordinated to the Indebtedness of the Company’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes; and

 

•

will be guaranteed by the Guarantors.

The Subsidiary Guarantees

These Notes will be jointly and severally guaranteed by each of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries, and by any of its future Restricted Subsidiaries that guarantee Indebtedness of the Company or another Guarantor under a Credit Facility.

The Subsidiary Guarantees of the Notes:

 

•

will be general unsecured senior obligations of each Guarantor;

 

•

will be equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior Indebtedness of each Guarantor;

 

•

will be effectively subordinate in right of payment to any secured Indebtedness of each Guarantor to the extent of the collateral securing such Indebtedness, including Indebtedness of the Guarantors under the Credit Agreement; and

 

•

will be senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of each Guarantor.

 

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Certain Subsidiaries of the Company are not, and certain future Subsidiaries of the Company may not be, required to guarantee the Notes. The Notes will not be guaranteed by any of Rice Midstream Holdings LLC, Rice Midstream Management LLC and Rice Midstream Partners LP and their respective subsidiaries, each of which will be Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date. Under the circumstances described below under the subheading “—Certain Definitions—Unrestricted Subsidiary,” the Company will be permitted to designate certain other Subsidiaries as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries.” Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to many of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture and will not guarantee the Notes.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

The Company issued Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $400 million on March 26, 2015 (the “Initial Notes”). The Company may issue Additional Notes (“Additional Notes”) from time to time after this offering in an unlimited amount, without the consent of the Holders but subject to the provisions of the Indenture described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness.” The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture, together with any Exchange Notes issued under the Registration Rights Agreement, will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Unless otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of the Indenture and this “Description of Notes”, references to the Notes include any Additional Notes and Exchange Notes actually issued.

The Company will issue Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes will mature on May 1, 2023.

Interest on the Notes accrues at the rate of 7.250% per year and will be payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1, commencing on November 1, 2014. The Company will make each interest payment to the Holders of record of the Notes on the immediately preceding April 15 and October 15.

Interest on the Notes accrues from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

The interest rate on the Notes is subject to increase if certain conditions specified by the Registration Rights Agreement are not satisfied, all as further described under the caption “—Registration Rights.” All references to interest on the Notes include any such additional interest that may be payable.

Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes

If a Holder of not less than $5.0 million aggregate principal amount of any Notes held in definitive form has given wire transfer instructions to an account located in the United States to the Company, the Company will make all principal, premium and interest payments on those Notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent unless the Company elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders.

The Company will make all principal, premium and interest payments on each Note in global form registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the Holder of such global Note.

Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes

The Trustee will initially act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the Notes, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

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Transfer and Exchange

A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with 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 and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

Subsidiary Guarantees

The Guarantors have jointly and severally guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Notes on a senior unsecured basis. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited in a manner intended to prevent that Subsidiary Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable laws, although no assurance can be given that a court would give the Holders the benefit of such a provision. Please read “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees and require noteholders to return payments received from guarantors.”

Except in a transaction resulting in the release of a Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor, the Company will not permit a Guarantor to 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:

 

(1)

immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(2)

the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee.

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture:

 

(1)

in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) other than to the Company or another Guarantor, if such transaction as of the time of such disposition complies with the provisions of the Indenture described under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”;

 

(2)

in connection with any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of a Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) other than to the Company or another Guarantor, if such transaction at the time of such disposition complies with the provisions of the Indenture described under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” and the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction;

 

(3)

if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture;

 

(4)

if the Company effects a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as described under “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or if it satisfies and discharges the Indenture as described under “—Satisfaction and Discharge”; or

 

(5)

unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at such time as such Guarantor ceases to guarantee any other Indebtedness of the Company or any other Guarantor under a Credit Facility.

 

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Optional Redemption

Prior to May 1, 2018, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) originally issued prior to the redemption date under the Indenture in an amount not greater than the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, at a redemption price of 107.250% of the principal amount thereof, plus 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); provided that

 

(1)

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

 

(2)

each such redemption must occur within 180 days of the date of the closing of the related Equity Offering.

In addition, at any time prior to May 1, 2018, the Company may redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

 

(i)

the principal amount thereof, plus

 

(ii)

the Make Whole Premium at the redemption date,

plus 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).

On or after May 1, 2018, the Company may redeem all or a part of these Notes at any time or from time to time at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, 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 May 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year		Percentage
2018			105.438	%
2019			103.625	%
2020			101.813	%
2021 and thereafter			100.000	%

Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, or as described below in the last paragraph under “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control,” the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to maturity.

Selection and Notice

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption as follows:

 

(1)

if the Notes are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or

 

(2)

if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Notes in global form, the Notes represented thereby will be selected in accordance with DTC’s prescribed method).

Notes or portions of Notes the Trustee selects for redemption shall be in minimum amounts of $2,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Notices of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered

 

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address, except that notices of redemption may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture. Notices of redemption may be subject to one or more conditions precedent specified in the notice of redemption, including completion of an Equity Offering or other corporate transaction.

If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption, subject to satisfaction of any conditions to the redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption.

Mandatory Redemption; Offers to Purchase; Open Market Purchases

The Company is not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. However, under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to offer to purchase Notes as described under the captions “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and “—Asset Sales.” The Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

Repurchase at the Option of Holders

Change of Control

If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Company has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption,” each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer a payment (the “Change of Control Payment”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (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 purchase).

No later than 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in such notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice. 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 such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the 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 the covenant described herein, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this covenant by virtue of the Company’s compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1)

accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)

deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

 

(3)

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 thereof being purchased by the Company.

 

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The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered and not withdrawn the Change of Control Payment for such tendered Notes, with such payments to be made through the facilities of DTC for all Notes in global form, and the Trustee will promptly 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, by such Holder; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

The provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable regardless of whether or not any other provisions of the Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the Indenture does not contain provisions that permit the Holders of the Notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

The Credit Agreement currently treats certain change of control events with respect to the Company as an event of default entitling the lenders to terminate all further lending commitments, to accelerate all loans then outstanding and to exercise other remedies. The occurrence of a Change of Control may result in a default under future Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and give the lenders thereunder the right to require the Company to repay obligations outstanding thereunder. Moreover, the exercise by Holders of their right to require the Company to repurchase the Notes could cause a default under such future Indebtedness, even if the Change of Control itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchase on the Company. The Company’s ability to repurchase Notes following a Change of Control also may be limited by the Company’s then existing financial resources.

The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer, (2) a notice of redemption for all outstanding Notes has been given, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price or (3) in connection with or in contemplation of any publicly announced Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer.

A Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer.

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of Notes to require the Company to repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole may be uncertain.

If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company, or any other Person making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as described above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn 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 such purchase pursuant to the Change of

 

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Control Offer described above, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Payment or Alternate Offering price, as applicable, plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment or Alternate Offer price, as applicable, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (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 purchase).

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 at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests or other assets issued or sold or otherwise disposed of (which may be determined at the time of entering into any agreement with respect to such Asset Sale); and

 

(2)

(A) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents or assets of the type referred to in clauses (2) or (3) of the next succeeding paragraph, or any combination of the foregoing (together, “Permitted Consideration”) or (B) the Fair Market Value of all forms of consideration other than Permitted Consideration since the Issue Date does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the ACNTA of the Company at the time when such determination is made. For purposes of this provision, each of the following shall 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 Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a novation agreement or similar agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;

 

(b)

with respect to any Asset Sale of properties used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries where the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary retains an interest in such property, the amount of the costs and expenses of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary related to the exploration, development, completion or production of such properties and activities related thereto which the transferee (or an Affiliate thereof) agrees to pay;

 

(c)

Indebtedness (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or a Guarantee) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale; provided that the Company and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale;

 

(d)

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

 

(e)

solely in the case of any Asset Sale of Midstream Assets, Permitted MLP Securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any Asset Sale pursuant to a condemnation, appropriation or similar taking, including by deed in lieu of condemnation, such Asset Sale shall not be required to satisfy the requirements of clauses (1) and (2) above.

Within the later of (x) one year after the date of receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale and (y) six months after the date of an agreement entered into within such one-year period committing the Company or

 

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Restricted Subsidiary to make an acquisition or expenditure referred to in clauses (2) or (3) below, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Net Proceeds at its option, in any one or more of the following:

 

(1)

to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Indebtedness);

 

(2)

to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or a majority of the Voting Stock of, a Company principally engaged in the Oil and Gas Business that will, upon such acquisition, become a Restricted Subsidiary or acquire any minority interest in a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(3)

to make capital expenditures or to acquire properties or assets, in each case that are used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business.

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by the Indenture.

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, the Company will make an offer (the “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of Notes and, to the extent required by the terms thereof, all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price with respect to the Notes in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (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 purchase), and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis, on the basis of the aggregate principal amounts tendered in round denominations (which in the case of the Notes will be minimum denominations of $2,000 principal amount or multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof). Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the date such Asset Sale Offer is completed.

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 such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the covenant described herein, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this covenant by virtue of the Company’s compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

Certain Covenants

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 by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or

 

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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 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 any such Equity Interests owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(3)

make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, except (a) a payment of interest or principal on or after the date when due or within three Business Days prior thereto, (b) in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment payment or payment due at final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, purchase or other acquisition or retirement or (c) payments on Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(4)

make any Investment other than a Permitted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (3) above and this clause (4) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”),

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

 

(1)

no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

(2)

the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been 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 the covenant described below under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness;” and

 

(3)

such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Prior Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of the next succeeding paragraph, but including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of such paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(a)

50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from April 1, 2014 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus

 

(b)

100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and 100% of the Fair Market Value of securities or other property other than cash (including Capital Stock of Persons engaged in the Oil and Gas Business or assets used in the Oil and Gas Business) received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary since the Prior Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), other than Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees; plus

 

(c)

the amount by which Indebtedness is reduced on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the Prior Issue Date of any Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (plus the amount of any accrued interest then outstanding on such Indebtedness to the extent the obligation to pay such interest is extinguished less the amount

 

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of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any property (as determined in good faith by an officer of the Company), distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange); provided, however, that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Indebtedness (excluding Net Cash Proceeds from sales to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees); plus

 

(d)

an amount equal to the sum of (i) the net reduction in the Investments (other than Permitted Investments) made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person resulting from repurchases, repayments or redemptions of such Investments by such Person, proceeds realized on the sale of such Investments and proceeds representing the return of capital (excluding dividends and distributions to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income), in each case received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the Prior Issue Date, and (ii) to the extent such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that to the extent the foregoing sum exceeds, in the case of any such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary since the Prior Issue Date, such excess shall not be included in this clause (d) unless the amount represented by such excess has not been and will not be taken into account in one of the foregoing clauses (a)-(c).

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

 

(1)

the payment of any dividend or the consummation of any redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration or giving of redemption notice, as the case may be, thereof, if at said date of declaration or notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Indenture (and such payment shall be deemed to be paid on the date of payment for purposes of any calculation required by this covenant);

 

(2)

any Restricted Payment made in exchange for, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with any such payment being deemed to be “substantially concurrent” if made within 180 days of the sale of the Equity Interests in question; provided that the amount of any such Net Cash Proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (3)(b) of the preceding paragraph;

 

(3)

the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the Net Cash Proceeds from an incurrence of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness”;

 

(4)

the payment of any dividend or other distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its common Equity Interests on a pro rata basis or on a basis more favorable to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(5)

the 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 employees, former employees, directors or former directors of Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or heirs, estates or other permitted transferees of such employees or directors) pursuant to any agreements (including employment agreements), management equity subscription agreements or stock option agreements or plans (or amendments thereto), approved by the Board of Directors, under which such individuals purchase or sell or are granted the right to purchase or sell shares of Capital Stock; provided that the

 

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aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed $15.0 million in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $30.0 million in any calendar year; provided, further, however, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed;

 

(a)

the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) to members of management, directors, managers or consultants of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Company that occurs after the Prior Issue Date (provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(b) of the preceding paragraph), plus

 

(b)

the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) or the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Prior Issue Date;

provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (a) and (b) above in any calendar year; and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, managers, officers or consultants of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or the direct or indirect parents of the Company in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parents will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of the Indenture;

 

(6)

loans or advances to employees of the Company or employees or directors of any Subsidiary of the Company, in each case as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the proceeds of which are used to purchase Capital Stock of the Company, or to refinance loans or advances made pursuant to this clause (6), in an aggregate amount not in excess of $2.0 million at any one time outstanding;

 

(7)

repurchases or other acquisitions for value of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise or exchange of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof or made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any such exercise or exchange;

 

(8)

upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale and within 60 days after the completion of the offer to repurchase the Notes under the covenants described under “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” or “—Asset Sales” above (including the purchase of all Notes tendered and required to be purchased), any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or other retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness required under the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale at a purchase or redemption price not to exceed 101% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, provided that, in the notice to Holders relating to a Change of Control or Asset Sale hereunder, the Company shall describe this clause (8);

 

(9)

the purchase by the Company of fractional shares arising out of stock dividends, splits or business combinations or conversion of convertible or exchangeable securities of debt or equity issued by the Company;

 

(10)

payments to dissenting stockholders (x) pursuant to applicable law or (y) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of legal claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by the Indenture;

 

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(11)

dividends on Disqualified Stock of the Company or preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary if such dividends are included in the calculation of Fixed Charges;

 

(12)

payments made by any Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the stockholders of the Company in connection with or as part of (a) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into such Person or a subsidiary of such Person, or (b) a merger of a subsidiary of such Person into the Company; or

 

(13)

other Restricted Payments not to exceed $30.0 million in the aggregate since the Prior Issue Date.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall 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 such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities other than cash that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined, in the case of amounts in excess of $20.0 million, by an officer of the Company and, in the case of amounts in excess of $50.0 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the Trustee.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, if a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described in clauses (1)-(14) above or pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company, in its sole discretion, may order and classify, and subsequently reorder and reclassify, such Restricted Payment in any manner in compliance with this covenant.

Incurrence of Indebtedness

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 (including Acquired Debt); provided, however, that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), 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 would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Indebtedness”):

 

(1)

the incurrence by the Company and any Guarantor of Indebtedness under one or more Credit Facilities; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) and outstanding at any time does not exceed an amount equal to the greater of (a) $500.0 million and (b) the sum of (x) $250.0 million and (y) 35.0% of ACNTA at the time of incurrence;

 

(2)

the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Existing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness described under clauses (1), (3) or (6) of this paragraph);

 

(3)

the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (a) the Initial Notes, (b) any Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement in exchange for the Notes, and (c) any Subsidiary Guarantees;

 

(4)

the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings, industrial revenue bonds, purchase money obligations or other Indebtedness or preferred stock, or synthetic lease obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, development, construction,

 

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installation or improvement of property (real or personal and including Capital Stock), plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, whether through the direct purchase of such assets or the Equity Interests of any Person owning such assets), in an aggregate principal amount, taken together with Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, that does not exceed the greater of $75.0 million and 7.5% of ACNTA at the time of incurrence;

 

(5)

the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by the Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clauses (2), (3), (4), (12) or (15) or this clause (5) of this paragraph;

 

(6)

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

 

(a)

(i) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the obligee is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes, and (ii) if a Guarantor is the obligor of such Indebtedness and the obligee is neither the Company nor a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations of such Guarantor with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee; 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 thereof and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof, shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause;

 

(7)

in-kind obligations relating to net oil and natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8)

any obligations in respect of completion bonds, performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds, bankers acceptances, letters of credit, insurance obligations or bonds and other similar bonds and obligations incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and any Guarantees or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or obligations;

 

(9)

any obligation (including deferred premiums) under Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements and Commodity Agreements; provided, that such Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements and Commodity Agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company);

 

(10)

any obligation arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, Guarantee, adjustment of purchase price, holdback, contingency payment obligation based on the performance of the acquired or disposed asset or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, asset or Capital Stock;

 

(11)

any obligation arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;

 

(12)

the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

 

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(13)

any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the guaranteed Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated or pari passu with the Notes, the Guarantee must be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

 

(14)

Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (14), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (14), does not exceed the greater of $50.0 million and 5.0% of ACNTA at the time of incurrence; and

 

(15)

the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in addition to Indebtedness permitted by clauses (1) through (14) above or the first paragraph above in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (15), not to exceed the greater of (a) $75.0 million and (b) 5.0% of the Company’s ACNTA, determined as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving effect to such incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

For purposes of determining compliance with this “Indebtedness” covenant:

 

(1)

in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (15) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) on the date of its incurrence and, subject to clause (2) below, may later reclassify such items of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof), in any manner that complies with this covenant, and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses or may include the amount and type of such Indebtedness partially in one such clause and partially in one or more other such clauses;

 

(2)

all Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date under the Credit Agreement after giving effect to the offering and the use of proceeds of the Initial Notes thereof shall be deemed initially incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of the second paragraph of this covenant and not the first paragraph or clause (2) of the second paragraph of this covenant;

 

(3)

Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included;

 

(4)

the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP;

 

(5)

Indebtedness of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been incurred by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(6)

the accrual of interest or dividends, 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, the reclassification of preferred equity as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or preferred equity in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or preferred equity will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred equity for purposes of this covenant.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was

 

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incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company may incur pursuant to this covenant shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Liens

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens, to secure (a) any Indebtedness of the Company unless prior to, or contemporaneously therewith, the Notes are equally and ratably secured for so long as such other Indebtedness is so secured, or (b) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, unless prior to, or contemporaneously therewith, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor is equally and ratably secured for so long as such other Indebtedness is so secured; provided, however, that if such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, the Lien securing such Indebtedness will be subordinated and junior to the Lien securing the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, with the same relative priority as such Indebtedness has with respect to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee.

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 to:

 

(a)

pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that the priority of any preferred stock in receiving dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions prior to dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions being paid on Capital Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock);

 

(b)

make loans or advances to the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or

 

(c)

transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

 

(1)

agreements existing on the Issue Date, including the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and the Indenture;

 

(2)

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

 

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Indebtedness 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 permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred;

 

(3)

any agreement for the sale or other disposition of Capital Stock or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition;

 

(4)

any amendment, restatement, modification, supplement, extension, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) or (2), provided that the encumbrances or restrictions contained in the agreements governing the foregoing are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing such Indebtedness as determined in good faith by the Company;

 

(5)

cash or other deposits, or net worth requirements or similar requirements, imposed by suppliers, landlords or customers or required by insurance, security or bonding companies, or restrictions on cash or other deposits by parties under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business of the types described in the definition of Permitted Business Investments;

 

(6)

any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

 

(7)

provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property or transfer of Capital Stock in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements, limited liability company organizational documents, and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors or any of its officers, which limitation is applicable only to the assets, property or Capital Stock that are the subject of such agreements;

 

(8)

any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or Capital Stock permitted to be incurred under the Indenture or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was incurred if either (x) in the case of Indebtedness, the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such Indebtedness or agreement or (y) the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction either (i) will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes and such restrictions are not materially less favorable to Holders of Notes than is customary in comparable financings or (ii) are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary than those in effect on the Issue Date with respect to that Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to agreements in effect on the Issue Date or those contained in the Indenture or the Credit Agreement, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an officer of the Company; and

 

(9)

with respect to clause (c) of the preceding paragraph only, any of the following encumbrances or restrictions:

 

(a)

purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business or otherwise permitted under the Indenture that impose restrictions on the property so acquired;

 

(b)

Permitted Liens or Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described above under the caption “—Liens” that limit the right of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dispose of the assets subject to such Lien;

 

(c)

restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such assets pending the closing of such sale;

 

(d)

restrictions on the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease, license, sub-license or similar contract, or on the assignment or transfer of any such lease, license, sub-license or other contract;

 

(e)

agreements governing Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(f)

customary restrictions on the disposition or distribution of assets or property in agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business of the types described in the definition of Permitted Business Investments.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The Company may not: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation); or (2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

 

(1)

either:

 

(a)

the Company is the surviving corporation; or

 

(b)

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 is a Person existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(2)

the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(3)

immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

 

(4)

either (a) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) would, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions 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 the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness” or (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transaction; and

 

(5)

the Company 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 the Indenture and all conditions precedent therein relating to such transaction have been satisfied.

The surviving or transferee Person in any of the above transactions (if not the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for the Company under the Indenture and the Notes and the Company (if not the surviving Person) will be fully released from its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets.

For purposes of this covenant, the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties or assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company.

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of a Person.

 

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Clauses (3) and (4) of this “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

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 (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration to or from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $5.0 million, unless:

 

(1)

such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time of such transaction in arm’s-length dealings by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with a Person that is not an Affiliate or, if in the good faith judgment of the Company, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

 

(2)

(a) the Company delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $20.0 million, an officers’ certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with the requirements of clause (1) above, and (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $50.0 million, a majority of the Disinterested Members of the Board of Directors, if any, (or, if there is only one Disinterested Member, such Disinterested Member) have determined that the criteria set forth in clause (1) are satisfied with respect to such Affiliate Transaction(s) and have approved such Affiliate Transaction(s), as evidenced by a resolution delivered to the Trustee and certified by an officers’ certificate as having been adopted by the Board of Directors.

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

 

(1)

any employment or severance agreement or other employee, consulting, service, termination or director compensation agreement, arrangement or plan, (or any amendment thereto with respect thereto), or indemnification agreements, entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with officers and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof and the payment of compensation to officers and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof (including amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit plans, employee stock option or similar plans), so long as such agreement or payment is in the ordinary course of business or has been approved by a majority of the Disinterested Members of the Board of Directors (or, if there is only one Disinterested Member, such Disinterested Member);

 

(2)

transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3)

Restricted Payments that, in each case, are permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the caption “—Restricted Payments” or Permitted Investments;

 

(4)

loans or advances to employees, officers or directors in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case only as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, but in any event not to exceed $2.0 million in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

 

(5)

any transactions undertaken pursuant to any contracts in existence on the Issue Date (as in effect on the Issue Date) and any renewals, replacements or modifications of such contracts (pursuant to new transactions or otherwise) on terms no less favorable to the holders of the Notes than those in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(6)

in the case of (i) contracts for (A) drilling or other oil-field services or supplies, (B) the sale, storage, gathering or transport of hydrocarbons or (C) the lease or rental of office or storage space or (ii) other operation-type contracts, any such contracts that are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and third parties or, if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, that the terms are on the whole not materially less favorable than those that would be reasonably expected to be available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis, as determined in good faith by the Company;

 

(7)

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

 

(8)

any sale or other issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to, or receipt of a capital contribution from, an Affiliate (or a Person that becomes an Affiliate) of the Company;

 

(9)

any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, deliver to the Trustee a letter from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing stating that such transaction meets the requirements of clause (1) of the first paragraph of this covenant;

 

(10)

any Transaction between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on the one hand and any Person deemed to be an Affiliate solely because a director of such Person is also a director of the company or a Restricted Subsidiary, on the other hand; provided that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, in connection with the approval of the transaction; and

 

(11)

Transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and otherwise in compliance with the Indenture; provided that such Transactions are on terms substantially similar to those obtained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in similar Transactions with third parties or, if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar Transaction with a third party, that are on the whole not materially less favorable than those that would be reasonably expected to be available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis, as determined in good faith by the Company.

Additional Subsidiary Guarantees

If, after the Issue Date, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not already a Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor under a Credit Facility, then that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture and delivering it to the Trustee within 30 days of the date on which it guaranteed such Indebtedness. Any such guarantee shall be subject to release as described under “—Subsidiary Guarantees.”

Business Activities

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than the Oil and Gas Business, except to such extent as would not be material in the opinion of the Board of Directors (which opinion shall be reasonable and made in good faith) to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

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Reports

Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

 

(1)

all quarterly and annual financial information 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 section on “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Company’s certified independent public 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 the Company has designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or that, taken together with other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, would be a Significant Subsidiary), then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, 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.

The availability of the foregoing materials on the SEC’s website or on the Company’s website shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery obligations.

In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the Company may satisfy its obligations in this covenant with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such parent company; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

In addition, the Company will agree that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding and are “restricted securities” under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if at any time it is not required to file with the SEC the reports required by the preceding paragraphs, it will furnish to beneficial owners of Notes and to prospective investors, upon request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Covenant Termination

From and after the occurrence of an Investment Grade Rating Event, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the provisions of the Indenture described in “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” or in “—Certain Covenants” above under the following headings:

 

•

“Restricted Payments,”

 

•

“Incurrence of Indebtedness,”

 

•

“Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries,”

 

•

Clause (4) of “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets,”

 

•

“Transactions with Affiliates,” and

 

•

“Business Activities”

 

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(collectively, the “Eliminated Covenants”). As a result, after the date on which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer subject to the Eliminated Covenants, the Notes will be entitled to substantially reduced covenant protection.

After the foregoing covenants have been terminated, the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

Events of Default and Remedies

Each of the following is an Event of Default:

 

(1)

default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;

 

(2)

default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes;

 

(3)

failure by the Company to comply with the provisions described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets;”

 

(4)

failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after receipt of written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Notes with the provisions described under the captions “—Repurchase at the Option of the Holders—Change of Control” and “—Asset Sales” and “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments,” “—Incurrence of Indebtedness,” “—Liens,” “—Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries,” “—Transactions with Affiliates,” and “—Additional Subsidiary Guarantees”;

 

(5)

failure by the Company for 60 days (or 180 days with respect to the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Reports”) after receipt of written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Notes to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture;

 

(6)

default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is 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 Issue Date, if that default:

 

(a)

is caused by a failure to pay when due any principal on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the 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 $25.0 million or more (the “Cross-Acceleration Provision”); provided, however, that if any such Payment Default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such Payment Default beyond 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;

 

(7)

failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $25.0 million (net of any amounts covered by insurance or a binding indemnity agreement), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days (the “Judgment Provision”);

 

(8)

any Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or, except as permitted by the Indenture, shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its

 

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obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (the “Guarantee Default Provision”), in each case with respect to any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and

 

(9)

certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary (the “Bankruptcy Provision”).

In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.

Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. 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, premium or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

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 Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under “—Amendment, Supplement and Waiver” below cannot be amended or waived without the consent of each Holder affected.

The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture. Upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees, the Registration Rights Agreement or 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.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes and the Indenture and all obligations of the Guarantors discharged with respect to their Subsidiary Guarantees (“Legal Defeasance”) except for:

 

(1)

the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;

 

(2)

the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

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(3)

the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4)

the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.

In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to terminate its obligations under “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and “—Asset Sales” and under the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants” (other than the covenant described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”), the operation of the Cross-Acceleration Provision, the Judgment Provision, the Guarantee Default Provision and (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) the Bankruptcy Provision described under “—Events of Default and Remedies” above and the limitations contained in clause (4) of the first paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” above (collectively, “Covenant Defeasance”) and certain other covenants or obligations of the Company set forth in the Indenture, and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations or provisions will not constitute a Default or Event of Default.

The Company may exercise its Legal Defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance option. If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of any Event of Default. If the Company exercises its Covenant Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clauses (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) or (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) (9) under “—Events of Default and Remedies” above or because of the failure of the Company to comply with clause (4) of the first paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” above. If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released from its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1)

the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, 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 firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to Stated Maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2)

in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the Issue 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;

 

(3)

in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company 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;

 

(4)

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 borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any Lien securing such borrowings);

 

(5)

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

 

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(6)

the Company must deliver to the Trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

 

(7)

the Company must deliver to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The Company may discharge its and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Indenture if (a) all outstanding Notes have been delivered for cancellation, (b) all outstanding Notes have become due and payable at their scheduled maturity or (c) all outstanding Notes are scheduled for redemption, and the Company has deposited with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay and discharge all outstanding Notes, not previously delivered for cancellation, on the date of their scheduled maturity or the scheduled date of redemption.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Except as provided below, the Indenture, the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes).

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):

 

(1)

reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(2)

reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders” or provisions relating to minimum notices required for redemption of Notes described under the caption “—Optional Redemption”);

 

(3)

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

(4)

waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a Default in payments that have become due solely because of an acceleration of the Notes that has been rescinded;

 

(5)

make any Note payable in a currency other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(6)

make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except as permitted by clause (7) below);

 

(7)

waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by one of the covenants described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders”);

 

(8)

modify any Subsidiary Guarantee in any manner adverse to Holders of the Notes or release any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee except in accordance with the terms of the Indenture;

 

(9)

make any change in the ranking of the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees; or

 

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(10)

make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees:

 

(1)

to cure any ambiguity, defect, inconsistency, omission or mistake;

 

(2)

to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(3)

to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s properties or assets in compliance with the Indenture;

 

(4)

to add or release Guarantors in compliance with the Indenture;

 

(5)

to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes, add Events of Default or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor or that does not adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder; provided, however, that any change to the Indenture to conform it to this “Description of Notes” shall not be deemed to adversely affect such legal rights;

 

(6)

to secure the Notes, including pursuant to the requirements of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Liens;”

 

(7)

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(8)

to comply with requirements of any securities depository with respect to the Notes; or

 

(9)

to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes or Additional Notes.

Concerning the Trustee

The Trustee under the indenture, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, also serves as trustee under the indenture for our other series of outstanding senior unsecured notes and is a lender under the Credit Agreement.

If the Trustee becomes a creditor of the Company or any Guarantor, the Indenture will limit its right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest after a Default has occurred and is continuing it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to certain exceptions. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any Holder of Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense as provided in the Indenture.

Governing Law

The Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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Certain Definitions

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

“ACNTA” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination:

 

(a)

the sum of:

 

(i)

discounted future net revenue from proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated by the Company or independent engineers in one or more reserve reports prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

 

(A)

estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such year-end reserve report, and

 

(B)

estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward determinations of estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior year end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which reserves were not reflected in such year-end reserve report, in the case of the determination made under each of clauses (A) and (B) above, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report) before any state or federal income taxes, and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue attributable to:

 

(C)

estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such year-end reserve report produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end reserve report (before any state or federal income taxes), and

 

(D)

reductions in the estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such year-end reserve report since the date of such year-end reserve report attributable to downward determinations of estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such year-end reserve report, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report) before any state or federal income taxes;

provided, however, that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s internal engineers or third party engineers;

 

(ii)

the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and natural gas properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and natural gas reserves are attributed, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements;

 

(iii)

the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements; and

 

(iv)

the greater of (I) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (II) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers within the immediately preceding 12 months, of other tangible assets of the Company

 

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and its Restricted Subsidiaries (provided that the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed);

minus

 

(b)

to the extent not otherwise taken into account in the immediately preceding clause (a), the sum of:

 

(i)

minority interests;

 

(ii)

any net gas or other balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest audited financial statements;

 

(iii)

the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report) before any state or federal income taxes, attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, royalty interests, overriding royalty interests, net profits 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;

 

(iv)

the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report) before any state or federal income taxes, attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

 

(v)

the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in the immediately preceding clause (a)(i) (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

If the Company changes its method of accounting from the successful efforts method to the full cost method or a similar method of accounting, ACNTA will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the successful efforts method of accounting. For the avoidance of doubt, references in this definition to “oil and natural gas reserves” shall include any reserves attributable to natural gas liquids or other hydrocarbons.

“Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)

Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and

 

(2)

Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person, provided that the amount of any such Acquired Debt shall not exceed the Fair Market Value of the assets subject to such Lien.

“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, shall mean 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” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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“Asset Sale” means:

 

(1)

the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition (including, without limitation, by means of a sale and leaseback transaction) of any assets, including, without limitation, any sale of hydrocarbons or other mineral products as a result of the creation of Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that the sale, lease conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control,” and/ or the provisions described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” and not by the provisions described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants— Asset Sales;” and

 

(2)

the issuance of Equity Interests by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its 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).

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

 

(1)

any single transaction or series of related transactions that: (a) involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $20.0 million; or (b) results in Net Proceeds to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of less than $20.0 million;

 

(2)

a transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3)

an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)

a disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, inventory, accounts receivable, surplus or obsolete equipment or other similar property or any other disposition of property in the ordinary course of business (excluding the disposition of oil and gas in place and other interests in real property unless made in connection with a Permitted Business Investment) or the early termination or unwinding of any Hedging Obligation;

 

(5)

a Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment that is permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments;”

 

(6)

a disposition of oil, natural gas or other hydrocarbons or other mineral products in the ordinary course of business of the oil and gas production operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(7)

any abandonment, relinquishment, farm-in, farm-out, lease and sub-lease of developed and/or undeveloped properties made or entered into in the ordinary course of business, but excluding any disposition as a result of the creation of a Production Payment and Reserve Sale;

 

(8)

the creation or perfection of a Lien or disposition of any asset subject to such Lien in connection with enforcement thereof;

 

(9)

any trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of properties or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business for other properties or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business owned or held by another Person (including Capital Stock of a Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary), including any cash or Cash Equivalents necessary in order to achieve an exchange of equivalent value, provided that the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (including any cash or Cash Equivalents to be delivered by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, and provided, further, that any cash received in the transaction must be applied in accordance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” as if such transaction were an Asset Sale;

 

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(10)

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

 

(11)

any assignment of an overriding royalty or net profits interest to an employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with the generation of prospects or the development of oil and natural gas projects;

 

(12)

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;

 

(13)

any Production Payment or Reserve Sale, provided that any such Production Payment or Reserve Sales shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the acquisition or financing of, and within 180 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

(14)

the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles to the extent that such license does not prohibit the licensor from using the intellectual property and licenses, leases or subleases of other property; and

 

(15)

any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act.

“Board of Directors” means:

 

(1)

with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

 

(2)

with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership;

 

(3)

with respect to a limited liability company, the Board of Directors or other governing body, and in the absence of same, the manager or board of managers or the managing member or members or any controlling committee thereof; and

 

(4)

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 any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability of a Person in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any lease (whether entered into before or after the Issue Date) that would have been classified as an operating lease pursuant to GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date will be deemed not to represent a Capital Lease Obligation.

“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;

 

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(3)

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

 

(4)

any other interest or participation (other than any debt security convertible into an equity interest) 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.

“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 thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

 

(3)

demand accounts, time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

(4)

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

 

(5)

commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P Ratings Services (or its successor) and in each case maturing within 270 days after the date of acquisition;

 

(6)

deposits and certificates of deposit with any commercial bank not meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above, provided all such deposits do not exceed $1.0 million in the aggregate at any one time;

 

(7)

securities issued and fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, rated at least “A” by Moody’s or S&P and having maturities of not more than 365 days from the date of acquisition;

 

(8)

Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” from Moody’s, with maturities of 365 days or less from the date or acquisition; and

 

(9)

money market or other mutual funds substantially all of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (8) of this definition.

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

 

(1)

the 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 assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, which disposition is followed by a Rating Decline within 90 days after its consummation;

 

(2)

the adoption by the Board of Directors of a plan of 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, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders (or the Permitted Control Group or any intermediate companies owned directly or indirectly by one or more Permitted Holders), 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, which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 90 days thereafter.

 

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“Commodity Agreement” means any oil or natural gas hedging agreement and other agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary against or manage exposure to fluctuations in oil or natural gas prices and not for speculative purposes.

“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 there shall be excluded therefrom:

 

(1)

the net income (or loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof;

 

(2)

the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor 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;

 

(3)

the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

 

(4)

any write-downs or impairments of non-current assets;

 

(5)

any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of hedge or non-hedge derivatives (including those resulting from the application of ASC 815);

 

(6)

any gain (or loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (or 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;

 

(7)

any extraordinary or non-recurring gain (or loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or non-recurring gain (or loss); and

 

(8)

any non-cash compensation charge arising from any grant or vesting of stock, stock options or other equity-based awards, including profits interests in Rice Energy Holdings LLC or NGP Rice Holdings LLC.

“Credit Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 10, 2014, and effective on or about the Issue Date by and among the Company, as borrower, and the commercial lending institutions and other parties that are agents and lenders thereunder, as amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or any Guarantor, one or more credit facilities, debt facilities, indentures or commercial paper facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), in each case with banks or other financial institutions or lenders or investors, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, private placements, debt securities, receivables financings (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit or letter of credit guarantees, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

“Currency Agreements” means, at any time as to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any foreign currency exchange agreement, option or future contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against or manage the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and not for speculative purposes.

 

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“Customary Recourse Exceptions” means, with respect to any Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, exclusions from the exculpation provisions with respect to such Non-Recourse Debt for the voluntary bankruptcy of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, fraud, misapplication of cash, environmental claims, waste, willful destruction and other circumstances customarily excluded by lenders from exculpation provisions or included in separate indemnification agreements in non-recourse financings.

“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.

“Disinterested Member” means, with respect to any transaction, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest (other than as an owner of Equity Interests in the Company or as an officer, manager or employee of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) in or with respect to such transaction and is not an Affiliate, or an officer, director, member of a supervisory, executive or management board or employee of any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), who has any direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

“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 thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, for any consideration (other than Capital Stock) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable for any consideration (other than Capital Stock) at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if 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 the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.”

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

“EBITDAX” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period,

 

(i)

plus the sum of the following, without duplication and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1)

provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period;

 

(2)

consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (other than amortization of debt issuance costs), the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments, if any, pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements);

 

(3)

depreciation, depletion, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) 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 other than non-cash charges resulting from the application of ASC 410) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; and

 

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(4)

consolidated exploration and abandonment expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(ii)

and minus the sum of:

 

(1)

non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business, in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP; and

 

(2)

(to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income) the sum of (a) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during the 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.

“Equity Interests” mean 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 after the date of the Indenture of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any contribution to the capital of the Company in respect of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, other than issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company.

“Existing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date, other than under the Credit Agreement.

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any Asset Sale (or Permitted Asset Exchange) or Restricted Payment (or Investment or Permitted Investment), the price that would be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of which is under any compulsion to complete the transaction, as such price is determined in good faith by an officer of the Company.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the EBITDAX of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees, redeems or repays any Indebtedness (other than revolving credit borrowings unless, in connection with any such repayment, the commitments to lend associated with such revolving credit borrowings are permanently reduced or canceled) or issues or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but 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 shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, redemption or repayment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of preferred stock, 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 specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, and increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

 

(2)

the EBITDAX 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, shall 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

 

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Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person 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; and

 

(5)

any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company; provided that such officer may in his or her discretion include any reasonably identifiable and factually supportable pro forma changes to EBITDAX, including any pro forma expenses and cost reductions, that have occurred or in the judgment of such officer are reasonably expected to occur within 12 months of the date of the applicable transaction (regardless of whether such expense or cost reduction or any other operating improvements could then be reflected properly in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the beginning of such period to the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such Interest Rate Agreement is less than 12 months, then such Interest Rate Agreement shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of the Company, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by the Company. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any 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 and whether or not capitalized, including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (other than amortization of debt issuance costs or debt extinguishment costs), the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts, and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments, if any, pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements; plus

 

(2)

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; plus

 

(3)

all dividend payments, whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or preferred stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case other than dividend payments 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.

“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements, and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.

 

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“Guarantee” means, without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any other obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

(a)

to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person, or

 

(b)

entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment therefor to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);

provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Guarantors” means each Subsidiary that executes the Indenture as an initial Subsidiary Guarantor, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Currency Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and Commodity Agreements.

“Holder” means a person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, without duplication,

 

(a)

all obligations of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

 

(i)

the principal of and premium, if any, in respect of outstanding (A) Indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (B) Indebtedness evidenced by Notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;

 

(ii)

all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(iii)

the deferred purchase price of property, which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of taking delivery of title to such property, including all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property under any title retention agreement, but excluding accrued expenses and trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(iv)

the reimbursement obligation of any obligor for the principal amount of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar transaction (excluding obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (i) through (iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit);

 

(b)

all net obligations in respect of Currency Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and Commodity Agreements, except to the extent such net obligations are otherwise included in this definition;

 

(c)

all liabilities of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (a) or (b) that such Person has Guaranteed or that are otherwise its legal liability;

 

(d)

with respect to any Production Payment and Reserve Sale, any warranties or guaranties of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment and Reserve Sale but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment and Reserve Sale;

 

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(e)

Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of:

 

(i)

the full amount of such obligations so secured; and

 

(ii)

the fair market value of such asset as determined in good faith by such specified Person;

 

(f)

Disqualified Stock of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary in an amount equal to the greater of the maximum mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the liquidation preference thereof;

 

(g)

the aggregate preference in respect of amounts payable on the issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock of any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up (excluding any such preference attributable to such shares of preferred stock that are owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, that if such Person is the Company, such exclusion shall be for such preference attributable to such shares of preferred stock that are owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries); and

 

(h)

any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings and refundings (whether direct or indirect) of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or this clause (h), whether or not between or among the same parties, if and to the extent that any of the preceding items (other than in respect of letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Indebtedness” shall not include:

 

(1)

accrued expenses, royalties and trade payables;

 

(2)

contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3)

asset-retirement obligations or obligations in respect of reclamation and workers’ compensation(including pensions and retiree medical care) that are not overdue by more than 90 days;

 

(4)

except as provided in clause (d) above, Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

 

(5)

in-kind obligations relating to net oil or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)

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 natural gas property; and

 

(7)

any repayment or reimbursement obligation of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Customary Recourse Exceptions, unless and until an event or circumstance occurs that triggers the Person’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s direct repayment or reimbursement obligation (as opposed to contingent or performance obligations) to the lender or other Person to whom such obligation is actually owed, in which case the amount of such direct payment or reimbursement obligation shall constitute Indebtedness.

For purposes hereof, the maximum fixed repurchase price of any Disqualified Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined

 

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pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock, such fair market value to be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Stock.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness that has been defeased or discharged in accordance with GAAP or defeased or discharged pursuant to the deposit of cash, U.S. government obligations and Cash Equivalents (sufficient to satisfy all obligations relating thereto at maturity or redemption, as applicable) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, in accordance with the terms of the instruments governing such indebtedness.

“Interest Rate Agreements” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, interest rate agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in or manage exposure to interest rates, with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred under the Indenture.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than:

 

(1)

Baa3 (or the equivalent) with a stable or better outlook by Moody’s; and

 

(2)

BBB- (or the equivalent) with a stable or better outlook by S&P,

or, if either such entity ceases to make a rating on the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other rating agency.

“Investment Grade Rating Event” means the first day on which the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from each of S&P and Moody’s, and no Default has occurred and is then continuing under the Indenture.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or indirect loans (including Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet 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 shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.

“Issue Date” means the first date on which the Notes were issued, authenticated and delivered under the Indenture.

“Joint Marketing Arrangement” means any joint venture, partnership, lease, joint marketing agreement, operating agreement or other arrangement (which may or may not include joint ownership of any Person) pursuant to which the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries arrange for the marketing, lease or sale of products and services and share in the profits therefrom.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance for security purposes, or security interest 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, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in any assets and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

 

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“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 May 1, 2018 set forth in the table under “—Optional Redemption” plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such note through May 1, 2018 (in each case except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

“Midstream Assets” means (i) assets used primarily for gathering, transmission, compression, storage, processing, marketing, fractionation, dehydration, stabilization or treatment of natural gas, natural gas liquids, oil or other hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide or water and (ii) Equity Interests of any Person whose assets primarily consist of assets referred to in clause (i).

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

“Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or the sale or incurrence of any Indebtedness, the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale.

“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, without duplication:

 

(1)

the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, title, engineering, environmental, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof;

 

(2)

taxes paid or payable as a result thereof;

 

(3)

amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale;

 

(4)

any reserve established in accordance with GAAP against liabilities associated with such Asset Sale or any amount placed in escrow for adjustment in respect of the purchase price of such Asset Sale, until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall be increased by 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; and

 

(5)

any distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in any Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Sale.

“Net Working Capital” means:

 

(a)

all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, minus

 

(b)

all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness; in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

“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) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, in each case except for Customary Recourse Exceptions; and

 

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(2)

no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof 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 of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity.

“Oil and Gas Business” means:

 

(1)

the business of acquiring, exploring, exploiting, developing, producing, operating and disposing of interests in oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas and other hydrocarbons, mineral or renewable energy properties or products produced in association with any of the foregoing;

 

(2)

the business of gathering, marketing, distributing, treating, processing, storing, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties and products produced in association therewith and the marketing of oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons, minerals and renewable energy;

 

(3)

any other related energy business, directly or indirectly, from oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons, minerals and renewable energy produced substantially from properties in which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, participate;

 

(4)

any business relating to oil field sales and service or drilling rigs; and

 

(5)

any business or activity relating to, arising from, or necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

“Oil and Gas Liens” means:

 

(1)

Liens on any specific property or any interest therein, construction thereon or improvement thereto to secure all or any part of the costs incurred for surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of, in, under or on such property and the plugging and abandonment of wells located thereon (it being understood that, in the case of oil and gas producing properties, or any interest therein, costs incurred for “development” will include costs incurred for all facilities relating to such properties or to projects, ventures or other arrangements of which such properties form a part or that relate to such properties or interests);

 

(2)

Liens on an oil or gas producing property to secure obligations incurred or Guarantees of obligations incurred in connection with or necessarily incidental to commitments for the purchase or sale of, or the transportation or distribution of, the products derived from such property;

 

(3)

Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, 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 Restricted Subsidiary, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; provided, however, that in all instances such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract;

 

(4)

Liens securing Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that such Liens are limited to the property that is subject to such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, and such Production Payments and Reserve Sales; and

 

(5)

Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law.

 

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“Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness was Indebtedness:

 

(1)

of an acquired Person prior to the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of having been acquired and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition; or

 

(2)

of a Person that was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was not incurred in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation,

provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged, consolidated and amalgamated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto,

 

(a)

the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described under “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness,” or

 

(b)

the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company would be not less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

“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 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)

ownership of oil, natural gas, other related hydrocarbon and mineral properties or any interest therein or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems; 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 oil and natural gas and related hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), limited liability company agreements 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 Control Group” means the “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act comprised of (a) Rice Energy Holdings LLC, (b) Rice Energy Family Holdings, LP, (c) NGP Rice Holdings, LLC and (d) Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.; provided that such “group” shall cease to be a “Permitted Control Group” if at any time Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (or its Affiliates) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of a percentage of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, that is greater than the percentage of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, that is Beneficially Owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, by the Permitted Holders.

“Permitted Holders” means, collectively, (a) (i) Rice Energy Family Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Rice Energy Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Rice Energy Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Rice Irrevocable Trust, a Delaware trust, and (ii) Daniel J. Rice III and his spouse, the descendants of Daniel J. Rice III and their spouses, and any executor or personal representative of, or trust for the benefit of, or limited liability company, corporation or partnership owned 50% or more by, any of the foregoing and (b) (i) NGP RE Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, (ii) NGP RE

 

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Holdings II, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, (iii) NGP Rice Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and (iii) any investment fund (or Affiliate thereof) managed by NGP Energy Capital Management, L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company (but not any portfolio company of any such fund).

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1)

any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(2)

any Investment in 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 assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

or any Investment held by such Person at the time of such transaction, provided such Investment was not made in contemplation of such transaction;

 

(4)

any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale (or other disposition excluded from the definition thereof) that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;”

 

(5)

any Investment to the extent made in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

(6)

receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

 

(7)

payroll, travel, relocation and similar advances to officers, directors and employees to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8)

loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary made for bona fide business purposes;

 

(9)

Capital Stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a debtor or received in connection with a work-out or recapitalization of the issuer or as a result of a foreclosure or other transfer of title or perfection or enforcement of any lien with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(10)

Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations are incurred in compliance with “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness;”

 

(11)

Permitted Business Investments and/or Permitted Other Business Investments;

 

(12)

Investments in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and worker’s compensation, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties and endorsements for collection or deposit arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)

advances, deposits and prepayments for purchases of any assets, including any Equity Interests;

 

(14)

Permitted Joint Venture Investments and Joint Marketing Arrangements entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (measured on the date on which each such

 

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Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) that, when taken together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause, do not exceed $75.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(15)

Investments arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary 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 a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the Indenture;

 

(16)

any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Oil and Gas Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (16) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 7.5% of ACNTA at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (16) is made in any Person that is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary 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 (16) for so long as such Person continues to be the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(17)

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 (17) since the Issue Date, not to exceed the greater of $75.0 million and 7.5% of ACNTA determined at the time of such Investment.

In connection with any assets or property contributed or transferred to any Person as an Investment, such property and assets shall be equal to the Fair Market Value at the time of the Investment, without regard to subsequent changes in value.

With respect to any Investment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, allocate or re-allocate all or any portion of any Investment to one or more of the above clauses so that the entire Investment is a Permitted Investment.

“Permitted Joint Venture Investment” means an Investment by such Person in any other Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business (a) over which such Person is responsible (either directly or through a services agreement) for day-to-day operations or otherwise has operational and managerial control of such other Person, or veto power over significant management decisions affecting such other Person, and (b) of which at least 30% of the outstanding Equity Interests of such other Person are at the time owned directly or indirectly by such Person.

“Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)

Liens on any property or assets of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness and other obligations under Credit Facilities that were permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred;

 

(2)

Liens in favor of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)

Liens on any property or assets 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 and not incurred in the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any property or assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(4)

Liens on any property or assets existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition;

 

(5)

Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)

Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(7)

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;

 

(8)

Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured, provided that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased except as necessary to pay premiums or expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing and (ii) 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 that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

 

(9)

Liens securing Hedging Obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(10)

Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that:

 

(a)

the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and

 

(b)

such Liens are created within 180 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds, insurance, and dividends or distributions in respect thereof);

 

(11)

any Lien incurred in the ordinary course of business incidental to the conduct of the business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries or the ownership of their property (including (a) easements, rights of way and similar encumbrances, (b) rights or title of lessors under leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), (c) rights of collecting banks having rights of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries on deposit with or in the possession of such banks, (d) Liens imposed by law, including Liens under workers’ compensation or similar legislation and mechanics’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, suppliers’ and vendors’ Liens, (e) Liens incurred to secure performance of obligations with respect to statutory or regulatory requirements, performance or return-of-money bonds, surety bonds or other obligations of a like nature and incurred in a manner consistent with industry practice and (f) Oil and Gas Liens, in each case which are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property (other than trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business));

 

(12)

Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges not yet due or the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, promptly instituted and diligently conducted, and for which adequate reserves have been established to the extent required by GAAP as in effect at such time;

 

(13)

Liens on the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Indebtedness of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(14)

any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses so long as (x) no additional collateral is granted as security thereby and (y) the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged with such Indebtedness and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;

 

(15)

Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) all of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture;

 

(16)

Liens on property securing a defeasance trust; and

 

(17)

in addition to the foregoing, Liens securing obligations the outstanding principal amount of which does not, taken together with the principal amount of all other obligations secured by Liens Incurred under this clause (17) that are at that time outstanding, exceed the greater of $75.0 million and 5.0% of ACNTA at the time of incurrence.

“Permitted MLP Securities” means equity securities (including incentive distribution rights) of a master limited partnership (or limited liability company or similar business entity with pass-through treatment for U.S. Federal income tax purposes) that has a class of equity securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE AMEX Equities or the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor thereof).

“Permitted Other Business Investments” means Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person (including in any Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture of the Company), provided that:

 

(1)

at the time of such Investment and immediately thereafter, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness” ;

 

(2)

if such Person has outstanding Indebtedness at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Person that is recourse to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall include, without limitation, all Indebtedness of such Person for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including, without limitation, any “claw-back,” “make-well” or “keep-well” arrangement) could, at the time such Investment is made, be incurred at that time by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness”; and

 

(3)

such Person is not engaged, in any material respect, in any business other than the Oil and Gas Business.

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1)

the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)

the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date no earlier than the earlier of the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or refunded or 91 days after the final maturity date of the Notes;

 

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(3)

the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the shorter of (A) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or refunded and (B) 91 days after the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes;

 

(4)

if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee on terms at least as favorable, taken as a whole, to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

 

(5)

such Indebtedness is not incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary if the Company is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; provided, however, that a Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Guarantor may Guarantee Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by the Company, whether or not such Restricted Subsidiary was an obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; provided further, however, that if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiary Guarantee to at least the same extent.

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

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

“Prior Issue Date” means April 25, 2014, the date of initial issuance of $900 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.25% senior unsecured notes due 2022.

“Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest or Production Payment in oil and natural 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 where, in the case of each of the foregoing, the holder of such interest has recourse solely to such production or proceeds of production for the recovery of its investment in such interest, subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to operate and maintain, or cause the subject interests to be operated and maintained, in a reasonably prudent manner or other customary standard and subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to indemnify for environmental, title or other matters customary with respect to the foregoing interests.

“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 Moody’s, 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 Moody’s 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 Moody’s, 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.

 

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“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referenced Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

“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 Issue Date.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall 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.

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company (or a Guarantor) that is expressly subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes (or a Subsidiary Guarantee, as appropriate) pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company. A “subsidiary” of any Person means:

 

(1)

a corporation a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person; or

 

(2)

a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity, in which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, either entitled to receive more than 50 percent of the assets of such entity upon its dissolution, or in the case of a limited partnership or limited liability company, is the controlling general partner or managing or controlling member, as applicable.

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes.

“Treasury Rate” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation 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 date fixed for redemption (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 May 1, 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 May 1, 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.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) Rice Midstream Holdings LLC, Rice Midstream Management LLC and Rice Midstream Partners LP and any Subsidiary of the foregoing and (b) any other Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution (and any Subsidiary thereof), but only to the extent that such other Subsidiary:

 

(1)

has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt, except as permitted under clause (2)(b) of the definition of “Permitted Other Business Investments”;

 

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(2)

is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or 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, except as permitted under the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates”; and

 

(3)

is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition.

The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation is in compliance with the next succeeding sentence and would not otherwise cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary under clause (b) above, such designation shall be deemed an Investment in the Subsidiary so designated and all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary so designated, shall be valued at their Fair Market Value at the time of such designation for purposes of determining compliance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments;”provided, however, that such covenant need not be complied with if the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less. That designation will only be permitted if the amount of such Investment is either permitted as a Restricted Payment under the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments” or a Permitted Investment at that time and if such Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary under clause (b) above shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation certified in an officers’ certificate that also certifies that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments” in which case such designation shall be effective as of the date specified in such resolution. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall 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 the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness,” the Company shall be in default of such covenant.

The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall 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 shall only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness,” 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.

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

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without reference to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the directors, managers or trustees of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness 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, in respect thereof, 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

 

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(2)

the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

The new notes will be issued initially only in the form of one or more global notes (the “Global Notes”) and will be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for, and registered in the name of a nominee of, DTC.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC (“participants”) or persons who hold interests through participants.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). Qualified institutional buyers may hold their interests in a Restricted Global Note directly through DTC if they are participants in such system, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such system. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to organizations such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly (“indirect participants”).

Investors may hold their interests in a Regulation S Global Note through organizations that are participants in the DTC system, including Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), and Citibank, N.A., as operator of Clearstream Banking, S.A. (“Clearstream”). Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests in the Regulation S Global Notes on behalf of their participants through DTC.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of a Global Note, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by such Global Note for all purposes under the Indenture and the Note. No beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Note will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures, in addition to those provided for under the Indenture and, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream.

All payments on a Global Note will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. Neither the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee nor any Paying Agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

The Company expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment in respect of a Global Note, will credit participants’ accounts on the applicable payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Note as shown on the records of DTC. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

The Company expects that DTC will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of Notes (including the presentation of Notes for exchange as described below) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account DTC interests in a Global Note are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the Notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the applicable Global Note for Notes in certificated form (“Certificated Notes”), which it will distribute to its participants and which may be legended as set forth under the heading “Transfer Restrictions.”

 

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The Company understands that: DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are expected to follow the foregoing procedures described in this section of the prospectus in order to facilitate transfers of interests in a Global Note among participants of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee nor any Paying Agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes

A Global Note is exchangeable for Certificated Notes if:

 

(1)

DTC (a) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and in either event the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days; or

 

(2)

there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default and DTC notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Notes for Certificated Notes.

In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of DTC (in accordance with its customary procedures) and may bear the restrictive legend referred to in “Transfer Restrictions.”

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

You may transfer new notes issued under the exchange offer in exchange for the old notes if:

 

•

you acquire the new notes in the ordinary course of your business;

 

•

you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such new notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act; and

 

•

you are not our “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for old notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We and the subsidiary guarantors have agreed that, starting on the expiration date of the exchange offer and ending on the close of business 180 days after the date of such expiration date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.

If you wish to exchange new notes for your old notes in the exchange offer, you will be required to make representations to us as described in “Exchange Offer—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer” and “—Procedures for Tendering—Your Representations to Us” in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal. In addition, if you are a broker-dealer who receives new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired by you as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale by you of such new notes.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time on one or more transactions in any of the following ways:

 

•

in the over-the-counter market;

 

•

in negotiated transactions;

 

•

through the writing of options on the new notes or a combination of such methods of resale;

 

•

at market prices prevailing at the time of resale;

 

•

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

•

at negotiated prices.

Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such new notes.

Any broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for old notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. We agreed to permit the use of this prospectus for a period of up to 180 days after the completion of the exchange offer by such broker-dealers to satisfy this prospectus delivery requirement. Furthermore, we agree to amend or supplement this prospectus during such period if so requested in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any new notes by broker-dealers.

We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer other than fees and expenses of counsel to the holders and brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, and will indemnify the holders of the old notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion is a summary of material federal income tax considerations relevant to the exchange of old notes for new notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions now in effect, all of which may be subject to change at any time by legislative, judicial or administrative action. These changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of new notes. We cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge one or more of the tax considerations described in this discussion, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences described herein. Some holders, including financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities or currencies, persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, or persons who hold the notes as part of a hedge, conversion transaction, straddle or other risk reduction transaction may be subject to special rules not discussed below. We recommend that each holder consult his own tax advisor as to the holder’s particular tax consequences of exchanging such holder’s old notes for new notes, including the applicability and effect of any foreign, state, local or other tax laws or estate or gift tax considerations.

We believe that the exchange of old notes for new notes will not be an exchange or otherwise a taxable event to a holder for United States federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a holder will not recognize gain or loss upon receipt of a new note in exchange for an old note in the exchange, and the holder’s tax basis and holding period in the new note will be the same as its tax basis and holding period in the corresponding old note immediately before the exchange.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the new notes offered in this exchange offer will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Rice Energy Inc. appearing in Rice Energy Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2014, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Alpha Shale Resources, LP appearing in Rice Energy Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2014, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Estimates of our oil and natural gas reserves, related future net cash flows and the present values thereof related to our properties as of December 31, 2014 incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Rice Energy Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, were based upon a reserve report prepared by independent petroleum engineers, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. We have incorporated these estimates by reference upon the authority of such firm as an expert in such matters.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained expressly in this prospectus, and the information that we file later with the SEC will automatically supersede this information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is current as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any supplement thereto is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates of those documents.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, any documents we may file pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) after the date of the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding any information furnished and not filed with the SEC, from the date of this prospectus until the termination of each offering under this prospectus:

 

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014;

 

•

our Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015;

 

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K or 8-K/A filed on February 12, 2015, March 12, 2015, March 23, 2015, March 26, 2015, April 14, 2015, May 1, 2015, May 15, 2015, June 5, 2015, July 21, 2015 and November 5, 2015; and

 

•

the description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A filed on January 23, 2014, including any amendment to that form that we may file in the future for the purpose of updating the description of our common stock.

Any information in any of the foregoing documents will automatically be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that information in this prospectus or in a later filed document that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or replaces such information.

You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the exhibits thereto, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

Rice Energy Inc.

400 Woodcliff Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

Phone: (724) 746-6720

 

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ANNEX A:

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

TO TENDER

OLD 7.25% Senior Notes due 2023

OF

RICE ENERGY INC.

PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND PROSPECTUS

DATED                         , 2015

 

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By Registered or Certified Mail: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Corporate Trust Operations MAC-N9303-121 P.O. Box 1517 Minneapolis, MN 55480		By Overnight Delivery or Regular Mail: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A Corporate Trust Operations MAC-N9303-121 Sixth & Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55479
By Facsimile: (877) 407-4679 Attn: Bondholder Communications
Confirm by Telephone: (800) 344-5128 Attn: Bondholder Communications

If you wish to exchange old 7.25% Senior Notes due 2023 for an equal aggregate principal amount at maturity of new 7.25% Senior Notes due 2023 pursuant to the exchange offer, you must validly tender (and not withdraw) old notes to the exchange agent prior to the expiration date.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt and review of the Prospectus, dated , 2015 (the “Prospectus”), of Rice Energy Inc. (the “Issuer”), and this letter of transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which together describe the Issuer’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange its 7.25% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “new notes”) that have been registered under the Securities Act, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for a like principal amount of its issued and outstanding 7.25% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “old notes”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meaning given to them in the Prospectus.

The Issuer reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend the Exchange Offer at its discretion, in which event the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the latest time date to which the Exchange Offer is extended. The Issuer shall notify the Exchange Agent and each registered holder of the old notes of any extension by oral or written notice prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

 

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This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by holders of the old notes. Tender of old notes is to be made according to the Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in the prospectus under the caption “Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering.” DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s DTC account. DTC will then send a computer generated message known as an “agent’s message” to the exchange agent for its acceptance. For you to validly tender your old notes in the Exchange Offer the Exchange Agent must receive prior to the Expiration Date, an agent’s message under the ATOP procedures that confirms that:

 

•

DTC has received your instructions to tender your old notes; and

 

•

you agree to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal.

BY USING THE ATOP PROCEDURES TO TENDER OLD NOTES, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS, AND YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IT CONTAINS, JUST AS IF YOU HAD SIGNED IT

 

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Rice Energy Inc.

Offer to Exchange

Up To $400,000,000 of

7.25% Senior Notes due 2023

That Have Not Been Registered Under

The Securities Act of 1933

For

Up To $400,000,000 of

7.25% Senior Notes due 2023

That Have Been Registered Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 20.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Rice Energy Inc.

Rice Energy Inc. is organized under the laws of Delaware. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a director will not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. In addition, if the DGCL is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided for in our certificate of incorporation, will be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended DGCL. Our amended and restated bylaws provides that the corporation will indemnify, and advance expenses to, any officer or director to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits and proceedings whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification extends only to expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also contains indemnification rights for our directors and our officers. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we shall indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. Further, we may maintain insurance on behalf of our officers and directors against expense, liability or loss asserted incurred by them in their capacities as officers and directors.

We have obtained directors’ and officers’ insurance to cover our directors, officers and some of our employees for certain liabilities.

We have entered into written indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, if an officer or director makes a claim of indemnification to us, either a majority of the independent directors or independent legal counsel selected by the independent directors must review the relevant facts and make a determination whether the officer or director has met the standards of conduct under Delaware law that would permit (under Delaware law) and require (under the indemnification agreement) us to indemnify the officer or director.

Delaware Limited Liability Companies

Rice Marketing LLC, Rice Energy Marketing LLC, Rice Energy Appalachia, LLC, Rice Drilling B LLC, Alpha Shale Holdings, LLC (each, a “Delaware LLC Registrant,” and collectively, the “Delaware LLC Registrants”), Rice Drilling D LLC and Blue Tiger Oilfield Services LLC are organized in the State of Delaware. Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that, subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in its limited liability company agreement, a Delaware limited liability company may, and has the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

 

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The limited liability company agreements and operating agreements of the Delaware LLC Registrants generally provide for the indemnification of members, officers and managers of each Delaware LLC Registrant to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, provided however, that officers and managers are generally not entitled to indemnification for losses arising as a result of fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith and gross negligence. The operating agreements of Rice Drilling D LLC and Blue Tiger Oilfield Services LLC provide that the respective limited liability companies are empowered to, but are not required to, indemnify any member, manager or officer.

The general effect of the foregoing is to provide indemnification to officers and managers for liabilities that may arise by reason of their status as officers or managers, other than liabilities arising from willful or intentional misconduct, acts or omissions not in good faith, unlawful distributions of corporate assets or transactions from which the officer or manager derived an improper personal benefit.

Each Delaware limited liability company may maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for itself and any subsidiaries.

Delaware Limited Partnership

Alpha Shale Resources, LP is organized in the state of Delaware. Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other persons from and against all claims and demands whatsoever. The partnership agreement of Alpha Shale Resources, LP provides that the limited partner shall have no liability under the partnership agreement, but does not otherwise provide for indemnification.

Alpha Shale Resources, LP may maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for itself and any subsidiaries.

Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company

Rice Drilling C LLC is organized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Section 8945 of the Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company Law of 1994 provides that a Pennsylvania limited liability company may and shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever; provided, however, that a limited liability company may not indemnify a manager, member or other person for an act that is determined by a court to constitute willful misconduct or recklessness. Further, subsection (d) provides that a limited liability company may pay expenses incurred by a member, manager or other person in advance of disposition of any claim if such person makes an undertaking to repay the company if it is determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification. Finally, under subsection (f), a limited liability company must indemnify its members and managers for payments made, and personal liabilities reasonably incurred, in the ordinary and proper conduct of its business or for the preservation of its business or property.

The operating agreement of Rice Drilling C LLC provides that the company shall indemnify its member and such other persons identified by the member as entitled to indemnification, for all costs, losses, liabilities and damages paid or accrued by the member or any such other person in connection with the business of the company, to the fullest extent provided by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the company may advance costs of defense of any proceeding to its member or any such other person upon receipt by the company of an undertaking to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that the member or such other person is not entitled to indemnification by the company.

Rice Drilling C LLC may maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for itself and any subsidiaries.

 

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Item 21.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) The following documents are filed as exhibits to this Registration Statement:

 

Exhibit Number		Description
2.1		Purchase and Sale Agreement, among M3 Appalachia Gathering, LLC, as seller, Rice Poseidon Midstream LLC, as Buyer, and M3 Midstream LLC, dated as of February 12, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on February 14, 2014).
2.2		Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated June 11, 2014, by and among Rice Drilling B LLC, Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C. and Statoil USA Onshore Properties Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on August 7, 2014).
2.3		Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2015, by and between Rice Energy Inc. and Rice Midstream Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on November 5, 2015).
4.1		Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2015, by and among Rice Energy Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on March 26, 2015).
4.2		Form of 7.25% Senior Note due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on March 26, 2015).
4.3		Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2015, by and among Rice Energy Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representative of the initial purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on March 26, 2015).
5.1*		Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
12.1*		Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
21.1*		List of Subsidiaries of Rice Energy Inc.
23.1*		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (Rice Energy Inc.).
23.2*		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (Alpha Shale Resources, LP).
23.3*		Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
23.4*		Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1*		Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this Registration Statement).
25.1*		Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

 

*	Filed herewith.

(b) Financial Data Schedule.

Schedules are omitted because they either are not required or are not applicable or because equivalent information has been included in the financial statements, the notes thereto or elsewhere herein.

 

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Item 22.

Undertakings.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, such registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Each registrant hereby undertakes:

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(a) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(b) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(c) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if such registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

That, for the purpose of determining liability of such registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of securities of such registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if

 

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the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(a) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrants relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(b) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of such registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrants;

(c) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or their securities provided by or on behalf of such registrant; and

(d) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by such registrant to the purchaser.

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of a registrant annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

To deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X are not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Canonsburg, State of Pennsylvania, on December 4, 2015.

 

Each person whose signature appears below appoints Daniel J. Rice IV, Grayson T. Lisenby and James W. Rogers, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the dates indicated.

 

Name		Title		Date
/s/ Daniel J. Rice IV		Director, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)		December 4, 2015
Daniel J. Rice IV
/s/ Toby Z. Rice		Director, President and Chief Operating Officer		December 4, 2015
Toby Z. Rice
/s/ Grayson T. Lisenby		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)		December 4, 2015
Grayson T. Lisenby
/s/ James W. Rogers		Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting & Administrative Officer, Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)		December 4, 2015
James W. Rogers
/s/ Robert F. Vagt		Chairman of the Board of Directors		December 4, 2015
Robert F. Vagt
/s/ James W. Christmas		Director		December 4, 2015
James W. Christmas
/s/ Scott A. Gieselman		Director		December 4, 2015
Scott A. Gieselman
/s/ Daniel J. Rice III		Director		December 4, 2015
Daniel J. Rice III

 

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Name		Title		Date
/s/ Steven C. Dixon		Director		December 4, 2015
Steven C. Dixon
/s/ John McCartney		Director		December 4, 2015
John McCartney

 

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Canonsburg, State of Pennsylvania, on December 4, 2015.

 

Each person whose signature appears below appoints Daniel J. Rice IV, Grayson T. Lisenby and James W. Rogers, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the dates indicated.

 

Name		Title		Date
/s/ Daniel J. Rice IV		Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)		December 4, 2015
Daniel J. Rice IV
/s/ Grayson T. Lisenby Grayson T. Lisenby		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)		December 4, 2015
/s/ James W. Rogers James W. Rogers		Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting & Administrative Officer, Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)		December 4, 2015

 

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Canonsburg, State of Pennsylvania, on December 4, 2015.

 

Each person whose signature appears below appoints Daniel J. Rice IV, Grayson T. Lisenby and James W. Rogers, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the dates indicated.

 

Name		Title		Date
/s/ Daniel J. Rice IV		Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)		December 4, 2015
Daniel J. Rice IV
/s/ Grayson T. Lisenby		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)		December 4, 2015
Grayson T. Lisenby
/s/ James W. Rogers		Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting & Administrative Officer, Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)		December 4, 2015
James W. Rogers

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Number		Description
2.1		Purchase and Sale Agreement, among M3 Appalachia Gathering, LLC, as seller, Rice Poseidon Midstream LLC, as Buyer, and M3 Midstream LLC, dated as of February 12, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on February 14, 2014).
2.2		Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated June 11, 2014, by and among Rice Drilling B LLC, Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C. and Statoil USA Onshore Properties Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on August 7, 2014).
2.3		Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2015, by and between Rice Energy Inc. and Rice Midstream Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on November 5, 2015).
4.1		Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2015, by and among Rice Energy Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on March 26, 2015).
4.2		Form of 7.25% Senior Note due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on March 26, 2015).
4.3		Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2015, by and among Rice Energy Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representative of the initial purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36273) filed with the Commission on March 26, 2015).
5.1*		Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
12.1*		Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
21.1*		List of Subsidiaries of Rice Energy Inc.
23.1*		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (Rice Energy Inc.).
23.2*		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (Alpha Shale Resources, LP).
23.3*		Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
23.4*		Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1*		Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this Registration Statement).
25.1*		Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

 

*	Filed herewith.

 

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