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Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from _______ to _______

 

Commission file number 1-32167

 


 

VAALCO Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

76-0274813

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

  

9800 Richmond Avenue

Suite 700

Houston, Texas

77042

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip code)

 

(713) 623-0801

(Registrants telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock

EGY

New York Stock Exchange

Common Stock

EGY

London Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No   ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer

 

Accelerated filer

Non‑accelerated filer

 

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.         ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).        Yes      No   ☒

 

As of July 31, 2022, there were outstanding 59,068,105 shares of common stock, $0.10 par value per share, of the registrant.  

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021

2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

5

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

37

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

51

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

52

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

53

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

53

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

53

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

58

 

Unless the context otherwise indicates, references to “VAALCO,” “the Company”, “we,” “our,” or “us” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are references to VAALCO Energy, Inc., including its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

1

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

 

  As of June 30, 2022  

As of December 31, 2021

 

ASSETS

 

(in thousands)

 

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $53,062  $48,675 

Restricted cash

  216   79 

Receivables:

        

Trade, net

  70,274   22,464 

Accounts with joint venture owners, net of allowance of $0.0 million in both periods presented

  692   345 

Other, net

  10,699   9,977 

Crude oil inventory

  13,867   1,593 

Prepayments and other

  8,064   5,156 

Total current assets

  156,874   88,289 
         

Crude oil and natural gas properties, equipment and other - successful efforts method, net

  151,718   94,324 

Other noncurrent assets:

        

Restricted cash

  1,752   1,752 

Value added tax and other receivables, net of allowance of $6.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively

  5,723   5,536 

Right of use operating lease assets

  3,435   10,227 

Right of use finance lease assets

  1,713    

Deferred tax assets

  24,447   39,978 

Abandonment funding

  20,091   21,808 

Other long-term assets

  3,811   1,176 

Total assets

 $369,564  $263,090 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

        

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

 $19,151  $18,797 

Accounts with joint venture owners

  13,863   3,233 

Accrued liabilities and other

  99,220   49,444 

Operating lease liabilities - current portion

  3,123   9,642 

Finance lease liabilities - current portion

  326    

Foreign income taxes payable

  29,221   3,128 

Current liabilities - discontinued operations

  7   13 

Total current liabilities

  164,911   84,257 

Asset retirement obligations

  34,809   33,949 

Operating lease liabilities - net of current portion

  332   587 

Finance lease liabilities - net of current portion

  1,331    

Total liabilities

  201,383   118,793 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

          

Shareholders’ equity:

        

Preferred stock, $25 par value; 500,000 shares authorized, none issued

      

Common stock, $0.10 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 70,125,626 and 69,562,774 shares issued, 59,068,105 and 58,623,451 shares outstanding, respectively

  7,013   6,956 

Additional paid-in capital

  77,919   76,700 

Less treasury stock, 11,057,521 and 10,939,323 shares, respectively, at cost

  (44,635)  (43,847)

Retained earnings

  127,884   104,488 

Total shareholders' equity

  168,181   144,297 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

 $369,564  $263,090 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Revenues:

                

Crude oil and natural gas sales

 $110,985  $47,023  $179,641  $86,797 

Operating costs and expenses:

                

Production expense

  25,475   16,419   43,835   32,552 

Exploration expense

  67   665   194   807 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  8,191   5,810   12,864   9,958 

General and administrative expense

  3,534   4,734   8,528   9,281 

Bad debt expense and other

  571   395   1,063   496 

Total operating costs and expenses

  37,838   28,023   66,484   53,094 

Other operating expense, net

     (126)  (5)  (486)

Operating income

  73,147   18,874   113,152   33,217 

Other income (expense):

                

Derivative instruments loss, net

  (9,542)  (9,969)  (41,300)  (15,923)

Interest (expense) income, net

  (118)  1   (121)  6 

Other (expense) income, net

  (2,111)  (164)  (2,807)  4,416 

Total other expense, net

  (11,771)  (10,132)  (44,228)  (11,501)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

  61,376   8,742   68,924   21,716 

Income tax expense

  46,252   2,825   41,624   5,911 

Income from continuing operations

  15,124   5,917   27,300   15,805 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

  (20)  (33)  (32)  (52)

Net income

 $15,104  $5,884  $27,268  $15,753 
                 

Basic net income per share:

                

Income from continuing operations

 $0.25  $0.10  $0.46  $0.27 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

  0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00 

Net income per share

 $0.25  $0.10  $0.46  $0.27 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

  58,925   58,072   58,814   57,855 

Diluted net income per share:

                

Income from continuing operations

 $0.25  $0.10  $0.45  $0.27 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

  0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00 

Net income per share

 $0.25  $0.10  $0.45  $0.27 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

  59,361   58,574   59,278   58,527 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (Unaudited)

 

  

Common Shares Issued

  

Treasury Shares

  

Common Stock

  

Additional Paid-In Capital

  

Treasury Stock

  

Retained Earnings

  

Total

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Balance at January 1, 2022

  69,562   (10,939) $6,956  $76,700  $(43,847) $104,488  $144,297 

Shares issued - stock-based compensation

  300   (64)  30   168         198 

Stock-based compensation expense

           404         404 

Treasury stock

              (387)     (387)

Dividend Distribution

                 (1,929)  (1,929)

Net income

                 12,164   12,164 

Balance at March 31, 2022

  69,862   (11,003) $6,986  $77,272  $(44,234) $114,723  $154,747 

Shares issued - stock-based compensation

  263   (54)  27   31         58 

Stock-based compensation expense

           616         616 

Treasury stock

              (401)     (401)

Dividend Distribution

                 (1,943)  (1,943)

Net income

                 15,104   15,104 

Balance at June 30, 2022

  70,125   (11,057) $7,013  $77,919  $(44,635) $127,884  $168,181 

 

  

Common Shares Issued

  

Treasury Shares

  

Common Stock

  

Additional Paid-In Capital

  

Treasury Stock

  

Retained Earnings

  

Total

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Balance at January 1, 2021

  67,897   (10,366) $6,790  $74,437  $(42,421) $22,652  $61,458 

Shares issued - stock-based compensation

  431   (155)  43   304         347 

Stock-based compensation expense

           323         323 

Treasury stock

              (403)     (403)

Net income

                 9,869   9,869 

Balance at March 31, 2021

  68,328   (10,521) $6,833  $75,064  $(42,824) $32,521  $71,594 

Shares issued - stock-based compensation

  1,092   (314)  109   597         706 

Stock-based compensation expense

           117         117 

Treasury stock

              (765)     (765)

Net income

                 5,884   5,884 

Balance at June 30, 2021

  69,420   (10,835) $6,942  $75,778  $(43,589) $38,405  $77,536 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4

 

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

 

  Six Months Ended June 30, 
  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

        

Net income

 $27,268  $15,753 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

  32   52 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  12,864   9,958 

Bargain purchase gain

     (7,651)

Deferred taxes

  15,531   (1,511)

Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)

  360   (308)

Stock-based compensation

  2,264   2,073 

Cash settlements paid on exercised stock appreciation rights

  (805)  (2,933)

Derivative instruments loss, net

  41,300   15,923 

Cash settlements paid on matured derivative contracts, net

  (33,559)  (6,003)

Bad debt expense and other

  1,063   496 

Other operating expense, net

  5   486 

Operational expenses associated with equipment and other

  718   521 

Cash advance for other long-term assets

  (1,072)   

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Trade receivables

  (47,810)  (17,645)

Accounts with joint venture owners

  10,283   642 

Other receivables

  (943)  (131)

Crude oil inventory

  (12,274)  3,508 

Prepayments and other

  1,570   (8,622)

Value added tax and other receivables

  (2,249)  (500)

Accounts payable

  (857)  (10,597)

Foreign income taxes receivable/payable

  26,093   11,673 

Accrued liabilities and other

  29,263   8,028 

Net cash provided by continuing operating activities

  69,045   13,212 

Net cash used in discontinued operating activities

  (38)  (52)

Net cash provided by operating activities

  69,007   13,160 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

        

Property and equipment expenditures

  (60,278)  (4,301)

Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties

     (22,505)

Net cash used in continuing investing activities

  (60,278)  (26,806)

Net cash used in discontinued investing activities

      

Net cash used in investing activities

  (60,278)  (26,806)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

        

Proceeds from the issuances of common stock

  257   1,053 

Dividend distribution

  (3,872)   

Treasury shares

  (788)  (1,168)

Deferred financing costs

  (1,451)   

Payments of finance lease

  (68)   

Net cash used in continuing financing activities

  (5,922)  (115)

Net cash used in discontinued financing activities

      

Net cash used in financing activities

  (5,922)  (115)

NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

  2,807   (13,761)

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

  72,314   61,317 

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD

 $75,121  $47,556 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES (Unaudited)

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

               

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized

  $ 113     $  

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

               

Property and equipment additions incurred but not paid at end of period

  $ 29,155     $ 1,244  

Recognition of right-of-use finance lease assets and liabilities

  $ 1,851     $  

Asset Retirement Obligations

  $     $ 14,564  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.  ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

VAALCO Energy, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries “we”, “us”, “our”, “VAALCO” or the “Company”) is a Houston, Texas-based independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil. As operator, the Company has production operations and conducts exploration and development activities in Gabon, West Africa. The Company also has opportunities to participate in development and exploration activities in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. As discussed further in Note 3 below, VAALCO has discontinued operations associated with activities in Angola, West Africa.

 

The Company’s consolidated subsidiaries are VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., VAALCO Production (Gabon), Inc., VAALCO Gabon S.A., VAALCO Angola (Kwanza), Inc., VAALCO Energy (EG), Inc., VAALCO Energy Mauritius (EG) Limited, VAALCO Energy, Inc. (UK Branch), VAALCO Energy (USA), Inc, VAALCO Energy (International), LLC, VAALCO Energy (Holdings), LLC and VAALCO Energy Canada ULC, an unlimited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited, but in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods presented. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year.

These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and do not include all the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. They should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, which includes a summary of the significant accounting policies.

With respect to the novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”), during 2021, and continuing in 2022, crude oil prices have experienced significant improvement and oil demand has stabilized over multiple quarters removing much of the uncertainty and instability in the industry. However during the second quarter of 2022 the BA.5 strain of the Omicron variant caused surges in infections worldwide. While COVID-19 related travel restrictions have gradually eased as governments and people continue to have increasing access to vaccines that help reduce the spread of COVID-19, new surges in infections and hospitalizations could alter the current environment. The significant decline in oil prices experienced in 2020 was, in part, due to disruptions in the worldwide economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic which quarantined people and restricted travel. To date the Company's operations have not been materially impacted by COVID-19, and worldwide we are seeing improving economic activity while managing the risk of a resurgence, but there can be no guarantees that COVID-19 will not have an impact on the Company or its operations.

 

In July 2021, OPEC+ agreed to increase production beginning in August 2021 and to gradually phase out prior production cuts by September 2022. The decision to continue to increase production was reaffirmed by an OPEC+ meeting held on August 3, 2022. The average Brent crude oil price for the three months ended June 30, 2021, September 30, 2021,  December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022 was $69 per barrel, $73 per barrel, $79 per barrel, $100 per barrel and $113 per barrel, respectively.

 

While the current community price environment is favorable and the Company has not experienced disruptions to its operations as a result of COVID-19 any new outbreak or emergence of a new variant  may have a material adverse impact on financial results and business operations of the Company, including the timing and ability of the Company to complete future drilling campaigns and other efforts required to advance the development of its crude oil and natural gas properties.

 

Principles of consolidation – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements (“Financial Statements”) include the accounts of VAALCO and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Investments in unincorporated joint ventures and undivided interests in certain operating assets are consolidated on a pro rata basis. All intercompany transactions within the consolidated group have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates – The preparation of the Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the respective reporting periods. The Financial Statements include amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and cash equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents includes deposits and funds invested in highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.

 

7

 

Restricted cash and abandonment funding – Restricted cash includes cash that is contractually restricted. Restricted cash is classified as a current or non-current asset based on its designated purpose and time duration. Current amounts in restricted cash at June 30, 2022 and 2021 each include an escrow amount for the floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (“FPSO”), representing bank guarantees for customs clearance in Gabon. Long-term amounts at June 30, 2022 and 2021 include a charter payment escrow for the FPSO offshore Gabon as discussed in Note 10 and amounts set aside for the future abandonment of the Etame Marin block. The Company invests restricted and excess cash in readily redeemable money market funds. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

  

As of June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $53,062  $22,884 

Restricted cash - current

  216   83 

Restricted cash - non-current

  1,752   1,752 

Abandonment funding

  20,091   22,837 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 $75,121  $47,556 

 

The Company conducts regular abandonment studies to update the estimated costs to abandon the offshore wells, platforms and facilities on the Etame Marin block. This cash funding is reflected under “Other noncurrent assets” as “Abandonment funding” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Future changes to the anticipated abandonment cost estimate could change the asset retirement obligation and the amount of future abandonment funding payments. See Note 10 for further discussion.

 

On February 28, 2019, the Gabonese branch of the international commercial bank holding the abandonment funds in a U.S. dollar denominated account advised that the bank regulator required transfer of the funds to the Central Bank (“Central Bank”) for African Economic and Monetary Community (“CEMAC”), of which Gabon is one of the six member states, for conversion to local currency with a credit back to the Gabonese branch in local currency. The Company’s production sharing contract related to the Etame Marin block located offshore Gabon (“Etame PSC”) provides these payments must be denominated in U.S. dollars and the CEMAC regulations provide for the establishment of a U.S. dollar account with the Central Bank. Although the Company requested establishment of such account, the Central Bank did not comply with its requests until February 2021. As a result, the Company was not able to make the annual abandonment funding payments in 2019, 2020 or 2021 totaling $4.3 million, net to VAALCO based on the 2018 abandonment study. In February of 2021, the Bank of Central African State (“BEAC”) authorized the Company to apply for a U.S. dollar denominated escrow account for the abandonment fund at Citibank Gabon (“Citibank”). Working with Citibank, on March 12, 2021 the Company filed the application to open the account and is currently awaiting the approval of the account from the Central Bank. Accordingly, the Company was not able to make our funding payment in 2021. In December 2021, as part of the new FX regulations issued by BEAC, BEAC allowed for the opening of U.S. dollars escrow accounts for the abandonment funds at BEAC. The Company is currently working with the extractive industry to formulate the agreements, which are expected to be finalized in 2022, that regulate these accounts. Accordingly, pursuant to Amendment No. 5 of the Etame PSC that required these funds to be in U.S. dollars, once the account for the U.S. dollars abandonment fund is open at BEAC we will resume our funding of the abandonment fund in compliance with the Etame PSC.

 

Accounts with joint venture owners – Accounts with joint venture owners represent the excess of charges billed over cash calls paid by the joint venture owners for exploration, development and production expenditures made by the Company as an operator.

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – The Company’s accounts receivable results from sales of crude oil production, joint interest billings to its joint interest owners for their share of expenses on joint venture projects for which the Company is the operator, and receivables from the government of Gabon for reimbursable Value-Added Tax (“VAT”). Collection efforts, including remedies provided for in the contracts, are pursued to collect overdue amounts owed to the Company. Portions of the Company’s costs in Gabon (including the Company’s VAT receivable) are denominated in the local currency of Gabon, the Central African CFA Franc (“XAF”). Most of these receivables have payment terms of 30 days or less. Joint owner receivables are secured through cash calls and other mechanisms for collection under the terms of the joint operating agreements.

 

The Company routinely assesses the recoverability of all material receivables to determine their collectability. The Company accrues a reserve on a receivable when, based on management’s judgment, it is probable that a receivable will not be collected and the amount of such reserve may be reasonably estimated. When collectability is in doubt, the Company records an allowance against the accounts receivable and a corresponding income charge for bad debts, which appears in the “Bad debt expense and other” line item of the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

8

 

As of June 30, 2022, the outstanding VAT receivable balance, excluding the allowance for bad debt, was approximately $17.4 million ($10.6 million, net to VAALCO). As of June 30, 2022, the exchange rate was XAF 627.6 = $1.00. As of December 31, 2021, the outstanding VAT receivable balance, excluding the allowance for bad debt, was approximately $14.5 million ($9.6 million, net to VAALCO). As of December 31, 2021, the exchange rate was XAF 578.2 = $1.00. The receivable amount, net of allowances, is reported as a non-current asset in the “Value added tax and other receivables” line item in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Because both the VAT receivable and the related allowances are denominated in XAF, the exchange rate revaluation of these balances into U.S. dollars at the end of each reporting period also has an impact on the Company’s results of operations. Such foreign currency gains (losses) are reported separately in the “Other, net” line item of the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

The following table provides a roll forward of the aggregate allowance for bad debt:

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Allowance for bad debt

                

Balance at beginning of period

 $(6,135) $(5,092) $(5,741) $(2,273)

Bad debt charge, net of receipts

  (571)  (395)  (1,063)  (496)

Adjustment associated with Sasol Acquisition

           (2,879)

Foreign currency gain (loss)

  317   (88)  415   73 

Balance at end of period

 $(6,389) $(5,575) $(6,389) $(5,575)

 

Other receivables, net – Under the terms of the Etame PSC, the Company can be required to contribute to meeting domestic market needs of the Republic of Gabon by delivering to it, or another entity designated by the Republic of Gabon, an amount of crude oil proportional to the Company’s share of production to the total production in Gabon over the year. In 2021, the Company was notified by the Republic of Gabon to deliver to a refinery its proportionate share of crude oil to meet the domestic market need as per the terms of the Etame PSC. The Company is entitled, per the Etame PSC, to a fixed selling price for the oil delivered. Since the crude-oil produced by the Company was not compatible with the crude-oil requirements of the refinery, the Company entered into two contracts to fulfill its domestic market needs obligation under the Etame PSC. One contract was to purchase oil from another producer that produced  the compatible oil the refinery needs and another contract with the refinery itself to deliver the crude oil to. Under the contract with the provider of the crude oil, the third party provider is entitled to a selling price consistent with the price the Company receives under the terms of the Etame PSC for the delivery of the crude oil to the refinery. As a result of these contracts and timing differences between when the oil is procured and when it is delivered to and paid for by the refinery, included in the Company’s June 30, 2022 condensed consolidated balance sheet are current receivables in the "other, net" line item of approximately $10.7 million for amounts due to the Company from the refinery for 195 MBbls delivered in April and May 2022, a $19.1 million current liability included in the "Accrued liabilities and other" line item for amounts due to the oil supplier for 163 MBbls of crude oil purchased in April and June 2022 and $12.6 million included in current assets on the "Crude oil inventory" line item for 98 MBbls of crude oil procured in June 2022, which is 98 MBbls of the 163 MBbls included in accrued liabilities.

 

Crude oil inventory – Crude oil inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value and represent the share of crude oil produced and stored on the FPSO, but unsold at the end of the period and crude oil purchased in order to comply with the domestic market needs of the Republic of Gabon.  As of June 30, 2022 the crude oil inventory associated with the domestic market needs obligation was $12.6 million and the amount related to unsold crude oil inventory was $1.3 million.

 

Prepayments and Other – Included in “Prepayments and other” line item of the condensed consolidated balance sheet for the six months ended  June 30, 2022 are $6.0 million of prepayments related to fixed assets.

 

Materials and supplies – Materials and supplies, which are included in the “Prepayments and other” line item of the condensed consolidated balance sheet, are primarily used for production related activities. These assets are valued at the lower of cost, determined by the weighted-average method, or net realizable value.

 

Crude Oil and natural gas properties, equipment and other – The Company uses the successful efforts method of accounting for crude oil and natural gas producing activities. Management believes that this method is preferable, as the Company has focused on exploration activities wherein there is risk associated with future success and as such earnings are best represented by drilling results.

 

9

 

Capitalization – Costs of successful wells, development dry holes and leases containing productive reserves are capitalized and amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the life of the related reserves. Other exploration costs, including dry exploration well costs, geological and geophysical expenses applicable to undeveloped leaseholds, leasehold expiration costs and delay rentals, are expensed as incurred. The costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized pending a determination of whether proved reserves have been found. At the completion of drilling activities, the costs of exploratory wells remain capitalized if a determination is made that proved reserves have been found. If no proved reserves have been found, the costs of exploratory wells are charged to expense. In some cases, a determination of proved reserves cannot be made at the completion of drilling, requiring additional testing and evaluation of the wells. Cost incurred for exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot yet be classified as proved are capitalized if (a) the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and (b) sufficient progress in assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project has been made. The status of suspended well costs is monitored continuously and reviewed quarterly. Due to the capital-intensive nature and the geographical characteristics of certain projects, it may take an extended period of time to evaluate the future potential of an exploration project and the economics associated with making a determination of its commercial viability. Geological and geophysical costs are expensed as incurred. Costs of seismic studies that are utilized in development drilling within an area of proved reserves are capitalized as development costs. Amounts of seismic costs capitalized are based on only those blocks of data used in determining development well locations. To the extent that a seismic project covers areas of both developmental and exploratory drilling, those seismic costs are proportionately allocated between development costs and exploration expense. 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization – Depletion of wells, platforms, and other production facilities are calculated on a block basis under the unit-of-production method based upon estimates of proved developed reserves. Depletion of developed leasehold acquisition costs are provided on a block basis under the unit-of-production method based upon estimates of proved reserves. Support equipment (other than equipment inventory) and leasehold improvements related to crude oil and natural gas producing activities, as well as property, plant and equipment unrelated to crude oil and natural gas producing activities, are recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are typically three to five years for office and miscellaneous equipment and five to seven years for leasehold improvements.

 

Impairment – The Company reviews the crude oil and natural gas producing properties for impairment on a block basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such properties may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment charge is recorded based on the fair value of the asset. This may occur if the block contains lower than anticipated reserves or if commodity prices fall below a level that significantly effects anticipated future cash flows. The fair value measurement used in the impairment test is generally calculated with a discounted cash flow model using several Level 3 (as defined in the policy "Fair value" below) inputs that are based upon estimates the most significant of which is the estimate of net proved reserves. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond the Company’s control. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. The quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered, production and operating costs, the amount and timing of future development expenditures and future crude oil and natural gas sales prices may all differ from those assumed in these estimates. Capitalized equipment inventory is reviewed regularly for obsolescence. When undeveloped crude oil and natural gas leases are deemed to be impaired, exploration expense is charged. Unproved property costs consist of acquisition costs related to undeveloped acreage in the Etame Marin block in Gabon and in Block P in Equatorial Guinea. See Note 7 for further discussion.

 

Purchase Accounting – On February 25, 2021, VAALCO Gabon S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, completed the acquisition of Sasol Gabon S.A.’s (“Sasol’s”) 27.8% working interest in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement (“SPA”) dated November 17, 2020 (the “Sasol Acquisition”). The Company made various assumptions in determining the fair values of acquired assets and liabilities assumed. In order to allocate the purchase price, the Company developed fair value models with the assistance of outside consultants. These fair value models were used to determine the fair value associated with the reserves and applied discounted cash flows to expected future operating results, considering expected growth rates, development opportunities, and future pricing assumptions. The fair value of working capital assets acquired and liabilities assumed were transferred at book value, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the assets and liabilities. The fair value of the fixed assets acquired was based on estimates of replacement costs and the fair value of liabilities assumed was based on their expected future cash outflows. See Note 3 for further discussion.

 

10

 

Lease commitments – At inception, contracts are reviewed to determine whether an agreement contains a lease as defined under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases. Further, if a lease is identified within the contract, a determination is made whether the lease qualifies as an operating or financing lease. Regardless of the type of lease, the initial measurement of the lease results in recording a right of use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability at the present value of the future lease payments. ROU assets for operating leases are recorded under “Right of use operating lease assets” and the current portion and long-term portion of the lease liabilities for operating leases are reflected in “Operating lease liabilities – current portion” and “Operating lease liabilities – net of current portion” within the condensed consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets for financing leases are recorded within “Right of use financing lease assets” and the current portion and long-term portion of the lease liabilities for financing leases are reflected in “Financing lease liabilities – current portion” and “Financing lease liabilities – net of current portion” within the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Asset retirement obligations (ARO) – The Company has significant obligations to remove tangible equipment and restore land or seabed at the end of crude oil and natural gas production operations. The removal and restoration obligations are primarily associated with plugging and abandoning wells, removing and disposing of all or a portion of offshore crude oil and natural gas platforms, and capping pipelines. Estimating the future restoration and removal costs is difficult and requires management to make estimates and judgments. Asset removal technologies and costs are constantly changing, as are regulatory, political, environmental, safety, and public relations considerations.

 

A liability for ARO is recognized in the period in which the legal obligations are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The ARO liability reflects the estimated present value of the amount of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation, and similar activities associated with crude oil and natural gas properties. The Company uses current retirement costs to estimate the expected cash outflows for retirement obligations. Inherent in the present value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate settlement amounts, inflation factors, credit-adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement, and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental, and political environments. Initial recording of the ARO liability is offset by the corresponding capitalization of asset retirement cost recorded to crude oil and natural gas properties. To the extent these or other assumptions change after initial recognition of the liability, the fair value estimate is revised and the recognized liability adjusted, with a corresponding adjustment made to the related asset balance or income statement, as appropriate. Depreciation of capitalized asset retirement costs and accretion of asset retirement obligations are recorded over time. Depreciation is generally determined on a units-of-production basis for crude oil and natural gas production facilities, while accretion escalates over the lives of the assets to reach the expected settlement value. Where there is a downward revision to the ARO that exceeds the net book value of the related asset, the corresponding adjustment is limited to the amount of the net book value of the asset and the remaining amount is recognized as a gain. See Note 13 for further discussion.

 

Revenue recognition – Revenues from contracts with customers are generated from sales in Gabon pursuant to crude oil sales and purchase agreements. There is a single performance obligation (delivering crude oil to the delivery point, i.e. the connection to the customer’s crude oil tanker) that gives rise to revenue recognition at the point in time when the performance obligation event takes place. In addition to revenues from customer contracts, the Company has other revenues related to contractual provisions under the Etame PSC. The Etame PSC is not a customer contract. The terms of the Etame PSC includes provisions for payments to the government of Gabon for: royalties based on 13% of production at the published price and a shared portion of “Profit Oil” determined based on daily production rates, as well as a gross carried working interest of 7.5% (increasing to 10% beginning June 20, 2026) for all costs. For both royalties and Profit Oil, the Etame PSC provides that the government of Gabon may settle these obligations in-kind, i.e. taking crude oil barrels, rather than with cash payments. See Note 6 for further discussion.

 

Major maintenance activities – Costs for major maintenance are expensed in the period incurred and can include the costs of workovers of existing wells, contractor repair services, materials and supplies, equipment rentals and labor costs.

 

Stock-based compensation – The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the date of the grant. The grant date fair value for options or stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) is estimated using either the Black-Scholes or Monte Carlo method depending on the complexity of the terms of the awards granted. The SARs fair value is estimated at the grant date and remeasured at each subsequent reporting date until exercised, forfeited or cancelled.

 

Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo models employ assumptions, based on management’s best estimates at the time of grant, which impact the calculation of fair value and ultimately, the amount of expense that is recognized over the life of the stock options or SAR award. These models use the following inputs: (i) the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on the valuation date, (ii) the maximum stock price appreciation that an employee may receive, (iii) the expected term that is based on the contractual term, (iv) the expected volatility that is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock for the length of time corresponding to the expected term of the option or SAR award, (v) the expected dividend yield that is based on the anticipated dividend payments and (vi) the risk-free interest rate that is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect as of the reporting date for the length of time corresponding to the expected term of the option or SAR award. 

 

11

 

For restricted stock, the grant date fair value is determined using the market value of the common stock on the date of grant.

 

The stock-based compensation expense for equity awards is recognized over the requisite or derived service period, using the straight-line attribution method over the service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards.

 

Unless the awards contain a market condition, previously recognized expense related to forfeited awards is reversed in the period in which the forfeiture occurs. For awards containing a market condition, previously recognized stock-based compensation expense is not reversed when the awards are forfeited. See Note 15 for further discussion.

 

Income taxes – The annual tax provision is based on expected taxable income, statutory rates and tax planning opportunities available to the Company in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The determination and evaluation of the annual tax provision and tax positions involves the interpretation of the tax laws in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates and requires significant judgment and the use of estimates and assumptions regarding significant future events such as the amount, timing and character of income, deductions and tax credits. Changes in tax laws, regulations, agreements and tax treaties or the level of operations or profitability in each jurisdiction would impact the tax liability in any given year. The Company also operates in foreign jurisdictions where the tax laws relating to the crude oil and natural gas industry are open to interpretation, which could potentially result in tax authorities asserting additional tax liabilities. While the income tax provision (benefit) is based on the best information available at the time, a number of years may elapse before the ultimate tax liabilities in the various jurisdictions are determined. We also record as income tax expense the increase or decrease in the value of the government’s allocation of Profit Oil which results due to changes in value from the time the allocation is originally produced to the time the allocation is actually lifted.

 

Judgment is required in determining whether deferred tax assets will be realized in full or in part. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if existing deferred tax assets will be utilized, and when it is estimated to be more-likely-than-not that all or some portion of specific deferred tax assets, such as net operating loss carry forwards or foreign tax credit carryovers, will not be realized, a valuation allowance must be established for the amount of the deferred tax assets that are estimated to not be realizable. Factors considered are earnings generated in previous periods, forecasted earnings and the expiration period of carryovers.

 

In certain jurisdictions, the Company may deem the likelihood of realizing deferred tax assets as remote where the Company expects that, due to the structure of operations and applicable law, the operations in such jurisdictions will not give rise to future tax consequences. For such jurisdictions, the Company has not recognized deferred tax assets. Should the expectations change regarding the expected future tax consequences, the Company may be required to record additional deferred taxes that could have a material effect on the condensed consolidated financial position and results of operations. See Note 16 for further discussion.

 

Derivative instruments and hedging activities – The Company enters into crude oil hedging arrangements from time to time in an effort to mitigate the effects of commodity price volatility and enhance the predictability of cash flows relating to the marketing of a portion of our crude oil production. While these instruments mitigate the cash flow risk of future decreases in commodity prices, they may also curtail benefits from future increases in commodity prices.

 

The Company records balances resulting from commodity risk management activities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value. Gains and losses from the change in fair value of derivative instruments and cash settlements on commodity derivatives are presented in the “Derivative instruments loss, net” line item located within the “Other income (expense)” section of the condensed consolidated statements of operations. See Note 8 for further discussion.

 

Fair value – Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Inputs used in determining fair value are characterized according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based on the degree to which they are observable. The three input levels of the fair-value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1 – Inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (for example, exchange-traded commodity derivatives).

 

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (for example, quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or market-corroborated inputs).

 

Level 3 – Inputs that are not observable from objective sources, such as internally developed assumptions used in pricing an asset or liability (for example, an estimate of future cash flows used in the internally developed present value of future cash flows model that underlies the fair-value measurement).

 

12

 

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements – The Company applies fair value measurements to its nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis, which consist of measurements or remeasurements of impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement assets and liabilities and other long-lived assets and assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Generally, a cash flow model is used in combination with inflation rates and credit-adjusted, risk-free discount rates or industry rates to determine the fair value of the assets and liabilities. Based upon our review of the fair value hierarchy, the inputs used in these fair value measurements are considered Level 3 inputs.

 

Fair value of financial instruments – The Company’s current assets and liabilities include financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, derivative assets and liabilities, accounts payable, liabilities for SARs and guarantees. As discussed further in Note 8, derivative assets and liabilities are measured and reported at fair value each period with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The derivatives referenced below are reported in “Accrued liabilities and other” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. SARs liabilities are measured and reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs each period with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The SARs liabilities is reported in “Accrued liabilities and other” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. With respect to the other financial instruments included in current assets and liabilities, the carrying value of each financial instrument approximates fair value primarily due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.

 

   

As of June 30, 2022

 
 

Balance Sheet Line

 

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

  

Total

 
   (in thousands) 

Liabilities

                 

SARs liability

Accrued liabilities and other

 $  $1,049  $  $1,049 

Derivative liability - crude oil swaps

Accrued liabilities and other

     12,547      12,547 
   $  $13,596  $  $13,596 

 

 

   

As of December 31, 2021

 
 

Balance Sheet Line

 

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

  

Total

 
   (in thousands) 

Liabilities

                 

SARs liability

Accrued liabilities and other

 $  $609  $  $609 

Derivative liability - crude oil swaps

Accrued liabilities and other

     4,806      4,806 
   $  $5,415  $  $5,415 

 

Earnings per Share – Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities consist of unvested restricted stock awards and stock options using the treasury method. Under the treasury method, the amount of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock-based compensation grants or the proceeds that would be received if the stock options were exercised are assumed to be used to repurchase shares at the average market price. When a loss exists, all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive and are therefore excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share. See Note 5 for further discussion. 

 

13

 
 

2.  NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

Not Yet Adopted

 

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”) related to the calculation of credit losses on financial instruments. All financial instruments not accounted for at fair value will be impacted, including the Company’s trade and joint venture owners’ receivables. Allowances are to be measured using a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model as of the reporting date that is based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This is significantly different from the current model that increases the allowance when losses are probable. Initially, ASU 2016-13 was effective for all public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years and will be applied with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective.  The FASB subsequently issued ASU No. 2019-04 (“ASU 2019-04”): Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments and ASU No. 2019-05 (ASU 2019-05”): Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Targeted Transition Relief. ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-05 provide certain codification improvements related to implementation of ASU 2016-13 and targeted transition relief consisting of an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for eligible instruments.  In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial InstrumentsCredit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates. This amendment deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023 for calendar year end smaller reporting companies, which includes the Company.  The Company plans to defer the implementation of ASU 2016-13, and related updates, until January 2023.

 

 

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

 

Pending Merger

 

On July 13, 2022, the Company and VAALCO Energy Canada ULC (“AcquireCo”), an Alberta unlimited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an Arrangement Agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with TransGlobe Energy Corporation, an Alberta corporation (“TransGlobe”), pursuant to which, among other things, AcquireCo agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of TransGlobe (the “Arrangement”), with TransGlobe continuing as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AcquireCo and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The aggregate consideration for the Arrangement is approximately $307 million. The $307 million aggregate consideration is estimated from the Company's share price of $6.23 at the close of business on July 13, 2022 multiplied by the exchange ratio negotiated with TransGlobe of 0.6727 shares of the Company's stock for each TransGlobe share multiplied by the number of TransGlobe outstanding shares of 73,309,064.  The Arrangement will be implemented by way of a plan of arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”) in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (the “ABCA”) and is subject to approval by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta (the “Court”), the stockholders of the Company and the shareholders of TransGlobe, among other customary conditions for a transaction of this nature and size.

 

On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Arrangement Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement, at the effective time of the Arrangement (the “Effective Time”), each common share of TransGlobe that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be deemed to be transferred and assigned to AcquireCo in exchange for 0.6727 of a share (“Exchange Ratio”) of VAALCO common stock (the “Consideration”). No fractional shares of VAALCO common stock will be issued in the Arrangement, and TransGlobe’s shareholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of VAALCO common stock. Any shares in respect of which dissent rights have been properly exercised and not withdrawn pursuant to Section 191 of the ABCA, will be deemed to be transferred and assigned to VAALCO, but will not be entitled to the Consideration and will, instead, be subject to dissent rights under the ABCA, as modified by the Plan of Arrangement and the interim order of the Court.

 

The shareholders of TransGlobe will be asked to approve the Arrangement (the “TransGlobe Resolution”) at a shareholder meeting, and the stockholders of VAALCO will be asked to approve (i) the issuance of shares of VAALCO common stock as Consideration for the Arrangement (the “Consideration Shares”) (the “VAALCO Share Issuance Resolution”); and (ii) an amendment to VAALCO’s certificate of incorporation to increase the size of VAALCO’s authorized share capital (the “VAALCO Amendment Resolution” and, together with the VAALCO Share Issuance Resolution, the “VAALCO Resolutions”) at a stockholder meeting. VAALCO will use commercially reasonable efforts to schedule its stockholder meeting as promptly as reasonably practicable following clearance by the SEC of VAALCO’s proxy statement relating to such meeting and on the same date as the TransGlobe’s shareholder meeting.  TransGlobe will use its commercially reasonable efforts to schedule its shareholder meeting on the same date as VAALCO’s stockholder meeting.

 

14

 

The closing of the Arrangement is conditioned on the adoption of the TransGlobe Resolution and the VAALCO Resolutions. Consummation of the Arrangement is also subject to (a) the approval of the Arrangement by the Court in form and substance acceptable to each of VAALCO and TransGlobe, acting reasonably; (b) the absence of any law, injunction or other governmental order that prohibits the consummation of the Arrangement; (c) the approval for listing on the NYSE of the Consideration Shares; (d) the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) shall have acknowledged that the application for admission of VAALCO’s enlarged share capital has been approved and (after satisfaction of any conditions to which such approval is expressed to be subject (“U.K. Listing Conditions”)), such admission will become effective as soon as a dealing notice has been issued by the FCA and any U.K. Listing Conditions having been satisfied; (e) the LSE shall have acknowledged that the conditions to VAALCO’s enlarged share capital being admitted to trading on the standard segment of the main market of the LSE have been satisfied; (f) the availability of an exemption of Consideration Shares from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) under Section 3(a)(10) thereof; (g) the absence of a material adverse effect in respect of either TransGlobe or VAALCO; (h) to the extent required or necessary, (1) the approval or consent of, or waiver or non-exercise of any material termination, pre-emption or similar rights by, any governmental entity in, or in respect of the interests held by TransGlobe in, Canada and Egypt and (2) no actions or inactions having been taken which are likely to result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of any license or permit held by TransGlobe or any of its subsidiaries in respect of the interests held by TransGlobe in Canada and Egypt which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business; (i) dissent rights not having been exercised (or if exercised, remaining unwithdrawn) with respect to more than 10% of the issued and outstanding TransGlobe shares; and (j) other customary closing conditions, including the accuracy of the other party’s representations and warranties (subject to certain materiality qualifications), and the other party’s compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Arrangement Agreement.

 

If consummated, the Arrangement will result in VAALCO stockholders owning approximately 54.5%, and TransGlobe shareholders owning approximately 45.5%, of the combined company, calculated based on vested outstanding shares of each company outstanding as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement. The Arrangement is expected to be completed before the end of 2022.

 

The Arrangement Agreement provides for mutual termination fees of $9.15 million in the event the Arrangement Agreement is terminated by either party in certain circumstances.

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 included in the line item "Other (expense) income, net" is $1.2 million of transactions costs associated with the Arrangement with TransGlobe.

 

Acquisition of Sasol Gabon S.A.s Interest in Etame

 

On February 25, 2021, VAALCO Gabon S.A. completed the acquisition of Sasol’s 27.8% working interest in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon pursuant to the SPA. The effective date of the transaction was July 1, 2020. Prior to the Sasol Acquisition, the Company owned and operated a 31.1% working interest in Etame. The Sasol Acquisition increased the Company’s working interest to 58.8%. As a result of the Sasol Acquisition, the net portion of production and costs relating to the Company’s Etame operations increased from 31.1% to 58.8%. Reserves, production and financial results for the interests acquired in the Sasol Acquisition have been included in VAALCO’s results for periods after February 25, 2021.

 

The following amounts represent the allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Sasol Acquisition.

 

  

February 25, 2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Purchase Consideration

    

Cash

 $33,959 

Fair value of contingent consideration

  4,647 

Total purchase consideration

 $38,606 

 

15

 
  

February 25, 2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Assets acquired:

    

Wells, platforms and other production facilities

 $37,176 

Equipment and other

  5,568 

Value added tax and other receivables

  1,234 

Abandonment funding

  11,781 

Accounts receivable - trade

  11,220 

Other current assets

  3,963 

Liabilities assumed:

    

Asset retirement obligations

  (14,564)

Accrued liabilities and other

  (10,121)

Bargain purchase gain

  (7,651)

Total purchase price

 $38,606 

 

All assets and liabilities associated with Sasol’s interest in Etame Marin block, including crude oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligations and working capital items, were recorded at their fair value. The Company used estimated future crude oil prices as of the closing date, February 25, 2021, to apply to the estimated reserve quantities acquired and market participant assumptions to the estimated future operating and development costs to arrive at the estimates of future net revenues. The future net revenues were discounted using the Company’s weighted average cost of capital to determine the fair value at closing. The valuations to derive the purchase price included the use of both proved and unproved categories of reserves, expectation for timing and amount of future development and operating costs, projections of future rates of production, expected recovery rates, and risk adjusted discount rates. Other significant estimates were used by the Company to determine the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company had one year from the date of closing to record purchase price adjustments as a result of changes in such estimates. As a result of comparing the purchase price to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed a $7.7 million bargain purchase gain was recognized. A bargain purchase gain of $5.5 million is included in “Other, net" under "Other income (expense)" in the 2021 condensed consolidated statements of operations. An income tax benefit of $2.2 million, related to the bargain purchase gain, is also included in the 2021 condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

The bargain purchase gain is primarily attributable to the increase in crude oil price forecasts from the date the SPA was signed, November 17, 2020, to the closing date, February 25, 2021, when the fair value of the reserves associated with the Sasol Acquisition were determined.
 

The impact of the Sasol Acquisition was an increase to “Crude oil and natural gas sales” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations of $52.4 million and $84.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and $7.1 million and $12.9 million increase to “Net income” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively.

 

The impact of the Sasol Acquisition was an increase to “Crude oil and natural gas sales” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations of $22.2 million and $31.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and $8.1 million and $9.9 million increase to “Net income” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.

 

16

 

The unaudited pro forma results presented below have been prepared to give the effect to the Sasol Acquisition discussed above on the Company’s results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, as if the Sasol Acquisition had been consummated on January 1, 2020. The unaudited pro forma results do not purport to represent what the Company’s actual results operations would have been if the Sasol Acquisition had been completed on such date or to project the Company’s results of operations for any future date or period.

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

  
  

2021

  

2021

  
  

(in thousands)

  

Pro forma (unaudited)

         

Crude oil and natural gas sales

 $47,023  $104,570  

Operating income

  18,874   43,899  

Net income

  5,884   17,620 

(a)

          

Basic net income loss per share:

         

Income from continuing operations

 $0.10  $0.30  

Net income per share

 $0.10  $0.30  

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

  58,072   57,855  

Diluted net income per share:

         

Income from continuing operations

 $0.10  $0.30  

Net income per share

 $0.10  $0.30  

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

  58,574   58,527  

 


 

 

(a)

The pro forma net income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 excludes nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the Sasol Acquisition, consisting of a bargain purchase gain of $7.7 million and transaction costs of $1.0 million.

 

Under the terms of the SPA, a contingent payment of $5.0 million was payable to Sasol should the average Dated Brent price over a consecutive 90-day period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022 exceed $60.00 per barrel. Included in the purchase consideration was the fair value, at closing, of the contingent payment due to Sasol. The conditions related to the contingent payment were met and on April 29, 2021, the Company paid the $5.0 million contingent amount to Sasol in accordance with the terms of the SPA.

 

Discontinued Operations - Angola

 

In November 2006, the Company signed a production sharing contract for Block 5 offshore Angola (“Block 5 PSA”). The Company’s working interest was 40%, and the Company carried Sonangol P&P, for 10% of the work program. On September 30, 2016, the Company notified Sonangol P&P that it was withdrawing from the joint operating agreement effective October 31, 2016. On November 30, 2016, the Company notified the national concessionaire, Sonangol E.P., that it was withdrawing from the Block 5 PSA and reduced its activities in Angola. As a result of this strategic shift, the Company classified all the related assets and liabilities as those of discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The operating results of the Angola segment have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company segregated the cash flows attributable to the Angola segment from the cash flows from continuing operations for all periods presented in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. During three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Angola segment did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and related disclosures.

 

17

 
 

4. SEGMENT INFORMATION 

 

The Company’s operations are based in Gabon and the Company has an undeveloped block in Equatorial Guinea. Each of the Company’s two reportable operating segments is organized and managed based upon geographic location. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker, and management review and evaluate the operation of each geographic segment separately, primarily based on operating income (loss). The operations of all segments include exploration for and production of hydrocarbons where commercial reserves have been found and developed. Revenues are based on the location of hydrocarbon production. Corporate and other is primarily corporate and operations support costs that are not allocated to the reportable operating segments.

 

Segment activity of continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 as well as long-lived assets and segment assets at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2022

 

(in thousands)

 

Gabon

  

Equatorial Guinea

  

Corporate and Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Crude oil and natural gas sales

 $110,985  $  $  $110,985 

Operating costs and expenses:

                

Production expense

  25,360   175   (60)  25,475 

Exploration expense

  67         67 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  8,173      18   8,191 

General and administrative expense

  565   110   2,859   3,534 

Bad debt expense and other

  571         571 

Total operating costs and expenses

  34,736   285   2,817   37,838 

Other operating expense, net

            

Operating income

  76,249   (285)  (2,817)  73,147 

Other income (expense):

                

Derivative instruments loss, net

        (9,542)  (9,542)

Interest (expense) income, net

  (158)     40   (118)

Other (expense) income, net

  (856)  (1)  (1,254)  (2,111)

Total other expense, net

  (1,014)  (1)  (10,756)  (11,771)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

  75,235   (286)  (13,573)  61,376 

Income tax (benefit) expense

  36,423   1   9,828   46,252 

Income from continuing operations

  38,812   (287)  (23,401)  15,124 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

        (20)  (20)

Net income

 $38,812  $(287) $(23,421) $15,104 

Consolidated capital expenditures

 $38,102  $  $67  $38,169 

 

 

18

 

 

  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2022

 

(in thousands)

 

Gabon

  

Equatorial Guinea

  

Corporate and Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Crude oil and natural gas sales

 $179,641  $  $  $179,641 

Operating costs and expenses:

                

Production expense

  43,441   394      43,835 

Exploration expense

  194         194 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  12,826      38   12,864 

General and administrative expense

  1,158   209   7,161   8,528 

Bad debt expense and other

  1,063         1,063 

Total operating costs and expenses

  58,682   603   7,199   66,484 

Other operating expense, net

  (5)        (5)

Operating income

  120,954   (603)  (7,199)  113,152 

Other income (expense):

                

Derivative instruments loss, net

        (41,300)  (41,300)

Interest (expense) income, net

  (164)     43   (121)

Other (expense) income, net

  (1,494)  (2)  (1,311)  (2,807)

Total other expense, net

  (1,658)  (2)  (42,568)  (44,228)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

  119,296   (605)  (49,767)  68,924 

Income tax (benefit) expense

  49,256   1   (7,633)  41,624 

Income from continuing operations

  70,040   (606)  (42,134)  27,300 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

        (32)  (32)

Net income

 $70,040  $(606) $(42,166) $27,268 

Consolidated capital expenditures

 $69,882  $  $67  $69,949 

 

 

19

 
  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

(in thousands)

 

Gabon

  

Equatorial Guinea

  

Corporate and Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Crude oil and natural gas sales

 $47,023  $  $  $47,023 

Operating costs and expenses:

                

Production expense

  16,378   32   9   16,419 

Exploration expense

  665         665 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  5,786      24   5,810 

General and administrative expense

  254   70   4,410   4,734 

Bad debt expense and other

  395         395 

Total operating costs and expenses

  23,478   102   4,443   28,023 

Other operating expense, net

  (126)        (126)

Operating income

  23,419   (102)  (4,443)  18,874 

Other income (expense):

                

Derivative instruments loss, net

        (9,969)  (9,969)

Interest (expense) income, net

        1   1 

Other (expense) income, net

  (156)  1   (9)  (164)

Total other expense, net

  (156)  1   (9,977)  (10,132)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

  23,263   (101)  (14,420)  8,742 

Income tax (benefit) expense

  6,045      (3,220)  2,825 

Income from continuing operations

  17,218   (101)  (11,200)  5,917 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

        (33)  (33)

Net income

 $17,218  $(101) $(11,233) $5,884 

Consolidated capital expenditures (1)

 $1,782  $  $  $1,782 

(1)    Excludes assets acquired in the Sasol acquisition.

  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

(in thousands)

 

Gabon

  

Equatorial Guinea

  

Corporate and Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Crude oil and natural gas sales

 $86,797  $  $  $86,797 

Operating costs and expenses:

                

Production expense

  32,511   32   9   32,552 

Exploration expense

  807         807 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  9,907      51   9,958 

General and administrative expense

  491   202   8,588   9,281 

Bad debt expense and other

  496         496 

Total operating costs and expenses

  44,212   234   8,648   53,094 

Other operating expense, net

  (133)     (353)  (486)

Operating income

  42,452   (234)  (9,001)  33,217 

Other income (expense):

                

Derivative instruments loss, net

        (15,923)  (15,923)

Interest (expense) income, net

        6   6 

Other (expense) income, net

  7,172   (1)  (2,755)  4,416 

Total other expense, net

  7,172   (1)  (18,672)  (11,501)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

  49,624   (235)  (27,673)  21,716 

Income tax (benefit) expense

  9,479   1   (3,569)  5,911 

Income from continuing operations

  40,145   (236)  (24,104)  15,805 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

        (52)  (52)

Net income

 $40,145  $(236) $(24,156) $15,753 

Consolidated capital expenditures (1)

 $4,297  $  $  $4,297 

(1)    Excludes assets acquired in the Sasol acquisition.

 

20

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Gabon

  

Equatorial Guinea

  

Corporate and Other

  

Total

 

Long-lived assets from continuing operations:

                

As of June 30, 2022

 $141,522  $10,000  $196  $151,718 

As of December 31, 2021

 $84,156  $10,000  $168  $94,324 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Gabon

  

Equatorial Guinea

  

Corporate and Other

  

Total

 

Total assets from continuing operations:

                

As of June 30, 2022

 $291,730  $10,927  $66,907  $369,564 

As of December 31, 2021

 $201,748  $10,548  $50,794  $263,090 

 

Information about the Company’s most significant customers

 

The Company currently sells crude oil production from Gabon under term crude oil sales and purchase agreements (“COSPAs”) or crude oil sales and marketing agreements ("COSMA or COSMAs") with pricing based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors. The Company signed a COSPA with ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC (“Exxon”) that covered sales from February 2020 through January 2022 with pricing based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors. The COSPA with Exxon was amended and extended several times, most recently in January 2022, extending the date of the COSPA through the end of July 2022. 

 

As discussed further in Note 11, on May 16, 2022, VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc. (the “Borrower”) entered into a facility agreement (the “Facility Agreement”) by and among the Company, VAALCO Gabon, SA (“VAALCO Gabon”), Glencore Energy UK Ltd., as mandated lead arranger, technical bank and facility agent (“Glencore”), the Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C., as security agent, and the other financial institutions named therein (the “Lenders”), providing for a senior secured reserve-based revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) in an initial aggregate maximum principal amount available of up to $50.0 million. In connection with the entry into the Facility Agreement, the Company entered into a COSMA with Glencore pursuant to which the Company agreed to make Glencore the exclusive offtaker and marketer of all of the crude oil produced from the Etame G4-160 Block, offshore Gabon during the period from August 1, 2022 until the Final Maturity Date of the Facility (as defined in the Facility Agreement). Pursuant to the COSMA, Glencore agreed to buy and market the Company’s crude oil with pricing based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors.

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, revenues from sales of crude oil to Exxon were 100% of the Company’s total revenues from customers.

 

21

 
 

5.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated using the average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. For the calculation of diluted shares, the Company assumes that restricted stock is outstanding on the date of vesting, and the Company assumes the issuance of shares from the exercise of stock options using the treasury stock method.

 

A reconciliation of reported net income (loss) to net income (loss) used in calculating EPS as well as a reconciliation from basic to diluted shares follows:  

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Net income (numerator):

                

Income from continuing operations

 $15,124  $5,917  $27,300  $15,805 

Income from continuing operations attributable to unvested shares

  (229)  (99)  (381)  (269)

Numerator for basic

  14,895   5,818   26,919   15,536 

Reallocation of earnings to participating securities for considering dilutive securities

  1      2    

Numerator for dilutive

 $14,896  $5,818  $26,921  $15,536 
                 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 $(20) $(33) $(32) $(52)

Income from discontinued operations attributable to unvested shares

     1      1 

Numerator for basic

  (20)  (32)  (32)  (51)

Reallocation of earnings to participating securities for considering dilutive securities

            

Numerator for dilutive

 $(20) $(32) $(32) $(51)
                 

Net Income

 $15,104  $5,884  $27,268  $15,753 

Net income attributable to unvested shares

  (229)  (98)  (381)  (268)

Numerator for basic

  14,875   5,786   26,887   15,485 

Reallocation of earnings to participating securities for considering dilutive securities

  1      2    

Numerator for dilutive

 $14,876  $5,786  $26,889  $15,485 
                 

Weighted average shares (denominator):

                

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

  58,925   58,072   58,814   57,855 

Effect of dilutive securities

  436   502   464   672 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

  59,361   58,574   59,278   58,527 

Stock options and unvested restricted stock grants excluded from dilutive calculation because they would be anti-dilutive

  251   377   154   386 

 

 

6. REVENUE

 

Revenues from contracts with customers are generated from sales in Gabon pursuant to COSPAs or COSMAs. COSPAs or COSMAs with customers are renegotiated near the end of the contract term and may be entered into with a different customer or the same customer going forward. Except for internal costs, which are expensed as incurred, there are no upfront costs associated with obtaining a new COSPA or COSMAs. See Note 4 under “Information about the Companys most significant customers for further discussion.

 

22

 

Customer sales generally occur on a monthly basis when the customer’s tanker arrives at the FPSO and the crude oil is delivered to the tanker through a connection. There is a single performance obligation (delivering crude oil to the delivery point, i.e. the connection to the customer’s crude oil tanker) that gives rise to revenue recognition at the point in time when the performance obligation event takes place. This is referred to as a “lifting”. Liftings can take one to two days to complete. The intervals between liftings are generally 30 days; however, changes in the timing of liftings will impact the number of liftings that occur during the period. Therefore, the performance obligation attributable to volumes to be sold in future liftings are wholly unsatisfied, and there is no transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations. The Company has utilized the practical expedient in ASC Topic 606-10-50-14(a), which states that the Company is not required to disclose the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations if the variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation. 

 

The Company accounts for production imbalances as a reduction in reserves. The volumes sold may be more or less than the volumes that the Company is entitled based on the ownership interest in the property, and the Company would recognize a liability if the existing proved reserves were not adequate to cover an imbalance.

 

For each lifting completed under a COSPA or COSMA, payment is made by the customer in U.S. dollars by electronic transfer 30 days after the date of the bill of lading. For each lifting of crude oil, pricing is based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors.

 

Generally, no significant judgments or estimates are required as of a given filing date with regard to applicable price or volumes sold because all of the parameters are known with certainty related to liftings that occurred in the recently completed calendar quarter. As such, the Company deemed this situation to be characterized as a fixed price situation.

 

In addition to revenues from customer contracts, the Company has other revenues related to contractual provisions under the Etame PSC. The Etame PSC is not a customer contract, and therefore the associated revenues are not within the scope of ASC 606. The terms of the Etame PSC includes provisions for payments to the government of Gabon for: royalties based on 13% of production at the published price, and a shared portion of “Profit Oil” determined based on daily production rates as well as a gross carried working interest of 7.5% (increasing to 10% beginning June 20, 2026) for all costs. For both royalties and Profit Oil, the Etame PSC provides that the government of Gabon may settle these obligations in-kind, i.e. taking crude oil barrels, rather than with cash payments.

 

To date, the government of Gabon has not elected to take its royalties in-kind, and this obligation is settled through a monthly cash payment. Payments for royalties are reflected as a reduction in revenues from customers. Should the government elect to take the production attributable to its royalty in-kind, the Company would no longer have sales to customers associated with production assigned to royalties.

 

With respect to the government’s share of Profit Oil, the Etame PSC provides that the corporate income tax liability may be satisfied through the payment of Profit Oil. In the condensed consolidated statements of operations, the government’s share of revenues from Profit Oil is reported in revenues with a corresponding amount reflected in the current provision for income tax expense. Prior to February 1, 2018, the government did not take any of its share of Profit Oil in-kind. These revenues have been included in revenues to customers as the Company entered into the contract with the customer to sell the crude oil and was subject to the performance obligations associated with the contract. For the in-kind sales by the government beginning February 1, 2018, these sales are not considered revenues under a customer contract as the Company is not a party to the contracts with the buyers of this crude oil. However, consistent with the reporting of Profit Oil in prior periods, the amount associated with the Profit Oil under the terms of the Etame PSC is reflected as revenue with an offsetting amount reported as a current income tax expense. Payments of the income tax expense are reported in the period that the government takes its Profit Oil in-kind, i.e. the period in which it lifts the crude oil. The Company has a $29.2 million foreign income tax payable as of June 30, 2022. As of December 31, 2021, the foreign taxes payable attributable to this obligation was $3.1 million.

 

Certain amounts associated with the carried interest in the Etame Marin block discussed above are reported as revenues. In this carried interest arrangement, the carrying parties, which include the Company and other working interest owners, are obligated to fund all of the working interest costs that would otherwise be the obligation of the carried party. The carrying parties recoup these funds from the carried interest party’s revenues.

 

23

 

The following table presents revenues from contracts with customers as well as revenues associated with the obligations under the Etame PSC.

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Revenue from customer contracts:

                

Sales under the COSPA

 $125,143  $50,808  $201,629  $94,637 

Other items reported in revenue not associated with customer contracts:

                

Carried interest recoupment

  2,371   2,332   3,483   4,154 

Royalties

  (16,529)  (6,117)  (25,471)  (11,994)

Crude oil and natural gas sales

 $110,985  $47,023  $179,641  $86,797 

 

 

7.  CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT

 

The Company’s crude oil and natural gas properties and equipment is comprised of the following:

 

  As of June 30, 2022  

As of December 31, 2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Crude oil and natural gas properties and equipment - successful efforts method:

        

Wells, platforms and other production facilities

 $528,328  $488,756 

Work-in-progress

  42,954   13,515 

Undeveloped acreage

  23,735   23,735 

Equipment and other

  23,695   23,478 
   618,712   549,484 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment

  (466,994)  (455,160)

Net crude oil and natural gas properties, equipment and other

 $151,718  $94,324 

 

Extension of Term of Etame Marin Block PSC

 

On September 25, 2018, VAALCO, together with the other joint venture owners in the Etame Marin block (the “Etame Consortium”), received an implementing Presidential Decree from the government of Gabon authorizing an extension for additional years (“PSC Extension”) to the Etame Consortium to operate in the Etame Marin block. The Company’s subsidiary, VAALCO Gabon S.A., currently has a 63.575% participating interest (working interest including the working interest attributable to the carried interest owner) in the Etame Marin block. The PSC Extension extended the term for each of the three exploitation areas in the Etame Marin block for a period of ten years with effect from September 17, 2018, the effective date of the PSC Extension, with two five-year options to extend the PSC.

 

In accordance with the Etame PSC, the Etame Consortium maintains a “Cost Account,” which accumulates capital costs and operating expenses that are deductible against revenues, net of royalties, in determining taxable profits. Under the PSC Extension, the Cost Recovery Percentage increased to 80% for the ten-year period from September 17, 2018 through September 16, 2028. After September 16, 2028, the Cost Recovery Percentage returns to 70%. The government of Gabon will acquire from the Etame Consortium an additional 2.5% gross working interest carried by the Etame Consortium effective June 20, 2026. VAALCO’s share of this interest to be transferred to the government of Gabon is 1.6%.

 

Proved Properties

 

The Company reviews the crude oil and natural gas producing properties for impairment quarterly or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such properties may not be recoverable. When a crude oil and natural gas property’s undiscounted estimated future net cash flows are not sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its fair value. The fair value of the asset is measured using a discounted cash flow model relying primarily on Level 3 inputs into the undiscounted future net cash flows. The undiscounted estimated future net cash flows used in the impairment evaluations at each quarter end are based upon the most recently prepared independent reserve engineers’ report adjusted to use forecasted prices from the forward strip price curves near each quarter end and adjusted as necessary for drilling and production results.

 

24

 

There was no triggering event in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 that would cause the Company to believe the value of crude oil and natural gas producing properties should be impaired. Factors considered included higher forward price curves for the second quarter of 2022, and expected capital expenditures in the period related to the Etame Marin block.

 

Undeveloped Leasehold Costs

 

VAALCO acquired a 31% working interest in an undeveloped portion of a block (“Block P”) offshore Equatorial Guinea in 2012.  The Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons (“EG MMH”) approved our appointment as operator for Block P on November 12, 2019.  The Company acquired an additional working interest of 12% from Atlas Petroleum, thereby increasing its working interest to 43% in 2020, in exchange for a potential future payment of $3.1 million in the event that there is commercial production from Block P.  On August 27, 2020, the amendment to the production sharing contract to ratify the Company’s increased working interest and appointment as operator was approved by the EG MMH. On April 12, 2021, the majority of non-defaulting parties assigned the defaulting party’s interest to the non-defaulting parties. As a result, VAALCO’s working interest will increase to 45.9% once the EG MMH approves a new amendment to the production sharing contract. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $10.0 million recorded for the book value of the undeveloped leasehold costs associated with the Block P license. On July 15, 2022 VAALCO, on behalf of itself and Guinea Ecuatorial de Petroleós (“GEPetrol”), submitted to the EG MMH a plan of development for the Venus development in Block P.  The other Block P joint venture owner, Atlas Petroleum International Limited, opted not to participate in the plan of development.  As a result, VAALCO will hold an 80% working interest in the Venus development in Block P and GEPetrol will hold a 20% carried interest. The Block P production sharing contract provides for a development and production period of 25 years from the date of approval of a development and production plan. 

 

As a result of the PSC Extension discussed above, the exploitation area for the Etame Marin block was expanded to include previously undeveloped acreage. The Company allocated $6.7 million of the share of the signing bonus and $7.1 million of the $18.6 million resulting from the deferred tax impact for the difference between book basis and tax basis to unproved leasehold costs using the acreage attributable to the previous exploitation areas and the additional acreage in the expanded exploitation areas. Exploitation of this additional area is permitted throughout the term of the Etame PSC. As a result of discovering reserves in connection with drilling the South East Etame 4H development well in March 2020, $2.3 million of costs were transferred to proved leasehold costs leaving a remaining $11.5 million in unproved leasehold costs. In connection with the Sasol Acquisition discussed under Note 3, $2.2 million of reserves were attributed to undeveloped properties. The balance of undeveloped leasehold costs related to the Etame Marin block at June 30, 2022 was $13.7 million.

 

Capitalized Equipment Inventory

 

Capitalized equipment inventory is reviewed regularly for obsolescence. Adjustments for inventory obsolescence are recorded in the “Other operating income (expense), net” line item of the condensed consolidated statements of operations but were not material for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.

 

8. DERIVATIVES AND FAIR VALUE

 

The Company uses derivative financial instruments from time to time to achieve a more predictable cash flow from crude oil production by reducing the Company’s exposure to price fluctuations. See the table below for the list of outstanding contracts.

Settlement Period

Type of Contract

Index

 

Average Monthly Volumes

  

Weighted Average Price

  

Weighted Average Put Price

  

Weighted Average Call Price

 
    

(Bbls)

  

(per Bbl)

  

(per Bbl)

  

(per Bbl)

 

July 2022 to September 2022

Swaps

Dated Brent

  125,000  $76.53       

October 2022 to December 2022

Collars

Dated Brent

  109,000     $70.00  $122.00 
25

 

While these commodity swaps are intended to be an economic hedge to mitigate the impact of a decline in crude oil prices, the Company has not elected hedge accounting. The contracts are being measured at fair value each period, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for speculative or trading proposes. In connection with the RBL facility entered in May 2022, the Company is required to hedge a portion of its anticipated oil production at the time the Company draws down on the borrowing base.

 

The crude oil swap contracts are measured at fair value using the Income Method. Level 2 observable inputs used in the valuation model include market information as of the reporting date, such as prevailing Brent crude futures prices, Brent crude futures commodity price volatility and interest rates. The determination of the swap contracts’ fair value includes the impact of the counterparty’s non-performance risk.

 

To mitigate counterparty risk, the Company enters into such derivative contracts with creditworthy financial institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers.

 

At times, the Company’s counterparties require that it post collateral for changes in the net fair value of the derivative contracts. This cash collateral is reported in the line item "Restricted cash" on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

The following table sets forth the loss on derivative instruments on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations:

 

    

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

Derivative Item

 

Statement of Operations Line

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
    

(in thousands)

 

Crude oil swaps

 

Cash settlements paid on matured derivative contracts, net

 $(21,059) $(4,293) $(33,559) $(6,003)
  

Unrealized gain (loss)

  11,517   (5,676)  (7,741)  (9,920)
  

Derivative instruments loss, net

 $(9,542) $(9,969) $(41,300) $(15,923)

 

 

9. ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER

 

Accrued liabilities and other balances were comprised of the following:

 

  

As of June 30, 2022

  

As of December 31, 2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Accrued accounts payable invoices

 $39,186  $11,967 

Gabon DMO, PID and PIH obligations

  10,810   9,465 

Derivative liability - crude oil swaps

  12,547   4,806 

Capital expenditures

  24,357   11,327 

Stock appreciation rights – current portion

  1,049   609 

Accrued wages and other compensation

  1,611   2,124 

ARO Obligation

  6,835   6,745 

Other

  2,825   2,401 

Total accrued liabilities and other

 $99,220  $49,444 

 

 

10.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Abandonment funding

 

Under the terms of the Etame PSC, the Company has a cash funding arrangement for the eventual abandonment of all offshore wells, platforms and facilities on the Etame Marin block. As a result of the PSC Extension, annual funding payments are spread over the periods from 2018 through 2028, under the 2018 abandonment study. The amounts paid will be reimbursed through the Cost Account and are non-refundable. In November 2021, an abandonment study was done and the estimate used for this purpose is approximately $81.3 million ($47.9 million, net to VAALCO) on an undiscounted basis. The abandonment estimate will be presented to the Gabonese Directorate of Hydrocarbons as required by the Etame PSC. Through June 30, 2022, $34.2 million ($20.1 million, net to VAALCO) on an undiscounted basis has been funded. The annual payments will be adjusted based on revisions in the abandonment estimate. This cash funding is reflected under “Other noncurrent assets” in the “Abandonment funding” line item of the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Future changes to the anticipated abandonment cost estimate could change the asset retirement obligation and the amount of future abandonment funding payments.

 

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On March 5, 2019, in accordance with certain foreign currency regulatory requirements, the Gabonese branch of an international commercial bank holding the abandonment funds in a U.S. dollar denominated account transferred the funds to the Central Bank for CEMAC, of which Gabon is one of the six member states. The U.S. dollars were converted to local currency with a credit back to the Gabonese branch. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recorded a $1.3 million and $1.7 million foreign currency loss, respectively, associated with the abandonment funding account. During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded a $0.6 million foreign currency loss associated with the abandonment funding account. In December 2021, as part of the new FX regulations issued by BEAC, BEAC allowed for opening of U.S. dollars escrow accounts for the abandonment funds at BEAC. The Company is currently working with the extractive industry to formulate the agreements which are expected to be finalized in 2022, that regulate these accounts. Accordingly, pursuant to Amendment No. 5 of the Etame PSC that required these funds to be in U.S. dollars, once the account for the U.S. dollars abandonment fund is open at BEAC we will resume our funding of the abandonment fund in compliance with the Etame PSC.

 

FPSO charter

 

In connection with the charter of the FPSO, the Company, as operator of the Etame Marin block, guaranteed all of the charter payments under the charter through its contract term. At the Company’s election, the charter could be extended for two one-year periods beyond September 2020. These elections have been made, and the charter has been extended through September 2022. The Company is currently working with the FPSO charterer regarding timing for commencing shutdown of production, schedule for decommissioning and associated costs. The Company obtained guarantees from each of the Company’s joint venture owners for their respective shares of the payments. The Company’s net share of the charter payment is 58.8%, or approximately $19.4 million per year. The Company believes the need for performance under the charter guarantee is remote, so the Company recorded a liability of $0.0 million as of June 30, 2022 and $0.1 million as of  December 31, 2021 representing the guarantee’s estimated fair value. Estimated future minimum obligations as of June 30, 2022 through the end of the FPSO charter in September 2022 are approximately $7.5 million ($4.4 million, net to VAALCO).

 

The FPSO charter payment includes a $0.93 per barrel charter fee for production up to 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day and a $2.50 per barrel charter fee for those barrels produced in excess of 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

 

Regulatory and Joint Interest Audits and Related Matters

 

The Company is subject to periodic routine audits by various government agencies in Gabon, including audits of the Company’s petroleum cost account, customs, taxes and other operational matters, as well as audits by other members of the contractor group under the Company’s joint operating agreements.

 

In 2016, the government of Gabon conducted an audit of the Company’s operations in Gabon, covering the years 2013 through 2014. The Company received the findings from this audit and responded to the audit findings in January 2017. Since providing the Company’s response, there have been changes in the Gabonese officials responsible for the audit. The Company is working with the newly appointed representatives to resolve the audit findings. The Company does not anticipate that the ultimate outcome of this audit will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Between 2019 and 2021, the government of Gabon conducted an audit of the operations in Gabon, covering the years 2015 and 2016. The Company has not yet received the findings from this audit.

 

In 2019, the Etame joint venture owners conducted audits for the years 2017 and 2018. In June 2020, the Company agreed to a $0.8 million payment to resolve claims made by one of the Etame Marin block joint venture owners, Addax Petroleum Gabon S.A. There are now no unresolved matters related to the joint venture owner audits for these years.

 

FSO

 

On August 31, 2021, VAALCO and its co-venturers at Etame approved the Bareboat Contract (the “Bareboat Contract”) and Operating Agreement (collectively, the “FSO Agreements”) with World Carrier Offshore Services Corp. to replace the existing FPSO with a Floating Storage and Offloading unit (“FSO”). The FSO Agreements require a prepayment of $2 million gross ($1.3 million net to VAALCO) in 2021 and $5 million gross ($3.2 million net) in 2022 of which $6 million will be recovered against future rentals. Current total block level field conversion estimates are $66 to $80 million gross ($42 to $51 million net to VAALCO). The FSO Agreements contain purchase provisions and termination provisions. The Company does not expect to utilize the terminations provision under the FSO Agreements. VAALCO currently believes that all of the associated engineering, long-lead equipment and significant contracts are proceeding in-line with the anticipated timelines and expected delivery schedules for the deployment of the FSO. The vessel is expected to arrive on location in the Etame Marin block on August 12, 2022. Transition to the new FSO could result in additional costs, interruption in production and delayed sales to customers.

 

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Dividend Policy

 

On November 3, 2021, the Company announced that the Company’s board of directors adopted a cash dividend policy of an expected $0.0325 per common share per quarter. On March 18, 2022, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0325 per share of common stock to the stockholders of record at the close of business on February 18, 2022. On June 24, 2022, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0325 per share of common stock to the stockholders of record at the close of business on May 25, 2022On August 5, 2022, the Company announced that the Company’s board of directors had declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0325 per share of common stock, payable on September 232022 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 24, 2022Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of the board of directors after taking into account various factors, including current financial condition, the tax impact of repatriating cash, operating results and current and anticipated cash needs.

 

Other contractual commitments

 

In June 2021, the Company entered into a short-term agreement with an affiliate of Borr Drilling Limited to drill a minimum of three wells with options to drill additional wells. Upon completion of the ETBSM 1HB-ST2 well, the commitment to Borr Drilling Limited was satisfied. The company plans to exercise its options to extend its contract for the existing rig.

 

11. DEBT

 

As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no outstanding debt. 

 

On May 16, 2022, the Borrower entered into the Facility Agreement by and among the Company, VAALCO Gabon, Glencore, the Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C., as security agent, and the Lenders, providing for a senior secured reserve-based revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) in an aggregate maximum principal amount of up to $50.0 million (the “Initial Total Commitment”). In addition, subject to certain conditions, the Borrower may agree with any Lender or other bank or financial institution to increase the total commitments available under the Facility by an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million (any such increase, an “Additional Commitment”). Beginning October 1, 2023 and thereafter on April 1 and October 1 of each year during the term of the Facility, the Initial Total Commitment, as increased by any Additional Commitment, will be reduced by $6.25 million.

 

The Facility provides for determination of the borrowing base asset based on the Company’s proved producing reserves and a portion of the Company's proved undeveloped reserves. The borrowing base is determined and redetermined by the Lenders on March 31 and September 30 of each year.
 
Each loan under the Facility will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin (the “Applicable Margin”) of (i) 6.00% until the third anniversary of the Facility Agreement or (ii) 6.25% from the third anniversary of the Facility Agreement until the Final Maturity Date (defined below).
 
Pursuant to the Facility Agreement, the Company shall pay to Glencore for the account of each Lender a quarterly commitment fee equal to (i) 35% per annum of the Applicable Margin on the daily amount by which the lower of the total commitments and the borrowing base amount exceeds the amount of all outstanding utilizations under the Facility, plus (ii) 20% per annum of the Applicable Margin on the daily amount by which the total commitments exceed the borrowing base amount. The Borrower is also required to pay customary arrangement and security agent fees.

The Facility Agreement contains certain debt covenants, including that, as of the last day of each calendar quarter, (i) the ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt to EBITDAX (as each term is defined in the Facility Agreement) for the trailing 12 months shall not exceed 3.0x and (ii) consolidated cash and cash equivalents shall not be lower than $10.0 million. As of June 30, 2022, the Company's borrowing base was $50.0 million. The amount the Company is able to borrow with respect to the borrowing base is subject to compliance with the financial covenants and other provisions of the Facility Agreement. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants at June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the facility.

The Facility will mature on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the date on which all conditions precedent to the first utilization of the Facility have been satisfied and (ii) the Reserve Tail Date (as defined in the Facility Agreement) (the “Final Maturity Date”).

 

Deferred financing costs incurred in connection with securing the Facility were $1.5 million, which is carried in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets in the line item "Other long-term assets" and is amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the Facility and included in interest expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

 

28

 
 

12. LEASES 

 

Under the leasing standard that became effective January 1, 2019, there are two types of leases: finance and operating. Regardless of the type of lease, the initial measurement of the lease results in recording a ROU asset and a lease liability at the present value of the future lease payments.

 

Practical Expedients – The Company elected to use all the practical expedients, effectively carrying over its previous identification and classification of leases that existed as of January 1, 2019. Additionally, a lessee may elect not to recognize ROU assets and liabilities arising from short-term leases provided there is no purchase option the entity is likely to exercise. The Company has elected this short-term lease exemption.

 

Operating leases

 

The Company is currently a party to several operating lease agreements for the corporate office, rental of marine vessels and helicopters, equipment and the FPSO. The duration for these agreements range from 3 to 33 months. In some cases, the lease contracts require the Company to make payments both for the use of the asset itself and for operations and maintenance services. Only the payments for the use of the asset related to the lease component are included in the calculation of ROU assets and lease liabilities. Payments for the operations and maintenance services are considered non-lease components and are not included in calculating the ROU assets and lease liabilities. For leases on ROU assets used in joint operations, generally the operator reflects the full amount of the lease component, including the amount that will be funded by the non-operators. As operator for the Etame Marin block, the ROU asset recorded for the FPSO, the marine vessels, helicopter and certain equipment used in the joint operations includes the gross amount of the lease components.

 

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company notified the lessor of the FPSO of its intent to extend the lease term by the first option that extends the FPSO lease to September 2021. Similarly, during the third quarter of 2020, the Company gave notification to extend the FPSO lease to September 2022.

 

The FPSO agreement also contains options to purchase the assets during or at the end of the lease term. The Company does not consider these options reasonably certain of exercise and has excluded the purchase price from the calculation of ROU assets and lease liabilities.

 

The FPSO and helicopter, marine vessels and certain equipment leases include provisions for variable lease payments, under which the Company is required to make additional payments based on the level of production or the number of days or hours the asset is deployed, or the number of persons onboard the vessel. Because the Company does not know the extent that the Company will be required to make such payments, they are excluded from the calculation of ROU assets and lease liabilities.

 

Financing leases

 

In August 2021, the Company signed the FSO agreements to lease a FSO to replace the current FPSO whose term will end in September 2022. Under the terms of the FSO agreements, a third party is expected to modify the leased vessel in order to meet the Company’s crude-oil production requirements. The vessel is expected to arrive on location in the Etame Marin block on August 12, 2022. After acceptance of the FSO, expected by or before September 1, 2022, control of the vessel will transfer to the Company and the Company will record the ROU asset and lease liabilities associated with this lease.

 

On February 15, 2022, the Company signed a contract for a finance lease of generators and related parts. The minimum lease term is 67 months, and the ROU asset and lease liability was recorded on the lease commencement date of February 15, 2022.

 

All leases

 

For all leases that contain an option to extend, the Company has evaluated whether it will extend the lease beyond the initial lease term, which payments have been included in the calculation for the ROU assets and liabilities. The discount rate used to calculate ROU assets and lease liabilities represents the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. The Company determined this by considering the term and economic environment of each lease, and estimating the resulting interest rate the Company would incur to borrow the lease payments.

 

29

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the components of the lease costs and the supplemental information were as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Lease cost:

                

Finance lease cost (1)

 $98  $  $164  $ 

Operating lease cost

  4,265   4,490   8,461   8,880 

Short-term lease cost (2)

  199   449   1,213   1,243 

Variable lease cost (3)

  1,909   1,627   3,247   3,061 

Total lease expense

  6,471   6,566   13,085   13,184 

Lease costs capitalized

  651      1,423    

Total lease costs

 $7,122  $6,566  $14,508  $13,184 

 

  

2022

  

2021

 

Other information:

        

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

        

Operating cash flows attributable to finance leases

 $26  $ 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)

  5.17    

Weighted-average discount rate

  3.54%   
         

Operating cash flows attributable to operating leases

 $12,816  $11,863 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)

  0.7   1.25 

Weighted-average discount rate

  5.62%  6.09%

 

 

(1)

Represents depreciation and interest associated with financing leases.

 

(2)

Represents short term leases under contracts that are 1 year or less where a ROU asset and lease liability are not required to be recorded.

 

(3)

Variable costs represent differences between minimum lease costs and actual lease costs incurred under lease contracts.

 

30

 

The table below describes the presentation of the total lease cost on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations. As discussed above, the Company’s joint venture owners are required to reimburse the Company for their share of certain expenses, including certain lease costs.

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Finance lease cost

 $57  $  $96  $ 

Production expense

  3,720   3,852   7,558   6,501 

General and administrative expense

  47   47   63   96 

Lease costs billed to the joint venture owners

  2,884   2,667   5,886   6,587 

Total lease expense

  6,708   6,566   13,603   13,184 

Lease costs capitalized

  414      905    

Total lease costs

 $7,122  $6,566  $14,508  $13,184 

 

The following table describes the future maturities of the Company’s lease liabilities at June 30, 2022:

 

  

Operating Leases

  

Finance Leases

 
  (in thousands) 

Year

        

2022

 $2,892  $201 

2023

  371   368 

2024

  197   368 

2025

  33   368 

Thereafter

     537 
   3,493   1,842 

Less: imputed interest

  38   185 

Total lease liabilities

 $3,455  $1,657 

 

Under the joint operating agreements, other joint venture owners are obligated to fund $3.1 million of the $5.3 million in future lease liabilities.

 

 

13. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s asset retirement obligations:

 

(in thousands)

 As of June 30, 2022  As of December 31, 2021 

Beginning balance

 $40,694  $17,334 

Accretion

  950   1,627 

Additions

     14,564 

Revisions

     7,169 

Ending balance

 $41,644  $40,694 

 

Accretion is recorded in the line item “Depreciation, depletion and amortization” on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

The Company is required under the Etame PSC for the Etame Marin block in Gabon to conduct abandonment studies to update the amounts being funded for the eventual abandonment of the offshore wells, platforms and facilities on the Etame Marin block. The current abandonment study was prepared in November 2021. At December 31, 2021, associated with the study, the Company recorded an upward revision of $7.2 million to the asset retirement obligation primarily as a result of increased costs expected with the abandonment of the Etame Marin block and a change in the expected timing of the abandonment costs associated with the termination of the FPSO charter. In connection with the Sasol Acquisition, as discussed in Note 3, the Company added $14.6 million of asset retirement obligations as a result of it increasing its interest in the Etame Marin block in 2021. As a result of the expected timing of the abandonment of the FPSO, included in the line item "Accrued liabilities and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet is $6.8 million of costs associated with the retirement obligation as of June 30, 2022.

 

31

 
 

14. SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY

 

Preferred stock – Authorized preferred stock consists of 500,000 shares with a par value of $25 per share. No shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 or December 31, 2021.

 

Treasury stock – For the majority of restricted stock awards granted by the Company, the number of shares issued to the participant on the vesting date are net of shares withheld to meet applicable tax withholding requirements.  In addition, when options are exercised, the participant may elect to remit shares to the Company to cover the tax liability and the cost of the exercised options.  When this happens, the Company adds these shares to treasury stock and pays the taxes on the participant’s behalf.

 

Although these withheld shares are not issued or considered common stock repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program, they are treated as common stock repurchases in our financial statements as they reduce the number of shares that would have been issued upon vesting.  See Note 15 for further discussion. 

 

15.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFIT PLANS

 

The Company’s stock-based compensation has been granted under several stock incentive and long-term incentive plans. The plans authorize the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors to issue various types of incentive compensation. The Company had previously issued stock options and restricted shares under the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2014 Plan”) and stock appreciation rights under the 2016 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan. On June 25, 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2020 Plan”) under which 5,500,000 shares are authorized for grants. In June 2021, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2020 Plan pursuant to which an additional 3,750,000 shares were authorized for issuance pursuant to awards under the 2020 Plan. At June 30, 2022, 6,641,107 shares were available for future grants under the 2020 Plan.

 

For each stock option granted, the number of authorized shares under the 2020 Plan will be reduced on a one-for-one basis. For each restricted share granted, the number of shares authorized under the 2020 Plan will be reduced by twice the number of restricted shares. The Company has no set policy for sourcing shares for option grants. Historically the shares issued under option grants have been new shares.

 

As referenced in the table below, the Company records compensation expense related to stock-based compensation as general and administrative expense associated with the issuance of stock options, restricted stock and stock appreciation rights. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company settled in cash $0.8 million for stock appreciation rights and received $0.3 million for stock option exercises. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company settled in cash $2.9 million for stock appreciation rights and received $1.1 million for stock option exercises.

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Stock-based compensation - equity awards

 $615  $117  $1,019  $440 

Stock-based compensation - liability awards

  227   397   1,245   1,633 

Total stock-based compensation

 $842  $514  $2,264  $2,073 

 

Stock options and performance shares

 

Stock options have an exercise price that may not be less than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. In general, stock options granted to participants will become exercisable over a period determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors that is generally a three-year period, vesting in three equal parts on the anniversaries from the date of grant, and may contain performance hurdles.

 

32

 

In March 2022, the Company granted options to certain employees of the Company that are considered performance stock options to purchase an aggregate of 241,358 shares at an exercise price of $6.41 per share and a life of ten years. For each performance stock option award, one-third of the underlying shares vest on the later of the first anniversary of the grant date and the date on which the Company’s stock price, determined using a 30-day average, exceeds $7.37 per share; performance stock options with respect to one-third of the underlying shares vest on the later of the second anniversary of the grant date and the date on which the Company’s stock price, determined using a 30-day average, exceeds $8.48 per share; and performance stock options with respect to the remaining one-third of the underlying shares vest on the later of the third anniversary of the grant date and the date on which the Company’s stock price, determined using a 30-day average, exceeds $9.75 per share. These awards are option awards that contain a market condition. Compensation cost for such awards is recognized ratably over the derived service period and compensation cost related to awards with a market condition will not be reversed if the Company does not believe it is probable that such performance criteria will be met or if the service provider (employee or otherwise) fails to meet such performance criteria.

 

The Company used the Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the grant date fair value of performance stock option awards. The fair value of these awards will be amortized to expense over the derived service period of the option.

 

For options that do not contain a market or performance condition, the Company uses the Black-Scholes model to calculate the grant date fair value of stock option awards. This fair value is then amortized to expense over the service period of the option.

 

During the  six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the weighted average assumptions shown below were used to calculate the weighted average grant date fair value of option grants under the Monte Carlo.

 

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

Weighted average exercise price - ($/share)

 $6.41  $3.14 

Expected life in years

  6.0   6.0 

Average expected volatility

  72%  75%

Risk-free interest rate

  1.98%  0.95%

Expected dividend yield

  2.30%   

Weighted average grant date fair value - ($/share)

 $2.84  $2.07 

 

Stock option activity associated with the Monte Carlo model for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is provided below:

 

  

Number of Shares Underlying Options

  

Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term

  

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

 
  

(in thousands)

      

(in years)

     

Outstanding at January 1, 2022

  359  $1.96         

Granted

  241   6.41         

Exercised

              

Unvested shares forfeited

              

Vested shares expired

              

Outstanding at June 30, 2022

  600  $3.75   8.84  $1,916 

Exercisable at June 30, 2022

  194  $1.68   8.16  $1,017 

 

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Stock option activity associated with the Black-Scholes model for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is provided below:

 

  

Number of Shares Underlying Options

  

Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term

  

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

 
  

(in thousands)

      

(in years)

     

Outstanding at January 1, 2022

  615  $1.58         

Granted

              

Exercised

  (229)  1.12         

Unvested shares forfeited

              

Vested shares expired

              

Outstanding at June 30, 2022

  386  $1.86   1.46  $1,965 

Exercisable at June 30, 2022

  386  $1.86   1.46  $1,965 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, 49,063 shares were added to treasury as a result of tax withholding on options exercised.

 

Restricted shares

 

Restricted stock granted to employees will vest over a period determined by the Compensation Committee that is generally a three-year period, vesting in three equal parts on the anniversaries following the date of the grant. Restricted stock granted to directors will vest on the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant and (ii) the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date of grant (but not less than fifty (50) weeks following the date of grant). In March 2022, the Company issued 353,424 shares of service-based restricted stock to employees, with a grant date fair value of $6.41 per share. In addition, in June 2022, the Company issued 30,687 shares of service-based restricted stock to directors, with a grant date fair value of $8.31 per share. The vesting of the foregoing shares is dependent upon, among other things, the employees’ and directors’ continued service with the Company.

 

The following is a summary of activity for the six months ended June 30, 2022

  

Restricted Stock

  

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

 
  

(in thousands)

     

Non-vested shares outstanding at January 1, 2022

  741  $2.36 

Awards granted

  384   6.56 

Awards vested

  (334)  2.25 

Awards forfeited

  (30)  3.50 

Non-vested shares outstanding at June 30, 2022

  761  $4.48 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, 69,135 shares were added to treasury as a result of tax withholding on the vesting of restricted shares.

 

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Stock appreciation rights (SARs)

 

SARs may be granted under the VAALCO Energy, Inc. 2016 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan and the 2020 Plan. A SAR is the right to receive a cash amount equal to the spread with respect to a share of common stock upon the exercise of the SAR. The spread is the difference between the SAR exercise price per share specified in the SAR award (that may not be less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant) and the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. SARs granted to participants will become exercisable over a period determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors. In addition, SARs will become exercisable upon a change in control, unless provided otherwise by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company did not grant SARs to employees or directors.

 

SAR activity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is provided below:

 

  

Number of Shares Underlying SARs

  

Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share

  

Weight Average Remaining Contractual Term

  

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

 
  

(in thousands)

      

(in years)

  

(in thousands)

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2022

  362  $1.81         

Granted

              

Exercised

  (153)  1.71         

Unvested SARs forfeited

              

Vested SARs expired

              

Outstanding at June 30, 2022

  209  $1.88   1.36  $1,055 

Exercisable at June 30, 2022

  209  $1.88   1.36  $1,055 

 

Other Benefit Plans

 

The Company has adopted forms of change in control agreements for its named executive officers and certain other officers of the Company as well as a severance plan for its Houston-based non-executive employees in order to provide severance benefits in connection with a change in control. Upon a termination of a participant’s employment by the Company without cause or a resignation by the participant for good reason three months prior to a change in control or six months following a change in control, executives and officers with change in control agreements and participants in the severance plan will be entitled to receive 100% and 50%, respectively, of the participant’s base salary and continued participation in the Company’s group health plans for the participant and his or her eligible spouse and other dependents for six months. In addition, certain named executive officers will receive 75% of their target bonus. Some of the named executive officers are also entitled to severance payments under their employment agreements.

 

 

16. INCOME TAXES

 

VAALCO and its domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. income tax return. Certain foreign subsidiaries also file tax returns in their respective local jurisdictions.

 

Income taxes attributable to continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 are attributable to foreign taxes payable in Gabon as well as income taxes in the U.S.

 

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Provision for income taxes related to income from continuing operations consists of the following:

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

(in thousands)

 

U.S. Federal:

                

Current

 $  $  $  $ 

Deferred

  2,617   104   (9,869)  (2,049)

Foreign:

                

Current

  20,402   6,148   26,093   9,583 

Deferred

  23,233   (3,427)  25,400   (1,623)

Total

 $46,252  $2,825  $41,624  $5,911 

 

The Company’s effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, excluding the impact of discrete items, was 72.59% and 40.6%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company’s overall effective tax rate was appreciably impacted by non-deductible items associated with operations (which includes losses on derivative instruments) and the release of valuation allowance attributable to the current period. The total tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022 includes a discrete adjustment for the release of an additional $12.7 million of valuation allowance as a result of an increase in forecasted future earnings. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, the current tax expense of $20.4 million includes a $1.2 million unfavorable oil price adjustment as a result of the change in value of the government of Gabon’s allocation of Profit Oil between the time it was produced and the time it was taken in-kind. After excluding the impact, current income taxes were $19.2 million for the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the current tax expense of $26.1 million includes a $4.3 million unfavorable oil price adjustment as a result of the change in value of the government of Gabon’s allocation of Profit Oil between the time it was produced and the time it was taken in-kind. After excluding the impact, current income taxes were $21.8 million for the period.

 

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had no material uncertain tax positions. The Company’s policy is to recognize potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

 

36

 
 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Annual Report that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including without limitation, statements regarding our financial position, operating performance and results, reserve quantities and net present values, market prices, business strategy, derivative activities, the amount and nature of capital expenditures, payment of dividends and plans and objectives of management for future operations are forward-looking statements. When we use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “aim,” “target,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “likely,” “plan,” and “probably” or the negative of such terms or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Many risks and uncertainties that could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

 

the impact of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, including its impact on global demand for crude oil and crude oil prices, potential difficulties in obtaining additional liquidity when and if needed, disruptions in global supply chains, quarantines of our workforce or workforce reductions and other matters related to the pandemic;

 

the impact of any future production quotas imposed by Gabon, as a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”), as a result of agreements among OPEC, Russia and other allied producing countries (collectively, “OPEC+”) with respect to crude oil production levels;

 

volatility of, and declines and weaknesses in crude oil and natural gas prices, as well as our ability to offset volatility in prices through the use of hedging transactions;

 

our ability to consummate the Arrangement with TransGlobe Energy Corporation (“TransGlobe");

  our ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies expected from the Arrangement with TransGlobe;
  the discovery, acquisition, development and replacement of crude oil and natural gas reserves;
 

impairments in the value of our crude oil and natural gas assets;

 

future capital requirements;

 

our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity in order to fully implement our business plan;

 

our ability to generate cash flows that, along with our cash on hand, will be sufficient to support our operations and cash requirements;

 

the ability of the BWE Consortium of VAALCO, BW Energy and Panoro Energy to successfully execute its business plan;

 

our ability to attract capital or obtain debt financing arrangements;

 

our ability to pay the expenditures required in order to develop certain of our properties;

 

operating hazards inherent in the exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas;

 

difficulties encountered during the exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas;

 

the impact of competition;

 

our ability to identify and complete complementary opportunistic acquisitions;

 

our ability to effectively integrate assets and properties that we acquire into our operations;

 

weather conditions;

 

the uncertainty of estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves;

 

currency exchange rates and regulations;

 

unanticipated issues and liabilities arising from non-compliance with environmental regulations;

 

37

 

 

the ultimate resolution of our abandonment funding obligations with the government of Gabon and the audit of our operations in Gabon currently being conducted by the government of Gabon;

 

the availability and cost of seismic, drilling and other equipment;

 

difficulties encountered in measuring, transporting and delivering crude oil to commercial markets;

 

our ability to effectively replace the floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (“FPSO”);

 

timing and amount of future production of crude oil and natural gas;

 

hedging decisions, including whether or not to enter into derivative financial instruments;

 

general economic conditions, including any future economic downturn, the impact of inflation, disruption in financial markets and the availability of credit;

 

our ability to enter into new customer contracts;

 

changes in customer demand and producers’ supply;

 

actions by the governments of and events occurring in the countries in which we operate;

 

actions by our joint venture owners;

 

compliance with, or the effect of changes in, governmental regulations regarding our exploration, production, and well completion operations including those related to climate change;

 

the outcome of any governmental audit; and

 

actions of operators of our crude oil and natural gas properties.

 

The information contained in this Quarterly Report and the information set forth under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“2021 Form 10-K”), identifies additional factors that could cause our results or performance to differ materially from those we express in forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions and therefore also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements that are included in this Quarterly Report and the 2021 Form 10-K, our inclusion of this information is not a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans will be achieved. When you consider our forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risk factors and the other cautionary statements in this Quarterly Report.

 

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and reflect our best judgment about future events and trends based on the information currently available to us. Our results of operations can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we make or by risks and uncertainties known or unknown to us. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the forward-looking statements. Actual events and results of operations may vary materially from our current expectations and assumptions. Our forward-looking statements, express or implied, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” which constitute cautionary statements. These cautionary statements 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 occurring after the date of this Quarterly Report.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

VAALCO is a Houston, Texas based independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil. As operator, we have production operations and conduct exploration and development activities in Gabon, West Africa. We also have opportunities to participate in development and exploration activities in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. As discussed further in Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report, we have discontinued operations associated with our activities in Angola, West Africa.

 

38

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

Entry into an Arrangement Agreement with TransGlobe

 

On July 13, 2022, we entered into an Arrangement Agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with VAALCO Energy Canada ULC (“AcquireCo”), an Alberta unlimited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of VAALCO, and TransGlobe, an Alberta corporation, pursuant to which, among other things, AcquireCo agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of TransGlobe (the “Arrangement”), with TransGlobe continuing as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AcquireCo and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of VAALCO. The aggregate consideration for the Arrangement is approximately $307 million. The $307 million aggregate consideration is estimated from VAALCO's share price of $6.23 at the close of business on July 13, 2022 multiplied by the exchange ratio negotiated with TransGlobe of 0.6727 shares of VAALCO's stock for each TransGlobe share multiplied by the number of TransGlobe outstanding shares of 73,309,064. The Arrangement will be implemented by way of a plan of arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”) in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (the “ABCA”) and is subject to approval by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta (the “Court”), the stockholders of VAALCO and the shareholders of TransGlobe, among other customary conditions for a transaction of this nature and size.

 

On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Arrangement Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement, at the effective time of the Arrangement (the “Effective Time”), each common share of TransGlobe that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be deemed to be transferred and assigned to AcquireCo in exchange for 0.6727 of a share (“Exchange Ratio”) of VAALCO common stock (the “Consideration”). No fractional shares of VAALCO common stock will be issued in the Arrangement, and TransGlobe’s shareholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of VAALCO common stock. Any shares in respect of which dissent rights have been properly exercised and not withdrawn pursuant to Section 191 of the ABCA, will be deemed to be transferred and assigned to VAALCO, but will not be entitled to the Consideration and will, instead, be subject to dissent rights under the ABCA, as modified by the Plan of Arrangement and the interim order of the Court.

 

The shareholders of TransGlobe will be asked to approve the Arrangement (the “TransGlobe Resolution”) at a shareholder meeting, and the stockholders of VAALCO will be asked to approve (i) the issuance of shares of VAALCO common stock as Consideration for the Arrangement (the “Consideration Shares”) (the “VAALCO Share Issuance Resolution”); and (ii) an amendment to VAALCO’s certificate of incorporation to increase the size of VAALCO’s authorized share capital (the “VAALCO Amendment Resolution” and, together with the VAALCO Share Issuance Resolution, the “VAALCO Resolutions”) at a stockholder meeting. VAALCO will use commercially reasonable efforts to schedule its stockholder meeting as promptly as reasonably practicable following clearance by the SEC of VAALCO’s proxy statement relating to such meeting and on the same date as the TransGlobe’s shareholder meeting.  TransGlobe will use its commercially reasonable efforts to schedule its shareholder meeting on the same date as VAALCO’s stockholder meeting.

 

The closing of the Arrangement is conditioned on the adoption of the TransGlobe Resolution and the VAALCO Resolutions. Consummation of the Arrangement is also subject to (a) the approval of the Arrangement by the Court in form and substance acceptable to each of VAALCO and TransGlobe, acting reasonably; (b) the absence of any law, injunction or other governmental order that prohibits the consummation of the Arrangement; (c) the approval for listing on the NYSE of the Consideration Shares; (d) the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) shall have acknowledged that the application for admission of VAALCO’s enlarged share capital has been approved and (after satisfaction of any conditions to which such approval is expressed to be subject (“U.K. Listing Conditions”)), such admission will become effective as soon as a dealing notice has been issued by the FCA and any U.K. Listing Conditions having been satisfied; (e) the LSE shall have acknowledged that the conditions to VAALCO’s enlarged share capital being admitted to trading on the standard segment of the main market of the LSE have been satisfied; (f) the availability of an exemption of Consideration Shares from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) under Section 3(a)(10) thereof; (g) the absence of a material adverse effect in respect of either TransGlobe or VAALCO; (h) to the extent required or necessary, (1) the approval or consent of, or waiver or non-exercise of any material termination, pre-emption or similar rights by, any governmental entity in, or in respect of the interests held by TransGlobe in, Canada and Egypt and (2) no actions or inactions having been taken which are likely to result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of any license or permit held by TransGlobe or any of its subsidiaries in respect of the interests held by TransGlobe in Canada and Egypt which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business; (i) dissent rights not having been exercised (or if exercised, remaining unwithdrawn) with respect to more than 10% of the issued and outstanding TransGlobe shares; and (j) other customary closing conditions, including the accuracy of the other party’s representations and warranties (subject to certain materiality qualifications), and the other party’s compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Arrangement Agreement.

 

If consummated, the Arrangement will result in VAALCO stockholders owning approximately 54.5%, and TransGlobe shareholders owning approximately 45.5%, of the combined company, calculated based on vested outstanding shares of each company outstanding as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement. The Arrangement is expected to be completed before the end of 2022.

 

The Arrangement Agreement provides for mutual termination fees of $9.15 million in the event the Arrangement Agreement is terminated by either party in certain circumstances specified therein.

 

 

39

 

Entry into a Facility Agreement

 

On May 16, 2022, VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc. (the “Borrower”), a wholly owned subsidiary of VAALCO, entered into a facility agreement (the “Facility Agreement”) by and among VAALCO, VAALCO Gabon, SA (“VAALCO Gabon” and, together with VAALCO, the “Guarantors”), Glencore Energy UK Ltd., as mandated lead arranger, technical bank and facility agent (“Glencore”), the Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C., as security agent, and the other financial institutions named therein (the “Lenders”), providing for a senior secured reserve-based revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) in an aggregate maximum principal amount of up to $50.0 million. Subject to certain conditions, the Borrower may agree with any Lender or other bank or financial institution to increase the total commitments available under the Facility by an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million (any such increase, an “Additional Commitment”). Beginning October 1, 2023 and thereafter on April 1 and October 1 of each year during the term of the Facility, the Initial Total Commitment, as increased by any Additional Commitment, will be reduced by $6.25 million. See “Capital Resources and Liquidity – RBL Facility Agreement” for more information regarding the Facility.

 

Marine Construction Agreement for Subsea Reconfiguration

 

On March 17, 2022, VAALCO Gabon, SA (“VAALCO Gabon”), a wholly owned subsidiary of VAALCO, entered into an Agreement for the Provision of Subsea Construction and Installation Services (the “Marine Construction Agreement”) with DOF Subsea Canada Corp. (“DOF Subsea”), to support the subsea reconfiguration in connection with the replacement of the existing FPSO vessel with a Floating Storage and Offloading vessel (“FSO”) at the Etame Marin field offshore Gabon. Pursuant to the Marine Construction Agreement, DOF Subsea agreed to, among other things, provide all personnel, crew and equipment necessary to assist in the reconfiguration of the Etame field subsea infrastructure to accommodate all field production to the flow to the FSO, which is currently under conversion, including (i) assistance with retrieval of over 5,000 meters of new flexible pipelines from a manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom, transporting the pipelines to Gabon and installing the pipelines in the Etame field, (ii) performing the retrieval and relocation of existing in-field flowlines and umbilicals to accommodate the reconfigured field development plan and (iii) assistance in the connection of new risers to the FSO (collectively, the “Services”). Pursuant to the Marine Construction Agreement, DOF Subsea will provide an offshore construction vessel to facilitate the performance of the Services. The Marine Construction Agreement provides that the Services will commence in early July 2022 and be completed by the end of September 2022, subject to certain conditions therein. As consideration for the Services provided to VAALCO, we agreed to pay DOF Subsea certain fixed fees upon the completion of the achievement of Service-related milestones, as well as a day rate, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Marine Construction Agreement.

 

Currently, preparation for the subsea reconfiguration is also underway with the first portion of the Bourbon/RANA dive program. The DOF Skandi Constructor has completed integration of the lay equipment in Peterhead UK and has transferred to Newcastle UK where it has completed loading the flexible pipe and ancillary equipment. The Skandi Constructor has arrived in Gabon and will commence reconfiguration of the existing lines and installation of the new lines.

 

Recent Operational Updates

 

Provisional Award of Two Offshore Blocks in Gabon

 

On October 11, 2021 we announced our entry into a consortium with BW Energy and Panoro Energy (the “BWE Consortium”) and that the BWE Consortium has been provisionally awarded two blocks in the 12th Offshore Licensing Round in Gabon. The award is subject to concluding the terms of production sharing contracts (“PSCs”) with the Gabonese government. BW Energy will be the operator with a 37.5% working interest, with VAALCO (37.5% working interest) and Panoro Energy (25% working interest) as non-operating joint owners. The two blocks, G12-13 and H12-13, are adjacent to our Etame PSC as well as BW Energy and Panoro’s Dussafu PSC offshore Southern Gabon, and cover an area of 2,989 square kilometers and 1,929 square kilometers, respectively.

 

Charter Agreement for the Floating Storage and Offloading Unit

 

We are currently a party to an FPSO charter for the storage of all of the crude oil that we produce. This contract will expire in September 2022. We are currently working with the FPSO charterer regarding timing for commencing shutdown of production, schedule for decommissioning and associated costs. In August of 2021, we and our co-venturers at Etame approved the Bareboat Contract (the “Bareboat Contract”) and Operating Agreement (the “Operating Agreement” and collectively, the “FSO Agreements”) with World Carrier Offshore Services Corp. (“World Carrier”) to replace the existing FPSO with an FSO. The FSO Agreements require a prepayment of $2 million gross ($1.3 million net) in 2021 and $5 million gross ($3.2 million net) in 2022 of which $6 million will be recovered against future rentals. Current total field conversion estimates are $66 to $80 million gross ($42 to $51 million net to VAALCO).

 

40

 

The replacement of the existing FPSO is on schedule despite challenges with worldwide supply chain issues. The “Teli” (renamed from “Cap Diamant”), left Bahrain on July 7 following completion of sea trials and is expected to arrive in Gabon on August 12, 2022. All major equipment is on board and the mooring equipment is in transit with arrival in early August.

 

Modifications to the Etame platform, to support the full field reconfiguration, are also on schedule. VAALCO has recently completed the first of several short facility outages to allow for flare system upgrades and the installation of tie-in points for the process equipment. All major deck components have arrived in Gabon and additional major components are in transit. Installation of all equipment will continue over the next eight weeks, with final hookup and commissioning expected to occur in the third quarter once the Teli is moored on location.

 

2021/2022 Drilling Campaign

 

In conjunction with the 2021/2022 drilling program, that began in December 2021, we executed a contract with Borr Jack-Up XIV Inc., an affiliate of Borr Drilling Limited, to drill a minimum of three wells with options to drill additional wells. On October 4, 2021, we novated the Borr Jack-Up XIV Inc contract with Borr West Africa Assets, Inc. In December of 2021, we spudded the Etame 8H-ST, the first well of the 2021/2022 drilling program. In February of 2022 we completed the drilling of the Etame 8H-ST well and moved the drilling rig to the Avouma platform to drill the Avouma 3H-ST development well, which targeted the Gamba reservoir. The Etame 8H-ST demonstrated an initial flow rate of approximately 5,000 gross barrels of oil per day BOPD, 2,560 BOPD net to VAALCO’s 58.8% working interest in 2022. In April 2022, the Avouma 3H-ST well was completed and brought online with an initial production rate of approximately 3,100 gross BOPD, 1,589 BOPD net to VAALCO’s 58.8% working interest in 2022.

 

In July 2022 we completed the South Tchibala 1HB-ST ("ETBSM 1HB-ST") well on the Avouma platform, targeting the Gamba reservoir and also testing the Dentale formation.  The section of the Gamba sand encountered was not economically viable to complete in this wellbore.  However, we did discover two potential zones, the Dentale D1 and Dentale D9 zones for development. The well was completed in the Dentale D1 formation and brought online in July with an initial production rate of approximately 293-390 gross BOPD, 150-200 BOPD net to VAALCO’s 58.8% working interest in 2022. We plan to evaluate and recomplete the D9 zone during the next drilling campaign.  

 

Following the completion of the ETBSM 1HB-ST well, the rig was mobilized to the Southeast Etame North Tchibala Platform to drill the North Tchibala ETBSM 2H-ST well, targeting the Dentale formation, which is productive in other areas in the Etame license. This mobilization was delayed by two weeks due to weather and the rig began operations on the well in late July. After setting up the equipment and completing operations to re-enter the well, VAALCO began drilling the ETBSM 2H-ST well on August 8th.

 

In July 2022, we elected to exercise our options on the rig contract time to allow us to drill an additional two wells.

 

We estimate the range of cost of the 2021/2022 drilling program with six wells to be between $174 million to $213 million gross, or $111 million to $135 million, net to VAALCO’s 63.6% participating interest with about $70 million to about $85 million gross expected in the second half of 2022, or about $44 million to $54 million net to VAALCO.

 

Acquisition of Additional Working Interest at Etame Marin Block

 

In November 2020, we signed a SPA to acquire Sasol’s 27.8% working interest in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon. On February 25, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Sasol’s 27.8% working interest in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon pursuant to the SPA. The effective date of the transaction was July 1, 2020. Prior to the Sasol Acquisition, we owned and operated a 31.1% working interest in Etame. The Sasol Acquisition increased our working interest to 58.8%. As a result of the Sasol Acquisition, the net portion of production and costs relating to our Etame operations increased from 31.1% to 58.8%. Reserves, production and financial results for the interests acquired have been included in our results for periods after February 25, 2021. All assets and liabilities associated with Sasol’s interest in Etame Marin block, including crude oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligations and working capital items were recorded at their fair value. See Note 3 for further information.

 

ACTIVITIES BY ASSET

 

Gabon

 

Offshore Etame Marin Block

 

Development and Production

 

We operate the Etame Marin Block on behalf of a consortium of companies. As of June 30, 2022, production operations in the Etame Marin block included eleven platform wells, plus three subsea wells tied back by pipelines to deliver crude oil and associated natural gas through a riser system to allow for delivery, processing, storage and ultimately offloading the crude oil from a leased FPSO anchored to the seabed on the block giving us a total of fourteen producing wells. The FPSO has production limitations of approximately 25,000 barrels of oil per day and 30,000 barrels of total fluids per day. During the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, production from the block was1,638 MBbls (838 MBbls net) and 1,426 MBbls (730 MBbls net), respectively, as discussed below in “Results of Operations”. During the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, production from the Etame Marin block was 3,055 MBbls (1,563 MBbls net) and 2,679 MBbls (1,196 MBbls net), respectively.  

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

Our working interest will increase to 45.9% once the EG Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons (“EG MMH”) approves a new amendment to the production sharing contract. As of June 30, 2022, we had $10.0 million recorded for the book value of the undeveloped leasehold costs associated with the Block P license. We have completed a feasibility study of a standalone production development opportunity of the Venus discovery on Block P. On July 15, 2022 VAALCO, on behalf of itself and Guinea Ecuatorial de Petroleós (“GEPetrol”), submitted to the EG MMH a plan of development for the Venus development in Block P. The other Block P joint venture owner, Atlas Petroleum International Limited, opted not to participate in the plan of development. As a result, VAALCO will hold an 80% working interest in the Venus development in Block P and GEPetrol will hold a 20% carried interest. The Block P production sharing contract provides for a development and production period of 25 years from the date of approval of a development and production plan.

 

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DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS-ANGOLA

 

In November 2006, we signed a production sharing contract for Block 5 offshore Angola (“PSA”). Our working interest is 40%, and we carried Sonangol P&P, for 10% of the work program. On September 30, 2016, we notified Sonangol P&P that we were withdrawing from the joint operating agreement effective October 31, 2016. On November 30, 2016, we notified the national concessionaire, Sonangol E.P. that we were withdrawing from the PSA. Further to our decision to withdraw from Angola, we have closed our office in Angola and do not intend to conduct future activities in Angola. As a result of this strategic shift, the Angola segment has been classified as discontinued operations in the Financial Statements for all periods presented. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Angola segment did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and related disclosures.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

 

Cash Flows

 

Our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2022

   

2021

   

Increase (Decrease) in 2022 over 2021

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities

  $ 65,969     $ 26,856     $ 39,113  

Net change in operating assets and liabilities

    3,076       (13,644 )     16,720  

Net cash provided by continuing operating activities

    69,045       13,212       55,833  

Net cash used in discontinued operating activities

    (38 )     (52 )     14  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    69,007       13,160       55,847  
                         

Net cash used in investing activities

    (60,278 )     (26,806 )     (33,472 )
                         

Net cash used in financing activities

    (5,922 )     (115 )     (5,807 )

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

  $ 2,807     $ (13,761 )   $ 16,568  

 

The $39.1 million increase in net cash provided by our operating activities, before changes in operating assets was due to more crude oil sold along with higher prices realized in 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 partially offset by higher production costs and general and administrative expense. Also contributing to the change are positive contributions from deferred taxes. The net increase in changes provided by operating assets and liabilities of $16.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 was primarily related to changes in prepayments and other, increases in foreign income taxes payable, and accrued liabilities which was partially offset by increases in receivables, and crude oil inventory.

 

The $33.5 million increase in net cash used in investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2022 was due to increases in capital spending in 2022 for the Etame 8-H well, the Avouma 3H-ST well, ETBSM 1HB-ST well, the Etame field reconfiguration and other items to support the 2021/2022 drilling campaign. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, cash used in investing activities was mainly due to cash used in the purchase of Sasol’s interest in the Etame Block.

 

Net cash used in financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2022 included $3.9 million for dividend distributions, $0.8 million for treasury stock repurchases, as a result of tax withholding on options exercised and vested restricted stock as discussed in Note 15 to our condensed consolidated financial statements, $1.5 million of costs capitalized associated with our credit facility and $0.1 million of principal payments on our finance leases partially offset by $0.3 million in proceeds from options exercised. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, cash used in financing activities was mainly due to cash used in the purchase of treasury shares partially offset by proceeds received from options exercised.

Capital Expenditures

For the six months ended June 30, 2022 we had accrual basis capital expenditures attributable to continuing operations of $69.9 million compared to $4.3 million accrual basis capital expenditures in 2021, excluding the Sasol acquisition. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, our efforts were focused on spending related to the 2021/2022 drilling campaign and Etame field reconfigurations and FSO projects. During the same time in 2021, our spending was concentrated on the Sasol acquisition and obtaining certain long lead items for the 2021/2022 drilling campaign.

 

See table below in “Capital Resources, Liquidity and Cash Requirements” for further information.

 

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Regulatory and Joint Interest Audits

 

We are subject to periodic routine audits by various government agencies in Gabon, including audits of our petroleum Cost Account, customs, taxes and other operational matters, as well as audits by other members of the contractor group under our joint operating agreements. See Note 10 to the Financial Statements for further discussion.

 

Commodity Price Hedging

 

The price we receive for our crude oil significantly influences our revenue, profitability, liquidity, access to capital and prospects for future growth. Crude oil commodities and, therefore their prices can be subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand. We believe these prices will likely continue to be volatile in the future.

 

Due to the inherent volatility in crude oil prices, we use commodity derivative instruments such as swaps and costless collars to hedge price risk associated with a portion of our anticipated crude oil production. These instruments allow us to reduce, but not eliminate, the potential effects of variability in cash flow from operations due to fluctuations in commodity prices. The instruments provide only partial protection against declines in crude oil prices and may limit our potential gains from future increases in prices. None of these instruments are used for trading purposes. We do not speculate on commodity prices but rather attempt to hedge physical production by individual hydrocarbon product in order to protect returns. We have not designated any of our derivative contracts as fair value or cash flow hedges. The changes in fair value of the contracts are included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. We record such derivative instruments as assets or liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. 

 

See the table below for the unexpired contracts.

Settlement Period

Type of Contract

Index

 

Average Monthly Volumes

   

Weighted Average Price

   

Weighted Average Put Price

   

Weighted Average Call Price

 
       

(Bbls)

   

(per Bbl)

   

(per Bbl)

   

(per Bbl)

 

July 2022 to September 2022

Swaps

Dated Brent

    125,000     $ 76.53              

October 2022 to December 2022

Collars

Dated Brent

    109,000           $ 70.00     $ 122.00  

 

Pursuant to the Facility entered into in May 2022, we are required to hedge a portion of our anticipated oil production at the time we draw down on the Facility.

 

Cash on Hand

 

At June 30, 2022, we had unrestricted cash of $53.1 million. We invest cash not required for immediate operational and capital expenditure needs in short-term money market instruments primarily with financial institutions where we determine our credit exposure is negligible. As operator of the Etame Marin block in Gabon, we enter into project-related activities on behalf of our working interest joint venture owners. We generally obtain advances from joint venture owners prior to significant funding commitments. Our cash on hand will be utilized, along with cash generated from operations, to fund our operations.

 

We currently sell our crude oil production from Gabon under a term contract that began in January 2020 and ends in July 2022. Pricing under this contract is based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors. Pursuant to the COMSA, from August 2022 through the Final Maturity Date of the Facility, all of our crude oil produced from the Etame G4-160 Block offshore Gabon will be bought and marketed by Glencore, with pricing based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors.

 

Capital Resources, Liquidity and Cash Requirements

 

Historically, our primary source of liquidity has been cash flows from operations and our primary use of cash has been to fund capital expenditures for development activities in the Etame Marin block. We continually monitor the availability of capital resources, including equity and debt financings that could be utilized to meet our future financial obligations, planned capital expenditure activities and liquidity requirements including those to fund opportunistic acquisitions. For example, we recently took actions to improve our liquidity position by entering into the Facility Agreement. We believe that the recent Facility significantly improves our financial flexibility and our ability to achieve accretive growth by providing access to cash if required for potential future development programs or to fund inorganic acquisition opportunities. Our future success in growing proved reserves, production and balancing the long-term development of our assets with a focus on generating attractive corporate-level returns will be highly dependent on the capital resources available to us.

 

Based on current expectations, we believe we have sufficient liquidity through our existing cash balances and cash flow from operations to support our current cash requirements, including those related to our 2021/2022 drilling program and our ability to fund the FPSO through September 2022, the FSO charter, as well as transaction expenses associated with the TransGlobe acquisition, through September 2023. However, our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or fund any potential future acquisitions, consortiums, joint ventures or pay dividends for other similar transactions depends on operating and economic conditions, some of which are beyond our control. If additional capital is needed, we may not be able to obtain debt or equity financing on terms favorable to us, or at all. We are continuing to evaluate all uses of cash, including opportunistic acquisitions, and whether to pursue growth opportunities and whether such growth opportunities, additional sources of liquidity, including equity and/or debt financings, are appropriate to fund any such growth opportunities.

 

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RBL Facility Agreement and Available Credit

 

On May 16, 2022, VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc. entered into Facility Agreement by and among VAALCO, VAALCO Gabon, Glencore, the Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C. and the Lenders, providing for a senior secured reserve-based revolving credit facility in an aggregate maximum principal amount of up to $50.0 million (the “Initial Total Commitment”). In addition, subject to certain conditions, the Borrower may agree with any Lender or other bank or financial institution to increase the total commitments available under the Facility by an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million. Beginning October 1, 2023 and thereafter on April 1 and October 1 of each year during the term of the Facility, the Initial Total Commitment, as increased by any Additional Commitment, will be reduced by $6.25 million.

 

The Facility provides for determination of the borrowing base asset based on our proved producing reserves and a portion of our proved undeveloped reserves. The borrowing base is determined and redetermined by the Lenders on March 31 and September 30 of each year. The Borrower’s obligations under the Facility Agreement are guaranteed by Guarantors and secured by interests, rights, activities, assets, entitlements, and development in the Etame Marin Permit (Block G64-160) Field and any other assets which are approved by the Majority Lenders (as defined in the Facility Agreement).

 

Each loan under the Facility will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin (the “Applicable Margin”) of (i) 6.00% until the third anniversary of the Facility Agreement or (ii) 6.25% from the third anniversary of the Facility Agreement until the Final Maturity Date (defined below).

 

Pursuant to the Facility Agreement, we shall pay to Glencore for the account of each Lender a quarterly commitment fee equal to (i) 35% per annum of the Applicable Margin on the daily amount by which the lower of the total commitments and the borrowing base amount exceeds the amount of all outstanding utilizations under the Facility, plus (ii) 20% per annum of the Applicable Margin on the daily amount by which the total commitments exceed the borrowing base amount. The Borrower is also required to pay customary arrangement and security agent fees.

 

The Facility Agreement contains certain debt covenants, including that, as of the last day of each calendar quarter, (i) the ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt to EBITDAX (as each term is defined in the Facility Agreement) for the trailing 12 months shall not exceed 3.0x and (ii) consolidated cash and cash equivalents shall not be lower than $10.0 million. As of June 30, 2022, our borrowing base was $50.0 million. The amount we are able to borrow with respect to the borrowing base is subject to compliance with the financial covenants and other provisions of the Facility Agreement. We were in compliance with all debt covenants at June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, we had no outstanding borrowings under the facility.

 

The Facility will mature on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the date on which all conditions precedent to the first utilization of the Facility have been satisfied and (ii) the Reserve Tail Date (as defined in the Facility Agreement) (the “Final Maturity Date”).

 

Cash Requirements

 

Our material cash requirements generally consist of operating leases, purchase obligations, capital projects and 3D seismic processing, the Sasol Acquisition, the TransGlobe acquisition transaction costs, and abandonment funding, each of which is discussed in further detail below.

 

Sasol Acquisition – As a result of completing the Sasol Acquisition on February 25, 2021, our obligations with respect to development activities in the Etame have increased based on the increase in our working interest in the Etame from 31.1 % at December 31, 2020, to 58.8%. As a result of the Sasol Acquisition, the net portion of production and costs relating to the Etame operations increased from 31.1% to 58.8%. Reserves, production and financial results for the interests acquired in the Sasol Acquisition have been included in VAALCO’s results for periods after February 25, 2021.

 

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FSO Agreements – We are currently a party to an FPSO charter for the production and storage of all of the crude oil that we produce. This contract will expire in September 2022. We are currently working with the FPSO charterer regarding timing for commencing shutdown of production, schedule for decommissioning and associated costs. On August 31, 2021, we and our Etame co-venturers approved the Bareboat Contract and Operating Agreement with World Carrier to replace the existing FPSO with a FSO unit at the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon. Pursuant to the Bareboat Charter, World Carrier will provide use of the Teli vessel to VAALCO Gabon for an initial eight-year term, subject to optional two successive one-year extensions. Pursuant to the Operating Agreement, VAALCO Gabon agreed to engage World Carrier for the purposes of maintaining and operating the FSO on its behalf in accordance with the specifications therein and to provide other services to VAALCO Gabon in connection with the operation and maintenance of the FSO. As consideration for the performance by World Carrier of the Operator Services, VAALCO Gabon agreed to pay a daily operating fee (to be paid monthly) beginning on the date of issuance of the Fit to Receive Certificate (as defined in the Operating Agreement) until the end of the term, with such term being the same as the term in the Bareboat Charter.

 

The FSO Agreements require a prepayment of $2 million gross ($1.2 million net to VAALCO) in 2021 and $5 million gross ($3.2 million net) in 2022 of which $6 million will be recovered against future rentals. In addition, VAALCO Gabon agreed to pay a daily hire rate at certain rates specified therein, with such hire rate being based on the year within the term.

 

In connection with the implementation of the FSO, we are required to incur certain Etame field configuration expenses in order to facilitate the FSO. Current total field conversion estimates are $66 to $80 million gross ($42 to $51 million net to VAALCO).

 

BWE Consortium – On October 11, 2021 we announced our entry into a consortium with BW Energy and Panoro Energy and that the BWE Consortium has been provisionally awarded two blocks in the 12th Offshore Licensing Round in Gabon. The award is subject to concluding the terms of the PSC with the Gabonese government. BW Energy will be the operator with a 37.5% working interest. We will have a 37.5% working interest and Panoro Energy will have a 25% working interest as non-operating joint owners. The two blocks, G12-13 and H12-13, are adjacent to our Etame PSC as well as BW Energy and Panoro’s Dussafu PSC offshore Southern Gabon, and cover an area of 2,989 square kilometers and 1,929 square kilometers, respectively. The two blocks will be held by the BWE Consortium and the PSCs over the blocks will have two exploration periods totaling eight years which may be extended by an additional two more years. During the first exploration period, the joint owners intend to reprocess existing seismic and carry out a 3-D seismic campaign on these two blocks and have also committed to drilling exploration wells on both blocks. In the event the BWE Consortium elects to enter the second exploration period, the BWE Consortium will be committed to drilling at least another one exploration well on each of the awarded blocks.

 

Drilling Program – We commenced the 2021/2022 drilling campaign in December 2021 with the drilling of the Etame 8H-ST development well. In February of 2022 we completed the drilling of the Etame 8H-ST well and moved the drilling rig to the Avouma platform to drill the Avouma 3H-ST development well, which targeted the Gamba reservoir. The initial flow rate of the ETAME 8H-ST well was 5,000 gross barrels of oil per day ("BOPD"), 2,560 BOPD net to VAALCO’s 58.8% working interest in 2022. In April 2022, the Avouma 3H-ST well was completed and brought online with an initial production rate of approximately 3,100 gross BOPD, 1,589 BOPD net to VAALCO’s 58.8% working interest in 2022.

 

In July 2022 we completed the ETBSM 1HB-ST well on the Avouma platform, targeting the Gamba reservoir and also testing the Dentale formation. The section of the Gamba sand encountered was not economically viable to complete in this wellbore. However, we did discover two potential zones, The Dentale D1 and Dentale D9 zones for development. The well was completed in the Dentale D1 formation and brought online in July with an initial production rate of approximately 293-390 gross BOPD,  150-200 BOPD net to VAALCO’s 58.8% working interest in 2022. We plan to evaluate and recomplete the D9 zone during the next drilling campaign.

 

Following the completion of the ETBSM 1HB-ST well, the rig was mobilized to the Southeast Etame North Tchibala Platform to drill the North Tchibala  ETBSM 2H-ST well, targeting the Dentale formation, which is productive in other areas in the Etame license. This mobilization was delayed by two weeks due to weather and the rig began operations on the well in late July. After setting up the equipment and completing operations to re-enter the well, VAALCO began drilling the ETBSM 2H-ST well on August 8th.

 

In July 2022, we elected to exercise our options on the rig contract time to allow us to drill an additional two wells.

 

We estimate the range of cost of the 2021/2022 drilling program with six wells to be between $174 million to $213 million gross, or $111 million to $135 million, net to VAALCO’s 63.6% participating interest with about $70 million to about $85 million gross expected in the second half of 2022, or about $44 million to $54 million net to VAALCO.

 

TransGlobe Merger – On July 13, 2022, we entered into an Arrangement Agreement with VAALCO Energy Canada ULC, an Alberta unlimited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of VAALCO, and TransGlobe, an Alberta corporation, pursuant to which, among other things, AcquireCo agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of TransGlobe, with TransGlobe continuing as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AcquireCo and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of VAALCO. The aggregate consideration for the Arrangement is approximately $307 million. The $307 million aggregate consideration is estimated from VAALCO's share price of $6.23 at the close of business on July 13, 2022 multiplied by the exchange ration negotiated with TransGlobe of 0.6727 shares of VAALCO's stock for each TransGlobe share multiplied by the number of TransGlobe outstanding shares of 73,309,064. The Arrangement is subject to the approval by at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by the holders of TransGlobe shares present in person or represented by proxy at a special meeting of the holders of the TransGlobe shares to be called to consider the Arrangement. The Arrangement is also subject to the approval of the holders of a majority of shares of our common stock who, being present or voting by proxy and entitled to vote at the VAALCO stockholders meeting, cast votes affirmatively or negatively on the VAALCO share issuance resolution. We will also propose to amend its certificate of incorporation to increase the size of its authorized share capital in order to issue the VAALCO shares. Approval of this proposed amendment will be required by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the VAALCO stockholders meeting. The Arrangement Agreement provides for mutual termination fees of $9.15 million in the event the Arrangement Agreement is terminated by either party in certain circumstances specified therein.

 

Dividend Policy – On November 3, 2021, we announced that our board of directors adopted of a quarterly cash dividend policy of an expected $0.0325 per common share commencing in the first quarter of 2022.  

 

On March 18, 2022, we paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0325 per share of common stock to the stockholders of record at the close of business on February 18, 2022. On June 24, 2022, we paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0325 per share of common stock to the stockholders of record at the close of business on May 25, 2022. On August 5, 2022, we announced that the board of directors had declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0325 per share of common stock, payable on September 23, 2022 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 24, 2022.

 

Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of the board of directors after taking into account various factors, including current financial condition, the tax impact of repatriating cash, operating results and current and anticipated cash needs.

 

45

 

Trends and Uncertainties

 

COVID-19 Pandemic – While crude oil prices are currently at the highest levels seen in recent years, the continued spread of COVID-19, including vaccine-resistant strains, or deterioration in crude oil and natural gas prices could result in additional adverse impacts on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position, including asset impairments. The health of our employees, contractors and vendors, and our ability to meet staffing needs in our operations and certain critical functions cannot be predicted and is vital to our operations. We are unable to predict the extent of the impact that the continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout Gabon may have on our ability to continue to conduct our operations.

 

Commodity Prices – Historically, the markets for oil and natural gas have been volatile. Oil, natural gas and NGL prices are subject to wide fluctuations in supply and demand. Our cash flows from operations may be adversely impacted by volatility in crude oil prices, a decrease in demand for crude oil and future production cuts by OPEC+. In July 2021, OPEC+ agreed to increase production beginning in August 2021 to phase out a portion of the prior production cuts. Brent crude prices were approximately $120 per barrel as of June 30, 2022. The decision to increase production was reaffirmed by an OPEC+ meeting held on June 30, 2022.

 

ESG and Climate Change Effects – ESG matters continue to attract considerable public and scientific attention. In particular, we expect continued regulatory attention on climate change issues and emissions of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”), including methane (a primary component of natural gas) and carbon dioxide (a byproduct of crude oil and natural gas combustion). This increased attention to climate change and environmental conservation may result in demand shifts away from crude oil and natural gas products to alternative forms of energy, higher regulatory and compliance costs, additional governmental investigations and private litigation against us. For example, numerous proposals have been made and are likely to continue to be made at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit emissions of GHGs. These efforts have included consideration of cap-and-trade programs, carbon taxes, GHG reporting and tracking programs and regulations that directly limit GHG emissions from certain sources. In addition, institutional investors, proxy advisory firms and other industry participants continue to focus on ESG matters, including climate change. We expect that this heightened focus will continue to drive ESG efforts across our industry and influence investors’ investment and voting decisions, which for some investors may lead to less favorable sentiment towards carbon assets and diversion of investment to other industries. Consistent with the increased attention on ESG matters and climate change, we have prioritized and are committed to responsible environmental practices by monitoring our adherence to ESG standards, including the reduction of our carbon footprint and measurement of GHG emissions. ESG is important to us, and we are in the process of developing a multi-year plan to establish and document our ESG base currently and developing a systematic plan to monitor and improve matters related to ESG and climate change going forward.

 

Hedging

 

We seek to mitigate the impact of volatility in crude oil prices through hedging. See the table below for the unexpired contracts.

Settlement Period

Type of Contract

Index

 

Average Monthly Volumes

   

Weighted Average Price

   

Weighted Average Put Price

   

Weighted Average Call Price

 
       

(Bbls)

   

(per Bbl)

   

(per Bbl)

   

(per Bbl)

 

July 2022 to September 2022

Swaps

Dated Brent

    125,000     $ 76.53              

October 2022 to December 2022

Collars

Dated Brent

    109,000           $ 70.00     $ 122.00  

 

Pursuant to the Facility entered into in May 2022, we are required to hedge a portion of our anticipated oil production at the time that we draw down on the Facility.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies subsequent to December 31, 2021.

 

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $15.1 million compared to net income of $5.9 million for the same period of 2021. See discussion below for changes in revenue and expense.

 

Crude oil and natural gas revenues increased $64.0 million, or approximately 136%, during the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021. The increase in revenue is attributable to more crude oil sold and higher sales prices for the three months ended June 30, 2022.

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30,

         
   

2022

   

2021

   

Increase/(Decrease)

 
   

(in thousands except per bbl information)

 

Net crude oil sales volume (MBbls)

    958       642       316  

Average crude oil sales price (per Bbl)

  $ 113.38     $ 69.61     $ 43.77  
                         

Net crude oil revenue

  $ 110,985     $ 47,023     $ 63,962  
                         

Operating costs and expenses:

                       

Production expense

    25,475       16,419       9,056  

Exploration expense

    67       665       (598 )

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    8,191       5,810       2,381  

General and administrative expense

    3,534       4,734       (1,200 )

Bad debt expense

    571       395       176  

Total operating costs and expenses

    37,838       28,023       9,815  

Other operating expense, net

          (126 )     126  

Operating income

  $ 73,147     $ 18,874     $ 54,273  

 

The revenue changes in the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 identified as related to changes in price or volume, are shown in the table below:

 

(in thousands)

       

Price (1)

  $ 41,932  

Volume

    21,997  

Other

    33  
    $ 63,962  
 

(1)

The price in the table above excludes revenues attributed to carried interests

 

The table below shows net production, sales volumes and realized prices for both periods.

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 

Gabon net crude oil production (MBbls)

    838       730  

Gabon net crude oil sales (MBbls)

    958       642  
                 

Average realized crude oil price ($/Bbl)

  $ 113.38     $ 69.61  

Average Dated Brent spot price* ($/Bbl)

    113.84       68.98  

*Average of daily Dated Brent spot prices posted on the U.S. Energy Information Administration website.

 

Crude oil sales are a function of the number and size of crude oil liftings in each quarter from the FPSO, and thus, crude oil sales do not always coincide with volumes produced in any given quarter. We made four liftings during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and two liftings during the three months June 30, 2021. Our share of crude oil inventory aboard the FPSO, excluding royalty barrels, was approximately 45,794 barrels and 133,704 barrels at June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

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Production expenses increased $9.1 million, or approximately 55.2%, for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in expense was primarily related to higher boat expense, chemical costs, personnel costs, and domestic market obligation (“DMO”) costs. On a per barrel basis, production expense, excluding workover expense, for the three months ended June 30, 2022 increased to $26.58 per barrel from $25.02 per barrel for the three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily as a result of higher costs incurred in 2022. While we have not experienced any material operational disruptions associated with the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, we have incurred approximately $0.5 million and $0.8 million in higher costs related to the proactive measures taken in response to the pandemic for each of the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively partially offset by lower crude oil inventory costs.

 

Exploration expense decreased $0.6 million due to incurring minimal amounts for seismic reprocessing costs for the three months ended June 30, 2022 while we incurred seismic processing costs prior to the start of the 2021/2022 drilling campaign during the same period in 2021.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization costs increased $2.4 million, or approximately 41.0% due to the higher depletable base as a result of capital expenditures related to the 2021/2022 drilling program.

 

General and administrative expenses decreased $1.2 million, or 25.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily related to severance costs of key personnel incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2021.

 

Bad debt expense increased by $0.2 million, or 44.6%, to $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period 2021. The increase is a result of increased spend as a result of the 2021/2022 drilling campaign. The bad debt expense and related allowance account associated with the TVA balance has also increased as we have received no payments related to these balances in 2022.

 

Other operating income (expense), net for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was not material to our results.

 

Derivative instruments loss, net is attributable to our swaps as discussed in Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Derivative losses decreased $0.4 million to a loss of $9.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Derivative losses are a result of the increase in the price of Dated Brent crude oil over the initial strike price per barrel of the option over the three months ended June 30,2022 and 2021, respectively. Every quarter in 2021 and continuing in 2022 Dated Brent crude oil prices have increased. Our derivative instruments currently cover a portion of our production through September 2022.

 

Interest (expense) income, net decreased $0.1 million to an expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 from income of $0.0 million during the same period in 2021. Net interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2022, includes commitments fees incurred on the Facility, amortization of debt issue costs related to the Facility and interest associated with our finance leases partially offset by interest income.

 

Other (expense) income, net increased $1.9 million to an expense of $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 from an expense of $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Other (expense) income, net normally consists of foreign currency losses as discussed in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.  However for the three months ended June 30, 2022 also included in other (expense) income, net is $1.2 million of transactions costs associated with the Arrangement with TransGlobe.

 

Income tax expense (benefit) for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was an expense of $46.3 million. This is comprised of current tax expense of $20.4  million and $25.9 million of deferred tax expense. Income tax expense (benefit) for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was $2.8 million of expense. This is comprised of $3.3 million of deferred tax benefit and a current tax expense of $6.1 million. See Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further information.

 

 

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Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $27.3 million compared to net income of $15.8 million for the same period of 2021. See discussion below for changes in revenue and expense.

 

Crude oil and natural gas revenues increased $92.8 million, or approximately 107.0%, during the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021. The increase in revenue is attributable to more crude oil sold and higher sales prices and Sasol’s additional working interest for the full six months ended June 30, 2022.

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

         
   

2022

   

2021

   

Increase/(Decrease)

 
   

(in thousands except per bbl information)

 

Net crude oil sales volume (MBbls)

    1,574       1,261       313  

Average crude oil sales price (per Bbl)

  $ 111.92     $ 65.54     $ 46.38  
                         

Net crude oil revenue

  $ 179,641     $ 86,797     $ 92,844  
                         

Operating costs and expenses:

                       

Production expense

    43,835       32,552       11,283  

Exploration expense

    194       807       (613 )

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    12,864       9,958       2,906  

General and administrative expense

    8,528       9,281       (753 )

Bad debt expense

    1,063       496       567  

Total operating costs and expenses

    66,484       53,094       13,390  

Other operating expense, net

    (5 )     (486 )     481  

Operating income (loss)

  $ 113,152     $ 33,217     $ 79,935  

 

The revenue changes in the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 identified as related to changes in price or volume, are shown in the table below:

 

(in thousands)

       

Price (1)

  $ 73,002  

Volume

    20,514  

Other

    (672 )
    $ 92,844  
 

(1)

The price in the table above excludes revenues attributed to carried interests

 

The table below shows net production, sales volumes and realized prices for both periods.

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 

Gabon net crude oil production (MBbls)

    1,563       1,196  

Gabon net crude oil sales (MBbls)

    1,574       1,261  
                 

Average realized crude oil price ($/Bbl)

  $ 111.92     $ 65.54  

Average Dated Brent spot price* ($/Bbl)

    107.59       64.95  

*Average of daily Dated Brent spot prices posted on the U.S. Energy Information Administration website.

 

Crude oil sales are a function of the number and size of crude oil liftings in each quarter from the FPSO, and thus, crude oil sales do not always coincide with volumes produced in any given quarter. We made six liftings during the six months ended June 30, 2022 and five liftings during the six months ended June 30, 2021. The six months ended June 30, 2022 includes Sasol’s interest for the entire period while during the same period in 2021, Sasol’s interest was included after the acquisition date, February 25, 2021. Our share of crude oil inventory aboard the FPSO, excluding royalty barrels, was approximately 45,794 barrels and 133,704 barrels at June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

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Production expenses increased $11.3 million, or approximately 34.7%, for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in expense was primarily related to higher FPSO costs, boat expense, chemical costs, personnel costs, and domestic market obligation (“DMO”) costs. On a per barrel basis, production expense, excluding workover expense, for the six months ended June 30, 2022 increased to $27.85 per barrel from $25.52 per barrel for the six months ended June 30, 2021 primarily as a result of higher costs experienced in 2022. While we have not experienced any material operational disruptions associated with the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, we have incurred approximately $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and $1.4 million in higher costs for the six months ended June 30, 2021 related to the proactive measures taken in response to the pandemic.

Exploration expense decreased $0.6 million due to incurring minimal amounts for seismic reprocessing costs for the six months ended June 30, 2022 while we incurred seismic processing costs prior to the start of the 2021/2022 drilling campaign during the same period in 2021.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization costs increased $2.9 million, or approximately 29.2% due to the higher depletable base as a result of capital expenditures related to the 2021/2022 drilling program.

 

General and administrative expenses decreased $0.8 million, or approximately 8.1% in the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021. The decrease in expense was primarily related to lower corporate salary and wages of $2.7 million, lower legal fees of $0.5 million and lower SARSs expense of $0.4 million.  These decreases were partially offset by higher professional fees of $1.2 million, higher travel costs of $0.3 million, higher IT and office expenses of $0.3 million and higher equity expense of $0.6 million. SARs liability awards are measured at fair value. The primary driver of changes in the fair value of these awards is changes in our stock price.

 

Bad debt expense increased by $0.6 million, or 114.3%, to $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021. The increase is a result of increased spending as a result of the 2021/2022 drilling campaign. The bad debt expense and related allowance account associated with the TVA balance has also increased as we have received no payments related to these balances in 2022.

 

Other operating income (expense), net for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was not material to our results and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 the $0.5 million in Other, net included the $0.4 million difference between the fair value of the contingent consideration paid to Sasol in April 2021, $5.0 million, and the fair value of the contingent consideration on the closing date of the Sasol acquisition, $4.6 million.

 

Derivative instruments loss, net is attributable to our swaps as discussed in Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Derivative losses increased $25.4 million to a loss of $41.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021. Derivative losses are a result of the increase in the price of Dated Brent crude oil over the initial strike price per barrel of the option over the six months ended June 30,2022 and 2021, respectively. Every quarter in 2021 and continuing in 2022 Dated Brent crude oil process have increased. Since VAALCO owes the counterparty for any Dated Brent price over the initial per barrel value and we continued to place on additional hedges in 2021 and 2022, the loss associated with the derivates have increased. Our derivative instruments currently cover a portion of our production through September 2022.

 

Interest (expense) income, net decreased $0.1 million to an expense of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from income of $0.0 million during the same period in 2021. Net interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022, includes commitments fees incurred on the Facility, amortization of debt issue costs related to the Facility and interest associated with our financial leases partially offset by interest income.

 

Other (expense) income, net for the six months ended June 30, 2022 decreased $7.2 million to an expense of $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $4.4 million of income in the same period of 2021. Other (expense) income, net normally consists of foreign currency losses as discussed in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the $2.8 million of expense includes $1.2 million of transactions costs associated with the Arrangement with TransGlobe. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the $4.4 million of income in Other (expense) income, net, is primarily attributable to $7.7 million for the bargain purchase gain and expenses of $2.2 million for the difference in book to tax basis caused by the bargain purchase gain associated with the acquisition of Sasol's interest and $1.0 million for an acquisition success fee.

 

Income tax expense (benefit) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was an expense of $41.6 million. This is comprised of current tax expense of $26.1  million and $15.5 million of deferred tax expense. Income tax expense (benefit) for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $5.9 million of expense. This is comprised of $3.7 million of deferred tax benefit and a current tax expense of $9.6 million. See Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further information

 

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ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to market risk, including the effects of adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates as described below.

 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK 

 

Our results of operations and financial condition are affected by currency exchange rates. While crude oil sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, portions of our costs in Gabon are denominated in the local currency (the Central African CFA Franc, or XAF), and our VAT receivable as well as certain liabilities in Gabon are also denominated in XAF. A weakening U.S. dollar will have the effect of increasing costs while a strengthening U.S. dollar will have the effect of reducing costs. For our VAT receivable in Gabon, a strengthening U.S. dollar will have the effect of decreasing the value of this receivable resulting in foreign exchange losses, and vice versa. The Gabon local currency is tied to the Euro. The exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar has historically fluctuated in response to international political conditions, general economic conditions and other factors beyond our control. As of June 30, 2022, we had net monetary assets of $23.0 million (XAF 14,430.1 million) denominated in XAF. A 10% weakening of the CFA relative to the U.S. dollar would have a $2.1 million reduction in the value of these net assets. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we had expenditures of approximately $8.7 million and $16.0 million (net to VAALCO), respectively, denominated in XAF.

 

COUNTERPARTY RISK

 

We are exposed to market risk on our open derivative instruments related to potential nonperformance by our counterparty. To mitigate this risk, we enter into such derivative contracts with creditworthy financial institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers.

 

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COMMODITY PRICE RISK

 

Our major market risk exposure continues to be the prices received for our crude oil and natural gas production. Sales prices are primarily driven by the prevailing market prices applicable to our production. Market prices for crude oil and natural gas have been volatile and unpredictable in recent years, and this volatility may continue. Sustained low crude oil and natural gas prices or a resumption of the decreases in crude oil and natural gas prices could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, the carrying value of our proved reserves, our undeveloped leasehold interests and our ability to borrow funds and to obtain additional capital on attractive terms. If crude oil sales were to remain constant at the most recent quarterly sales volumes of 958 MBbls, a $5 per Bbl decrease in crude oil price would be expected to cause a $4.8 million decrease per quarter in revenues and operating income (loss) and a $4.3 million decrease per quarter in net income (loss).

 

As of June 30, 2022, we had unexpired derivative instruments outstanding covering 375 MBbls of production through September 2022. On July 25, 2022 we entered into a commodity collar arrangement for a quantity of 326 MBbls for the period of October through December 2022.  These instruments were intended to be an economic hedge against declines in crude oil prices; however, they were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. See Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity

 

Changes in market interest rates affect the amount of interest on our Facility. However as of June 30,2022 we had no amounts drawn under the facility. The commitment fees on the undrawn availability under the Facility are not subject to changes in interest rates. Additionally, changes in market interest rates could impact interest costs associated with any future debt issuances.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

We performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The evaluation was performed with the participation of senior management, under the supervision of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Based on their evaluation as of June 30, 2022, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended June 30, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are subject to litigation claims and governmental and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.  It is management’s opinion that none of the claims and litigation we are currently involved in are material to our business.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

 

Our business faces many risks. Any of the risks discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and our other SEC filings could have a material impact on our business, financial position or results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business operations.

 

For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, see the information in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our 2021 Form 10-K. Except as provided below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those described in our 2021 Form 10-K.

 

Risks Related to the Arrangement with TransGlobe

 

The Arrangement with TransGlobe may not be consummated, and the Arrangement Agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms.

 

On July 13, 2022, we entered into the Arrangement Agreement with TransGlobe to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of TransGlobe. The Arrangement is subject is subject to approval by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the stockholders of VAALCO and the shareholders of TransGlobe, among other customary conditions for a transaction of this nature and size.

 

The closing of the Arrangement is conditioned on the adoption of (i) the TransGlobe Resolution by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the TransGlobe shareholders who vote (in person or by proxy) at the TransGlobe meeting and, if required under Canadian securities laws, a simple majority of the votes cast on the TransGlobe Resolution by TransGlobe shareholders who vote (in person or by proxy) at the TransGlobe meeting after excluding the votes cast by those persons whose votes are required to be excluded in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -

 

Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions

 

(the “TransGlobe Shareholder Approval”); and (ii)(A) the VAALCO Share Issuance Resolution by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares of VAALCO Common Stock who, being present or voting by proxy and entitled to vote at the VAALCO stockholders meeting, cast votes affirmatively or negatively on the VAALCO Share Issuance Resolution; and (B) the VAALCO Amendment Resolution by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of VAALCO Common Stock entitled to vote at the VAALCO stockholders meeting (the “VAALCO Stockholder Approval”). Consummation of the Arrangement is also subject to other customary closing conditions, including, among others, the accuracy of the other party’s representations and warranties (subject to certain materiality qualifications), and the other party’s compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Arrangement Agreement.

 

We can provide no assurance that the required approvals will be obtained or that the required conditions to closing will be satisfied. These conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, some of which are beyond our control, may not be satisfied or waived in a timely manner or at all, and, accordingly, consummation of the Arrangement may be delayed or may not be completed at all. Any delay in completing the Arrangement could cause the combined business not to realize, or to be delayed in realizing, some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve if the Arrangement is successfully completed within its expected timeframe. If the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement are not completed for any reason, our ongoing businesses and financial results may be adversely affected.

 

Additionally, if the Arrangement Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances specified therein, we may be required to pay TransGlobe a termination fee in the amount of $9.15 million and reimburse TransGlobe for certain out-of-pocket expenses (up to an aggregate maximum amount of $2.0 million).

 

The termination of the Arrangement Agreement could negatively impact our business or result in our having to pay a termination fee.

 

If the Arrangement is not completed for any reason, including as a result of a failure to obtain the required approvals from our stockholders or TransGlobe’s shareholders, our ongoing business may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of the expected benefits of having completed the Arrangement, we would be subject to a number of risks, including the following:

 

 

we may experience negative reactions from the financial markets, including negative impacts on our stock price;

 

we may experience negative reactions from our customers, distributors, suppliers, vendors, joint venture owners and other third parties with whom we do business, as well as our employees; and

 

we may be required to pay all fees, costs and expenses incurred by us in connection with the Arrangement Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement, including all costs, expenses and fees incurred by us prior to or after the effective date of the Arrangement in connection with, or incidental to, the Plan of Arrangement, regardless of whether or not the Arrangement is completed.

 

Additionally, the Arrangement Agreement provides that, upon termination of the Arrangement Agreement under certain circumstances, we or TransGlobe, as the case may be, will be required to pay a termination fee to the other party (each a “Termination Fee”). We are required to pay a Termination Fee of $9.15 million to TransGlobe in the following circumstances:

 

 

if TransGlobe terminates the Arrangement Agreement because of a change in recommendation by our Board of Directors prior to the time VAALCO Stockholder Approval is obtained;

 

if either party terminates the Arrangement Agreement because of a failure to obtain the VAALCO Stockholder Approval following a change in recommendation by our Board of Directors; or

 

if (1) either party terminates the Arrangement Agreement because the transaction is not completed by the Outside Date (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) or because of a failure to obtain the VAALCO Stockholder Approval; or (2) TransGlobe terminates the Arrangement Agreement because we have materially breached our representations, warranties or covenants, but only if, in each case, (i) prior to such termination, an acquisition proposal for VAALCO has been made or publicly announced (and is not withdrawn at least five business days before the VAALCO stockholder meeting); and (ii) on or prior to the 12 month anniversary following the date of termination, we consummate any acquisition proposal for VAALCO or enter into a definitive agreement in respect of an acquisition proposal for VAALCO, which is subsequently completed (whether or not on or prior to the 12 month anniversary of the date of such termination).

 

In addition, we may be required to reimburse TransGlobe for reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (up to an aggregate maximum amount of $2.0 million) incurred subsequent to May 16, 2022 and prior to the termination.

 

Even if the Arrangement is consummated, we may not realize the anticipated benefits and synergies expected from the Arrangement.

 

The success of the Arrangement will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from combining our business with TransGlobe’s business. The anticipated benefits and estimates of future cost reductions, synergies, including pre-tax synergies, savings and efficiencies of the Arrangement may not be realized fully or at all, may take longer to realize than expected, may not be realized or could have other adverse effects that we do not currently foresee. The failure to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies expected from the Arrangement could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Some of the assumptions that we have made with respect to the Arrangement, such as estimates related to future exploration and the development, growth and potential of VAALCO’s and TransGlobe’s operations, project pipeline and investments, and schedule and anticipated benefits to be derived therefrom, our ability to effectively integrate assets and properties we may acquire as a result of the proposed Arrangement into VAALCO’s operations, the achievement of the anticipated benefits related to the geographic and asset diversification and the expected size, scale, inventory and financial strength of the Arrangement, may not be realized. The integration process may result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies. In addition, there could be potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses associated with the Arrangement that could adversely impact the combined business.

 

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The business relationships of VAALCO and TransGlobe may be subject to disruption due to uncertainty associated with the Arrangement, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations of VAALCO or TransGlobe pending and following the Arrangement.

 

Regardless of whether the Arrangement is completed, the announcement and pendency of the Arrangement could cause disruptions in our business, which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial results, including as follows:

 

 

our and TransGlobe’s current and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles with the combined business or the operations of the combined business following the Arrangement, which might adversely affect the two companies’ abilities to retain key management and other personnel;

 

uncertainty regarding the completion of the Arrangement may cause parties with which we or TransGlobe do business, including customers, distributors, suppliers, vendors, landlords, joint venture owners and other third parties, to delay or defer certain business decisions or to decide to seek to terminate, change or renegotiate their relationships with us or TransGlobe; and

 

the Arrangement Agreement restricts us and our subsidiaries from taking specified actions during the pendency of the Arrangement without TransGlobe’s consent, which may prevent us from making appropriate changes to our business or organizational structure or prevent us from pursuing attractive business opportunities or strategic transactions that may arise prior to the completion of the Arrangement.

 

These disruptions could have a material and adverse effect on the business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, of VAALCO or TransGlobe, regardless of whether the Arrangement is completed, as well as a material and adverse effect on our ability to realize the expected cost savings and other benefits of the Arrangement. The risk, and adverse effects, of any disruption could be exacerbated by a delay in completion of the Arrangement or termination of the Arrangement Agreement.

 

In addition, we have and will continue to divert significant management resources in an effort to complete the Arrangement. If the Arrangement is not completed, we will have incurred significant costs, including the diversion of management resources, for which we will have received little or no benefit.

 

The Arrangement Agreement subjects us to restrictions on our business activities prior to the effective time of the Arrangement, limits our ability to pursue alternatives to the Arrangement and may discourage other companies from making a favorable alternative transaction proposal.

 

The Arrangement Agreement restricts VAALCO and TransGlobe from entering into certain corporate transactions and taking other specified actions without the consent of the other party, and generally requires each party to continue its operations in the ordinary course and in accordance with good oil and gas field and industry practice, until the earlier of the completion of the Arrangement or termination of the Arrangement Agreement. These restrictions could be in place for an extended period of time if completion of the Arrangement is delayed and could prevent us from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to the completion of the Arrangement.

 

In addition, each of VAALCO and TransGlobe is subject to customary restrictions on their respective abilities to solicit alternative acquisition proposals and to provide information to, or engage in discussions with, third parties regarding such proposals, except that each of VAALCO and TransGlobe is permitted in limited circumstances prior to the VAALCO Stockholder Approval or the TransGlobe Shareholder Approval, as applicable, to provide information to, and engage in discussions with, a party which has made an unsolicited acquisition proposal that the VAALCO or TransGlobe board of directors, as applicable, has determined constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute a TransGlobe Superior Proposal or VAALCO Superior Proposal, as applicable (each as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). Furthermore, in limited circumstances prior to the VAALCO Stockholder Approval or the TransGlobe Shareholder Approval, the boards of directors of each of VAALCO and TransGlobe, respectively, may effect a change of its respective recommendation in response to an applicable intervening event, if the respective board of directors determines in good faith that a failure to effect a change in recommendation would be inconsistent with such board of directors’ fiduciary duties.

 

54

 

As noted above, the Arrangement Agreement further provides that under specified circumstances, including after a change of recommendation by our Board of Directors and a subsequent termination of the Arrangement Agreement by TransGlobe prior to the time VAALCO Stockholder Approval is obtained, we may be required to pay TransGlobe a cash Termination Fee of $9.15 million or reimburse TransGlobe for reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (up to an aggregate maximum amount of $2.0 million) incurred subsequent to May 16, 2022 and prior to the termination.

 

The failure to integrate the businesses and operations of VAALCO and TransGlobe successfully in the expected time frame may adversely affect the combined business future results.

 

The Arrangement involves the combination of two companies which currently operate, and until the completion of the Arrangement will continue to operate, as independent public companies. We can provide no assurances that our business and TransGlobe’s business can be integrated successfully. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key VAALCO employees or key TransGlobe employees, the loss of customers, service providers, vendors or other business counterparties, the disruption of either company’s or both companies’ ongoing businesses, inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses or delays associated with and following completion of the Arrangement or higher-than-expected integration costs and an overall post-completion integration process that takes longer than originally anticipated.

 

Furthermore, our Board of Directors and executive leadership immediately following the Arrangement will consist of former directors from each of VAALCO and TransGlobe and former executive officers from each of VAALCO and TransGlobe, respectively. Combining the boards of directors and management teams of each company into a single board and a single management team could require the reconciliation of differing priorities and philosophies.

 

The market price of our common stock may decline if large amounts of our common stock are sold following the TransGlobe acquisition.

 

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly following completion of the Arrangement and holders of our common stock could lose some or all of the value of their investment. If the Arrangement is consummated, we will issue shares of our common stock to former TransGlobe shareholders. The Arrangement Agreement contains no restrictions on the ability of former TransGlobe shareholders to sell or otherwise dispose of such shares following completion of the Arrangement. Former TransGlobe shareholders may decide not to hold the shares of our common stock that they receive in the Arrangement, and our historic stockholders may decide to reduce their investment in VAALCO as a result of the changes to our investment profile as a result of the Arrangement. These sales of our common stock (or the perception that these sales may occur) could have the effect of depressing the market price for our common stock. In addition, our financial position after completion of the Arrangement may differ from our financial position before the completion of the Arrangement, and the results of our operations and/or cash flows after the completion of the Arrangement may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting our financial position or results of operations and/or cash flows, all of which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, the stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations in recent times which, if they continue to occur, could have a material adverse effect on the market for, or liquidity of, the VAALCO common stock, regardless of VAALCO’s actual operating performance.

 

The declaration, payment and amounts of dividends, if any, distributed to our stockholders following competition of the Arrangement will be uncertain.

 

Although each of VAALCO and TransGlobe has paid cash dividends on its respective shares of common stock in the past, our Board of Directors may determine not to declare dividends in the future or may reduce the amount of dividends paid in the future. Decisions on whether, when and in which amounts to declare and pay any future dividends will remain in the discretion of the full Board of Directors (as reconstituted following the Arrangement). Any dividend payment amounts will be determined by the Board of Directors, and it is possible that the Board of Directors may increase or decrease the amount of dividends paid in the future, or determine not to declare dividends in the future, at any time and for any reason. We expect that any such decisions will depend on the combined business’s financial condition, results of operations, cash balances, cash requirements, future prospects, the outlook for commodity prices and other considerations that the Board of Directors deems relevant, including, but not limited to:

 

 

whether we have enough cash to pay such dividends due to its cash requirements, capital spending plans, cash flows or financial position;

 

our desire to maintain or improve the credit ratings on any future debt; and

 

applicable restrictions under Delaware law.

 

Stockholders should be aware that they have no contractual or other legal right to dividends that have not been declared.

 

55

 

Lawsuits relating to the Arrangement may be filed against VAALCO and its directors or against TransGlobe and its directors in the future. An adverse ruling in any such lawsuit could result in an injunction preventing the completion of the Arrangement and/or substantial costs to VAALCO and TransGlobe.

 

Securities and fiduciary lawsuits are often brought against public companies that have entered into acquisition, merger or other business combination agreements like the Arrangement Agreement. Even if such a lawsuit is without merit, defending against these claims can result in substantial costs and divert management time and resources. An adverse judgment could result in monetary damages, which could have a negative impact on VAALCO’s and TransGlobe’s respective liquidity and financial condition.

 

One of the conditions to the closing of the Arrangement is the absence of any law, injunction or other governmental order that prohibits the consummation of the Arrangement. Consequently, if a lawsuit is filed and the plaintiff is successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting completion of the Arrangement, that injunction may delay or prevent the Arrangement from being completed within the expected timeframe or at all, which may adversely affect VAALCO’s and TransGlobe’s respective businesses, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. In addition, either VAALCO or TransGlobe may terminate the Arrangement Agreement if a law or order comes into effect prohibiting or enjoining consummation of the Arrangement and such law or order has become final and non-appealable.

 

In the event of a lawsuit, we can provide no assurance that any of the defendants would be successful in the outcome of such lawsuit. The defense or settlement of any lawsuit or claim that remains unresolved at the time the Arrangement is completed may adversely affect VAALCO’s or TransGlobe’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

 

Risks Related to the Facility Agreement

 

A significant level of indebtedness incurred under the Facility may limit our ability to borrow additional funds or capitalize on acquisition or other business opportunities in the future. In addition, the covenants in the Facility impose restrictions that may limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to take certain actions. Our failure to comply with these covenants could result in the acceleration of any future outstanding indebtedness under the Facility.

 

The Facility Agreement governing our Facility with Glencore contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other things, as to compliance with laws (including environmental laws and anti-corruption laws), delivery of quarterly and annual financial statements and borrowing base certificates, conduct of business, maintenance of property, maintenance of insurance, entry into certain derivatives contracts, restrictions on the incurrence of liens, indebtedness, asset dispositions, restricted payments. Restrictions contained in the Facility governing any future indebtedness may reduce our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in certain transactions or capitalize on acquisition or other business opportunities. Any future indebtedness under the Facility and other financial obligations and restrictions could have financial consequences. For example, they could:

 

 

impair our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for capital expenditures, potential acquisitions, general business activities or other purposes;

 

increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

require us to dedicate a substantial portion of future cash flow to payments of our indebtedness and other financial obligations, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate requirements;

 

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and industry; and

 

place us at a competitive disadvantage to those who have proportionately less debt.

 

Our ability to comply with these covenants could be affected by events beyond our control and we cannot assure you that we will satisfy those requirements. A prolonged period of oil and gas prices at declined levels could further increase the risk of our inability to comply with covenants to maintain specified financial ratios. A breach of any of these provisions could result in a default under the Facility, which could allow all amounts outstanding thereunder to be declared immediately due and payable. In the event of such acceleration, we cannot assure that we would be able to repay our debt or obtain new financing to refinance our debt. Even if new financing was made available to us, it may not be on terms acceptable to us. We may also be prevented from taking advantage of business opportunities that arise if we fail to meet certain ratios or because of the limitations imposed on us by the restrictive covenants under the Facility.

 

56

 

If we experience in the future a continued period of low commodity prices, our ability to comply with the Facilitys debt covenants may be impacted.

 

Under the Facility Agreement, we are subject to certain debt covenants, including that (i) the ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt to EBITDAX (as each term is defined in the Facility Agreement) for the trailing 12 months shall not exceed 3.0x and (ii) consolidated cash and cash equivalents shall not be lower than $10.0 million. Based on projected market conditions and commodity prices, we currently expect that we will be in compliance with covenants under the Facility at least through June 30, 2022; however, commodity prices have been extremely volatile in recent history and a protracted future decline in commodity prices could cause us to not be in compliance with certain financial covenants under the Facility in future periods. A breach of the covenants under the Facility would cause a default, potentially resulting in acceleration of all amounts outstanding under the Facility. Certain payment defaults or acceleration under the Facility could cause a cross-default or cross-acceleration of other future outstanding indebtedness. Such a cross-default or cross-acceleration could have a wider impact on our liquidity than might otherwise arise from a default or acceleration of a single debt instrument. If an event of default occurs, or if other future debt agreements cross-default, and the lenders under the affected debt agreements accelerate the maturity of any loans or other debt outstanding, we may not have sufficient liquidity to repay all of our outstanding indebtedness.

 

The borrowing base under the Facility may be reduced pursuant to the terms of the Facility Agreement, which may limit our available funding for exploration and development. We may have difficulty obtaining additional credit, which could adversely affect our operations and financial position.

 

In the future we may depend on the Facility for a portion of our capital needs. The initial borrowing base under the Facility is $50.0 million and is redetermined on March 31 and September 30 of each year. Borrowings under the Facility are limited to a borrowing base amount calculated pursuant to the Facility Agreement based on the Company’s proved producing reserves and a portion of the Company's proved undeveloped reserves. The Lenders will redetermine the borrowing base based on forecasts of cashflow and debt service projections with respect to the borrowing base assets, which may result in a reduction of the borrowing base.

 

In the future, we may not be able to access adequate funding under the Facility as a result of (i) a decrease in our borrowing base due to the outcome of a subsequent borrowing base redetermination, or (ii) an unwillingness or inability on the part of the Lenders to meet their funding obligations. As a result, we may be unable to obtain adequate funding under the Facility. If funding is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, it could adversely affect our development plans as currently anticipated, which could have a material adverse effect on our production, revenues and results of operations.

 

Restrictive debt covenants could limit our growth and our ability to finance our operations, fund our capital needs, respond to changing conditions and engage in other business activities that may be in our best interests.

 

The Facility Agreement contains a number of significant affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to:

 

 

dispose of assets;

 

enter into guarantees or indemnities;

 

incur indebtedness;

 

enter into certain material contracts;

 

merge or consolidate, or transfer all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries; or

 

pursue other corporate activities.

 

Also, the Facility Agreement requires us to maintain compliance with certain financial covenants. Our ability to comply with these financial covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, and, as a result, we may be unable to meet these financial covenants. These financial covenants could limit our ability to obtain future financings, make needed capital expenditures, withstand a future downturn in our business or the economy in general or otherwise conduct necessary corporate activities. We may also be prevented from taking advantage of business opportunities that arise because of the limitations imposed on us by the restrictive covenants under the Facility Agreement. A breach of any of these covenants or our inability to comply with the required financial covenants could result in an event of default under the Facility Agreement. When oil and/or natural gas prices decline for an extended period of time or when our liquidity is constrained, our ability to comply with these covenants becomes more difficult. Although we are currently in compliance with these covenants, if in the future oil and gas prices decline for an extended period of time, we may default on one or more of these covenants. Such a default, if not cured or waived, may allow the Lenders to accelerate the related indebtedness and could result in acceleration of any other indebtedness to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies.

 

An event of default under the Facility Agreement would permit the Lenders to cancel all commitments to extend further credit under the Facility. Furthermore, if we were unable to repay the amounts due and payable under the Facility Agreement, the Lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. In the event that the Lenders accelerate the repayment of our borrowings under the Facility, we and our subsidiaries may not have sufficient assets to repay that indebtedness. As a result of these restrictions, we may be:

 

 

limited in how we conduct our business;

 

unable to raise additional debt or equity financing during general economic, business or industry downturns; or

 

unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities.

 

 

 

57

 

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

 

(a) Exhibits

 

2.1

Arrangement Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2022, by and among VAALCO Energy, Inc., VAALCO Energy Canada ULC and TransGlobe Energy Corporation (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 14, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation as amended through May 7, 2014 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.2

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.3

Certificate of Elimination of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of VAALCO Energy, Inc., dated as of December 22, 2015 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.1(a)**

Facility Agreement, by and among VAALCO Energy, Inc., VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., VAALCO Gabon, SA, Glencore Energy UK Ltd., the Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C., and the other financial institutions named therein, dated May 16, 2022.

10.2(a)**

Crude Oil Sale and Marketing Agreement, by and between VAAALCO Gabon S.A. and Glencore Energy UK Ltd., dated May 20, 2022.

10.3

Form of VAALCO Voting Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2022 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 14, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.4

Form of TransGlobe Voting Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2022 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 14, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference).

31.1(a)

Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 certification of Principal Executive Officer.

31.2(a)

Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 certification of Principal Financial Officer.

32.1(b)

Sarbanes-Oxley Section 906 certification of Principal Executive Officer.

32.2(b)

Sarbanes-Oxley Section 906 certification of Principal Financial Officer.

101.INS(a)

Inline XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH(a)

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document.

101.CAL(a)

Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF(a)

Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB(a)

Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE(a)

Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (Formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

(a)  Filed herewith

 

(b)  Furnished herewith

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. 

** Information in this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) is confidential and has been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K. Additionally, exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule will be furnished supplementally to the SEC or its staff upon request.

 

58

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC.

(Registrant)

 

     

By

:

/s/ Ronald Bain

   

Ronald Bain

   

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

Dated: August 10, 2022

 

59

ex_397445.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED INTHIS DOCUMENT, MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACEWITH FIVE ASTERISKS [*****], HAS BEEN OMITTEDBECAUSE IT IS BOTH (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) WOULD BECOMPETITIVELY HARMFUL IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED.

EXECUTION VERSION

linklaters01.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

a01.jpg

 

Dated 16 May 2022

 

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC.

 

as Borrower

 

and

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. and VAALCO GABON S.A.

 

as Guarantors

 

and

 

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD.

 

as Mandated Lead Arranger

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

 

listed in Schedule 1 as Original Lenders

 

and

 

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD.

 

as Technical Bank, Modelling Bank and Facility Agent

 

and

 

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION P.L.C.

 

as Security Agent

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Contents

Page

   

Part 1 Interpretation

1

     
1

Definitions and Interpretation

1

   

Part 2 Conditions Precedent

42

     
2

Conditions Precedent

42

   

Part 3 Operation of the Facility

44

     
3

The Facility

44

4

Finance Parties Rights and Obligations

46

5

Purpose

47

6

Utilisation

47

   

Part 4 Payments, Cancellation, Interest and Fees

49

     
7

Repayment

49

8

Prepayment and Cancellation

50

9

Interest

54

10

Interest Periods

56

11

Changes to the Calculation of Interest

57

12

Fees

58

   

Part 5 Taxes, Increased Costs and Indemnities

59

     
13

Tax Gross-Up and Indemnities

59

14

Increased Costs

64

15

Other Indemnities

65

16

Mitigation by the Finance Parties

66

     

Part 6 Forecasts and Calculations and Borrowing Base Amount

67

     
17

Forecasts and Calculations

67

     

Part 7 Banks Accounts and Cash Management

78

     
18

Bank Accounts and Cash Management

78

19

Operation of Project Accounts

80

20

Debt Service Reserve Account

83

 

i

 

21

Authorised Investments

83

   

Part 8 Financial and Project Information

86

     
22

Information Undertakings

86

     

Part 9 Guarantee

95

     
23

Guarantee and Indemnity

95

     

Part 10 Representations, Covenants, Events of Default

99

     
24

Representations

99

25

Financial Covenants

107

26

General Undertakings

107

27

Events of Default

118

     

Part 11 Changes to Lenders and Obligors and Roles

124

     
28

Changes to the Lenders

124

29

Changes to the Obligors

130

30

Role of the Facility Agent and the Arranger

131

     

Part 12 Administration, Costs and Expenses

138

     
31

Payment Mechanics

138

32

Set-Off

141

33

Costs and Expenses

142

34

Notices

142

35

USA Patriot Act

144

36

Calculations and Certificates

145

37

Disclosure to numbering service providers

145

38

Partial Invalidity

146

39

Remedies and Waivers

146

40

Amendments and Waivers

146

41

Counterparts

149

     

Part 13 Governing Law and Enforcement

150

 

ii

 

42

Governing Law

150

43

Jurisdiction

150

44

Contractual recognition of bail-in

150

     

Schedule 1 The Original Lenders

153

Schedule 2 Conditions Precedent

154

Schedule 3 Utilisation Requests

157

Schedule 4 Form of Transfer Certificate

158

Schedule 5 Form of Assignment Agreement

160

Schedule 6 Form of Lender Accession Notice

163

Schedule 7 Form of Compliance Certificate

164

Schedule 8 Form of Confidentiality Undertaking

166

Schedule 9 Form of Deed of Subordination

171

Schedule 10 Additional Guarantor Conditions Precedent

182

Schedule 11 Form of Obligor Accession Deed

183

 

iii

 

 

This Agreement (the “Agreement”) is dated 16 May 2022 and made between:

 

(1)

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC., a company incorporated under the laws of Delaware with registered number 2515801 and having its registered office at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 N Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA (the “Borrower”);

 

(2)

VAALCO GABON S.A., a company incorporated under the laws of Gabon with registered number RG/POG 2014 B 1487 and having its registered office at Zone Industrielle OPRAG- Nouveau Port, B.P. 1335 Port-Gentil, Gabon (“Vaalco Gabon”);

 

(3)

VAALCO ENERGY, INC., a company incorporated under the laws of Delaware with registered number 2188793 and having its registered office at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 N Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA (the “Parent” and, together with Vaalco Gabon, the “Original Guarantors”);

 

(4)

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD., as arranger of the Facility (the “Mandated Lead Arranger”);

 

(5)

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders), as lenders (the “Original Lenders”);

 

(6)

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD. (as the “Technical Bank”);

 

(7)

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD. (as the “Modelling Bank”);

 

(8)

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD., as agent of the Finance Parties under this Agreement (the “Facility Agent”); and

 

(9)

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION P.L.C., as Security Agent for the Secured Creditors on the terms and conditions set out in the Intercreditor Agreement (the “Security Agent”).

 

Part 1

Interpretation

 

1

Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1

Definitions

 

Each of the defined terms and interpretative provisions set out below and in the above list of parties to this Agreement shall apply to this Agreement and each Finance Document, unless an express contrary intention appears in that Finance Document.

 

1P Reserves” means, in relation to a Borrowing Base Asset, those quantities of Hydrocarbons which are deemed to be recoverable from the Field comprised in such Borrowing Base Asset as “Proved Reserves” in accordance with the June 2018 SPE / WPC/ AAPG / SPEE / SEG / EAGE / SPWLA Petroleum Resources Management System (provided that if such guidelines are modified after the date of this Agreement and as a result of such modification, the Technical Bank (acting reasonably and in consultation with the Borrower) is of the opinion that such definition of the term “1P Reserves” will need to be modified to take account of the modification to the Petroleum Resources Management System, then such definition shall be modified as required by the Technical Bank (acting reasonably in consultation with the Borrower)) and as approved by the Majority Lenders;

 

1

 

2P Reserves” means, in relation to a Borrowing Base Asset, those quantities of Hydrocarbons which are deemed to be recoverable from the Field comprised in such Borrowing Base Asset as “Proved-plus-Probable Reserves” in accordance with the June 2018 SPE / WPC / AAPG / SPEE / SEG / EAGE / SPWLA Petroleum Resources Management System (provided that if such guidelines are modified after the date of this Agreement and as a result of such modification, the Technical Bank (acting reasonably and in consultation with the Borrower) is of the opinion that such definition of the term 2P Reserves” will need to be modified to take account of the modification to the Petroleum Resources Management System, then such definition shall be modified as required by the Technical Bank (acting reasonably in consultation with the Borrower)) and as approved by the Majority Lenders;

 

Account Bank” means the Offshore Account Bank or the Onshore Account Bank (as the case may be);

 

Account Bank Agreement” means the Offshore Account Bank Agreement or the Onshore Account Bank Agreement (as the case may be);

 

Accounting Reference Date” means 31 December of each year;

 

Additional Guarantor” means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 29 (Changes to the Obligors);

 

Affiliate” means, in relation to any person, a subsidiary of that person or a holding company of that person or any other subsidiary of that holding company;

 

Agent” means each of the Facility Agent, the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank and “Agents” shall be construed accordingly;

 

Agreement for the Provision of Subsea Construction and Installation Services” means the agreement for the provision of Subsea Construction and Installation Services dated 17 March 2022 between Vaalco Gabon and DOF Subsea Canada Corp.;

 

Approved Accounting Principles” means:

 

 

(A)

In relation to the financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 22.1(A) or Clause 22.1(C), generally accepted accounting principles adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements (the “US GAAP”); and

 

 

(B)

In relation to the financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 22.1(B), the accounting principles of the Système Comptable OHADA (SYSCOHADA).

 

Assignment Agreement” means an agreement substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 (Form of Assignment Agreement) or any other form agreed between the relevant assignor and assignee.

 

Authorisation” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration;

 

Authorised Investment” means, at any time (subject to such being available), any of the following:

 

 

(A)

a US Dollar denominated institutional money market fund with at least USD 1 billion of funds and an average rate of maturity not exceeding one year;

 

2

 

 

(B)

a US Dollar denominated freely negotiable and marketable bond, treasury bill or debt security of a remaining maturity not exceeding one year issued by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any other sovereign government with a long-term credit rating of at least A3 by Moody’s or A- by Standard & Poor’s at such time;

 

 

(C)

a US Dollar denominated time deposit (of an original maturity not exceeding six months) made in London or New York or any other place agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent with a bank authorised to carry on business there whose long-term debt securities are, at such time, rated at least A3 by Moody’s or A- by Standard & Poor’s;

 

 

(D)

a US Dollar denominated instrument with a maturity of less than one year which has a short-term rating at such time of at least P1 by Moody’s or A1 by Standard & Poor’s or instruments with a maturity of less than one year issued by, or guaranteed by, entities whose short-term securities are rated at such time at least P1 by Moody’s or A1 by Standard & Poor’s; or

 

 

(E)

any other investment agreed between the Facility Agent and the Borrower;

 

Authorised Signatory” means, in relation to a company or other legal person:

 

 

(A)

one or more directors who are duly authorised whether singly or jointly, to act to bind that company or other legal person; or

 

 

(B)

a person or persons duly authorised by that company or other legal person to act to bind that company or other legal person;

 

Authority” means any governmental, provincial or local government, department, authority, court, tribunal or other judicial or regulatory body, instrumentality or agency in any of the countries where the Borrower operates its business;

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the date on which Financial Close occurs to and including the date falling 30 days prior to the Final Maturity Date;

 

Available Commitment” means, at any time, a Lender’s Commitment minus:

 

 

(A)

the amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans; and

 

 

(B)

in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the amount of its participation in any Loans that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date,

 

 

 

other than, in relation to any proposed Utilisation, that Lender’s participation in any Loans that are due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Utilisation Date;

 

Available Facility” means the aggregate for the time being of each Lender’s Available Commitment in respect of the Facility;

 

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-down and Conversion Powers; “Bail-In Legislation” means:

 

 

(A)

in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, the relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time;

 

3

 

 

(B)

in relation to any state other than such an EEA Member Country and the United Kingdom, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation; and

 

 

(C)

in relation to the United Kingdom, the UK Bail-In Legislation;

 

Bareboat Charter Contract” means the contract dated 31 August 2021 between Vaalco Gabon and World Carrier Offshore Services Corp. in respect of the provision of a floating storage and offloading system on the Etame Marin Permit (Block G4-160) Field;

 

Bareboat Charterer PCG” means the parent company guarantee issued by the Parent in favour of World Carrier Offshore Services Corp. on 31 August 2021 to guarantee Vaalco Gabon’s obligations as co-venturer under the Bareboat Charter Contract;

 

Base Currency” has the meaning given to it in Clause 31.8 (Currency of account);

 

Basel II” has the meaning given to it in Clause 14.3 (Exceptions);

 

Basel III” means:

 

 

(A)

the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: a global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: international framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;

 

 

(B)

the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement – Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and

 

 

(C)

any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”;

 

Borrower Group” means the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time;

 

Borrower NY Law Security Agreement” means the New York law security agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower and the Security Agent in respect of:

 

 

(A)

the rights and interests of the Borrower in the Shareholder Loan Agreement;

 

 

(B)

the Offshore Project Accounts of the Borrower; and

 

 

(C)

the rights and interests of the Borrower in the Gabonese Law Security Agreement;

 

Borrowing Base Amount” means the amount determined on a Forecast Date in accordance with Clause 17.1 (Calculation of Borrowing Base Amount);

 

Borrowing Base Assets” includes all interests, rights, activities, assets, entitlements and developments of any Obligor in:

 

 

(A)

the Field(s); and

 

 

(B)

any other assets which are approved by the Majority Lenders and designated as such in accordance with Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations), but, in each case, excluding any of the foregoing which has ceased to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset in accordance with Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations);

 

4

 

Boskalis PCG” means the parent company guarantee issued by the Parent in favour of Boskalis Offshore Transport Services N.V. on 9 December 2021 to guarantee Vaalco Gabon’s obligations under the contract between Vaalco Gabon and Boskalis Offshore Transport Services N.V. for the chartering of vessel NICOBAR from Boskalis Offshore Services N.V.;

 

Break Costs” means the amount (if any) by which:

 

 

(A)

the interest (excluding the Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period;

 

exceeds:

 

 

(B)

the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the total sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank in the London interbank market for a period starting on the date of receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.

 

Brent Forward Curve” means a Dated Brent Crude Oil forward curve for the relevant period as quoted by Platts Crude Oil Marketwire, or such other internationally recognised quotation service as agreed between the Borrower and the Technical Bank (acting reasonably);

 

Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) when banks are open for business in Libreville, London and New York;

 

Calculation Date” means the last day of each calendar quarter; “Calculation Period” means each period of six months:

 

 

(A)

commencing on 1 April and ending on 30 September of each year; and

 

 

(B)

commencing on 1 October and ending on 31 March of each year,

 

or, in the case of the first Calculation Period for a Forecast Period other than a Scheduled Forecast, such shorter period ending on the next following 31 March and 30 September (whichever is the first to occur) as the Modelling Bank shall determine in connection with the preparation of that Forecast;

 

Capex Add-Back Amount” means, on a Forecast Date, the net present value of the amount of capital expenditure committed to be incurred in respect of the Borrowing Base Assets during the 12-month period immediately following the relevant Forecast Date;

 

Cash” means at any time cash in hand or on deposit including, for the avoidance of doubt, restricted cash;

 

Cash Equivalent Investments” means at any time the following:

 

 

(A)

any investment in a liquidity fund, provided that such investment is capable of being withdrawn in cash on not more than five Business Days’ notice;

 

 

(B)

certificates of deposit, maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation;

 

5

 

 

(C)

any investment in marketable obligations in Sterling, US Dollar or euro having not more than three months to final maturity issued or guaranteed with a rating of A- or above by Standard & Poor’s (or its equivalent by Moody’s); or

 

 

(D)

any other instrument, security or investment approved in writing by the Majority Lenders;

 

CEMAC FX Regulation” means the Regulation No. 2/18/CEMAC/UMAC/CM relating to the foreign exchange in the CEMAC zone as amended from time to time, together with any implementing instructions or directives;

 

Change of Control” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 8.5 (Change of Control); “Code” means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

 

Commercial Contracts” means:

 

 

(A)

the crude oil sale contract dated 20 December 2019, as amended on 14 December 2020, 19 March 2021, 14 July 2021 and 27 January 2022 between Vaalco Gabon, Addax Petroleum Etame Oil & Gas Gabon, PetroEnergy Resources Corporation and Tullow Oil Gabon SA as sellers and Exxonmobil Sales and Supply LLC as buyer in relation to crude oil from the Etame Marin Permit (Block G4-160) Field; and

 

 

(B)

the crude oil sale contract delivered pursuant to Clause 2.1 (Conditions Precedent to first Utilisation) of this Agreement between Vaalco Gabon as seller and Glencore Energy UK Ltd. as buyer in relation to crude oil from the Etame Marin Permit (Block G4-160) Field;

 

Commercial Contracts Security Agreement” means an English law security agreement in respect of Vaalco Gabon’s rights and interests in the Commercial Contracts to be entered into between Vaalco Gabon and the Security Agent in accordance with Clause 26.32 (Commercial Contracts Security Agreement);

 

Commitment” means:

 

 

(A)

in relation to an Original Lender, at any time during a Specified Period, the amount set opposite that Specified Period in the column in which that Original Lender’s name appears in the table set out in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) and the amount of any other Commitment for that Specified Period transferred to it; and

 

 

(B)

in relation to any other Lender, at any time during a Specified Period the amount of any Commitment for that Specified Period transferred to it,

 

in each case as (i) increased pursuant to Clause 3.2 (Additional Commitments) and (ii) to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it;

 

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute;

 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission” means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission established pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. § 1 et. seq.);

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate, substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 (Form of Compliance Certificate);

 

6

 

Computer Model” means the agreed form of model that is used to prepare each Forecast in accordance with Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations);

 

Conditions Precedent” means the conditions precedent to the first utilisation of the Facility as set out in Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent);

 

Confidentiality Undertaking” means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in the form of Schedule 8 (Form of Confidentiality Undertaking) or in any other form agreed between the Borrower and the Mandated Lead Arranger;

 

Consolidated Cash and Cash Equivalents” means, in relation to the Group, at any time the aggregate of the Cash and the Cash Equivalent Investments;

 

Consolidated Total Debt” means, in relation to the Group, at any time the aggregate of the following:

 

 

(A)

the outstanding principal amount of any Financial Indebtedness incurred;

 

 

(B)

any fixed or minimum premium payable on the repayment or redemption of any instrument referred to in paragraph (A) above; and

 

 

(C)

the outstanding principal amount of any indebtedness arising in connection with any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) which has the commercial effect of a borrowing,

 

including any interest treated as capitalised under applicable US GAAP but without double- counting and excluding any such amount or indebtedness owed by one member of the Group to another member of the Group, but excluding any Financial Indebtedness of the type described in paragraph (D) of the definition of Financial Indebtedness which:

 

 

(i)

has a term shorter than 12 months; or

 

 

(ii)

corresponds to the pro-rata share of any finance or capital lease that an Obligor has, in its capacity as operator of a Petroleum Asset, included in its accounts in accordance with applicable US GAAP but which is to be funded by the Group’s non- operating partners under any joint operating agreement relating to that Petroleum Asset;

 

Consolidated Total Net Debt” means, in relation to the Group and on each Calculation Date, the Consolidated Total Debt on that Calculation Date less Consolidated Cash and Cash Equivalents held on that Calculation Date;

 

Controlled Group” means all persons (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) which are under common control or treated as a single employer with an Obligor under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code. When any provision of this Agreement relates to a past event, the term “member of the Controlled Group” includes any person that was a member of the Controlled Group at the time of that past event;

 

CRD IV” means EU CRD IV and UK CRD IV;

 

Debt Service Reserve Account” means an account designated “Etame – DSRA” established by the Borrower in respect of the Facility with the Offshore Account Bank pursuant to Clause 20 (Debt Service Reserve Account) which is secured in favour of the Secured Creditors;

 

7

 

Deed of Subordination” means each deed of subordination in respect of Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower owed to the Obligors, in each case substantially in the form of Schedule 9 (Form of Deed of Subordination);

 

Default” means an Event of Default or event which, with the giving of notice, lapse of time, or fulfilment of any condition, would constitute an Event of Default;

 

Derivative Agreement” means an ISDA Master Agreement or similar agreement pursuant to which Derivative Transactions are entered into by any Obligor with a counterparty;

 

Derivative Transaction” means any transaction entered into under a Derivative Agreement, including (but not limited to) any transaction which is a forward rate agreement, option, future, swap, cap, floor and any combination of the foregoing;

 

[*****]

 

Discharge Date” means the first date on which all liabilities (whether actual or contingent) owed to the Finance Parties (other than the Hedging Counterparties) have finally been discharged and such Finance Parties are under no further obligation to provide financial accommodation under the Finance Documents;

 

Discharged Rights and Obligations” has the meaning given to it in Clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer);

 

Disposal Forecast Date” has the meaning given to it in limb (B) of the definition of “Forecast Date” in this Clause 1.1 (Definitions);

 

Dispute” has the meaning given to it in Clause 43.1 (Arbitration);

 

Disruption Event” means either or both of:

 

 

(A)

a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or

 

 

(B)

the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (including, without limitation, disruption of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing or severely inhibiting that or any other Party:

 

 

(i)

from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

 

(ii)

from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,

 

and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted;

 

[*****]

 

8

 

“EBITDAX” means, in relation to the Group for the period of 12-month ending on the relevant Calculation Date, its consolidated income on ordinary activities before Tax for that period, but adjusted by:

 

 

(A)

adding back Net Interest Payable;

 

 

(B)

adding back depletion and depreciation charged to the consolidated profit and loss account of the Group in accordance with the US GAAP;

 

 

(C)

adding back amounts amortised to the consolidated profit and loss account of the Group;

 

 

(D)

adding back any amount attributable to exploration expense (except to the extent that any such exploration expenses have been capitalised);

 

 

(E)

adding back any amount attributable to unrealised losses and deducting any amount attributable to unrealised gains on the value of any Derivative Transaction and any Hedging Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, any realised losses will be deducted while any realised gains will be added back;

 

 

(F)

adding back any amount attributable to a loss and deducting any amount attributable to a gain against book value on the disposal of any non-current asset and any amount attributable to an impairment charge relating to a non-current asset;

 

 

(G)

adding back non-cash charges relating to employee benefit or management compensation plans of any member of the Group or any non-cash compensation charge arising from any equity-based awards for the benefit of officers, directors, employees and consultants of any member of the Group;

 

 

(H)

adding back or deducting (as applicable) the amount attributable to any other material item of an unusual or non-recurring nature which represent gains or losses, including (but not limited to) those arising on:

 

 

(i)

the refinancing of or the extinguishment of any financing, in relation to any cost associated with the original financing which is subsequently written off as a consequence of that refinancing or extinguishment; and

 

 

(ii)

the restructuring of the activities of an entity and the reversal of any provisions for the cost of restructuring;

 

Economic Assumptions” means each of the following economic assumptions, and the values ascribed to such assumptions, upon which each Forecast or draft Forecast and, in each case, the calculations and information therein are, or are to be, based:

 

 

(A)

Hydrocarbon prices;

 

 

(B)

exchange rates;

 

 

(C)

inflation rates;

 

 

(D)

discount rates;

 

 

(E)

interest rates;

 

 

(F)

Tax rates; and

 

 

(G)

any other assumption that the Technical Bank and the Borrower (each acting reasonably) agree shall be treated as an “Economic Assumption”;

 

9

 

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

 

Employee Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan), as to which any Obligor has any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise;

 

Enforcement Action” shall have the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

Equator Principles” means those principles so titled and developed and adopted by the International Finance Corporation and various other financial institutions, as amended from time to time, details of which can be found at www.equator-principles.com;

 

ERISA” means the US Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (or any successor legislation thereto);

 

ERISA Affiliate” means each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is a member of the Controlled Group;

 

ERISA Event” means any of the following events:

 

 

(A)

any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043(b)(2) or 4043(c) of ERISA, with respect to a Single Employer Plan as to which the 30-day, post-event notice has not been waived by regulation;

 

 

(B)

the filing of a notice of intent to terminate or the termination of any Single Employer Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA;

 

 

(C)

the institution of proceedings under Section 4042 of ERISA by the PBGC for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan;

 

 

(D)

the failure to make a statutorily required contribution to any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan;

 

 

(E)

engagement in a non-exempt prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 406 of ERISA;

 

 

(F)

the failure of any Employee Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code to be so qualified;

 

 

(G)

any partial or complete withdrawal from a Multiemployer Plan as to which any Obligor has any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise;

 

 

(H)

any withdrawal from any Single Employer Plan to which any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate is or is treated as a substantial employer; or

 

 

(I)

the receipt by any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate of any notice that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or that a Multiemployer Plan is in endangered or critical status (within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA);

 

Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent” means Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch as trustee and paying agent under the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement or such person which replaces it in that capacity in accordance with the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement;

 

10

 

Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement” means the trustee and paying agent agreement dated 26 June 2002 originally between the Borrower, J.P. Morgan Trustee and Depositary Company Limited and JPMorgan Chase Bank, London Branch as amended from time to time;

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time;

 

EU CRD IV” means:

 

 

(A)

Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012; and

 

 

(B)

Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repeating Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC.

 

Event of Default” means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 27 (Events of Default);

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of Security to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee of that Swap Obligation) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission) by virtue of such Guarantor's failure for any reason to constitute an "eligible contract participant" as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such Security becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Hedging Agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swaps for which such guarantee or Security is or becomes illegal;

 

Exclusive Exploitation Authorisations” means any exclusive exploitation license granted by the Republic of Gabon to Vaalco Gabon under the Petroleum Agreements, including any extensions or amendments thereof, with respect to any fields in the Etame Block;

 

[*****]

 

 

(A)

[*****]

 

 

(B)

[*****]

 

11

 

 

(C)

[*****]

 

Facility” means the revolving credit facility made available under this Agreement as described in Clause 3 (The Facility);

 

Facility Office” means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days’ written notice where notice is required under Clause 30.15 (Facility Agent relationship with the Lenders)) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement;

 

Facility Reduction Schedule” means the amortisation schedule set out in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders), as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time;

 

FATCA” means:

 

 

(A)

sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

 

 

(B)

any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (A) above; or

 

 

(C)

any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraph (A) or (B) above with the IRS, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction;

 

FATCA Application Date” means:

 

 

(A)

in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014; or

 

 

(B)

in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraph (A) above, the first date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA;

 

FATCA Deduction” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA;

 

FATCA Exempt Party” means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction;

 

FCFA” means the Franc of Central African States which is the lawful currency for the time being in the Republic of Gabon;

 

Fee Letter” means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement or on or about the date of this Agreement between any Finance Party and the Borrower setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 12 (Fees) and any other fees payable by the Borrower to a Finance Party pursuant to a Finance Document or payable under this Facility;

 

Field” means the Etame Marin Permit (Block G4-160) Field, and any other onshore or offshore block or oil and gas field or reserves in which an Obligor has from time to time, directly or indirectly, acquired an interest pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition;

 

12

 

Field Depletion Date” means the projected date on which it is determined (in accordance with the Forecast Assumptions) that Net Cash Flow is negative on each remaining Forecast Date following that projected date;

 

Field Life Net Cash Flow” means, in respect of a Forecast Date, the aggregate of:

 

 

(A)

the net present value of Net Cash Flow from that Forecast Date until the Field Depletion Date; and

 

 

(B)

the Capex Add-Back Amount from that Forecast Date;

 

Final Maturity Date” means, the earlier of: (i) the date falling five years from Financial Close; and (ii) the Reserve Tail Date;

 

Finance Document” means this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, each Hedging Agreement, each Security Document, each Deed of Subordination, the Offshore Account Bank Agreement, the Onshore Account Bank Agreement, each Obligor Accession Deed and each Fee Letter and any other document designated as such by the Borrower and the Facility Agent;

 

Finance Party” means each of the Mandated Lead Arrangers, the Lenders, the Hedging Counterparties, the Account Banks, the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the Modelling Bank and the Technical Bank and “Finance Parties” shall be construed accordingly;

 

Financial Close” means the date on which the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that it has received all of the Conditions Precedent in form and substance satisfactory to it (acting reasonably) and/or waived receipt of those Conditions Precedent in accordance with Clause 2.1 (Conditions Precedent to first Utilisation);

 

Financial Covenant Test Date” has the meaning given to it in Clause 25(A) (Financial Covenants);

 

Financial Covenants” means the financial covenants listed under Clause 25 (Financial Covenants);

 

Financial Indebtedness” means any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

 

(A)

moneys borrowed;

 

 

(B)

any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or dematerialised equivalent;

 

 

(C)

any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

 

(D)

the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would be treated in the accounts of the relevant entity as a finance or capital lease in accordance with the US GAAP, provided that, for the purpose of this Agreement, in no event shall any obligation of a person under any lease that would be categorised as and “operating lease” in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2016 02, Leases (Topic 842) be considered Financial Indebtedness;;

 

 

(E)

receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);

 

13

 

 

(F)

any derivative or hedging transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative or hedging transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into account);

 

 

(G)

any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) of a type not referred to in any other paragraph of this definition but which is classified as a borrowing in the accounts of the relevant entity;

 

 

(H)

any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution in respect of an underlying liability of an entity which is not a member of the Group and which underlying liability would fall within one of the other paragraphs of this definition if it were a liability of a member of the Group; and

 

 

(I)

the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (A) to (H) above (but only to the extent that the Financial Indebtedness supported thereby is or is at any time in the future capable of being outstanding);

 

Financing Costs” means all amounts of interest, fees, commitment fees, or other costs and scheduled principal instalments payable by the Obligors under the Finance Documents;

 

First Currency” has the meaning given to it in Clause 15.1 (Currency indemnity);

 

Forecast” means a consolidated cashflow and debt service projection in respect of the Borrowing Base Assets prepared or to be prepared pursuant to this Agreement including:

 

 

(A)

the Initial Forecast; and

 

 

(B)

any other forecast prepared and finally determined in accordance with Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations);

 

Forecast Assumptions” means the Economic Assumptions and the Technical Assumptions;

 

Forecast Date” means, in relation to a Forecast Request or a Scheduled Forecast (as applicable):

 

 

(A)

the date on which an asset becomes a Borrowing Base Asset pursuant to Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations);

 

 

(B)

the date of disposal of a Borrowing Base Asset (a “Disposal Forecast Date”);

 

 

(C)

each Scheduled Forecast Date;

 

 

(D)

the date of an increase of the Total Commitments pursuant to Clause 3.2 (Additional Commitment);

 

 

(E)

on request by the Modelling Bank following the termination of any Hedging Agreement or Derivative Agreement, the date set pursuant to paragraph (C) of Clause 17.2 (Adoption) for delivery of a Forecast;

 

 

(F)

on request by the Borrower (limited to one such request in any six-month period), the date set pursuant to paragraph (C) of Clause 17.2 (Adoption) for delivery of a Forecast; and

 

14

 

 

(G)

on request by the Majority Lenders or the Technical Bank (limited to one such request in any six-month period unless an Event of Default is continuing), the date set pursuant to paragraph (C) of Clause 17.2 (Adoption) for delivery of a Forecast;

 

Forecast Period” means, in relation to any Group Cash Flow Projection, the period commencing on the day after the relevant test date and ending on the date falling 12 months thereafter;

 

Forecast Request” means a request for a new Forecast (other than a Scheduled Forecast) to be prepared pursuant to paragraphs (E), (F) or (G) of the definition of “Forecast Date”;

 

FPSO Contract” means the contract for the provision and operation of an FPSO between Vaalco Gabon and Tinworth Pte. Limited dated 20 August 2001, as modified, supplemented, amended or novated from time to time;

 

Fraudulent Transfer Law” means Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any applicable US state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance law;

 

Gabonese Customs Guarantee” means the guarantee made by Vaalco Gabon to Gabonese Customs for the Sutton Tide which is cash covered in an account held with the Onshore Account Bank;

 

Gabonese Law Security Agreement” means the Gabonese law pledge agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between Vaalco Gabon and the Borrower in respect of the Onshore Project Account;

 

Good Industry Practice” means the practices, techniques, methods and standards which are generally accepted for use in the oil and gas industry in international oil and gas fields to develop, operate and maintain oil and gas fields, pipelines and related assets similar to those comprised in the Borrowing Base Assets lawfully, safely, efficiently and economically;

 

Government” means the government of the Gabonese Republic;

 

Gross Revenues” means, in relation to any Obligor, for the relevant period of determination and without double counting, the USD equivalent of each of the following amounts to the extent received (or projected to be received or which are credits to an interest or account of an Obligor) by or on behalf of an Obligor during that period from or in respect of a Borrowing Base Asset:

 

 

(A)

any amount from the sale of crude oil, condensate, natural gas liquids and all output and product from any Borrowing Base Asset or otherwise received or to be received pursuant to any Project Document;

 

 

(B)

any amount representing interest on the Project Accounts and interest or distributions or income of any kind in respect of Authorised Investments;

 

 

(C)

all refunds of tax of any kind;

 

 

(D)

all Insurance Proceeds;

 

 

(E)

all damages or other payments for termination or non-performance or failure to perform or variation under any contract;

 

 

(F)

all net amounts received under any Derivative Agreement and any Hedging Agreement;

 

 

(G)

all amounts received in respect of any Permitted Disposal;

 

15

 

 

(H)

all other amounts which fall to be credited to the profit and loss account of an Obligor for the financial year in which the relevant period falls; and

 

 

(I)

any other costs, expenses or payments that the Borrower and the Majority Lenders agree to designate “Gross Revenues”;

 

Group” means the Parent and each of its subsidiaries from time to time;

 

Group Cash Flow Projection” means a Group cash flow projection which is prepared by the Parent in accordance with Clause 22.10 (Group Liquidity Test) which:

 

 

(A)

sets out and itemises the Total Corporate Sources and the Total Corporate Uses for each quarterly period within the Forecast Period in at least the same level of detail as that included in the Initial Group Cash Flow Projection;

 

 

(B)

is in the same form as the Initial Group Cash Flow Projection or in such other form as may be approved by the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably); and

 

 

(C)

is signed by two directors of the Parent, for and on behalf of the Parent;

 

Group Liquidity Test” means the test relating to the Group Cash Flow Projection as calculated and defined in Clause 22.10 (Group Liquidity Test);

 

Guarantor” means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor;

 

Hedging Agreement” means an ISDA Master Agreement (including any applicable Credit Support Deed) or similar agreement pursuant to which Hedging Transactions are entered into by an Obligor with a Hedging Counterparty and where the liability of the Obligors thereunder are secured by the Security Documents;

 

Hedging Costs” means any amount falling due from an Obligor under a Hedging Agreement except for any Hedging Termination Payment;

 

Hedging Counterparty” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

Hedging Liabilities” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

Hedging Termination Payment” means any amount falling due from or, as the case may be, to any Obligor under a Hedging Agreement as a direct or indirect result of a termination or close out (whether partial or total) of that Hedging Agreement, other than interest accruing on any amount not paid when due;

 

Hedging Transaction” means any transaction entered into under a Hedging Agreement, including (but not limited to) any transaction which is a forward rate agreement, option, future, swap, cap, floor and any combination of the foregoing;

 

Hydrocarbons” means any mineral oil or relative hydrocarbon and natural gas existing in its natural condition in strata and natural gas liquids but excluding:

 

 

(A)

coal or bituminous shales or other stratified deposits from which oil can be extracted by destructive distillation; and

 

 

(B)

any substance unavoidably lost in the production thereof or used in conformity with Good Industry Practice for drilling and the production operations (including gas injection, fuel, secondary recovery pressure maintenance, re-pressuring or re- cycling operations) conducted for the purpose of winning and saving such substances but only for the duration of such use;

 

16

 

Illegality Lender” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 8.2 (Illegality and Sanctions);

 

Impaired Agent” means

 

 

(i)

in relation to the Facility Agent (or its respective holding companies), Clause 27.7 (Insolvency) or Clause 27.8 (Insolvency proceedings) applies or has occurred;

 

 

(ii)

the Facility Agent or any of its Affiliates repudiates or rescinds its obligations under any Finance Document or (in its capacity as Lender) becomes a Non-Funding Lender; or

 

 

(iii)

the Facility Agent or any of its Affiliates has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment;

 

Increased Costs” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 14.1 (Increased costs);

 

Independent Engineer” means Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc. or such other reputable independent petroleum engineer or other expert selected by the Obligors in consultation with the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank (each, acting reasonably);

 

Information Package” means all or any information provided, in writing, by or on behalf of any Obligor to any Finance Party on or before the date of this Agreement or pursuant to Clause 2.1 (Conditions Precedent to first Utilisation) in relation to, or in connection with, the Borrowing Base Assets, any member of the Group, any Transaction Document or the Facility;

 

Initial Forecast” means the Forecast provided to the Facility Agent and in form and substance satisfactory to it, pursuant to paragraph 6(B) of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent);

 

Initial Group Cash Flow Projection” means the Group Cash Flow Projection referred to in paragraph 6(C) of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent);

 

Initial Reserves Report” means the reserves report dated 3 March 2022, prepared by the Independent Engineer in relation to the Borrowing Base Assets;

 

Insolvency Event” means:

 

 

(A)

in relation to any Obligor, any circumstances described in Clause 27.7 (Insolvency);

 

 

(B)

in relation to a Secured Creditor means that the Secured Creditor:

 

 

(i)

is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

 

(ii)

becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

 

(iii)

makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;

 

 

(iv)

institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official;

 

17

 

 

(v)

has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (iv) above and:

 

    (a)          results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation; or

 

    (b)          is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof;

 

 

(vi)

has exercised in respect of it one or more of the stabilisation powers pursuant to Part 1 of the Banking Act 2009 and/or has instituted against it a bank insolvency proceeding pursuant to Part 2 of the Banking Act 2009 or a bank administration proceeding pursuant to Part 3 of the Banking Act 2009;

 

 

(vii)

has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

 

(viii)

seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets (other than, for so long as it is required by law or regulation not to be publicly disclosed, any such appointment which is to be made, or is made, by a person or entity described in paragraph (iv) above);

 

 

(ix)

has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter;

 

 

(x)

causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (i) to (ix) above; or

 

 

(xi)

takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts;

 

Insolvency Proceedings” means, in relation to any Obligor, any circumstances described in Clause 27.8 (Insolvency proceedings);

 

Insurance” or “Insurances” means any or all of the contracts of insurance (and related reinsurance) which an Obligor is required to purchase or procure and maintain in accordance with this Agreement;

 

18

 

Insurance Proceeds” means all moneys which may at any time be or become payable to or received by an Obligor (other than proceeds in respect of third party liability insurances) under or pursuant to the Insurances and any reinsurance contract in which the relevant Obligor has an interest;

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement entered into on or about the date of this Agreement, between, amongst others, the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the Lenders, the Hedging Counterparties and the Borrower, as amended from time to time;

 

Interest Period” means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 10 (Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 9.4 (Default interest);

 

Internal Revenue Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq.);

 

Interpolated Screen Rate” means, in relation to LIBOR for any Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

 

 

(A)

the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of that Loan; and

 

 

(B)

the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan,

 

each as of the Specified Time for the currency of that Loan;

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service (or any successor thereto);

 

ISDA Master Agreement” shall have the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

Joint Operating Agreement” means the Joint Operating Agreement dated 4 April 1997, between Vaalco Gabon and other parties, as amended and novated on 15 January 2001, 5 September 2002, 31 December 2004, 12 October 2007, 10 December 2014, 22 November 2016, 29 December 2016 and 25 February 2021;

 

Legal Reservations” means:

 

 

(A)

the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors;

 

 

(B)

the time barring of claims under the Limitation Act 1980 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of UK stamp duty may be void and defences of set-off or counterclaim;

 

 

(C)

the principle that in certain circumstances, any Security granted by way of fixed charge may be recharacterised as a floating charge;

 

 

(D)

the principle that additional interest imposed pursuant to any relevant agreement may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty and thus void;

 

 

(E)

the principle that an English court may not give effect to an indemnity for legal costs incurred by an unsuccessful litigant;

 

19

 

 

(F)

similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any Relevant Jurisdiction; and

 

 

(G)

any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in the legal opinions delivered pursuant to Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent).

 

Lender” means:

 

 

(A)

any Original Lender; and

 

 

(B)

any bank or financial institution which has become a Party as a lender in accordance with Clause 3.2 (Additional Commitment) or Clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders),

 

which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

Lender Accession Notice” means a lender accession notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 (Form of Lender Accession Notice);

 

LIBOR” means, in relation to any Loan:

 

 

(A)

the applicable Screen Rate;

 

 

(B)

(if no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan) the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan; or

 

 

(C)

if:

 

 

(i)

no Screen Rate is available for the currency of that Loan; or

 

 

(ii)

no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan,

 

the Reference Bank Rate,

 

as of, in the case of paragraphs (A) and (C) above, the Specified Time for the currency of that Loan and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan and if any such rate is less than zero, LIBOR shall be deemed to be zero;

 

Loan” means each loan made or to be made under this Agreement or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan;

 

Loan Life Net Cash Flow” means, in respect of a Forecast Date, the aggregate of:

 

 

(A)

the net present value of Net Cash Flow from that Forecast Date until the Final Maturity Date; and

 

 

(B)

the Capex Add-Back Amount as at that Forecast Date;

 

Majority Lenders” means, subject as provided in Clause 40.5 (Disenfranchisement of Non- Funding Lenders), as applicable, those Lenders whose participation in advances under the Facility are equal to 66⅔ per cent of the aggregate advances then outstanding, or if there are no advances outstanding, whose Commitments then aggregate at least 66⅔ per cent of the Total Commitments under the Facility;

 

Margin” means the percentage rate per annum determined in accordance with Clause 9.2 (Margin);

 

20

 

Market Disruption Event” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 11.2 (Market disruption);

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, in relation to any event (or series of events) or circumstance which occurs or arises (other than fluctuations in crude oil prices), that event (or events) or circumstance (or any effect or consequence thereof) would reasonably be expected materially and adversely to affect the financial condition, operations, or business of any Obligor or the Borrowing Base Assets, or the ability of any Obligor to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents in full and on the basis contemplated therein in a way which is materially prejudicial to the interests of the Lenders or results in the Obligors being unable to pay any amounts when due and payable under the Finance Documents;

 

Minimum Cash Covenant” has the meaning given to it in Clause 25(A)(ii) (Financial Covenants);

 

Modelling Bank” means Glencore Energy UK Ltd. in its capacity as modelling bank or any other person that replaces it in such capacity in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Moodys” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a Delaware corporation and any successor thereto and if such corporation shall for any reason no longer perform the functions of a securities rating agency, Moody’s shall be deemed to refer to any other internationally recognised rating agency agreed by the Facility Agent and the Borrower (both acting reasonably);

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) as to which any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise;

 

Net Cash Flow” means, in relation to any Calculation Period, the amount calculated as follows (without any double counting):

 

 

(A)

the aggregate of the Net Revenues of all the Obligors projected to be received in that Calculation Period; minus

 

 

(B)

the aggregate of all the Project Costs of all the Obligors projected to be made in that Calculation Period,

 

projected to be paid or received during that period converted if necessary into USD at the rate of exchange used in the Forecast Assumptions on the date of projected receipt or payment;

 

Net Interest Payable” means, in relation to the Group for any Calculation Period, Total Interest Payable less Total Interest Receivable for the Group during that Calculation Period;

 

Net Revenues” means, in relation to any Calculation Period, the amount calculated as follows:

 

 

(A)

the aggregate amount of all Gross Revenues of the Obligors projected to be received in that Calculation Period; minus

 

 

(B)

the aggregate amount of all Royalty Payments projected to be made in that Calculation Period;

 

New Lender” has the meaning given to it in Clause 28.1 (Assignments and transfers and changes in Facility Office by the Lenders);

 

21

 

Non-Funding Lender” means:

 

 

(A)

any Lender who fails to participate in any Utilisation in the amount and at the time required;

 

 

(B)

any Lender who has indicated publicly or to the Facility Agent or an Obligor that it does not intend to participate in all or part of any Utilisation;

 

 

(C)

any Lender which has rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or

 

 

(D)

any Lender in respect of which or in respect of whose holding company an Insolvency Event has occurred;

 

Obligor” means the Borrower or a Guarantor;

 

Obligor Accession Deed” means a document substantially in the form set out in Schedule 11 (Form of Obligor Accession Deed);

 

Obligors Agent” means the Parent, appointed to act on behalf of each Obligor in relation to the Finance Documents pursuant to Clause 3.3 (Obligors Agent);

 

Offshore Account Bank” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as offshore account bank in relation to the Offshore Proceeds Account or any other person that replaces it in such capacity;

 

Offshore Account Bank Agreement” means the New York law governed blocked account control agreement in relation to the Offshore Project Accounts dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower, the Parent, Vaalco Gabon, Glencore Energy UK Ltd., the Offshore Account Bank, and the Security Agent;

 

Offshore Disbursement Account” means:

 

 

(A)

an account designated “Offshore Disbursement Account” established by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank pursuant to Clause 19 (Operation of the Project Accounts) and which is secured in favour of the Secured Creditors;

 

 

(B)

any other account designated as such by the Borrower and the Facility Agent, such accounts in each case being secured in favour of the Secured Creditors;

 

Offshore Parent Account” means an account designated “Offshore Parent Account” established by the Parent with the Offshore Account Bank pursuant to Clause 19 (Operation of the Project Accounts) and which is secured in favour of the Secured Creditors.

 

Offshore Proceeds Account” means:

 

 

(A)

an account designated “Offshore Proceeds Account” established by Vaalco Gabon with the Offshore Account Bank pursuant to Clause 19 (Operation of the Project Accounts) and which is secured in favour of the Secured Creditors; and

 

 

(B)

any other account designated as such by the Borrower and the Facility Agent, such accounts being secured in favour of the Secured Creditors;

 

Offshore Project Account” means each of:

 

 

(A)

the Debt Service Reserve Account;

 

 

(B)

the Offshore Disbursement Account;

 

 

(C)

the Offshore Parent Account; and

 

 

(D)

the Offshore Proceeds Account;

 

22

 

Onshore Account Bank” means Citibank Gabon S.A. in its capacity as onshore account bank in relation to the Onshore Project Accounts or any other person that replaces it in such capacity in accordance with the Onshore Account Bank Agreement;

 

Onshore Account Bank Agreement” means the English law governed onshore bank account agreement in relation to the Onshore Project Accounts dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower, Vaalco Gabon, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, the Onshore Account Bank and the Security Agent;

 

Onshore Proceeds Account” means the account designated “VGSA Operating Account” established by Vaalco Gabon with the Onshore Account Bank pursuant to Clause 19 (Operation of the Project Accounts);

 

Onshore Project Account” means each of:

 

 

(A)

the Onshore Proceeds Account; and

 

 

(B)

any other account designated as such by the Borrower and the Facility Agent;

 

Operating Agreement” means the contract dated 31 August 2021 between Vaalco Gabon and World Carrier Offshore Services Corp. in respect of the operation and maintenance of a floating storage and offloading system on the Etame Marin Permit (Block G4-160) Field;

 

Operating Agreement PCG” means the parent company guarantee issued by the Parent in favour of World Carrier Offshore Services Corp. on 31 August 2021 to guarantee Vaalco Gabon’s obligations as co-venturer under the Operating Agreement;

 

Operator” means, in relation to each Borrowing Base Asset, the relevant operator of that Borrowing Base Asset;

 

Operator Report” means the report prepared by the Operator in relation to each Borrowing Base Asset;

 

Original Jurisdiction” means, in relation to an Obligor, the jurisdiction under whose laws that Obligor is incorporated as at the date of this Agreement or, in the case of an Additional Guarantor, as at the date on which it becomes Party as a Guarantor;

 

Parent English Law Security Agreement” means an English law security agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Parent and the Security Agent over the Hedging Agreements to which the Parent is a party;

 

Parent NY Law Pledge and Security Agreement” means the New York law pledge and security agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Parent and the Security Agent in respect of:

 

 

(A)

the entire issued share capital of the Borrower;

 

 

(B)

the Insurances to which the Parent is party; and

 

 

(C)

the Offshore Parent Account;

 

Party” means a party to a Finance Document;

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of the United States established pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA (or any entity succeeding to all or any of its functions under ERISA);

 

23

 

Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition or investment:

 

 

(A)

which is made in the ordinary course of the day to day business of the acquiring company;

 

 

(B)

which is in respect of the implementation and development of a Borrowing Base Asset;

 

 

(C)

by an Obligor where the asset acquired or invested in is to be included as a Borrowing Base Assets as approved by the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably);

 

 

(D)

by an Obligor of an asset disposed to it by any other Obligor;

 

 

(E)

of any business engaged in the exploration for and production of Hydrocarbons to the extent that:

 

 

(i)

an updated Group Cash Flow Projection has been prepared taking into account the proposed acquisition or investment and delivered to the Facility Agent no later than 10 Business Days prior to the date of completion of the proposed acquisition or investment and which demonstrates that no breach of the Group Liquidity Test arises in the relevant Forecast Period to which that Group Cash Flow Projection relates; and

 

 

(ii)

[*****]

 

 

(F)

which is approved by the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably),

 

provided in each case that such acquisition may not take place in any country which is subject to a Sanctions Regime;

 

Permitted Disposals” means any:

 

 

(A)

disposal permitted or not otherwise prohibited by Clause 26.8 (Disposals);

 

 

(B)

disposals expressly permitted under any Project Document;

 

 

(C)

disposals of cash for purposes not prohibited by the Finance Documents;

 

 

(D)

disposals expressly required in order to comply with its obligations under the Project Documents;

 

 

(E)

disposals of obsolete assets;

 

24

 

 

(F)

the sale of Hydrocarbons on arm’s length terms for cash consideration in the ordinary course of trading;

 

 

(G)

disposal of any Cash or Cash Equivalent Investments into any another Cash or Cash Equivalent Investment;

 

 

(H)

disposal of any Authorised Investment;

 

 

(I)

any Unitisation (provided that the effects of such Unitisation have been taken into account in the then current Forecast);

 

 

(J)

disposals between the Obligors where, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, there is no prejudice to the interests of the Secured Creditors in the context of the Security which has been granted; or

 

 

(K)

disposals not falling within paragraphs (A) to (J) above which are consented to by the Majority Lenders;

 

Permitted Financial Indebtedness” means:

 

 

(A)

any Financial Indebtedness arising under or contemplated by the Finance Documents;

 

 

(B)

any Financial Indebtedness owed by an Obligor or by any other member of the Group, in each case, to an Obligor, provided that such Obligor (as subordinated lender) has entered into a Deed of Subordination;

 

 

(C)

any guarantee given in respect of the netting or set-off arrangements entered into by any Obligor in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements which has the effect of netting debit and credit balances and permitted pursuant to this Agreement;

 

 

(D)

any Financial Indebtedness under purchase money debt in respect of, or finance or capital leases of, vehicles, plants, equipment or computers:

 

 

(i)

to the extent already existing at the date of this Agreement; or

 

 

(ii)

[*****]

 

 

(E)

any Financial Indebtedness arising under the Gabonese Customs Guarantee or the Bareboat Charterer PCG, the Boskalis PCG, the Operating Agreement PCG and the Tinworth PCG;

 

 

(F)

any Financial Indebtedness arising under any Derivative Agreement or any Hedging Agreement into which an Obligor may enter further to the provisions of Clause 26.16(A) (Hedging);

 

 

(G)

any guarantee or indemnity contained in the Transaction Documents;

 

 

(H)

any Financial Indebtedness arising under any letter of credit or letter of credit facility requested by the Parent in connection any Hedging Transactions existing as at the date of this Agreement under the ISDA Master Agreement dated 31 May 2018 between the Parent and BP Energy Company;

 

25

 

 

(I)

any Financial Indebtedness arising under any letter of credit or letter of credit facility requested by the Parent in connection with any Hedging Transaction under the ISDA Master Agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Parent and Glencore Commodities Limited; or

 

 

(J)

any Financial Indebtedness otherwise approved by the Majority Lenders;

 

Permitted Party” has the meaning given to it in Clause 28.8 (Disclosure of information);

 

Permitted Security” means:

 

 

(A)

any netting or set-off arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of financing arrangements for the purpose of netting or setting off debit and credit balances;

 

 

(B)

any payment or close out netting or set-off arrangement pursuant to any Hedging Agreement or Derivative Agreement entered into by an Obligor in accordance with this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

 

(C)

any lien securing obligations no more than 90 days overdue arising by operation of law;

 

 

(D)

any Security Interest arising under or contemplated by the Finance Documents or pursuant to the express terms of any Project Document;

 

 

(E)

any title retention provisions in a supplier’s standard conditions of supply of goods;

 

 

(F)

the Security Interest created or purported to be created by Vaalco Gabon over the Commercial Contracts in favour of the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent pursuant to the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement;

 

 

(G)

the Security Interest created or purported to be created by Vaalco Gabon in favour of the Onshore Account Bank in connection with the Gabonese Customs Guarantee;

 

 

(H)

any Security created by a member of the Group in the ordinary course of its banking or investment arrangements under the customary terms of a bank or securities intermediary where such member maintains an account;

 

 

(I)

any Security Interest over or affecting any asset acquired by an Obligor after the date of this Agreement if:

 

 

(i)

the Security was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of that asset;

 

 

(ii)

the principal amount secured has not been increased, in contemplation of or since the acquisition of that asset; and

 

 

(iii)

the Security is removed or discharged within 30 days of the date of acquisition of such asset;

 

 

(J)

any Security Interest securing Permitted Financial Indebtedness of the type described in paragraph (D) of the definition of “Permitted Financial Indebtedness; provided that (i) such Security Interest shall be created within one hundred twenty (120) days of the acquisition, repair, construction, improvement or lease, as applicable, of the related property, (ii) such Security Interest does not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed or improved by such Financial Indebtedness, and (iii) the principal amount of Financial Indebtedness secured by any such Security Interest shall at no time exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the original price for the purchase, repair, construction, improvement or lease amount (as applicable) of such property at the time of purchase, repair, construction, improvement or lease (as applicable);

 

26

 

 

(K)

any Security Interest over cash granted by, and/or any letter of credit issued at the request of, the Parent in connection with any hedging transactions existing as at the date of this Agreement under the ISDA Master Agreement dated 31 May 2018 between the Parent and BP Energy Company;

 

 

(L)

any Security Interest over cash granted by, and/or any letter of credit issued at the request of, the Parent in connection with the ISDA Master Agreement to be entered around the date of this Agreement between the Parent and Glencore Commodities Limited (or any hedging transaction thereunder); and

 

 

(M)

any Security Interest not falling within paragraphs (A) to (L) above which is consented to by the Majority Lenders;

 

Petroleum Agreements” means the exploration and production sharing contract dated as of 7 July 1995, between the Republic of Gabon and Vaalco Gabon and other parties, collectively as the contractor, as amended by an undated agreement with retroactive effect to 7 July 2001, and by the subsequent amendments thereto dated as of 13 April 2006, 26 November 2009, 5 January 2012 (with retroactive effect to 17 July 2011), 25 April 2016, 29 December 2016 and 17 September 2018;

 

Petroleum Asset” means any assets related to the exploration for or exploitation, production, treatment, processing, transportation, storage, marketing and sale of petroleum products including, but without limitation, any contractual rights under any agreement entered into in relation to or incidental or ancillary thereto, any equity or participating interest in any entity which has such an interest or which conducts such activities and any right which would allow a person to obtain title to or an interest in any petroleum products;

 

Project Accounts” means the Offshore Projects Accounts and the Onshore Projects Accounts;

 

Project Costs” means, in relation to any period and any Obligor (without double counting) all costs and expenses (including without limitation exploration costs and any costs incurred under any Derivative Agreement or Hedging Agreement) incurred for and on behalf of an Obligor or in respect of which an Obligor is liable in relation to the Borrowing Base Assets;

 

Project Documents” means (when entered into by the relevant Obligor and only while an Obligor is a party to such document):

 

 

(A)

the Joint Operating Agreement;

 

 

(B)

the Commercial Contracts;

 

 

(C)

the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement;

 

 

(D)

the Bareboat Charter Contract;

 

 

(E)

each Petroleum Agreement;

 

 

(F)

the Operating Agreement;

 

 

(G)

the FPSO Contract;

 

 

(H)

the Exclusive Exploitation Authorisations;

 

27

 

 

(I)

any Authorisation required for the production, transportation or sale of petroleum from a Borrowing Base Asset;

 

 

(J)

the Agreement for the Provision of Subsea Construction and Installation Services; and

 

 

(K)

any other agreement which the Facility Agent and the Borrower agree shall be a Project Document,

 

as such documents may be updated, amended or replaced from time to time;

 

Quotation Day” means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined two Business Days before the first day of that period;

 

Reference Bank Rate” means in relation to LIBOR, the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards to four decimal places) of the rates supplied to the Facility Agent at its request by the Reference Banks as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market;

 

Reference Banks” means the principal London offices of any bank appointed as a reference bank by the Facility Agent, with the prior written consent of the Borrower;

 

Relevant Jurisdiction” means, in relation to a member of the Group:

 

 

(A)

its Original Jurisdiction;

 

 

(B)

any jurisdiction where any asset subject to or intended to be subject to the Transaction Security to be created by it is situated;

 

 

(C)

any jurisdiction where it conducts its business; and

 

 

(D)

the jurisdiction whose laws govern the perfection of any of the Security Documents entered into by it;

 

Relevant Nominating Body” means any applicable central bank, regulator or other supervisory authority or a group of them, or any working group or committee sponsored or chaired by, or constituted at the request of, any of them or the Financial Stability Board;

 

Repatriation Obligation” means the obligation on Vaalco Gabon to repatriate any revenues paid to it or received by it into an offshore bank account to an onshore bank account in accordance with the CEMAC FX Regulation;

 

Repayment Date” means each 31 March and 30 September occurring after the date falling 18 months from the date of this Agreement, as may be adjusted in accordance with Clause 31.7 (Business Days);

 

Repayment Instalment” means each repayment instalment required pursuant to the Facility Reduction Schedule (as adjusted from time to time);

 

Repeating Representations” means the representations set out under:

 

 

(A)

Clauses 24.1 (Status), 24.2 (Binding obligations), 24.3 (Non-conflict), 24.4 (Power and authority), each as at the time the power or authority was exercised only; and

 

 

(B)

Clauses 23.10(A) (Limitations on guarantee under US law), 24.5 (Validity and admissibility), 24.9 (Financial Statements), 24.10 (Proceedings pending or threatened), 24.12 (Breach of laws), 24.13 (Compliance with environmental laws), 24.14 (Security), 24.16 (Pari passu ranking), 24.17 (Assets), 24.18 (Project Documents), 24.22 (No Immunity), 24.23 (Ownership of Obligors), 24.24 (Sanctions), 24.25 (Anti-corruption law) and 24.29 (US Governmental Regulation);

 

28

 

Replacement Benchmark” means a benchmark rate which is:

 

 

(A)

formally designated, nominated or recommended as the replacement for the Screen Rate by:

 

 

(i)

the administrator of the Screen Rate (provided that the market or economic reality that such benchmark rate measures is the same as that measured by the Screen Rate); or

 

 

(ii)

any Relevant Nominating Body,

 

and if replacements have, at the relevant time, been formally designated, nominated or recommended under both paragraphs, the “Replacement Benchmark” will be the replacement under paragraph (ii) above;

 

 

(B)

in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, generally accepted in the international or any relevant domestic syndicated loan markets as the appropriate successor to the Screen Rate; or

 

 

(C)

in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, an appropriate successor to the Screen Rate;

 

Replacement Lender” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 8.9 (Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender);

 

Required Balance” means, in respect of any Calculation Period, an amount equal to the Financing Costs due and payable by the Borrower in that Calculation Period;

 

Reserve Tail Date” means, at any time, the Repayment Date immediately preceding the date on which a Forecast projects that the aggregate economically recoverable reserves remaining to be produced from the Borrowing Base Assets (as reflected in the current Forecast) is projected to be equal to or less than 25 per cent of the aggregate of the economically recoverable reserves of the Borrowing Base Assets reflected in the Initial Forecast as adjusted pursuant to Clause 17.13 (Reserve Tail Date);

 

Reserves Report” means:

 

 

(A)

the Initial Reserves Report; and

 

 

(B)

each other report which is prepared by the Independent Engineer and, in each case, is in substantially the same form as the Initial Reserves Report;

 

Resolution Authority” means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers;

 

Rollover Loan” means one or more Loans:

 

 

(A)

made or to be made on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be repaid;

 

 

(B)

the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the maturing Loan;

 

 

(C)

made or to be made to the same Borrower for the purpose of refinancing a maturing Loan;

 

29

 

Royalty Payments” means royalties payable to the Government by Vaalco Gabon out of, or calculated by reference to, petroleum to which the Government is entitled under the terms and conditions of the relevant Petroleum Agreement;

 

Sanctioned Country” means any country or territory that is, or whose government is, subject to or the target of country wide or territory wide Sanctions (including, as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and the Crimea, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and so-called Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine);

 

Sanctions” means the sanctions laws, regulations, embargoes or restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced by any Sanctions Authorities;

 

Sanctions Authorities” means each of

 

 

(A)

the US government;

 

 

(B)

the United Nations Security Council;

 

 

(C)

the European Union (or any of its members states);

 

 

(D)

the United Kingdom; and

 

 

(E)

the respective governmental institutions and agencies of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury, the US Department of State and Her Majesty’s Treasury;

 

Sanctions List” means the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury, the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investments Ban List maintained by Her Majesty’s Treasury, or any similar lists maintained by, or public announcement of Sanctions designation made by, any of the Sanctions Authorities;

 

Sanctions Regime” means a sanctions regime issued, imposed or administered by the United States, any member country of the European Union, the European Union itself, the United Kingdom or the United Nations (or any agency of any of them);

 

Sanctions Restricted Party” means a person that is:

 

 

(A)

listed on, or (directly or indirectly) owned or controlled (as such terms are defined by the relevant Sanctions Authority) by one or more persons listed on, or acting on behalf of a person listed on, any Sanctions List;

 

 

(B)

located in, incorporated under the laws of, or (directly or indirectly) owned or controlled (as such terms are defined by the relevant Sanctions Authority), or acting on behalf of, a person located or ordinarily resident in or organised under the laws of a country or territory that is the target of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions; or

 

 

(C)

otherwise a target of Sanctions;

 

Scheduled Forecast” means each Forecast that is adopted or that is due to be adopted on a Scheduled Forecast Date;

 

Scheduled Forecast Date” means each 31 March and 30 September occurring after the date of Financial Close and before the Final Maturity Date;

 

30

 

Screen Rate” means in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Ltd. (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for USD for the relevant period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters). If such page or service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Borrower;

 

Screen Rate Replacement Event” means, in relation to the Screen Rate:

 

 

​​​​​(A)

the methodology, formula or other means of determining the Screen Rate has, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, materially changed;

 

 

(B)

 

 

 

(i)

 

 

  (a) the administrator of that Screen Rate or its supervisor publicly announces that such administrator is insolvent; or

 

 

(b)

information is published in any order, decree, notice, petition or filing, however described, of or filed with a court, tribunal, exchange, regulatory authority or similar administrative, regulatory or judicial body which reasonably confirms that the administrator of the Screen Rate is insolvent,

 

provided that, in each case, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide the Screen Rate;

 

 

(ii)

the administrator of the Screen Rate publicly announces that it has ceased or will cease, to provide the Screen Rate permanently or indefinitely and, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide the Screen Rate;

 

 

(iii)

the supervisor of the administrator of the Screen Rate publicly announces that the Screen Rate has been or will be permanently or indefinitely discontinued; or

 

 

(iv)

the administrator of the Screen Rate or its supervisor announces that the Screen Rate may no longer be used; or

 

 

(C)

the administrator of the Screen Rate determines that the Screen Rate should be calculated in accordance with its reduced submissions or other contingency or fallback policies or arrangements and either:

 

 

(i)

the circumstance(s) or event(s) leading to such determination are not (in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower) temporary; or

 

 

(ii)

the Screen Rate is calculated in accordance with any such policy or arrangement for a period no less than 10 Business Days; or

 

 

(D)

in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, the Screen Rate is otherwise no longer appropriate for the purposes of calculating interest under this Agreement;

 

Second Currency” has the meaning given to it in Clause 15.1 (Currency indemnity);

 

Secured Creditor” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

Secured Obligations” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

31

 

Security” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect;

 

Security Documents” means each of the following documents:

 

 

(A)

the Borrower NY Law Security Agreement;

 

 

(B)

the Vaalco Gabon NY Law Security Agreement;

 

 

(C)

the Parent NY Law Pledge and Security Agreement;

 

 

(D)

the Parent English Law Security Agreement;

 

 

(E)

the Vaalco Gabon English Law Security Agreement;

 

 

(F)

the Gabonese Law Security Agreement; and

 

 

(G)

subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, each other document evidencing or creating any Security Interest held or obtained from an Obligor for or in respect of any Secured Obligations;

 

Security Interest” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect;

 

Shareholder Loan Agreement” means the $150,000,000 revolving loan facility agreement dated 29 November 2021 (as amended, restated and novated from time to time) between the Borrower and Vaalco Gabon pursuant to which the Borrower may advance loans to Vaalco Gabon;

 

Single Employer Plan” means any pension plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code as to which any Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate has any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise;

 

Specified Period” means each period specified in the first column (headed “Specified Period”) of the table set out in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders);

 

Specified Time” means 11.00 a.m. London time on the relevant Quotation Day;

 

Standard & Poors” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of the McGraw- Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto and if such corporation shall for any reason no longer perform the functions of a securities rating agency, Standard & Poor’s shall be deemed to refer to any other internationally recognised rating agency agreed by the Facility Agent and the Borrower (both acting reasonably);

 

Sterling” or “£” or is to the lawful currency for the time being of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

 

Sum” has the meaning given to it in Clause 15.1 (Currency indemnity);

 

Swap” has the meaning given to that term in section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act;

 

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a Swap;

 

Tax” means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature imposed by a governmental authority (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same);

 

32

 

Technical Assumption” means any assumptions (other than an Economic Assumption), and the values ascribed to such assumption, upon which each Forecast or draft Forecast and, in each case, the calculations and information therein are, or are to be, based.

 

Technical Bank” means Glencore Energy UK Ltd. in its capacity as technical bank or any other person that replaces it in such capacity in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Third Parties Act” has the meaning given to it in Clause 1.5 (Third Party Rights);

 

Tinworth PCG” means the parent company guarantee issued by the Parent in favour of Tinworth Pte Limited on 22 June 2017 to guarantee Vaalco Gabon’s obligations as co- venturer under the contract between Vaalco Gabon and Tinworth Pte Limited under the contract for provision of an FPSO dated 20 August 2001 (as amended, restated and novated from time to time);

 

Total Commitments” means, in relation to a Specified Period or any day falling in that Specified Period, the aggregate of the Commitments of the Lenders for that Specified Period which, as at the date of this Agreement and subject to any increase, cancellation, reduction or transfer of any Lender’s Commitment in accordance with this Agreement, is the amount (in the Base Currency) set opposite that Specified Period in the last column (headed “Total Commitments”) of the table set out in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders);

 

Total Corporate Sources” means, in relation to any period, the sum (without double counting) of:

 

 

(A)

the Available Facility or any other credit facility that is available for drawing in that period for the purposes of meeting any Total Corporate Uses in that period;

 

 

(B)

the actual cash balances of the Group (excluding any cash held by any member of the Group in its capacity as operator of a Petroleum Asset and related infrastructures where such cash is not attributable to a member of a Group’s working interest in that Petroleum Asset) on the first day of that period that are available for the purposes of meeting any Total Corporate Uses in that period;

 

 

(C)

any proceeds of any insurances (other than in respect of any insurance to be paid in settlement of claims in respect of third party liability) payable to any member of the Group;

 

 

(D)

all refunds or reimbursements of Taxes payable to any member of the Group;

 

 

(E)

all amounts payable to any member of the Group under any Hedging Agreement;

 

 

(F)

all tariffs, fees and charges payable to any member of the Group in respect of the use of any assets;

 

 

(G)

any committed and undrawn equity that is available for drawing in that period for the purposes of meeting any Total Corporate Uses in that period;

 

 

(H)

the aggregate amount of the proceeds of the sale of Hydrocarbons and refined products that is projected to be received by the Group in that period;

 

 

(I)

all compensation or other consideration on account of nationalisation, appropriation or requisition of all or part of any Hydrocarbon asset; and

 

 

(J)

any other sources of funds as the Parent and the Facility Agent may agree, where (i) for these purposes a credit facility (including the Facility) shall only be treated as being “available” on any date to the extent that no circumstances exist or are continuing on such date which would prohibit any lender under that credit facility from making, or would entitle any such lender to refuse to make, any utilisation available to any borrower under that credit facility and (ii) the Hydrocarbon price used for the determination of Total Corporate Sources shall be approved by the Technical Bank (acting reasonably);

 

33

 

Total Corporate Uses” means in relation to any period, the aggregate amount (without double counting) of all of the costs, expenditure, outgoings and other payments that are committed on the first day of the Forecast Period or, if not committed, can reasonably be projected to be paid by the Group in that period;

 

Total Interest Payable” means, in relation to the Group for any Calculation Period, all interest and other financing charges paid or payable and incurred by the Group during that Calculation Period;

 

Total Interest Receivable” means, in relation to the Group for any Calculation Period, all interest and other financing charges received or receivable by the Group during that Calculation Period;

 

Transaction Document” means each Finance Document and each Project Document;

 

Transaction Security” means the Security created or expressed to be created in favour of the Security Agent (except under the Gabonese Law Security Agreement) pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

Transfer Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4 (Form of Transfer Certificate) or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Borrower;

 

Transfer Date” means, in relation to and assignment or a transfer, the later of:

 

 

(A)

the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate; and

 

 

(B)

the date on which the Facility Agent executes the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate;

 

UK Bail-In Legislation” means Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 and any other law or regulation applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings);

 

UK CRD IV” means:

 

 

(A)

Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (“CRR”) as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “Withdrawal Act”); and

 

 

(B)

the law of the United Kingdom or any part of it, which immediately before IP completion day (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020) implemented Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC and its implementing measures (“CRD”);

 

34

 

 

(C)

direct EU legislation (as defined in the Withdrawal Act), which immediately before IP completion day (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020) implemented EU CRD IV as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act; and

 

 

(D)

any law or regulation of the United Kingdom which introduces into domestic law of the United Kingdom a provision which is equivalent to a provision set out in CRR or CRD and/or implements Basel III standards;

 

Unitisation” means any unitisation or redetermination of, or affecting, any Borrowing Base Asset or any readjustment of an Obligor’s interests in any Borrowing Base Asset and/or the Hydrocarbon derived therefrom as a result of the pooling of production of that Borrowing Base Asset (or the relevant fields comprised therein) with that of another field or otherwise;

 

Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under the Finance Documents;

 

US” or “United States” means the United States of America, its territories and possessions;

 

USA Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 of the United States;

 

USD” or “US Dollar” means the lawful currency of the United States;

 

US Bankruptcy Law” means the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978 (Title 11 of the United States Code), any other United States federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law;

 

US Borrower” means a Borrower that is organized, incorporated or formed under the laws of the United States or any State thereof (including the District of Columbia);

 

US Guarantor” means a Guarantor that is organized, incorporated or formed under the laws of the United States or any State thereof (including the District of Columbia);

 

US Obligor” means a US Borrower or a US Guarantor;

 

US Tax Obligor” means:

 

 

(A)

the Borrower which is resident for tax purposes in the United States; or

 

 

(B)

an Obligor some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the United States for US federal income tax purposes;

 

US Withholding Tax Form” means whichever of the following is relevant (including in each case any successor form):

 

 

(A)

IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E,

 

 

(B)

IRS Form W-8IMY (with appropriate attachments),

 

 

(C)

IRS Form W-8ECI,

 

 

(D)

IRS Form W-8EXP,

 

 

(E)

IRS Form W-9,

 

35

 

 

(F)

in the case of a Lender relying on the so-called “portfolio interest exemption,” IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E and a certificate to the effect that such Lender is not (i) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) a “10 percent shareholder” of the relevant Obligor within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (iii) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, or

 

 

(G)

any other IRS form by which a person may claim complete exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, withholding (including backup withholding) of US federal income tax on interest and other payments to that person;

 

Utilisation” means a utilisation of the Facility;

 

Utilisation Date” means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made;

 

Utilisation Request” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 3 (Utilisation Requests) or in a form agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent;

 

Vaalco Gabon English Law Security Agreement” means an English law security agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between Vaalco Gabon and the Security Agent over Vaalco Gabon’s rights and interests in the Etame Operating Account (as such term is defined in the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement);

 

Vaalco Gabon NY Law Security Agreement” means the New York law security agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between Vaalco Gabon and the Security Agent in respect of the Offshore Proceeds Account;

 

VAT” means:

 

 

(A)

any value added tax imposed by the Value Added Tax Act 1994;

 

 

(B)

any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and

 

 

(C)

any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in the United Kingdom or in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (A) above, or imposed elsewhere; and

 

Write-down and Conversion Powers” means:

 

 

(A)

in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule;

 

 

(B)

in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation other than the UK Bail-In Legislation:

 

 

(i)

any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

 

36

 

 

(ii)

any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation; and

 

 

(C)

in relation to the UK Bail-In Legislation, any powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

1.2

Construction

 

 

(A)

Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to:

 

 

(i)

“this Agreement” shall be construed as a reference to the agreement or document in which such reference appears together with all recitals and Schedules thereto;

 

 

(ii)

a reference to “assets” includes properties, revenues and rights of every description;

 

 

(iii)

an “authorisation” or “consent” shall be construed as including any authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, permission, recording, notarisation, filing or registration;

 

 

(iv)

an “authorised officer” shall be construed, in relation to any Party, as a reference to a Director or other person duly authorised by such Party as notified by such Party to the Facility Agent as being authorised to sign any agreement, certificate or other document or to take any decision or action, as applicable. The provision of any certificate or the making of any certification by any authorised officer of an Obligor shall not create for that authorised officer any personal liability to the Finance Parties;

 

 

(v)

a “calendar year” is a reference to a period starting on (and including) 1 January and ending on (and including) the immediately following 31 December;

 

 

(vi)

a “certified copy” shall be construed as a reference to a copy of that document, certified by an authorised officer of the relevant Party delivering it to be a complete, accurate and up-to-date copy of the original document;

 

 

(vii)

a “clause” shall, subject to any contrary indication, be construed as a reference to a clause of the agreement or document in which such reference appears;

 

 

(viii)

“continuing” shall, in relation to any Default or Event of Default, be construed as meaning that such Default or Event of Default has not been remedied or waived;

 

37

 

 

(ix)

the “equivalent” on any given date in any currency (the “first currency”) of an amount denominated in another currency (the “second currency”) is a reference to the amount of the first currency which could be purchased with the amount of the second currency at the spot rate of exchange quoted by the Facility Agent in the normal course of business at or about 11.00 a.m. on such date for the purchase of the first currency with the second currency in the London foreign exchange markets for delivery on the second Business Day thereafter;

 

 

(x)

the “group” of any person, shall be construed as a reference to that person, its subsidiaries and any holding company of that person and all other subsidiaries of any such holding company, from time to time;

 

 

(xi)

a “holding company” of a company or corporation shall be construed as a reference to any company or corporation of which the first-mentioned company or corporation is a subsidiary;

 

 

(xii)

“include” or “including” shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation” or “but not limited to” whether or not they are followed by such phrase or words of like import;

 

 

(xiii)

a “month” or “Month” is a reference to a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next succeeding calendar month save that, where any such period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, it shall end on the next succeeding Business Day, unless that day falls in the calendar month succeeding that in which it would otherwise have ended, in which case it shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day provided that, if a period starts on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which that period ends, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that later month (and references to “months” and “Months” shall be construed accordingly);

 

 

(xiv)

a “person” shall be construed as a reference to any person, trust, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality) of two or more of the foregoing;

 

 

(xv)

a reference to a “regulation” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law but, if not having the force of law, being a regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline with which a prudent person carrying on the same or a similar business to an Obligor would comply) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;

 

 

(xvi)

a “right” shall be construed as including any right, title, interest, claim, remedy, discretion, power or privilege, in each case whether actual, contingent, present or future;

 

 

(xvii)

a “Schedule” shall, subject to any contrary indication, be construed as a reference to a schedule of the agreement or document in which such reference appears;

 

38

 

 

(xviii)

a “subsidiary” of a company or corporation means a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006 which shall be construed as a reference to any company or corporation:

 

 

(a)

which is controlled, directly or indirectly, by the first-mentioned company or corporation;

 

 

(b)

more than half the issued share capital of which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the first-mentioned company or corporation; or

 

 

(c)

which is a subsidiary of another subsidiary of the first-mentioned company or corporation,

 

and, for these purposes, a company or corporation shall be treated as being controlled by another if that other company or corporation is able to direct its affairs and/or to control the composition of its board of directors or equivalent body;

 

 

(xix)

the “winding-up”, “dissolution” or “administration” of a company or corporation shall be construed so as to include any equivalent or analogous proceedings under the law of the jurisdiction in which such company or corporation is incorporated or any jurisdiction in which such company or corporation carries on business including the seeking of liquidation, bankruptcy, winding-up, reorganisation, dissolution, administration, receivership, judicial custodianship, administrative receivership, arrangement, adjustment, protection or relief of debtors;

 

 

(xx)

a “year” is a reference to a period starting on one day in a month in a calendar year and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the same month in the next succeeding calendar year, save that, where any such period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, it shall end on the next succeeding Business Day, unless that day falls in the month succeeding that in which it would otherwise have ended, in which case it shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day; provided that, if a period starts on the last Business Day in a month, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that later month (and references to “years” shall be construed accordingly); and

 

 

(xxi)

a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended and re- enacted.

 

 

(B)

Any provision of Clause 8.2 (Illegality and Sanctions) and Clause 26.26 (Application of the Loans) shall not apply to or in favour of any Finance Party (other than any Finance Party which has notified the Facility Agent that the following carve-out shall not apply to it or any of its directors, officers or employees) or any director, officer or employee thereof, to the extent that such provisions would expose the Finance Party or any director, officer or employee thereof to liability under any applicable anti- boycott or blocking law, regulation or statute.

 

1.3

Interpretation

 

 

(A)

Words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.

 

 

(B)

Words indicating any gender shall include each other gender.

 

39

 

 

(C)

Unless a contrary indication appears, a reference used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document to:

 

 

(i)

any party or person shall be construed so as to include its and any subsequent successors, permitted transferees and permitted assigns in accordance with their respective interests;

 

 

(ii)

a “Finance Document” or a “Transaction Document” or any other agreement or instrument is (other than a reference to a “Finance Document”, “Transaction Document”, or any other agreement or instrument in “original form”) a reference to that Finance Document or Transaction Document, or other agreement or instrument, as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated; and

 

 

(iii)

a time of day shall, save as otherwise provided in any agreement or document, be construed as a reference to London time.

 

 

(D)

Section, Part, Clause and Schedule headings contained in, and any index or table of contents to, any agreement or document are for ease of reference only.

 

1.4

Third Party Rights

 

 

(A)

Any Hedging Counterparty may enforce the terms of Clause 19.2 (Withdrawals), Clause 23 (Guarantee and Indemnity) and Clause 40.2(C) (Exceptions) by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the “Third Parties Act”). This paragraph 1.4(A) confers a benefit on each such Hedging Counterparty, and, subject to the remaining provisions of this Clause 1.4, is intended to be enforceable by each Hedging Counterparty by virtue of the Third Parties Act.

 

 

(B)

Subject to paragraph (A) above, a person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Third Parties Act to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.

 

 

(C)

Notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, this Agreement may be rescinded or varied without the consent of any person who is not a Party hereto.

 

1.5

The Security Agent

 

 

(A)

The Security Agent has agreed to become party to this Agreement only for the purpose of taking the benefit of the contractual provisions expressed to be given for the benefit of the Security Agent and the better preservation of its rights on behalf of the Secured Creditors under the Security Documents. The Security Agent shall not assume any responsibility or liability for and of the obligations of any other party by entering into this Agreement.

 

 

(B)

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Security Agent is entering into this Agreement as Security Agent under the Intercreditor Agreement. As such, the Security Agent shall be entitled, in performing any of its duties under this Agreement, to all rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and limitations of liability provided to the Security Agent under the Intercreditor Agreement, which rights, privileges, protections, immunities and limitations are specifically incorporated herein by this reference therein.

 

40

 

1.6

Divisions

 

 

For all purposes under the Finance Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (A) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original person to the subsequent person and (B) if any new person comes into existence, such new person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its equity interests at such time.

 

41

 

Part 2

Conditions Precedent

 

2

Conditions Precedent

 

2.1

Conditions Precedent to first Utilisation

 

The  Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request unless the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably), or their delivery has otherwise been waived in accordance with Clause 2.3 (Waivers of Conditions Precedent). The Facility Agent (acting reasonably) shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.

 

2.2

Conditions Precedent to each Utilisation

 

The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 6.4 (Lenders participation) if, on the proposed Utilisation Date:

 

 

(A)

in the case of a Rollover Loan, no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan, and in the case of any other Utilisation, no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Utilisation;

 

 

(B)

the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor are, in the light of the facts and circumstances then existing, true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of a Repeating Representation that contains a materiality concept, true and correct in all respects);

 

 

(C)

the aggregate of:

 

 

(i)

the amount of the Utilisation proposed to be made on the proposed Utilisation Date; and

 

 

(ii)

the aggregate amount of all outstanding Utilisations on the proposed Utilisation Date less the aggregate amount of all outstanding Utilisations due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Utilisation Date,

 

does not exceed the Total Commitments applicable on such proposed Utilisation Date; and

 

 

(D)

the aggregate of:

 

 

(i)

the amount of the Utilisation proposed to be made on the proposed Utilisation Date; and

 

 

(ii)

the aggregate amount of all outstanding Utilisations on the proposed Utilisation Date less the amount of all outstanding Utilisations due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Utilisation Date,

 

does not exceed the Borrowing Base Amount applicable on such date.

 

2.3

Waivers of Conditions Precedent

 

 

(A)

The Facility Agent, acting in accordance with the instructions of the Lenders, may waive the requirement under Clause 2.1 (Conditions Precedent to first Utilisation) to deliver any one or more of the documents and other evidence listed in Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent).

 

42

 

 

(B)

Satisfaction of any of the conditions set out in Clause 2.2 (Conditions Precedent to each Utilisation) may be waived by the Facility Agent acting in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

 

(C)

Any waiver effected by the Facility Agent in accordance with this Clause shall be binding on all Parties.

 

 

(D)

For the avoidance of doubt, no Utilisation may be made under the Facility, until the Facility Agent has confirmed all relevant Conditions Precedent have been satisfied (acting reasonably) or waived in accordance with this Clause 2.

 

43

 

Part 3

Operation of the Facility

 

3

The Facility

 

3.1

The Facility

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a secured US Dollar revolving loan facility to be utilised by way of Loans on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement (the “Facility”) in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Commitments.

 

3.2

Additional Commitment

 

 

(A)

The Borrower may notify the Facility Agent (such notice being an “Additional Commitment Notice”) that it has agreed with any Lender or any other bank or financial institution (in each case, an “Additional Lender”) to increase the Total Commitments by the provision of additional commitments under the Facility (each such increase in commitments being an “Additional Commitment”), provided that:

 

 

(i)

the Additional Commitment Notice is delivered prior to the expiry of the Availability Period;

 

 

(ii)

the Additional Commitment Date (as defined below) takes place before the expiry of the Availability Period;

 

 

(iii)

the minimum amount of any Additional Commitment is not less than USD 5 million;

 

 

(iv)

the maximum aggregate amount of Additional Commitment (including all previous increases) does not exceed USD 50 million;

 

 

(v)

no Event of Default is continuing or would arise as a result of the provision of the Additional Commitment; and

 

 

(vi)

the terms of the Additional Commitment shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be treated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as the existing Commitments.

 

 

(B)

Each Additional Commitment Notice shall:

 

 

(i)

confirm that the requirements of paragraph 3.2(A) above are fulfilled; and

 

 

(ii)

specify the date upon which the Additional Commitment is anticipated to be made available to the Borrower (the “Additional Commitment Date”).

 

 

(C)

In the event that the Additional Lender is not a Party to this Agreement, the Borrower shall procure that each Additional Lender:

 

 

(i)

delivers a Lender Accession Notice duly completed and signed on behalf of the Additional Lender and specifying its Additional Commitment to the Facility Agent; and

 

 

(ii)

accedes to the Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement,

 

in each case, on or prior to the Additional Commitment Date.

 

44

 

 

(D)

Subject to the conditions in paragraphs (B) and (C) above being met, from the relevant Additional Commitment Date:

 

 

(i)

the Additional Lender shall make available the relevant Additional Commitment for Utilisation under the Facility in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (as amended);

 

 

(ii)

the Additional Commitment shall rank pari passu with respect to existing Commitments; and

 

 

(iii)

any necessary rebalancing of the Commitments and outstandings under the Facility and the Additional Commitment provided by the Additional Lender to ensure that they are pro rata (the “New Commitment Rebalancing”) will be made by the Borrower making utilisations from the Additional Commitment within five business days of the relevant Additional Commitment Date:

 

 

(a)

in priority to utilisations from Commitments under the Facility; or

 

 

(b)

to effect a prepayment under the Facility to the existing Lenders (which amount may be redrawn by the Borrower),

 

at the Borrower’s election, in each case to procure, as far as practicable, any New Commitment Rebalancing, following which all utilisations shall be made pro rata.

 

 

(E)

Each Additional Lender may only become a party to this Agreement (and be entitled to share in the Security created under the Security Documents in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents) if such Additional Lender simultaneously accedes to the Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

 

(F)

Each Party (other than the relevant Additional Lender) irrevocably authorises and instructs the Facility Agent to execute on its behalf any Lender Accession Notice which has been duly completed and signed on behalf of that proposed Additional Lender and each Party agrees to be bound by such accession. The Facility Agent will promptly sign any such Lender Accession Notice (and in any event within three Business Days of receipt).

 

 

(G)

The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Lender Accession Notice delivered to it by an Additional Lender once the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) has, to the extent that the necessary information is not already available to it, received all required information to comply with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the accession of such Additional Lender.

 

 

(H)

On the date that the Facility Agent executes a Lender Accession Notice:

 

 

(i)

the Additional Lender party to that Lender Accession Notice, each other Finance Party and the Obligors shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had that Additional Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of that accession and with the Commitment specified by it as its Additional Commitment; and

 

 

(ii)

that Additional Lender shall become a Party to this Agreement as a “Lender”.

 

45

 

 

(I)

If an Additional Commitment is put in place pursuant to this Clause 3.2, the Facility Agent shall promptly provide each Lender and the Borrower with a revised Facility Reduction Schedule which incorporates amendments to reflect the application of this Clause 3.2.

 

3.3

Obligors Agent

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor (other than the Parent) by its execution of this Agreement or an Obligor Accession Deed irrevocably appoints the Parent (acting through one or more authorised signatories) to act on its behalf as its agent in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises:

 

 

(i)

the Parent on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give all notices and instructions (including, in the case of the Borrower, Utilisation Requests), to execute on its behalf any Obligor Accession Deed, to make such agreements and to effect the relevant amendments, supplements and variations capable of being given, made or effected by any Obligor notwithstanding that they may affect the Obligor, without further reference to or the consent of that Obligor; and

 

 

(ii)

each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to that Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Parent,

 

and, in each case, the Obligor shall be bound as though the Obligor itself had given the notices and instructions (including, without limitation, any Utilisation Requests) or executed or made the agreements or effected the amendments, supplements or variations, or received the relevant notice, demand or other communication.

 

 

(B)

Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment, supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the Obligors’ Agent or given to the Obligors’ Agent under any Finance Document on behalf of another Obligor or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to any other Obligor and whether occurring before or after such other Obligor became an Obligor under any Finance Document) shall be binding for all purposes on that Obligor as if that Obligor had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Obligors’ Agent and any other Obligor, those of the Obligors’ Agent shall prevail.

 

3.4

Amendments to Facility Reduction Schedule

 

The Parties shall, acting reasonably, make such amendments as may be necessary to the Facility Reduction Schedule to reflect the increase in the Total Commitments pursuant to Clause 3.2 (Additional Commitment). Any Lender Accession Notice or accession in respect of the Intercreditor Agreement entered into, or any amendment to the Facility Reduction Schedule effected pursuant to Clause 3.2 (Additional Commitment) above, by the Facility Agent, the Additional Lender or the Borrower, shall be binding on all Parties.

 

4

Finance Parties Rights and Obligations

 

 

(A)

The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under any Finance Documents to which it is a Party does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

46

 

 

(B)

The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a Party are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt in respect of which a Finance Party shall be entitled to enforce its rights in accordance with paragraph (C) below. The rights of each Finance Party include any debt owing to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, any part of a Loan or any other amount owed by an Obligor which relates to a Finance Party’s participation in the Facility or its role under a Finance Document (including any such amount payable to the Facility Agent on its behalf) is a debt owing to that Finance Party by that Obligor.

 

 

(C)

A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents.

 

5

Purpose

 

5.1

Purpose

 

The Borrower shall apply all Loans borrowed by it under the Facility towards:

 

 

(A)

its general corporate purpose, including:

 

 

(i)

payment of any Financing Costs;

 

 

(ii)

refinancing maturing Loans; and

 

 

(iii)

payments to the Debt Service Reserve Account; and

 

 

(B)

on lending the proceeds of the Loans to Vaalco Gabon pursuant to the Shareholder Loan Agreement.

 

5.2

Monitoring

 

No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any Loan made pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

6

Utilisation

 

6.1

Delivery of a Utilisation Request

 

The Borrower may borrow a loan under the Facility by delivery to the Facility Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than 10.00 a.m. on the third Business Day (or such other date agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent) prior to the proposed Utilisation Date and the Facility Agent shall deliver such Utilisation Request to the Lenders on the Business Day of receipt of the same by it. For this purpose, if the Facility Agent receives the Utilisation Request on a day which is not a Business Day or after 10.00 a.m. on a Business Day, it will be treated as having received the Utilisation Request on the following Business Day.

 

6.2

Completion of a Utilisation Request

 

 

(A)

Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

 

47

 

 

(i)

the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period;

 

 

(ii)

the amount of the Utilisation complies with Clause 6.3 (Amount); and

 

 

(iii)

the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 10 (Interest Periods).

 

 

(B)

Only one Loan may be requested in each Utilisation Request and a maximum of two Utilisation Requests may be requested in any one month.

 

 

(C)

The Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request if as a result of the proposed Utilisation seven or more Loans would be outstanding.

 

6.3

Amount

 

The amount of any proposed Loan under the Facility shall be no less than USD 5,000,000 (or, in any event, such lesser amount as the Facility Agent may agree) or, if less, the Available Facility.

 

6.4

Lenders participation

 

 

(A)

If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender under the Facility shall make its participation in the relevant Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

 

(B)

The amount of a Lender’s participation in that Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Commitments under the Facility immediately prior to the making of the relevant Loan.

 

 

(C)

The Facility Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of each Loan under the Facility and the amount of its participation in each such Loan not less than three Business Days before the Utilisation Date.

 

 

(D)

A Business Day for the purposes of Clause 6 (Utilisation) shall mean a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) when banks are open for business in London and New York.

 

48

 

Part 4

Payments, Cancellation, Interest and Fees

 

7

Repayment

 

7.1

Repayment of the Facility

 

 

(A)

All Loans outstanding under the Facility will be repaid semi-annually on each Repayment Date, in accordance with the Facility Reduction Schedule to the extent necessary to ensure that the amount of Loans outstanding on the day after that Repayment Date does not exceed the Total Commitments at that time.

 

 

(B)

Any repayment made during the Availability Period may be reutilised in accordance with this Agreement, but no repayment may be redrawn after the expiry of the Availability Period.

 

 

(C)

Without prejudice to the Borrower’s obligation under paragraph (A) if:

 

 

(i)

one or more Loans are to be made available to the Borrower:

 

 

(a)

on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be repaid by it;

 

 

(b)

in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing Loan; and

 

 

(ii)

the proportion borne by each Lender’s participation in the maturing Loan to the amount of that maturing Loan is the same as the proportion borne by that Lender’s participation in the new Loans to the aggregate amount of those new Loans,

 

the aggregate amount of the new Loans shall, unless the Borrower notifies the Facility Agent to the contrary in the relevant Utilisation Request, be treated as if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Loan so that:

 

 

(A)

if the amount of the maturing Loan exceeds the aggregate amount of the new Loans:

 

 

(1)

the Borrower will only be required to make a payment under Clause 31.1 (Payments to the Facility Agent) in an amount in the relevant currency equal to that excess; and

 

 

(2)

each Lender’s participation in the new Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation in the maturing Loan and that Lender will not be required to make a payment under Clause 31.1 (Payments to the Facility Agent) in respect of its participation in the new Loans; and

 

 

(B)

if the amount of the maturing Loan is equal to or less than the aggregate amount of the new Loans:

 

 

(1)

the Borrower will not be required to make a payment under Clause 31.1 (Payments to the Facility Agent); and

 

49

 

 

(2)

each Lender will be required to make a payment under Clause 31.1 (Payments to the Facility Agent) in respect of its participation in the new Loans only to the extent that its participation in the new Loans exceeds that Lender’s participation in the maturing Loan and the remainder of that Lender’s participation in the new Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation in the maturing Loan.

 

7.2

Amendment to Facility Reduction Schedule

 

 

(A)

In the event that the Reserve Tail Date is earlier than the date falling five years after Financial Close, the Facility Reduction Schedule will be deemed to be amended so that:

 

 

(i)

the final Repayment Instalment for the Facility is to be paid on the Reserve Tail Date; and

 

 

(ii)

the Repayment Instalment payable on each Repayment Date shall be adjusted on a pro rata basis so as to ensure that all Loans under the Facility are fully repaid on the Reserve Tail Date.

 

 

(B)

If the Facility Reduction Schedule is deemed to be amended pursuant to this Clause 7.2, the Facility Agent shall promptly provide each Lender and the Borrower with a revised Facility Reduction Schedule which incorporates such amendments.

 

8

Prepayment and Cancellation

 

8.1

General

 

 

(A)

Unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, any part of the Facility which is prepaid or repaid may be reborrowed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

 

(B)

The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of the Utilisations or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

 

(C)

Any prepayment shall be made with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to Break Costs (excluding any Margin), without premium or penalty.

 

8.2

Illegality and Sanctions

 

 

(A)

If it becomes unlawful (including as a result of any Sanctions) in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender (an “Illegality Lender”) to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by the Finance Documents, or to fund or maintain its participation in any Utilisation or it becomes unlawful for any Affiliate of a Lender for that Lender to do so:

 

 

(i)

that Lender shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event;

 

 

(ii)

upon the Facility Agent notifying the Borrower, the Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and

 

 

(iii)

the Borrower shall either:

 

 

(a)

if the Lender so requires, repay that Lender’s participation in the Utilisations made to the Borrower on the last day of the Interest Period for each Utilisation occurring after the Facility Agent has notified the Borrower or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Facility Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law); or

 

50

 

 

(b)

replace that Lender in accordance with Clause 8.9(B) (Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender) on or before the first date applicable under paragraph (a) above in respect of which a payment is due and payable.

 

 

(B)

If it becomes unlawful (including as a result of any Sanctions) in any applicable jurisdiction for the Borrower to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by the Finance Documents:

 

 

(i)

the Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event;

 

 

(ii)

the Facility Agent shall notify the Lenders; and

 

 

(iii)

the Borrower shall repay each Utilisation made to it on the last day of the Interest Period for that Utilisation occurring after the Facility Agent have notified the Lenders or, if earlier, the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law.

 

8.3

Aggregate of Loans outstanding exceed the Borrowing Base Amount

 

In the event that on a Forecast Date, a Forecast (other than in respect of a Disposal Forecast Date) shows that the aggregate amount of the Loans outstanding under the Facility on the relevant Forecast Date exceeds the Borrowing Base Amount as determined in such Forecast (the “New Applicable Borrowing Base Amount”), the Borrower shall, within 10 Business Days of the relevant Forecast Date provide to the Facility Agent a remedy plan demonstrating that the amount of any repayment required will be made on or before the date falling 30 days after that Forecast Date (the “Remedy End Date”) and (in addition to the payment of Repayment Instalments under the Facility Reduction Schedule), make an additional mandatory repayment of the Loans as necessary to ensure that the aggregate amount of the Loans outstanding under the Facility does not, at the Remedy End Date, exceed the New Applicable Borrowing Base Amount.

 

8.4

Permitted disposals

 

If on the Disposal Forecast Date relating to the disposal of a Borrowing Base Asset as a Permitted Disposal, the Forecast shows that the aggregate amount of the Loan outstanding under the Facility on that Disposal Forecast Date exceeds the Borrowing Base Amount as determined by that Disposal Forecast Date, the Borrower shall, to the extent required, apply the net amount of proceeds that it (or an Obligor) has received from such Permitted Disposal in prepayment of the Loans to ensure that the amount of Loans outstanding after that payment does not exceed the Borrowing Base Amount on that applicable Disposal Forecast Date.

 

8.5

Change of Control

 

 

(A)

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control:

 

 

(i)

the relevant Obligor shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of the occurrence of that event; and

 

51

 

 

(ii)

if the Majority Lenders so require, the Facility Agent shall, on not less than 30 days’ written notice to the Borrower, cancel the Commitments and the Borrower shall repay each Lender’s participation in any Utilisations on the last day of the then-current period under the Facility, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents.

 

 

(B)

For the purposes of paragraph (A) above, a “Change of Control” means any person (or persons with whom they act in concert) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50 per cent. of the ordinary share capital in any Obligor carrying a right to vote in general meetings of that company.

 

8.6

Automatic Cancellation

 

At the close of business in London on the last Business Day of the Availability Period for the Facility, the undrawn Commitment of each Lender under the Facility at that time shall be automatically cancelled.

 

8.7

Voluntary Cancellation

 

 

(A)

The Borrower may, by giving not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice to the Facility Agent, without penalty, cancel the undrawn Commitments under any Facility in whole or in part (but if in part, in a minimum amount of USD 5,000,000 or, if less, the balance of the undrawn Commitments). The relevant Commitments in respect of the Facility will be cancelled on a date specified in such notice, being a date not earlier than 5 Business Days (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) after the relevant notice is received by that Facility Agent.

 

 

(B)

Any notice of cancellation will be irrevocable and will specify the date on which the cancellation shall take effect. Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no part of any Commitment which has been cancelled or which is the subject of a notice of cancellation may subsequently be reinstated.

 

 

(C)

When any cancellation of Commitments under the Facility takes effect, each Lender’s Available Commitment under the Facility will be reduced by an amount which bears the same proportion to the total amount being cancelled as its Available Commitment under the Facility bears to the Available Commitment (at that time) under the Facility.

 

8.8

Voluntary Prepayment of Loans

 

 

(A)

Subject to Clause 8.1 (General), a Loan may be prepaid whether in whole or in part (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the amount of that Loan by a minimum amount of USD 5,000,000) by the Borrower without penalty upon 5 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Facility Agent.

 

 

(B)

Any notice of prepayment will be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, will specify the date on which the prepayment shall take effect. Any amount prepaid or repaid may not be redrawn if such prepayment or repayment and Utilisation occurs after the expiry of the Availability Period.

 

 

(C)

Prepayment shall take effect:

 

 

(i)

on the last day of the then-current Interest Period; or

 

52

 

 

(ii)

on any other date subject to payment by the Borrower, on demand of Break Costs (if any), in accordance with Clause 11.4 (Break Costs).

 

 

(D)

Unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, when any prepayment of the whole or part of a Loan takes place, each Lender’s participation in the relevant Loan shall be reduced rateably.

 

8.9

Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender

 

 

(A)

If:

 

 

(i)

the Borrower reasonably believes that the sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under Clause 13.2 (Tax gross-up);

 

 

(ii)

the Borrower receives a notice from the Facility Agent under Clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity) or Clause 14 (Increased Costs);

 

 

(iii)

any Lender is or becomes a Non-Funding Lender; or

 

 

(iv)

any Lender is or becomes entitled to increase its rate of interest further to Clause 11.2 (Market disruption),

 

the Borrower may, while (in the case of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above) the circumstance giving rise to the belief or notice continues or (in the case of paragraph (iii) or (iv) above) the relevant circumstance continues:

 

 

(a)

give the Facility Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender’s participation in the Utilisations;

 

 

(b)

in the case of a Non-Funding Lender or Illegality Lender, give the Facility Agent notice of cancellation of the Available Commitment of that Lender in relation to the Facility and reinstate all or part of such Available Commitment in accordance with paragraph (B) below; or

 

 

(c)

replace that Lender in accordance with paragraph (B) below.

 

 

(B)

The Borrower may:

 

 

(i)

in the circumstances set out in paragraph (A) above, Clause 8.1 (General) or Clause 8.2 (Illegality and Sanctions) or Clause 8.5(A)(ii) (Change of Control), replace an Existing Lender (as defined in Clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders)), with one or more other Lenders (which need not be Existing Lenders) (each a “Replacement Lender”), which have agreed to purchase all or part of the Commitment and participations of that Existing Lender in Utilisations made to the Borrower pursuant to an assignment or transfer in accordance with the provisions of Clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders); or

 

 

(ii)

in the circumstances set out in paragraph (A)(iv)(a) above, cancel the Available Commitments of the Non-Funding Lender or Illegality Lender in respect of the Facility and procure that one or more Replacement Lenders assume Commitments under the Facility in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Available Commitment of the relevant Non-Funding Lender or Illegality Lender in relation to the Facility,

 

in each case on condition that:

 

53

 

 

(a)

each assignment or transfer under this paragraph (B) shall be arranged by the Borrower (with such reasonable assistance from the Existing Lender as the Borrower may reasonably request); and

 

 

(b)

no assignment or transfer made by an Existing Lender pursuant to this paragraph (B) will be effective unless and until:

 

 

(1)

it has received payment from the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders in an aggregate amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of the participations in the Utilisations owing to the Existing Lender, together with accrued and unpaid interest (to the extent that the Facility Agent has not given a notification under Clause 28.10 (Pro rata interest settlement)) and fees (including, without limitation, any Break Costs to the date of payment) and all other amounts payable to the Existing Lender under this Agreement; and

 

 

(2)

it has completed to its satisfaction, all the requirements under Clause 22.12 (“Know your customer and customer due diligence requirements) in respect of the Replacement Lender.

 

 

(C)

On receipt of a notice from the Borrower referred to in paragraph (A) above, the Commitment of the relevant Existing Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

 

(D)

On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Borrower has given notice under paragraph (A) above (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in that notice), the Borrower shall repay the relevant Existing Lender’s participation in the relevant Utilisation.

 

 

(E)

Paragraphs (A) and (B) do not in any way limit the obligations of any Finance Party under Clause 16.1 (Mitigation).

 

8.10

Updating of the Facility Reduction Schedule

 

If a repayment of the Facility or cancellation of Commitments is made pursuant to this Clause 8, the Facility Agent shall promptly provide each Lender and the Borrower with a revised Facility Reduction Schedule reflecting such repayment or cancellation.

 

9

Interest

 

9.1

Calculation of interest

 

The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:

 

 

(A)

Margin; and

 

 

(B)

LIBOR.

 

54

 

9.2

Margin

 

The Margin applicable to a Loan shall be a percentage per annum as follows:

 

Period

 

Applicable Margin

 

From (and including) the date of this Agreement to (and excluding) the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement

    6.00  

From (and including) the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement to (and including) the Final Maturity Date

    6.25  

 

9.3

Payment of interest

 

The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than six months, on the dates falling at six-monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).

 

9.4

Default interest

 

 

(A)

If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (B) below, is 2.0 per cent higher than the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Facility Agent.

 

 

(B)

If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan:

 

 

(i)

the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and

 

 

(ii)

the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be 2.0 per cent higher than the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due.

 

 

(C)

Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable.

 

9.5

Notification of rates of interest

 

The Facility Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Lenders and the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.

 

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9.6

Interest Rate Limitation

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Utilisation by a US Borrower, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Utilisation under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Utilisation in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Utilisation, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Utilisation but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Clause 9.6 shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Utilisation or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the rate otherwise applicable to Utilisations at such time (to the extent permitted by applicable law and not to exceed the Maximum Rate) to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender. Any amount collected by such Lender that exceeds the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate shall be applied to the reduction of the principal balance of such Utilisation or refunded to the Borrower so that at no time shall the interest and charges paid or payable in respect of such Utilisation exceed the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate.

 

10

Interest Periods

 

10.1

Selection of Interest Periods

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan.

 

 

(B)

Subject to this Clause, the Borrower may select an Interest Period of one, three or six months or such other period as may be agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent (acting on behalf of the Majority Lenders).

 

 

(C)

No Interest Period for a Loan under the Facility shall extend beyond the Final Maturity Date.

 

 

(D)

The first Interest Period of each Loan shall commence on the Utilisation Date. .

 

10.2

Changes to Interest Periods

 

 

(A)

Prior to determining the interest rate for a Loan, the Facility Agent may shorten the Interest Period for any Loan to ensure that there are sufficient Loans which have an Interest Period ending on a Forecast Date for any scheduled reduction to occur.

 

 

(B)

If the Facility Agent makes any of the changes to an Interest Period referred to in this Clause 10.2, it shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

10.3

Non-Business Days

 

If an Interest Period ends on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day, unless the next Business Day is in another month, in which case the Interest Period will end on the preceding Business Day.

 

10.4

Consolidation and division of Loans

 

 

(A)

Subject to paragraph (B) below, if two or more Interest Periods for Loans under the Facility end on the same date, those Loans will, if so specified by the Borrower in the Utilisation Request or in a notice to the Facility Agent, be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan under the Facility on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

 

(B)

If the Borrower requests (in either a Utilisation Request or otherwise in a notice to the Facility Agent) that a Loan be divided into two or more Loans, that Loan will, on the last day of its Interest Period, be so divided into the amounts specified in such request, being an aggregate amount equal to the amount of the Loan immediately before its division.

 

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11

Changes to the Calculation of Interest

 

11.1

Absence of quotations

 

Subject to Clause 11.2 (Market disruption), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of any other Reference Bank.

 

11.2

Market disruption

 

 

(A)

If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

 

(i)

the Margin; and

 

 

(ii)

the rate notified to the Facility Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select.

 

 

(B)

In this Agreement “Market Disruption Event” means if, on or about noon in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Facility Agent to determine LIBOR for the Interest Period, or the Facility Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations exceed 35 per cent in aggregate of all participations) that the cost to it of obtaining matching deposits in the London interbank market would be materially in excess of LIBOR.

 

 

(C)

The Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower immediately upon receiving notice from the Lender(s).

 

11.3

Alternative basis of interest or funding

 

 

(A)

If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Facility Agent or the Borrower so requires, the Facility Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.

 

 

(B)

Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (A) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrower, be binding on all Parties.

 

11.4

Break Costs

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by it on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.

 

57

 

 

(B)

Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue.

 

 

(C)

If, following a payment by the Borrower of all or part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum, a Lender realises a profit, and no Event of Default is continuing, that Lender will pay an amount equal to that profit to the Borrower as soon as practicable.

 

12

Fees

 

12.1

Commitment fee

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent for the account of each Lender a fee computed as follows:

 

 

(i)

35 per cent per annum of the applicable Margin on the daily amount (if any) by which the lower of the Total Commitments and the Borrowing Base Amount exceeds the amount of all outstanding Utilisations; and

 

 

(ii)

20 per cent per annum of the applicable Margin on the daily amount (if any) by which the Total Commitments exceed the Borrowing Base Amount.

 

 

(B)

The accrued commitment fee is payable quarterly (on each of 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December) in arrears on any undrawn and uncancelled portion of the Commitments for the period from the date of the Financial Close until and including the last day of the Availability Period.

 

 

(C)

No commitment fee is payable to the Facility Agent (for the account of a Lender) on any Available Commitment of that Lender for any day on which that Lender is a Non- Funding Lender.

 

12.2

Upfront fee

 

The Borrower shall pay to each Original Lender, an upfront fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

12.3

Arrangement fee

 

The Borrower shall pay to the Mandated Lead Arranger (for its own account) an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

12.4

Security Agent fees

 

The Borrower shall pay to the Security Agent (for its own account) the fees set out in the Security Agent fee proposal dated 21 March 2022 (and countersigned by the Borrower on 22 March 2022) in the amount and at the times agreed therein.

 

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Part 5

Taxes, Increased Costs and Indemnities

 

13

Tax Gross-Up and Indemnities

 

13.1

Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

“Tax Credit” means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax;

 

“Tax Deduction” means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document, other than a FATCA Deduction; and

 

“Tax Payment” means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under Clause 13.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under Clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity).

 

13.2

Tax gross-up

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.

 

 

(B)

The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor has to make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Facility Agent accordingly.

 

 

(C)

If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required.

 

 

(D)

If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law.

 

 

(E)

Within 30 days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party (acting reasonably) that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.

 

 

(F)

If an Obligor makes any payment to a Finance Party in respect of or relating to a Tax Deduction, but such Obligor was not obliged to make such payment, the relevant Finance Party shall within five Business Days of demand refund such payment to such Obligor.

 

 

(G)

A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (C) above by reason of a Tax imposed by the United States if, on the date the payment falls due:

 

 

(i)

a Tax Deduction is required to be made in respect of any payment under or in connection with a Loan to the Borrower for US federal withholding Tax except (a) to the extent any such Tax Deduction is required as a result of a change in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority binding on such Lender after the date on which it became a Lender under this Agreement or (b) to the extent any such increased amounts were payable to such Lender’s assignor immediately before the Lender became a party hereto pursuant to paragraph (A) above; or

 

59

 

 

(ii)

that Lender has not complied with its obligations under Clause 13.9 (US Withholding Tax Forms).

 

13.3

Tax Indemnity

 

 

(A)

Except as provided below, the Borrower shall (within five Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent) indemnify a Finance Party against any loss, liability or cost which that Finance Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly), suffered by that Finance Party for or on account of Tax by that Finance Party in respect of a Finance Document.

 

 

(B)

Paragraph (A) above shall not apply:

 

 

(i)

with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party under the law of the jurisdiction in which:

 

 

(a)

that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or

 

 

(b)

that Finance Party’s Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction; or

 

 

(c)

that Finance Party otherwise has a present or prior connection (other than connections arising from such Lender having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Finance Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Finance Document), 

 

if in any such case that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party or that Finance Party’s Facility Office, or is a branch profits tax; or

 

 

(ii)

to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 13.2 (Tax gross-up) or would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 13.2 (Tax gross- up) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in paragraph (G) of Clause 13.2 (Tax gross-up) applied; or

 

 

(iii)

to the extent a loss, liability or cost relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party.

 

 

(C)

A Finance Party making or intending to make a claim under paragraph (A) above shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall provide to the Borrower a copy of the notification by such Finance Party.

 

 

(D)

A Finance Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this Clause, notify the Facility Agent.

 

60

 

13.4

Tax Credit

 

 

(A)

If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that:

 

 

(i)

a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, or to a Tax Deduction in consequence of which that Tax Payment was required; and

 

 

(ii)

that Finance Party has obtained and utilised that Tax Credit,

 

the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party reasonably determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by an Obligor.

 

 

(B)

Nothing in this Clause will:

 

 

(i)

interfere with the rights of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit; or

 

 

(ii)

oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its Tax affairs or computations.

 

13.5

Stamp Taxes

 

The Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, pay and indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document other than (except in the case of the Security Agent) in respect of any sub-participation, transfer, novation or assignment by any Finance Party of all or any part of its interest or rights in a Loan or a Finance Document or any breach by any Finance Party of the terms of Clause 26.24 (Lenders custody of documents).

 

13.6

Value added tax

 

 

(A)

All consideration expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT. If VAT is chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party in connection with a Finance Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT against delivery of an appropriate VAT invoice.

 

 

(B)

Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse a Finance Party for any costs or expenses, that obligation shall be deemed to extend to all VAT incurred by the Finance Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the extent that the Finance Party reasonably determines that neither the Finance Party nor any other member of any VAT group of which it is a member is entitled to credit or repayment of the VAT.

 

13.7

FATCA Information

 

 

(A)

Subject to paragraph (C) below, each Party shall, within 10 Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:

 

 

(i)

confirm to that other Party whether it is:

 

61

 

 

(a)

a FATCA Exempt Party; or

 

 

(b)

not a FATCA Exempt Party;

 

 

(ii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA; and

 

 

(iii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime.

 

 

(B)

If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (A)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly.

 

 

(C)

Paragraph (A) above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and paragraph (A)(iii) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

 

 

(i)

any law or regulation;

 

 

(ii)

any fiduciary duty; or

 

 

(iii)

any duty of confidentiality.

 

 

(D)

If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (A)(i) or (A)(ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (C) above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.

 

 

(E)

If the Borrower is a US Tax Obligor or the Facility Agent reasonably believes that its obligations under FATCA or any other applicable law or regulation require it, each Lender shall, within 10 Business Days of:

 

 

(i)

where the Borrower is a US Tax Obligor and the relevant Lender is an Original Lender, the date of this Agreement;

 

 

(ii)

where the Borrower is a US Tax Obligor on a Transfer Date and the relevant Lender is a New Lender, the relevant Transfer Date;

 

 

(iii)

the date a new US Tax Obligor accedes as the Borrower; or

 

 

(iv)

where the Borrower is not a US Tax Obligor, the date of a request from the Facility Agent,

 

supply to the Facility Agent:

 

 

(a)

a withholding certificate on IRS Form W-8, IRS Form W-9 or any other relevant form; or

 

62

 

 

(b)

any withholding statement or other document, authorisation or waiver as the Facility Agent may require to certify or establish the status of such Lender under FATCA or that other law or regulation.

 

 

(F)

The Facility Agent shall provide any withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver it receives from a Lender pursuant to paragraph (E) above to the Borrower.

 

 

(G)

If any withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver provided to the Facility Agent by a Lender pursuant to paragraph (E) above is or becomes materially inaccurate or incomplete, that Lender shall promptly update it and provide such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver to the Facility Agent unless it is unlawful for the Lender to do so (in which case the Lender shall promptly notify the Facility Agent). The Facility Agent shall provide any such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, documentation, authorisation or waiver to the Borrower.

 

 

(H)

The Facility Agent may rely on any withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver it receives from a Lender pursuant to paragraph (E) or (G) above without further verification. The Facility Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with paragraph (E), (F) or (G) above.

 

13.8

FATCA Deduction

 

 

(A)

Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.

 

 

(B)

Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it has to make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), and in any case at least three Business Days prior to making a FATCA Deduction, notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, on or prior to the day on which it notifies that Party, shall also notify the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the other Finance Parties.

 

13.9

US Withholding Tax Forms

 

Any Finance Party that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Finance Document shall deliver to the Borrower, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, each Finance Party, if reasonably requested by the Borrower, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will enable the Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Without limiting the foregoing, on or prior to the date on which a Lender or Agent to a US Borrower becomes a Party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter) upon the request of such Borrower or the Agent, as applicable, or on the invalidity or obsolescence of any previously delivered US Withholding Tax Form, such Lender or Agent shall provide to each such Borrower and Agent, as applicable, two (2) copies of properly completed US Withholding Tax Forms. However, no Lender or Agent shall be required to submit any US Withholding Tax Form or other documentation requested by the Borrower if that Lender or Agent is not legally entitled to do so (in which case that Lender or Agent shall notify the relevant Borrower in writing of its inability to do so).

 

63

 

14

Increased Costs

 

14.1

Increased costs

 

 

(A)

Subject to Clause 14.3 (Exceptions) the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of a demand by the Facility Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application by any governmental body or regulatory Authority of) any law or regulation (whether or not having the force of law, but if not, being of a type with which that Finance Party or Affiliate is expected or required to comply), or as a result of the implementation or application of, or compliance with, Basel III, CRD IV, if applicable, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), or any law or regulation that implements or applies Basel III, CRD IV, or the Dodd-Frank Act.

 

 

(B)

In this Agreement “Increased Costs” means:

 

 

(i)

a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) overall capital;

 

 

(ii)

an additional or increased cost; or

 

 

(iii)

a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document,

 

which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.

 

14.2

Increased cost claims

 

 

(A)

A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 14.1 (Increased costs) shall notify the Facility Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower.

 

 

(B)

Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.

 

14.3

Exceptions

 

 

(A)

Clause 14.1 (Increased costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

 

 

(i)

attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor provided that this Clause is without prejudice to any rights which the affected Lender may have under Clause 13.2 (Tax gross-up) to receive a grossed-up payment;

 

 

(ii)

compensated for by Clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity) (or would have been so compensated for under Clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in paragraph (B) of Clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity) applied);

 

64

 

 

(iii)

attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or any of its Affiliates of any law or regulation; or

 

 

(iv)

attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with the “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 in the form existing on 22 February 2018 (but excluding any amendment contained in Basel III) (“Basel II”) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates).

 

 

(B)

In this Clause 14.3, a reference to a “Tax Deduction” has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 13.1 (Definitions).

 

15

Other Indemnities

 

15.1

Currency indemnity

 

 

(A)

If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a “Sum”), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the “First Currency”) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the “Second Currency”) for the purpose of:

 

 

(i)

making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or

 

 

(ii)

obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,

 

that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within five Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (a) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (b) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.

 

 

(B)

Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

15.2

Other indemnities

 

Each Obligor shall, within five Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:

 

 

(A)

the occurrence of any Event of Default;

 

 

(B)

a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date;

 

 

(C)

funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Utilisation requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); and

 

65

 

 

(D)

a Utilisation (or part of a Utilisation) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower.

 

15.3

Indemnity to the Agents

 

Each Obligor shall promptly on demand, indemnify each Agent against:

 

 

(A)

any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:

 

 

(i)

in relation to the Facility Agent, investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default;

 

 

(ii)

acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised by an Obligor; or

 

 

(iii)

instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement; and

 

 

(B)

any cost, loss or liability (including for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by that Agent (otherwise than by reason of that Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 31.10 (Disruption to Payment Systems etc.) notwithstanding the relevant Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the relevant Agent) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

16

Mitigation by the Finance Parties

 

16.1

Mitigation

 

 

(A)

Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrower, use all reasonable endeavours to mitigate or remove any circumstances which arise and which would result in any facility ceasing to be available or any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 8.2 (Illegality and Sanctions), Clause 13.2 (Tax gross-up) or Clause 14.1 (Increased costs) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.

 

 

(B)

Paragraph (A) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents.

 

 

(C)

Each Finance Party shall notify the Facility Agent as soon as it becomes aware that any circumstances of the kind described in paragraph (A) above have arisen or may arise. The Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower promptly of any such notification from a Finance Party.

 

16.2

Limitation of liability

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 16.1 (Mitigation).

 

 

(B)

A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 16.1 (Mitigation) if, in the bona fide opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might in any way be prejudicial to it.

 

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Part 6

Forecasts and Calculations and Borrowing Base Amount

 

17

Forecasts and Calculations

 

17.1

[*****]

 

 

(A)

[*****]

 

 

(i)

[*****]

 

 

(ii)

[*****]

 

 

(B)

[*****]

 

 

(i)

[*****]

 

 

(ii)

[*****]

 

[*****]

 

17.2

Adoption

 

 

(A)

Until the adoption of a new Forecast in accordance with this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations) the Initial Forecast shall be the current Forecast for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

 

(B)

Subject to paragraph (D) below, any subsequent Forecast shall be prepared in accordance with this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations) with the intention of it being adopted as of each subsequent Forecast Date.

 

 

(C)

As soon as reasonably practicable following any Forecast Request, the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank (each, acting reasonably and in consultation with the Borrower) shall determine and notify the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the Lenders of the date as of which such new Forecast is to be adopted.

 

 

(D)

If any Forecast is adopted not more than two Months prior to any Forecast Date, or is in preparation not more than two Months prior to any Forecast Date with the intention of adopting the same by that Forecast Date, the Forecast that was scheduled to be prepared pursuant to paragraph (B) above for adoption by that Forecast Date shall not be prepared.

 

 

(E)

No Hydrocarbon asset may be designated as a Borrowing Base Asset unless:

 

 

(i)

other than the Field, the Financial Close has occurred;

 

 

(ii)

the Borrower has submitted a request to the Facility Agent for that Hydrocarbon asset to be designated as a Borrowing Base Asset;

 

 

(iii)

a new Forecast is adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations) in connection therewith; and

 

 

(iv)

the Majority Lenders have approved, or are deemed to have approved pursuant to paragraph (D) of Clause 17.7 (Consideration of Draft Forecast by Lenders), of the designation of one or more Hydrocarbon assets as a Borrowing Base Asset in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations).

 

67

 

 

(F)

No Borrowing Base Asset may cease to be designated as such unless:

 

 

(i)

the Borrower has submitted a request to the Facility Agent for that Borrowing Base Asset to cease to be designated as such;

 

 

(ii)

a new Forecast is adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations) in connection therewith; and

 

 

(iii)

the Majority Lenders have approved, or are deemed to have approved pursuant to paragraph (D) of Clause 17.7 (Consideration of Draft Forecast by Lenders), of the relevant Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be designated as such, in each case, in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations); and

 

 

(iv)

the Borrower has delivered an updated Group Cash Flow Projection which demonstrates that there will be no failure to comply with the Group Liquidity Test as a result of such Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be designated as such.

 

 

(G)

If, for any reason, a Forecast is not adopted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on the applicable Forecast Date, the then-current Forecast shall continue to apply until the new Forecast is prepared and agreed in accordance with this Clause 17.

 

17.3

Content

 

 

(A)

Each Forecast and draft Forecast prepared pursuant to this Clause 17 shall:

 

 

(i)

be prepared using the Computer Model;

 

 

(ii)

be in a form similar to the Initial Forecast (or such other form as the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank (each, acting reasonably) may approve) and include the same type of information (and in the same level of detail) as that included in the Initial Forecast;

 

 

(iii)

be prepared on the basis of the Forecast Assumptions that are proposed, approved, agreed and/or determined in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations);

 

 

(iv)

include details of all the Forecast Assumptions on which it is based;

 

 

(v)

without prejudice to Clause 17.3(A)(ii) above, include;

 

 

(a)

details of all the Forecast Assumptions on which it is based;

 

 

(b)

the Net Revenues for each Calculation Period ending on or before the Field Depletion Date determined on the basis of the Forecast Assumptions;

 

 

(c)

the Field Life Net Cash Flow relating to each Calculation Period ending on or before the Field Depletion Date;

 

 

(d)

the Loan Life Net Cash Flow relating to each Calculation Period ending on or before the Final Maturity Date;

 

68

 

 

(e)

the DSCR relating to each Calculation Period commencing on or before the Final Maturity Date;

 

 

(f)

the Borrowing Base Amount relating to each Calculation Period ending on or before the Final Maturity Date;

 

 

(g)

the Capex Add-Back Amount relating to each Calculation Period ending on or before the Field Depletion Date; and

 

 

(h)

the Reserve Tail Date;

 

 

(vi)

include calculations that are denominated in Dollars; and

 

 

(vii)

such other information as the Technical Bank or the Facility Agent may reasonably require.

 

 

(B)

Each Forecast shall include data, forecasts and calculations for:

 

 

(i)

the Calculation Period which commences on the day after the Forecast Date on which that Forecast is due to be adopted or (if the Forecast Date on which that Forecast is due to be adopted does not coincide with the last day of a Calculation Period) the Calculation Period in which that Forecast Date occurs or such other Calculation Period as the Borrower and the Modelling Bank (acting reasonably) may select; and

 

 

(ii)

each subsequent Calculation Period.

 

17.4

Key Principles

 

In proposing, agreeing and/or determining Forecast Assumptions, preparing and/or approving any Forecast or draft Forecast and otherwise in carrying out their obligations and exercising their rights under this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations), the Parties shall comply with the following principles:

 

 

(A)

each Forecast shall disregard any Gross Revenues or Royalty Payments relating to any Borrowing Base Asset which is projected to arise after the Field Depletion Date for that Borrowing Base Asset other than abandonment costs relating to such Borrowing Base Asset;

 

 

(B)

each Forecast shall be based on the most recent Reserves Report (updated for actual Field performance as necessary) and:

 

 

(i)

the 2P Reserves of each Borrowing Base Asset where:

 

 

(a)

the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank (each, acting reasonably on the advice of the Independent Engineer, if appointed) is satisfied that this Borrowing Base Asset has demonstrated a history of production at a satisfactory level for a period of at least six continuous months; and

 

 

(b)

the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank (each, acting reasonably) are satisfied that such historic production confirms the 2P Reserves shown in the then-current Reserves Report; and

 

 

(ii)

the 1P Reserves of any other Borrowing Base Asset,

 

and, in either case, such other reserves profiles basis as may be agreed between the Technical Bank and the Borrower and approved by the Majority Lenders, risk adjusted in such manner as may be determined by the Technical Bank (acting reasonably) to reflect, amongst other things, Field and export specific issues as well as historic sustainable production rates;

 

69

 

 

(C)

each Forecast shall, in projecting Hydrocarbon prices, take due account of the terms of all contracted prices and any Hedging Agreement or Derivative Agreement (without duplication):

 

 

(i)

that has been entered into by an Obligor;

 

 

(ii)

provided that projected receipts from Derivative Agreements or any Hedging Agreement will only be taken into account where the Derivative Agreement or Hedging Agreement has been entered into with either (i) Glencore Commodities Limited or (ii) a hedge counterparty that meets the minimum hedging rating criteria or whose obligations under such Hedging Agreement are guaranteed upon terms satisfactory to the Facility Agent by a person that meets the minimum hedging rating criteria; and

 

 

(iii)

over which the Secured Creditors have, or Security Agent (in its capacity as such) has, Security pursuant to a Security Document,

 

where, for these purposes, “minimum hedging rating criteria” means, at the time the Hedging Agreement or Derivative Agreement is or was entered into, its long-term unguaranteed, unsecured securities or debt has a rating of at least BBB- from Standard & Poor’s or Baa3 from Moody’s, or an equivalent rating from any other internationally recognised credit rating agency acceptable to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably);

 

 

(D)

any proceeds of any Insurances paid or payable in respect of any Borrowing Base Asset shall only be included as an item of Gross Revenues to the extent that:

 

 

(i)

the relevant Obligor can demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Technical Bank that such proceeds will be received when projected; and

 

 

(ii)

such proceeds are not paid or payable in respect of any third party liability (other than to the extent that the associated third party liability has already been paid by or on behalf of the relevant Obligor);

 

 

(E)

all figures for Taxes included in any Forecast shall be based on tax legislation in force on the relevant Forecast Date on which that Forecast is due to be adopted and on any official announcements or publications in force as at such date stating that such legislation is to be altered, supplemented or replaced in whole or in part; and

 

 

(F)

reserves and cash flow associated with reserves shall be disregarded to the extent that the Technical Bank concludes (acting reasonably) that, whether by reason of non-payment or material delay in payment (of at least 180 days) by any offtakers, the imposition of exchange controls or otherwise, the relevant cash flows may not be received and be available to meet the debt service.

 

17.5

Preparatory Steps

 

 

(A)

By the date falling 40 Business Days before a Scheduled Forecast Date or, in relation to any Forecast Request, such other date as the Technical Bank may specify:

 

 

(i)

the Technical Bank shall submit to the Borrower its proposals for the Economic Assumptions; and

 

70

 

 

(ii)

the Borrower shall submit to the Technical Bank its proposals for the Technical Assumptions.

 

 

(B)

Each of the Technical Bank and the Borrower shall:

 

 

(i)

consult in good faith and act reasonably; and

 

 

(ii)

make available sufficiently experienced personnel,

 

with a view to reaching agreement as soon as reasonably practicable but no later than the time period set out in paragraph (C) below.

 

 

(C)

Each of:

 

 

(i)

the Borrower; and

 

 

(ii)

the Technical Bank,

 

shall seek to agree the Forecast Assumptions to be used for each Forecast based on the proposals submitted in accordance with paragraph (A) above by the date falling 30 Business Days before the Scheduled Forecast Date or, in relation to any Forecast Request, such other date as the Technical Bank may specify.

 

 

(D)

If the Borrower and the Technical Bank are not able to agree on any such Forecast Assumption by the date referred to in paragraph (C) above then such Forecast Assumption shall be determined by the Technical Bank (acting reasonably) in accordance with paragraph (E) below.

 

 

(E)

Each draft Forecast (and all Forecast Assumptions used therein) shall have due and proper regard to:

 

 

(i)

any reasonable view expressed in any Reserves Report delivered for the purposes of preparing the Forecast; and

 

 

(ii)

the Project Documents,

 

justified by the historical asset performance and by the approved future work programme and any applicable budget for the relevant Borrowing Base Asset. Any Economic Assumptions proposed by the Technical Bank shall be reasonable and in accordance with current business practices, applied on a consistent, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis and reflecting market practice at the time.

 

17.6

Draft Forecasts

 

 

(A)

The Modelling Bank shall (in consultation with the Technical Bank and the Borrower) prepare each draft Forecast using all the Forecast Assumptions that have been agreed or determined pursuant to Clause 17.5 (Preparatory Steps).

 

 

(B)

The Modelling Bank shall endeavour to provide (through the Facility Agent) each draft Forecast to the Lenders (together with such additional information or documents that have been provided to the Technical Bank or the Modelling Bank under this Agreement in connection with such draft Forecast as the Technical Bank and/or Modelling Bank (as the case may be) shall deem appropriate) no later than 20 Business Days prior to the Scheduled Forecast Date on which such Forecast is due to be adopted or, in the case of any Forecast Request, such other date as the Technical Bank may specify.

 

71

 

 

(C)

If:

 

 

(i)

the Borrower has made a request under paragraph (A) of Clause 17.11 (Asset Base) in connection with the preparation of the relevant Forecast; or

 

 

(ii)

the relevant Forecast is being prepared in connection with any request by the Borrower for any Borrowing Base Asset to cease to be designated as such or for any Hydrocarbon asset to be designated as a Borrowing Base Asset,

 

then the Borrower (through the Facility Agent) shall ensure that the draft Forecast provided to the Lenders pursuant to paragraph (B) above is accompanied by details of the conditions precedent (if any) that the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and in consultation with the Technical Bank) considers (acting reasonably) necessary to be satisfied in order for the relevant Hydrocarbon asset to be designated as a Borrowing Base Asset and/or, as the case may be, the relevant Borrowing Base Asset to cease to be so designated.

 

 

(D)

The conditions precedent for the designation of a Hydrocarbon asset as a Borrowing Base Asset shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and will include, among other things:

 

 

(i)

that the Hydrocarbon assets are not subject to Sanctions and are not situated in a Sanctioned Country;

 

 

(ii)

the completion of satisfactory economic, legal and technical due diligence relating to that Hydrocarbon asset;

 

 

(iii)

the provision of adequate Security over that Hydrocarbon asset and/or the shares of the person that holds the interests in that Hydrocarbon asset;

 

 

(iv)

each Lender being satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations (including with respect to any person that holds an interest in the applicable Hydrocarbon asset);

 

 

(v)

the provision of satisfactory report(s) (including a Reserves Report) from independent consultant(s); and

 

 

(vi)

the production of satisfactory evidence that all Authorisations required for the development and/or exploitation of that Hydrocarbon asset have been obtained.

 

17.7

Consideration of Draft Forecast by Lenders

 

 

(A)

For the purposes of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations), the “Delivery Date” means, in relation to any draft Forecast, the date on which the Facility Agent delivers copies of the draft Forecast and other information (if any) to all the Lenders under paragraph (B) of Clause 17.6 (Draft Forecasts).

 

 

(B)

Each Lender may, within 10 Business Days of the Delivery Date, notify (through the Facility Agent) the Technical Bank of whether it approves (acting reasonably) of (as the case may be):

 

 

(i)

the Forecast Assumptions used in the preparation of that draft Forecast;

 

 

(ii)

any relevant Hydrocarbon asset being designated as a Borrowing Base Asset and the conditions precedent relating thereto (if any); and/or

 

72

 

 

(iii)

any relevant Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be so designated and the conditions precedent relating thereto (if any).

 

 

(C)

The consent of a Lender to a Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be so designated may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed where such Lender is satisfied (acting reasonably):

 

 

(i)

that no Default is continuing or would arise on the adoption of the new Forecast with the Borrowing Base Asset in question ceasing to be so designated;

 

 

(ii)

that the risk profile of the remaining portfolio of Borrowing Base Assets, following the Borrowing Base Asset in question ceasing to be so designated, will not be materially worse than the risk profile of the portfolio of Borrowing Base Assets prior to it ceasing to be so designated;

 

 

(iii)

that the aggregate Dollar amount of Utilisations on the date of adoption of the new Forecast (with such Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be so designated) will not exceed the Borrowing Base Amount that would be applicable on the day following such date of adoption; and

 

 

(iv)

with the conditions precedent relating to the same.

 

 

(D)

Any Lender that does not inform (through the Facility Agent) the Technical Bank to the contrary within 10 Business Days of the Delivery Date shall be deemed to have approved of (as the case may be):

 

 

(i)

the Forecast Assumptions used in the preparation of the draft Forecast; and/or

 

 

(ii)

any relevant Hydrocarbon asset being designated as a Borrowing Base Asset and the conditions precedent relating thereto (if any); and/or

 

 

(iii)

any relevant Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be so designated and the conditions precedent relating thereto (if any).

 

  (E)

In any event, the Technical Bank shall on the date falling 10 Business Days after the Delivery Date notify (through the Facility Agent) the Borrower and the Lenders of whether Clause 17.8 (Lenders Approve) or Clause 17.9 (Lenders do not Approve) applies with respect to the relevant draft Forecast.

 

17.8

Lenders Approve

 

If the Majority Lenders approve, or are deemed to have approved pursuant to paragraph (D) of Clause 17.7 (Consideration of Draft Forecast by Lenders):

 

 

(A)

the use of each of the Forecast Assumptions for the preparation of the relevant Forecast;

 

 

(B)

any Hydrocarbon asset being designated a Borrowing Base Asset and the conditions precedent relating thereto; and/or

 

 

(C)

any existing Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be so designated and the conditions precedent relating thereto,

 

73

 

then (as the case may be):

 

 

(i)

the draft Forecast shall be adopted as the current Forecast in accordance with Clause 17.10 (Adoption of Forecasts);

 

 

(ii)

the relevant Hydrocarbon asset shall become a Borrowing Base Asset pursuant to Clause 17.10 (Adoption of Forecasts); and/or

 

 

(iii)

the relevant existing Borrowing Base Asset shall cease to be a Borrowing Base Asset pursuant to Clause 17.10 (Adoption of Forecasts).

 

17.9

Lenders do not Approve

 

 

(A)

If the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably) do not approve of any Forecast Assumption (the “rejected Forecast Assumption”) used in any draft Forecast, then:

 

 

(i)

the Borrower and the Majority Lenders (through the Technical Bank) shall seek to agree the Forecast Assumption(s) to be used for the purposes of the relevant Forecast instead of the rejected Forecast Assumption(s);

 

 

(ii)

if the Majority Lenders (through the Technical Bank) and the Borrower have not been able to reach agreement on the relevant Forecast Assumption(s) to be used in the preparation of the relevant Forecast instead of the rejected Forecast Assumption by the date falling five Business Days before the Forecast Date on which the Forecast is due to be adopted then the relevant Forecast Assumption(s) shall be determined by the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably) in line with market practice for equivalent financings in the London market; and

 

 

(iii)

the Modelling Bank (in consultation with the Technical Bank and the Borrower) shall promptly upon the relevant Forecast Assumption(s) being agreed between the Majority Lenders and the Borrower or being determined pursuant to paragraph (A)(ii) above:

 

    (a)          prepare a revised draft Forecast using the Forecast Assumption(s) so agreed or determined instead of the rejected Forecast Assumption(s); and

 

    (b)          deliver (through the Facility Agent) a copy of such revised draft Forecast to the Borrower, the Technical Bank and the Lenders (and such draft Forecast shall be adopted as the current draft Forecast in accordance with Clause 17.10 (Adoption of Forecasts)).

 

 

(B)

If the Majority Lenders:

 

 

(i)

do not approve the designation of any Hydrocarbon asset as a Borrowing Base Asset; or

 

 

(ii)

require conditions relating to the designation of any Hydrocarbon asset as a Borrowing Base Asset that are not acceptable to the Borrower,

 

then the Modelling Bank shall promptly (in consultation with the Borrower and the Technical Bank) prepare a revised draft Forecast:

 

    (a)          based on the Forecast Assumptions that have been agreed, approved or determined in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations); and

 

74

 

    (b)          that does not take account of the proposed Hydrocarbon asset as a Borrowing Base Asset,

 

and deliver (through the Facility Agent) a copy of such revised draft Forecast to the Technical Bank, the Borrower and the Lenders (and such draft Forecast shall be adopted as the current draft Forecast in accordance with Clause 17.10 (Adoption of Forecasts)).

 

 

(C)

If the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably):

 

 

(i)

do not approve of an existing Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be so designated; or

 

 

(ii)

require conditions relating to an existing Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be so designated which are not acceptable to the Borrower,

 

then the Modelling Bank shall promptly (in consultation with the Borrower and the Technical Bank) prepare a revised draft Forecast:

 

    (a)          based on the Forecast Assumptions that have been agreed, approved or determined in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations); and

 

    (b)          that continues to take account of the relevant Borrowing Base Asset as a Borrowing Base Asset,

 

and deliver (through the Facility Agent) a copy of such revised draft Forecast to the Technical Bank, the Borrower and the Lenders (and such draft Forecast shall be adopted as the current draft Forecast in accordance with Clause 17.10 (Adoption of Forecasts)).

 

17.10

Adoption of Forecasts

 

 

(A)

Each draft Forecast prepared pursuant to Clauses 17.6 (Draft Forecasts) or Clause 17.9 (Lenders do not Approve) shall not be adopted as the current Forecast for the purposes of this Agreement until the latest of:

 

 

(i)

the relevant Forecast Date on which the relevant Forecast is due to be adopted;

 

 

(ii)

in the case of any Forecast to be adopted in connection with the designation of any Hydrocarbon asset as a Borrowing Base Asset (the “relevant designation”) or the ceasing of an existing Borrowing Base Asset to be so designated (the “relevant de-designation”), the date on which any relevant conditions precedent are satisfied together with any additional conditions that:

 

    (a)          the Lenders may require pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations); and

 

    (b)          are required to be satisfied in order for the Majority Lenders to approve the relevant designation or, as the case may be, the relevant de-designation, are satisfied; and

 

 

(iii)

in the case of any revised draft Forecast that has been prepared pursuant to Clause 17.9 (Lenders do not Approve), the date on which the Modelling Bank confirm (through the Facility Agent) to the Lenders that it has verified that the relevant revised draft Forecast has been prepared to its reasonable satisfaction in accordance with the requirements of this Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations).

 

75

 

 

(B)

If Clause 17.9 (Lenders do not Approve) does not apply, the Modelling Bank (through the Facility Agent and at the same time as issuing any notice under Clause 17.7 (Consideration of Draft Forecast by Lenders)) shall confirm to the Borrower, the Technical Bank and the Lenders:

 

 

(i)

that the relevant Forecast will be adopted in accordance with paragraph (A) above; and

 

 

(ii)

the Borrowing Base Amount for each Calculation Period ending on or before the Final Maturity Date that will be applicable upon the adoption of such Forecast.

 

 

(C)

If Clause 17.9 (Lenders do not Approve) applies for any reason, the Modelling Bank (through the Facility Agent) shall, upon the adoption of the relevant Forecast in accordance with paragraph (A) above or as soon as reasonably possible before such adoption, confirm to the Borrower, the Technical Bank and the Lenders:

 

 

(i)

that the relevant Forecast has been, or will be, adopted in accordance with paragraph (A) above; and

 

 

(ii)

the Borrowing Base Amount for each Calculation Period ending on or before the Final Maturity Date that will be applicable upon the adoption of such Forecast.

 

 

(D)

If any Forecast has been prepared and adopted in connection with the designation of any Hydrocarbon asset being designated as such, then on the adoption of that Forecast in accordance with paragraph (A) above, that Hydrocarbon asset shall automatically be designated as a Borrowing Base Asset.

 

 

(E)

If any Forecast has been prepared and adopted in connection with any Borrowing Base Asset ceasing to be designated as a Borrowing Base Asset, then on the adoption of that Forecast in accordance with paragraph (A) above, that Borrowing Base Asset shall automatically cease to be designated as such.

 

17.11

Asset Base

 

 

(A)

On or before the date falling 10 Business Days before the date by which the Technical Bank and the Borrower are required under paragraph (A) of Clause 17.5 (Preparatory Steps) to submit their proposals in respect of the Forecast Assumptions to be used for any Forecast (or such later date as may be agreed by the Technical Bank), the Borrower may submit a request to the Facility Agent, the Technical Bank and the Lenders for any Hydrocarbon asset to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset and/or for any existing Borrowing Base Asset to cease to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset.

 

 

(B)

If the Borrower has made a request under paragraph (A) above for any Hydrocarbon asset to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset or a Forecast is being prepared in connection with any request by the Borrower for any new Hydrocarbon asset to be designated as a Borrowing Base Asset, the Borrower shall deliver to the Lenders, the Facility Agent and the Technical Bank (at the same time they make the relevant request for such Hydrocarbon asset to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset) all such information, documentation and evidence as any Lender, the Technical Bank and/or the Facility Agent may reasonably require with respect to such Hydrocarbon asset.

 

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17.12

Computer Model

 

 

(A)

Each of the Facility Agent, the Technical Bank, the Modelling Bank or the Borrower may, with the prior consent of the Borrower and the Majority Lenders (in each case, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), make amendments to the Computer Model from time to time to correct any errors in such Computer Model or otherwise to reflect any changes in circumstance since the date of this Agreement.

 

 

(B)

Following any material amendment to the Computer Model, the Majority Lenders may request for the amended Computer Model to be audited. If the Majority Lenders so request, the amended Computer Model shall be audited (at the cost of the Borrower) by a firm of model auditors appointed by the Modelling Bank. Where an audit has been so requested, until a satisfactory audit in relation to the amended Computer Model has been delivered to the Majority Lenders, the existing unamended version shall continue to be the “Computer Model” for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

17.13

Reserve Tail Date

 

The Reserve Tail Date shall be adjusted by the Technical Bank (acting reasonably in consultation with the Borrower) on each Forecast Date pursuant to this Clause 17 to reflect, as the case may be, any reserves upgrades or downgrades, for additional reserves acquired pursuant to any Permitted Acquisition or for any disposal of reserves pursuant to any Permitted Disposal.

 

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Part 7

Banks Accounts and Cash Management

 

18

Bank Accounts and Cash Management

 

18.1

Project Accounts

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor shall establish and maintain Project Accounts, as required under the terms of this Agreement, with an Account Bank.

 

 

(B)

The Project Accounts shall be denominated in US Dollars, FCFA or such other currencies as may be agreed between the relevant Obligor and the Facility Agent. Any sum constituting interest paid in respect of the credit balance on any Project Account shall be treated in the same manner as any other sum credited to a Project Account.

 

 

(C)

Each Project Account will be a separate account at the relevant Account Bank. The Project Accounts will be maintained by the relevant Obligor until the Discharge Date.

 

18.2

Appointment of Account Bank

 

 

(A)

Any appointment of or change to an Account Bank will become effective only upon that Account Bank executing, or new Account Bank acceding to the terms of, an Account Bank Agreement or such other terms as may be approved by the Borrower and the Facility Agent (acting reasonably).

 

 

(B)

An Obligor may change an Account Bank to another bank with the consent of the Facility Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If an Account Bank resigns, then the relevant Obligor will appoint a replacement Account Bank subject to paragraph (A) above and Clause 18.1 (Project Accounts).

 

 

(C)

If the Account Bank refuses to establish or maintain any Project Account, as required under the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower may appoint a replacement Account Bank in respect of the affected account subject to paragraph (A) above and Clause 18.1 (Project Accounts).

 

18.3

Security Documents and Account Bank Agreements

 

 

(A)

The Offshore Project Accounts shall be subject to a first ranking Security Interest in favour of the Secured Creditors. The relevant Obligors shall forthwith upon any change to the Offshore Account Bank, or upon opening any Offshore Project Account which is not subject to the security constituted by the relevant Security Documents, execute and deliver to the Security Agent such supplemental Security Documents as the Security Agent and the Facility Agent may reasonably require in order to create a first priority Security Interest over that Offshore Project Account in favour of the Finance Parties. Such supplemental Security Documents shall be in a form and in substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent.

 

 

(B)

The Borrower shall, on or before any Project Account is opened, procure that the Obligor and the Account Banks have entered into the relevant Account Bank Agreements.

 

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(C)

In the case of execution of any of the Security Documents and Account Bank Agreements referred to in paragraphs (A) and (B) above, the Borrower shall deliver to the Facility Agent documents which are the equivalent of those referred to in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in respect of such Security Documents and Account Bank Agreements, together with any legal opinions which the Facility Agent may reasonably require, such legal opinions to be provided at the reasonable expense of the Borrower. All such documents shall be in a form and in substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent.

 

 

(D)

The detailed operating procedures for the Project Accounts will be agreed between the relevant Obligor which maintains that Project Account and each Account Bank, but in the event of any inconsistency between those procedures and the Account Bank Agreements or this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

18.4

Control on withdrawals following Event of Default

 

 

(A)

At any time whilst an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and subject to this Clause, the Facility Agent may instruct the Security Agent to deliver (i) an EOD Notice (as such term is defined in the Onshore Account Bank Agreement) in substantially the form attached as Schedule 4 (Form of EOD Notice) to such Onshore Account Bank Agreement, to the Onshore Account Bank pursuant to the Onshore Account Bank Agreement or (ii) a Shifting Control Notice (as such term is defined in the Offshore Account Bank Agreement), in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A to such Offshore Account Bank Agreement, to the Offshore Account Bank pursuant to the Offshore Account Bank Agreement.

 

 

(B)

If the Security Agent has delivered an EOD Notice (as such term is defined in the Onshore Account Bank Agreement) or a Shifting Control Notice (as such term is defined in the Offshore Account Bank Agreement) pursuant to paragraph (A) above, no Obligor may withdraw any moneys from the Project Accounts provided that the Security Agent and the Facility Agent hereby agree to instruct the relevant Account Bank upon request by an Obligor, to make payments from such Project Account as directed by such Obligor:

 

 

(i)

with the prior consent of the Facility Agent;

 

 

(ii)

to meet an Obligor’s payment obligations under the Finance Documents or the Project Documents on the relevant due date; or

 

 

(iii)

to pay for Project Costs not included in paragraph (ii) above where:

 

    (a)          the payment in question has been budgeted for and the Facility Agent have given their written consent to the relevant expenditure or cost being incurred; or

 

    (b)          the failure to make the payment in question would materially and adversely affect the business or financial condition of any Obligor.

 

 

(C)

When an Event of Default that has been notified to the Security Agent pursuant to paragraph (A) above is no longer continuing, the Facility Agent shall promptly instruct the Security Agent to serve a Termination of EOD Notice (as such term is defined in the Onshore Account Bank Agreement) in substantially the form attached as schedule 5 (Form of Termination of EOD Notice) to such Onshore Account Bank Agreement, to the Onshore Account Bank and the Obligors pursuant to the Onshore Account Bank Agreement.

 

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19

Operation of Project Accounts

 

19.1

Offshore Disbursement Account, Offshore Proceeds Account and Onshore Proceeds Account

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall maintain a USD denominated account with an Offshore Account Bank in New York or such other jurisdiction as may be agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent (an “Offshore Disbursement Account”) for the specific purpose of receiving, amongst others, all proceeds of the Facility, any payments under the Shareholder Loan Agreement, any hedging receipts (including amounts debited from the Offshore Parent Account in accordance with Clause 19.3(B)) and all Insurance Proceeds which it is entitled.

 

 

(B)

Vaalco Gabon

 

 

(i)

shall maintain a USD denominated account with an Offshore Account Bank in New York or such other jurisdiction as may be agreed between Vaalco Gabon and the Facility Agent (an “Offshore Proceeds Account”) for the specific purpose of receiving all proceeds of any advance made under the Shareholder Loan Agreement after the date of this Agreement, any hedging receipts, all Insurance Proceeds and all revenues from the Borrowing Base Assets which it is entitled; and

 

 

(ii)

may maintain an individual USD denominated account with an Onshore Account Bank in Libreville or such other jurisdiction as may be agreed between Vaalco Gabon and the Facility Agent (each an “Onshore Proceeds Account”) for the specific purpose of receiving any amount paid pursuant to Clause 19.2 below or any amount required to be repatriated from the Offshore Proceeds Account pursuant to a Repatriation Obligation.

 

19.2

Withdrawals

 

 

(A)

Subject to Clause 18.4 (Control on withdrawals following an Event of Default), the Borrower may withdraw amounts from the Offshore Disbursement Account to make payments in the following order of priority:

 

 

(i)

first, at any time, in or towards making any advance under the Shareholder Loan Agreement;

 

 

(ii)

second, in or towards payment pro rata of any fees, commission costs, expenses due but unpaid under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(iii)

third, at any time, in or towards payment pro rata of accrued interest or Hedging Costs (including any interest accruing on any Hedging Termination Payments) but unpaid under the Finance Documents or any Hedging Transactions ;

 

 

(iv)

fourth, at any time, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal or Hedging Termination Payments due but unpaid under the Finance Documents or any Hedging Agreement (provided that, in the case of any such Hedging Termination Payments, the same is payable in respect of one or more transactions under a Hedging Agreement that have been terminated in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement by the relevant Hedging Counterparty that is a party thereto);

 

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(v)

fifth, every other month, a transfer to the Debt Service Reserve Account of one-third of the Required Balance (unless the balance of the Debt Service Reserve Account is equal to or greater than the Required Balance);

 

 

(vi)

sixth, at any time, in or towards the payment of any amounts due under or in respect of unsecured Hedging Transactions or Derivative Transactions entered into by an Obligor;

 

 

(vii)

seventh, at any time, in or towards:

 

    (a)          the voluntary prepayment of any Loans or any other outstanding amounts under the Finance Documents, or

 

    (b)          the payment of any Hedging Termination Payments that are payable under Hedging Agreement as a result of the termination of that Hedging Agreement in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement by an Obligor that is a party thereto, or

 

    (c)          [*****]

 

    (d)          meeting other expenditure of the Group,

 

provided that after the relevant withdrawal is made, the Minimum Cash Covenant is met.

 

 

(B)

Subject to Clause 18.4 (Control on withdrawals following an Event of Default) and in any event without prejudice to the Repatriation Obligation, Vaalco Gabon may withdraw amounts from the Offshore Proceeds Account or the Onshore Proceeds Account to make payments in the following order of priority:

 

 

(i)

first, up to 110 per cent of any Project Costs (including taxes, royalties, budgeted capital expenditure and operating expenditure but excluding Hedging Costs and Hedging Termination Payments under any Hedging Transactions) to the extent the relevant item of Project Cost has been provided for in the relevant period in the then current Forecast or the Group Cash Flow Projection most recently delivered to the Facility Agent;

 

 

(ii)

second, at any time, in or towards payment pro rata of any fees, commission costs, expenses due but unpaid under the Shareholder Loan Agreement;

 

 

(iii)

third, at any time, in or towards payment of accrued interest or Hedging Costs (including any interest accruing on any Hedging Termination Payments) but unpaid under the Shareholder Loan Agreement or any Hedging Transactions;

 

 

(iv)

fourth, at any time, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal or Hedging Termination Payments due but unpaid under the Shareholder Loan Agreement or any Hedging Agreement (provided that, in the case of any such Hedging Termination Payments, the same is payable in respect of one or more transactions under a Hedging Agreement that have been terminated in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement by the relevant Hedging Counterparty that is a party thereto);

 

 

(v)

fifth, every other month, to the extent not paid by the Borrower, a transfer to the Debt Service Reserve Account of one-third of the Required Balance (unless the balance of the Debt Service Reserve Account is equal to or greater than the Required Balance);

 

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(vi)

sixth, at any time, in or towards the payment of any amounts due under or in respect of unsecured Hedging Transactions or Derivative Transactions entered into by an Obligor;

 

 

(vii)

seventh, at any time, in or towards:

 

    (a)          the voluntary prepayment of any advance made under the Shareholder Loan Agreement or any other outstanding amounts under the Shareholder Loan Agreement; or

 

    (b)          the payment of any Hedging Termination Payments that are payable under Hedging Agreement as a result of the termination of that Hedging Agreement in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement by the relevant Obligor that is a party thereto; or

 

    (c)          [*****] or

 

    (d)          meeting other expenditure of the Group,

 

provided that that after the relevant withdrawal is made, the Minimum Cash Covenant is met.

 

 

(C)

All amounts withdrawn from the Onshore Proceeds Account for application in or towards making a specific payment or meeting a specific liability shall discharge the application of the corresponding specific payment or specific liability from the Offshore Proceeds Account (and vice versa).

 

19.3

Offshore Parent Account

 

 

(A)

The Parent may maintain a USD denominated accounts with an Offshore Account Bank in New York or such other jurisdiction as may be agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent (the “Offshore Parent Account”) for the specific purpose of receiving any hedging receipts that it is entitled to.

 

 

(B)

Subject to Clause 18.4 (Control on withdrawals following an Event of Default), the Parent may withdraw amounts from the Offshore Parent Account:

 

 

(i)

first, at any time, to credit in the Offshore Disbursement Account any amount required for the payment of Hedging Costs (including any interest accruing or any Hedging Termination Payments), any Hedging Termination Payments or any amounts due under or in respect of unsecured Hedging Transactions or any Derivative Transactions entered into by the Parent;

 

 

(ii)

second, make any payment (other than a Distribution) provided that such payment is contemplated in the then current Group Cash Flow Projection or the Parent has delivered an updated Group Cash Flow Projection which demonstrates that, taking into account the proposed payment, the Group Liquidity Test is met; or

 

 

(iii)

third, at any time, in relation to a payment that is a Distribution, if the conditions set out in Clause 26.23 (Distribution) are met.

 

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20

Debt Service Reserve Account

 

20.1

Credits to the Debt Service Reserve Account

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall maintain a USD denominated account with an Offshore Account Bank in New York or such other jurisdiction as may be agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent (the “Debt Service Reserve Account”).

 

 

(B)

The Borrower shall ensure that deposits are made every other month into the Debt Service Reserve Account in accordance with Clause 19.2(A)(v) or Clause 19.2(B)(v) until the balance of such account is not less than the Required Balance. The funding of the Debt Service Reserve Account shall continue in accordance with Clause 19.2 (Withdrawals) until the Discharge Date.

 

 

(C)

Failure to maintain the Required Balance standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account shall not constitute an Event of Default for the purposes of Clause 27 (Events of Default), but failure to apply amounts from the Project Accounts in accordance with Clause 19 (Operation of Project Accounts) shall constitute an Event of Default for the purposes of Clause 27 (Events of Default).

 

 

(D)

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (A) and (C) above, the Borrower may (without being restricted by the operation of Clause 19 (Operation of Project Accounts)) make a Utilisation under the Facility to fund the Debt Service Reserve Account.

 

20.2

Withdrawals from the Debt Service Reserve Account

 

 

(A)

Subject to paragraph (B) below, amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account may be withdrawn only:

 

 

(i)

to pay any Financing Costs under the Facility to the extent that the Borrower is not able to make such payment pursuant to Clause 19 (Operation of Project Accounts); or

 

 

(ii)

to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Clause 8.3 (Aggregate of Loans outstanding exceed the Borrowing Base Amount).

 

 

(B)

In addition, withdrawals may be made from the Debt Service Reserve Account to the extent the amount withdrawn is equal to or less than the amount (if any) by which the amount standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account exceeds the applicable Required Balance at that time. Any such withdrawal may be applied in accordance with, and for the purposes set out in, Clause 19 (Operation of Project Accounts).

 

21

Authorised Investments

 

21.1

Power of investment

 

Subject always to Clause 18.1 (Project Accounts), an Obligor may require that such part of the amounts standing to the credit of any of the Project Accounts as it may consider prudent (having reasonable grounds for so considering) shall be invested from time to time in Authorised Investments in accordance with this Clause 21 and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Clause 26.16(A) (Hedging).

 

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21.2

Type of investment

 

 

(A)

The Obligors shall use their reasonable endeavours to procure that there are maintained from time to time a prudent spread of Authorised Investments and that the maturity of Authorised Investments is such that they can be liquidated to enable all payment obligations under the Finance Documents to be met on the due date.

 

 

(B)

If any Authorised Investment ceases to be an Authorised Investment, the relevant Obligor which maintains that Authorised Investment will, as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of this, procure that the relevant investment is replaced by an Authorised Investment or cash, provided that if it does not propose liquidating the relevant investment earlier than its maturity, it shall notify the Facility Agent that such investment is no longer an Authorised Investment promptly upon becoming aware of this and, subject to it having provided such notice, it will not be obliged to liquidate such investment before its maturity date unless the Facility Agent, acting reasonably, requests it to do so.

 

21.3

Realisations

 

 

(A)

Upon the realisation (whether by way of disposal, maturity or otherwise) of any Authorised Investment, the net proceeds of realisation shall either immediately be credited directly to the Project Account from which the Authorised Investment or such investment was made, or (unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) immediately be invested in another Authorised Investment, whichever the relevant Obligor directs.

 

 

(B)

Upon the receipt of any interest, dividends or other income from or in respect of any Authorised Investment, such interest, dividends or other income shall be credited to the Project Account concerned with the Authorised Investment or such other investment from which such interest, dividend or other income derives, or (if such interest, dividend or other income is derived from an Authorised Investment and such Authorised Investment is to be retained after such interest, dividend or other income is received and the relevant Obligor so requests) the relevant interest, dividend or other income shall be reinvested in that Authorised Investment.

 

21.4

Project Accounts include Authorised Investments

 

 

(A)

Any reference in this Agreement to the balance standing to the credit of one of the Project Accounts shall be deemed to include a reference to the Authorised Investments in which all or part of such balance is for the time being invested. (other than for the purposes of determining the balance required to comply with Clause 18.1 (Project Accounts)). In the event of any dispute as to the value of any Authorised Investment for the purpose of determining the amount deemed to be standing to the credit of a Project Account, that value shall be determined by the Facility Agent acting reasonably and in good faith and following consultation with the Borrower and having given due consideration to any representations given by the Borrower within the period required by the Facility Agent (which period shall not, in any event, be of shorter duration than five Business Days). If the Borrower so requests, the Facility Agent will give the Borrower details of the basis or method of its determination.

 

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(B)

An Obligor may, by notice in writing to the Facility Agent and the relevant Account Bank, deem an Authorised Investment to be concerned with a different Project Account so as to transfer Authorised Investments between Project Accounts, if:

 

 

(i)

the aggregate amount standing to the credit of each Project Account remains the same; or

 

 

(ii)

the transfer of an equivalent amount between those Project Accounts would be permitted.

 

21.5

Security over Authorised Investments

 

Prior to an Obligor making any Authorised Investment that Obligor shall, to the extent that such Security has not been effected under the terms of an existing Security Document, execute and deliver a Security Document (in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably)) for the purposes of creating Security over each of such Authorised Investment in favour of the Security Agent.

 

21.6

Interest on balances in Project Accounts

 

Each sum credited to a Project Account from time to time shall, from the time it is so credited until the time it is withdrawn therefrom (whether for the purpose of making an Authorised Investment or otherwise for application in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), bear interest at such rate as the relevant Obligor may from time to time agree with the relevant Account Bank.

 

21.7

Access to books and account statements

 

The Obligors undertake to arrange for the relevant Account Bank to give to the Facility Agent and, the Security Agent access to an electronic banking platform with online, near real time access to their account statements.

 

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Part 8

Financial and Project Information

 

22

Information Undertakings

 

The undertakings in this Clause remain in force from the date of this Agreement until the Discharge Date.

 

22.1

Financial statements

 

The Parent shall supply to the Facility Agent (in sufficient copies as most recently notified by the Facility Agent as being sufficient to allow one copy for each Lender):

 

 

(A)

as soon as they become available, but in any event within 90 days of the end of each financial year, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries for that financial year;

 

 

(B)

as soon as they become available, but in any event within 180 days of the end of each financial year, the audited financial statements of Vaalco Gabon for that financial year; and

 

 

(C)

within 45 days of the end of each quarter, the unaudited financial statements of the Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries for such quarter.

 

22.2

Year-end

 

The Obligors shall not change their Accounting Reference Date without the consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

22.3

Form of financial statements

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall ensure that each set of financial statements supplied under this Agreement:

 

 

(i)

is certified by an Authorised Signatory of the relevant company as a true and correct copy; and

 

 

(ii)

gives (if audited) a true and fair view of, or (if unaudited) fairly represents, the financial condition of the relevant company for the period to the date on which those financial statements were drawn up.

 

 

(B)

Unless otherwise agreed with the Facility Agent, all financial statements of the Parent and Vaalco Gabon delivered under this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with the applicable Approved Accounting Principles.

 

 

(C)

The Parent shall notify the Facility Agent of any material change to the manner in which any audited financial statements delivered under this Agreement are prepared.

 

 

(D)

If requested by the Facility Agent, the Parent shall supply to the Facility Agent:

 

 

(i)

a full description of any change notified under paragraph (B) above and the adjustments which would be required to be made to those financial statements in order to cause them to use the accounting policies, practices, procedures and reference period upon which such financial statements were prepared prior to such change; and

 

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(ii)

sufficient information, in such detail and format as may be required by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably), to enable the Lenders to make a proper comparison between the financial position shown by the set of financial statements prepared on the changed basis and its most recent audited financial statements delivered to the Facility Agent under this Agreement prior to such change.

 

22.4

Compliance Certificate

 

 

(A)

The Parent shall supply to the Facility Agent a compliance certificate with each set of financial statements sent to the Facility Agent under Clause 22.1 (Financial statements) certifying the matters specified in Clause 22.3(A)(ii) above.

 

 

(B)

A compliance certificate supplied in accordance with paragraph (A) above shall be signed by two Authorised Signatories of the Parent.

 

22.5

Project Information and Hedging Information

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor shall (as soon as reasonably practicable) supply to the Facility Agent, in sufficient copies for all the Lenders if the Facility Agent so requests:

 

 

(i)

any new updates to, and amendments to, each agreed budget, or development and/or work programme in relation to each Borrowing Base Asset owned by it as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt from the relevant Operator (and, in any event, within 30 days of receipt) and the latest Operator Report for each Borrowing Base Asset owned by it, as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt from the relevant Operator (and, in any event, within 30 days of receipt);

 

 

(ii)

copies of all reports provided to any Authority by the Operator which have been copied to an Obligor (and in any event within 21 days of receipt);

 

 

(iii)

such technical and commercial information which an Obligor has in its possession relating to the Borrowing Base Assets or their condition and which is relevant to the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents as the Facility Agent may reasonably request from time to time (following prior consultation with the Borrower);

 

 

(iv)

promptly, details of any updates or amendments to any Project Document which render any Forecast Assumption in the then current Forecast materially inaccurate; and

 

 

(v)

promptly upon request, copies of all Hedging Agreements and Derivative Agreements to which it is a party.

 

 

(B)

Promptly upon request, the Parent shall provide evidence to the Facility Agent that each Obligor is in compliance with the requirements of this Agreement in respect of Hedging Transactions and Derivative Transactions.

 

 

(C)

Promptly upon request, each Hedging Counterparty shall provide to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent copies of all Hedging Agreements and Derivative Agreements it has entered into with an Obligor and notify the Facility Agent and the Security Agent of the details of the outstanding amount of all of the Hedging Liabilities (if any) owed to that Hedging Counterparty thereunder.

 

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22.6

Operations Report

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall provide a monthly written operations update to the Facility Agent (in a form agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent) which includes, among other things, the following information:

 

 

(i)

details of health and environmental safety;

 

 

(ii)

details of flow status, metering and pipeline remediation; and

 

 

(iii)

details of any new Project Document (including its value) entered into by any of the Obligors.

 

 

(B)

The Borrower shall, on a monthly basis and with respect to each calendar month after the date of this Agreement, supply to the Facility Agent, the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank such information as it has available to it regarding:

 

 

(i)

sales of petroleum derived from the Borrowing Base Assets during such calendar month;

 

 

(ii)

production performance;

 

 

(iii)

downtime;

 

 

(iv)

material operational activities; and

 

 

(v)

a breakdown of costs incurred,

 

in each case in relation to the Borrowing Base Assets, and shall deliver the same to the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank on or before the tenth Business Day of the calendar month immediately following the month to which such update relates.

 

22.7

Reserves Report

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall procure that a Reserves Report is commissioned, at its expense, and prepared:

 

 

(i)

on an annual basis as of 31 December of each year for the purposes of each Forecast to be adopted in accordance with Clause 17 (Forecasts and Calculations); and

 

 

(ii)

if the Borrower makes a request for a Hydrocarbon asset to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset,

 

provided that any Reserves Report commissioned pursuant to paragraph (ii) above need only include data and/or information relating to the relevant Hydrocarbon asset that is intended to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset.

 

 

(B)

The Borrower shall use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that each Reserves Report which is commissioned and prepared pursuant to:

 

 

(i)

paragraph (A)(i) above is delivered to the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank within 90 days following 31 December of each year; and

 

 

(ii)

paragraph (A)(ii) above is delivered to the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank within 40 days of the relevant request being made by the Borrower for the relevant Hydrocarbon asset to be designated a Borrowing Base Asset and, in any event, by the date by which the relevant Parties are required under Clause 17.5 (Preparatory Steps) to submit their proposals for the Forecast Assumptions to be used in the relevant Forecast that is proposed to be adopted in connection with the proposed designation of such Hydrocarbon asset as a Borrowing Base Asset.

 

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(C)

The Borrower shall ensure that each Reserves Report that is prepared pursuant to this Clause 22.7 is addressed in a manner which ensures that the report provider owes a duty of care to the Finance Parties.

 

22.8

Information: Miscellaneous

 

Each Obligor shall supply to the Facility Agent, in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Facility Agent so requests:

 

 

(A)

all documents dispatched by each Obligor to its shareholders (or any class of them) or its creditors generally, at the same time as they are dispatched;

 

 

(B)

at least five Business Days before proposed implementation, details of any proposed changes to the constitutional documents of any Obligor;

 

 

(C)

information regarding any decisions concerning registration of (or refusal to register) any Security required to be registered in the applicable registers, promptly after such information;

 

 

(D)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, any written notice or written information relating to the withdrawal of, or intention to withdraw, any applicable environmental licence;

 

 

(E)

promptly following a request by the Facility Agent, any material Authorisation in the Group's possession that is required to enable any member of the Group that is a party to a Finance Document to perform its obligations under, or for the validity and enforceability of, that Finance Document;

 

 

(F)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, the fact that it does not have sufficient funds (cash flow, debt and equity) to meet its obligations as and when they fall due;

 

 

(G)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, details of any event that has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

 

(H)

promptly after becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group which, if adversely determined, will have or would be reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

 

(I)

promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any judgment or order of a court, arbitral body or agency which is made against any member of the Group, and which will have or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

 

(J)

promptly after they have been issued, copies of any insurance policies in respect of all Insurances and any renewals in respect of such insurance policies;

 

 

(K)

promptly after becoming aware of them, details of any claims made under any Insurance where the claim is for a sum in excess of USD 10 million (or its equivalent in other currencies); and

 

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(L)

promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, assets, business and operations of any member of the Group as any Finance Party (through the Facility Agent) may reasonably request.

 

22.9

Information: Borrowing Base Assets

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent:

 

 

(i)

promptly upon receipt by any Obligor of the same, a copy of any notice of default (howsoever called) or forfeiture served upon it under any Project Document together with details of any actions the Borrower Group proposes to take in relation to the same;

 

 

(ii)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending in relation to any Borrowing Base Asset which, if adversely determined, will have or would be reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

 

(iii)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, the details of any event or circumstance which has resulted in the production or recovery of petroleum derived from any Borrowing Base Asset being suspended or interrupted for a period of 30 consecutive days or more at any time after the first date on which the production or recovery of such petroleum derived from that Borrowing Base Asset has achieved commercial levels (excluding scheduled shutdowns);

 

 

(iv)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, details of any notice of any potential or actual material claim or any other material dispute under the then-current Project Documents;

 

 

(v)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, details of (i) any incident involving any material physical damage to a Borrowing Base Asset and (ii) any proposal for reinstatement;

 

 

(vi)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, notice of any activities or events outside of the Borrowing Base Asset contract areas which could result in a default, breach or termination right arising under any Project Document;

 

 

(vii)

promptly upon receipt, a copy of any reports or budgets or environmental reports in respect of each Borrowing Base Asset prepared by the Operator or operating committee or relevant Government authority thereof (provided that the Borrower shall only provide any information prepared by a Government authority to the extent it is authorised to do so);

 

 

(viii)

on or before the date on which that Borrowing Base Asset becomes designated as such, a budget for each Borrowing Base Asset; and thereafter, each updated budget received by the Borrower pursuant to the Project Documents (and any update in connection with the same), within five Business Days of the Borrower’s receipt of the same under the Project Documents;

 

90

 

 

(ix)

promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of the same, any other information relating to a Borrowing Base Asset or any Obligor that could reasonably be expected to change any Forecast Assumption in the current Forecast (in a material adverse respect) or impose any additional material liability on the Borrower; and

 

 

(x)

promptly upon request by any Lender, the Technical Bank or the Modelling Bank, such information as that Lender, the Technical Bank or the Modelling Bank may reasonably require in respect of a Borrowing Base Asset.

 

22.10

[*****]

 

 

(A)

[*****]

 

 

(B)

[*****]

 

 

(C)

[*****]

 

 

(D)

[*****]

 

 

(E)

[*****]

 

 

(F)

[*****]

 

91

 

 

(G)

[*****]

 

 

(i)

[*****]

 

 

(ii)

[*****]

 

 

(iii)

[*****]

 

 

(iv)

[*****]

 

 

(v)

[*****]

 

 

(vi)

[*****]

 

 

(vii)

[*****]

 

22.11

Notification of Default

 

Each Obligor shall notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) and any material default under or material breach of any Project Document promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence.

 

22.12

“Know your customer and customer due diligence requirements

 

 

(A)

If:

 

 

(i)

the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;

 

 

(ii)

any change in the status of an Obligor (or of a holding company of an Obligor) or the composition of the shareholders of an Obligor (or of a holding company of an Obligor) after the date of this Agreement; or

 

 

(iii)

a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

 

92

 

obliges any Agent, the Security Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of any Agent, the Security Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the relevant Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) the Security Agent or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for such Agent, the Security Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

 

(B)

Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent or the Security Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent or the Security Agent (for itself) in order for the Facility Agent or the Security Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

22.13

ERISA

 

Each Obligor shall:

 

 

(A)

promptly upon a request by the Facility Agent or a Lender, deliver to the Facility Agent copies of the Annual Report (IRS Form 5500 Series) including all Schedules SB with respect to each Single Employer Plan;

 

 

(B)

within seven Business Days after it or any ERISA Affiliate becomes aware that any ERISA Event has occurred or, in the case of any ERISA Event which requires advance notice under Section 4043(b)(3) of ERISA, will occur, and such ERISA Event would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, deliver to the Facility Agent a statement signed by a director or other authorized signatory of an Obligor or ERISA Affiliate describing that ERISA Event and the action, if any, taken or proposed to be taken with respect to that ERISA Event; and

 

 

(C)

copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that an Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that an Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that the Obligor or the applicable ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of such Multiemployer Plan upon written request by the Facility Agent or a Lender, and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof.

 

22.14

Use of websites

 

 

(A)

Except as provided below, each Obligor may deliver any information under this Agreement to the Facility Agent by posting it on to an electronic website if:

 

 

(i)

it maintains or has access to an electronic website for this purpose and provides the Facility Agent with the details and password to access the website and the information; and

 

 

(ii)

the information posted is in a format required by this Agreement or is otherwise agreed between each Obligor and the Facility Agent (whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

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The Facility Agent will supply each relevant Lender with the address of and password for the website.

 

 

(B)

Notwithstanding the above, the Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent in paper form a copy of any information posted on the website together with sufficient copies for:

 

 

(i)

any Lender who notifies the Facility Agent in writing (copied to each Obligor) that it does not wish to receive information via the website; and

 

 

(ii)

within 10 Business Days of request, any other Lender, if that Lender so requests.

 

 

(C)

Each Obligor shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence, notify the Facility Agent if:

 

 

(i)

the website cannot be accessed;

 

 

(ii)

the website or any information on the website is infected by any electronic virus or similar software;

 

 

(iii)

the password for the website is changed; or

 

 

(iv)

any information to be supplied under this Agreement is posted on the website or amended after being posted.

 

 

(D)

If the circumstances in paragraph (C)(i) or (C)(ii) above occur, an Obligor shall supply any information required under this Agreement in paper form until the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing and the information can be provided in accordance with paragraph (A) above.

 

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Part 9

Guarantee

 

23

Guarantee and Indemnity

 

23.1

Guarantee and indemnity

 

Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally:

 

 

(A)

guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by the Borrower of all the Borrower’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(B)

undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever the Borrower does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Guarantor shall immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and

 

 

(C)

will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify each Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability suffered by that Finance Party if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal. The amount of the cost, loss or liability shall be equal to the amount which that Finance Party would otherwise have been entitled to recover on the basis of a guarantee.

 

23.2

Continuing guarantee

 

This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.

 

23.3

Reinstatement

 

If any payment by an Obligor or any discharge given by a Finance Party (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is avoided or reduced as a result of insolvency or any similar event:

 

 

(A)

the liability of each Obligor shall continue as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or reduction had not occurred; and

 

 

(B)

each Finance Party shall be entitled to recover the value or amount of that security or payment from each Obligor, as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or reduction had not occurred.

 

23.4

Waiver of defences

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 23 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 23 (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Finance Party) including:

 

 

(A)

any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person;

 

 

(B)

the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group;

 

95

 

 

(C)

the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

 

 

(D)

any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person;

 

 

(E)

any amendment, novation, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of any Finance Document or any other document or security including without limitation any change in the purpose of, any extension of or any increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or security;

 

 

(F)

any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; or

 

 

(G)

any insolvency or similar proceedings.

 

23.5

Immediate recourse

 

Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 23. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary.

 

23.6

Appropriations

 

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

 

 

(A)

refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and

 

 

(B)

hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 23.

 

23.7

Deferral of Guarantors rights

 

 

(A)

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Facility Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising under this Clause 23:

 

 

(i)

to be indemnified by an Obligor;

 

 

(ii)

to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

96

 

 

(iii)

to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party;

 

 

(iv)

to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under Clause 23.1 (Guarantee and indemnity);

 

 

(v)

to exercise any right of set-off against any Obligor; and/or

 

 

(vi)

to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Finance Party.

 

 

(B)

If a Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it shall hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all amounts which may be or become payable to the Finance Parties by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents to be repaid in full on trust for the Finance Parties and shall promptly pay or transfer the same to the Agent or as the Agent may direct for application in accordance with Clause 31 (Payment Mechanics).

 

23.8

Additional security

 

This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party.

 

23.9

Guarantee Limitations

 

This guarantee does not apply to any liability to the extent that it would result in this guarantee constituting unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of sections 678 or 679 of the Companies Act 2006 or any equivalent and applicable provisions under the laws of the Original Jurisdiction of the relevant Guarantor and, with respect to any Additional Guarantor, is subject to any limitations set out in the Obligor Accession Deed applicable to such Additional Guarantor.

 

23.10

Limitations on guarantee under US Law

 

 

(A)

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive valuable direct or indirect benefits as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents (including utilisations thereunder).

 

 

(B)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Finance Document:

 

 

(i)

each Finance Party agrees that the maximum liability of each Guarantor under this Clause 23 (Guarantee and Indemnity) and under the other Finance Documents shall in no event exceed the amount that can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under any applicable Fraudulent Transfer Law, in each case after giving effect to:

 

    (a)          all other liabilities of such Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under such Fraudulent Transfer Law (specifically excluding, however, any liabilities of such Guarantor in respect of intercompany indebtedness to the Borrower to the extent that such intercompany indebtedness would be discharged in an amount equal to the amount paid by such Guarantor hereunder); and

 

97

 

    (b)        the value as assets of such Guarantor (as determined under the applicable provisions of such Fraudulent Transfer Law) of any rights to subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar rights held by such Guarantor pursuant to:  

 

    (I)         applicable law; or

 

    (II)        any other agreement providing for an equitable allocation among such Guarantor and the Borrower and other Guarantors of obligations arising under this Agreement or other guarantees of such obligations by such parties; and

 

 

(ii)

each party agrees that, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor under this Clause 23 (Guarantee and Indemnity), each such Guarantor shall be entitled to be indemnified from each other Guarantor, to the greatest extent permitted under applicable law and subject to the other limitations of this Clause 23.10 in an amount equal to such payment or distribution, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the contributing Guarantor and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors.

 

23.11

Excluded Swap Obligations

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the guarantee of each Guarantor under this Clause 23 (Guarantee and Indemnity) does not apply to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor (and no amount received from any Guarantor under any Finance Document shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor).

 

98

 

Part 10

Representations, Covenants, Events of Default

 

24

Representations

 

Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause to each Finance Party and acknowledges that each Finance Party has entered into the Finance Documents in full reliance on those representations and warranties.

 

24.1

Status

 

 

(A)

The Parent and the Borrower are corporations and Vaalco Gabon is a société anonyme (limited liability company), in each case, duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

 

(B)

It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

 

24.2

Binding obligations

 

Subject to the Legal Reservations, each Transaction Document to which it is a party constitutes, or will constitute when executed, its valid, legally binding and enforceable obligations in accordance with its terms.

 

24.3

Non-conflict

 

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not conflict with:

 

 

(A)

any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

 

(B)

its constitutional documents; or

 

 

(C)

any agreement binding upon it,

 

to the extent that this has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

24.4

Power and authority

 

It has (or had at the relevant time) the power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and it has the power and authority to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

24.5

Validity and admissibility

 

All Authorisations required or desirable:

 

 

(A)

to enable it to lawfully enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(B)

to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation; or

 

 

(C)

in connection with the development, construction and ownership of the Borrowing Base Assets,

 

99

 

have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect or will be obtained or effected and in full force and effect by the time they are required (where a failure to do so has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect).

 

24.6

Governing law and enforcement

 

Subject to the Legal Reservations:

 

 

(A)

the choice of the law stated to be the governing law of each Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation; and

 

 

(B)

any judgment obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document in the jurisdiction of the stated governing law of that Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

24.7

Stamp and registration duties

 

Except for any filing, registration or any tax or fee payable referred to in any legal opinion delivered pursuant to Clause 2 (Conditions Precedent), there is no stamp or registration duty or similar Tax or charge in respect of any Finance Document, which has not been made or paid within applicable time periods (where a failure to do so has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect).

 

24.8

No Default

 

No Default has occurred and is outstanding.

 

24.9

Financial Statements

 

The most recent audited financial statements and interim financial statements delivered to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 22.1 (Financial statements):

 

 

(A)

have been prepared in accordance with the relevant Approved Accounting Principles (if applicable); and

 

 

(B)

(if audited) give a true and fair view of, or (if unaudited) fairly represent, its financial condition for the relevant period.

 

24.10

Proceedings pending or threatened

 

No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding is pending or threatened which could reasonably be expected to be adversely determined against it and which, if so determined, has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

24.11

Insolvency

 

No:

 

 

(A)

corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in paragraph (A) of Clause 27.8 (Insolvency proceedings) applies; or

 

 

(B)

creditors’ process described in Clause 27.9 (Creditors process),

 

has been taken or, to the knowledge of any Obligor, threatened in writing in relation to any Obligor, or any provider of security under a Security Document and none of the circumstances described in Clause 27.7 (Insolvency) apply to any Obligor, or any provider of security under a Security Document.

 

100

 

24.12

Breach of laws

 

It has not breached any law or regulation applicable to it which has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

24.13

Compliance with environmental laws

 

 

(A)

All environmental licences required in connection with the Borrowing Base Assets and/or their exploitation have been obtained (or will be obtained by the date on which they are required) or, where an Obligor is not the Operator of a Borrowing Base Asset, it has used reasonable endeavours to procure that the relevant Operator has obtained or will obtain all environmental licences by the date on which they are required.

 

 

(B)

It and each member of the Group and (to the best of its knowledge and belief) the Operator of each Borrowing Base Asset have at all times complied with:

 

 

(i)

the environmental licences referred to in paragraph (A) above;

 

 

(ii)

all applicable environmental reports and the requirement sand recommendations set out therein; and

 

 

(iii)

all other applicable environmental laws, in all material respects.

 

 

(C)

To the best of its knowledge and belief, there is no material environmental contamination on any site connected with any Borrowing Base Asset.

 

 

(D)

There are no material environmental claims current, or to its knowledge, pending or threatened, against or connected with it, any member of the Group or any Borrowing Base Asset.

 

24.14

Security

 

 

(A)

Subject to the Legal Reservations, each Security Document when executed confers the Security Interests it purports to confer over the assets referred to in that Security Document and those assets are not subject to any other Security Interest that is not permitted pursuant to Clause 26.6 (Negative pledge).

 

 

(B)

Each Obligor that has entered into a Security Document is the legal and beneficial owner of the assets over which Security is purported to be given under such Security Document and subject to any qualifications as to matters of law set out in any legal opinions delivered in relation to such Security Document or any required perfection or registration thereof, such Security Document:

 

 

(i)

creates (or, once entered into, will create) the Security of the type it purports to create over the assets over which such Security is purported to be given and such Security is first ranking; and

 

 

(ii)

is:

 

 

(a)

valid and enforceable against that Obligor or security provider; and

 

 

(b)

not capable of being avoided or set aside whether in that Obligor’s or security provider’s winding up, administration, dissolution or otherwise.

 

101

 

 

(C)

No Security (or agreement to create the same) exists over its interest in any Borrowing Base Asset or over any of its other assets over which Security has been, or is purported to be, constituted under any Security Document, in each case, save for any Permitted Security.

 

24.15

Financial Indebtedness

 

Other than Permitted Financial Indebtedness, it does not have any Financial Indebtedness outstanding.

 

24.16

Pari passu ranking

 

Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with all its other present unsecured obligations, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.

 

24.17

Assets

 

Under and by virtue of Project Documents to which it is a party, Vaalco Gabon holds the legal and beneficial interest in a 63.575 per cent participating interest in the Field.

 

24.18

Project Documents

 

So far as it is aware having made all due and careful enquiries:

 

 

(A)

each copy of a Project Document delivered to the Facility Agent under this Agreement is true and complete; and

 

 

(B)

there is no other agreement in connection with, or arrangements which amend, supplement or affect any Project Document in any material respect.

 

24.19

Taxation

 

 

(A)

Each member of the Group has duly and punctually paid and discharged all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties (except to the extent that (i) payment is being contested in good faith, (ii) it has maintained adequate reserves for those Taxes and (iii) payment can be lawfully withheld).

 

 

(B)

No member of the Group is materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns.

 

 

(C)

No claims are being or are reasonably likely to be asserted against it with respect to Taxes.

 

24.20

Insurances

 

 

(A)

The Insurances have been placed and are in full force and effect including payment of all premiums due to be paid in the manner and to the extent required by Clause 26.28 (Insurance).

 

 

(B)

It is in full compliance with all of its material obligations under the Insurances under which it is an insured party.

 

 

(C)

No insurances are in effect under which it is insured or has any rights except those required or permitted to be effected pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

 

(D)

It has no outstanding claims under any Insurances required by Clause 26.28 (Insurance) in respect of which it is an insured party.

 

102

 

 

(E)

It has disclosed to the relevant insurers all facts, circumstances or occurrences of which it is aware which would, if not so disclosed, invalidate the Insurances.

 

24.21

Private and Commercial Acts

 

Its execution of the Finance Documents to which it is a party constitutes, and its exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations thereunder will constitute, private and commercial acts done and performed for private and commercial purposes.

 

24.22

No Immunity

 

In any proceedings taken in any relevant jurisdiction in relation to the Transaction Documents (or any of them), it shall not be entitled to claim for itself or any of its assets immunity from suit, execution or attachment or other legal process.

 

24.23

Ownership of Obligors

 

 

(A)

The issued share capital of the Borrower and Vaalco Gabon is fully paid up and free of all encumbrances or other third party rights (other than pursuant to the Security Documents).

 

 

(B)

To the extent that a member of the Group has entered into a Security Document that creates, or purports to create, a Security Interest over any shares such shares are free from any restrictions as to transfer or registration (including pursuant to the creation or enforcement of any Security Interest).

 

24.24

Sanctions

 

 

(A)

No member of the Group nor any of their directors or officers, or, to the best of its knowledge, any employees or Affiliates:

 

 

(i)

is (or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a person that is) a Sanctions Restricted Party;

 

 

(ii)

acts directly or indirectly on behalf of a Sanctions Restricted Party (other than, to the extent the same does not result in a breach of Sanctions, under a joint operating or similar agreement); or

 

 

(iii)

has received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions by any Sanctions Authority.

 

 

(B)

No member of the Group is incorporated, located or resident in a Sanctioned Country.

 

 

(C)

Each member of the Group is in compliance with all applicable Sanctions and is not to the best of its knowledge after having made careful enquiries engaged in any activities that would result in or would reasonably be expected to result in a member of the Group being designated as a Sanctions Restricted Party.

 

 

(D)

No member of the Group has, or intends to have, any business operations or other dealings:

 

 

(i)

in any Sanctioned Country;

 

 

(ii)

with any Sanctions Restricted Party or person on a Sanctions List; or

 

 

(iii)

involving commodities or services:

 

 

(a)

of a Sanctioned Country origin; or

 

103

 

 

(b)

shipped to, through, or from a Sanctioned Country or on a Sanctioned Country owned or registered vessel or aircraft.

 

 

(E)

No member of the Group will use, lend, make payments of, contribute or otherwise make available all or any part of the funds contemplated by this Agreement to fund any trade, business or other activities:

 

 

(i)

relating to, involving, or for the benefit of any Sanctions Restricted Party or Sanctioned Country; or

 

 

(ii)

in any manner that would be reasonably likely to result in a Finance Party being in breach of any Sanctions applicable to it or becoming a Sanctions Restricted Party.

 

24.25

Anti-corruption law

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor has conducted its business, and each other member of the Group has conducted its business, in compliance with applicable anti-corruption (including anti- money laundering and anti-bribery) laws and has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws, by itself, its officers, directors, employees or agents.

 

 

(B)

No Obligor and, in relation to the Transaction Documents, no other member of the Group which is a party to a Transaction Document nor any of its corporate bodies, directors, or, to the best of its knowledge, employees or agent, Affiliates, their corporate bodies, officers, employees, or agents has (have) been engaged in an activity or has (have) taken actions that could be considered as violating any anti- corruption (including anti-money laundering and anti-bribery) laws applicable in any of the jurisdictions in which each member of the Group and its Affiliates are operating.

 

 

(C)

Each member of the Group has taken and shall take at any time all measures it deems appropriate to prevent the risk of corruption, influence peddling, and, more generally, in order to prevent offences against probity by itself, its corporate bodies, officers, employees or agents as well as its Affiliates their corporate bodies, officers, employees or agents.

 

 

(D)

No member of the Group or to its knowledge, none of the above-mentioned legal entities or individuals is subject to any action, proceedings, or investigation which relates to the anti-corruption (including anti-money laundering and anti-bribery) laws applicable to it.

 

 

(E)

To the best of its knowledge and belief, no actions or investigations by any governmental or regulatory agency are ongoing or threatened against any member of the Group or any of their directors, officers, employees, associated parties or persons acting on their behalf in relation to a breach of any anti-corruption (including anti-money laundering and anti-bribery) laws applicable to it.

 

24.26

No Misleading Information

 

Save as disclosed in writing to the Facility Agent prior to the date of this Agreement (or in relation to the Information Package, prior to the date of the Information Package):

 

 

(A)

so far as it is aware having made due and careful enquiry, any factual information contained in the Information Package was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the information or, as the case may be, as at the date the information is expressed to be given;

 

104

 

 

(B)

any financial projection or forecast contained in the Information Package has been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions and was fair (as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the projection or forecast) and arrived at after careful consideration;

 

 

(C)

the expressions of opinion or intention provided by or on behalf of an Obligor for the purposes of the Information Package were made after careful consideration and (as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the expression of opinion or intention) were fair and based on reasonable grounds;

 

 

(D)

so far as it is aware having made due and careful enquiry, no event or circumstance has occurred or arisen and no information has been omitted from the Information Package and no information has been given or withheld that results in the information, opinions, intentions, forecasts or projections contained in the Information Package being untrue or misleading in any material respect as at the date of the relevant information; and

 

 

(E)

all other written information provided by any Obligor (including its advisers) to a Finance Party or the provider of any part of the Information Package was true, complete and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not misleading in any respect.

 

24.27

Forecast Assumptions and Preparation

 

 

(A)

The then-current Forecast:

 

 

(i)

is based on assumptions it considers to be reasonable at the time it is prepared;

 

 

(ii)

is consistent with the provisions of the Transaction Documents in all material respects;

 

 

(iii)

(to the extent prepared by an Obligor) has been prepared in good faith and with due care; and

 

 

(iv)

fairly represents the Obligors’ expectations as at the date that it was produced and adopted,

 

except, in the case of paragraphs (i) and (iv), to the extent that the relevant assumption has been imposed by the Technical Bank or the Majority Lenders pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

 

(B)

All information provided by, or on behalf of, the Obligors for the purposes of preparing the then-current Forecast:

 

 

(i)

in the case of any factual information, was true in all material respects as at the date it was provided;

 

 

(ii)

did not, when provided, omit any further information which, if disclosed, would make such information untrue or misleading in any material respect; and

 

105

 

 

(iii)

has been prepared and provided in good faith and with due care on the basis of recent historical information and assumptions which it considers to be reasonable as at the date such information was supplied.

 

24.28

Existence of Project Documents

 

 

(A)

Each Project Document to which it is a party constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations, except to the extent that such circumstances would not, and would not reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(B)

Each Project Document is in full force and effect, except to the extent that such circumstances would not, and would not reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(C)

All material terms of each Project Document have been complied with by the relevant Obligor and (to the best of its knowledge and belief having made due and careful enquiry) the other parties thereto, no notice of any intention to revoke or terminate any Project Document has been received by any Obligor, and neither it nor (to the best of its knowledge and belief having made due and careful enquiry) any other party thereto has repudiated or disclaimed any liability or obligation thereunder or formally given notice that it does not consider itself bound by or does not intend to comply with any provision thereof, except to the extent that such circumstances would not, and would not reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(D)

No:

 

 

(i)

steps have been taken which are likely to lead to the revocation, termination or suspension of any Authorisation referred to in Clause 24.5 (Validity and admissibility) which has been granted; or

 

 

(ii)

variation of any Authorisation referred to in Clause 24.5 (Validity and admissibility) has occurred except to the extent that such variation would not, and would not reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(E)

An Obligor owns or will at the requisite time own, or has sufficient access to and the right to use, all assets necessary for the use, possession, ownership, exploration, development, construction, operation and/or exploitation of the Borrowing Base Assets as contemplated by the Project Documents and the then-current Forecast.

 

 

(F)

No Obligor is under any obligation (other than under this Agreement) to create any Security over all or any part of a Borrowing Base Asset save for any Permitted Security.

 

24.29

US Governmental Regulation

 

 

(A)

ERISA Matters

 

 

(i)

There is no litigation, arbitration, administrative proceeding or claim pending or (to the best knowledge of each Obligor and ERISA Affiliates’ belief) threatened against or with respect to any Employee Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) which has or, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(ii)

No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur which has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

106

 

 

(B)

Investment Company Act. It is not an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 USC. §§ 80a-1 et seq.) or subject to regulation under any applicable United States federal or state law or regulation that limits its ability to incur indebtedness or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

24.30

Times for making representations

 

 

(A)

The representations set out in this Clause 24 are made by each Obligor on the date of this Agreement except for the representations and warranties set out in Clause 24.26 (No misleading Information) which are deemed to be made by each Obligor with respect to the Information Package, on the date of this Agreement and on any later date on which the Information Package (or part of it) is released to the Mandated Lead Arranger for distribution in connection with syndication.

 

 

(B)

The representations and warranties in Clause 24.27 (Forecast Assumptions and Preparation) are deemed to be made on the date each Forecast is adopted and the representation and warranties in Clause 22.10 (Group Liquidity Test) are deemed to be made on the date each Group Cash Flow Projection is delivered to the Facility Agent.

 

 

(C)

Each Repeating Representation is deemed to be repeated by each Obligor on the date of each Utilisation Request, each Utilisation Date and on the first day of each Interest Period.

 

 

(D)

When a representation is repeated, it is applied to the facts and circumstances existing at the time of repetition.

 

25

Financial Covenants

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall ensure that:

 

 

(i)

on any Calculation Date (each such date a “Financial Covenant Test Date”), the ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt to EBITDAX for the period of 12 months ending on that Calculation Date shall not exceed 3.0x; and

 

 

(ii)

at all times, the Consolidated Cash and Cash Equivalents shall not be lower than USD 10,000,000 (the “Minimum Cash Covenant”).

 

 

(B)

The financial covenants set out in this Clause 25 shall be calculated in accordance with the US GAAP and tested by reference to each of the financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 22.1(A) or Clause 22.1(C) (Financial Statements) (as applicable).

 

 

(C)

Upon each date that the Parent delivers financial statements pursuant to Clause 22.1(A) or Clause 22.1(C), the Parent shall send to the Facility Agent a certificate signed by two authorised representatives setting out its calculation of the financial ratios referred to in this Clause 25 as at the relevant Calculation Date.

 

26

General Undertakings

 

The undertakings in this Clause shall remain in force from the date of this Agreement until the Discharge Date.

 

107

 

26.1

Corporate existence

 

Each Obligor shall maintain its corporate or other existence (as the case may be) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or establishment and no Obligor may change its corporate or other domicile, or attempt to resolve to do so.

 

26.2

Authorisations

 

Each Obligor shall promptly:

 

 

(A)

obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and

 

 

(B)

supply certified copies to the Facility Agent upon request of,

 

any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of any relevant jurisdiction to enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is a party and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of those Finance Documents in each relevant jurisdiction.

 

26.3

Compliance with laws

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor shall (and the Borrower shall ensure that each member of the Borrower Group shall) comply with all laws and regulations (including compliance with environmental laws, permits and licences and compliance with the Equator Principles) applicable to it where failure to do so has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(B)

Each Obligor shall (and the Borrower shall ensure that each member of the Group shall) ensure that all reasonable safeguards are taken to prevent environmental contamination and in particular (without prejudice to the foregoing) shall:

 

 

(i)

obtain and maintain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all material environmental permits applicable to the Group and all other applicable environmental laws;

 

 

(ii)

promptly upon receipt of the same, notify the Facility Agent of any material claim, notice or other communication served on any member of the Group in respect of any alleged breach of or corrective or remedial obligation or liability under any environmental law; and

 

 

(iii)

act diligently to remedy any material breach of any environmental law or where any material environmental contamination occurs in relation to a Borrowing Base Asset.

 

 

(C)

Each Obligor shall (and the Borrower shall procure that each member of the Group shall) take such actions as the Facility Agent on the instructions of any Lender (acting reasonably) may require to ensure compliance by such Lender with the Equator Principles to the satisfaction of such Lender (acting reasonably).

 

26.4

Pari passu ranking

 

Each Obligor shall ensure that at all times its payment obligations to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu as to priority of payment with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated Financial Indebtedness, except for claims mandatorily preferred by operation of law applying generally.

 

108

 

26.5

Security

 

Subject to Clause 26.25 (Security Documents: consents, ranking and perfection), each Obligor shall undertake all actions reasonably necessary (including the making or delivery of filings and payment of fees) to maintain the Security Interests under the Security Documents to which it is a party in full force and effect (including the priority thereof).

 

26.6

Negative pledge

 

Other than Permitted Security, an Obligor shall not create or permit to exist any Security Interest over any of its assets.

 

26.7

Conduct of other business

 

No Obligor shall (and the Borrower shall procure that no member of the Borrower Group shall) conduct any business other than activities in connection with, or related, ancillary, or incidental to, its interests in the Borrowing Base Assets or its interests in any other Petroleum Assets.

 

26.8

Disposals

 

Other than Permitted Disposals, an Obligor shall not, either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions and whether related or not, dispose of all or part of any Borrowing Base Asset or any interests therein or any of its shareholdings in any person holding any interest (whether directly or indirectly) in any Borrowing Base Asset.

 

26.9

Financial Indebtedness

 

Other than Permitted Financial Indebtedness, an Obligor shall not incur any Financial Indebtedness.

 

26.10

Material contracts

 

No Obligor will enter into any contract or agreement that imposes material obligations on it except:

 

 

(A)

contracts or agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and on arm’s length terms;

 

 

(B)

contracts or agreements relating to a Permitted Disposal and entered into on arm’s length terms;

 

 

(C)

the Project Documents and contracts and agreements required or contemplated therein or in respect of the development and implementation of the Obligors’ interest in the Borrowing Base Assets;

 

 

(D)

contracts or agreements otherwise permitted or contemplated by the Finance Documents;

 

 

(E)

where the obligations and liabilities of the Obligor thereunder are fully funded by Permitted Financial Indebtedness or equity contributions; or

 

 

(F)

with the approval of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably).

 

26.11

Guarantees

 

Except in the case of Permitted Financial Indebtedness, no Obligor may, without the approval of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably), enter into guarantees or indemnities in respect of obligations or liabilities of any other person (excluding Obligors).

 

109

 

26.12

Mergers

 

No Obligor may enter into any amalgamation, consolidation, demerger, merger or reconstruction or winding-up without the consent of the Majority Lenders, except on a solvent basis and in circumstances where the Obligor remains the legal entity following such amalgamation, consolidation, demerger, merger, reconstruction or winding-up.

 

26.13

Loans

 

 

(A)

Except as provided in paragraph (B) below, no Obligor may be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness.

 

 

(B)

Paragraph (A) above does not apply to:

 

 

(i)

any credit which constitutes Permitted Financial Indebtedness including on- lending the proceeds of any Permitted Financial Indebtedness;

 

 

(ii)

any credit provided under a Project Document;

 

 

(iii)

any trade credit in the ordinary course of day to day business; or

 

 

(iv)

any other credit approved by the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably).

 

26.14

Operation

 

As far as it is able to do so by exercising its rights under a Project Document to which it is a party, each Obligor will use its reasonable endeavours to procure that the Borrowing Base Assets are developed, operated and maintained in all material respects in accordance with the terms of that Project Document and applicable law and in accordance with Good Industry Practice.

 

26.15

Compliance with Project Documents

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor shall perform and comply with its obligations under the Project Documents to which it is a party where failure to do so has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(B)

In the event an Obligor fails to pay any sum due under any Project Document it shall take such steps as shall be reasonably available to it so as to permit such payment to be made on its behalf by any Finance Party or any person acting on behalf of any Finance Party.

 

26.16

[*****]

 

 

(A)

[*****]

 

 

(i)

[*****]

 

 

(ii)

[*****]

 

 

(B)

[*****]

 

110

 

 

(C)

[*****]

 

 

(D)

[*****]

 

 

(E)

[*****]

 

26.17

Borrowing Base Assets

 

Each Borrowing Base Asset shall be at all times be owned (directly or indirectly) by an Obligor.

 

26.18

Project Documents

 

 

(A)

No Obligor will agree to any amendment, waiver or termination of a Project Document which has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, or approve or vote in favour of any work programme, budget or development plan which would commit an Obligor to expenditure which it would not be able to meet from funds available to it, after taking account of forecast Project Costs and Financing Costs.

 

 

(B)

In the event that an Obligor has an obligation under a Project Document to make a payment in respect of a Project Cost because of the default by another party in paying its share of the relevant Project Cost, then the Obligor shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of the additional payment obligation (including reasonable details of how it arose and any steps being taken by the parties in relation to the relevant default and such other additional information as the Facility Agent may reasonably request). In such an event, the Facility Agent will have the right (acting reasonably) to request a Group Liquidity Test to be performed.

 

 

(C)

Each Obligor shall:

 

 

(i)

ensure that none of its rights under or in respect of any of the Project Documents are at any time terminated, suspended or limited in any material respect (except in respect of the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement in the manner disclosed to the Facility Agent prior to the date of this Agreement);

 

 

(ii)

not agree to any assignment or transfer of any rights or obligations under any Project Documents (other than a Permitted Security); and

 

 

(iii)

exercise its rights, and (so far as within its power) ensure that others exercise their respective rights, under and in respect of the Project Documents in all material respects consistently with its obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

111

 

26.19

Taxes and Royalties

 

Each Obligor shall (and the Borrower shall procure that each member of the Group shall):

 

 

(A)

comply in all material respects with all material Tax and social security laws and regulations applicable to it, any Borrowing Base Asset or any activity related to a Borrowing Base Asset;

 

 

(B)

pay and discharge all material Taxes, social security contributions, assessments and governmental charges prior to the date on which the same shall become overdue unless and to the extent that:

 

 

(i)

such payment shall be contested by any of them in good faith by appropriate means; and

 

 

(ii)

where required under applicable accounting principles or local law, adequate reserves are being maintained with respect to any such Taxes, assessments or governmental charges (as applicable) and the costs required to contest them;

 

 

(C)

pay all royalties as the same fall due for payment;

 

 

(D)

file all income tax returns and all other material tax and social security returns and reports required to be filed by it within the period required by law (taking into account extensions of time to file) and ensure that such returns and reports accurately reflect its liabilities for Taxes and/or social security contributions for the periods covered thereby;

 

 

(E)

duly, punctually and timely levy and pay as prescribed by law all material withholding Taxes and social security withholdings;

 

 

(F)

apply all tax credits, losses, reliefs and allowances taken into account in the Forecast in the manner at the time and to the extent they were so taken into account;

 

 

(G)

not change its residence for Tax purposes without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent; and

 

 

(H)

not enter into any tax sharing or grouping arrangement with or surrender any tax losses to, any other party, other than with the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (acting reasonably).

 

26.20

Permitted Acquisitions

 

No Obligor may, without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably)), make any acquisition of, or investment in, any Petroleum Asset or any entity that holds interest in a Petroleum Asset, in each case, which is not a Permitted Acquisition.

 

26.21

[*****]

 

[*****]

 

 

(A)

[*****]

 

 

(i)

[*****]

 

112

 

 

(a)

[*****]

 

 

(b)

[*****]

 

 

(I)

[*****]

 

 

(II)

[*****]

 

 

(III)

[*****]

 

 

(ii)

[*****]

 

 

(a)

[*****]

 

 

(b)

[*****]

 

 

(c)

[*****]

 

 

(B)

[*****]

 

113

 

26.22

Constitutional documents

 

No Obligor whose shares are the subject of a Security Document will agree to any amendment to any of its constitutional documents in a manner that could adversely affect the interests of the Finance Parties.

 

26.23

Further assurance

 

Each Obligor shall, at its own expense, promptly do all things, take all such action and execute all such other documents and instruments as may be requested by the Facility Agent from time to time and to the extent they are reasonably required or necessary for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Finance Documents and for the purpose of perfecting, ensuring the priority of and protecting the Lenders’ rights with respect to the Security Interests which are required to be created or perfected by the Finance Documents when required thereunder.

 

26.24

Lenders custody of documents

 

 

(A)

Each Finance Party undertakes that it shall not deliver any Finance Document or any other document or agreement into a country that would result in such Finance Document, other document or agreement (or any party to it) becoming subject to (or liable for payment of) any stamp duty, documentary taxes or any other similar tax, charge or impost (or impose any obligation upon a member of the Group to reimburse any other person for such a payment).

 

 

(B)

Paragraph (A) above shall not apply to the Security Agent or to any other Finance Party at any time at which such Finance Party: (i) has a right to take Enforcement Action; (ii) has the written consent of the Borrower; or (iii) is required to deliver such Finance Document or other document or agreement by any order or a court or regulatory authority or other legal or regulatory requirement.

 

26.25

Security Documents: consents, ranking and perfection

 

 

(A)

No Obligor shall be required to grant any assignment of rights under any contract, or Security Interest over any asset (including contracts and rights), where the consent of any Government or any governmental body, regulatory body or state-owned or controlled company or enterprise is required for the granting of such assignment or Security Interest.

 

 

(B)

With the exception of those consents referred to in paragraph (A) above, each Obligor shall use reasonable endeavours to seek any other third-party consents required in relation to any relevant Security Document, provided that the obtaining of such consent shall not be a condition precedent to any Utilisation of the Facility and provided that there shall be no fixed date by which such consent has to be obtained.

 

 

(C)

Each Obligor shall use reasonable endeavours to obtain acknowledgments to any notices of assignment served in relation to any relevant Security Document, provided that receipt of such acknowledgments shall not be a condition precedent to any Utilisation of the Facility.

 

 

(D)

Where required by the terms of any agreement which is binding upon any Obligor, any Security Interest granted in favour of the Secured Creditors shall be subordinated to the interests of the parties under such agreement.

 

114

 

26.26

Application of the Loans

 

 

(A)

No Obligor shall (and shall ensure that no other member of the Group shall) permit or authorise any other person to, directly or indirectly, use, lend, make payments of, contribute or otherwise make available, all or any part of the proceeds of any Loan or other transaction(s) contemplated by this Agreement to fund or facilitate any trade, business or other activities:

 

 

(i)

relating to, involving, or for the benefit of any Sanctions Restricted Party or Sanctioned Country; and/or

 

 

(ii)

in any other manner that would reasonably be expected to result in any member of the Group, or a Finance Party or its Affiliate incorporated or established in the United States of America being in breach of any Sanctions (if and to the extent applicable to any of them) or becoming a Sanctions Restricted Party.

 

 

(B)

No Obligor shall (and shall ensure that no other member of the Group shall) fund all or part of any payment under the Facility out of proceeds derived, directly or indirectly, from any trade, business or other activities with a Sanctions Restricted Party or Sanctioned Country or in any other manner that would reasonably be expected to result in any member of the Group, or a Finance Party or its Affiliate incorporated or established in the United States of America being in breach of any Sanctions (if and to the extent applicable to any of them) or becoming a Sanctions Restricted Party.

 

 

(C)

Each Obligor shall (and shall procure that each member of the Group shall) comply with Sanctions and maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure such compliance.

 

26.27

Anti-corruption law

 

 

(A)

No Borrower shall (and the Borrower shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Facility for any purpose which would breach, or cause a Finance Party to breach, the Bribery Act 2010, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or other similar legislation applicable to it or the Finance Parties.

 

 

(B)

Each Obligor shall (and the Borrower shall ensure that each other member of the Group will):

 

 

(i)

conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws and regulations; and

 

 

(ii)

maintains and enforces policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and regulations.

 

 

(C)

Each Obligor confirms no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving that Obligor with respect to anti-corruption and anti- money laundering laws is pending and, to the best of that Obligor’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated.

 

115

 

26.28

Insurance

 

 

(A)

Each Obligor shall:

 

 

(i)

take out and maintain (or cause to be taken out and maintained by the operator of the relevant Borrowing Base Asset), with respect to the Borrowing Base Assets and all activities relating thereto, all Insurances in such amounts and on such terms and against such risks as would be taken out by prudent owners and/or operators (acting in accordance with Good Industry Practice) of comparable assets and/or carrying out comparable activities in the region in which the relevant Borrowing Base Assets are located or the relevant activities are taking place in accordance with the relevant Project Document;

 

 

(ii)

not do, or knowingly permit anything to be done, which may make any insurance policy required pursuant to this Agreement void, voidable, unavailable or unenforceable or render any sums which may be paid out under such Insurance policies repayable in whole or in part;

 

 

(iii)

procure that the Security Agent (for and on behalf of the Secured Creditors) is named as additional insured and loss payee in relation to any insurances required to be taken out and maintained by that Obligor under paragraph (i) above; and

 

 

(iv)

ensure that any Insurance Proceeds received by it for the purposes of replacing, reinstating and/or repairing assets comprised within any Borrowing Base Asset are promptly applied for the purposes of replacing, reinstating and/or repairing such assets, unless otherwise agreed by the Majority Lenders.

 

 

(B)

On an annual basis, the Borrower shall deliver a certificate to the Facility Agent, which is addressed to the Finance Parties from the Group’s insurance broker confirming, among other things, that (a) the Insurances are in place, effective and consistent with industry practice and (b) there are no overdue billed premiums.

 

26.29

Preservation of Assets

 

Each Obligor shall maintain and preserve all of its assets that are necessary for the conduct of its business, as conducted at the date of this Agreement, in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

26.30

Access

 

Each Obligor shall ensure that each member of the Group whose shares are the subject of the Transaction Security will upon reasonable notice:

 

 

(A)

on request of the Facility Agent, provide the Facility Agent and Security Agent with any information the Facility Agent or Security Agent may reasonably require about that company's business and affairs, the assets subject to the Security Documents and its compliance with the terms of the Security Documents; and

 

 

(B)

permit the Security Agent, its representatives, delegates, professional advisers and contractors, free access at all reasonable times and on reasonable notice at the cost of the Finance Parties (other than the Security Agent) (i) to inspect and take copies and extracts from the books, accounts and records of that company and (ii) to view the assets subject to the Security Documents (without becoming liable as mortgagee in possession).

 

116

 

26.31

Share capital

 

No Obligor whose shares are subject to a Security Document shall:

 

 

(A)

purchase, reduce, cancel, repay, redeem, subdivide, consolidate or reclassify any of its share capital;

 

 

(B)

issue any shares or grant or allow to subsist any right (including options, warrants or convertible securities) to acquire or be issued any of its shares other than in favour of the person which has entered into the relevant Security Document;

 

 

(C)

alter the nature of, or any rights attaching to, any of its shares in a manner which would be adverse to the interests of the Lenders; or

 

 

(D)

take any step having an analogous effect to any of the steps described in paragraphs (A) to (C) above,

 

except as permitted under the relevant Security Document.

 

26.32

Conditions subsequent

 

 

(A)

The Borrower shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event by 30 June 2022 provide to the Facility Agent an amendment to the Shareholder Loan Agreement whereby the Borrower and Vaalco Gabon agree to extend the maturity date of any loan made under the Shareholder Loan Agreement beyond the Final Maturity Date.

 

 

(B)

Vaalco Gabon shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of the termination of the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement and shall, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 20 Business Days of the termination of the Etame Field Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement enter into the Commercial Contracts Security Agreement, on terms satisfactory to the Security Agent.

 

 

(C)

The Obligor shall:

 

 

(i)

within 45 days from the date of the respective documents, provide to the Facility Agent evidence that each of this Agreement, the Gabonese Law Security Agreement, the Onshore Account Bank Agreement and the Shareholder Loan Agreement (as amended in accordance with Clause 26.32(A) above, the “Amended Shareholder Loan Agreement”) has been duly filed with the relevant Gabonese tax authorities;

 

 

(ii)

within 15 days from the date of its receipt of the duly stamped documents from the relevant Gabonese tax authorities, provide to the Security Agent, evidence that the Gabonese Law Security Agreement has been presented for registration with the relevant Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier, in Gabon; and

 

 

(iii)

within 120 days from the date of the respective documents, provide to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent evidence of completion of all formalities with the relevant Gabonese tax authorities and the relevant Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier in Gabon in respect of each of this Agreement, the Gabonese Law Security Agreement, the Onshore Account Bank Agreement and the Amended Shareholder Loan Agreement.

 

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27

Events of Default

 

Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause is an Event of Default (save for Clause 27.21 (Acceleration)) unless otherwise stated.

 

27.1

Non-payment

 

An Obligor does not pay any amount payable by it to any Finance Party under the Finance Documents in the manner and on the date required under the Finance Documents within five Business Days of its due date.

 

27.2

Breach of Financial Covenants

 

The Borrower does not comply with the provisions of the Financial Covenants, provided that where the Minimum Cash Covenant has been breached and the Borrower can demonstrate that this breach has been caused by the effect of working capital fluctuations, the Borrower shall have 45 days from the date on which it is aware of the non-compliance within which to remedy any such breach and demonstrate satisfaction of the Minimum Cash Covenant.

 

27.3

Funding shortfall

 

 

(A)

Subject to paragraph (B) below, any Group Cash Flow Projection delivered pursuant to Clause 22.10 (Group Liquidity Test) demonstrates non-compliance with the Group Liquidity Test unless within 10 Business Days of the delivery of the relevant Group Cash Flow Projection, the Borrower has delivered to the Facility Agent a reasonable plan to remedy the non-compliance and within 30 days of the delivery of the relevant Group Cash Flow Projection (the “Relevant Cure Period”) the Borrower has delivered a revised Group Cash Flow Projection evidencing compliance with the Group Liquidity Test by:

 

 

(i)

a new equity injection in compliance with the Finance Documents (with such revised Group Cash Flow Projection being recalculated on the basis that the total net debt of the Group shall be deemed to be decreased by an amount equal to the new equity injection in relation to the relevant 12-month period); and/or

 

 

(ii)

the Group establishing a revised expenditure plan acceptable to the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably),

 

provided that the remedial actions described in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above may not be used on more than three occasions prior to the Final Maturity Date or on more than two consecutive occasions.

 

 

(B)

No Event of Default shall occur pursuant to paragraph (A) above if the Borrower delivers, no later than the last day of the Relevant Cure Period, a revised Group Cash Flow Projection which demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably) compliance with the Group Liquidity Test (and the Borrower shall be under no obligation to procure the remedial actions described in paragraphs (A)(i) and (A)(ii) above in such circumstances).

 

27.4

Breach of other obligations

 

An Obligor does not comply with any other provision of the Finance Documents (other than those described in Clauses 27.1 (Non-payment) and 27.2 (Breach of Financial Covenants)), unless the non-compliance is:

 

 

(A)

capable of remedy; and

 

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(B)

remedied within 15 Business Days of the earlier of the Facility Agent giving notice or the Obligor becoming aware of the non-compliance.

 

27.5

Misrepresentation

 

Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made (or, in the case of a representation or statement that contains a materiality concept, is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any respect when made or deemed to be made), unless the misrepresentation is:

 

 

(A)

capable of remedy; and

 

 

(B)

remedied within 15 Business Days of the earlier of the Facility Agent giving notice or the relevant Obligor becoming aware of the misrepresentation,

 

provided that paragraphs (A) and (B) above will not apply to any representation made or deemed to be made by an Obligor under Clause 24.24 (Sanctions) and Clause 24.25 (Anti- corruption law).

 

27.6

Cross-default

 

 

(A)

Any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor is not paid when due nor within any applicable grace period.

 

 

(B)

Any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described) and such amount is not paid when due.

 

 

(C)

Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of any Obligor as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

 

(D)

Any creditor of any Obligor becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

 

(E)

No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 27.6 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraph (A) to (D) above is less than USD 5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

27.7

Insolvency

 

 

(A)

Any of the following occurs in respect of an Obligor:

 

 

(i)

it is, or is deemed for the purposes of any law to be unable to, or admits its inability to, pay its debts as they fall due or is or becomes insolvent or a moratorium is declared in relation to its indebtedness generally;

 

 

(ii)

it stops or suspends or threatens to suspend or announces an intention to stop or suspend making payment of all or any class of its debts as they fall due in default of the obligation to make the relevant payment;

 

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(iii)

by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, it commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors (excluding any Finance Party in its capacity as such) with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

 

(B)

The value of the assets of any Obligor is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities).

 

 

(C)

A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Obligor (it being understood that if a moratorium occurs, the ending of the moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default caused by that moratorium).

 

27.8

Insolvency proceedings

 

Any of the following occurs in respect of an Obligor:

 

 

(A)

a written resolution is passed or a resolution is passed at a meeting of its shareholders, directors or other officers to petition for or to file documents with a court or any registrar for its winding-up, administration or dissolution;

 

 

(B)

any person presents a petition, or files documents with a court or any registrar for its winding-up, administration or dissolution;

 

 

(C)

an order for its winding-up, administration or dissolution is made;

 

 

(D)

any liquidator, provisional liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or similar officer is appointed in respect of it or any material part of its assets;

 

 

(E)

a moratorium is declared in relation to its indebtedness;

 

 

(F)

its shareholders, directors or other officers request the appointment of, or give notice of their intention to appoint a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, provisional liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or similar officer;

 

 

(G)

any composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement is made with any of its creditors;

 

 

(H)

the filing of an involuntary proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States seeking relief under US Bankruptcy Law and either such proceeding shall continue undismissed for 60 consecutive days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered or any Obligor shall consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any such involuntary proceeding;

 

 

(I)

the filing by an Obligor of a voluntary petition under US Bankruptcy Law; or

 

 

(J)

any other analogous step or procedure is taken in any jurisdiction.

 

27.9

Creditors process

 

Any attachment, sequestration, distress, execution or analogous event affects any asset(s) of an Obligor, having an aggregate value of at least USD 2,500,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies), and is not discharged within 21 days.

 

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27.10

Unlawfulness and Invalidity of the Finance Documents and Project Documents

 

 

(A)

All or any part of a Finance Document is not, or ceases to be, a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of an Obligor.

 

 

(B)

Following its execution, all or any part of a Project Document is not or ceases to be, a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of an Obligor in circumstances which have or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(C)

Following its execution, all or any part of a Project Document is suspended, terminated or revoked or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect in circumstances which have or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(D)

Any Security Document is not in full force and effect or does not create in favour of the Security Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors the Security which it is expressed to create with the ranking and priority it is expressed to have.

 

27.11

Cessation of Business

 

An Obligor ceases, or threatens to cease, all or a substantial part of its business (as carried on the date of this Agreement).

 

27.12

Abandonment

 

A Borrowing Base Asset is abandoned (other than as a consequence of unsuccessful exploration activities) in whole or in part and where such abandonment has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

27.13

Expropriation

 

 

(A)

The authority or ability of an Obligor to conduct its business with respect to any Borrowing Base Asset is limited or wholly or substantially curtailed by any seizure, expropriation, nationalisation, intervention, restriction or other action by or on behalf of any Authority or an Authority announces its intention in writing to do any of the foregoing and the same has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(B)

All or part of any Borrowing Base Asset or all or part of the shares of any Obligor or any Hydrocarbons or revenues from the sale of Hydrocarbons derived or to be derived from any Borrowing Base Asset is or are seized, expropriated, nationalised or compulsorily acquired by any Authority (as defined in paragraph (A) above) or any Authority announces its intention to do any of the foregoing.

 

27.14

Cessation of Production

 

 

(A)

Any of the following occurs:

 

 

(i)

there has been an unplanned interruption or an unplanned suspension, in each case of the production or recovery of any petroleum derived from or relating to any Borrowing Base Asset for a continuous period of 60 days (or more) (provided that such 60 day period shall be extended on a day for day basis for up to a 30 day period if and for so long as the balance standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account exceeds two times the Required Balance); or

 

 

(ii)

all or a part of a Borrowing Base Asset or any equipment, rigs or vessels required to effectively exploit a Borrowing Base Asset, are destroyed or significantly damaged and, in each case, this has, or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(B)

No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 27.14 in the case of an unplanned interruption or an unplanned suspension, the consequences of which have been fully taken into account in the then-current Forecast.

 

27.15

Repudiation and Rescission

 

 

(A)

An Obligor rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or evidences an intention to rescind or repudiate a Finance Document in a way which is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole.

 

 

(B)

Any material Project Document or any material Authorisation relating to a Borrowing Base Asset is revoked, relinquished, rescinded, repudiated, terminated, varied (unless such variation is otherwise permitted under this Agreement) or otherwise ceases to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable and such event has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(C)

Any Authorisation relating to the CEMAC FX Regulation is not obtained or, once obtained, is revoked, relinquished, rescinded, repudiated, terminated, varied (unless such variation is otherwise permitted under this Agreement) or otherwise ceases to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable.

 

27.16

Litigation

 

Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or disputes are commenced or threatened, or any judgement or order of a court, arbitral tribunal or other tribunal or any order or sanction (other than any Sanctions) of any governmental or other regulatory body is made, in relation to the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents or against any Obligor or that Obligor’s assets which have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

27.17

Breach or Termination of Project Documents

 

Any party to a Project Document, following its execution, defaults under that Project Document or terminates a Project Document in circumstances which has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect (it being agreed that any non- delivery by Vaalco Gabon under a Commercial Contract would have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

27.18

Material Adverse Effect

 

Any event which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably), has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

27.19

ERISA

 

Any ERISA Event occurs which has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

27.20

Audit qualification

 

The auditors of any Obligor qualify any of its financial statements provided pursuant to Clause 22.1 (Financial statements) in a manner which is material and adverse.

 

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27.21

Acceleration

 

 

(A)

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, on and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, other than an Event of Default referred to in clause (B) below, the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower:

 

 

(i)

cancel the Total Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled;

 

 

(ii)

declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable;

 

 

(iii)

declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Facility Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or

 

 

(iv)

exercise or direct the Security Agent to exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under any of the Finance Documents.

 

 

(B)

if an Event of Default occurs under Clause27.8(H) or Clause 27.8(I):

 

 

(i)

the Total Commitments shall immediately be cancelled; and

 

 

(ii)

all of the Loans, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents, shall be immediately due and payable;

 

in each case automatically and without any direction, notice, declaration or other act.

 

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Part 11

Changes to Lenders and Obligors and Roles

 

28

Changes to the Lenders

 

28.1

Assignments and transfers and changes in Facility Office by the Lenders

 

Subject to this Clause, a Lender (the “Existing Lender”) may:

 

 

(A)

(i)          assign any of its rights; or

 

 

(ii)

transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations,

 

to an Affiliate, another Lender, an Affiliate of another Lender, another bank or financial institution, or a trust or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets or such other institution as the Borrower may agree in writing (the “New Lender”), or

 

 

(B)

change its Facility Office.

 

28.2

Conditions of assignment and transfer or change in Facility Office

 

 

(A)

No consent of the Borrower is required for an assignment or transfer by an Existing Lender.

 

 

(B)

No consent of the Borrower is required for a change in Facility Office. The Lender will notify the Borrower of the new Facility Office promptly on the change taking effect.

 

 

(C)

An assignment will only be effective on:

 

 

(i)

receipt by the Facility Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender;

 

 

(ii)

the New Lender entering into the documentation required for it to accede as a party to the relevant Finance Documents; and

 

 

(iii)

performance by the Facility Agent and the Security Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to such assignment to a New Lender (such checks not to be unreasonably held or delayed), the completion of which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.

 

 

(D)

A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer) is complied with.

 

 

(E)

If:

 

 

(i)

a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and

 

 

(ii)

as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 13 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnities) or Clause 14 (Increased Costs),

 

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then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.

 

 

(F)

Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Facility Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with the Finance Documents on or prior to the date on which the transfer or assignment becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement.

 

 

(G)

The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute an assignment agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assignment to such New Lender.

 

28.3

Assignment or transfer fee

 

The New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) a fee of USD 2,500.

 

28.4

Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders

 

 

(A)

Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:

 

 

(i)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents or any other documents;

 

 

(ii)

the financial condition of any Obligor;

 

 

(iii)

the performance and observance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or

 

 

(iv)

the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document,

 

and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.

 

 

(B)

Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

 

 

(i)

has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in the Facility and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

 

(ii)

will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

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(C)

Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

 

(i)

accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause; or

 

 

(ii)

support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or otherwise.

 

28.5

Procedure for transfer

 

 

(A)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 28.2 (Conditions of assignment and transfer or change in Facility Office) a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (C) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.

 

 

(B)

The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

 

(C)

Subject to Clause 28.10 (Pro rata interest settlement), on the Transfer Date:

 

 

(i)

to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents, each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the “Discharged Rights and Obligations”);

 

 

(ii)

each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender;

 

 

(iii)

the Facility Agent, each Mandated Lead Arranger, the New Lender and the other Finance Parties shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent such Finance Parties and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

 

(iv)

the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender”.

 

28.6

Procedure for assignment

 

 

(A)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 28.2 (Conditions of assignment and transfer or change in Facility Office) an assignment may be effected in accordance with paragraph (C) below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent shall, subject to paragraph (B) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement.

 

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(B)

The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assignment to such New Lender.

 

 

(C)

Subject to Clause 28.10 (Pro rata interest settlement), on the Transfer Date:

 

 

(i)

the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender the rights under the Finance Documents expressed to be the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement;

 

 

(ii)

the Existing Lender will be released by each Obligor and the other Finance Parties from the obligations owed by it (the "Relevant Obligations") and expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment Agreement; and

 

 

(iii)

the New Lender shall become a Party as a "Lender" and will be bound by obligations equivalent to the Relevant Obligations.

 

 

(D)

Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this Clause 28.6 to assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the relevant Obligor or unless in accordance with Clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer), to obtain a release by that Obligor from the obligations owed to that Obligor by the Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New Lender) provided that they comply with the conditions set out in Clause 28.2 (Conditions of assignment and transfer or change in Facility Office).

 

28.7

Copy of Transfer Certificate to the Borrower

 

The Facility Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or a Lender Accession Notice, send to the Borrower a copy of that Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Lender Accession Notice.

 

28.8

Disclosure of information

 

 

(A)

Any Finance Party, its officers and agents may disclose to any of its Affiliates (including its head office, representative and branch offices in any jurisdiction) (each a “Permitted Party”) and:

 

 

(i)

to any person (or through) whom that Finance Party assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (or any adviser on a need to know basis advising such person on any of the foregoing);

 

 

(ii)

to a professional adviser or a service provider of the Permitted Parties on a need to know basis advising such person on the rights and obligations under the Finance Documents or to an auditor of any Permitted Party on a need to know basis;

 

 

(iii)

with (or through) whom that Finance Party enters into (or may potentially enter into) any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to, this Agreement or any Obligor (or any adviser of any of the foregoing on a need to know basis advising such person on the rights and obligations under the Finance Documents);

 

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(iv)

to any person appointed by that Finance Party to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents (including in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents) only on a need to know basis;

 

 

(v)

to any rating agency (provided only general terms are disclosed in relation to the rating of a portfolio of assets), insurer or insurance broker, a direct or indirect provider of credit protection in respect of the Finance Party’s participation in the Facility only on a need to know basis;

 

 

(vi)

to whom and to the extent that information is required to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation;

 

 

(vii)

subject to paragraph (B) below, to whom and to the extent that information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes;

 

 

(viii)

to any other party to this Agreement; or

 

 

(ix)

to any person with the consent of the Borrower,

 

any information about any Obligor, the Group and the Finance Documents as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if, in relation to paragraphs (i) to (iv) and (ix) above, the person to whom the information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking (unless such person is already subject to professional confidentiality requirements which are no less stringent than those which are set out in a Confidentiality Undertaking) and provided that it shall itself ensure that all such information is kept confidential and is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

 

 

(B)

If a Finance Party is required to make any disclosure in accordance with paragraph (A)(viii) above, it shall promptly notify the Borrower upon becoming aware of that requirement, save that there shall be no requirement to notify (1) where prohibited under law or regulation, (2) where prohibited under the applicable rules relating to the relevant procedure or situation described in paragraph (A)(vii) above, or (3) where notification would prejudice the position of the Finance Party under the relevant procedure or situation described in paragraph (A)(vii) above.

 

 

(C)

Nothing in any Finance Document shall prevent disclosure of any confidential information or other matter to the extent that preventing that disclosure would otherwise cause any transaction contemplated by the Finance Documents or any transaction carried out in connection with any transaction contemplated by the Finance Documents to become an arrangement described in Part II A 1 of Annex IV of Directive 2011/16/EU (DAC6).

 

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28.9

Security over Lenders rights

 

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 28, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create any Security Interest in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

 

 

(A)

any charge, assignment or other Security Interest to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

 

 

(B)

in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security Interest granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

 

except that no such charge, assignment or Security Interest shall:

 

 

(i)

release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security Interest for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

 

(ii)

require any payments to be made by an Obligor other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

28.10

Pro rata interest settlement

 

 

(A)

If the Facility Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a “pro rata basis” to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer) or any assignment pursuant to Clause 28.6 (Procedure for assignment) the Transfer Date of which is after the date of such notification and is not on the last day of an Interest Period):

 

 

(i)

any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date (“Accrued Amounts”) and shall become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Interest Period (or, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six Monthly intervals after the first day of that Interest Period); and

 

 

(ii)

the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts, so that, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

 

(a)

when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable to the Existing Lender; and

 

 

(b)

the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 28.10, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

 

 

(B)

In this Clause 28.10 references to “Interest Period” shall be construed to include a reference to any other period for accrual of fees.

 

An Existing Lender which retains the right to the Accrued Amounts pursuant to this Clause 28.10 but which does not have a Commitment shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote of Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

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28.11

Sub-Participations

 

In the event that any Lender sells sub-participations in a Loan, such Lender shall, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of all participants in such Loan and the principal amount (and stated interest thereon) of the portion of such Loan that is the subject of the participation (the “Participant Register”). A Loan may be participated in whole or in part only by registration of such participation on the Participant Register. No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant's interest in any Loan or its other obligations under any Finance Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Loan is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations, or, if different, under Sections 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a sub-participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Clause 13.2 or Clause 13.3 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive absent the participation, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a change in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority binding on the participant that occurs after the participant acquired the applicable participation.

 

29

Changes to the Obligors

 

29.1

Assignments and transfers by Obligors

 

No Obligor may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

29.2

Additional Guarantors

 

 

(A)

The Parent shall procure that any member of the Group which has an interest in any Borrowing Base Asset or an interest in any shares of any member of the Group which directly or indirectly has an interest in any Borrowing Base Asset shall simultaneously with or prior to acquiring such interest become an Additional Guarantor.

 

 

(B)

A member of the Group shall become an Additional Guarantor if:

 

 

(i)

the Parent and the proposed Additional Guarantor deliver to the Facility Agent a duly completed and executed Obligor Accession Deed; and

 

 

(ii)

the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Schedule 10 (Additional Guarantor Conditions Precedent) in relation to that Additional Guarantor, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent.

 

 

(C)

The Facility Agent shall notify the Parent and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other evidence listed in Schedule 10 (Additional Guarantor Conditions Precedent).

 

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(D)

Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Facility Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in paragraph (C) above, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Facility Agent to give that notification. The Facility Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.

 

29.3

Repetition of Representations

 

Delivery of an Obligor Accession Deed constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that the Repeating Representations are true and correct in relation to it as at the date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

30

Role of the Facility Agent and the Arranger

 

30.1

Appointment of the Facility Agent

 

 

(A)

Each other Finance Party (other than the Facility Agent) appoints the Facility Agent to act in that capacity under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

 

(B)

Each other Finance Party authorises the Facility Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Facility Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

30.2

Duties of the Facility Agent

 

 

(A)

The Facility Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Facility Agent for that Party by any other Party.

 

 

(B)

Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Facility Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

 

(C)

If the Facility Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Finance Parties.

 

 

(D)

If the Facility Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than to an Agent or a Mandated Lead Arranger) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

 

(E)

The Facility Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

30.3

Role of the Mandated Lead Arrangers

 

Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, no Mandated Lead Arranger has obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

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30.4

No fiduciary duties

 

 

(A)

Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, nothing in this Agreement constitutes an Agent or a Mandated Lead Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.

 

 

(B)

No Agent nor any Mandated Lead Arranger shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

 

30.5

Business with the Group

 

Each Agent and each Mandated Lead Arranger may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.

 

30.6

Rights and discretions of Agents

 

 

(A)

Each Agent may rely on:

 

 

(i)

any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and

 

 

(ii)

any statement made by a director, Authorised Signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify.

 

 

(B)

Each Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that:

 

 

(i)

no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 27.1 (Non-payment));

 

 

(ii)

any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Lenders (or any consistent majority of Lenders) has not been exercised; and

 

 

(iii)

any notice or request made by an Obligor (other than a Utilisation Request) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors.

 

 

(C)

Each Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts.

 

 

(D)

Each Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents.

 

 

(E)

Unless a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise, each Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.

 

 

(F)

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (E) above, each Agent:

 

 

(i)

may disclose; and

 

 

(ii)

on the written request of the Borrower or the Majority Lenders shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, disclose,

 

the identity of a Non-Funding Lender to the Borrower and to the other Finance Parties.

 

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(G)

Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, no Agent nor any Mandated Lead Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.

 

30.7

Lenders instructions

 

 

(A)

Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, each Agent shall (i) exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by:

 

 

(i)

all Lenders if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision; and

 

 

(ii)

in all other cases, the Majority Lenders,

 

in each case, in accordance with this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (or, if so instructed, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent) and (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with such instructions.

 

 

(B)

Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Lender or group of Lenders under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Agent by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Finance Parties save for the Security Agent.

 

 

(C)

Each Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Lender or group of Lenders in accordance with this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated VAT) which it may incur in complying with the instructions.

 

 

(D)

In the absence of instructions in accordance with this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement each Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

 

(E)

Neither Agent is authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document.

 

 

(F)

Each Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Lender or group of Lenders, from that Lender or group of Lenders) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives any such instructions or clarification that it has requested.

 

30.8

Responsibility for documentation

 

No Agent nor any Mandated Lead Arranger:

 

 

(A)

is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by an Agent, a Mandated Lead Arranger, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document; or

 

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(B)

is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

30.9

No duty to monitor

 

No Agent shall be bound to enquire:

 

 

(A)

whether or not any Default has occurred;

 

 

(B)

as to the performance, default or any breach by any Party of its obligations under any Finance Document; or

 

 

(C)

whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred.

 

30.10

Exclusion of liability

 

 

(A)

Without limiting paragraph (B) below (and without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (E) of Clause 31.10 (Disruption to Payment Systems etc.)), no Agent shall be liable (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

 

(B)

No Party (other than the relevant Agent) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of that Agent in respect of any claim it might have against it or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the relevant Agent may rely on this Clause.

 

 

(C)

An Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by it if that Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by it for that purpose.

 

30.11

Lenders indemnity to the Agents

 

Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify each Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, in relation to any FATCA-related liability, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by it (otherwise than by reason of the relevant Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 31.10 (Disruption to Payment Systems etc.) notwithstanding the relevant Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the relevant Agent) in acting as an Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the relevant Agent has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

30.12

Resignation of an Agent

 

 

(A)

An Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office in the United Kingdom as successor by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower.

 

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(B)

Alternatively, an Agent may resign by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders may appoint a successor Agent.

 

 

(C)

If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (B) above within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the relevant Agent may (with the prior written consent of the Borrower) appoint a successor Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom).

 

 

(D)

A retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents. This obligation shall not apply in the event the Agent is required to resign pursuant to paragraph (G) below.

 

 

(E)

An Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor.

 

 

(F)

Upon the appointment of a successor, a retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 15.3 (Indemnity to the Agents) and this Clause 30. Its successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

 

(G)

After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to an Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (B) above.

 

 

(H)

The Facility Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (B) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph (C) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents, either:

 

 

(i)

the Facility Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 13.7 (FATCA Information) and the Borrower or a Lender reasonably believes that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

 

(ii)

the information supplied by the Facility Agent pursuant to Clause 13.7 (FATCA Information) indicates that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

 

 

(iii)

the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

and (in each case) the Borrower or a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Facility Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and the Borrower or that Lender, by notice to the Facility Agent, requires it to resign.

 

30.13

Replacement of the Facility Agent

 

 

(A)

After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 days’ notice to the Facility Agent (or, at any time the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent, by giving any shorter notice determined by the Majority Lenders) replace the Facility Agent by appointing a successor Facility Agent.

 

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(B)

The retiring Facility Agent shall (at its own cost if it is an Impaired Agent and otherwise at the expense of the Lenders) make available to the successor Facility Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Facility Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Facility Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

 

(C)

The appointment of the successor Facility Agent shall take effect on the date specified in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the retiring Facility Agent. As from this date, the retiring Facility Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under paragraph (B) above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 15.3 (Indemnity to the Agents) and this Clause 30.13 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Facility Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date).

 

 

(D)

Any successor Facility Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

30.14

Confidentiality

 

 

(A)

In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, an Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division or, in the case of the Technical Bank and the Modelling Bank, through the relevant division performing the role which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.

 

 

(B)

If information is received by another division or department of an Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the relevant Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.

 

30.15

Facility Agent relationship with the Lenders

 

The Facility Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and acting through its Facility Office unless it has received not less than five Business Days’ prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

30.16

Credit appraisal by the Lenders

 

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to each Agent and each Mandated Lead Arranger that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:

 

 

(A)

the financial condition, status and nature of the Guarantor and each member of the Group;

 

 

(B)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

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(C)

whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

 

(D)

the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by the Agents, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

30.17

Deductions from amounts payable by Agents

 

If any Party owes an amount to an Agent under the Finance Documents, the Facility Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents, that Party shall be regarded as having received any amounts so deducted.

 

30.18

The Register

 

The Facility Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain a copy of each assignment or transfer delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the Lenders shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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Part 12

Administration, Costs and Expenses

 

31

Payment Mechanics

 

31.1

Payments to the Facility Agent

 

 

(A)

On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document (other than any Hedging Agreement), that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Facility Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Facility Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.

 

 

(B)

Payment shall be made to such account in London (or, as the case may be, Paris or New York) as the Facility Agent specifies.

 

31.2

Distributions by the Facility Agent

 

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, each payment received by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall be made available by the Facility Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Facility Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice with a bank in London (or, as the case may be, Paris or New York).

 

31.3

Clawback

 

 

(A)

Where a sum is to be paid to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Facility Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.

 

 

(B)

If the Facility Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Facility Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Facility Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Facility Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Facility Agent, calculated by the Facility Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

31.4

Impaired Facility Agent

 

 

(A)

If, at any time, the Facility Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 31.1 (Payments to the Facility Agent) may instead either:

 

 

(i)

pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s); or

 

 

(ii)

if in its absolute discretion it considers that it is not reasonably practicable to pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s), pay that amount or the relevant part of that amount to an interest-bearing account held with a bank or financial institution (a) which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of BBB+ or higher by Standard & Poor’s or Baa1 or higher by Moody’s or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency and (b) in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the payment (the “Paying Party”) and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents (the “Recipient Party” or “Recipient Parties”).

 

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In each case such payments shall be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.

 

 

(B)

All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the Recipient Party or the Recipient Parties pro rata to their respective entitlements.

 

 

(C)

A Party which has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 31.4 shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account.

 

 

(D)

Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 30.13 (Replacement of the Facility Agent and the Security Agents), each Paying Party shall (other than to the extent that that Party has given an instruction pursuant to paragraph (E) below) give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued interest) to the successor Agent for distribution to the relevant Recipient Party or Recipient Parties in accordance with Clause 31.2 (Distributions by the Facility Agent).

 

 

(E)

A Paying Party shall, promptly upon request by a Recipient Party and to the extent:

 

 

(i)

that it has not given an instruction pursuant to paragraph (D) above; and

 

 

(ii)

that it has been provided with the necessary information by that Recipient Party,

 

give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the relevant amount (together with any accrued interest) to that Recipient Party.

 

31.5

Partial Payments

 

 

(A)

If the Facility Agent receives a payment for application against amounts due in respect of any Finance Documents that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under those Finance Documents, the Facility Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under those Finance Documents in the following order:

 

 

(i)

first, in or towards payment of any unpaid amount owing to the Security Agent under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(ii)

second, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid amount owing to the Facility Agent or another Agent under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(iii)

third, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

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(iv)

fourth, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents.

 

 

(B)

This Clause will override any appropriation made by an Obligor.

 

 

(C)

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of a Finance Document, amounts received from any Guarantor shall not be applied to any obligation that is an Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

 

31.6

No set-off by Obligors

 

All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

 

31.7

Business Days

 

 

(A)

Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

 

(B)

During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under the Finance Documents, interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date.

 

31.8

Currency of account

 

 

(A)

Subject to paragraphs (B) to (E) below, the base currency is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document and is the US Dollar (“Base Currency”).

 

 

(B)

A repayment of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Utilisation or Unpaid Sum is denominated on its due date.

 

 

(C)

Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued.

 

 

(D)

Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.

 

 

(E)

Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than the Base Currency shall be paid in that other currency.

 

31.9

Change of currency

 

 

(A)

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

 

(i)

any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Facility Agent acting reasonably (after consultation with the Borrower); and

 

 

(ii)

any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably).

 

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(B)

If a change in any currency of a country occurs, the Parties will enter negotiations in good faith with a view to agreeing any amendments which may be necessary to this Agreement to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the London interbank market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.

 

31.10

Disruption to Payment Systems etc.

 

If either the Facility Agent determines (acting reasonably) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Facility Agent is notified by the Borrower that a Disruption Event has occurred:

 

 

(A)

the Facility Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Borrower, consult with the Borrower with a view to agreeing with the Borrower such changes to the operation or administration of the Facility (including, without limitation, changes to the timing and mechanics of payments due under the Finance Documents) as the Facility Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances;

 

 

(B)

the Facility Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Borrower in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (A) above if, in its reasonable opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes;

 

 

(C)

the Facility Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (A) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

 

(D)

any such changes agreed upon by the Facility Agent and the Borrower shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 40 (Amendments and Waivers);

 

 

(E)

the Facility Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this Clause; and

 

 

(F)

the Facility Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (D) above.

 

32

Set-Off

 

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and without prejudice to the rights of the Finance Parties at law, at any time after an Event of Default has occurred and which is continuing, a Finance Party (other than a Non-Funding Lender) may, on giving notice to the relevant Obligor, set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

 

141

 

33

Costs and Expenses

 

33.1

Transaction expenses

 

The Borrower shall within 15 Business Days of demand, pay the Facility Agent and each Mandated Lead Arranger the amount of all fees, costs and expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, and execution of:

 

 

(A)

this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and

 

 

(B)

any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.

 

33.2

Amendment costs

 

If:

 

 

(A)

an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent; or

 

 

(B)

an amendment is required pursuant to Clause 31.9 (Change of currency),

 

the Borrower shall, within 15 Business Days of demand, reimburse the Facility Agent for the amount of all fees, costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Facility Agent in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.

 

33.3

Enforcement costs

 

The Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all fees, costs and expenses incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement or attempted enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document.

 

34

Notices

 

34.1

Communications in writing

 

Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.

 

34.2

[*****]


[*****]

 

 

(A)

[*****]

 

 

(B)

[*****]

 

 

(C)

[*****]


[*****]

 

142

 

34.3

Delivery

 

 

(A)

Subject to Clause 34.5 (Electronic communication), any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:

 

 

(i)

if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

 

 

(ii)

if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post with postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address;

 

and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 34.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer.

 

 

(B)

Any communication or document to be made or delivered to an Agent will be effective only when actually received by that Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with that Agent’s signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Facility Agent shall specify for this purpose).

 

 

(C)

All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Facility Agent.

 

 

(D)

Any communication or document made or delivered to the Borrower in accordance with this Clause will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the Obligors.

 

34.4

Notification of contact details

 

Promptly upon receipt of notification of a change of contact details pursuant to Clause 34.2 (Addresses) or changing its own contact details, the Facility Agent shall notify the other Parties.

 

143

 

34.5

Electronic communication

 

 

(A)

Any communication or document to be made or delivered by one Party to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, by way of posting to a secure website) if those two Parties:

 

 

(i)

agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication;

 

 

(ii)

notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and

 

 

(iii)

notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them.

 

 

(B)

Any such electronic communication or document as specified in paragraph (A) above made or delivered by one Party to another will be effective only when actually received (or made available) in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication or document made or delivered by a Party to the Facility Agent or the Security Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Facility Agent or Security Agent shall specify for this purpose, it being specified that any communication to the Security Agent delivered by email shall only be treated as having been received upon written confirmation of receipt by the Security Agent and an automatically generated “read” or “received” receipt shall not constitute such confirmation. The Security Agent agrees to use reasonable endeavours to send written confirmations of receipt of emails promptly and in any case within one Business Day after receipt of such emails.

 

34.6

English language

 

 

(A)

Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be in English.

 

 

(B)

All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be:

 

 

(i)

in English; or

 

 

(ii)

if not in English, and if so required by either the Facility Agent or the Security Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

35

USA Patriot Act

 

Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act hereby notifies each Obligor that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, such Lender is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Obligor, which information includes the name and address of such Obligor and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Obligor in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.

 

144

 

36

Calculations and Certificates

 

36.1

Accounts

 

In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.

 

36.2

Certificates and determinations

 

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest or proven error, prima facie evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

36.3

Day count convention

 

Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days.

 

37

Disclosure to numbering service providers

 

 

(A)

Any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors the following information:

 

 

(i)

names of Obligors;

 

 

(ii)

country of domicile of Obligors;

 

 

(iii)

place of incorporation of Obligors;

 

 

(iv)

date of this Agreement;

 

 

(v)

the names of the Facility Agent and Mandated Lead Arrangers;

 

 

(vi)

date of each amendment and restatement of this Agreement;

 

 

(vii)

amount of Total Commitments;

 

 

(viii)

currencies of the Facility;

 

 

(ix)

type of Facility;

 

 

(x)

ranking of Facility;

 

 

(xi)

the Final Maturity Date;

 

 

(xii)

changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to paragraphs (i) to (xi) above; and

 

 

(xiii)

such other information agreed between such Finance Party and the Borrower, to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.

 

 

(B)

The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider.

 

145

 

38

Partial Invalidity

 

If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.

 

39

Remedies and Waivers

 

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

40

Amendments and Waivers

 

40.1

Required consents

 

 

(A)

Subject to Clause 40.2 (Exceptions) and to paragraph (D) below, any term of the Finance Documents (other than a waiver of a Condition Precedent or a condition subsequent, which shall be made pursuant to Clause 2.3 (Waivers of Conditions Precedent)) may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.

 

 

(B)

The Facility Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause.

 

 

(C)

Paragraph (C) of Clause 28.10 (Pro rata interest settlement) shall apply to this Clause 40.

 

 

(D)

Notwithstanding the terms of this Clause 40, in relation to an amendment, variation or waiver of the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall prevail.

 

40.2

Exceptions

 

 

(A)

Subject to Clause 40.3 (Replacement of Screen Rate), the following may not be effected without the consent of all the Lenders.

 

 

(i)

amending the definition of “Illegality Lender”, “Majority Lenders”, “Sanctioned Country”, “Sanctions”, “Sanctions Authorities”, “Sanctions List”, “Sanctions Regime” or “Sanctions Restricted Party”;

 

 

(ii)

amending, varying or waiving Clause 4 (Finance Parties Rights and Obligations) and/or any other term of any Finance Document which relates to the rights and/or obligations of each Finance Party being several;

 

 

(iii)

varying the date for, or altering the amount or currency of, any payment to Lenders under the Finance Documents;

 

146

 

 

(iv)

increasing or extending the Commitment of a Lender (other than an increase in accordance with Clause 3.2 (Additional Commitments) or Clause 8.9 (Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender));

 

 

(v)

amending varying or waiving a term of any Finance Document which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

 

(vi)

amending, varying or waiving this Clause 40;

 

 

(vii)

any release of Security Interests granted pursuant to any Security Document (other than and subject to Clause 26.32 (Conditions subsequent) the Vaalco Gabon English Law Security Agreement) or any amendment, waiver or variation of the obligations of any Obligor pursuant to Clause 23.1 (Guarantee and indemnity); or

 

 

(viii)

amending, varying or waiving Clause 8.2 (Illegality and Sanctions), Clause 24.24 (Sanctions), Clause 24.25 (Anti-corruption law), Clause 26.26 (Application of the Loans) or Clause 26.27 (Anti-corruption law).

 

 

(B)

An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of an Agent or an Account Bank may not be effected without the consent of that Agent or that Account Bank.

 

 

(C)

Any release of Security Interests granted pursuant to any Security Document, an amendment or waiver which relates to Clause 19.2 (Withdrawals), Clause 23 (Guarantee and Indemnity) and the rights or obligations of a Hedging Counterparty, in each case, may not be effected without the consent of the relevant Hedging Counterparty.

 

40.3

Replacement of Screen Rate

 

 

(A)

Subject to Clause 40.2(B), if a Screen Rate Replacement Event has occurred in relation to the Screen Rate, any amendment or waiver which relates to:

 

 

(i)

providing for the use of a Replacement Benchmark; and

 

 

(ii)

 

 

 

(a)

aligning any provision of any Finance Document to the use of that Replacement Benchmark;

 

 

(b)

enabling that Replacement Benchmark to be used for the calculation of interest under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any consequential changes required to enable that Replacement Benchmark to be used for the purposes of this Agreement);

 

 

(c)

implementing market conventions applicable to that Replacement Benchmark;

 

 

(d)

providing for appropriate fallback (and market disruption provisions) for that Replacement Benchmark; or

 

 

(e)

adjusting the pricing to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable, any transfer of economic value from one Party to another as a result of the application of that Replacement Benchmark (and if any adjustment or method for calculating any adjustment has been formally designated, nominated or recommended by the Relevant Nominating Body, the adjustment shall be determined on the basis of that designation, nomination or recommendation), 

 

may be made with the consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and the Borrower.

 

147

 

 

(B)

If, as at 30 September 2022 this Agreement provides that the rate of interest for a Loan is to be determined by reference to the Screen Rate for LIBOR:

 

 

(i)

a Screen Rate Replacement Event shall be deemed to have occurred on that date in relation to the Screen Rate; and

 

 

(ii)

the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations in good faith with a view to agreeing the use of a Replacement Benchmark in place of the Screen Rate from and including a date no later than 31 May 2023.

 

40.4

Excluded Commitments

 

If:

 

 

(A)

any Non-Funding Lender fails to respond to a request for a consent, waiver, amendment of or in relation to any term of any Finance Document or any other vote of Lenders under the terms of this Agreement within 15 Business Days of that request being made; or

 

 

(B)

any Lender which is not a Non-Funding Lender fails to respond to such a request or such a vote within 15 Business Days of that request being made, 

 

(unless, in either case, the Borrower and the Facility Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request):

 

 

(i)

its Commitment(s) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

 

 

(ii)

its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

 

40.5

Disenfranchisement of Non-Funding Lenders

 

 

(A)

For so long as a Non-Funding Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining:

 

 

(i)

the Majority Lenders; or

 

 

(ii)

whether:

 

 

(a)

any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments; or

 

 

(b)

the agreement of any specified group of Lenders, 

 

has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote of Lenders under the Finance Documents, that Non-Funding Lender’s Commitments will be reduced by the amount of its Available Commitments and, to the extent that that reduction results in that Non- Funding Lender’s Total Commitments being zero, that Non-Funding Lender shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.

 

148

 

 

(B)

For the purposes of this Clause 40.5, the Facility Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Non-Funding Lenders:

 

 

(i)

any Lender which has notified the Facility Agent that it has become a Non- Funding Lender;

 

 

(ii)

any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in of the definition of “Non-Funding Lender” has occurred, 

 

unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Non-Funding Lender.

 

41

Counterparts

 

 

(A)

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the parties on separate counterparts, but shall not be effective until each Party has executed at least one counterpart.

 

 

(B)

Each counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement, but all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

149

 

Part 13

Governing Law and Enforcement

 

42

Governing Law

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

 

43

Jurisdiction

 

43.1

Arbitration

 

 

(A)

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration Rules of the London Court of International Arbitration (the “LCIA Rules”) in effect as at the date of commencement of the arbitration, which LCIA Rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Clause 43, save that the waiver of rights to appeal, review or recourse to any state court or other legal authority set out in Article 26.8 of the LCIA Rules (or such equivalent provision in any subsequent version of the LCIA Rules) shall not apply or be incorporated into this Agreement. The number of arbitrators shall be three. The Claimant (or Claimants jointly) shall nominate one arbitrator for appointment by the LCIA Court. The Respondent (or Respondents jointly) shall nominate one arbitrator for appointment by the LCIA Court. The arbitrators nominated by the parties shall, within 14 days of the nomination of the second of them, nominate the third arbitrator who shall act as presiding arbitrator. If no such nomination is made within that time limit, then the LCIA Court shall select and appoint the presiding arbitrator. The seat, or legal place, of arbitration shall be London. The language to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be English.

 

 

(B)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Clause 43.1, either Party shall have the right to commence and pursue proceedings for interim or conservatory relief against the other Party in any court having jurisdiction.

 

 

(C)

Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitral tribunal may be entered in any court having jurisdiction whether in accordance with the New York Convention of 1958 on Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitration Awards or otherwise.

 

43.2

Consolidation of arbitrations

 

 

(A)

Where disputes arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and out of or in connection with any other Finance Document which, in the absolute discretion of the first arbitral tribunal to be appointed in any of the disputes, are so closely connected that it is expedient for them to be resolved in the same proceedings, that arbitral tribunal shall have the power to order that the proceedings to resolve that dispute shall be consolidated with those to resolve any of the other disputes (whether or not proceedings to resolve those other disputes have yet been instituted), provided that no date for the final hearing of the first arbitration has been fixed. If that arbitral tribunal so orders, the parties to each dispute which is a subject of its order shall be treated as having consented to that dispute being finally decided:

 

 

(i)

by the arbitral tribunal that ordered the consolidation unless the LCIA decides that that arbitral tribunal would not be suitable or impartial; and

 

150

 

 

(ii)

in accordance with the procedure, at the seat (or legal place) and in the language specified in the relevant Finance Document under which the arbitral tribunal that ordered the consolidation was appointed, save as otherwise agreed by all parties to the consolidated proceedings or, in the absence of any such agreement, ordered by the arbitral tribunal in the consolidated proceedings.

 

 

(B)

Paragraph (A) above shall apply even where powers to consolidate proceedings exist under any applicable arbitration rules (including those of an arbitral institution) and, in such circumstances, the provisions of paragraph (A) above shall apply in addition to those powers.

 

43.3

Confidentiality

 

The Parties shall keep confidential and not disclose to any non-party the existence of the arbitration or the content of the arbitral proceedings (including all awards and orders in the arbitration, as well as all materials created for the purpose of the arbitration not otherwise in the public domain), save and to the extent that a disclosure may be required of a party by legal duty, to protect or pursue a legal right or to enforce or challenge an award in bona fide legal proceedings before a state court or other judicial authority.

 

43.4

Inter-bank disputes

 

The Finance Parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, or the subject matter, existence, negotiation, validity, termination or enforceability (including any non-contractual dispute or claim) of this Agreement, involving one or several Finance Parties with no involvement of any Obligor.

 

43.5

Waiver of Jury Trial

 

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION IN ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCE DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LOAN TRANSACTION OR THE LENDER/BORROWER/GUARANTOR RELATIONSHIP. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges that this waiver is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship, it has relied on this waiver in entering into this Agreement, and it will continue to rely on this waiver in related future dealings. Each party hereto hereby further warrants and represents that it has reviewed this waiver with its legal counsel and it knowingly and voluntarily waives its jury trial rights following consultation with legal counsel. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE AND MAY NOT BE MODIFIED OTHER THAN BY A WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS CLAUSE 43 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO. In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

 

44

Contractual recognition of bail-in

 

Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Parties, each Party acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any Party to any other Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges and accepts to be bound by the effect of:

 

151

 

 

(A)

any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):

 

 

(i)

a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;

 

 

(ii)

a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and

 

 

(iii)

a cancellation of any such liability; and

 

 

(B)

a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.

 

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

152

 

Schedule 1

The Original Lenders

 

Specified Period

 

Glencore Energy UK Ltd.

   

Total Commitments ($)

 

From the date of this Agreement up to and including 30 September 2023

    50,000,000       50,000,000  

From (and including) 1 October 2023 up to (and including) 31 March 2024

    43,750,000       43,750,000  

From (and including) 1 April 2024 up to (and including) 30 September 2024

    37,500,000       37,500,000  

From (and including) 1 October 2024 up to (and including) 31 March 2025

    31,250,000       31,250,000  

From (and including) 1 April 2025 up to (and including) 30 September 2025

    25,000,000       25,000,000  

From (and including) 1 October 2025 up to (and including) 31 March 2026

    18,750,000       18,750,000  

From (and including) 1 April 2026 up to (and including) 30 September 2026

    12,500,000       12,500,000  

From (and including) 1 October 2026 up to (and including) the Final Maturity Date

    6,250,000       6,250,000  

On and from the Final Maturity Date

    0       0  

 

153

 

Schedule 2

Conditions Precedent

 

1

Original Obligors

 

 

(A)

A copy of the constitutional documents of each original Obligor and, if such Obligor is a US Obligor, a certificate as to the existence and good standing (including verification of tax status, if generally available) of such US Obligor from the appropriate governmental authorities in such US Obligor’s jurisdiction of organisation, in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent and its counsel.

 

 

(B)

Certification as to solvency of the original Obligors taken as a whole, signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent and its counsel.

 

 

(C)

A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each original Obligor:

 

 

(i)

approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(ii)

authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf;

 

 

(iii)

authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

 

 

(iv)

authorising the Parent to act as its agent in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

 

(D)

A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (C) above.

 

 

(E)

A certificate of the Obligor (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing or similar limit binding on that Obligor to be exceeded.

 

 

(F)

A certificate of an authorised signatory of the relevant original Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement.

 

2

Finance Documents

 

 

(A)

This Agreement duly executed by all original parties to it.

 

 

(B)

The Intercreditor Agreement executed by all original parties to it.

 

 

(C)

The Deed of Subordination executed by Vaalco Gabon and the Borrower.

 

 

(D)

The Fee Letters duly executed by all parties.

 

 

(E)

The Borrower NY Law Security Agreement executed by all parties to it.

 

 

(F)

The Parent NY Law Pledge and Security Agreement executed by all parties to it.

 

 

(G)

The Vaalco Gabon NY Law Security Agreement executed by all parties to it.

 

154

 

 

(H)

The Parent English Law Security Agreement executed by all parties to it.

 

 

(I)

The Vaalco Gabon English Law Security Agreement executed by all parties to it.

 

 

(J)

The Gabonese Law Security Agreement executed by all parties to it.

 

 

(K)

A copy of all notices required to be sent under the Security Documents referred to in paragraphs (E) to (J) above, executed by the relevant Obligor.

 

 

(L)

A copy of all share certificates, transfers and stock transfer forms or equivalent duly executed by the relevant Obligor in blank in relation to the assets subject to or expressed to be subject to the Transaction Security and other documents of title to be provided under the Security Documents referred to in paragraph (F) above.

 

 

(M)

Evidence that the following registrations have been made in respect of the Security Documents referred to above:

 

 

(i)

appropriately completed UCC financing statements (Form UCC 1), naming each Obligor as debtor and the Security Agent as secured party, in form appropriate for filing under the UCC of each jurisdiction as may be necessary to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the Parent NY Law Pledge and Security Agreement, the Borrower NY Law Security Agreement and the Vaalco Gabon NY Law Security Agreement, covering the applicable Security; and

 

 

(ii)

copies of UCC lien search reports, listing all effective financing statements, if any, that name any Obligor as debtor and that are filed in the jurisdictions referred to in clause (i).

 

 

(N)

The Offshore Account Bank Agreement.

 

 

(O)

The Onshore Account Bank Agreement.

 

3

Other Transaction Documents

 

 

(A)

A copy of each Commercial Contract duly executed by all parties to it.

 

 

(B)

A copy of the Initial Reserves Report.

 

 

(C)

A copy of each Project Document.

 

4

Legal opinions

 

 

(A)

A capacity legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Obligors, addressed to the Original Lenders, the Security Agent and the Facility Agent, in respect of the relevant jurisdiction of incorporation of each Obligor, substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders prior to signing this Agreement.

 

 

(B)

An English law enforceability legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Original Lenders, addressed to the Original Lenders, the Security Agent and the Facility Agent, in respect of the Finance Documents governed by English law, substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders prior to signing this Agreement.

 

 

(C)

A New York law enforceability legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Original Lenders, addressed to the Original Lenders, the Security Agent and the Facility Agent, in respect of the Finance Documents governed by New York law, substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders prior to signing this Agreement.

 

155

 

 

(D)

A Gabonese law enforceability legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Original Lenders, addressed to the Original Lenders, the Security Agent and the Facility Agent, in respect of the Finance Documents governed by Gabonese law, substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders prior to signing this Agreement.

 

5

Project accounts

 

 

(A)

Evidence that the Project Accounts have been opened.

 

 

(B)

Evidence that all Authorisations required under the CEMAC FX Regulation in respect of a Project Account have been obtained.

 

6

Other documents and evidence

 

 

(A)

A letter from Marsh Limited, insurance broker dated on or around the date of this Agreement confirming that (i) the insurance for the Group in respect of the Borrowing Base Assets at the date of this Agreement is at a level which is acceptable and consistent with industry practice, (ii) all premiums have been paid and (iii) the Security Agent has been named additional insured or loss-payee, as applicable.

 

 

(B)

A copy of the Initial Forecast.

 

 

(C)

A copy of the Initial Group Cash Flow Projection.

 

 

(D)

Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower pursuant to Clause 12 (Fees) and Clause 13.5 (Stamp taxes) and Clause 33 (Costs and expenses) have been paid or will be paid by the first Utilisation Date.

 

 

(E)

A copy of the declaration of foreign borrowing in respect of the Shareholder Loan Agreement to:

 

 

(i)

the Ministry in charge of Money and Credit; and

 

 

(ii)

the Bank of Central African States,

 

made in accordance with the CEMAC FX Regulation and dated no less than 30 days prior.

 

 

(F)

A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Borrower accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Transaction Document.

 

 

(G)

A certified copy of the Parent’s most recent audited financial statements.

 

 

(H)

A Group structure chart.

 

 

(I)

Confirmation from each Finance Party that all applicable “know your customer” and similar requirements have been met.

 

156

 

Schedule 3

Utilisation Requests

 

From:     [] (the “Borrower”)

 

To:         [] (the “Facility Agent”)

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC. Facility Agreement

dated [] (as amended or as amended and restated from time to time) (the Agreement)

 

1

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request in respect of a Utilisation under the Facility. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request.

 

2

We wish to borrow a Loan under the Facility on the following terms:

 

Proposed Utilisation Date: [●] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the
  next Business Day)
   
Amount: [●] or, if less, the Available Facility
   
Amount attributable to interest payments [●]
   
Interest Period: [●]

 

 

3

We hereby certify that on the proposed Utilisation Date:

 

 

(a)

no Default or Event of Default is continuing or will result from the proposed Loan;

 

 

(b)

the proceeds of the Loan will be used for [         ] in accordance with the Agreement; and

 

 

(c)

the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor on the proposed Utilisation Date are, in the light of the facts and circumstances then existing, true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of a Repeating Representation that contains a materiality concept, true and correct in all respects).

 

4

The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to the Offshore Proceeds Account and to the extent an amount has been attributed to interest payments above, such amount shall be applied towards the payment of interest on the Facility.

 

5

This Utilisation Request is irrevocable and is a Finance Document.

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

……………………………………

 

Authorised Signatory for

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC.

 

157

 

Schedule 4

Form of Transfer Certificate

 

To:         [         ] as Facility Agent (the “Facility Agent”)

 

From:    [The Existing Lender] (the “Existing Lender”) and [The New Lender] (the “New Lender”)

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC. Facility Agreement

dated [] (as amended or as amended and restated from time to time) (the Agreement)

 

1

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

 

2

We refer to Clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer):

 

 

(A)

The Existing Lender and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender transferring to the New Lender by novation all or part of the Existing Lender’s Commitment, rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with Clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer).

 

 

(B)

The proposed Transfer Date is [●].

 

 

(C)

The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 34.2 (Addresses) are set out in the Schedule.

 

3

The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in Clause 28.4(C) (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders).

 

4

This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Transfer Certificate.

 

5

This Transfer Certificate or any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it governed by English law.

 

Note:

The execution of this Transfer Certificate may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lenders interest in the Security Interest created or expressed to be created in favour of the Security Agent pursuant to the Security Documents in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lenders Security Interest created or expressed to be created in favour of the Security Agent pursuant to the Security Documents in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

 

158

 

THE SCHEDULE

 

Commitments/rights and obligations to be transferred

 

[Insert relevant details]

 

[Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments]

 

[Existing Lender] [New Lender]
   
By: By:
   
This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Facility Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [●].
   
[         ] as Facility Agent  
   
By:  

         

159

 

Schedule 5

Form of Assignment Agreement

 

To:         [         ] as Facility Agent and [         ] as Parent, for and on behalf of each Obligor

 

From:         [the Existing Lender] (the "Existing Lender") and [the New Lender] (the "New Lender")

 

Dated:

 

 

[Company] [                  ] Facility Agreement dated

[         ] (the "Agreement")

 

 

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is an Assignment Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Assignment Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Assignment Agreement.

 

2.

We refer to Clause 28.6 (Procedure for assignment) of the Agreement:

 

 

(a)

The Existing Lender assigns absolutely to the New Lender all the rights of the Existing Lender under the Agreement and the other Finance Documents which relate to that portion of the Existing Lender's Commitment(s) and participations in Loans under the Agreement as specified in the Schedule.

 

 

(b)

The Existing Lender is released from all the obligations of the Existing Lender which correspond to that portion of the Existing Lender's Commitment(s) and participations in Loans under the Agreement specified in the Schedule.

 

 

(c)

The New Lender becomes a Party as a Lender and is bound by obligations equivalent to those from which the Existing Lender is released under paragraph (b) above.1

 

3.

The proposed Transfer Date is [].

 

4.

On the Transfer Date the New Lender becomes Party to the Finance Documents as a Lender.

 

5.

The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 34.2 (Addresses) of the Agreement are set out in the Schedule.

 

6.

The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender's obligations set out in Clause 28.4 (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders) of the Agreement.

 

7.

[The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

 


1

If the Assignment Agreement is used in place of a Transfer Certificate in order to avoid a novation of rights/obligations for reasons relevant to a civil jurisdiction, local law advice should be sought to check the suitability of the Assignment Agreement due to the assumption of obligations contained in paragraph 2(c). This issue should be addressed at primary documentation stage.

 

160

 

 

(a)

a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes;

 

 

(b)

a partnership each member of which is:

 

 

(i)

a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

 

 

(ii)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or

 

 

(c)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.]

 

8.

[The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [                ]) and is tax resident in [                ]2, so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax, and requests that the Parent notify the Borrower that it wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement.]3

 

[8/9].

This Assignment Agreement acts as notice to the Agent (on behalf of each Finance Party) and, upon delivery in accordance with Clause 28.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate to the Borrower) of the Agreement, to the Borrower (on behalf of each Obligor) of the assignment referred to in this Assignment Agreement.

 

[11/12].

This Assignment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Assignment Agreement.

 

[12/13].

This Assignment Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

[13/14].

This Assignment Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Assignment Agreement.

 


2

Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.

3

Include if New Lender holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.

 

161

 

THE SCHEDULE

Rights to be assigned and obligations to be released and undertaken

 

[Insert relevant details]

 

[Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments]

 

[Existing Lender] [New Lender]
   
By: By:

   

This Assignment Agreement is accepted by the Facility Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [              ].

 

Signature of this Assignment Agreement by the Facility Agent constitutes confirmation by the Agent of receipt of notice of the assignment referred to herein, which notice the Facility Agent receives on behalf of each Finance Party.

 

[Facility Agent]

 

By:

 

162

 

Schedule 6

Form of Lender Accession Notice

 

To:         [          ] as Facility Agent

 

From:    [Additional Lender]

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs,

 

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC. Facility Agreement

dated [] (as amended or as amended and restated from time to time) (the Facility Agreement)

 

1

We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Lender Accession Notice. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Lender Accession Notice unless given a different meaning in this Lender Accession Notice.

 

2

[Additional Lender] agrees:

 

 

(a)

to be bound by the terms of the Facility Agreement as a Lender pursuant to Clause [     3.2     ] (Additional Commitment) of the Facility Agreement; and

 

 

(b)

to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as a [Lender/Creditor].

 

3

[Additional Lender]’s Additional Commitment is USD [         ].

 

4

[Additional Lenders] administrative details are as follows:

 

Account details: [         ]
   
Facility Office Address: [         ]
   
Telephone No.: [         ]
   
Fax No.: [         ]
   
Attention: [         ]

 

5

This Lender Accession Notice and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

6

This Lender Accession Notice has been delivered as a deed on the date stated at the beginning of this Lender Accession Notice.

 

[Additional Lender]

 

By:

 

This Lender Accession Notice is accepted by the Facility Agent and the Additional Commitment Date is confirmed as [         ].

 

[         ] as Facility Agent

 

By:

 

163

 

Schedule 7

Form of Compliance Certificate

 

To:         [         ] as Facility Agent

 

From:    [VAALCO ENERGY, INC.]

 

Date:

 

Dear Sirs

 

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC. Facility Agreement

dated [] (as amended or as amended and restated from time to time) (the Agreement)

 

1

We refer to the Agreement. This is Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate.

 

2

We confirm that the financial statements supplied to the Facility Agent pursuant to clause 22.1 of the Agreement:

 

 

(A)

is certified by an Authorised Signatory of [the Parent] / [Vaalco Gabon SA] as a true and correct copy; and

 

 

(B)

[gives a true and fair view of]4 / [fairly represents]5 the financial condition of [the Parent] / [Vaalco Gabon SA] for the period to the date on which those financial statements were drawn up.

 

3

[We confirm that as at [                 ], being the last occurring Calculation Date:

 

 

(A)

the ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt to EBITDAX was [                ]; and

 

 

(B)

the Consolidated Cash and Cash Equivalents was [                  ].

 

4

We set out below the calculations establishing the figures in paragraph 2 above:

 

[●]6

 

5

We confirm that as at [●], so far as we are aware having made diligent enquiries, no Default has occurred or is continuing.7

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


4 Insert if audited.

5 Insert if unaudited.

6 Insert when providing the financial statements of the Parent.

7 Note – If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default that has occurred or is continuing and the action taken, or proposed to be taken, to remedy it.

 

164

 

 

  .......................................................................   .......................................................................  
  Authorised Signatory for   Authorised Signatory for  
  VAALCO ENERGY, INC.   VAALCO ENERGY, INC.  

 

 

165

 

Schedule 8

Form of Confidentiality Undertaking

 

To:         [Purchasers details]

 

Re:

 

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC. Facility Agreement dated [] (as amended or as amended and restated from time to time) (the Facility)

 

[insert date]

 

Dear Sirs

 

We understand that you are considering participating in the Facility. In consideration of us agreeing to make available to you certain information, by your signature of a copy of this letter you agree as follows:

 

1

Confidentiality Undertaking: You undertake:

 

 

(A)

to keep the Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone except as provided for by paragraph 2 below and to ensure that the Confidential Information is protected with security measures with a degree of care not less than that which you would apply to your own confidential information;

 

 

(B)

to keep confidential and not disclose to anyone except as provided for by paragraph 2 below the fact that the Confidential Information has been made available or that discussions or negotiations are taking place or have taken place between us;

 

 

(C)

to use the Confidential Information only for the Permitted Purpose;

 

 

(D)

to ensure that any person to whom you pass any Confidential Information in accordance with paragraph 2 (unless disclosed under paragraph 2(B) below) acknowledges and complies with the provisions of this letter as if that person were also a party to it; and

 

 

(E)

not to make enquiries in relation to the Confidential Information of any other person, whether a third party or any member of the Group or any of their officers, directors, employees or professional advisers, save for such officers, directors, employees or professional advisers as may be expressly nominated by us for this purpose, provided that this paragraph shall not prevent or restrict you from conducting and completing all necessary and appropriate due diligence in accordance with your normal credit and underwriting approval processes and as required to be performed in order to obtain any requisite credit or underwriting approvals in relation to your possible participation in the Facility.

 

2

Permitted Disclosure: We agree that you may disclose Confidential Information:

 

 

(A)

to members of the Participant Group and their officers, directors, employees, consultants and professional advisers but only to the extent necessary for the proper fulfilment of the Permitted Purpose, provided that:

 

 

(i)

such information is disclosed strictly on a need to know basis and provided that the Confidential Information may not be disclosed to any person in the Participant Group who is not working directly on matters concerning your participation in the Facility; and

 

166

 

 

(ii)

appropriate information barriers or other procedures as may be necessary are in place to ensure there can be no unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, the Confidential Information to any such person referred to in paragraph (i) above;

 

 

(B)

(i) where required by any court of competent jurisdiction or any competent judicial, governmental, supervisory or regulatory body, (ii) where required by the rules of any stock exchange on which the shares or other securities of any member of the Participant Group are listed or (iii) where required by the laws or regulations of any country with jurisdiction over the affairs of any member of the Participant Group; or

 

 

(C)

with our prior written consent.

 

3

Notification of Required or Unauthorised Disclosure: You agree (to the extent permitted by law) to inform us of the full circumstances of any disclosure under paragraph 2(B) above (in advance where reasonable and practicable) or immediately upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this letter.

 

4

Return of Copies: If we so request in writing, you shall return all Confidential Information supplied to you by us or any member of the Group and destroy or permanently erase all copies of Confidential Information made by you and use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that anyone to whom you have supplied any Confidential Information destroys or permanently erases such Confidential Information and any copies made by them, in each case save to the extent that you or the recipients are required to retain any such Confidential Information by any applicable law, rule or regulation or by any competent judicial, governmental, supervisory or regulatory body, or where the Confidential Information has been disclosed in accordance with paragraph 2(B) above.

 

5

Continuing Obligations: The obligations in the preceding paragraphs of this letter are continuing and, in particular, shall survive the termination of any discussions or negotiations between you and us, irrespective of their outcome. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the obligations in this letter shall cease twelve months after you have returned all Confidential Information and destroyed or permanently erased all copies of Confidential Information made by you to the extent required pursuant to paragraph 4 above.

 

6

No Representation; Consequences of Breach, etc.: You acknowledge and agree that:

 

 

(A)

neither we nor any of our officers, employees or advisers, and no other member of the Group and none of the officers, employees or advisers of any member of the Group (each a “Relevant Person”), (i) make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to, or assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any of the Confidential Information or any other information supplied by us or any member of the Group or the assumptions on which it is based or (ii) shall be under any obligation to update or correct any inaccuracy in the Confidential Information or any other information supplied by us or any other member of the Group or be otherwise liable to you or any other person in respect of the Confidential Information or any such information; and

 

 

(B)

we and other members of the Group may be irreparably harmed by the breach of the terms of this letter and damages may not be an adequate remedy; each Relevant Person may be granted an injunction or specific performance for any threatened or actual breach of the provisions of this letter by you or any other person.

 

167

 

7

Inside Information: You acknowledge that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation relating to insider dealing and you undertake not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose. As a result of being given the Confidential Information you may well become insiders and, therefore, be unable to take certain actions which you would otherwise be able to take.

 

8

No Waiver; Amendments, etc.: This letter shall not affect any other obligation owed by you to any member of the Group. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege under this letter will operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privileges under this letter. The terms of this letter and your obligations under this letter may only be amended or modified by written agreement between us and you.

 

9

Entire agreement: This letter constitutes the entire agreement between us in relation to your obligations regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.

 

10

Nature of Undertakings: The undertakings and acknowledgements given by you under this letter are given to us and (without implying any fiduciary obligations on our part) are also given for the benefit of each other member of the Group.

 

11

Third party rights:

 

 

(A)

Each other member of the Group and each Relevant Person (each a “Third Party”) may enforce the terms of this letter by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the “Third Parties Act”). This paragraph 11(A) confers a benefit on each Third Party, and, subject to the remaining provisions of this paragraph 11, is intended to be enforceable by each Third Party by virtue of the Third Parties Act.

 

 

(B)

Subject to paragraph (A) above, a person who is not a party to this letter has no right under the Third Parties Act to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this letter.

 

 

(C)

Notwithstanding any provisions of this letter, the parties to this letter do not require the consent of any person to rescind or vary this letter at any time.

 

12

Counterparts: This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the parties on separate counterparts, but shall not be effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart. Each counterpart shall constitute an original of this letter, but all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

13

Governing Law and Jurisdiction: Any matter, claim or dispute, whether contractual or non- contractual, arising out of or in connection with this letter (including the agreement constituted by your acknowledgement of its terms), is to be governed by and determined in accordance with English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

 

14

Definitions and Construction: In this letter (including the acknowledgement set out below):

 

“Confidential Information” means any and all information relating to the Borrower, the Group and the Facility, provided to you by us or any member of the Group or any of our affiliates or advisers, in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information and information regarding all discussions and negotiations between us (including information regarding the outcome of such discussions or negotiations), but excludes information that (a) is or becomes public knowledge other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach of this letter or (b) is known by you before the date the information is disclosed to you by us or any member of the Group or any of our affiliates or advisers or is lawfully obtained by you after that date, other than from a source which is connected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as you are aware, has not been obtained in violation of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality;

 

168

 

“Group” means, in respect of a person, that person and that person’s Holding Companies and each of their respective Subsidiaries;

 

“Holding Company” means, in relation to a company, any other company in respect of which it is a Subsidiary;

 

“Participant Group” means you, and each of your Holding Companies and Subsidiaries;

 

“Permitted Purpose” means considering and evaluating whether to enter into contracts with us in relation to your participation in the Facility; and

 

“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Please acknowledge your agreement to the above by signing and returning the enclosed copy. Yours faithfully

 

 

 

…................................

 

For and on behalf of [Seller]

 

169

 

To:         [Seller]

 

 

We acknowledge and agree to the above:

 

 

 

 

…................................

 

For and on behalf of [Purchaser]

 

170

 

Schedule 9

Form of Deed of Subordination

 

This Deed is dated [         ] and made between:

 

(1)

[] (the “Obligor”);

 

(2)

[] in its capacity as Security Agent for the Secured Creditors on the terms and conditions set out in the Intercreditor Agreement (the “Security Agent”) which expression includes its successors in title and assigns or any person appointed as an additional trustee for the purpose of and in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

(3)

[] (the “Subordinated Party”).

 

Background:

 

(1)

Pursuant to the Agreement (as defined below), the Lenders have agreed to make available a USD [●] loan facility to (among others) the Subordinated Party.

 

(2)

The Subordinated Party has agreed to make, or may in the future make, loans available to the Obligor.

 

(3)

The Obligor and the Subordinated Party have agreed that the Subordinated Debt (as defined below) shall be subordinated to the claims of the Secured Creditors on the terms of this Deed.

 

It is agreed as follows:

 

1

Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1

Definitions

 

In this Deed:

 

“Permitted Payment” means any payment or receipt expressly permitted by Clause 4 (Permitted Payments) so long as it is so permitted;

 

“Subordinated Debt” means all present and future moneys, debts, obligations and liabilities which are, or are expressed to be, or may become due, owing or payable by the Obligor to the Subordinated Party (in each case, whether alone or jointly, or jointly and severally, with any other person, whether actually or contingently, and whether as principal, surety or otherwise);

 

“Subordinated Documents” means any document evidencing or recording the terms of any Subordinated Debt including the intercompany loan agreement dated 29 November 2021 between the Obligor as borrower and the Subordinated Party as lender; and

 

“Subordination Period” means the period beginning on the date of this Deed and ending on the date on which all the Secured Obligations have been unconditionally and irrevocably paid or discharged or satisfied in full and all commitments of the Secured Creditors have expired or been cancelled.

 

1.2

Incorporation of defined terms

 

Terms defined in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the facility agreement dated on or about the date hereof between, among others, VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC. as Borrower, Vaalco Energy Inc. and Vaalco Gabon S.A. as Guarantors and Glencore Energy UK Ltd as Facility Agent, Mandated Lead Arranger, Technical Bank and Modelling Bank and the Original Lenders listed therein (as amended or as amended and restated from time to time) (the “Agreement”) shall have the same meaning and construction when used herein.

 

171

 

1.3

Construction of particular terms

 

The rules of construction and interpretation set out in Clause 1.2 (Construction) and Clause 1.3 (Interpretation) of the Agreement shall apply to this Deed as if expressly set out herein.

 

1.4

The Security Agent

 

 

(a)

The Security Agent has agreed to become party to this Deed only for the purpose of taking the benefit of the contractual provisions expressed to be given for the benefit of the Security Agent and the better preservation of its rights on behalf of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents. The Security Agent shall not assume any responsibility or liability for and of the obligations of any other party by entering into this Deed.

 

 

(b)

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Security Agent is entering into this Deed as Security Agent under the Intercreditor Agreement. As such, the Security Agent shall be entitled, in performing any of its duties under this Deed, to all rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and limitations of liability provided to the Security Agent under the Intercreditor Agreement, which rights, privileges, protections, immunities and limitations are specifically incorporated herein by this reference therein.

 

1.5

Third Party Rights

 

 

(a)

Subject to Clause 1.5(b), the parties to this Deed do not intend that any term of this Deed should be enforceable by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, by any person who is not a party to this Deed.

 

 

(b)

Each of the Secured Creditors shall have the right to enforce the terms of this Deed.

 

2

Ranking

 

During the Subordination Period:

 

 

(a)

the Secured Obligations shall rank senior in priority to the Subordinated Debt; and

 

 

(b)

as between the Secured Creditors, nothing in this Deed shall prejudice the ranking of the Secured Obligations as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

3

Undertakings

 

3.1

Undertakings of the Obligor

 

 

(a)

During the Subordination Period the Obligor shall not, and the Subordinated Party shall not require the Obligor to:

 

 

(i)

pay, repay or prepay any principal, interest or other amount on or in respect of, or make any distribution in respect of, or redeem, purchase, acquire or defease, any of the Subordinated Debt whether in cash or in kind;

 

 

(ii)

exercise any set-off against any Subordinated Debt;

 

172

 

 

(iii)

create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets, or give any guarantee, for, or in respect of, any Subordinated Debt;

 

 

(iv)

amend, terminate or give any waiver or consent under the Subordinated Documents, other than any amendment, termination, waiver or consent purely of a technical or administrative nature; or

 

 

(v)

take or omit to take any action whereby the ranking and/or subordination contemplated by this Deed might be impaired or terminated.

 

 

(b)

Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, the Obligor may:

 

 

(i)

do anything prohibited by paragraph (a) above with the prior written consent of the Security Agent; and

 

 

(ii)

make any Permitted Payment.

 

3.2

Undertakings of the Subordinated Party

 

 

(a)

During the Subordination Period, the Subordinated Party shall not:

 

 

(i)

demand or receive payment, repayment or prepayment of any principal, interest or other amount on or in respect of, or any distribution in respect of, the Subordinated Debt in cash or in kind or apply any money or property in or towards discharge of the Subordinated Debt;

 

 

(ii)

exercise any set-off against the Subordinated Debt;

 

 

(iii)

permit to subsist or receive any Security, or any guarantee, for, or in respect of, the Subordinated Debt;

 

 

(iv)

amend, terminate or give any waiver or consent under any Subordinated Document, other than any amendment, termination, waiver or consent purely of a technical or administrative nature;

 

 

(v)

take or omit to take any action whereby the ranking and/or subordination contemplated by this Deed might be impaired;

 

 

(vi)

take any Enforcement Action in relation to the Subordinated Debt; or

 

 

(vii)

assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its rights, benefit, title or interest in or to the Subordinated Debt.

 

 

(b)

Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, the Subordinated Party may:

 

 

(i)

do anything prohibited by paragraph (a) above with the prior written consent of the Security Agent; and

 

 

(ii)

receive and retain a Permitted Payment.

 

4

Permitted Payments

 

Subject to Clause 6 (Turnover) and Clause 7 (Subordination on Insolvency), an Obligor may pay and the Subordinated Party may receive an retain payments of interest and principal (and such payment or receipt to include payment or receipt by way of set-off on the Subordinated Debt) which is:

 

 

(a)

made in accordance with Clause 26.23 (Distributions) of the Facility Agreement; or

 

173

 

 

(b)

with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

5

Representations

 

5.1

Representations of the Subordinated Party

 

The Subordinated Party makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 5.1 on the date of this Deed:

 

 

(a)

It is duly incorporated (if a corporate person) or duly established (in any other case except for a natural person) and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation.

 

 

(b)

It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being and is proposed to be, conducted, and it has the power to enter into and perform all its obligations under this Deed and the transactions contemplated by this Deed.

 

 

(c)

The obligations expressed to be assumed by it under this Deed are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations.

 

 

(d)

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, this Deed does not and will not conflict with:

 

 

(i)

any law applicable to it;

 

 

(ii)

its constitutional documents; or

 

 

(iii)

any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its assets.

 

 

(e)

It has (or had at the relevant time) the power and authority to execute and deliver this Deed and it has the power and authority to perform its obligations under this Deed and the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

 

(f)

All required Authorisations have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect where a failure to do so has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(g)

It is the sole beneficial owner of the Subordinated Debt owed to it.

 

5.2

Repetition

 

Each of the representations and warranties in Clause 5.1 (Representations of the Subordinated Party) will be repeated on the date of each Utilisation Date and on the first day of each Interest Period. Where a representation is repeated, it is applied to the facts and circumstances existing at the time of repetition.

 

6

Turnover

 

During the Subordination Period, if the Subordinated Party received or recovers:

 

 

(a)

a payment (other than a Permitted Payment) in cash or in kind or distribution in respect of any of the Subordinated Debt from the Obligor or any other source; or

 

 

(b)

the proceeds of any enforcement of any Security or any guarantee or other assurance against financial loss for any Subordinated Debt,

 

174

 

in each case, in contravention of Clause 2 (Ranking) or 3 (Undertakings), the Subordinated Party shall:

 

 

(i)

within three Business Days notify details of the receipt or recovery to the Security Agent;

 

 

(ii)

hold any such assets and moneys received or recovered by it (up to a maximum of an amount equal to the Secured Obligations) on trust for the Security Agent for application against the Secured Obligations in accordance with the order and priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

 

(iii)

within three Business Days of demand by the Security Agent, pay an amount equal to such receipt or recovery (up to a maximum of an amount equal to the Secured Obligations) to the Security Agent for application against the Secured Obligations in accordance with the order and priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

7

Subordination on Insolvency

 

7.1

Subordination

 

If an Insolvency Event or Insolvency Proceedings occur, the Subordinated Debt will be subordinate to the Secured Obligations.

 

7.2

Filing of Claims

 

 

(a)

If an Insolvency Event or Insolvency Proceedings occur in relation to any Obligor, the Security Agent may, and is hereby irrevocably authorised on behalf of the Obligors and the Subordinated Party to:

 

 

(i)

take any Enforcement Action in relation to the Subordinated Debt;

 

 

(ii)

demand, claim, enforce and prove for the Subordinated Debt;

 

 

(iii)

file claims and proofs, give receipts and take any proceedings in respect of filing such claims or proofs and do anything which the Security Agent considers necessary or desirable to recover the Subordinated Debt; and

 

 

(iv)

receive all distributions of the Subordinated Debt for application first against the Secured Obligations in accordance with the order and priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

 

(b)

If and to the extent that the Security Agent is not entitled, or elects not, to take any of the action mentioned in paragraph (a) above, the Subordinated Party will do so promptly on request by the Security Agent.

 

7.3

Distributions

 

If an Insolvency Event or Insolvency Proceedings occur, the Subordinated Party will:

 

 

(a)

hold all payments and distributions in cash or in kind received or receivable by it (after the occurrence of the Insolvency Event or Insolvency Proceedings) in respect of the Subordinated Debt on trust for the Security Agent and promptly pay the same for application first against the Secured Obligations in accordance with the order and priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

 

(b)

within three Business Days of demand by Security Agent, pay an amount equal to any Subordinated Debt owing to it and discharged by set-off or otherwise after the occurrence of the Insolvency Event or Insolvency Proceedings to the Security Agent for application in accordance first against the Secured Obligations in accordance with the order and priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

175

 

 

(c)

promptly direct the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidator, assignee or other person distributing the assets of the Obligor or their proceeds to pay any and all distributions in respect of the Subordinated Debt directly to the Security Agent; and

 

 

(d)

promptly undertake any action requested by the Security Agent to give effect to this Clause 7.3.

 

7.4

Voting

 

 

(a)

If an Insolvency Event or Insolvency Proceedings occur:

 

 

(i)

the Security Agent may, and is hereby irrevocably so authorised on behalf of the Subordinated Party, to exercise all powers of convening meetings, voting and representation in respect of the Subordinated Debt; and

 

 

(ii)

the Subordinated Party shall promptly execute and/or deliver to the Security Agent such forms of proxy and representation as it may require to facilitate any such action.

 

 

(b)

If and to the extent that the Security Agent is not entitled, or elects not, to exercise a power under paragraph (a) above, the Subordinated Party will:

 

 

(i)

exercise that power in such manner as the Security Agent directs; and

 

 

(ii)

exercise that power so as not to impair the ranking and/or subordination contemplated by this Deed.

 

8

Protection of Subordination

 

8.1

Continuing subordination

 

The subordination provisions in this Deed shall remain in full force and effect by way of continuing subordination and shall not be affected in any way by any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part of the Secured Obligations.

 

8.2

Waiver of defences

 

Neither the subordination in this Deed nor the obligations of the Obligor or the Subordinated Party shall be affected in any way by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause 8, would reduce, release or prejudice the subordination or any of those obligations in whole or in part, including, without limitation, the following:

 

 

(a)

any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any person;

 

 

(b)

the release of any person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any person;

 

 

(c)

the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

 

176

 

 

(d)

any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of any person;

 

 

(e)

any amendment, novation, supplement, extension (whether of maturity or otherwise) or restatement (in each case, however fundamental and of whatever nature) or replacement of any Finance Document or any other document or security;

 

 

(f)

any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security;

 

 

(g)

any insolvency or similar proceedings; or

 

 

(h)

any postponement, discharge, reduction, non-provability or other similar circumstance affecting any obligation of any person under any Finance Document resulting from any insolvency, liquidation or dissolution proceedings or from any law, regulation or order.

 

8.3

Immediate recourse

 

The Subordinated Party waives any right it may have of first requiring the Security Agent (or any other trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person claiming the benefit of this Deed. The Security Agent may refrain from applying or enforcing any money, rights or security.

 

8.4

Appropriations

 

During the Subordination Period, the Security Agent (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may, subject to its obligations under this Deed:

 

 

(a)

apply any moneys or other assets received or recovered by it under this Deed or from any person against the Secured Obligations, in accordance with the order and priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

 

(b)

apply any moneys or other assets received or recovered by it from any person (other than any moneys or other assets received or recovered under the applicable Finance Documents or under this Deed) against any liability of the relevant person to it other than the Secured Obligations owed to it; and

 

 

(c)

unless or until such moneys or other assets received or recovered by it under the applicable Finance Documents or under this Deed in aggregate are sufficient to end the Subordination Period if otherwise applied in accordance with the provisions of this Deed, hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys or other assets received from any person.

 

9

Preservation of Debt

 

9.1

Preservation of Subordinated Debt

 

Notwithstanding any term of this Deed postponing, subordinating or preventing the payment of all or any part of the Subordinated Debt, the Subordinated Party shall, as between the Obligor and the Subordinated Party, be deemed to remain owing or due and payable (and interest, default interest or indemnity payments shall continue to accrue) in accordance with the Subordinated Documents.

 

177

 

9.2

No liability

 

The Security Agent will have no liability to the Obligor or to the Subordinated Party for any act, default, or omission in relation to the manner of exercise or any non-exercise of its rights, remedies, powers, authorities or discretions under this Deed or any failure to collect or preserve any Subordinated Debt or delay in doing so.

 

10

Subrogation

 

If any of the Secured Obligations are wholly or partially paid out of any proceeds received in respect of or on account of the Subordinated Debt, the Subordinated Party will to that extent be subrogated to the Secured Obligations so paid (and all securities and guarantees for those Secured Obligations), but not before the expiry of the Subordination Period.

 

11

No objection by Subordinated Party

 

The Subordinated Party is deemed to consent to, and the Subordinated Party shall not have any claim or remedy against the Obligor or any Secured Creditor by reason of:

 

 

(a)

the entry by any of them into any Finance Document or any other agreement between any Secured Creditor and the Obligor;

 

 

(b)

any waiver or consent given by any Secured Creditor under any Finance Document or any such other agreement; or

 

 

(c)

any requirement or condition imposed by or on behalf of any Secured Creditor under any Finance Document or any such other agreement,

 

from time to time which breaches or causes an event of default or potential event of default (however described) under any Subordinated Document.

 

12

Power of Attorney

 

 

(a)

During the Subordination Period, the Subordinated Party, by way of security for the obligations of the Subordinated Party under this Deed, irrevocably appoints Security Agent as its attorney (with full power of substitution and delegation), on its behalf and in its name or otherwise as its act and deed, and in such manner as the attorney thinks fit to do anything which the Subordinated Party is obliged to do under this Deed but has not done, and the taking of action by the attorney shall (as between it and any third party) be conclusive evidence of its right to take such action.

 

 

(b)

The Subordinated Party ratifies and confirms and agrees to ratify and confirm everything that such attorney does or purports to do in the exercise or purported exercise of the power of attorney granted by it in this Clause 12.

 

13

New Money

 

The Subordinated Party agrees and acknowledges that the Secured Creditors may, at their discretion, increase any amounts payable or make further advances under the Finance Documents and/or make further facilities available to the Borrower. Any such increased payments, further advances and/or additional facilities will be deemed to be made under the terms of the Finance Documents.

 

178

 

14

Failure of Trusts

 

If any trust intended to arise pursuant to any provision of this Deed fails or for any reason (including the laws of any jurisdiction in which any assets, moneys, payments or distributions may be situated) cannot be given effect to, the Subordinated Party will pay to the Security Agent for application against the Secured Obligations an amount equal to the amount (or the value of the relevant assets) intended to be so held on trust for the Security Agent.

 

15

Trusts

 

The Security Agent shall hold the benefit of this Deed upon trust for itself and the other relevant Secured Creditors.

 

16

Non-Creation of Charge

 

No provision of this Deed is intended to or shall create a charge or other security.

 

17

Certificates and Determinations

 

Any certification or determination by the Security Agent of a rate or amount under this Deed will be, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

18

Changes to the Parties

 

18.1

The Obligor and the Subordinated Party

 

Neither the Obligor nor the Subordinated Party may assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Deed without prior written consent of the Security Agent.

 

18.2

The Security Agent

 

 

(a)

The Security Agent may assign or otherwise dispose of all or any of its rights under this Deed as permitted under the Finance Documents.

 

 

(b)

References in this Deed to the Security Agent include any successor in title and assigns or any person appointed as an additional trustee for the purposes of and in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

19

Information

 

19.1

Defaults

 

The Subordinated Party will notify the Security Agent of the occurrence of an event of default or potential event of default (however described) under or breach of any Subordinated Document entitling that Subordinated Party to demand prepayment or repayment of any Subordinated Debt prior to its specific maturity date under the Subordinated Document, promptly upon becoming aware of it.

 

19.2

Amounts of Subordinated Debt

 

The Subordinated Party will, on request by the Security Agent from time to time notify it of details of the amount of outstanding Subordinated Debt.

 

179

 

20

Notices

 

The provisions of clause 34 (Notices) of the Facility Agreement shall be incorporated in and apply to this Deed as if set out in full herein, mutatis mutandis.

 

21

Remedies and Waivers

 

No delay or omission by the Security Agent in exercising any right provided by law or under this Deed shall impair, affect, or operate as a waiver of, that or any other right. The single or partial exercise by the Security Agent of any right shall not, unless otherwise expressly stated, preclude or prejudice any other or further exercise of that, or the exercise of any other, right. The rights of the parties under this Deed are in addition to and do not affect any other rights available to them by law.

 

22

Partial Invalidity

 

 

(a)

If, at any time, any provision of this Deed is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions under the law of that jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.

 

 

(b)

The parties shall enter into good faith negotiations, but without any liability whatsoever in the event of no agreement being reached, to replace any illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision with a view to obtaining the same commercial effect as this Deed would have had if such provision had been legal, valid and enforceable.

 

23

Amendments

 

No amendment may be made to this Deed (whether in writing or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the parties to this Deed.

 

24

Counterparts

 

This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the parties on separate counterparts, but will not be effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart. Each counterpart shall constitute an original of this Deed, but all the counterparts will together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

25

Execution as a Deed

 

Each of the parties to this Deed intends it to be a deed and confirms that it is executed and delivered as a deed, in each case notwithstanding the fact that any one or more of the parties may only execute it under hand.

 

26

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

 

This Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

The provisions of clause 43 (Jurisdiction) of the Facility Agreement shall be incorporated in and apply to this Deed as if set out in full herein, mutatis mutandis.

 

180

 

27

Further Assurance

 

Each of the Obligor and the Subordinated Party agrees that it will promptly, at the direction of the Security Agent, execute and deliver at its own expense any document (to be executed as a deed or under hand) and do any act or thing in order to confirm or establish the validity and enforceability of the subordination effected by, and the obligations of the Obligor and the Subordinated Party under, this Deed.

 

In witness of which this document has been executed as a deed and delivered on the date stated at the beginning of this Deed.

 

[signature pages to be included]

 

181

 

Schedule 10

Additional Guarantor Conditions Precedent

 

1

An Obligor Accession Deed executed by the Additional Guarantor and the Parent.

 

2

Provision of certified copies of the Additional Guarantor’s constitutional documents and corporate resolutions authorising entry into and performance of the Finance Documents to which it is a party and certification as to solvency.

 

3

If available, the latest audited financial statements of the Additional Guarantor.

 

4

Receipt by the Facility Agent of legal opinions from the legal advisers to the Facility Agent in England, as to English law in the form distributed to the Lenders prior to signing the Obligor Accession Deed and if the Additional Guarantor is incorporated in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales or is executing a Finance Document which is governed by a law other than English law, a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Facility Agent in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or, as the case may be, the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document (the “Applicable Jurisdiction”) as to the law of the Applicable Jurisdiction and in the form distributed to the Lenders prior to signing the Obligor Accession Deed.

 

5

Any documents creating Security over the shares in the relevant Additional Guarantor, any intercompany loans or hedging agreement to which the Additional Guarantor is a party and in each case which are required by the Facility Agent to be executed by the proposed Additional Guarantor or, in respect of Security over its shares, its immediate Holding Company.

 

6

Any notices or documents required to be given or executed under the terms of those security documents.

 

7

Confirmation from each Lender that all applicable know your customer requirements have been met.

 

8

Evidence that all of the Project Accounts (if any) required to be maintained by the Additional Guarantor have been opened with an Account Bank.

 

182

 

Schedule 11

Form of Obligor Accession Deed

 

To:                  [●] as Facility Agent

 

From:      [Subsidiary] and [Parent]

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC Facility Agreement

dated [] (as amended or as amended and restated from time to time) (the Agreement)

 

1

We refer to the Agreement. This deed (the “Obligor Accession Deed”) shall take effect as an Obligor Accession Deed for the purposes of the Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Obligor Accession Deed.

 

2

[Subsidiary] agrees to become an Additional Guarantor and to be bound by the terms of the Agreement and the other Finance Documents as an Additional Guarantor pursuant to Clause 29.2 (Additional Guarantors) of the Agreement. [Subsidiary] is a company duly incorporated under the laws of [name of relevant jurisdiction] and is a limited liability company and registered number [●].

 

3

[Subsidiarys] administrative details for the purposes of the Agreement are as follows:

 

Address:

 

Fax No.:

 

Attention:

 

4

This Obligor Accession Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

THIS OBLIGOR ACCESSION DEED has been signed on behalf of the Facility Agent, signed on behalf of the Parent and executed as a deed by [Subsidiary] and is delivered on the date stated above.

 

183

  

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

 

The Borrower

VAALCO GABON (ETAME), INC.

 

By: ex_397445img002.jpg  
Name: Ronald Y. Bain  
Title: Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

 

The Guarantors

VAALCO GABON S.A.

 

By: ex_397445img003.jpg  
Name: Ronald Y. Bain  
Title: Authorised Signatory  

 

 

 

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC.

 

By:

ex_397445img004.jpg

 
Name: Ronald Y. Bain  
Title: Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

 

[RBL Facility Agreement - signature page]

 

 

 

The Mandated Lead Arranger

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD.

 

By: ex_397445img005.jpg  
Name: Ann Nash  
Title: Head of Oil Project and Structured Finance  

 

 

 

 

The Original Lender

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD.

 

By: ex_397445img006.jpg  
Name: Ann Nash  
Title: Head of Oil Project and Structured Finance  

 

 

 

 

The Technical Bank

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD.

 

By: ex_397445img007.jpg  
Name: Ann Nash  
Title: Head of Oil Project and Structured Finance  

 

 

 

 

The Modelling Bank

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD.

 

By: ex_397445img008.jpg  
Name: Ann Nash  
Title: Head of Oil Project and Structured Finance  

 

 

 

 

[RBL Facility Agreement - signature page]

 

 

 

The Facility Agent

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD.

 

By: ex_397445img009.jpg  
Name: Ann Nash  
Title: Head of Oil Project and Structured Finance  

 

 

 

 

The Security Agent

THE LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION P.L.C.,

 

By: ex_397445img010.jpg  
Name: Richard Rance  
Title: Director  

 

 

 

 

[RBL Facility Agreement - signature page]

 

 

ex_397444.htm

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

    CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED INTHIS DOCUMENT, MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACEWITH FIVE ASTERISKS [*****], HAS BEEN OMITTEDBECAUSE IT IS BOTH (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) WOULD BECOMPETITIVELY HARMFUL IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED.

 

 

CRUDE OIL SALE and MARKETING

 

AGREEMENT

 

Dated the 20 day of May 2022

 

 

Between

 

 

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD. (BUYER)

 

 

And

 

 

VAALCO Gabon S.A. (SELLER)

 

 

In relation to crude oil from the

 

 

 

ETAME BLOCK G4-160 O

 

FFSHORE GABON

 

 

 

This Crude Oil Sale and Marketing Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into on the 20 of May 2022 (the "Effective Date") by and among:

 

BUYER:

 

GLENCORE ENERGY UK LTD., a company incorporated under the laws of England and having its registered office at 18 Hanover Square, WlS lJY London, England ("Buyer" or "Glencore"); and

 

SELLER:

 

VAALCO GABON S.A., a societe anonyme unipersonnelle with its registered office at Port-Gentil, Zone Industrielle OPRAG- Nouveau Port, Port-Gentil/Gabon, B.P. 1335, registered to the registre du commerce et du credit mobilier de Port-Gentil under the no. 2014 B 1487 ("Seller" or "VAALCO");

 

Buyer and Seller may also be referred to herein individually as a "Party" or collectively as the "Parties".

 

WITNESSETH:

 

A.

WHEREAS, VAALCO is a participating interest owner of crude oil production from the Etame Block G4-160, offshore Gabon, with a percentage share of production as at the date of this Agreement of 58.80690% (subject to the terms of the PSC);

 

B.

WHEREAS, Glencore has provided to Vaalco Gabon (Etame) Inc. a US$ 50,000,000 reserves­ based lending facility (the "Financing"), in exchange for which VAALCO has agreed to mandate Buyer as the exclusive offtaker and marketer of all of the Oil as may be made available by Seller for Lifting during the Contract Period which shall represent the Seller's net entitlement to Oil produced from the Etame G4-160 Block, offshore Gabon, excluding only Oil in respect of which the Government of Gabon, Addax Petroleum Etame Oil & Gas Gabon ("Addax"), PetroEnergy Resources Corporation ("PetroEnergy") and Tullow Oil Gabon SA ("Tullow") (or any other entity which replaces the Government of Gabon, Addax, PetroEnergy or Tullow (in whole or in part) as co-venturer of VAALCO from time to time) have exercised their rights under the PSC to lift their percentage share of Oil from the Fields (the "Seller's Net Entitlement");

 

C.

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to evidence their intentions and agreements to offtake and market the Seller's Net Entitlement of Oil (the "Seller's Oil") by way of this Agreement; and

 

D.

WHEREAS, this Agreement, together with all Schedules attached hereto, shall govern the Agreement between the Parties.

 

NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements and obligations set out below and to be performed, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1.

Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1

The following words and expressions shall have the following meanings for the purposes of this Agreement:

 

Page 2 of 28

 

"Affiliate" means a legal entity which Controls, or is Controlled by, or is Controlled by an entity that Controls, a Party.

 

"Agreed Interest Rate" means the one month Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") as published by the New York Federal Reserve Bank at 3 p.m. eastern standard time each day plus two per cent (2%).

 

"Agreement" means this Agreement and any Schedule attached to it, as amended from time to time.

 

"Anti-Bribery Laws and Obligations" means for each Party:

 

 

(a)

the applicable laws of The Republic of Gabon;

 

 

(b)

the applicable laws relating to combating bribery, money laundering and corruption in the countries of incorporation of each such Party and each such Party's ultimate parent company and of the principal place of business of each such Party and each such Party's ultimate parent company;

 

 

(c)

the laws relating to bribery and corruption and/or the principles described in the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed in Paris on 17 December 1997, which entered into force on 15 February 1999, and the Convention's Commentaries;

 

 

(d)

the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010; and

 

 

(e)

the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

"Barrel" means that quantity of Oil which will occupy a volume of 42 US gallons measured at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and "net Barrel" means a Barrel of Oil net of base sediment and water.

 

"Bill of Lading" means the document signed by the Master of the Vessel or its authorized agents for and on behalf of the master of the Vessel after the completion of loading operations, which confirms the receipt of the relevant Cargo.

 

"Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are ordinarily open for business in London and Gabon.

 

"Buyer" means Glencore Energy UK Ltd ..

 

"Buyer's Group" means Buyer, its Affiliates, any owner or disponent owner of the Vessel, its and their contractors and subcontractors of any tier, its and their clients of any tier, and its and their directors, employees and consultants.

 

"Cargo" means each cargo of Oil which Seller agrees to sell to Buyer in accordance with this Agreement.

 

"Contract Period" means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the Final Maturity Date of the Financing, unless Vaalco Gabon (Etame) Inc. elects to voluntarily repay the Financing in full before the Final Maturity Date, in which case the Contract Period shall end on the date falling 183 days after the voluntary repayment date.

 

Page 3 of 28

 

"Control" means the ownership directly or indirectly of fifty per cent (50%) or more of the voting rights in a legal entity, or the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. "Controls", "Controlled by" and other derivatives shall be construed accordingly.

 

"Dated Brent" has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 9.1.

 

"Delivery Point" means the point of delivery of the Oil at the flange connecting the Vessel's permanent hose connections to Seller's loading facilities at the Load Port.

 

"Demurrage" means certain payments made to Buyer as compensation for standby costs of a Vessel, as determined pursuant to Schedule B.

 

"Effective Date" means the date on which this Agreement commences as set forth at Page 2 above.

 

"ET A" means estimated time of arrival.

 

"Etame Lifting Procedures" means the procedures set out in Schedule B hereto, as amended from time to time.

 

"Facility Agreement" means the facility agreement in relation to the Financing, entered into between Glencore, Vaalco Gabon (Etame) Inc., VAALCO and Vaalco Energy Inc. on 16 May 2022.

 

"Fields" means any or all of the fields located within the Etame G4-160 Block, including the Etame Marin, Avouma, and Ebouri fields.

 

"Final Maturity Date" means the final maturity date of the Financing, as defined in the Facility Agreement.

 

"Financing" has the meaning ascribed to it in Recital B.

 

"Firm Lifting" means Buyer's commitment to Lift a quantity of Oil pursuant to the notification sent to Buyer by Seller to perform a Lifting in any Month M in accordance with Clause 7.2.

 

"FOB" means Free on Board as defined in the Incoterms 2020 as published by the International Chamber of Commerce, as may be amended or modified from time to time, except as modified by the Agreement; further, if there is any inconsistency or conflict between Incoterms and the Agreement, the Agreement shall prevail.

 

"Force Majeure" has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 13.

 

"FPSO" means a Floating Production Storage Offloading vessel.

 

"FSO" means a Floating Storage Offloading vessel.

 

"Governmental Authority" means any supranational, national, state, regional, provincial, municipal or local government, any subdivision, court, administrative agency or commission or other authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory, taxing, importing or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Parties, or the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

Page 4 of 28

 

"Insolvent" means with respect to a Party that:

 

 

(a)

an order is made that the Party be wound up provisionally or finally; or

 

 

(b)

an order is made appointing a liquidator or provisional liquidator (other than in respect of a solvent liquidation of that Party) administrator, compulsory manager, trustee in bankruptcy or other similar officer, in respect of the Party (or any of that Party's assets) or one of them is appointed whether or not under an order by any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction. This paragraph (b) shall only apply to any winding-up petition which is not frivolous or vexatious and is not discharged, stayed or dismissed within fourteen (14) calendar days of commencement; or

 

 

(c)

a receiver or receiver and manager is appointed to the whole or substantially the whole of the estate of the Party; or

 

 

(d)

except to reconstruct or amalgamate while solvent, the Party enters into, or resolves to enter into, a scheme of arrangement, deed of company arrangement or composition with, or assignment for the benefit of, all or any class of its creditors, or it proposes a reorganisation, moratorium or other administration involving any of them; or

 

 

(e)

the Party resolves to wind itself up, or otherwise dissolve itself, or gives notice of intention to do so, except to reconstruct or amalgamate while solvent on terms reasonably approved by the other Parties or is otherwise wound up or dissolved; or

 

 

(f)

the Party takes any step to obtain protection or is granted protection from its creditors, under any applicable legislation or an administrator or voluntary administrator is appointed to the Party;

 

 

(g)

it has a controller appointed to any part of its property; or

 

 

(h)

any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme or arrangement or otherwise) other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation of that Party.

 

"International Standards" means the international standards and practices from time to time in force applicable to the ownership, design, equipment, operation or maintenance of crude oil vessels.

 

"Lifting" means a cargo of Seller's Oil scheduled to be loaded onto a Vessel which Buyer presents at the Load Port in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. "Lift", "Lifts" and other derivatives shall be construed accordingly.

 

"Laytime" means the amount of time stipulated for the Vessel to load the Seller's Oil at the Load Port pursuant to Schedule B.

 

"Load Port" means the FPSO "Petroleo Nautipa" or the FSO "Cap Diamant" (or any subsequent name of the relevant vessel from time to time) located offshore the Republic of Gabon.

 

"Month M" means the month of Lifting; "Month M+l" means the month following Month M;

 

"Month M+2" means the month following Month M+1;

 

"Month M-1" means the month preceding Month M;

 

"Month M-2" means the month preceding Month M-1; and so on.

 

Page 5 of 28

 

"Notice of Readiness" or "NOR" means a valid notice of readiness to load Seller's Oil as given in accordance with the Port Regulations by the master of the Vessel to the Port Operator.

 

"Oil" means crude oil produced from the Etame G4-160 Block, offshore Gabon, and which at the date of this Agreement consists of a commingled blend of crude oil produced in various quantities from the Etame Marin, Avouma, and Ebouri fields.

 

"Port Operator" means VAALCO acting in its capacity as Operator of the Load Port or its permitted successor, as set out in the Terminal Handbook.

 

"Port Regulations" means those regulations with which Vessels lifting crude oil at the Load Port must comply, as set out in the Terminal Handbook.

 

"Price" means the price for the Oil sold and purchased hereunder, as determined in accordance with this Agreement.

 

"PSC" means the Exploration and Production Sharing Contract between the Republic of Gabon (the "Government of Gabon") and VAALCO dated 7tl, July 1995, as amended from time to time.

 

"Public Official" means

 

 

(a)

any officer, employee, director, principal, consultant, agent or representative, whether appointed or elected, of any government (whether central, federal, state or provincial), ministry, body, department, agency, instrumentality or part of any of them, or any public international organization, or any state or government owned or controlled entity, agency, enterprise, joint venture, or partnership (including a partner or shareholder of such an enterprise);

 

 

(b)

any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of (i) any government, ministry, body, department, agency, instrumentality or part of any of them, or (ii) any public international organization; or

 

 

(c)

any political party or political party official or candidate for office.

 

"Seller" has the meaning given in the Recitals above.

 

"Seller's Group" means the Seller, its Affiliates, its and their contractors and subcontractors of any tier, and its and their directors, officers, employees and consultants.

 

"SIDNC" is an acronym for Sundays and holidays included.

 

"Terminal Handbook" means the Etame Marine Terminal Handbook as prepared and updated from time-to-time by the manager of the Load Port, being VAALCO as at the date of this Agreement.

 

"Vessel" means each vessel nominated by Buyer, and accepted by Seller, to which the Seller's Oil will be delivered at the Load Port.

 

1.2

The following Schedules shall be deemed to form and be read and construed as integral parts of the Agreement:

 

 

1.2.1

Schedule A: Seller's Letter of Indemnity

 

Page 6 of 28

 

 

1.2.2

Schedule B: The Etame Lifting Procedures

 

In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of Schedule B (The Etame Lifting Procedures) and the other provisions of this Agreement, this Agreement will prevail.

 

1.3

Interpretation

 

 

1.3.1

Day

 

References in this Agreement to a"day" shall be as such day falls in local time, Republic of Gabon and all times of day referred to herein shall be construed accordingly.

 

 

1.3.2

Recitals, Clauses and Schedules

 

 

(a)

Save where the context otherwise requires, a reference to a Recital, Clause, Schedule or Annex is, unless indicated to the contrary, a reference to a recital, clause, or schedule of this Agreement;

 

 

(b)

Any reference to this Agreement includes the Schedules to this Agreement and which form part of this Agreement for all purposes; and

 

 

(c)

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the main body of this Agreement and the provisions of the Schedules to this Agreement, the provisions found in the main body of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

 

1.3.3

Statutory references

 

Save where the context otherwise requires, a reference to an enactment or statutory provision shall include a reference to any subordinate legislation made under the relevant enactment or statutory provision and is a reference to that enactment, statutory provision or subordinate legislation as from time to time amended, consolidated, modified, re-enacted or replaced.

 

 

1.3.4

Singular, plural and gender

 

Save where the context otherwise requires, the singular includes the plural and vice versa and reference to any gender includes a reference to all other genders.

 

 

1.3.5

Headings

 

Save where the context otherwise requires, headings and the use of bold typeface shall be ignored.

 

 

1.3.6

Writing

 

Save where the context otherwise requires, references to writing shall include any mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form and documents and information sent or supplied in electronic form are "in writing" for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

 

1.3.7

References to agreements

 

Save where the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to any other agreement or other instrument (other than an enactment or statutory provision) shall be deemed to be references to this Agreement, such other agreement or instrument as from time to time amended, varied, supplemented, substituted, novated or assigned.

 

Page 7 of 28

 

 

1.3.8

Meaning of includes and including

 

"includes" and "including" shall be construed without limitation.

 

 

1.3.9

Meaning of person/legal entity

 

References to a"person" or"legal entity" include any individual, firm, body corporate (wherever incorporated), government, state or agency of a state or any joint venture, association, partnership, works council or employee representative body (whether or not having separate legal personality).

 

2.

Representations, Warranties and UndertakingsThe Seller represents, warrants and undertakes that:

 

 

2.1.1

it has full power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform the obligations contained herein and that it has obtained all requisite internal approvals;

 

 

2.1.2

it is duly constituted, organised and validly existing under the laws of the country of its incorporation;

 

 

2.1.3

nothing contained in this Agreement will result in a breach of any provision of its constitutional documents or result in a breach of any agreement, licence or other instrument, order, judgment or decree of any court, governmental agency or regulatory body to which it is bound;

 

 

2.1.4

it holds all consents and authorisations required to perform its obligations under this Agreement;

 

 

2.1.5

it shall not do anything which causes or may cause any of its consents or authorisations to be revoked, invalidated or materially restricted in any way;

 

 

2.1.6

no action, litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding has been commenced, or is pending or, to its knowledge, threatened, which could reasonably be expected to affect materially and adversely its financial condition or operations or its ability to perform its obligations under, or which purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of, this Agreement;

 

 

2.1.7

its entitlement to Seller's Oil produced from the Etame G4- l 60 Block, offshore Gabon, supplied in accordance with this Agreement shall either:

 

 

(a)

be legally owned by it; or

 

 

(b)

it shall have the legal authority to dispose of such Oil at the moment of transfer of title pursuant to Clause 4.3.

 

Page 8 of 28

 

 

2.2

The Buyer represents, warrants and undertakes that:

 

 

2.2.1

it has full power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform the obligations contained herein and that it has obtained all requisite internal approvals;

 

 

2.2.2

it is duly constituted, organised and validly existing under the laws of the country of its incorporation;

 

 

2.2.3

nothing contained in this Agreement will result in a breach of any provision of its constitutional documents or result in a breach of any agreement, licence or other instrument, order, judgment or decree of any court, governmental agency or regulatory body to which it is bound;

 

 

2.3.4

it holds all consents and authorisations required to perform its obligations under this Agreement;

 

 

2.3.5

it shall not do anything which causes or may cause any of its consents or authorisations (or any consents or authorisations of Seller) to be revoked, invalidated or materially restricted in any way;

 

 

2.3.6

no action, litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding has been commenced, or is pending or, to its knowledge, threatened, which could reasonably be expected to affect materially and adversely its financial condition or operations or its ability to perform its obligations under, or which purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of, this Agreement;

 

 

2.3.7

notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, it and Buyer's Group shall not export or re-export Oil sold pursuant to this Agreement, directly or indirectly, to any country, entity or person, if it has reason to believe such export or re­ export is prohibited under the laws and regulations of the United States of America and European Union countries, which includes any trade, economic or financial sanction laws including the Trade Restrictions referred to in Clause 2.3; and

 

 

2.3.7

it will at all times comply with its (or its Affiliates') (i) policies which at the date of this Agreement are found at https://www.glencore.com/who-we-are/policies, and (ii) code of conduct which at the date of this Agreement ts found at https://www.glencore.com/en/who-we-are/our-code, in each case as the same is or are revised from time to time in accordance with best international practice.

 

2.3

Neither Party shall be obliged to act in any way or to perform, and nothing in this Agreement is intended, or should be interpreted or construed as requiring or inducing a Party to act in any way or to perform any obligation otherwise required by this Agreement (including an obligation to directly or indirectly (a) perform, deliver, accept, sell, purchase, pay or receive monies to, from or through a person or entity (including via the Seller or the Buyer, as the case may be), or (b) engage in any other acts) if this would or could be a material violation of, inconsistent with, penalised or prohibited by, or expose such Party to punitive measures under any laws, regulations, decrees, ordinances, orders or rules of the European Union ("EU"), any EU member state, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United Nations or the United States of America applicable to that Party relating to international boycotts, trade and/or financial sanctions, foreign trade controls, export controls, non-proliferation, anti-terrorism or similar laws (the "Trade Restrictions"). Where any performance by a Party would be in violation of, inconsistent with, or expose such Party to punitive measures under a Trade Restriction, such Party (the "Affected Party") shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, give written notice to the other Party of its inability to perform. The Affected Party shall be entitled:

 

Page 9 of 28

 

 

1.

immediately to suspend the performance of the obligation (whether a payment or performance obligation) until such time as the Affected Party may lawfully discharge such obligation; and/or

 

 

11.

where the inability to discharge the obligation continues until the end of the contractual time for discharge thereof or a period of30 days (whichever is the shorter), to a full release from the obligation, provided that where the obligation relates to payment for goods which have already been delivered, the obligation shall remain suspended (without prejudice to the accrual of any interest on an outstanding payment amount) until such time as the Affected Party may lawfully resume payment; and/or

 

 

111.

where the obligation is acceptance of the Vessel, to not accept any such non-compliant Vessel without any liability whatsoever (including any damages for breach of contract, demurrage, penalties, costs, fees and expenses) and to require the Buyer to nominate an alternative vessel.

 

Nothing in this Clause 2.3 shall be taken to limit or prevent the operation of the English law doctrine of frustration.

 

2.4

Each Party with regard to its operations and/or activities under this Agreement warrants that it and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and personnel have not knowingly made, offered or authorized, and covenants that such Party and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and personnel will not knowingly make, offer or authorize, any payment, facilitation payment, gift, promise or other advantage, whether directly or through any other person or entity, to or for the use or benefit of any Public Official, political party, political party official, candidate for office or other person or entity, where such payment, gift, promise or advantage would violate the Anti-Bribery Laws and Obligations applicable to such Party.

 

2.5

In particular, the Seller represents and warrants to the Buyer that it has not made any payments or given anything of value to officials, officers or employees of the government of the country in which the Oil sold under this Agreement originated or any agency, department or instrumentality of such government in connection with the Oil which is the subject of the Agreement which would be inconsistent with or contravene any of the above-referenced legislation.

 

2.6

Each Party shall as soon as possible notify the other Party, subject to applicable reporting and disclosure requirements, of any investigation or proceeding initiated by a governmental authority relating to an alleged violation of applicable Anti-Bribery Laws and Obligations by such Party, or its Affiliates, or any of their directors, officers, employees, personnel, or any service providers of such Party or its Affiliates, concerning operations and activities under this Agreement. Such Party shall use reasonable efforts to keep the other Party informed as to the progress and disposition of any such investigation or proceeding concerning operations and activities under this Agreement, except that such Party shall not be obligated to disclose to the other Party any information that would be considered legally privileged and/or where such disclosure is prohibited by law or regulation.

 

Page 10 of 28

 

2.7

Each Party shall defend, indemnify and hold the other Party harmless from and against any and all liabilities, claims, damages, losses, penalties, costs (including reasonable legal costs and attorney's fees) and expenses arising from or related to the events underlying:

 

 

2.7.1

such Party's admission of allegations made by a governmental authority concerning matters which are the subject of this Agreement operations and/or activities under this Agreement that such Party or its Affiliates or their directors, officers, employees and personnel, or any service providers of such Party or its Affiliates, have violated Anti­ Bribery Laws and Obligations applicable to such Party; or

 

 

2.7.2

the final adjudication concerning operations and/or activities under this Agreement that such Party or its Affiliates or their directors, officers, employees and personnel, or any service providers of such Party or its Affiliates, have violated Anti-Bribery Laws and Obligations applicable to such Party.

 

Such indemnity obligations shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

2.8

Each Party agrees in connection with the matters which are the subject of this Agreement to:

 

 

2.8.1

devise and maintain adequate internal controls concerning such Party's undertakings under this Clause 2;

 

 

2.8.2

establish and prepare its books and records accurately in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices applicable to such Party;

 

 

2.8.3

properly record and report such Party's transactions in a manner that accurately and fairly reflects in reasonable detail such Party's assets and liabilities;

 

 

2.8.4

retain such books and records for the period required by the relevant laws in the country of incorporation of each such Party and of the principal place of business of each such Party; and

 

 

2.8.5

comply with the laws applicable to it.

 

2.9

Each Party must be able to rely on the adequacy of the other Party's system of internal controls, and on the adequacy of full disclosure of the facts, and of financial and other information concerning operations and/or activities under this Agreement. No Party is in any way authorised to take any action on behalf of another Party that would result in an inadequate or inaccurate recording and reporting of assets, liabilities or any other transaction, or which would put such Party in violation of its obligations under the laws applicable to the operations under this Agreement.

 

Page 11 of 28

 

Each Party shall promptly respond in reasonable detail to any reasonable request from the other Party concerning a notice sent by such Party under Clause 2.6 and shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, furnish applicable documentary support for such Party's response (unless prevented from doing so by law), including showing such Party's compliance with the undertakings set out in Clause 2.4 and Clause 2.10, except that such Party shall not be obligated to disclose to the other Parties any infonnation that would be considered to be legally privileged.

 

2.10

Each Party with regard to its activities under this Agreement warrants and undertakes that: it and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and personnel shall conduct such activities in accordance with all applicable anti-trust laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction; it and its Affiliates does and do not engage in any activity, practice or conduct which would constitute an offence under such laws and regulations; and it and its Affiliates has and have, and maintain in place, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the same.

 

2.11

The Buyer or the Seller may terminate the Agreement forthwith upon not less than 5 Business Days' written notice to the other Party at any time, if in their reasonable judgement the other is in breach of any of the above representation, warranties or undertakings in this Clause 2.

 

3.

Term

 

3.1

This Agreement shall have legal force and effect from the Effective Date until the end of the Contract Period (both dates inclusive) provided that:

 

 

3.1.1

subject to early termination as provided for and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the first Lifting of Seller's Oil by Buyer will not occur until the month of August 2022;

 

 

3.1.2

if a vessel of another buyer is scheduled to Lift Seller's Oil on or before 31 July 2022 and has not completed loading by 23:59 hours local time in Gabon on 31 July 2022, then the rights of Buyer to Lift under this Agreement shall not come into effect until the Lifting by that other vessel has been completed and that other vessel has disconnected from the Load Port, in which case the quantity specified in Clause 6.1 shall be adjusted accordingly; and

 

 

3.1.3

if a Vessel commenced a Lifting on or before the last day of the Contract Period and has not completed loading by 23:59 hours local time in Gabon on the last day of the Contract Period, then this Agreement shall continue in effect until the Lifting by that Vessel has been completed and that Vessel has disconnected from the Load Port.

 

3.2

Following the expiration of the Contract Period or if otherwise terminated pursuant to Clause 12, save as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate without any further liability attaching to any Party, provided however that in the case of termination for whatever reason the Parties shall remain fully responsible for and liable to each other for all obligations under this Agreement that arose prior to and/or or upon such termination and for any already accrued rights, including Buyer's right to seek damages in the event of a failure by Seller to deliver the Seller's Oil in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Page 12 of 28

 

3.3

Notwithstanding this Clause 3 or Clause 12, the following Clauses will have continuing legal effect following the termination or expiry of this Agreement:

 

 

3.3.1

Clause 1 (Definitions and Interpretation);

 

 

3.3.2

Clauses 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 and 2.8;

 

 

3.3.3

Clause 12 (Default and Termination);

 

 

3.3.4

Clause 14 (Confidentiality);

 

 

3.3.5

Clause 15 (Liability and Indemnities);

 

 

3.3.6

Clause 17 (Taxes, Duties and Exports Licenses);

 

 

3.3.7

Clause 18 (Notices);

 

 

3.3.8

Clause 19 (Law and Dispute Resolution);

 

 

3.3.9

Clause 20 (Assignment and Change of Control of Seller);

 

 

3.3.10

Clause 21 (Waiver); and

 

 

3.3.11

Clause 22 (Entire Agreement).

 

4.

Sale and Purchase, Delivery, Title and Risk

 

4.1.

Seller agrees to sell and deliver Seller's Oil to Buyer FOB at the Delivery Point and Buyer agrees to purchase, receive and pay for such Oil from Seller, FOB at the Delivery Point, in the quantity, and at the agreed Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

4.2.

The Seller's Oil shall be delivered by Seller, and accepted by Buyer, at the Delivery Point. Each delivery of such Oil shall be in one cargo lot to a single Vessel.

 

4.3.

Title to and risk in the Seller's Oil or any part of it shall pass from Seller to Buyer as it passes the Delivery Point.

 

5.

Quality

 

5.1.

The quality of the Oil which may be supplied under this Agreement shall be the normal export quality of oil from the fields, including the Etame Marin, Ebouri and Avouma Fields, in the Etame G4-160 Block, as made available from time to time at the Load Port, unless specifications are prescribed elsewhere in this Agreement, in which case such specifications represent the only quality characteristics which the Oil is required to meet.

 

Page 13 of 28

 

5.2.

This Clause 5 constitutes the whole of Seller's obligations with respect to the quality of the Oil to be supplied and (save to the extent that exclusion thereof is not permitted or is ineffective by operation of law, in which case such warranties shall be considered to be restricted to the maximum extent permitted by law) all statutory or other conditions or warranties with respect to the description, merchantability or quality of the Oil or its fitness for any purpose are hereby excluded.

 

6.

Quantity

 

6.1.

During the term of this Agreement, Se!ler shall sell to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Seller all of the Seller's Oil, which Buyer is entitled in aggregate to Lift during the Contract Period, as notified to Buyer by VAALCO from time to time pursuant to Clause 7, subject to the retention on board the FPSO or the FSO (as the case may be) of such quantities of Oil as are required for operational purposes, and further subject to the rights of Seller not to supply a Lifting of less than an aggregate of three hundred thousand (300,000) net Barrels.

 

6.2.

During the term of this Agreement, not later than the first (1st) day of August and the first (1st) day of February of each year, or as soon as practicable thereafter, VAALCO shall notify Buyer of the anticipated pattern of Liftings for each Month of the next 6 Month period, and such notice shall be for informational purposes only and shall be indicative but non-binding.

 

6.3.

The Buyer understands and agrees that, in accordance with Clause 16 of the Agreement, the Gabonese Oil Company (GOC) has been appointed by the government to lift the government's percentage share of oil from the Fields and it will do so accordingly. GOC's expected lifting dates will be included in the notice referenced in Clause 6.2.

 

7.

Buyer Nominations & Scheduling

 

7.1.

VAALCO may specify Liftings of a size that shall be not less than three hundred thousand (300,000) net Barrels, nor more than nine hundred thousand (900,000) net Barrels. At the time of loading each Lifting shall be subject to an operational tolerance of plus or minus five point zero per cent(+/- 5.0%) of the Firm Lifting quantity at Buyer's option but subject always to the terms of Schedule B.

 

7.2.

Not later than:

 

 

7.2.1

the sixteenth (16th) day of Month M-2, VAALCO shall notify Buyer of the details, on a provisional basis, of the Lifting to be made in Month M, including the provisional quantity of Seller's Oil to be Lifted, and a provisional loading date range of five (5) consecutive days, together with any other relevant operational information (provided on a provisional basis) that might apply to the Lifting. The details so provided under this Clause 7.2.1 for the Lifting in Month M shall not constitute a Firm Lifting and shall be capable of amendment by VAALCO acting unilaterally, in its sole discretion and without the prior agreement of Buyer; and

 

Page 14 of 28

 

 

7.2.2

the earlier of the sixteenth (16th) day of Month M-1 or four (4) weeks before the first (1st) day of the five (5) consecutive days loading date range nominated pursuant to this Clause 7.2.2, VAALCO shall notify Buyer of the details of the Lifting to be made in Month M, including the quantity of Seller's Oil to be Lifted, and a loading date range of five (5) consecutive days, together with any other relevant operational information that might apply to the Lifting. The details so provided under this Clause 7.2.2 for the Lifting in Month M shall constitute a Firm Lifting and shall not be amended without the prior agreement of both Buyer and Seller, except for operational changes agreed between the Parties, as specified in accordance with Schedule B.

 

7.3.

At the same time as giving the notice specified in Clause 7.2.2 in respect of Month M, VAALCO shall also notify Buyer of the currently-intended Liftings for Months M+1 and M+2, but such notice shall be for informational purposes only and shall be indicative but non-binding.

 

7.4.

Seller shall give notice in writing to Buyer of the three (3) day final loading date range no later than the earlier of:

 

 

7.4.1

four (4) weeks before the first (1st) day of the five (5) day range notified pursuant to Clause 7.2.2; or

 

 

7.4.2

four (4) weeks before the first (1st) day of the five (5) day range notified pursuant to Clause

 

 

7.2.1

where there is anticipated (based on the provisional information provided pursuant to Clause 7.2.1) to be less than four (4) weeks between the date of Seller's notice and the first (1st) day of the five (5) day range notified pursuant to Clause 7.2.2.

 

8.

Vessel Nomination

 

8.1.

Buyer shall, at its own risk and expense, nominate and provide a Vessel which is in all respects ready to and capable of loading the Seller's Oil at the Load Port within the nominated loading date range, and that is in compliance with this Agreement and the Port Regulations. The Etame Lifting Procedures shall apply to each Lifting.

 

8.2.

Buyer shall nominate Vessel at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the Vessel's arrival at the Load Port.

 

8.3.

The Vessel nominated by Buyer shall:

 

 

(a)

be equipped and manned so as to be able to meet all applicable maritime regulations in accordance with the applicable International Standards;

 

 

(b)

comply with the applicable rules and be compatible with the Load Port;

 

 

(c)

be of the dimensions and technical specifications set out from time to time by Seller;

 

Page 15 of 28

 

 

(d)

be safely manned, operated and maintained in good working order and condition by a competent and reputable operator;

 

 

(e)

shall be constructed and operated m accordance with all applicable laws, treaties, conventions, rules and regulations of the country of vessel registry and all laws, treaties, conventions, rules and regulations applicable at the Load Port, including those for the protection of the environment or which relate to seaworthiness, pollution, design, safety, navigation, operation and similar technical and operational matters, and in accordance with International Standards; and

 

 

(f)

shall be entered for insurance with a member that has full entry in the International Group of P&I Clubs, including pollution liability standard. Upon request by Seller, Buyer shall provide to Seller satisfactory evidence that the insurance required pursuant to this paragraph

 

 

(f)

is in effect.

 

8.4.

The Vessel nominated by Buyer, as well as its as its registered owner, disponent owner, beneficial owner or the ship manager shall not be subject to blocking sanctions under Trade Restrictions.

 

9.

Price

 

9.1.

For each Lifting of Oil hereunder, the Price ("P") payable in accordance with the terms of Clause 8.4 below shall be expressed in US Dollars per net Barrel sold FOB at the Delivery Point and shall be determined by the following formula:

 

The FOB price per net Bill of Lading net Barrel= DATED BRENT component (D), plus/minus (as the case may be) the DIFFERENTIAL (X), [*****]

 

Where:

 

 

1.

The DATED BRENT component (D) shall be the arithmetic average of all settlement values for Dated Brent as published by Platts Crude Oil Marketwire (or any replacement thereof) for the nominated month of load (M);

 

 

11.

The DIFFERENTIAL (X), which the Parties acknowledge could be a positive or negative amount, shall be the differential actually achieved by the Buyer in on-selling each net Barrel calculated as follows:

 

 

a.

[*****]

 

 

b.

[*****]

 

 

c.

[*****]

 

 

d.

[*****]

 

 

1.

[*****]

 

 

11.

[*****]

 

111.

[*****]

 

 

iv.

[*****] The COSTS OF SALE shall be strictly limited to those costs actually and reasonably incurred in order to effect an on-sale at a place other than FOB at the Delivery Point and such deduction shall be effected only to convert any CFR, CIF or DES (each as per Incoterms) on-sale price into an FOB at the Delivery Point price. Buyer will provide Seller with all documentation to support all costs actually and reasonably incurred by Buyer. The COSTS OF SALE may include the following categories of cost, in accordance with international trading industry standards: freight, taxes/dues, insurance, demurrage (provided that paragraphs 5.6 and 5.7 of Schedule B shall apply), outturn losses, time value of money and any costs associated with financial cover with banks and/or insurance markets, inspection, analysis and the costs associated with any letter of credit.

 

Page 16 of 28

 

9.2.

Any activities for which it may be necessary to incur reasonable costs from time to time, for example, sending samples to customers and ad hoc laboratory analysis, will be for the account of Seller, subject always to Seller's prior written approval.

 

9.3.

The Price shall be calculated to two (2) decimal places and the following arithmetic rules shall be applied:

 

 

9.3.1

if the third decimal place is five (5) or greater than five (5) then the second decimal place shall be rounded up to the next digit; or

 

 

9.3.2

if the third decimal place is less than five (5) then the second decimal place shall be rounded down to the next digit.

 

9.4.

In the event that at any time during this Agreement, any related price index or quotation, as referred to in Clause 9.1, ceases to be published or if the publisher changes the criteria or methodology, the Parties shall, upon written notice from either Party and acting reasonably, re­ negotiate that part of Clause 9.1 that is affected. If the Parties cannot reach agreement on a new price index or quotation, following discussions for a minimum of sixty (60) days, either Party may refer the matter to an expert in the field of hydrocarbon trading on terms of reference (including the identity of the expert) to be agreed between the Parties (acting reasonably) with the cost of such expert rendering its opinion being borne equally between the Parties. The decision of any expert will be final and binding on the Parties save in the event of manifest error or fraud on the part of the expert. If the Parties (acting reasonably) cannot reach agreement on the terms of reference (including the identity of the expert), either Party may refer the matter to arbitration in accordance with Clause 19.

 

9.5.

The Buyer agrees to use reasonable endeavours to (i) achieve the most positive or least negative (as the case may be) DIFFERENTIAL resulting from the on-sale, (ii) achieve the best terms in respect of the on-sale including via contracting on arms' length terms, (iii) conduct an on-sale with a non-Affiliate, and (iv) mitigate (including as a result of achieving economies of scale across the Buyer's Group) the COSTS OF SALE.

 

10.

Payment Terms, Laytime and Demurrage

 

10.1.

For each Lifting completed under this Agreement, payment shall be made by Buyer in US Dollars in full, without discount, withholding or set-off, in immediately available funds by electronic transfer not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the Bill of Lading (such Bill of Lading date counting as day zero).

 

10.2.

Payment shall be made on presentation of a commercial invoice (whether made by letter, email or fax) based upon the loaded quantity as evidenced by the Bill of Lading, and upon either a final unit price or, if any of the price components specified in Clause 8.4 above are not finalised, based on a provisional price, together with a full set of 3/3 original Bills of Lading and other shipping documents including certificate of quantity and/or independent inspector's quantity report at the Delivery Point, certificate of quality and/or independent inspector's quality report at the Delivery Point and original certificate of origin.

 

Page 17 of 28

 

10.3.

If the clean 3/3 original Bills of Lading or other documents are not available for presentation to Buyer on or before the payment due date, Buyer agrees to pay Seller upon presentation of a Seller's letter of indemnity in the form set out in Schedule A.

 

10.4.

For the avoidance of doubt, the sum of the quantities shown on each invoice submitted to Buyer in respect of a particular Lifting shall not exceed the sum of the Bill of Lading quantities for that Lifting.

 

10.5.

In the event that the value of a price component specified in Clause 9.1 is not known and therefore the final unit price cannot be determined prior to the payment due date, then Seller shall submit a provisional invoice and provisional payment shall be made on the due date. The provisional unit price shall be calculated as follows:

 

 

i)

the arithmetic average of all settlement values for Dated Brent as published by Platts Crude Oil Marketwire (or any replacement thereof) from the first to the twenty-third Business Day during the Month in which the Bill of Lading falls; plus/minus (as the case may be)

 

 

ii)

the DIFFERENTIAL, if any and if known. If the DIFFERENTIAL (if any) is unknown for the current cargo, the DIFFERENTIAL for the most recent Bill of Lading Month for which a final price has been determined shall be used; less

 

 

iii)

[*****]

 

10.6.

As soon as reasonably practicable after any provisional pricing component has been finalised, Seller shall submit to Buyer final invoices, for immediate settlement. Should final pricing show an amount due to Buyer then Seller shall submit a credit memo to Buyer for immediate settlement.

 

10.7.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, any amount due from Buyer which is not paid by the due date pursuant to this Clause 10 shall bear simple interest commencing on the day immediately after the date on which it became due up to and including the date of payment at the Agreed Interest Rate, calculated as an annual rate (360 day year basis). The foregoing shall not be construed as an indication of any willingness on the part of Seller to provide extended credit as a matter of course and shall be without prejudice to any rights and remedies which Seller may have under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

10.8.

In the event that payment falls due on a Saturday, Sunday or any bank holiday in New York, or such other place as may be designated by Seller for payment, then any such payment shall be made on the last banking day prior to the payment due date.

 

10.9.

Notwithstanding the terms set forth in Clause 10.1 to 10.8 above, the Seller may request the early payment of a portion of the provisional value for a Cargo on any day from the first (1st) Business Day immediately following the date of the Bill of Lading. If the Buyer, at its sole discretion, agrees to make an early payment, such early payment shall be made within three (3) Business Days of the Seller's request made pursuant to this Clause 10.9.

 

Page 18 of 28

 

10.10.

If at the time of the Seller's early payment request pursuant to Clause 10.9 the final price relevant to the Cargo is not yet known, the amount of the early payment shall be mutually agreed by the Parties, acting reasonably.

 

10.11.

[*****]

 

10.11.

For the avoidance of any doubt, in the event of an early payment by Buyer based on provisional prices, then Clause 10.6 shall apply in respect of the submission and settlement of the final invoice.

 

10.12.

The Parties agree that the provisions in respect of Laytime and Demurrage shall be as set out in Schedule B.

 

10.13.

No Party shall have the right to offset or withhold payments due to the other Party under this Agreement with payments due from that Party under this Agreement.

 

11.

Measurement and Inspection

 

11.1.

Buyer shall appoint a mutually acceptable independent inspector at the Load Port to verify the quantity and the quality of the Seller's Oil delivered, and Buyer and Seller shall bear the inspector's charges equally. The provisions of this Clause 11 relating to the quality of the Oil shall be subject to Clause 5.

 

11.2.

The quantity and quality of the Oil supplied by Seller in each Lifting shall be determined at the Load Port by measurement, sampling and testing in accordance with good international standard practice at the time of loading, and shall include measurement that enables a net quantity to be calculated. The net quantity so determined shall be inserted in the certificate of quantity and Bill of Lading for the cargo. The Bill of Lading quantity, save for fraud or manifest error, shall be used for invoice purposes. The results of measurement, sampling and testing shall, for the purposes of the Agreement, be treated as conclusive as to the quantity and quality loaded save for fraud or manifest error, but without prejudice to Buyer's right to bring a claim in accordance with Clauses 11.3 and 11.4. The independent inspector's report shall be copied to Seller at the same time as it is given to Buyer (a fax/email copy will be acceptable). Such independent inspector's report shall be final and binding on the Parties (save in the event of fraud or manifest error), but without prejudice to Buyer's right to bring a claim in accordance with Clauses 11.3 and 11.4.

 

Page 19 of 28

 

11.3.

In any event where a discrepancy in quantity arises under Clause 11.2, Seller shall not be liable for any claim pertaining to the discrepancy unless such discrepancy exceeds zero point five per cent (0.5%) of the Bill of Lading quantity. Quantity claims are to be determined by comparing the Bill of Lading quantity with the receiving Vessel gross standard volume (GSV) figures with Vessel experience factor (VEF) applied, each in accordance with the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard for petroleum measurements from time to time in force. Buyer hereby irrevocably waives its rights to any claim in respect of discrepancies lower than zero point five per cent (0.5%) of the Bill of Lading quantity.

 

11.4.

Buyer shall notify Seller in writing of any claim in respect of quality or quantity (provided that such claim in respect of quantity is not excluded under Clause 11.3) of a cargo, as determined by the independent inspector, within forty-five (45) days after the date of completion of the Lifting. Buyer shall as a minimum set out particulars relating to the claim. If Seller is not notified of the claim within forty-five (45) days after the date of completion of the Lifting, the claim shall be deemed by the Parties to have been irrevocably waived by Buyer.

 

11.5.

Provided that Buyer has properly notified Seller of a claim under Clause 11.4, Buyer shall proceed to pursue the claim by lodging a detailed claim with supporting documentation within sixty (60) days of notifying Seller of the claim under Clause 11.4. If Buyer fails to pursue the claim by not lodging the detailed claim within sixty (60) days, the claim shall be deemed by the Parties to have been irrevocably waived by Buyer.

 

12.

[*****]

 

12.1.

[*****]

 

 

12.1.1.

[*****]

 

 

12.1.2

[*****]

 

12.2.

[*****]

 

 

12.2.1.

[*****]

 

 

12.2.2.

[*****]

 

12.3.

[*****]

 

 

12.3.1.

[*****]

 

 

12.1.1.

[*****]

 

12.

Force Majeure

 

13.1.

Neither of the Parties shall be deemed to be in breach of this Agreement, nor shall that Party be liable to the other Party for any failure, omission or delay in its performance in whole or in part of any of the conditions of this Agreement (except for obligations to make payment or provide security whenever required) to the extent that such failure, omission or delay arises or results from any unforeseeable, insurmountable or irresistible event or cause that is beyond the control of that Party, and could not have been avoided by steps which might reasonably have been expected to have been taken by that Party, and which event or cause may include (inter alia):

 

 

13.1.1.

mandatory compliance with a direction or request of any international, national, port, transportation, local government or other authority or person purporting to act with such authority;

 

 

13.1.2.

strike/s or other labour difficulty from whatever cause arising, even though it could be settled by acceding to the demands of a labour group;

 

 

13.1.3.

natural calamity, epidemic, pandemic, fire, explosion;

 

 

13.1.4.

war, hostilities declared or undeclared, embargo, blockade, civil unrest, riots, terrorism, and any consequence thereof; and

 

 

13.1.5.

an event of "Force Majeure" under the agreements governing the operation of the Fields to the extent that such event prevents the Party from meeting its obligations under this Agreement, an event of "Force Majeure".

 

13.2.

A breakdown or failure of plant or equipment caused by normal wear and tear or by a failure to properly maintain such plant or equipment shall not constitute an event of Force Majeure.

 

13.3.

A Party affected by Force Majeure shall give prompt written notice of any event of Force Majeure to the other Party and shall, as far as possible, include details of the expected extent and duration of the Force Majeure, as well as steps proposed to mitigate the effect of the Force Majeure. Such notice shall be updated on a regular basis.

 

13.4.

Where the time required for Seller to make, or Buyer to receive, delivery hereunder is affected by Force Majeure, the time for such delivery or receipt shall be extended for the duration of the period during which the Force Majeure was in effect, provided that where the time for such delivery or receipt is affected by a Force Majeure event that exceeds thirty (30) days, either the Buyer or the Seller may terminate any affected delivery by giving written notice to the other Party.

 

Page 20 of 28

 

13.

Confidentiality

 

14.1.

Subject to the provisions of this Clause 14, the Parties shall keep all information concerning this Agreement and the dealings and transactions associated with this Agreement ("Confidential Information" for the purposes of this Clause 14) strictly confidential, and shall not disclose the same during the term of this Agreement and for a period of two (2) calendar years after tennination to any person not a Party to this Agreement, except pursuant to Clause 14.2.

 

14.2.

A Party may disclose the Confidential Information without the other Party's prior written consent to the extent such information:

 

 

14.2.1.

is already known to such Party as of the date of disclosure under this Agreement;

 

 

14.2.2.

is already in possession of the public or becomes available to the public other than through the act or omission of such Party or of any other person to whom Confidential Information is disclosed pursuant to this Agreement;

 

 

14.2.3.

is required to be disclosed by such Party and/or an Affiliate under applicable Law, stock exchange regulations or by an order, decree, regulation or rule of a Governmental Authority, provided that such Party shall use reasonable efforts to give prompt notice to the other Party before such disclosure to the extent permitted by the applicable Law, stock exchange regulations or order, decree, regulation or rule of Governmental Authority;

 

 

14.2.4.

is acquired independently from a third party that represents that it has the right to disseminate such information at the time it is acquired by such Party; or

 

 

14.2.5.

is developed by such Party independently of the Confidential Information received from the other Party.

 

14.3.

Subject to the remainder of this Clause 14, a Party may disclose Confidential Information without the other Party's prior written consent to an Affiliate, provided that such Party guarantees, as it hereby does, that its Affiliate shall adhere the terms of this Clause 14.

 

14.4.

A Party may disclose Confidential Information without the other Party's prior written consent to any of the following persons to the extent that such persons have a clear need to know the Confidential Information:

 

 

14.4.1.

employees, officers and directors of such Party in order to enable such Party to perform its obligations;

 

Page 21 of 28

 

 

14.4.2.

employees, officers and directors of an Affiliate of such Party in order to enable such Party and/or an Affiliate to perform its obligations;

 

 

14.4.3.

any consultant, agent, auditor, insurer, professional advisor or legal counsel retained by such Party or its Affiliate in order to enable such Party to perform its obligations;

 

 

14.4.4.

any bona fide prospective transferee of a Party's rights and obligations under this Agreement (including a prospective transferee with whom a Party and/or its Affiliates are conducting bona fide negotiations directed toward a direct or indirect merger, consolidation or the sale of a majority of its or an Affiliate's shares), and any consultant retained by such prospective transferee, in order to enable such prospective transferee to assess such Party's rights and obligations;

 

 

14.4.5.

any bank or other financial institution or entity funding or proposing to finance such Party and/or an Affiliate (including by becoming a lender in the Financing), including any consultant retained by such bank or other financial institution or entity; and

 

 

14.4.6.

to the extent reasonably necessary, any person or entity to whom Buyer sells or supplies any quantities of Oil which Buyer has purchased from Seller in accordance with this Agreement, however no information regarding the Price (pursuant to Clause 8.4) may be disclosed to such person or entity.

 

14.5.

Prior to making any such disclosures to persons under Clause 14.4.4, Clause 14.4.5 or Clause 14.4.6, the Party desiring to make such disclosure shall obtain an undertaking of strict confidentiality and non-disclosure, on terms no less stringent than those set out in this Clause 14, and to use the Confidential Information solely for the stated purpose, but otherwise substantially in the same form and content as the restrictions set out in this Clause 14, from each such person.

 

14.

Liability and Indemnities

 

15.1.

Buyer is liable for, and releases and indemnifies each member of Seller's Group from and against, all claims arising out of or in connection with the performance of this Agreement which relate to:

 

 

15.1.1.

personal injury (including death or disease) to any member of Buyer's Group, irrespective of cause and even if caused in whole or in part by the negligence or breach of duty (statutory or otherwise) of any member of Seller's Group;

 

 

15.1.2.

loss of or damage to any property of any member of Buyer's Group, including the removal of wreck or debris thereof, irrespective of cause and even in whole or in part by the negligence or breach of duty (statutory or otherwise) of any member of Seller's Group; and

 

 

15.1.3.

subject to Clause 15.4, personal injury (including death or disease) to any third party or loss of or damage to any property of a third party, to the extent caused by the negligence or breach of duty (statutory or otherwise) of any member of Buyer's Group.

 

Page 22 of 28

 

15.2.

Seller is liable for, and release and indemnify each member of Buyer's Group from and against, all claims arising out of or in connection with the performance of this Agreement which relate to:

 

 

15.2.1.

personal injury (including death or disease) to any member of Seller's Group, irrespective of cause and even if caused in whole or in part by the negligence or breach of duty (statutory or otherwise) of any member of the Buyer's Group;

 

 

15.2.2.

loss of or damage to any property of any member of Seller's Group, including the removal of wreck or debris thereof, irrespective of cause and even in whole or in part by the negligence or breach of duty (statutory or otherwise) of any member of Buyer's Group; and

 

 

15.2.3.

subject to Clause 15.3, personal injury (including death or disease) to any third party or loss of or damage to any property of a third party, to the extent caused by the negligence or breach of duty (statutory or otherwise) of any member of Seller's Group.

 

15.3.

Subject to the Terminal Handbook (which in the event of any conflict or ambiguity between this Agreement and the Terminal Handbook shall prevail), Buyer is responsible for, and releases and indemnifies each member of Seller's Group from and against, all claims arising out of or in connection with the performance of this Agreement which relate to the prevention, control, clean up, disposal and/or removal of any pollution, contamination or environmental damage occurring on or discharged or emanating from any property of Buyer's Group, irrespective of cause and even if caused in whole or in part by the negligence of any member of Seller's Group.

 

15.4.

Subject to the Terminal Handbook (which in the event of any conflict or ambiguity between this Agreement and the Terminal Handbook shall prevail), Seller is responsible for, and release and indemnify each member of Buyer's Group from and against, all claims arising out of or in connection with the performance of this Agreement which relate to the prevention, control, clean up, disposal and/or removal of any pollution, contamination or environmental damage occurring on or discharged or emanating from any property of Seller's Group, irrespective of cause and even if caused in whole or in party by the negligence of any member of the Buyer's Group.

 

15.5.

Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, neither Seller nor Buyer shall be liable for indirect, special, exemplary, punitive or consequential losses howsoever arising.

 

15.

Government Rights

 

The Government of Gabon, Addax, PetroEnergy and Tullow have exercised their rights under Article 19 of the PSC to lift their percentage share of oil from the Fields. VAALCO shall exercise reasonable efforts to notify Buyer of the schedule for liftings by the Government of Gabon as soon as possible and in any event shall do so prior to VAALCO accepting and Buyer fixing a Vessel for any designated lifting hereunder.

 

16.

Taxes, Duties and Exports Licenses

 

Page 23 of 28

 

17.1.

All taxes, customs and other duties in conjunction with the conclusion and execution of this Agreement and levied on the Seller's Oil up to the point and moment of delivery of such Seller's Oil at the Delivery Point, shall be paid by Seller. All taxes, customs and other duties in conjunction with the conclusion and execution of this Agreement and levied on the Seller's Oil after the point and moment of delivery of such Oil at the Delivery Point, shall be paid by Buyer.

 

17.2.

Seller will ensure timely acquisition of all appropriate export licenses and clearances of any character for the Seller's Oil.

 

17.3.

There shall be no port costs (including the costs of anchor-handling tugs and associated equipment necessary to allow the nominated Vessel to berth and load) associated with the Lifting operations for the account of Buyer.

 

17.4.

Buyer shall be responsible for the payment of any charges imposed by the Republic of Gabon for the operation of its nominated Vessels in Gabonese waters, and any duties or levies thereon.

 

18.

[*****]

 

 

18.1.

[*****]

 

17.

Law and Dispute Resolution

 

19.1.

The proper law of this Agreement is the law of England, and this law shall be used for interpreting the Agreement and for resolving all claims or disputes arising out of or in connection with the Agreement (whether based in contract, in tort or on any other legal doctrine), but without reference to any conflict of law rules.

 

19.2.

This Clause 19 is a separate, divisible agreement from the rest of this Agreement and shall:

 

 

19.2.1.

not be or become void, voidable or unenforceable by reason only of any alleged misrepresentation, mistake, duress, undue influence, impossibility (initial or supervening), illegality, immorality, absence of consensus, lack of authority or other cause relating in substance to the rest of the Agreement and not to this Clause 19. The Parties intend that any such issue shall be subject to arbitration in terms of this Clause 19; and

 

 

19.2.2.

remain in effect even if the agreement set out in this Agreement terminates or is cancelled.

 

19.3.

To the extent that any dispute should arise between the Parties related to this Agreement, the Parties shall, in good faith, seek an amicable resolution to such dispute by referring such dispute to the respective representatives of the relevant Parties (being, the Managing Directors (or those in an equivalent position or their nominees) of the Parties), as notified from time to time in writing, for their negotiation and settlement.

 

Page 24 of 28

 

19.4.

To the extent that no settlement is reached in terms of Clause 19.3 within 30 days of referral, the dispute shall be dealt with and finally settled in accordance with the arbitration procedures set out in this Clause 19. The Arbitration shall be conducted under the rules of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), which rules are incorporated herein by reference, save that the waiver of rights to appeal, review or recourse to any state court or other legal authority set out in Article 26.8 of the LCIA Rules (or such equivalent provision in any subsequent version of the LCIA Rules) shall not apply or be incorporated into this Agreement, and the seat shall be and any hearings shall be held in London, England.

 

19.5.

Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, three arbitrators will conduct the Arbitration. Buyer and Seller will each nominate an arbitrator for appointment by the LCIA, and if one Party fails to nominate an arbitrator within 30 days of receiving notice of the nomination of an arbitrator by the other Party then that arbitrator will be appointed by the LCIA, notwithstanding the absence of nomination and without regard to any late nomination. The third arbitrator, who will act as chairman of the tribunal, will in turn be nominated by the two previously appointed arbitrators. If such nomination has not been made within 30 days of the date of appointment of the later of the two party-nominated arbitrators to be appointed, the Chairman will be appointed by the LCIA, notwithstanding the absence of the nomination and without regard to any late nomination. The arbitrators may request and obtain the services of a technical or legal expert to assist in their duties hereunder; provided, however, that any such expert will not be an employee of a Party to the Arbitration or of an Affiliate to a Party to the Arbitration.

 

19.6.

The Arbitration tribunal will decide all questions strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and will give effect to the same. The arbitrators are not authorised to exceed a limit of liabilities established hereunder or expand a guarantee made herein. The arbitrators are to have the power to order specific performance of this Agreement.

 

19.7.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Clause 19, either Party shall have the right to apply to a competent judicial authority for interim or conservatory relief against the other Party in any court having jurisdiction.

 

19.8.

Judgment upon the award rendered by the Tribunal may be entered in any court having jurisdiction whether in accordance with the New York Convention of 1958 on Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitration Awards or otherwise.

 

18.

Assignment and Change of Control of Seller

 

20.1.

No consent shall be required for the assignment to an Affiliate of Buyer, provided that Buyer agrees in an instrument reasonably satisfactory to Seller to remain liable for its Affiliate's performance of its obligations.

 

Page 25 of 28

 

20.2.

The Buyer is not entitled to assign by way of security for the provision of financing its rights under this Agreement, without Seller's prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).

 

20.3.

Notwithstanding any transfer by Buyer, both the Buyer and the transferee shall be liable to Seller for the Buyer's obligations (financial or otherwise), which have vested, matured or accrued under the provisions of this Agreement before such transfer.

 

20.4.

Seller is not entitled to transfer all or part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any legal entity to which the Seller has transferred its interest in Etame Marin Permit G4- l 60 without Buyer's prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). In the event that such transfer is approved by Buyer a novation will be executed giving effect to such a transfer.

 

20.5.

In the event that there is a change of Control of the Seller, the terms of this Agreement shall remain valid and binding for the crude oil entitlements of any successor unless the Facility is repaid and cancelled as a result of a voluntary repayment by Vaalco Gabon (Etame) Inc. in full before the Final Maturity Date, in which case this Agreement shall end on the date falling 183 days after the voluntary repayment date.

 

20.6.

Subject to the provisions of this Clause 20, this Agreement shall be binding and upon and inure for the benefit of the respective successors in title and permitted transferees of each Party.

 

19.

Waiver

 

Except as expressly provided in this Agreement neither Buyer nor Seller shall be deemed to have waived, released or modified any of its rights under this Agreement unless it has expressly agreed that it does waive, release or modify such right. Such agreement shall then be recorded in writing by the Party granting the waiver. No waiver by either Buyer or Seller of any one or more defaults by the other Party in the performance of this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver of any future default or defaults, whether of a like or of a different character.

 

20.

Entire Agreement

 

22.1.

Without prejudice to the terms of the Facility and any other documents executed thereunder, this Agreement is the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter, supersedes all prior understandings and negotiations of the Parties, and may not be modified unless agreed by all Parties. Such agreement shall then be recorded in writing.

 

22.2.

Each provision of this Agreement shall be construed as though the Parties participated equally in the drafting of the same. Consequently, the Parties acknowledge and agree that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting Party shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

 

Page 26 of 28

 

21.

Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which is an original, but all of which together constitute one and the same agreement. Transmission of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by email (in PDF or other agreed format) shall take effect as delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

22.

Public Announcement

 

No public announcement or statement regarding the terms or existence of this Agreement shall be made without prior written consent of the Parties, provided that, notwithstanding any failure to obtain such approval, no Party shall be prohibited from issuing or making any such public announcement or statement to the extent it is necessary to do so in order to comply with the applicable law, regulations, legal proceedings or rules or regulations of any stock exchange having jurisdiction over such Party or its Affiliates.

 

23.

Partial Invalidity

 

If and for so long as any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to be judged invalid for any reason whatsoever, such invalidity shall not affect the validity or operation of any other provision of this Agreement except only so far as shall be necessary to give effect to the construction of such invalidity, and any such invalid provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement without affecting the validity of the balance of this Agreement.

 

24.

Waiver of Sovereign Immunity

 

Any Party that now or later has a right to claim sovereign immunity for itself or any of its assets hereby waives any such immunity to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of any applicable jurisdiction. This waiver includes immunity from:

 

 

26.1.1.

any arbitration proceeding commenced under this Agreement;

 

 

26.1.2.

any judicial, administrative or other proceedings to aid any arbitration proceeding commenced under this Agreement; and

 

 

26.1.3.

any effort to confirm, enforce, or execute any decision, settlement, award, judgement, service of process, execution order or attachment (including pre-judgement attachment) that results from an arbitration or any judicial or administrative proceeding commenced under this Agreement.

 

For the purposes of this waiver only, each Party acknowledges that its rights and obligations under this Agreement are of a commercial and not a governmental nature.

 

Page 27 of 28

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorised officers as of the date first above written.

 

For and on behalf ofGlencore Energy UK Ltd.

r :;(

By: LJ1oce1,o c. g1ei;i

Name: Ann Nash

Title:         Head of Oil Project and Structured Finance

 

For and on behalf ofV AALCO Gabon S.A.

B · l;;;n;;LJCkt

y •sA3FH681880462...

Name: Thor Pruckl

Title: General Director

 

Page 28 of 28

    

 

Execution Version

 

SCHEDULE A

 

SELLER'S LETTER OF INDEMNITY FORMAT

 

The indemnity referred to in Clause 10.3 shall be in the following fonnat.

 

 

QUOTE

Date:

TO:                                                 

 

We refer to the Crude Oil Sale and Marketing Agreement, among Glencore Energy UK Ltd. (the "Buyer") and VAALCO Gabon S.A. (the "Seller"), dated 2022 (the "Sale and Marketing Agreement"), and in particular our sale and your purchase of a cargo of [insert number] net barrels of Etame Crude Oil shipped on board the Vessel "[insert name]" loaded at the [FPSO "Petroleo Nautipa" I FSO "Cap Diamant'' (or any subsequent name of the relevant vessel from time to time)] pursuant to Bill of Lading dated [insert date].

 

Although we have sold and transferred title of the said cargo to you, we have been unable to provide you with [here insert unavailable documents: e.g. the full set of 3/3 original Bills of Lading; or other shipping documents to be specified] (the "documents") covering the said sale.

 

In consideration of your payment to us of the full purchase price ofUSD [insert price] we hereby expressly represent and warrant the existence and validity of the documents, that we are entitled to the documents, that we have good and marketable title, free and clear of any lien, charges or encumbrance, to such cargo at the time such cargo was transferred to you and that we have full right and authority to transfer such title and effect delivery of the cargo to you.

 

We hereby agree to protect, indemnify and save you harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, costs, losses, damages and expenses which you may suffer by reason of our failure to present the documents as required under the Agreement or our breach of the representations and warranties given above, including but not limited to, arising out of any claims and demand which may be made by a holder or transferee of the documents or by any other third party successfully claiming an interest or lien on the cargo.

 

We further agree to exercise our best efforts to locate and surrender the documents as soon as possible to (insert LC issuing bank name)                                                                        

 

This indemnity is a continuing indemnity however it shall automatically expire at the moment the documents are presented to the party identified in the preceding paragraph, unless within that time notice is given of a claim or proceedings are commenced in which case the indemnity shall continue.

 

This indemnity is governed by English law and the parties agree that any dispute between Buyer and Seller shall be resolved in accordance with Clause 19 of the Sale and Marketing Agreement.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

NAME: (Authorized Signatory)

TITLE:

COMPANY NAME: VAALCO Gabon S.A.

 

UNQUOTE

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

The Etame Lifting Procedures

 

 

1

General

 

1.1

The provisions of this Schedule B shall apply to each Vessel and to each Lifting made under the provisions of the Agreement.

 

1.2

Words and expressions that are defined in Clause 1 of the Agreement shall have the same meanings in this Schedule B.

 

1.3

In this Schedule B, reference to a "Clause" shall be to a Clause of the Agreement, and to a "Section" shall be to a Section of this Schedule B, unless the context requires otherwise

 

2.

Vessel Nomination

 

2.1

In respect of each Lifting, Buyer shall, at its own risk and expense, nominate and provide a Vessel which is in all respects ready to and capable of loading the Seller's Oil at the Load Port within the nominated loading date range, and that is in compliance with this Agreement and the Port Regulations. Seller may, but always acting reasonably, refuse to load any Vessel that in its sole opinion does not comply with the terms of this Section 2.

 

2.2

At least ten (10) days before the first day of the five (5) day loading date range specified in Clause 7.2, Buyer shall nominate the Vessel that is proposed to accept delivery of the Seller's Oil, including written notice of the following information concerning the nominated Vessel:

 

 

2.2.1

the name of the Vessel (and its previous name(s), if changed within the preceding twelve (12) months);

 

 

2.2.2

the summer deadweight tonnage of the Vessel;

 

 

2.2.3

the Vessel's agent at the Load Port;

 

 

2.2.4

the current position of the Vessel (as at the date of the nomination);

 

 

2.2.5

the name of the intended port or ports of discharge of the Oil by the Vessel;

 

 

2.2.6

the ETA of the Vessel at the Load Port;

 

 

2.2.7

any information required by the Load Port in accordance with the Terminal Handbook;

 

 

2.2.8

the demurrage rate per day as specified in the charter party, if applicable; and

 

 

2.2.9

such other information as Seller may reasonably require.

 

Buyer hereby warrants that all information notified to Seller in accordance with this Section 2.2 is true and correct.

 

2.3

Seller shall approve or reject the nominated Vessel within two (2) days of the nomination by Buyer on any grounds which Seller considers reasonable. If Seller rejects a nominated Vessel, Buyer shall nominate another Vessel (always in accordance with Section 2.2). Buyer must have a Vessel nominated and approved no later than ten (10) days prior to the first day of the three (3) day loading date range nominated pursuant to Clause 7.4. Seller's acceptance of any Vessel for loading shall not constitute a continuing acceptance of the Vessel for any subsequent loading.

 

 

 

2.4

If Buyer fails to nominate a Vessel which is acceptable (in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3) to Seller before the time limits imposed in Section 2.2 and Section 2.3, without prejudice to Seller's rights to claim damages and its rights as specified in Section 2.5, Seller may accept a late nomination, in which case Seller may vary the loading date range, in which event Seller shall not be liable to Buyer under any circumstances for any costs, losses or damages suffered by Buyer arising out of such late nomination and/or variation.

 

2.5

If Buyer is in breach or anticipatory breach of any term of this Section 2 or otherwise under Clauses 7 and/or 8 then:

 

 

2.5.1

Seller may charter a Vessel on behalf of Buyer to enable loading to be effected during the nominated loading date range or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible, and all expenses, costs, losses and damages shall be for Buyer's account; and

 

 

2.5.2

Buyer shall indemnify Seller for all losses, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable legal expenses) and claims arising as a result of or in connection with the anticipated or actual breach by Buyer of its Lifting obligations pursuant to Clauses 7 and/or 8 and this Section 2.

 

For the purposes of this Section 2, Buyer hereby irrevocably appoints Seller to do all acts and sign such documents on behalf of Buyer as may be necessary.

 

2.6

Buyer may, with Seller's consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), substitute another Vessel (of a similar size to the first-nominated Vessel) provided it is scheduled to arrive at the Load Port on the same date as the nominated Vessel or within the three (3) day loading date range, and all provisions of this Section 2 shall apply to the substitute Vessel.

 

2.7

Between the date of nomination under Section 2.2 and ninety-six (96) hours prior to the first day of the three (3) day loading date range nominated pursuant to Clause 7.4, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in writing of any change in the ETA of the Vessel. If Buyer notifies Seller of a changed ETA which falls outside the nominated three (3) day loading date range then:

 

 

2.7.1

Seller may reject Buyer's notice, and require Buyer to provide a Vessel with an ETA within the nominated three (3) day loading date range and which complies with the requirements of this Section 2; or

 

 

2.7.2

Seller may accept Buyer's notice and the changed ETA, in which case Laytime shall not commence until the Vessel is all fast at the Load Port.

 

2.8

Buyer shall direct the master of the Vessel (the "Master") to notify the Port Operator of the Vessel's ETA ninety-six (96), seventy-two (72), forty-eight (48), twenty-four (24) and twelve (12) hours before the ETA. If the Master fails to give the twelve (12) hour notice on time, the Laytime shall be extended by the amount of time equal to the period between the time final notice was given and twelve (12) hours before the Vessel arrived. After the twelve (12) hour notice is given, the Master shall advise the Port Operator of any deviation of one (1) hour or more from the last given ETA.

 

 

 

2.9

Seller may revise the loading date range, or revise the operational tolerance specified in Clause 7.2, or revise both in response to any of the following events:

 

 

2.9.1

an event of Force Majeure;

 

 

2.9.2

a material change in the forecast production rate;

 

 

2.9.3

a material change in the operating conditions prevailing at the Load Port; or

 

 

2.9.4

an unanticipated and material change in Seller's Oil inventory levels arising from any underlift or overlift by Buyer,

 

and Seller shall not be liable to Buyer under any circumstances for any costs, losses or damages whatsoever suffered by Buyer arising out of such revision provided always that timely notice is given in respect of the revision of such loading date range or operational tolerance pursuant to this Agreement.

 

3

Vessel Requirements

 

3.1

Buyer shall warrant that each Vessel nominated or substituted hereunder (and its owners, operators, charterers, agents, Master and crew) shall, at the time of nomination and at the time of loading:

 

 

3.1.1

comply with all applicable rules, regulations and directions of governmental, local and port authorities and requirements of the country of registry of such vessel and shall conform in all respects to all relevant international conventions, regulations and agreements;

 

 

3.1.2

comply with the Port Regulations;

 

 

3.1.3

have hull, machinery, boilers, tanks, equipment and facilities which are in good order and condition, in every way fit for the service required and fit to load and carry the Cargo specified, and the foregoing shall be in accordance with all of the highest standards and practices of the crude oil shipping industry; and

 

 

3.1.4

have a full and efficient complement of master, officers and crew in accordance with all of the highest standards and practices of the crude oil shipping industry.

 

3.2

Buyer shall procure that the Vessel accepts and loads the Seller's Oil at the maximum rate consistent with safe practice and Vessel design. Buyer warrants that the Vessel is capable of maintaining a minimum cargo loading rate per hour required in the Terminal Handbook, and if not, then the Laytime shall increase proportionately.

 

3.3

Buyer shall ensure that the Vessel is entered in a P&I Club which is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs and that the Vessel owners at all times maintains insurance as follows:

 

 

3.3.1

insurance covering liabilities under the International Convention of Civil Liabilities for Oil Pollution Damage 1969 and 1992 protocols; and

 

 

3.3.2

coverage with P&I Clubs for legal liability for oil pollution damage up to the maximum amount being offered by the International Group of P&I Clubs (currently not less than one billion US Dollars ($1 billion));

 

 

 

 

3.3.3

in accordance with applicable statutory requirements; and

 

 

3.3.4

hull and machinery insurance including removal or wreck coverage.

 

3.4

Buyer shall ensure that that the Vessel(s):

 

 

3.4.1

complies with the requirements of the International Safety Management (ISM) code ("ISM Code"), the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code ("ISPS Code") and the relevant amendments to Chapter XI of SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (as amended) ("SOLAS'');

 

 

3.4.2

shall have on board:

 

 

(a)

a valid safety management certificate;

 

 

(b)

a copy of the Vessel's manager's documents of compliance;

 

 

(c)

the ISM Code, the Port Facility Security Code and the relevant amendments to Chapter XI of SOLAS;

 

 

(d)

an international ship security certificate; as well as

 

 

(e)

any other required valid certificates and documents, issued pursuant to the ISM code, the ISPS code and SOLAS.

 

3.5

Buyer shall provide copies of the certificates and any other information with respect to the ISPS Code as may be required by the Load Port.

 

3.6

Notwithstanding any prior acceptance of Vessel by Seller, if at any time the Vessel ceases to comply with the requirements of the ISPS Code:

 

 

3.6.1

Seller shall have the right not to berth such nominated Vessel and any Demurrage resulting shall not be for the account of Seller; and

 

 

3.6.2

Buyer shall be obliged to substitute such nominated Vessel with another Vessel complying with the requirements of the ISPS Code. Seller shall procure that the Load Port shall comply with the requirements of the ISPS Code and the relevant amendments to Chapter XI of SOLAS. Any costs or expenses in respect of the Vessel including Demurrage or any additional charge, fee or duty levied on the Vessel and actually incurred by Buyer resulting directly from the failure of the Load Port to comply with the ISPS Code shall be for the account of Seller.

 

3.7

Seller's liability to Buyer under this Agreement for any costs, losses or expenses incurred by the Vessel, the charterers or the Vessel owners resulting from the failure of the Load Port to comply with the ISPS Code shall be limited to the payment ofDemurrage and direct costs actually incurred by Buyer in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

 

3.8

For each Vessel nominated by Buyer under this Agreement, Buyer warrants that the Vessel is owned or demise chartered (throughout the entire period of the voyage to and from the Load Port and up to discharge of the Seller's Oil at the discharge port(s)) by a member of the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited ("ITOPF').

 

 

 

4

Loading Procedure

 

4.1

At least ten (10) days before the first day of the nominated five (5) day loading date range, Buyer shall give Seller full instructions consistent with the Terminal Handbook regarding the loading of each Vessel, the approximate quantity of Seller's Oil to be loaded including the volume tolerance, and the make-up and destination of all documentation covering the Cargo(s). Seller shall use reasonable endeavours to arrange for such instructions to be carried out but they shall not be obliged to arrange for an instruction to be carried out which is inconsistent with any provision of this Agreement or the Terminal Handbook.

 

4.2

Buyer shall cause the Master to tender a NOR to the Port Operator upon arrival at the Load Port in accordance with the Terminal Handbook. VAALCO may, but always acting reasonably, refuse to berth any Vessel which in VAALCO's opinion fails to conform or comply with the Terminal Handbook or this Agreement or is in its sole opinion unsafe to berth, load or transport the Seller's Oil.

 

4.3

Seller does not warrant the safety of any berth and shall be under no liability in respect thereof. However, Seller shall endeavour to ensure that such berth is safe and that the Vessel can always safely approach, depart and lie safely afloat thereat.

 

4.4

Seller or the Port Operator shall have the right to require Buyer to shift the Vessel from the Load Port to anchorage. Subject to Section 4.3, and provided shifting is for Seller's purposes and not due to Buyer or the Vessel's request or default, Seller shall pay all direct and reasonable expenses (including pilotage, towage, mooring/unmooring and bunkers consumed by the Vessel's main engine) incurred as a direct result of shifting the Vessel to anchorage as aforesaid, and the time spent shifting shall count as Laytime or time on Demurrage.

 

4.5

Unless prevented by bad weather or tides, Buyer shall ensure that the Vessel vacates the berth at the Load Port as soon as loading is completed or at any time prior to completion of loading if the Vessel is requested to vacate the berth by Port Operator. If failure to so vacate is attributable to one or more of the owner, operator, Master, officers and crew of the Vessel, the Vessel's agent or Buyer, Buyer shall pay Seller for any Laytime or Demurrage costs which Seller directly incurs including such as may be incurred due to the resulting delay in the berthing of other vessels awaiting their turn to load.

 

4.6

The Parties agree to comply with the ISPS Code and in particular:

 

 

4.6.1

any costs arising from delays in loading the Vessel which are attributable to Vessel's failure to comply with the ISPS Code shall be for the account of Buyer;

 

 

4.6.2

Seller warrants that the Load Port shall, if it is required to comply with the ISPS Code, be in full compliance therewith and shall, or shall procure the Load Port to, provide copies of such certificates and other information with respect thereto as may be required by Buyer or the Vessel; and

 

 

4.6.3

any costs of the Vessel arising at the Load Port which result directly from the failure of the Load Port to comply with the ISPS Code shall be for the account of Seller.

 

 

 

5

Laytime & Demurrage

 

5.1

The maximum allowable Laytime at the Load Port before Demurrage is charged will be forty­ eight (48) consecutive hours SHINC, plus six (6) hours from NOR SHINC, pro-rated for the actual cargo size in proportion to a notional standard cargo size of six hundred and fifty thousand (650,000) net Barrels.

 

5.2

The Port Operator will endeavour to load each Vessel within the maximum allowable Laytime.

 

5.3

The Laytime shall include Sundays, local holidays and hours of darkness during Lifting unless loading during local hot idays or the hours of darkness is prohibited by the Port Regulations, or by applicable laws and/or regulations, but not hours of darkness waiting for opening hours of the Load Port in order to moor.

 

5.4

Subject to Section 5.8, Laytime shall begin at the time corresponding to the applicable conditions set out below:

 

 

5.4.1

if the NOR is tendered within the stipulated three (3) day loading date range and during Load Port opening hours (as specified in the Terminal Handbook), then Laytime shall begin on the earlier of the actual time of commencement or six (6) hours after the NOR is tendered;

 

 

5.4.2

if the NOR is tendered within the stipulated three (3) day loading date range, but outside Load Port opening hours (as specified in the Terminal Handbook), then Laytime shall begin on the earlier of the actual time of commencement or six (6) hours after the next start of the Load Port opening hours, as specified in the Terminal Handbook;

 

 

5.4.3

if the NOR is tendered before the stipulated three (3) day loading date range, then Laytime shall begin on the earlier of the actual time of commencement or six (6) hours after the start of the Load Port opening hours (as specified in the Terminal Handbook) on the first day of the three (3) day loading date range;

 

 

5.4.4

if the NOR is tendered after the stipulated three (3) day loading date range, then Laytime shall begin on the commencement of loading; and

 

 

5.4.5

in the event that Sections 2.2, 2.7 and/or 2.8 are not complied with, then Laytime shall begin on the commencement of loading.

 

5.5

Subject to Section 5.3 and Section 5.8, Laytime shall run continuously from commencement until cessation of loading, and it shall cease on the disconnection of the cargo loading hose(s) after completion of loading.

 

5.6

Demurrage shall be paid to Buyer by Seller for Laytime in excess of the maximum allowable Laytime specified above provided that:

 

 

5.6.1

Where the Cargo that is loaded is a full cargo for the Vessel, then Demurrage shall be calculated at the lesser of:

 

 

(a)

the demurrage rate per day specified in the charter party for the Vessel, if any, when the Vessel is on a single voyage charter; and

 

 

 

 

(b)

the demurrage rate per day, as published in the New Worldwide Tanker Nominal Freight Scale Applying To The Carriage Of Oil In Bulk ("WORLDSCALE"), which applies on the day of the commencement of loading for a vessel of the same type, size and capacity as the Vessel, corrected by the Average Freight Rate Assessment published by the London Tanker Broker's Panel Limited ("AFRA"), which applies on the day of the commencement of loading for such a vessel.

 

 

5.6.2

Where more than one Cargo is loaded on the same Vessel at the Load Port by different lifters, then the Laytime and Demurrage shall be allocated between the lifters pro-rata to the quantities loaded.

 

 

5.6.3

In the event that the Vessel employed for Lifting a Cargo under this Agreement is owned or time-chartered by Buyer, the applicable Demurrage rate to be assessed by the London Tanker Broker's Panel Limited is for a similar size vessel chartered eighteen (18) days prior to the first day of the applicable three (3) day loading date range.

 

5.7

The maximum Demurrage payable under this Agreement shall not exceed the actual Demurrage due or paid by or on behalf of Buyer to the Vessel provider with respect to the Cargo Lifted, as shown and justified by documentation that must be provided by Buyer.

 

5.8

Any time actually lost as a result of the following events shall not count as Laytime or, if the Vessel is already on Demurrage, as Demurrage time:

 

 

5.8.1

inward passage to the Load Port;

 

 

5.8.2

breakdown or any inability of the Vessel to load;

 

 

5.8.3

tank cleaning aboard the Vessel;

 

 

5.8.4

discharge of slops or ballast when not concurrent with loading;

 

 

5.8.5

awaiting customs clearance, immigration clearance, free pratique, pilot, tugs, daylight or local administrative requirements;

 

 

5.8.6

ullage and sampling;

 

 

5.8.7

delays in loading operations caused by inability of the Vessel to load at the required rates always provided that loading at such rates is safe and also provided that the cargo is capable of being supplied at such rates;

 

 

5.8.8

delays due to meteorological or sea conditions (including wind, rough seas, currents and tides);

 

 

5.8.9

delay in or preclusion from delivering all or part of the cargo as a result of Force Majeure;

 

 

5.8.10

fault of Buyer, the Vessel owner, charterer or Master;

 

 

5.8.11

prohibition of loading by Buyer, the Vessel owner, charterer or Master, or local or port authorities; or

 

 

 

 

5.8.12

tank inspection aboard the Vessel.

 

5.9

To make a claim for Demurrage, Buyer must give notice to Seller within sixty (60) days after the date of the Bill of Lading for the relevant Lifting. All documentation reasonably necessary to support a claim must be supplied in writing to Seller within ninety (90) days after the date of the Bill of Lading. Should Buyer fail to give such notice or documentation with the times specified, then the claim will be deemed automatically and irrevocably waived. Seller shall pay Buyer such properly due Demurrage in United States dollars per hour of Laytime in excess of that permitted under this Agreement (pro-rated for any part thereof) within thirty-five (35) days after determination of the Demurrage that is properly due.

  

 

HTML Editor

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, George W.M. Maxwell, certify that:

 

 

(1)

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of VAALCO Energy, Inc.;

 

 

(2)

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

 

(3)

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

 

(4)

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

 

(5)

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 10, 2022

 

 

/s/ George W.M. Maxwell

George W.M. Maxwell

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

ex_377323.htm

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



I, Ronald Bain, certify that:

 

 

(1)

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of VAALCO Energy, Inc.;

 

 

(2)

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

 

(3)

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

 

(4)

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

 

(5)

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



Date: August 10, 2022 



 

/s/ Ronald Bain

Ronald Bain

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)



 

ex_377324.htm

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Quarterly Report of VAALCO Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, George W.M. Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

 

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

 

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



Dated: August 10, 2022 





 



/s/ George W.M. Maxell



George W.M. Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer



 

 

 

 

ex_377325.htm

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Quarterly Report of VAALCO Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I,  Ronald Bain,  Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

 

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

 

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



Dated: August 10, 2022





 



/s/Ronald Bain 



Ronald Bain,  Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

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