EXHIBIT 4.18
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FORM OF
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY
AND
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
AS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
[____% PREFERRED SECURITIES OF]
NEWFIELD FINANCIAL TRUST II
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DATED AS OF ______, ___
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation.....................................1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application...................................5
Section 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.....................................5
Section 2.3 Reports by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee..............6
Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.........6
Section 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent...................6
Section 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver..........................................6
Section 2.7 Event of Default; Notice...........................................6
Section 2.8 Conflicting Interests..............................................7
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS
OF PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee....7
Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee...........8
Section 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred
Securities Guarantee..............................................10
ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility...............11
Section 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee......................................11
Section 4.3 Compensation and Expenses of Trustee..............................12
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
Section 5.1 Guarantee.........................................................12
Section 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.......................................13
Section 5.3 Obligations Not Affected..........................................13
Section 5.4 Rights of Holders.................................................14
Section 5.5 Guarantee of Payment..............................................14
Section 5.6 Subrogation.......................................................14
Section 5.7 Independent Obligations...........................................15
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ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
Section 6.1 Limitation of Transactions........................................15
Section 6.2 Ranking...........................................................15
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Termination.......................................................16
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Exculpation.......................................................16
Section 8.2 Indemnification...................................................16
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Successors and Assigns............................................17
Section 9.2 Amendments........................................................17
Section 9.3 Notices...........................................................17
Section 9.4 Benefit...........................................................18
Section 9.5 Governing Law.....................................................18
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
THIS
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Preferred
Securities Guarantee"), dated as of ______, ___, is executed and delivered by
Newfield Exploration Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and
First Union National Bank, a national banking association, as trustee (the
"Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as
defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined
herein) of Newfield Capital Trust II, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
"Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Trust Agreement (as defined herein) the Issuer
is issuing on the date hereof $______ aggregate liquidation amount of its [____%
Preferred Securities] (collectively the "Preferred Securities") liquidation
amount $______ per Preferred Security.
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined below) and to make certain other
payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee"), with substantially identical
terms to this Preferred Securities Guarantee, for the benefit of the holders of
the Common Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event of Default
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) has occurred and is continuing, the rights
of holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the
Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated, to the extent and in the manner
set forth in the Common Securities Guarantee, to the rights of holders of
Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the
Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation.
In this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee but
not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them
in this Section 1.1;
(b) terms defined in the Trust Agreement as at the date of execution of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this Preferred
Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities Guarantee has
the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this
Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to Articles
and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a
day on which banking institutions in
New York,
New York or Houston, Texas are
authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally
administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located
at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities of the
Guarantor designated the [____% Junior Subordinated Debentures] due [_____,
___], held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the
Issuer.
"Event of Default" means [(a)] a default by the Guarantor on any of its
payment or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee [or (b),
if applicable, the failure by the Guarantor to deliver [other securities] upon
an appropriate election by the Holders of Preferred Securities to convert the
Preferred Securities into [such securities]];, provided, however, that with
respect to a default other than a default in payment of any Guarantee Payment,
the Guarantor shall have received notice of such default and shall not have
cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as
defined in the Trust Agreement) that are required to be paid on such Preferred
Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally available therefor
at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price") to the extent
the Issuer has
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funds on hand legally available therefor at such time, with respect to any
Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, windingup or liquidation of the Issuer
(other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in
exchange for Preferred Securities [or a conversion of all Trust Securities into
[other securities]] as provided in the Trust Agreement), the lesser of (a) the
aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions
on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has
funds on hand legally available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the
Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the
Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer as required
by applicable law. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no
Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities Guarantee with respect to the
Common Securities or any guarantee payment under any Other Common Securities
Guarantees shall be made until the Holders shall be paid in full the Guarantee
Payments to which they are entitled under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
of the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor or any Person known to a Responsible Officer of
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee to be an Affiliate of the Guarantor
and provided further, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
liquidation amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any matter provided for
in the Guarantee, then for the purpose of such determination only (and not for
any other purposes hereunder), if the Preferred Securities remain in the form of
one or more Global Certificates (as defined in the Trust Agreement), the term
"Holders" shall mean the holder of the Global Certificate acting at the
direction of the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners (as defined in the Trust
Agreement).
"Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee,
any Affiliate of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any officers,
directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives,
nominees, custodians or agents of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of
_______, ___, among the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and First Union
National Bank, as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), and any indenture
supplemental thereto, pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the
Property Trustee (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Issuer.
"Indenture Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in Section
5.01 of the Indenture.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities" means,
except as provided by the Trust Agreement or by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote
by Holder(s) of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount of all
outstanding Preferred Securities voting separately as a class. In determining
whether the Holders of the requisite amount of the Preferred Securities have
voted, Preferred Securities which are owned by the Guarantor or any Affiliate of
the Guarantor shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such determination
period.
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"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to the Guarantor, a
certificate signed by any of the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Guarantor. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance
with a condition or covenant provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee
(other than pursuant to Section 314(d)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall
include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer on behalf of such Person in rendering
the Officers' Certificates.
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Other Common Securities Guarantees" shall have the same meaning as
"Other Guarantees" as defined in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures issued by
the Guarantor from time to time and sold to trusts to be established by the
Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the Guarantor
with respect to capital securities (if any) similar to the Preferred Securities
issued by other trusts to be established by the Guarantor (if any), in each case
similar to the Issuer.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee" means First Union National
Bank, a national banking association, until a Successor Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant
to the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each
such Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the
administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and also means, with
respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such
matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with
the particular subject.
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"Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a successor
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated
as of ______, ___, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, among
the trustees of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as depositor, and the
holders from time to time of undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
assets of the Issuer.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred
Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions; and (b) if and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by
Section 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties
shall control.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee (unless the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee is otherwise the
registrar of the Preferred Securities) with a list, in such form as the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i) within 14 days
after each record date for payment of Distributions (as defined in the Trust
Agreement), and (ii) at any other time within 30 days of receipt by the
Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders as of a date no more than
14 days before such List of Holders is given to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee, provided, that the Guarantor shall not be obligated to
provide such List of Holders at any time that the Guarantor certifies in writing
to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee that the List of Holders does not
differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List
of Holders.
(b) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its
obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
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SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
Within 60 days after _______ of each year, commencing ___ __, ____, the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports
as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form
and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other
requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if
any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of such reports, information and
documents to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee is for informational
purposes only and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's receipt of such
shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including the Guarantor's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers'
Certificates).
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any,
provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the
matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate
or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may
be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of all Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its
consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist,
and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured,
for every purpose of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair
any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days
after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Preferred
Securities Guarantee actually known to a Responsible Officer (or, if later,
within 30 days after a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge of an Event of
Default), mail by first class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all
such Events of Default, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving
of such notice, provided, that, except in the case of default in the payment of
any Guarantee Payment, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors,
the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or a
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Responsible Officer in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice
is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor, or a Responsible
Officer charged with the administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS
OF PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Preferred Securities
Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to
Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment to act as Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee. The
right, title and interest of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, and
such vesting and succession of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer has
occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence
of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may
have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically
set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall
be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has
not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually known to a
Responsible Officer, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall exercise
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as
a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.
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(d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee from liability
for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own
willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties
and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Preferred Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required
to be furnished to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer,
unless it shall be proved that the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
require the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any
of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for
believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably
assured to it under the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or
indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
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(i) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may
conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from
acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Preferred Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or
omitting any action hereunder, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
(unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers'
Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by
the Guarantor.
(iv) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have no
duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may consult
with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with
respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel
to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees.
The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to
seek instructions concerning the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under
no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Preferred Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless
such Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses and the expenses of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's
agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in
complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as
may be requested by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee; provided that,
nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Preferred Securities Guarantee
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Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may execute
any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either
directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due
care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the signature of the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient
and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to
inquire as to the authority of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee to so
act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right
or taking any other action hereunder, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
(i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy
or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and
(iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with
such instructions.
(xi) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good
faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or
within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed
to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation
conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or
in which the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts
or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or
authority available to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
The recitals contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
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ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture
Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or
examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If
such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to
law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to
above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital
and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set
out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire
any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in
all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor
except during an Event of Default.
(b) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written
instrument executed by such Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold office until
a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or
until its removal or resignation. The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may
resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a
Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such
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appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have
been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within
60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if
any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(e) No Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or removal
or resignation of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this
Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee all amounts due to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee accrued to
the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
Section 4.3 Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.
The Guarantor covenants and agrees to pay to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee from time to time, and the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing
between the Guarantor and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee (which
shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust), and the Guarantor will pay or reimburse the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in
its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from
its negligence or bad faith. The Guarantor also covenants to indemnify each of
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee or any predecessor Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees)
for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability
or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith
on the part of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of this guarantee, including
the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the
premises.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to
the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore
paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set
off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct
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payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing
the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
Section 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against
the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other
notices and demands. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Guarantor retains all of its rights under the Indenture to extend the interest
payment period on the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantor shall not be
obligated hereunder to make any Guarantee Payment during any extended Interest
Payment Period (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Distributions
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) on the Preferred Securities.
Section 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional
and shall remain in full force and effect until the entire liquidation amount of
all outstanding Preferred Securities shall have been paid and such obligation
shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to
time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed
or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension
of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for
payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other
sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Property Trustee or the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Property Trustee or the Holders
pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of
the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the
Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred
Securities;
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(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of
this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor with respect to the
Guarantee Payments shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
Section 5.4 Rights of Holders.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee in respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee under
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce such
Preferred Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Issuer, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other person or
entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Guarantor has failed to make a
Guarantee Payment, a Holder may directly institute a proceeding in such Holder's
own name against the Guarantor for enforcement of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee for such payment. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require
that any action be brought first against the Issuer or any other person or
entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
Section 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and
not of collection.
Section 5.6 Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Preferred Securities Guarantee, if, at the time
of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation
of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for
the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
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SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred
Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.
So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, the Guarantor
shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
Guarantor's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock) (other
than (a) dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants, rights
to subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the
exchange or the conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital
stock for another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (d) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, and (e) purchases of the Guarantor's
common stock related to the issuance of the Guarantor's common stock or rights
under any of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers,
employees or any of the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment plans), (ii) make any
payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor (including any Other Debentures)
that rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Debentures or
(iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee (other than
payments under the Preferred Securities Guarantee) by the Guarantor of the debt
securities of any subsidiary of the Guarantor (including Other Guarantees) if
such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the
Debentures if at such time (1) there shall have occurred any event of which the
Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a) with the giving of notice or the lapse
of time, or both, would constitute an Indenture Event of Default and (b) in
respect of which the Guarantor shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure,
(2) an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (3) if
such Debentures are held by the Property Trustee, the Guarantor shall be in
default with respect to its payment of any obligations under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee or (4) the Guarantor shall have given notice of its
election of the exercise of its right to extend the interest payment period
pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture or such extension period, or any such
extension shall have commenced and be continuing.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of
payment to Senior Indebtedness (as
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defined in the Indenture), to the same extent and in the same manner that the
Debentures are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture and
(ii) pari passu with the Debentures and any Other Guarantee.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate and be of no
further force and effect (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price (as
defined in the Trust Agreement) of all Preferred Securities, or (ii) upon
liquidation of the Issuer, the full payment of the amounts payable in accordance
with the Trust Agreement, the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders and
the holders of the Common Securities [or the conversion of all the Trust
Securities into [other securities] as provided in the Trust Agreement].
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Preferred Securities Guarantee will continue
to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
Holder must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities or
under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss,
damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted
by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified
Person by this Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an
Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to
hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability,
damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part,
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the
trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses
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(including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or
investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The provisions in this
Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee
or the resignation or removal of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely
affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be
required), this Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined). The provisions of
the Trust Agreement with respect to consents to amendments thereof (whether at a
meeting or otherwise) shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices.
All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be
delivered, sent by facsimile or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative Trustee at
the mailing address or facsimile number set forth below (or such other address
or facsimile number as the Issuer may give notice of to the Holders and the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee):
Newfield Financial Trust II
c/o Newfield Exploration Company
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (281) ___-__________
(b) If given to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, at the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address or facsimile number set
forth below (or such other address or facsimile number as the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders and the Issuer):
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First Union National Bank
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address or
facsimile number set forth below (or such other address or facsimile number as
the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders and the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee):
Newfield Exploration Company
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (281) ___ - __________
(d) If given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4 Benefit.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the
Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.5 GOVERNING LAW.
THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.
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THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year
first above written.
NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY,
as Guarantor
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------
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