Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION COPY
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 9, 2009
among
ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.,
as
Borrower,
The Lenders Party Hereto
BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as
Administrative Agent
and
EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CANADA,
as
Documentation Agent
BARCLAYS CAPITAL
as Sole Lead
Arranger and Book Runner
EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CANADA
as
Arranger
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
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1
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1.01
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Defined Terms
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1
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1.02
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Other Interpretive Provisions
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24
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1.03
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Accounting Terms
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24
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1.04
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Rounding
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25
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1.05
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References to Agreements and Laws
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25
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1.06
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Intentionally Blank
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25
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ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
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25
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2.01
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Committed Loans
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25
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2.02
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Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans
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25
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2.03
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Intentionally Blank
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27
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2.04
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Intentionally Blank
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27
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2.05
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Intentionally Blank
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27
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2.06
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Prepayments
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27
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2.07
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Reduction or Termination of Commitments
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27
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2.08
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Repayment of Loans
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28
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2.09
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Interest
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28
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2.10
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Fees
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28
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2.11
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Computation of Interest and Fees
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29
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2.12
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Evidence of Debt
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30
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2.13
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Payments Generally
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30
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2.14
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Sharing of Payments
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32
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2.15
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Intentionally Blank
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33
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2.16
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Increase in Commitments
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33
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2.17
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Term-Out Option
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34
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ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
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35
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3.01
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Taxes
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35
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3.02
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Illegality
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36
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3.03
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Inability to Determine Rates
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36
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3.04
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Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy Reserves on
Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loans
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37
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3.05
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Funding Losses
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38
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3.06
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Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation
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39
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3.07
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Survival
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39
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ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
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39
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4.01
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Conditions of Initial Credit Extension
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39
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4.02
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Conditions to all Credit Extensions
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41
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ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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41
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5.01
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Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws
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41
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5.02
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Authorization; No Contravention
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43
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5.03
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Governmental Authorization
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43
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5.04
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Binding Effect
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43
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5.05
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Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect
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43
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
continued
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Page
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5.06
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Litigation
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44
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5.07
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No Default
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44
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5.08
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Ownership of Property; Liens
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44
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5.09
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Environmental Compliance
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44
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5.10
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Insurance
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45
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5.11
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Taxes
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45
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5.12
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ERISA Compliance
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45
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5.13
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Subsidiaries
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45
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5.14
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Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act
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46
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5.15
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Disclosure
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46
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ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
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46
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6.01
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Financial Statements
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46
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6.02
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Certificates; Other Information
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47
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6.03
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Notices
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49
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6.04
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Payment of Obligations
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49
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6.05
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Preservation of Existence, Etc
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49
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6.06
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Maintenance of Properties
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50
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6.07
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Maintenance of Insurance
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50
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6.08
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Compliance with Laws
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50
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6.09
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Books and Records
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50
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6.10
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Inspection Rights
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50
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6.11
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Intentionally Blank
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51
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6.12
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Use of Proceeds
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51
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6.13
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Intentionally Blank
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51
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6.14
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Incorporation of Certain More Restrictive Financial
Provisions
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51
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ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
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52
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7.01
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Liens
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52
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7.02
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Investments
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54
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7.03
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Indebtedness
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54
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7.04
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Mergers; Sale of Assets
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57
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7.05
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Intentionally Blank
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57
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7.06
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Intentionally Blank
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57
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7.07
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Distributions
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57
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7.08
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ERISA
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58
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7.09
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Change in Nature of Business
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58
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7.10
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Transactions with Affiliates
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58
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7.11
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Burdensome Agreements
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58
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7.12
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Use of Proceeds
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59
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7.13
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Consolidated Leverage Ratio
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59
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7.14
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Intentionally Blank
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60
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7.15
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Indebtedness of Non-OLP Subsidiaries
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60
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7.16
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Indebtedness of the Operating Partnership and the Operating
Partnership Subsidiaries
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60
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7.17
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Swap Contracts
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61
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ii
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
continued
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Page
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7.18
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Parent Credit Agreement
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61
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ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
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61
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8.01
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Events of Default
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61
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8.02
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Remedies Upon Event of Default
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63
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ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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64
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9.01
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Appointment and Authority
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64
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9.02
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Rights as a Lender
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64
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9.03
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Exculpatory Provisions
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64
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9.04
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Reliance by Administrative Agent
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65
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9.05
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Delegation of Duties
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66
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9.06
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Resignation of Administrative Agent
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66
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9.07
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Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
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67
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9.08
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No Other Duties, Etc
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67
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9.09
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Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim
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67
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ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
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68
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10.01
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Amendments, Etc
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68
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10.02
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Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies
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69
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10.03
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No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies
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71
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10.04
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Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes
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71
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10.05
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Indemnification by the Borrower; Reimbursement and
Indemnification by Lenders
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72
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10.06
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Payments Set Aside
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74
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10.07
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Successors and Assigns
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74
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10.08
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Confidentiality
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78
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10.09
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Set-off
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79
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10.10
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Interest Rate Limitation
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79
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10.11
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Counterparts
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79
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10.12
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Integration
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80
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10.13
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Survival of Representations and Warranties
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80
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10.14
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Severability
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80
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10.15
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Foreign Lenders
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80
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10.16
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Removal and Replacement of Lenders
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81
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10.17
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Governing Law
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82
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10.18
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Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury
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82
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10.19
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No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
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83
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10.20
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USA PATRIOT Act Notice
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83
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10.21
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ENTIRE AGREEMENT
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83
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10.22
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Markit Data
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84
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iii
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
continued
SCHEDULES
Schedule 2.01 Commitments and Pro Rata Shares
Schedule
5.06 Litigation
Schedule
5.09 Environmental Matters
Schedule
5.13 Subsidiaries and Other Equity Interests
Schedule
7.01 Existing Liens
Schedule
7.03 Existing Indebtedness
Schedule
10.02 Eurodollar and Domestic Lending Offices, Addresses
for Notices
EXHIBITS
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Form of
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A
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Loan Notice
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B
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Loan Note
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C
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Compliance Certificate
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D
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Assignment and Assumption Agreement
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E
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Opinion of Counsel
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F
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Subordination Agreement
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iv
CREDIT
AGREEMENT
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement
”) dated as of April 9, 2009 is made and entered into by
and among ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the “ Borrower ”), each
lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “
Lenders ” and individually, a “
Lender ”), BARCLAYS BANK PLC , as
Administrative Agent, and EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CANADA , as
Documentation Agent.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree
as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined
Terms.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:
“ Acquired Assets ” has the meaning set
forth in the definition of “ Incremental EBITDA
”.
“ Acquired Subsidiary ” has the meaning
set forth in the definition of “ Incremental
EBITDA ”.
“ Acquisition Period ” means the period
beginning with the date of payment of the purchase price for a
Specified Acquisition (the “ Acquisition Closing
Date ”) and continuing through the earliest of
(a) the last day of the second fiscal quarter following the
quarter in which the Acquisition Closing Date occurs, (b) the
date designated by the Borrower as the termination date of such
Acquisition Period, or (c) the Quarter End Date on which the
Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.13 as such
compliance is determined as if such period was not the Acquisition
Period. As used in this definition, “ Specified
Acquisition ” means any one or more transactions
(a) consummated during a consecutive 9-month period pursuant
to which the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries, or any
combination of the foregoing, directly or indirectly, whether in
the form of capital expenditure, an investment, a merger, a
consolidation, an amalgamation or otherwise and whether through a
solicitation of tender of equity interests, one or more negotiated
block, market, private or other transactions, or any combination of
the foregoing, acquires for an aggregate purchase price of not less
than $50,000,000 (i) all or substantially all of the business
or assets of any other Person or operating division or business
unit of any other Person or (ii) more than 50% of the equity
interests in any other Person and (b) designated by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent as a “Specified
Acquisition” (such designation may be made at any time during
an Acquisition Period that began on the Acquisition Closing Date
for such Specified Acquisition); provided that following a
designation of a Specified Acquisition, the Borrower may not
designate a subsequent Specified Acquisition unless, after the end
of the most recent Acquisition Period there shall have occurred at
least one Quarter End Date on which the Borrower is in compliance
with Section 7.13 , as such compliance is determined as
if such period was not an Acquisition Period. As used in this
definition, “ Quarter End Date ” means
the last date of a fiscal quarter.
“ Administrative Agent ” means Barclays
in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan
Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“ Administrative Agent’s Office ”
means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate,
account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other
address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to
time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“ Administrative Questionnaire ” means an
Administrative Questionnaire in the form supplied by the
Administrative Agent to be completed by the Lenders.
“ Affiliate ” means, as to any Person,
any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by,
or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. A
Person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other
Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly,
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
“ Agent-Related Persons ” means the
Administrative Agent (including any successor administrative agent
permitted hereby) and the Lead Arranger, together with their
respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees,
agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and
Affiliates.
“ Aggregate Commitments ” means at any
time the sum of the Commitments of all the Lenders under this
Agreement.
“ Aggregate Commitment Utilization Percentage
” means, as of any date of determination, an amount
(expressed as a percentage) equal to (a) the aggregate
Outstanding Amount of all Loans as of such date divided by
(b) the Aggregate Commitments as of such date.
“ Applicable Rate ” means, for any day
with respect to any Loan, (a) in the case of a Fixed Period
Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum equal to the
Borrower’s senior credit default swap mid-rate spread
provided by Markit through its website for the two-year period
commencing on the most recent Spread Determination Date for such
Loan and obtained by the Administrative Agent from such website on
such Spread Determination Date and (b) in the case of a Base
Rate Loan, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) the
Borrower’s senior credit default swap mid-rate spread
provided by Markit through its website for the two-year period
commencing on the most recent Spread Determination Date for such
Loan and obtained by the Administrative Agent from such website on
such Spread Determination Date minus 1.00% and (ii) 0%;
provided , that if for any reason such spread is not
available on such Spread Determination Date, the term
“Applicable Rate” shall mean, with respect to such
Loan, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest
1/100 of 1%) of three quotations received by the Administrative
Agent from prospective swap counterparties reasonably acceptable to
the Administrative Agent of the Borrower’s senior credit
default swap mid-rate spread for the two-year period commencing on
such Spread Determination Date. Each change in the Applicable Rate
applicable to Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans
shall be effective with respect to all such Loans outstanding on
and after the applicable Spread Determination Date until the date
immediately preceding the next applicable Spread Determination Date
on which the Applicable Rate differs from the previously effective
Applicable Rate.
2
“ Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is
administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) a Syndicated
Lender, (c) an Affiliate of a Lender or a Syndicated Lender or
(d) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or
manages a Lender or a Syndicated Lender.
“ Arranger ” means Export Development
Canada.
“ Assignee Conditions ” means, in
relation to any Approved Fund that is financially capable of
performing the obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and
takes an assignment from the entity that administers or manages
such Fund (or an Affiliate or Approved Fund with respect thereto),
the conditions as follows: (i) if a Lender assigns to such an
Eligible Assignee less than all of its Commitment and the Loans at
the time owing to it, any right of such assigning Lender and such
assignee to vote as a Lender, or any other direct claim or right
against the Borrower in relation to this Agreement, shall be
uniformly exercised or pursued by such assigning Lender and such
assignee; and (ii) such assignee shall not be entitled to
payment from the Borrower under Article III of amounts
in excess of those payable to such Lender assignor under such
Article (determined without regard to such assignment or
transfer).
“ Assignment and Assumption ” means an
Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit
D.
“ Attorney Costs ” means and includes all
fees and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel
but expressly excludes the allocated cost of internal legal
services and all disbursements of internal counsel.
“ Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on
any date, in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the
capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of
such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.
“ Audited Financial Statements ” means
the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2008, and the related consolidated
statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal year of such
Persons.
“ Barclays ” means Barclays Bank PLC, an
English banking corporation.
“ Base Rate ” means for any day a
fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the
Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%; (b) the rate of interest in
effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by
Barclays as its “prime rate”; and (c) the Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate for a one (1) month Interest Period on
such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately
preceding Business Day) plus 1.00%. Such prime rate is a rate set
by Barclays based upon various factors including Barclays’
costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other
factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans,
which may be priced at, above, or below such announced prime rate.
Any change in such prime rate announced by Barclays shall take
effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the
public announcement of such change.
“ Base Rate Committed Loan ” means a
Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
3
“ Base Rate Loan ” means a Loan that
bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“ Board ” means the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“ Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in
the introductory paragraph hereto, and includes its successors and
assigns permitted hereby, if any.
“ Borrower Materials ” has the meaning
specified in Section 6.02 .
“ Borrowing ” means a borrowing
consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and having the
same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to
Section 2.01 .
“ Business Day ” means any day other than
a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks are
authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in,
each of (a) New York City and (b) the City of Calgary,
Alberta, Canada, and if such day relates to any Fixed Period
Eurodollar Rate Loan, it must also be a day on which dealings in
Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the
applicable offshore Dollar interbank market.
“ Change of Control ” shall mean
(i) the failure of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, or any other Person, in each case during the period
that such Person is the general partner of the Borrower, to
constitute a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Enbridge Inc.,
(ii) the failure of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. or any other
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of Enbridge
Inc. at any time to constitute all of the general partners of the
Borrower, (iii) the failure of the Operating Partnership to
constitute a Subsidiary of the Borrower or (iv) the failure of
any general partner of the Operating Partnership to constitute a
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“ Closing Date ” means the first date all
the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied
or waived in accordance with Section 4.01 (or, in the
case of Section 4.01(b) , waived by the Person entitled
to receive the applicable payment).
“ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
“ Commercial Operation Date ” means the
date on which a Material Project is substantially complete and
commercially operable.
“ Commitment ” means, as to each Lender,
its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount at any
time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such
Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment
and Assumption or joinder agreement pursuant to which such Person
becomes a Lender, as applicable, as such amount may be reduced or
adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“ Committed Loan ” has the meaning
specified in Section 2.01 .
“ Compliance Certificate ” means a
certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C .
4
“Consolidated” or
“consolidated” when used with reference
to a Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary means that such
Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary is consolidated for financial
reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any
period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated Net
Income for such period, (b) consolidated interest expense
deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, (c) the
amount of taxes, based on or measured by income, used or included
in the determination of such Consolidated Net Income, and
(d) the amount of depreciation and amortization expense
deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income.
“Consolidated Funded Debt” means, as of
any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
(for the avoidance of doubt, excluding the Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) on a consolidated basis, the sum of (without
duplication) the following: (a) the outstanding principal
amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for
borrowed money (including all Obligations hereunder); (b) that
portion of obligations with respect to capital leases that are
capitalized in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries; and (c) without duplication, the unpaid
principal amount of all Guarantee Obligations with respect to
Indebtedness of the type specified in subsections (a) and
(b) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries and excluding in all cases (i) Qualifying
Subordinated Indebtedness owing to an Affiliate of the Borrower and
(ii) to the extent included in any of clauses (a) through
(c) above, Designated Hybrid Securities.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any
period, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (for
the avoidance of doubt, excluding the Unrestricted Subsidiaries)
from continuing operations (excluding gains or losses resulting
from mark to market activity as a result of the implementation of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 133, as amended) before
extraordinary items (excluding gains or losses from Dispositions of
assets) for that period determined on a consolidated basis;
provided , for the purposes of the definition of
Consolidated Operating Income, Consolidated Net Income shall be
calculated by including the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated Net Worth” means, as to the
Borrower at any date, the sum of (i) the amount of
partners’ capital of the Borrower determined as of such date
in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) Designated Hybrid
Securities; provided , there shall be excluded, without
duplication, from such determination (to the extent otherwise
included therein) the amount of accumulated other comprehensive
gain or loss as of such date determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“Consolidated Operating Income” means,
for any period, (i) the sum of Consolidated Net Income and
consolidated interest expense for such period less (ii) the
sum of consolidated interest income and consolidated income
classified as “Other” for such period, and in each of
the foregoing instances, “consolidated” refers to the
Borrower, its Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any
Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of
any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person
is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound pursuant
to which such Person is obligated to perform an agreement or other
undertaking.
5
“Credit Extension” means each of the
following: (a) a Borrowing, or (b) a conversion of
Committed Loans to Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.17
.
“Data Provider” has the meaning specified
in Section 10.22(c) .
“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of
determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or
Moody’s (collectively, the “Debt
Ratings” ) of the Borrower’s
non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy
Code of the United States of America, and all other liquidation,
conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency,
reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States
of America or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in
effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event that, with the
giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an
Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means an interest rate
equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable
Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum;
provided , however , that with respect to a Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest
rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate)
otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, in each
case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
“Delegate” means Enbridge Energy
Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, the
delegate of the General Partner, and its successors and permitted
assigns.
“Designated Hybrid Securities” means at
the end of any fiscal quarter, the outstanding Hybrid Securities at
such time in a face amount that does not exceed 15% of Total
Capitalization at such time.
“Designated User” shall mean any
individual recipient of the Markit Data who is from time to time
authorized by a Lender or the Administrative Agent to access and
use the Markit Data on behalf of such Lender or the Administrative
Agent in connection with this Agreement. For the avoidance of
doubt, each Lender or the Administrative Agent may have as many
Designated Users within their respective firms (or affiliates
thereof) as such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable,
so determines for these purposes.
“Disposition” or
“Dispose” means the sale, transfer,
license or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback
transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale,
assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse,
of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims
associated therewith.
“Disposition Percentage” means, with
respect to any sale or disposition of assets by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, an amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to the
Consolidated EBITDA generated by such assets during the
four-fiscal-quarter period most recently ended prior to such
disposition divided by Consolidated EBITDA for such
four-fiscal-quarter period.
6
“Distribution” for any Person means, with
respect to any shares of any capital stock, any units, any
partnership interests or other equity securities or ownership
interests issued by such Person, (a) the retirement,
redemption, purchase, or other acquisition for value of any such
securities, (b) the declaration or payment of any dividend on
or with respect to any such securities, and (c) any other
payment by such Person with respect to such securities.
“Dollar” and
“$” means lawful money of the United
States of America.
“EBITDA” means for any period and for any
Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries the sum of (a) net
income of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries from
continuing operations (excluding gains or losses resulting from
mark to market activity as a result of the implementation of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 133, as amended) before
extraordinary items (excluding gains or losses from dispositions of
assets), and (b) to the extent deducted in determining net
income of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries
(i) all interest expense plus the portion of rent
expense of such Person under capitalized leases that is treated as
interest in accordance with GAAP, (ii) the amount of taxes,
based on or measured by income, and (iii) the amount of
depreciation and amortization expense, in each case of such Person
and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that
meets all of the requirements to be an assignee under
Section 10.07(b)(iii) , and is not precluded by
Section 10.07(b)(v) and 10.07(b)(vi) (subject to
such consents, if any, as may be required under
Section 10.07(b)(iii) ).
“Enbridge Inc.” means Enbridge Inc., a
corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada.
“Environmental Laws” means all Laws
relating to environmental, health, safety and land use matters
applicable to any property.
“EPRM” means Enbridge Partners Risk
Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and a
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“EPRM Swap Contracts” means Swap
Contracts to which EPRM is a counterparty, provided that
(a) no other Subsidiary of the Borrower is a counterparty
thereto or has Guarantee Obligations with respect thereto,
(b) EPRM engages in no business other than the entry into Swap
Contracts and related documents, instruments and agreements, and
the performance of obligations and duties, the taken of actions,
and the exercise of rights, privileges, interests or benefits under
and incidental thereto, and (c) EPRM’s assets consist
solely of Swap Contracts and related documents, instruments and
agreements, and rights, privileges, interests and benefits
thereunder, and other assets related to, or needed or needful for,
the performance of obligations, taking of actions or exercise of
rights, privileges, interests or benefits thereunder or arising
under, or in connection with, revenues and operations with respect
thereto.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 and any rules and regulations issued
pursuant thereto.
7
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or
business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with
the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or
(c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code
for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the
Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable
Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the incurrence by
the Borrower of liability with respect to a withdrawal by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to
Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a
substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a
withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) the
incurrence by the Borrower of liability with respect to a complete
or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in
reorganization; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower of
liability with respect to the filing of a notice of intent to
terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under
Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings
by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan;
(e) the incurrence by the Borrower of liability with respect
to an event or condition which could reasonably be expected to
constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of
any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due
but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; and with respect to each of the
occurrences described in the presiding clauses (a) through
(f), which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
“Event of Default” means any of the
events or circumstances specified in Article VIII .
“Excess Swap Termination Value” means, as
of any quarter-end date of determination, an amount equal to the
excess of (a) the net aggregate Swap Termination Value
as of such quarter-end date of (i) all Swap Contracts (other
than EPRM Swap Contracts) pursuant to which one or more
Subsidiaries of the Borrower are obligated as a counterparty and
for which no other Subsidiary of the Borrower has a Guarantee
Obligation with respect thereto, and (ii) all Swap Contracts
for which one or more Subsidiaries of the Borrower has a Guarantee
Obligation, in each case without duplication of any such Swap
Contracts and Guarantee Obligations with respect thereto
over (b) $150,000,000.
“Excluded Subsidiary” means any
Subsidiary which is subject to any Excluded Subsidiary Transfer
Restrictions; provided, however , that a Subsidiary that is
subject to Excluded Subsidiary Transfer Restrictions will not be
deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary by reason of such Excluded
Subsidiary Transfer Restrictions if, after giving effect thereto,
such Subsidiary is permitted to make the payments, loans, advances
and transfers of the type described in clauses (w), (x),
(y) and (z) of the definition of Intercompany
Restrictions to the Borrower or to at least one other Subsidiary
that is not subject to any Excluded Subsidiary Transfer
Restrictions that restrict such Subsidiary’s ability to make
such payments, loans, advances and transfers to the Borrower.
“Excluded Subsidiary Transfer
Restrictions” means restrictions of the type
described in clauses (w), (x), (y), or (z) of the
definition of Intercompany Restrictions, other than
restrictions
8
of the type described
in clause (z) which are otherwise excepted by any of
clauses (B)(d), (B)(e), (B)(f), (B)(g), or (B)(h) of
Section 7.03(a)(i) , (a) which are set forth in
agreements governing Refinancings of or other amendments to
Indebtedness of the Borrower that were not set forth in the
agreements governing such Indebtedness prior to such Refinancing or
amendment, or (b) which would be Intercompany Restrictions
absent the exception set forth in clause (B)(c) of
Section 7.03(a)(i) .
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day,
the rate per annum (rounded upwards to the nearest 1/100 of 1%)
equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal
funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System
arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next
succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is
not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be
such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day
as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and
(b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding
Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the
average rate charged to Barclays on such day on such transactions
as determined by the Administrative Agent.
“Fee Letters” means (a) that certain
letter agreement, dated April 9, 2009, among the Borrower and
Barclays and (b) that certain letter agreement, dated
April 9, 2009, between the Borrower and Export Development
Canada.
“Financial Restrictions” has the meaning
specified in Section 6.14 .
“Financing Vehicle ” has the meaning set
forth in the definition of “Hybrid
Securities.”
“Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate” means,
with respect to any Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan for the
Interest Period applicable to such Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association
LIBOR Rate ( “BBA LIBOR” ), as published
by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing
quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent
from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two
Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period,
for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such
rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the
“Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate” for such Interest Period
shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent
in accordance with its usual practice to be the rate at which
deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by
the Person then serving as the Administrative Agent and with a term
equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by such
Person’s London Branch (or if such Person has no London
Branch, by the London Branch of a major financial institution that
is reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent and reasonably
acceptable to the Borrower) to major banks in the London interbank
eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m.
(London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period.
“Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan” means
a Loan that bears interest at a rate of interest based on the Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate.
9
“Foreign Lender” has the meaning
specified in Section 10.15 .
“Fund” means any Person (other than a
natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing,
holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar
extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“Funded Debt” of any Person (an
“Obligor” ), means, as of any date of
determination, the sum of (without duplication) the following:
(a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations of
such Obligor, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money,
(b) that portion of obligations of such Obligor with respect
to capital leases that are capitalized in a balance sheet of such
Obligor; and (c) without duplication, the unpaid principal
amount of all Guarantee Obligations of such Obligor with respect to
Indebtedness of the type specified in subsections (a) and
(b) above of Persons other than such Obligor.
“GAAP” means generally accepted
accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements
of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles
as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date
of determination, consistently applied.
“General Partner” means Enbridge Energy
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and after the date hereof,
any one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of Enbridge Inc. that
shall succeed Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. in the capacity as
general partner of the Borrower.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation
or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof,
any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court,
administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or
administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government,
and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the
foregoing.
“Guarantee Obligation” means, as to any
Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person guarantying or having the economic effect of guarantying any
Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another
Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such
Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance
or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness
or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property,
securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in
respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or
performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to
maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial
statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to
enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other
obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring
in any other manner the obligees in respect of such Indebtedness or
other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to
protect such obligees against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person
securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person,
whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by
such Person; provided , however , that
10
the term
“Guarantee Obligation” shall not include endorsements
of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of
business. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to
be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the
related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which
such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or
determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in
respect thereof as determined by the guarantying Person in good
faith.
“Hybrid Securities” means any trust
preferred securities or deferrable interest subordinated debt with
a maturity of at least 20 years, which provides for the optional or
mandatory deferral of interest or distributions issued by the
Borrower or a Financing Vehicle. “ Financing
Vehicle ” means a business trust, limited liability
company, limited partnership or similar entity
(i) substantially all of the common equity, general partner or
similar interests of which are owned (either directly or indirectly
through one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower) at
all times by the Borrower, (ii) that has been formed for the
sole purpose of issuing trust preferred securities or deferrable
interest subordinated debt, and (iii) substantially all the
assets of which consist of (A) subordinated debt of the
Borrower and (B) payments made from time to time on such
subordinated debt. In order for any trust preferred securities or
deferrable interest subordinated debt to be considered
“Hybrid Securities” for purposes of this Agreement, not
later than 20 Business Days prior to the delivery of any Compliance
Certificate (or such shorter time period as may be agreed by the
Administrative Agent), if the Borrower or any Financing Vehicle has
issued any trust preferred securities or deferrable interest
subordinated debt that it intends to treat as Hybrid Securities in
connection with the calculations set forth on such Compliance
Certificate, the Borrower shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent information sufficient to demonstrate that the
terms of such trust preferred securities or deferrable interest
subordinated debt, as the case may be, meet the criteria set forth
in this definition.
“Incremental EBITDA” means, (i) as
to any Person which becomes a Subsidiary (an “Acquired
Subsidiary” ) as a result of an acquisition by the
Borrower or a Subsidiary of such Acquired Subsidiary, EBITDA of
such Person for the four full quarters ending immediately prior to
the acquisition of such Acquired Subsidiary, or (ii) in regard
to the acquisition of all or substantially all of the business or
assets of any Person or the operating division or business unit of
any Person (an “Acquired Asset” ) by the
Borrower or a Subsidiary, EBITDA with respect to the Acquired Asset
for the four full quarters ending immediately prior to the
acquisition of such Acquired Asset, as reasonably determined by the
Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at
a particular time, all of the following (without duplication):
(a) all obligations
of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or
other similar instruments;
(b) any direct or
contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of
credit (including standby and commercial), banker’s
acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar
instruments;
11
(c) Intentionally
Blank;
(d) whether or not
so included as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, all obligations
of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary
course of business of such Person, and indebtedness (excluding
prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or
being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising
under conditional sales or other title retention agreements),
whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such
Person or is limited in recourse;
(e) capital
leases;
(f) all Guarantee
Obligations of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing;
and
(g) for the purposes
of determining compliance with the applicable provisions of
Sections 7.15 or 7.16 , obligations of such Person
under Swap Contracts, and Guarantee Obligations of such Person in
respect of Swap Contracts, but only to the extent of Excess Swap
Termination Value. For purposes of Section 7.15 ,
Indebtedness of the Non-OLP Subsidiaries shall be calculated
quarterly and include the Non-OLP Subsidiaries’ Ratable Share
of Excess Swap Termination Value as of the relevant quarter-end
date of determination, and for purposes of Section 7.16
, Indebtedness of the Operating Partnership and the Operating
Partnership Subsidiaries shall be calculated quarterly and include
the Operating Partnership’s and the Operating Partnership
Subsidiaries’ Ratable Share of Excess Swap Termination Value
as of the relevant quarter-end date of determination.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall
include, without duplication, the Indebtedness of any partnership
or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a
joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made
non-recourse to such Person by its governing agreements and
applicable law except for customary exceptions acceptable to the
Required Lenders. The amount of any capital lease as of any date
shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in
respect thereof as of such date. The amount of any net obligation
under any Swap Contract, and the amount of any Guarantee
Obligations in respect of any Swap Contract, on any date shall be
deemed to be the Swap Termination Value of such Swap Contract as of
such date.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth
in Section 10.05(a) .
“Intercompany Restrictions” has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.03(a)(i) .
“Interest Payment Date” means,
(a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day
of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity
Date; provided , however , that if any Interest
Period for a Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three
months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the
beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment
Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day
of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity
Date.
“Interest Period” means, with respect to
any Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the
date such Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or
converted to or continued as a Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan
and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as
selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided
that:
(i) any
Interest Period applicable to any Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan
that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall
be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such
Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such
Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business
Day;
12
(ii) any Interest
Period applicable to any Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan that
begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day
for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
month at the end of such Interest Period) shall, subject to the
provisions of clause (i) above, end on the last Business Day
of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period
shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“IRS” means the United States Internal
Revenue Service.
“Laws” means, collectively, all
international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes,
treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and
administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental
Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or
administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders,
directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of,
and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case
whether or not having the force of law.
“Lead Arranger” means Barclays Capital,
the investment banking division of Barclays, as sole lead arranger
and bookrunner.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the
introductory paragraph hereto.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender,
the office or offices of such Lender described as such on
Schedule 10.02 , or such other office or offices as a Lender
may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, collateral assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory
or other), charge, security interest or any other arrangement of
any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or
other title retention agreement, any financing lease having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, a
deposit arrangement and the filing of any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable Laws of any jurisdiction)
for a creditor’s claim to be satisfied from assets or
proceeds prior to the claims of other creditors or the owners,
including, if applicable, the interest of a purchaser of accounts
receivable but excluding the title of the lessor under any
operating lease.
“Loan” means a loan made by a Lender to
Borrower pursuant to Article II of this Agreement, in the form of a
Committed Loan or, if the Borrower elects its Term-Out option
pursuant to Section 2.17 , a Term Loan, each of the
foregoing types of Loans being mutually exclusive of the other type
of Loan.
13
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement,
each Note, each Fee Letter, each Loan Notice and each Compliance
Certificate.
“Loan Notice” means written or telephonic
notice of (a) a Borrowing of Committed Loans, (b) a
conversion of Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may be,
from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Committed
Loans or Term Loans, as the case may be, as the same Type, pursuant
to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A or if telephonic,
shall be immediately followed by written notice in the form of
Exhibit A ; provided , any such telephone notice
shall be irrevocable when given notwithstanding that it is required
to be so confirmed in writing.
“Markit” means Markit Group, Ltd. and its
successors.
“Markit Data” has the meaning specified
in Section 10.22(a) .
“Material Adverse Effect” means
(a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect
upon, the operations, business, properties, financial condition,
prospects or assets of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries (other than the Unrestricted Subsidiaries) taken as a
whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the
Borrower to pay any Obligation when due or otherwise to perform its
material obligations under this Agreement or any Note; or
(c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of this
Agreement or any Note.
“Material Project” means any capital
construction or expansion project of the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries, the aggregate capital cost or budgeted capital cost
of which, in each case, including capital costs expended prior to
the acquisition of any such project by the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, exceeds $25,000,000.00.
“Material Project EBITDA Adjustments”
means, with respect to each Material Project:
(A) prior to the
Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (but including
the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs)
a percentage (based on the then-current completion percentage of
such Material Project) of an amount to be approved by the
Administrative Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA
attributable to such Material Project for the first 12-month period
following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Material
Project (such amount to be determined based on customer contracts
relating to such Material Project (or negotiated settlements in
place in connection with such Material Project which the Borrower
has demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Administrative Agent have the same effect), the creditworthiness of
the other parties to such contracts, and projected revenues from
such contracts, capital costs and expenses, scheduled Commercial
Operation Date, oil and gas reserve and production estimates,
commodity price assumptions and other factors deemed appropriate by
the Administrative Agent) which may, at the Borrower’s
option, be added to Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter in
which construction or expansion of such Material Project commences
and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Commercial
Operation Date of such Material Project (including the fiscal
quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but without
duplication of any actual Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such
Material Project following such Commercial Operation Date);
provided that
14
if the actual
Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the scheduled
Commercial Operation Date (as used in this Agreement, references to
“ scheduled Commercial Operation Date ”
mean the scheduled Commercial Operation Date as reflected in the
request from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for approval
of the applicable Material Project EBITDA Adjustments), then the
foregoing amount shall be reduced, for quarters ending after the
scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first
full quarter after the actual Commercial Operation Date, by the
following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay
(based on the actual period of delay or then-estimated delay,
whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%,
(ii) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%,
(iii) longer than 180 days but not more than 270 days, 50%,
(iv) longer than 270 days but not more than 365 days, 75%, and
(v) longer than 365 days, 100%; and
(B) beginning with
the first full fiscal quarter following the Commercial Operation
Date of a Material Project and for the two immediately succeeding
fiscal quarters, an amount to be approved by the Administrative
Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such
Material Project (determined in the same manner set forth in clause
(A) above) for the balance of the four full fiscal quarter
period following such Commercial Operation Date, which may, at the
Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for
such fiscal quarters.
Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) no
such additions shall be allowed with respect to any Material
Project unless:
(a) at least 20 days
prior to the delivery of any Compliance Certificate (or such
shorter time period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent)
to the extent Material Project EBITDA Adjustments will be made to
Consolidated EBITDA in determining compliance with
Section 7.13 , the Borrower shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent a written request for Material Project EBITDA
Adjustments setting forth (i) the scheduled Commercial
Operation Date for such Material Project, (ii) information
regarding such scheduled Commercial Operation Date sufficient to
demonstrate that such date meets the criteria sets forth in the
definition of Commercial Operation Date, (iii) pro forma
projections of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such Material
Project, (iv) information, as applicable, regarding
(A) customer contracts relating to such Material Project (or
negotiated settlements in connection with such Material Project),
(B) the creditworthiness of the other parties to such
contracts or settlements, as the case may be, (C) projected
revenues from such contracts or settlements, as the case may be,
(D) projected capital costs and expenses, (E) oil and gas
reserve and production estimates, and (F) commodity price
assumptions, and (v) such other information previously
requested by the Administrative Agent which it reasonably deemed
necessary to approve such Material Project EBITDA Adjustments,
and
(b) prior to the
date any Compliance Certificate is required to be delivered, the
Administrative Agent shall have approved (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld) such projections and shall have received
such other information and documentation as the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and
15
(ii) the aggregate
amount of all Material Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period
shall be limited to 25% of the total actual Consolidated EBITDA for
such period (which total actual Consolidated EBITDA shall be
determined without including any Material Project EBITDA
Adjustments or any adjustments for acquisitions pursuant to clause
(1) of the definition of Pro Forma EBITDA).
“Material Subsidiary ” means any
Subsidiary that directly or through one or more Subsidiaries
(a) owns assets with a book value equal to 10% or more of the
book value of the consolidated assets of the Borrower, its
Consolidated Subsidiaries and its Consolidated Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, (b) contributed 10% or more of Consolidated
Operating Income for any fiscal quarter during the four fiscal
quarters most recently ended of the Borrower, its Consolidated
Subsidiaries and its Consolidated Unrestricted Subsidiaries, or
(c) is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in
Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such
Regulation is in effect on any date of determination. A Subsidiary
will be deemed to have become a Material Subsidiary on either
(i) the date of its acquisition or formation, if after giving
effect to such acquisition or formation, it constitutes a Material
Subsidiary, as reasonably determined by the Borrower and reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, or, if applicable
(ii) the 75 th
day following the end of each of the first 3 fiscal quarters of the
Borrower or the 120 th day following the end of each
fiscal year of the Borrower, as applicable, if as of the
immediately preceding quarter-end or year-end, as applicable, and
based on the financial statements prepared for such ending
quarterly or annual period, it constituted a Material Subsidiary,
as reasonably determined by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable
to the Administrative Agent.
“Maturity Date” means the earlier of
(i) the Scheduled Maturity Date or (ii) the date upon
which the Commitments may be terminated in accordance with the
terms hereof; provided, however , that if the Borrower
exercises the Term-Out option pursuant to Section 2.17
, the “ Maturity Date ” shall mean the
Term Loan Maturity Date.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency
business thereof, or if no such successor, any other debt rating
agency selected by the Borrower and approved by the Required
Lenders.
“Mortgage” shall mean, collectively, the
mortgage, security agreement and fixture filings between the
Operating Partnership and the Trustee, each dated as of
December 12, 1991, as amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time and in effect, and covering assets located in
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota and
Wisconsin.
“Mortgage Note Agreements” shall mean,
collectively, those certain Note Agreements, each dated as of
December 12, 1991, between the Operating Partnership and each
of the respective purchasers of the Mortgage Notes, as amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time and in effect.
“Mortgage Notes” shall mean,
collectively, the promissory notes aggregating $310,000,000
principal amount issued pursuant to the Mortgage Note Agreements,
dated December 12, 1991 and executed by the Operating
Partnership, together with and any loan agreement and security
documents executed in connection therewith, any and all
instruments
16
given in renewal,
extension, modification, or rearrangement of or in substitution or
replacement for any one or more of the foregoing described
promissory notes and other documents, whether given to the original
purchaser thereof (or its designee) or any other Person and other
documents.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee
benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is
obligated to make contributions.
“Net Tangible Assets” means tangible
assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (for the avoidance of
doubt, excluding the Unrestricted Subsidiaries) on a consolidated
basis.
“Non-OLP Consolidated Net Income” means,
for any period, the net income of the Non-OLP Subsidiaries from
continuing operations (excluding gains or losses resulting from
mark to market activity as a result of the implementation of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 133, as amended) before
extraordinary items (excluding gains or losses from Dispositions of
assets) for that period.
“Non-OLP Indebtedness Limitation” has the
meaning specified in Section 7.15 .
“Non-OLP Inter-Company Indebtedness”
means Indebtedness owed by a Non-OLP Subsidiary to the Borrower or
to a Wholly-Owned Non-OLP Subsidiary (other than, for the avoidance
of doubt, an Unrestricted Subsidiary).
“Non-OLP Pro Forma EBITDA” means, for any
period, at the time of any determination thereof, without
duplication, (a) Non-OLP Consolidated Net Income, plus
(b) to the extent actually deducted in determining such
Non-OLP Consolidated Net Income, interest expense (and in the case
of capital leases the portion of rent expense that is treated as
interest in accordance with GAAP), income taxes, depreciation and
amortization for the Non-OLP Subsidiaries for such period,
calculated on a pro forma basis making adjustments for acquisitions
of any Person or all or substantially all of the business or assets
of any other Person or the operating division or business unit of
any Person made during such period, to the extent not reflected in
such Non-OLP Consolidated Net Income.
“Non-OLP Subsidiaries” means Subsidiaries
(for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Unrestricted Subsidiaries)
of the Borrower other than the Operating Partnership and Operating
Partnership Subsidiaries.
“Note” means, a promissory note made by
the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such
Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .
“Obligations” means all advances to, and
debts, liabilities and obligations of the Borrower arising under
any Loan Document, whether direct or indirect, absolute or
contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising
and including interest that accrues after the commencement by or
against the Borrower of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws
naming the Borrower as the debtor in such proceeding.
“OLP Indebtedness Limitation” has the
meaning specified in Section 7.16 .
17
“OLP Inter-Company Indebtedness” means
Indebtedness owed by the Operating Partnership or by an Operating
Partnership Subsidiary to the Borrower, to the Operating
Partnership, or to a Wholly-Owned Operating Partnership Subsidiary
(other than, for the avoidance of doubt, an Unrestricted
Subsidiary).
“Operating Partnership” means Enbridge
Energy, Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, a
Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Operating Partnership Subsidiary” means
any Subsidiary (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) of the Operating Partnership.
“Organization Documents” means,
(a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or
articles of incorporation and the bylaws; (b) with respect to
any limited liability company, the certificate of formation and
operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership,
joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the
partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of
formation and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with
respect thereto filed in connection with its formation with the
secretary of state or other department in the state of its
formation, in each case as amended from time to time.
“Outstanding Amount” means with respect
to Committed Loans and Term Loans on any date, the aggregate
outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any
borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and
Term Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date.
“Parent Commitment” means, as of any date
of determination, the funding commitment of the Parent Lenders
under the Parent Credit Agreement as of such date.
“Parent Commitment Utilization
Percentage” means, as of any date of determination,
an amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to (a) the
aggregate principal balance of all loans outstanding under the
Parent Credit Agreement as of such date divided by
(b) the Parent Commitment as of such date.
“Parent Credit Agreement” means that
certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the
Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Enbridge (U.S.) Inc., a
Delaware corporation, as the administrative agent.
“Parent Lenders” means, as of any date of
determination, a Person that is a lender party to the Parent Credit
Agreement as of such date. The initial Parent Lender shall be
Enbridge (U.S.) Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Participant” has the meaning specified
in Section 10.07(d) .
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee
pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that
is subject to Title IV of ERISA, and in respect of which the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to
contribute, or in the case of (or if such plan were terminated
would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an
“employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA at
any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.
18
“Person” means any individual, trustee,
corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, bank, business association, firm, joint venture or
Governmental Authority.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit
plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)
established by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in
Section 6.02 .
“Pro Forma EBITDA” means, at the time of
any determination thereof, without duplication, Consolidated EBITDA
for the preceding four quarters ending on such date (the “
Subject Period ”), calculated on a pro forma
basis (1) at the Borrower’s option, making adjustments
for acquisitions of any Person or all or substantially all of the
business or assets of any other Person or the operating division or
business unit of any Person made during such Subject Period, to the
extent not reflected in such Consolidated Net Income, (2) at
the Borrower’s option, making Material Project EBITDA
Adjustments and (3) if the aggregate Disposition Percentage
with respect to all sales and other dispositions of assets by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary during such Subject Period exceeds 7.5%,
making adjustments for all sales and other dispositions of assets
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such Subject Period;
provided that the Borrower shall not be permitted to make
any adjustment pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1)
and (2) unless such adjustment is also made in
the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA (or equivalent term) under
the Syndicated Credit Agreement and the Parent Credit Agreement. If
any Subsidiary is an Excluded Subsidiary on both (i) the last
day of a Subject Period and (ii) on the date (as used in this
paragraph, the “Determination Date” )
that is the earlier of (x) the date that the Borrower delivers
a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(b)
for such Subject Period and (y) the date that the Borrower is
required to deliver such Compliance Certificate pursuant to
Section 6.02(b) , then the net income of such
Subsidiary shall not be included in the calculation of Consolidated
Net Income for such Subject Period and such Subsidiary’s
interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization shall
not be added to Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause
(b) above. If a Subsidiary is not an Excluded Subsidiary on
the last day of the Subject Period, or if such Subsidiary is an
Excluded Subsidiary on the last day of a Subject Period but is no
longer an Excluded Subsidiary on the Determination Date, then such
Subsidiary will not be considered an Excluded Subsidiary during any
part of the Subject Period, its net income will be included in the
calculation of Consolidated Net Income for the Subject Period to
the same extent as if it had not been an Excluded Subsidiary during
any part of the Subject Period, and its interest expense, income
taxes, depreciation and amortization will be added to Consolidated
Net Income pursuant to clause (b) above. For the avoidance of
doubt, and by way of an example (but not exhaustive of all other
applicable examples), the EBITDA for a Subject Period which is
attributable to a Subsidiary, that at any time during that Subject
Period was an Excluded Subsidiary, shall nonetheless be included in
the Pro Forma EBITDA for such Subject Period if, on either the last
day of the Subject Period or the Determination Date such Subsidiary
is, for whatever reason, no longer an Excluded Subsidiary,
including by reason of discharging the Indebtedness that imposed
the applicable Excluded Subsidiary Transfer Restriction or Excluded
Subsidiary Transfer Restrictions or having otherwise terminated the
application of all related provisions that imposed such restriction
or restrictions.
19
“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to
any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth
decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such
Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the Commitment of each
Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to
Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have
expired (on the Revolving Termination Date or otherwise), then the
Pro Rata Share with respect to each Lender at any such time shall
be the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the
Outstanding Amount of the Loans represented by the outstanding
principal balance of the Loans owing to such Lender. The initial
Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of
such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and
Assumption or joinder agreement pursuant to which such Person
becomes a Lender hereunder, as applicable.
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified
in Section 6.02 .
“Qualifying Subordinated Indebtedness”
means unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to a Subsidiary
or other Affiliate of the Borrower (in each case, other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary) provided that (i) such
Indebtedness has a maturity date of at least six months subsequent
to the Maturity Date, (ii) interest accruing on such
Indebtedness is, at the option of the Borrower payable not in cash
but in additional Indebtedness of like tenor and term,
(iii) no amortization of principal of such Indebtedness is
scheduled prior to the date that is at least six months subsequent
to the Scheduled Maturity Date, (iv) no Subsidiary of the
Borrower has any Guarantee Obligation or other repayment obligation
with respect thereto, and (v) such Indebtedness is expressly
subordinated to the Obligations under the Loan Documents pursuant
to a subordination agreement in the form of Exhibit F
hereto.
“Ratable Share of Excess Swap Termination
Value” means, as of any quarter-end date of
determination:
(a) for the Non-OLP
Subsidiaries, an amount equal to (i) the sum of (A) the
net aggregate Swap Termination Value of all Swap Contracts pursuant
to which any Non-OLP Subsidiary is obligated as a counterparty and
(B) the net aggregate Swap Termination Value of all Swap
Contracts for which any Non-OLP Subsidiary has a Guarantee
Obligation, in each case without duplication of any such Swap
Contracts and Guarantee Obligations with respect thereto,
divided by the sum of (A) the net aggregate Swap
Termination Value of all Swap Contracts pursuant to which any
Subsidiary is obligated as a counterparty and (B) the net
aggregate Swap Termination Value of all Swap Contracts for which
any Subsidiary has a Guarantee Obligation, in each case without
duplication of any such Swap Contracts and Guarantee Obligations
with respect thereto (the “Aggregate Subsidiary Swap
Obligations” ), times (ii) the Excess
Swap Termination Value as of such date; and
(b) for the
Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership Subsidiaries,
an amount equal to (i) the sum of (A) the net aggregate
Swap Termination Value of all Swap Contracts pursuant to which any
of the Operating Partnership or any Operating Partnership
Subsidiary is obligated as a counterparty and (B) the net
aggregate Swap Termination Value of all Swap Contracts for which
any of the Operating Partnership or any Operating Partnership
20
Subsidiary has a
Guarantee Obligation, in each case without duplication of any such
Swap Contracts and Guarantee Obligations with respect thereto,
divided by the Aggregate Subsidiary Swap Obligations (as
defined in clause (a) above), times (ii) the
Excess Swap Termination Value as of such date.
“Refinancing” means, with respect to any
Indebtedness, the extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement,
defeasance or refunding of such Indebtedness.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.07(c) .
“Related Parties” means, with respect to
any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners,
directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person
and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Reportable Event” means any of the
events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than
events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date
of determination, Lenders whose Voting Percentages aggregate to
more than 50%.
“Responsible Officer” means the
president, chief financial officer, chief accountant, controller,
treasurer, assistant treasurer, secretary or assistant secretary of
the Borrower, the General Partner or the Delegate.
“Restrictive Agreement” has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.14(i) .
“Revolving Fee Payment Date” means each
of (a) the last Business Day of each March, June, September
and December occurring during the period from the Closing Date
through the earlier of the Maturity Date and the Revolving
Termination Date and (b) the earlier of the Maturity Date and
the Revolving Termination Date.
“Revolving Termination Date” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.17 .
“S&P” means Standard &
Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business
thereof, or if no such successor, any other debt rating agency
selected by the Borrower and approved by the Required Lenders.
“Scheduled Maturity Date” means
April 7, 2010.
“Senior Indenture” means that certain
Indenture dated September 15, 1998 providing for the issuance
of senior debt securities of the Operating Partnership, which
indenture is between the Operating Partnership, as issuer, and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as trustee.
“Spread Determination Date” means,
(a) as to any Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan, the day that
is two (2) Business Days before the Business Day on which such
Eurodollar Loan is made and the last Business Day of each March,
June, September and December to occur while such Fixed Period
Eurodollar Rate Loan is outstanding, (b) as to any Base Rate
Loan, the
21
Business Day on which
such Base Rate Loan is made and the last Business Day of each
calendar month to occur while such Base Rate Loan is outstanding
and (c) as to the Undrawn Fee Rate, the Closing Date and the
last Business Day of each calendar month to occur prior to the
earlier of the Maturity Date and the Revolving Termination
Date.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company
or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of
securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the
election of directors or other governing body (other than
securities or interests having such power only by reason of the
happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or
the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such
Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a
“Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall
refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower. In the
definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiaries”, the term
“Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower. In
all other provisions of this Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, the term “Subsidiary” does not include any
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and
all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative
transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity
options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps
or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or
forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index
transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange
transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar
transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap
transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other
similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing
(including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether
or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master
agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and
the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and
conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement
published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association,
Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any
other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with
any related schedules, a “Master
Agreement” ), including any such obligations or
liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in
respect of each Swap Contract, after taking into account the effect
of any netting agreement related to such Swap Contract,
(a) for any date on or after the date there has been an early
termination of the transactions under such Swap Contract and a
termination value has been determined in accordance therewith, such
termination value, and (b) for any date prior to the date
referenced in clause (a) the amount determined as the
mark-to-market value for such Swap Contract, as determined based
upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations
provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contract (which may
include any Lender).
“Syndicated Credit Agreement” means that
certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of
April 4, 2007, among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto
and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, letter of
credit issuer and swingline lender, and any agreement executed in
connection with the replacement or refinancing of the credit
facility evidenced thereby.
22
“Syndicated Lender” means, as of any date
of determination, a Person that is a lender party to the Syndicated
Credit Agreement as of such date.
“Term Loans” means the term loans made by
the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.17.
“Term Loan Maturity Date” means the
earlier of (i) the date that is one year after the Scheduled
Maturity Date and (ii) the date upon which amounts payable
under this Agreement are accelerated pursuant to
Section 8.02 .
“Term-Out” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.17 .
“Threshold Amount” means $25,000,000.
“Total Capitalization” means, at any
date, the total of (i) Consolidated Funded Debt plus
(ii) Consolidated Net Worth.
“Type” means, with respect to a Committed
Loan or a Term Loan, as the case may be, its character as a Base
Rate Loan or a Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan.
“Undrawn Fee Rate” means, for any day, a
rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) 25.0% multiplied by
the Borrower’s senior credit default swap mid-rate spread
provided by Markit through its website for the two-year period
commencing on the most recent Spread Determination Date with
respect to the Undrawn Fee Rate and obtained by the Administrative
Agent from such website on such Spread Determination Date and
(ii) 1.50%; provided , that if for any reason such
spread is not available on such Spread Determination Date, the term
“Undrawn Fee Rate” shall mean, for such day, 1.50%.
Each change in the Undrawn Fee Rate shall be effective on and after
the applicable Spread Determination Date until the date immediately
preceding the next applicable Spread Determination Date on which
the Undrawn Fee Rate differs from the previously effective Undrawn
Fee Rate.
“Unrestricted Subsidiaries”
means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated to the
Administrative Agent in writing by the Borrower as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided , however
, that no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary if, (i) on the effective date of designation, a
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
(ii) the creation, formation or acquisition of such Subsidiary
would not otherwise be permitted under Section 7.04
hereof, (iii) the creation, acquisition or formation of such
Subsidiary would not be permitted under the Mortgage Note
Agreements or any other material contract or agreement to which the
Borrower is a party, or (iv) based on the financial statements
most recently delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 or the
good faith determination by the Borrower, such Subsidiary is a
Material Subsidiary. If an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a
Material Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall no longer be deemed an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Voting Percentage” means, as to any
Lender, (a) at any time when the Commitments are in effect,
such Lender’s Pro Rata Share and (b) at any time after
the termination of the Commitments, the percentage (carried out to
the ninth decimal place) which the sum of the Outstanding Amount of
such Lender’s Loans then constitutes of the Outstanding
Amount of all Loans; provided , however , that if any
Lender has failed to fund any portion of the Loans required to be
funded by it hereunder, such Lender’s Voting Percentage shall
be deemed to be zero
23
percent (0%), and the
respective Pro Rata Shares and Voting Percentages of the other
Lenders shall be recomputed for purposes of this definition and the
definition of “Required Lenders” without regard to such
Lender’s Commitment or the outstanding amount of its
Loans.
“Wholly-Owned” when used to describe a
Subsidiary of any Person means that all of the equity of such
Subsidiary is wholly owned by such Person, either directly or
indirectly through another wholly-owned Subsidiary of such
Person.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.
(a) The meanings of defined terms are
equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined
terms.
(b) (i) The
words “herein” and
“hereunder” and words of similar import
when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as
a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.
(ii) Unless otherwise
specified herein, Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references
are to this Agreement.
(iii) The term
“including” is by way of example and not
limitation.
(iv) The term
“documents” includes any and all
instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports,
financial statements and other writings, however evidenced.
(v) The verb
“continue” , and its usage in correlative
forms, with reference to a Default or an Event of Default, shall
mean that such Default or Event of Default has occurred and
continues and, if applicable, after the passage of the applicable
notice or cure period continues uncured, unwaived or otherwise
unremedied, or with respect to the event or circumstance giving
rise thereto, and after the passage of the applicable notice or
cure period, continues uncured, unwaived or otherwise
unremedied.
In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a
later specified date, the word “from”
means “from and including;” the words
“to” and
“until” each mean “to but
excluding;” and the word
“through” means “to and
including.”
Section headings herein and the other Loan Documents are included
for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms.
All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein
shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data
required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be
prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as
in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with
that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements,
except as otherwise specifically prescribed
herein.
24
1.04 Rounding.
Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the
appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result
to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is
expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest
number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 References to Agreements and
Laws.
Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to
documents (including the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to include
all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements
and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such
amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other
modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document, and
(b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and
regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing,
supplementing or interpreting such Law.
1.06 Intentionally Blank.
ARTICLE II.
THE
COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Committed Loans.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender
severally agrees to make loans (each, a “Committed
Loan” ) to the Borrower from time to time on any
Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the
Maturity Date (or, if earlier, the Revolving Termination Date);
provided , however , that after giving effect to any
Borrowing, (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans
shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the
aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender
shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits
of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms
and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this
Section 2.01 , prepay under Section 2.06 ,
and reborrow under this Section 2.01 . Committed Loans
may be Base Rate Loans or Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loans, as
further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and
Continuations of Committed Loans.
(a) Each Borrowing,
each conversion of Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may
be, from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Committed
Loans or Term Loans, as the case may be, as the same Type shall be
made upon the relevant Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the
Administrative Agent. Each such notice must be received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York time,
(i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any
such Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of any such Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of any such Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the
requested date of any Borrowing of Committed Base Rate Loans. Each
Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of any such Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of
$10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
Each Borrowing of or conversion to any such Base Rate Loans
25
shall be in a principal
amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess
thereof. Each Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the
Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans
or Term Loans, as the case may be, from one Type to the other, or a
continuation of Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may be,
as the same Type, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing,
conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a
Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans
or Term Loans, as the case may be, to be borrowed, converted or
continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which
existing Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may be, are to
be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the
Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to
specify a Type of Committed Loan or Term Loan, as the case may be,
in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice
requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable
Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may be, shall be made or
continued as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic
conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day
of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the
applicable Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower
requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to
specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an
Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following
receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable
Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or
continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion
to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the
case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its
Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately
available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not
later than 1:00 p.m., New York time, on the Business Day specified
in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable
conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such
Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01
), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received
available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the
Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of
the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the
amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in
each case in accordance with instructions provided to the
Administrative Agent by the Borrower.
(c) Except as
otherwise provided herein, a Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan may
be continued or converted only on the last day of the Interest
Period for such Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the
existence of a Default or Event of Default, no Loans may be
requested as, converted to or continued as Fixed Period Eurodollar
Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the
Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding
Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loans be converted to Base Rate Loans
at the end of the respective Interest Periods therefor, if at the
end of such periods, a Default or an Event of Default is then in
existence.
(d) The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the
Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Fixed Period
Eurodollar Rate Loan upon determination of such interest rate. The
determination of the Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate by the
Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest
error. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the
Lenders of any change in its referenced prime rate used in
determining the Base Rate promptly following the public
announcement of such change.
26
(e) After
giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans
or Term Loans, as the case may be, from one Type to the other, and
all continuations of Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may
be, as the same Type, there shall not be more than 5 Interest
Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans or Term Loans, as
the case may be.
2.03 Intentionally
Blank.
2.04 Intentionally
Blank.
2.05 Intentionally
Blank.
2.06 Prepayments.
(a) The
Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time
or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans or Term
Loans, as the case may be, in whole or in part without premium or
penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received
by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York
time, (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment
of Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (B) one Business
Day prior to any date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans;
(ii) any prepayment of Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate Loans
shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base
Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole
multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each such notice shall
specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of
Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify
each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of such
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. If such notice is
given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and
the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and
payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of Fixed
Period Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be accompanied by all accrued
interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required
pursuant to Section 3.05 . Each such prepayment shall
be applied to the Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may
be, of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata
Shares.
(b) If
for any reason the Outstanding Amount of all Loans at any time
exceeds the Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall
immediately prepay its Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such
excess.
2.07 Reduction or
Termination of Commitments.
The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent,
terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or permanently reduce the
Aggregate Commitments to an amount not less than the then
Outstanding Amount of all Loans; provided that (i) any
such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later
than 11:00 a.m., five Business Days prior to the date of
termination or reduction, and (ii) any such partial reduction
shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of reduction
or termination of the Aggregate
27
Commitments. Once
reduced in accordance with this Section, the Aggregate Commitments
may not be increased. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments
shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its
Pro Rata Share. All undrawn fees and funding fees accrued until the
effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments
shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.08 Repayment of Loans.
The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the
aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date which
were made to it.
2.09 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of
subsection (b) below, (i) each Fixed Period Eurodollar
Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount
thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the
Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus
the Applicable Rate; and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the
applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base
Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) In the event any amount due
hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including, without
limitation, any interest payment) is not paid when due (whether by
acceleration or otherwise), the Borrower shall pay interest on such
unpaid amount (including, without limitation, interest on interest)
at a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the Default Rate
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Accrued and
unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due
interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due
and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable
thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein.
Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the
terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the
commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.10 Fees.
(a) Revolving Period
Fees .
(i)
Undrawn Fee . The Borrower shall pay
to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender in
accordance with its Pro Rata Share, an undrawn fee equal to the
Undrawn Fee Rate multiplied by the actual daily amount by which the
Aggregate Commitments exceed the Outstanding Amount of the Loans.
The undrawn fee shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date
until the earlier of the Maturity Date and the Revolving
Termination Date and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears
on each Revolving Fee Payment Date. The undrawn fee shall be
calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the
Undrawn Fee Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall
be computed and multiplied by the Undrawn Fee Rate separately for
each period during such quarter that such Undrawn Fee Rate was in
effect. The undrawn fee shall accrue at all times during which it
is applicable, including at any such time during
28
which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not
met. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary,
the undrawn fee shall cease to accrue on and shall not be payable
by Borrower with respect to the unfunded portion of the Commitment
of any Lender if such Lender has failed to fund any portion of its
Committed Loans within one Business Day following the date required
to be funded by it hereunder.
(ii) Funding Fee
. The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender in accordance
with its Pro Rata Share, on each Revolving Fee Payment Date, a
funding fee equal to 1.00% multiplied by the average aggregate
Outstanding Amount of the Loans during the period from the previous
Revolving Fee Payment Date (or, in the case of the first Revolving
Fee Payment Date, the Closing Date) through such Revolving Fee
Payment Date; provided , that in the case of the first and
last Revolving Fee Payment Date, such amount shall be pro rated to
the extent such period is less than a full calendar quarter.
(b) Term-Out Period Fees .
(i) Term-Out Fee
. If the Borrower exercises its option to
Term-Out pursuant to Section 2.17 , then on the
Revolving Termination Date, Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender in accordance
with its Pro Rata Share, an amount equal to 2.00% multiplied by the
Outstanding Amount of Loans as of such date.
(ii) Duration Fee
. If the Borrower has exercised
its option to Term-Out pursuant to Section 2.17 , then
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of
each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share (i) on the
90th day after the Revolving Termination Date, a fee in an amount
equal to 0.50% multiplied by the Outstanding Amount of the Loans
(if any) as of such date, (ii) on the 180th day after the
Revolving Termination Date, a fee in an amount equal to 0.75%
multiplied by the Outstanding Amount of the Loans (if any) as of
such date, and (iii) on the 270th day after the Revolving
Termination Date, a fee in an amount equal to 1.00% multiplied by
the Outstanding Amount of the Loans (if any) as of such date.
(c) Other Fees
. The Borrower shall pay to the Lead
Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lenders, for
their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times
specified in the Fee Letters.
2.11 Computation of Interest and Fees.
Computation of interest on Base Rate Loans shall be calculated on
the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and the
actual number of days elapsed. Computation of all other types of
interest and all fees shall be calculated on the basis of a year of
360 days and the actual number of days elapsed, which results in a
higher yield to the payee thereof than a method based on a year of
365 or 366 days. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on
which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any
portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is
paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day
on which it is made shall bear interest for one day.
29
2.12 Evidence of Debt.
The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one
or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the
Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The
accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each
such Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount
of the Credit Extensions made by such Lenders to the Borrower and
the interest and payments thereon. Any failure so to record or any
error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the
obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with
respect to the Loans. In the event of any conflict between the
accounts and records maintained by any such Lender, as the case may
be, and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in
respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the
Administrative Agent shall be presumed to be prima facie evidence
of such matters absent manifest error. Upon the request of any such
Lender, made through the Administrative Agent, such Lender’s
Loans may be evidenced by a Note, in addition to such accounts or
records. Each such Lender may attach schedules to its Note and
endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity
of the applicable Loans and payments with respect thereto.
2.13 Payments Generally.
(a) All payments to
be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or
deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the
Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is
owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in
immediately available funds not later than 12:00 noon, New York
time, on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will
promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other
applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds
as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office.
All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 12:00 noon,
New York time, shall be deemed received on the next succeeding
Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to
accrue.
(b) Subject to the
definition of “Interest Period,” if any payment to be
made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business
Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and
such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or
fees, as the case may be.
(c) If at any time
insufficient funds are received by and available to the
Administrative Agent to pay fully all Obligations then due
hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first ,
toward Obligations in respect of any cost or expense reimbursements
(including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article
III ), fees and indemnities then due hereunder to the
Administrative Agent, (ii) second , toward Obligations
in respect of any cost or expense reimbursements (including
Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III ), fees
and indemnities then due hereunder to the Lenders, ratably among
the parties entitled thereto in accordance with such amounts then
due to such parties, (iii) third , toward repayment of
interest then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled
thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest then due to such
parties, (iv) fourth , toward repayment of principal
then due hereunder,
30
ratably among the
parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of
principal then due to such parties and (v) fifth , to
all other Obligations then due hereunder, ratably among the parties
entitled thereto in accordance with such amounts then due to such
parties.
(d) (i) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender
prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Fixed Period
Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base
Rate Committed Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such
Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing,
the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
share available on such date in accordance with
Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base
Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in
accordance with and at the time required by
Section 2.02 ) and may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.
If any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall
forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount
thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest
thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available
by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount
is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the
“Compensation Period” ) at a rate per
annum equal to the greater of (A) the Federal Funds Rate from
time to time in effect and (B) a rate determined by the
Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or
similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in
connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount to
the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such
Lender’s Committed Loan included in the applicable Borrowing.
If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the
Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative
Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the
Borrower shall pay (subject to its recoupment rights from and
remedies against such defaulting Lender of any breakage costs paid
by the Borrower when repaying such amount) such amount to the
Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the
Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of
interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein
shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to
fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the
Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as
a result of any default by such Lender hereunder. If the Borrower
and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent
for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent
shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest
paid by the Borrower for such period.
(ii) Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower
prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower
will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume
that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance
herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to
the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not
in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally
agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the
amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available
funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the
date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of
payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal
Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation.
31
A
notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender with respect to
any amount owing under this subsection (d) shall be
conclusive, absent manifest error.
(e) If any Lender
makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to
be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of
this Article II , and the conditions to the applicable
Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied
or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative
Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such
Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(f) The obligations
of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make
payments pursuant to Section 10.05(b) are several and
not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or
to make any payment under Section 10.05(b) on any date
required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its
corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its
Committed Loan or to make its payment under
Section 10.05(b) .
(g) Nothing herein
shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any
Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a
representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain
the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.14 Sharing of
Payments.
If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender
shall obtain on account of the Committed Loans or Term Loans, as
the case may be, made by it, any payment (whether voluntary,
involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or
otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share
contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately
(a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and
(b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the
Committed Loans or Term Loans, as the case may be, made by them as
shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the
excess payment in respect of such Committed Loan or Term Loans, as
the case may be, or such participations, as the case may be, pro
rata with each of them; provided , however , that if
all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered
from the purchasing Lender, such purchase shall to that extent be
rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing
Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount
equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the
proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s
required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from
the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or
payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so
recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a
participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the
right of set-off, but subject to Section 10.09 ) with
respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the
direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which
shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error)
of participations purchased under this Section and will in each
case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments.
Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section
shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all
notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications
under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations
purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were
the original owner of the Obligations purchased.
32
2.15 Intentionally
Blank.
2.16 Increase in
Commitments.
(a) Request for
Increase . Provided there exists no Default or Event of
Default, upon (1) notice to the Administrative Agent (which
shall promptly notify the Lenders), and (2) contemporaneous
notice (with copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) to Persons
not then Lenders (each such Person, a “Proposed
Lender” ), the Borrower shall have the right to
effectuate from time to time and at any time, in accordance with
the terms hereof, an increase in the aggregate amount of the then
Commitments provided that (i) the aggregate Commitments
as so increased may not exceed $350,000,000, (ii) any such
request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of
$10,000,000, and in multiples of $5,000,000 in excess thereof and
(iii) no such increase shall occur on or after the Revolving
Termination Date. At the time of sending such notices, the Borrower
(in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the
time period within which each Lender and Proposed Lender is
requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten
Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the
Lenders).
(b) Lender
Elections to Increase . Each Lender shall notify the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower within such time period
whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so,
whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Pro
Rata Share (as it existed immediately prior to such requested
increase) of such requested increase. Each Proposed Lender shall
notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower within such time
period whether or not it agrees to participate in such increased
amount of the aggregate Commitments, and at what amount it proposes
to participate in such increased amount. Unless otherwise agreed by
the Borrower, any Lender or