Dated as of March 30,
2006
WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER
COMPANY,
as Borrower ,
THE LENDERS IDENTIFIED
HEREIN,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent
U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Fronting Bank
U.S. BANK CAPITAL MARKETS
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
Co-Lead Arrangers
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
BNP PARIBAS ,
Co-Documentation Agents
CITIBANK, N.A.,
Syndication Agent
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Page
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING
TERMS
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1
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1
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SECTION 1.2. Computation of Time
Periods
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15
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SECTION 1.3. Accounting Terms
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16
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ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND THE EXTENSIONS OF
CREDIT
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16
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SECTION 2.1. The Commitments
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16
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SECTION 2.2. Method of Borrowing
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16
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SECTION 2.3. Funding of Borrowings
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17
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SECTION 2.4. Continuations and
Conversions
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17
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SECTION 2.5. Minimum Amounts
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18
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SECTION 2.6. Reduction of the
Commitments
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18
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SECTION 2.7. Extension of Maturity
Date
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18
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SECTION 2.8. Letters of Credit
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20
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24
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24
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24
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SECTION 3.3. Payment in full at
Maturity
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25
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25
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SECTION 3.5. Place and Manner of
Payments
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25
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SECTION 3.6. Pro Rata Treatment
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26
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SECTION 3.7. Computations of Interest and
Fees
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26
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SECTION 3.8. Sharing of Payments
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27
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SECTION 3.9. Additional Interest on
Advances
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27
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SECTION 3.10. Evidence of Debt
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28
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ARTICLE IV ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING
ADVANCES
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28
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SECTION 4.1. Eurodollar Borrowing
Provisions
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28
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SECTION 4.2. Capital Adequacy
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30
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SECTION 4.3. Compensation
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30
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31
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SECTION 4.5. Replacement of Lenders
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32
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ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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33
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SECTION 5.1. Conditions Precedent to the
Effective Date and the Obligations of the Lenders and Fronting
Bank
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33
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SECTION 5.2. Conditions to Each Extension of
Credit
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35
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i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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Page
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ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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36
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SECTION 6.1. Organization and Good
Standing
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36
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SECTION 6.2. Due Authorization
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36
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SECTION 6.3. No Conflicts
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36
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36
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SECTION 6.5. Enforceable Obligations
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37
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SECTION 6.6. Financial Condition
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37
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SECTION 6.7. No Material Change
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37
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37
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SECTION 6.9. Indebtedness
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37
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37
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38
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SECTION 6.12. Compliance with Law
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38
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38
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SECTION 6.14. Use of Proceeds; Margin
Stock
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39
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SECTION 6.15. Investment Company Act
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39
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39
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40
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SECTION 6.18. Environmental Matters
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40
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ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
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40
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SECTION 7.1. Information Covenants
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40
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SECTION 7.2. Total Funded Debt to
Capitalization
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42
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SECTION 7.3. Preservation of Existence and
Franchises
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42
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SECTION 7.4. Books and Records
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42
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SECTION 7.5. Compliance with Law
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42
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SECTION 7.6. Payment of Taxes and Other
Indebtedness
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43
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43
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SECTION 7.8. Performance of
Obligations
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43
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SECTION 7.9. Use of Proceeds
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43
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SECTION 7.10. Audits/Inspections
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43
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ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS
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44
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SECTION 8.1. Nature of Business
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44
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SECTION 8.2. Consolidation and Merger
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44
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SECTION 8.3. Sale or Lease of Assets
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44
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SECTION 8.4. Arm’s-Length
Transactions
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44
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44
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45
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ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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45
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ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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Page
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SECTION 9.1. Events of Default
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45
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SECTION 9.2. Acceleration; Remedies
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47
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SECTION 9.3. Allocation of Payments After Event
of Default
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48
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ARTICLE X AGENCY PROVISIONS
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49
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SECTION 10.1. Appointment
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49
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SECTION 10.2. Delegation of Duties
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50
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SECTION 10.3. Exculpatory Provisions
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50
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SECTION 10.4. Reliance on
Communications
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50
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SECTION 10.5. Notice of Default
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51
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SECTION 10.6. Non-Reliance on Agent and Other
Lenders
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51
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SECTION 10.7. Indemnification
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51
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SECTION 10.8. Agent in Its Individual
Capacity
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52
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SECTION 10.9. Successor Agent
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52
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53
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53
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SECTION 11.2. Right of Set-Off
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53
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SECTION 11.3. Benefit of Agreement
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53
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SECTION 11.4. No Waiver; Remedies
Cumulative
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57
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SECTION 11.5. Payment of Expenses,
etc.
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57
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SECTION 11.6. Amendments, Waivers and
Consents
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58
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SECTION 11.7. Counterparts/Telecopy
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59
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59
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SECTION 11.9. Defaulting Lender
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59
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SECTION 11.10. Confidentiality
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59
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SECTION 11.11. Survival of Indemnification and
Representations and Warranties
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60
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SECTION 11.12. Governing Law; Venue
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60
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SECTION 11.13. Waiver of Jury Trial; Waiver of
Consequential Damages
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61
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61
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SECTION 11.15. Severability
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61
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SECTION 11.16. Assurances
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61
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61
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—
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Commitment
Percentages
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—
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Addresses for
Notices
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—
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Adopted Letters
of Credit
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iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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—
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Form of Notice
of Borrowing
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—
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Form of Notice
of Continuation/Conversion
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—
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Form of
Officer’s Certificate
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—
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Form of
Assignment Agreement
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—
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Form of Request
for Issuance
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iv
This CREDIT
AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as
of March 30, 2006, is entered into among WISCONSIN ELECTRIC
POWER COMPANY, a Wisconsin corporation, the Lenders (as defined
herein), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“ U.S.
Bank ”), as Administrative Agent (in such capacity,
the “ Agent ”), and U.S. Bank, as
Fronting Bank (as defined below).
WHEREAS ,
the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a $500,000,000
five year revolving credit and letter of credit facility to the
Borrower for the purposes hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS ,
the Lenders have agreed to provide such five year revolving credit
and letter of credit facility on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION
1.1. Definitions .
As used herein,
the following terms shall have the meanings herein specified unless
the context otherwise requires. Defined terms herein shall include
in the singular number the plural and in the plural the
singular:
“
Advance ” means an advance by a Lender to the
Borrower as part of a Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance
or a Eurodollar Advance.
“
Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person,
any other Person directly or indirectly controlling (including but
not limited to all directors and officers of such Person),
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such
Person. A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation if such
Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power (i) to
vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for
the election of directors of such corporation or (ii) to
direct or cause direction of the management and policies of such
corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
“
Agent ” has the meaning ascribed to such term
in the preamble hereto.
“
Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such
term in the preamble hereto.
“
Applicable Margin ” means, with respect to Base
Rate Advances, 0.0% per annum and, with respect to
Eurodollar Advances, the amount per annum set forth below in
the column
identified by
the Applicable Rating Level at the time of determination. The
Applicable Margin shall increase by an amount equal to the
Utilization Fee set forth below (the “ Utilization
Fee ”) during any period (and for only such period)
in which more than 50% of the Commitments are utilized. Upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the
Applicable Margin shall increase by 2.0% per annum , and if
any Advance is a Eurodollar Advance, it will convert to a Base Rate
Advance at the end of the Interest Period then in effect for such
Eurodollar Advance.
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Applicable
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Rating
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Level
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Level 4
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Level 5
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Level 6
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Level 7
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0.11
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%
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0.15
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%
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0.19
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%
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0.23
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%
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0.26
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%
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0.35
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%
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0.50
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%
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0.05
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%
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0.05
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%
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0.05
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%
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0.05
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%
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0.05
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%
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0.10
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0.10
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Any change in the
Applicable Margin shall be effective on the date on which
Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, as the case may be, announces any
change in any rating that results in a change in the Applicable
Rating Level.
“
Applicable Rating Level ” means, at any time,
the number set forth below in the row next to the then-applicable
ratings by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, respectively, of the
Borrower’s long-term senior unsecured debt.
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Moody’s Rating
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S&P Rating
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Fitch Rating
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Applicable Rating Level
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At least Aa3,
at least AA- and
at least AA-
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1
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A1,
A+ and
A+
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2
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A2,
A and
A
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3
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A3,
A- and
A-
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4
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Baa1,
BBB+ and
BBB+
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5
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Baa2,
BBB and
BBB
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6
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Baa3 or below*,
BBB- or below* or
BBB- or below*
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7
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2
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the Borrower shall (i) fail to maintain a
rating of its senior unsecured debt by at least two of
Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, Level 7 shall be the pricing
level; (ii) maintain a rating of its senior unsecured debt from
only two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch and (A) there is a
difference of one level in such ratings, then the higher of such
ratings shall be used to determine the Applicable Rating Level, or
(B) there is a difference of more than one level in such
ratings, then the rating that is one level below the higher of such
ratings shall be used to determine the Applicable Rating Level; and
(iii) maintain a rating of its senior unsecured debt from all
three of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch and there is a difference
in such ratings such that (A) two of such ratings fall in the same
Applicable Rating Level and are higher than the third, then the
higher of such ratings will be used to determine the Applicable
Rating Level, (B) two of such ratings fall in the same
Applicable Rating Level and are lower than the third, then the
lower of such ratings will be used to determine the Applicable
Rating Level, and (C) all three such ratings fall in different
Applicable Rating Levels, then the intermediate rating will be used
to determine the Applicable Rating Level.
“
Approved Fund ” means with respect to any
Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans, any other fund
that invests in commercial loans and is managed or advised by the
same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such
investment advisor.
“
Bankruptcy Code ” means the Bankruptcy Code in
Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded
or replaced from time to time.
“ Base
Rate ” means a fluctuating interest rate per
annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum
shall at all times be equal to the higher of:
(i) the rate of
interest announced publicly by U.S. Bank in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
from time to time, as U.S. Bank’s base rate; and
(ii) 1/2 of 1%
per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.
If for any
reason the Agent shall have determined (which determination shall
be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable after due
inquiry to ascertain the Federal Funds Rate for any reason,
including the inability or failure of the Agent to obtain
sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms hereof, the Base
Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (ii) of the first
sentence of this definition until the circumstances giving rise to
such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Base Rate due to
a change in U.S. Bank’s base rate or the Federal Funds Rate
shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the base
rate or the Federal Funds Rate, as the case may be.
“ Base
Rate Advance ” means an Advance that bears interest
based on the Base Rate.
3
“ Base
Rate Borrowing ” means a Borrowing consisting of
simultaneous Base Rate Advances.
“
Borrower ” means (i) Wisconsin Electric
Power Company, a Wisconsin corporation or (ii) any successor
to Wisconsin Electric Power Company permitted by Section 8.2.
It is understood that the term “Borrower” does not
include the Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“
Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of
simultaneous Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders
pursuant to Section 2.1 or converted pursuant to
Section 2.4.
“
Business Day ” means any day other than a
Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or required by law or other
governmental action to close in Milwaukee, Wisconsin or New York,
New York; provided that in the case of Eurodollar Advances,
such day is also a day on which dealings between banks are carried
on in U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank
market.
“
Capitalization ” means the sum of
(i) Total Funded Debt plus (ii) Net
Worth.
“ Cash
Collateral Account ” has the meaning assigned such
term in Section 9.2(d).
“
Change of Control ” means any of the following
events: (i) any “person” or “group”
(within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act)
has become, directly or indirectly, the “beneficial
owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have
“beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such
Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), by way of merger,
consolidation or otherwise, of 30% or more of the voting power of
the Voting Stock of WEC on a fully-diluted basis, after giving
effect to the conversion and exercise of all outstanding warrants,
options and other securities of WEC (whether or not such securities
are then currently convertible or exercisable), (ii) during
any period of two consecutive calendar years, individuals who at
the beginning of such period constituted the board of directors of
WEC cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors
of WEC then in office unless (A) such new directors were
elected by a majority of the directors of WEC who constituted the
board of directors of WEC at the beginning of such period or
(B) the reason for such directors failing to constitute a
majority is a result of retirement by directors due to age, death
or disability or (iii) the failure of WEC to directly or
indirectly own at least 51% of the Voting Stock of the
Borrower.
“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended from time to time.
“
Commitment ” means, as to any Lender, the
amount set opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I
hereto or, if such Lender has entered into any Assignment
Agreement, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by
the Agent pursuant to Section 11.3(c), as such amount may be
reduced pursuant to Section 2.6.
“
Commitment Percentage ” means, for each Lender,
the percentage identified as its Commitment Percentage opposite
such Lender’s name on Schedule I attached hereto, as
such percentage may be modified by assignment in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement.
4
“
Credit Documents ” means this Agreement, any
promissory note and all other related agreements delivered
hereunder or thereunder.
“
Default ” means any event, act or condition
that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an
Event of Default.
“
Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, any
Lender that, at such time, (i) has failed to make an Advance
required pursuant to the term of this Agreement, (ii) has
failed to pay to the Agent or any Lender an amount owed by such
Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or (iii) has
been deemed insolvent or has become subject to a bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding or to a receiver, trustee or similar
official.
“
Dollars ” and “ $ ”
means dollars in lawful currency of the United States of
America.
“
Effective Date ” means the date on which the
conditions set forth in Section 5.1 shall have been
satisfied.
“
Eligible Assignee ” means a Person that is
(i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender, (iii)
approved by the Agent, the Borrower and the Fronting Bank (such
approvals not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or
(iv) a financial institution Affiliate of any Lender or an
Approved Fund of any Lender immediately prior to any assignment
provided in each case that (A) the Borrower’s
approval is not required during the existence and continuation of
an Event of Default, (B) approval by the Borrower shall be
deemed given if no objection is received by the assigning Lender
and the Agent from the Borrower within five Business Day after
notice of such proposed assignment has been received by the
Borrower and (C) neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the
Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.
“
Environmental Laws ” means any legal
requirement of any Governmental Authority pertaining to
(i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the
protection of natural resources and wildlife, (iii) the protection
or use of surface water and groundwater, (iv) the management,
manufacture, possession, presence, use, generation, transportation,
treatment, storage, disposal, release, threatened release,
abatement, removal, remediation or handling of, or exposure to, any
hazardous or toxic substance or material or (v) pollution
(including any release to land surface water and groundwater) and
includes, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by
the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 USC
9601 et seq ., Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and Hazardous and
Solid Waste Amendment of 1984, 42 USC 6901 et seq. , Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended by the Clean Water Act of
1977, 33 USC 1251 et seq. , Clean Air Act of 1966, as
amended, 42 USC 7401 et seq. , Toxic Substances Control Act
of 1976, 15 USC 2601 et seq. , Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act, 49 USC App. 1801 et seq. , Oil Pollution
Act of 1990, 33 USC 2701 et seq. , Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 USC 11001 et seq. ,
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 USC 4321 et
seq. , Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 USC
300(f) et seq. , any analogous implementing or successor
law, and any amendment, rule, regulation, order, or directive
issued thereunder.
5
“
Environmental Trust Bonds ” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 196.027 of the Wisconsin
Statutes or any successor thereto.
“
ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute
thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations thereunder,
all as the same may be in effect from time to time. References to
sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor
sections.
“
ERISA Affiliate ” means an entity, whether or
not incorporated, which is under common control with the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, or is a member of a group that
includes the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and that is
treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b), (c), (m),
or (o) of the Code.
“
Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning
assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to
time.
“
Eurodollar Advance ” means an Advance bearing
interest at the Eurodollar Rate.
“
Eurodollar Borrowing ” means a Borrowing
consisting of simultaneous Eurodollar Advances.
“
Eurodollar Rate ” means, for the Interest
Period applicable thereto, the rate per annum equal to the
sum of (i) the London Interbank Offered Rate plus
(ii) the Applicable Margin.
“
Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage ” of any
Lender for the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Advance means the
reserve percentage applicable during such Interest Period (or if
more than one such percentage shall be so applicable, the daily
average of such percentages for those days in such Interest Period
during which any such percentage shall be so applicable) under
regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the
maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any
emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for
such Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or
including Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such
Interest Period.
“
Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in
Section 9.1.
“
Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“
Extension of Credit ” means (i) the making
of an Advance, (ii) the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the
amendment of any Letter of Credit having the effect of extending
the stated termination date thereof or increasing the maximum
amount available to be drawn thereunder or (iii) the funding of a
participation in the unpaid reimbursement obligation of the
Borrower with respect to a payment made by the Fronting Bank under
a Letter of Credit (excluding any reimbursement obligation that has
been repaid with the proceeds of any Advance).
“
Facility Fee Percentage ” means the rate per
annum set forth in the column identified by the Applicable
Rating Level at the time of determination:
6
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Applicable
|
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Rating
Level
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Level 4
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Level 5
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Level 6
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Level 7
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0.04
|
%
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0.05
|
%
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|
0.06
|
%
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0.07
|
%
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0.09
|
%
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|
|
0.10
|
%
|
|
|
0.15
|
%
|
Any change in
the Facility Fee Percentage shall be effective on the date on which
Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, as the case may be, announces any
change in any rating that results in a change in the Applicable
Rating Level.
“ Fee
Letters ” means (i) that certain letter
agreement, dated February 28, 2006, among Citigroup Global
Markets Inc., the Borrower and Wisconsin Gas LLC and (ii) that
certain Letter Agreement, dated February 28, 2006, among U.S.
Bank, U.S. Bank Capital Markets, the Borrower and Wisconsin Gas
LLC, in each case, as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced
from time to time.
“
Federal Funds Rate ” means for any day the rate
per annum (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th 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 (i) 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
and (ii) 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 quoted to the Agent on such day on such
transactions as determined by the Agent.
“
Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings Ltd., or any
successor or assignee of the business of such company in the
business of rating securities.
“
Fronting Bank ” means U.S. Bank National
Association, as issuer of Letters of Credit, and/or such other
Lender that may be appointed from time to time by the Borrower (and
that agrees to such appointment) to act in such a capacity under
this Agreement.
“
Funded Debt ” of any Person means, without
duplication, the sum of (i) all Indebtedness of such Person
for borrowed money, (ii) all purchase money Indebtedness of
such Person, (iii) the principal portion of all obligations of
such Person under capital lease obligations, (iv) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, relative to the face amount
of all letters of credit (other than letters of credit supporting
trade payables in the ordinary course of business), whether or not
drawn, and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of
such Person, in each case in excess of $10 million, subject to
the further limitations hereafter provided (it being understood
that, to the extent an undrawn letter of credit supports another
obligation consisting of Indebtedness, in calculating aggregated
Indebtedness only such other obligation shall be included),
(v) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person with respect to
Indebtedness and obligations of the type described in clauses
(i) through (iv) hereof of another Person in excess of
$10 million, subject to the further limitations hereafter
provided, (vi) all Indebtedness and obligations of the type
described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (viii) and
(ix) hereof of another Person in excess of $10 million,
subject to the further limitations hereafter provided, secured by a
Lien on any property
7
of such Person
whether or not such Indebtedness or obligations has been assumed by
such Person, (vii) all Indebtedness and obligations of the
type described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (viii) and
(ix) hereof of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture
in excess of $10 million, subject to the further limitations
hereafter provided, to the extent such Person is legally obligated,
net of any assets of such partnership or joint venture,
(viii) the outstanding principal balance in excess of
$10 million, subject to the further limitations hereafter
provided, under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease,
off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing
product of such Person where such transaction is considered
borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as
an operating lease in accordance with GAAP, (ix) all net
obligations of such Person in excess of $10 million, subject
to the further limitations hereafter provided, in respect of
interest rate protection agreements, foreign currency exchange
agreements, commodity purchase or option agreements or other
interest or exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreements and
(x) all Indebtedness and obligations of the types described in
the foregoing clauses (iv) through (ix) hereof, to the
extent excluded from the definition of “Funded Debt”
hereunder (as a result of such Indebtedness or obligation being
less than $10 million), and to the extent in excess of
$200 million in the aggregate.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and
subject to Section 1.3.
“
Governmental Authority ” means any Federal,
state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority,
instrumentality or regulatory body.
“
Guaranty Obligations ” means, with respect to
any Person, without duplication, any obligations (other than
endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable
instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing any
Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or
indirect, and including without limitation any obligation, whether
or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such Indebtedness or
other obligation or any property constituting security therefor,
(ii) to advance or provide funds or other support for the
payment or purchase of such Indebtedness or obligation or to
maintain working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition
of such other Person (including, without limitation, maintenance
agreements, comfort letters, take or pay arrangements, put
agreements or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit
of the holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (iii) to
lease or purchase property, securities or services primarily for
the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or
(iv) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the owner of such
Indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof. The
amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any
limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to
the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if
larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty
Obligation is made.
“
Hybrid Equity Securities ” means any securities
issued by the Borrower or a Subsidiary or a financing vehicle of
the Borrower that (i) are classified at the time of issuance
thereof as possessing a minimum of “intermediate equity
content” by S&P and Basket C equity credit by
Moody’s and (ii) require no repayments or prepayments
and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to
at least 91 days after the occurrence of the Maturity Date and
the repayment in full of the Outstanding Credits and all other
amounts due under this Agreement.
8
“
Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without
duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed
money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest
payments are customarily made, (iii) all obligations of such
Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements
relating to property purchased by such Person to the extent of the
value of such property (other than customary reservations or
retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in
the ordinary course of business), (iv) all obligations, other
than intercompany items, of such Person issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property or services purchased by such
Person that would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such
Person, (v) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for
which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right,
contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable
out of the proceeds of production from, property owned or acquired
by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have
been assumed, (vi) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person,
(vii) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person
under (A) capital lease obligations and (B) any synthetic
lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or
similar off-balance sheet financing product of such Person where
such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax
purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with
GAAP, (viii) all obligations of such Person to repurchase any
securities, which repurchase obligation is related to the issuance
thereof, including, without limitation, obligations commonly known
as residual equity appreciation potential shares, (ix) all net
obligations of such Person in respect of interest rate protection
agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements, commodity
purchase or option agreements or other interest or exchange rate or
commodity price hedging arrangements, (x) the maximum amount
of all performance and standby letters of credit issued or
bankers’ acceptance facilities created for the account of
such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder
(to the extent unreimbursed), and (xi) the aggregate amount of
uncollected accounts receivable of such Person subject at such time
to a sale of receivables (or similar transaction) regardless of
whether such transaction is effected without recourse to such
Person or in a manner that would not be reflected on the balance
sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP. The Indebtedness of
any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or
unincorporated joint venture for which such Person is legally
obligated.
“
Interest Payment Date ” means (i) as to
Base Rate Advances, quarterly in arrears on the last day of each
March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date and
(ii) as to Eurodollar Advances, the last day of each
applicable Interest Period and the Maturity Date and, in addition,
where the applicable Interest Period for a Eurodollar Advance is
greater than three months, then also on the last day of each fiscal
quarter of the Borrower during such Interest Period. If an Interest
Payment Date falls on a date that is not a Business Day, such
Interest Payment Date shall be deemed to be the next succeeding
Business Day, except that in the case of Eurodollar Advances where
the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding
calendar month, then on the next preceding day.
“
Interest Period ” means, as to Eurodollar
Advances, a period of one, two, three or, subject to availability,
six months’ duration, as the Borrower may elect, commencing,
in each case, on the date of the borrowing (including continuations
and conversions of Eurodollar Advances); provided, however,
(i) if any Interest Period would end on a day that is not a
Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next
succeeding Business Day (except that where the next succeeding
Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar
9
month, then on
the next preceding Business Day), (ii) no Interest Period
shall extend beyond the Maturity Date and (iii) with respect
to Eurodollar Advances, where an Interest Period begins on a day
for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
month in which the Interest Period is to end, such Interest Period
shall end on the last Business Day of such calendar
month.
“
Issuance Fee ” has the meaning specified in
Section 3.4(b).
“ LC
Commitment Amount ” means, at any time, an amount
equal to the sum of the Commitments of all Lenders at such
time.
“ LC
Fee ” has the meaning specified in
Section 3.4(b).
“ LC
Outstandings ” means, on any date of determination,
the sum of the undrawn stated amounts of all Letters of Credit that
are outstanding on such date plus the aggregate principal
amount of all unpaid reimbursement obligations of the Borrower on
such date with respect to payments made by the Fronting Bank under
Letters of Credit (excluding reimbursement obligations that have
been repaid with the proceeds of any Advance).
“
Lender ” means any of the Persons identified as
a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, and any
Eligible Assignee that may become a Lender by way of assignment in
accordance with the terms hereof, together with their successors
and permitted assigns.
“
Letter of Credit ” means a letter of credit
issued by the Fronting Bank pursuant to Section 2.8, as such letter
of credit may from time to time be amended, modified or extended in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“
Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest,
encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or
charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the
foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
any financing or similar statement or notice filed under the
Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in the relevant
jurisdiction or other similar recording or notice statute, and any
lease in the nature thereof).
“
London Interbank Offered Rate ” means, with
respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for the Interest Period
applicable thereto, the rate of interest per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Dow
Jones Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) as the London
interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately
11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first
day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest
Period; provided, however, if more than one rate is
specified on Dow Jones Markets Page 3750, the applicable rate shall
be the arithmetic mean of all such rates. If, for any reason, such
rate is not available, the term “ London Interbank
Offered Rate ” shall mean, with respect to any
Eurodollar Borrowing for the Interest Period applicable thereto,
the rate of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen
LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in
Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business
Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term
comparable to such Interest Period; provided, however, if
more than
10
one rate is
specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be
the arithmetic mean of all such rates.
“
Mandatory Borrowing ” has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 2.8(f).
“
Material Adverse Effect ” means a material
adverse effect on (i) the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), operations or prospects of the Borrower, (ii) the
ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or (iii) the validity or enforceability of this
Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents, or the rights and
remedies of the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.
“
Maturity Date ” means the earlier to occur of
(i) March 30, 2011, or such later date that may be
established from time to time pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof,
and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.6 or Section 9.2 hereof.
“
Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such
company in the business of rating securities.
“
Multiemployer Plan ” means a Plan covered by
Title IV of ERISA that is a multiemployer plan as defined in
Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“
Multiple Employer Plan ” means a Plan covered
by Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, of which the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other
than the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing
sponsors.
“ Net
Worth ” means, as of any date, the
shareholders’ equity or net worth of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries (including but not limited to the value of any Trust
Preferred Securities or Hybrid Equity Securities), on a
consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“
Notice of Borrowing ” means a request by the
Borrower for a Borrowing in the form of Exhibit A.
“
Notice of Continuation/Conversion ” means a
request by the Borrower for the continuation or conversion of a
Borrowing in the form of Exhibit B.
“
Outstanding Credits ” at any time means the sum
of the aggregate principal amount of Advances outstanding at such
time plus the LC Outstandings at such time.
“
PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA
and any successor thereto.
“
Permitted Liens ” means (i) Liens securing
the obligations of Borrower hereunder, (ii) any Lien created
or arising over any property (or any improvements thereto) that is
acquired, constructed or created by the Borrower, but only if
(a) such Lien secures only principal amounts (not exceeding
the cost of such acquisition, construction, creation or
improvement) of Indebtedness incurred for the purposes of such
acquisition, construction, creation or improvement together with
any costs, expenses, interest and fees incurred in relation thereto
or a guarantee given in respect thereof and (b) such Lien is
confined solely to the property so
11
acquired,
constructed or created or such improvement (including any such Lien
so created or arising in connection with WEC’s Power the
Future Strategic Plan), (iii) any extensions, renewals or
replacements (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements),
in whole or in part, of Liens permitted by clauses (ii) and
(xi), (iv) the pledge of any bonds or other securities at any
time issued under any of the Liens permitted by clauses (ii),
(iii) or (xi), (v) Liens of taxes, assessments or
governmental charges for the then current year and taxes,
assessments or governmental charges not then delinquent; Liens for
workers’ compensation awards and similar obligations not then
delinquent; mechanics’, laborers’, materialmen’s
and similar Liens not then delinquent; and any of such liens,
whether or not delinquent, whose validity is at the time being
contested in good faith by the Borrower, (vi) Liens and
charges incidental to construction or current operations that have
not at the time been filed or asserted or the payment of which has
been adequately secured or that, in the opinion of counsel, are not
material in amount, (vii) Liens, securing obligations neither
assumed by the Borrower nor on account of which it customarily pays
interest directly or indirectly, existing, either at the date
hereof, or, as to property hereafter acquired, at the time of
acquisition by the Borrower, (viii) any right that any
municipal or governmental body or agency may have by virtue of any
franchise, license, contract or statute to purchase, or designate a
purchaser of or order the sale of, any property of the Borrower
upon payment of reasonable compensation therefor, or to terminate
any franchise, license or other rights or to regulate the property
and business of the Borrower, (ix) the Lien of judgments
covered by insurance, or upon appeal and covered, if necessary, by
the filing of an appeal bond, or if not so covered not exceeding at
any one time $1,000,000 in aggregate amount, (x) easements or
reservations in respect of any property of the Borrower for the
purpose of roads, pipelines, utility transmission and distribution
lines or other rights-of-way and similar purposes, zoning
ordinances, regulations, reservations, restrictions, covenants,
party wall agreements, conditions of record and other encumbrances
(other than to secure the payment of money), none of which in the
opinion of counsel are such as to interfere with the proper
operation and development of the property affected thereby in the
business of the Borrower for the use intended, (xi) any Lien
or encumbrance under the Borrower’s Mortgage and Deed of
Trust, dated October 28, 1938, as heretofore or hereafter
amended, modified and supplemented, with Firstar Trust Company, as
trustee (the “ Mortgage ”), securing the
Borrower’s First Mortgage Bonds upon any property or assets,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (xii) any Lien or
encumbrance, moneys sufficient for the discharge of which have been
deposited in trust with the trustee under the Borrower’s
Indenture dated as of December 1, 1995, as heretofore or hereafter
amended, modified and supplemented, with Firstar Trust Company, as
trustee (the “ Indenture ”), providing
for certain debt securities or with the trustee or mortgagee under
the instrument evidencing such Lien or encumbrance, with
irrevocable authority to the trustee under the Indenture or to such
other trustee or mortgagee to apply such moneys to the discharge of
such Lien or encumbrance to the extent required for such purpose,
(xiii) Liens incurred to secure the Borrower’s payment
obligations pursuant to Section 7.06 of the Indenture,
(xiv) any defects of title and any terms, conditions,
agreements, covenants, exceptions and reservations expressed or
provided in deeds or other instruments, respectively, under and by
virtue of which the Borrower has acquired any property or shall
hereafter acquire any property, none of which, in the opinion of
counsel, materially adversely affects the operation of the
properties of the Borrower, (xv) the pledge of cash or
marketable securities for the purpose of obtaining any indemnity,
performance or other similar bonds in the ordinary course of
business, or as security for the payment of taxes or other
assessments being contested in good faith, or for the purpose of
obtaining a stay or
12
discharge in
the course of any legal proceedings, (xvi) the pledge or
assignment in the ordinary course of business of electricity, gas
(either natural or artificial) or steam, accounts receivable or
customers’ installment paper, (xvii) rights reserved to
or vested in others to take or receive any part of the electricity,
gas (either natural or artificial), steam or any by-products
thereof generated or produced by or from any properties of the
Borrower or with respect to any other rights concerning
electricity, gas (either natural or artificial) or steam supply,
transportation, or storage that are in use in the ordinary course
of the electricity, gas (either natural or artificial) or steam
business, (xviii) any landlord’s Lien, (xix) Liens
created or assumed by the Borrower in connection with the issuance
of debt securities, the interest on which is excludable from the
gross income of the holders of such securities pursuant to
Section 103 of the Code, for purposes of financing, in whole
or in part, the acquisition or construction of property to be used
by the Borrower, but such Liens shall be limited to the property so
financed (and the real estate on which such property is to be
located), (xx) Liens affixing to property of the Borrower at
the time a Person consolidates with or merges into, or transfers
all or substantially all of its assets to, the Borrower, provided
that in the opinion of the board of directors of the Borrower or
any authorized committee of the board of directors of the Borrower
or Borrower management (evidenced by a certified resolution of the
board of directors of the Borrower or an officer’s
certificate) the property acquired pursuant to the consolidation,
merger or asset transfer is adequate security for the Lien, and
(xxi) Liens or encumbrances not otherwise permitted if, at the
time of incurrence and after giving effect thereto, the aggregate
of all obligations of the Borrower secured thereby does not exceed
15% of Total Assets.
“
Person ” means any individual, partnership,
joint venture, firm, corporation, association, trust, limited
liability company or other enterprise (whether or not
incorporated), or any government or political subdivision or any
agency, department or instrumentality thereof.
“
Plan ” means any employee benefit plan (as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is covered by ERISA
and with respect to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is
(or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under
Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an
“employer” within the meaning of Section 3(5) of
ERISA.
“
Power the Future Capitalized Leases ” means any
capital lease obligations recorded on the consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and not eliminated in
consolidation related to WEC’s Power the Future strategic
plan, including but not limited to the Port Washington I Facility
Lease Agreement between Port Washington Generating Station, LLC, as
lessor, and the Borrower, as Lessee, dated as of May 28, 2003;
the Port Washington II Facility Lease Agreement between Port
Washington Generating Station, LLC, as lessor, and the Borrower, as
Lessee, dated as of May 28, 2003; the Elm Road I Facility
Lease Agreement between Elm Road Generating Station Supercritical,
LLC, as lessor, and the Borrower, as Lessee, dated as of
November 9, 2004; and the Elm Road II Facility Lease Agreement
between Elm Road Generating Station Supercritical, LLC, as lessor,
and the Borrower, as Lessee, dated as of November 9, 2004; in
each case, as amended, restated, supplemented or
modified.
“
Register ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.3(c).
13
“
Regulation D, U or X ” means
Regulation D, U or X, respectively, of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and
any successor to all or a portion thereof.
“
Reportable Event ” means a “reportable
event” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA with respect
to which the notice requirements to the PBGC have not been
waived.
“
Request for Issuance ” means a request made
pursuant to Section 2.8(a) in the form of Exhibit
E.
“
Required Lenders ” means Lenders holding in
excess of 50% of outstanding Advances, or, if no Advances are
outstanding, in excess of 50% of the Commitments.
“
S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s
Rating Services, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., or any successor
or assignee of the business of such division in the business of
rating securities.
“
Single Employer Plan ” means any Plan that is
covered by Title IV of ERISA, but that is not a Multiemployer
Plan.
“
Solvent ” means, with respect to any Person as
of a particular date, that on such date (i) such Person is able to
pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and
other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business,
(ii) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that
it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s
ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature in their
ordinary course, (iii) such Person is not engaged in a
business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business
or a transaction, for which such Person’s assets would
constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due
consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which
such Person is engaged or is to engage, (iv) the fair value of
the assets of such Person is greater than the total amount of
liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities,
of such Person and (v) the present fair saleable value of the
assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be
required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts
as they become absolute and matured. In computing the amount of
contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such
liabilities will be computed as the amount that, in light of all
the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the
amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or
matured liability.
“
Subsidiary ” means, as to any Person,
(i) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class
or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective
of whether or not at the time, any class or classes of such
corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person
directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (ii) any
partnership, association, joint venture, limited liability company
or other entity in which such person directly or indirectly through
Subsidiaries has more than 50% equity interest at any
time.
“
Termination Event ” means (i) with respect
to any Single Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event
or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of
Section 4062(e) of ERISA), (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan
year in which it was a substantial employer (as such
term
14
is defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple
Employer Plan, (iii) the distribution of a notice of intent to
terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to
Section 4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA, (iv) the
institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination
of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA,
(v) any event or condition that might reasonably constitute
grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or
the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or
(vi) the complete or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.
“
Total Assets ” means all assets of the Borrower
as shown on its most recent quarterly or annual audited
consolidated balance sheet, as determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“
Total Funded Debt ” means all Funded Debt of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as
determined in accordance with GAAP.
“
Trust Preferred Stock ” means any trust
preferred securities issued by a subsidiary capital trust
established by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries reflected in
the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, along with any junior subordinated debt obligations
of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries so long as (i) the terms
thereof require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory
redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to at least
91 days after the occurrence of the Maturity Date and the
repayment in full of the Outstanding Credits and all other amounts
due under this Agreement, (ii) such securities are
subordinated and junior in right of payment to all obligations of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for or in respect of
borrowed money and (iii) the obligors in respect of such
preferred securities and subordinated debt have the right to defer
interest and dividend payments on similar terms customary for trust
preferred securities and not materially less favorable to the
interests of the Borrower or the Lenders.
“
Type ” when used with respect to any Advance or
Borrowing, refers to the rate of interest on such Advance or the
Advances comprising such Borrowing (either the Base Rate or the
Eurodollar Rate).
“ U.S.
Bank ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the
preamble hereto.
“
Utilization Fee ” has the meaning set forth in
the definition of “Applicable Margin”.
“
Voting Stock ” means, (i) for any Person
that is a corporation, all classes of the capital stock (or other
voting interests) of such Person then outstanding and normally
entitled to vote in the election of its directors or, (ii) for
any Person that is a limited liability company, the membership
interests in such Person then outstanding.
“
WEC ” means Wisconsin Energy Corporation, a
Wisconsin corporation and its successors and assigns.
SECTION
1.2. Computation of Time Periods.
For purposes of
computation of periods of time hereunder, the word
“from” means “from and including” and the
words “to” and “until” each mean “to
but excluding.” References in this
15
Agreement to
“Articles”, “Sections”,
“Schedules” or “Exhibits” shall be to
Articles, Sections, Schedules or Exhibits of or to this Agreement
unless otherwise specifically provided.
SECTION
1.3. Accounting Terms.
Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms used
herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and
certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be
delivered to the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis. All calculations made for
the purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement shall
(except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be made by
application of GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most
recent annual or quarterly financial statements delivered pursuant
to Section 7.1 (or, prior to the delivery of the first
financial statements pursuant to Section 7.1, consistent with
the financial statements described in Section 5.1(e));
provided, however, if (i) the Borrower shall object to
determining such compliance on such basis at the time of delivery
of such financial statements due to any change in GAAP or the rules
promulgated with respect thereto or (ii) the Agent or the
Required Lenders shall so object in writing within 30 days
after delivery of such financial statements, then such calculations
shall be made on a basis consistent with the financial statements
most recently delivered by the Borrower to the Lenders as to which
no such objection shall have been made.
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND THE EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT
SECTION
2.1. The Commitments.
Subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees
to make Advances to the Borrower in Dollars, at any time and from
time to time prior to the Maturity Date, in an amount not to exceed
at any time such Lender’s Commitment, the Fronting Bank
agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower
at any time and from time to time until the fifth Business Day
preceding the Maturity Date in an aggregate stated amount at any
time outstanding not to exceed the LC Commitment Amount, and each
Lender agrees to purchase participations in such Letters of Credit
as more fully set forth in Section 2.8; provided ,
however, that (i) the aggregate amount of Outstanding Credits
shall not exceed the aggregate Commitments and (ii) with
respect to each individual Lender, such Lender’s pro
rata share of Outstanding Credits shall not exceed such
Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the aggregate Commitments.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow,
repay and reborrow Advances.
SECTION
2.2. Method of Borrowing.
By no later than
11:00 a.m. (i) on the date of the requested Borrowing
that will comprise Base Rate Advances or (ii) three Business
Days prior to the date of the requested Borrowing that will
comprise Eurodollar Advances, the Borrower shall submit to the
Agent a written Notice of Borrowing in the form of Exhibit A
setting forth (A) the amount requested, (B) whether such
Advances shall accrue interest at the Base Rate or the Eurodollar
Rate, (C) with respect to Borrowings that will comprise
Eurodollar Advances, the Interest Period applicable thereto, and
(D) certification that the Borrower has complied in all
respects with Section 5.2.
16
SECTION
2.3. Funding of Borrowings.
(a) Upon
receipt of a Notice of Borrowing, the Agent shall promptly inform
the Lenders as to the terms thereof. Each such Lender shall make
its Commitment Percentage of the requested Borrowing available to
the Agent by 1:00 p.m. on the date specified in the Notice of
Borrowing by deposit, in Dollars, of immediately available funds at
the principal offices of the Agent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin or at
such other address as the Agent may designate in writing. The
amount of the requested Borrowing will then be made available to
the Borrower by the Agent by crediting the account of the Borrower
on the books of such office of the Agent, to the extent the amount
of such Borrowing is made available to the Agent.
(b) No Lender
shall be responsible for the failure or delay by any other Lender
in its obligation to make Advances hereunder; provided ,
however, that the failure of any Lender to fulfill its obligations
hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations
hereunder. Unless the Agent shall have been notified by any Lender
prior to the date of any such Borrowing (in the case of a
Eurodollar Borrowing) or the time of any such Borrowing (in the
case of a Base Rate Borrowing) that such Lender does not intend to
make available to the Agent its portion of the Borrowing to be made
on such date, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
amount available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing, and
the Agent in reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole
discretion but without any obligation to do so) make available to
the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount
is not in fact made available to the Agent, the Agent shall be able
to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such
Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the
Agent’s demand therefor, the Agent will promptly notify the
Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding
amount to the Agent. The Agent shall also be entitled to recover
from the Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on
such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such
corresponding amount was made available by the Agent to the
Borrower to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the
Agent at a per annum rate equal to, (i) if from the
Borrower, the applicable rate for such Advance pursuant to the
Notice of Borrowing and (ii) if from a Lender, the Federal
Funds Rate.
SECTION
2.4. Continuations and Conversions.
The Borrower shall
have the option, on any Business Day, to continue existing
Eurodollar Advances for a subsequent Interest Period, to convert
Base Rate Advances into Eurodollar Advances or to convert
Eurodollar Advances into Base Rate Advances; provided ,
however, that (i) each such continuation or conversion must be
requested by the Borrower pursuant to a written Notice of
Continuation/Conversion, in the form of Exhibit B, in
compliance with the terms set forth below, (ii) except as
provided in Section 4.1, Eurodollar Advances may be continued
or converted into Base Rate Advances only on the last day of the
Interest Period applicable hereto, (iii) Eurodollar Advances
may not be continued nor may Base Rate Advances be converted into
Eurodollar Advances during the existence and continuation of a
Default or Event of Default and (iv) any request to extend a
Eurodollar Advance that fails to comply with the terms hereof or
any failure to request an extension of a Eurodollar Advance that
fails to comply with the terms hereof or any failure to request an
extension of a Eurodollar Advance at the end of an Interest Period
shall constitute a conversion to a Base Rate Advance on the last
day of the applicable Interest Period. Each continuation or
conversion must be requested by the
17
Borrower no
later than 11:00 a.m. (A) on the date for a requested
conversion of a Eurodollar Advance to a Base Rate Advance or
(B) three Business Days prior to the date for a requested
continuation of a Eurodollar Advance or conversion of a Base Rate
Advance to a Eurodollar Advance, in each case pursuant to a written
Notice of Continuation/Conversion submitted to the Agent, which
shall set forth (1) whether the Borrower wishes to continue or
convert such Advances and (2) if the request is to continue a
Eurodollar Advance or convert a Base Rate Advance to a Eurodollar
Advance, the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION
2.5. Minimum Amounts.
Each request for a
Borrowing or a conversion or continuation hereunder shall be
subject to the following requirements: (i) each Borrowing
consisting of Eurodollar Advances shall be in a minimum of
$5,000,000 (and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof); (ii) each Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances
shall be in a minimum amount of the lesser of $500,000 (and in
integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof) and the remaining
amount available to be borrowed; and (iii) no more than ten
Eurodollar Borrowings shall be outstanding hereunder at any one
time. For the purposes of this Section, all Eurodollar Borrowings
with the same Interest Periods that begin and end on the same date
shall be considered as one Eurodollar Borrowing, but Eurodollar
Borrowings with different Interest Periods, even if they begin on
the same date, shall be considered separate Eurodollar
Borrowings.
SECTION
2.6. Reduction of the Commitments.
Upon at least five
Business Days’ notice, the Borrower shall have the right to
permanently terminate or reduce the aggregate unused amount of the
Commitments at any time or from time to time; provided that
each partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount at least
equal to $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 above
such amount and no reduction shall be made that would reduce the
Commitments to an amount less than the then Outstanding Credits.
Any reduction in (or termination of) the Commitments shall be
permanent and may not be reinstated.
SECTION
2.7. Extension of Maturity Date.
(a) Not
earlier than 45 days prior to, nor later than 30 days
prior to, the then-effective Maturity Date, the Borrower may
request by Requisite Notice (as defined below) made to the Agent
(which shall promptly notify the Lenders) a one-year extension of
the Maturity Date. Such request shall include a certificate signed
by a Responsible Officer (as defined below) stating that
(i) the representations and warranties contained in
Article VI are true and correct on and as of the date of such
certificate and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing. Each Lender shall notify the Agent by
Requisite Notice by the date specified by the Agent (which date
shall be a Business Day and shall not be less than 15 Business Days
prior to, nor more than 30 days prior to, the then Maturity
Date) that either (A) such Lender declines to consent to
extending the Maturity Date or (B) such Lender consents to
extending the Maturity Date. Any Lender not responding within the
above time period shall be deemed not to have consented to
extending the Maturity Date. The Agent shall, after receiving the
notifications from all of the Lenders or the expiration of such
period, whichever is earlier, notify the Borrower and
18
the Lenders of
the results thereof. The Borrower may request no more than two
extensions pursuant to this Section.
(b) If any
Lender declines, or is deemed to have declined, to consent to such
request for extension (a “ Declining Lender
”), provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing at such time and (ii) the Required
Lenders are non-Declining Lenders, the Borrower may, at its own
expense (such expense to include any transfer fee payable to the
Agent under Section 11.3(b) and any expense pursuant to
Section 4.3) and in its sole discretion, require such
Declining Lender to transfer and assign in whole (but not in part)
without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the terms and
conditions of Section 11.3(b)) all of its interests, rights
and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee, which
shall assume such assigned obligations (which assignee may be
another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment);
provided that (A) such assignment shall not conflict
with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other
Governmental Authority and (B) the assigning Declining Lender
shall have received in immediately available funds the principal of
and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the portion of
the Advances hereunder held by such assigning Declining Lender and
all other amounts owed to such assigning Declining Lender
hereunder, including amounts owed pursuant to Sections 4.1
through 4.4.
(c) If the
conditions set forth in subsection (b) above have been
satisfied, the Maturity Date shall be extended (solely with respect
to the non-Declining Lenders) to the date that is one year after
the then-effective Maturity Date, effective as of the date to be
determined by the Agent and the Borrower (the “
Maturity Extension Decision Date ”), and the
Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders thereof. On or prior to the
Maturity Extension Decision Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the
Lenders (i) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Borrower authorizing such extension, certified as in effect as of
the Maturity Extension Decision Date and the related incumbency
certificate of the Borrower, (ii) new or amended promissory notes,
if requested by any new or affected Lender, evidencing the new or
revised Commitment of such Lender, (iii) a certificate of the
Borrower stating that on and as of such Maturity Extension Decision
Date, and after giving effect to the extension to be effective on
such date, (A) the representations and warranties set forth in
Article VI are true and correct and (B) no Default or
Event of Default is continuing. The Agent shall distribute an
amended Schedule I to this Agreement (which shall thereafter
be incorporated into this Agreement), to reflect any changes in
Lenders, the Commitments and each Lender’s Commitment
Percentage.
(d) For
purposes of this Section:
(i) “
Responsible Officer ” means the chairman of the
board, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer,
treasurer, or assistant treasurer of the Borrower. Any document or
certificate hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer shall
be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible
Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of
the Borrower.
(ii) “
Requisite Notice ” means irrevocable written
notice to the intended recipient or irrevocable telephonic notice
to the intended recipient, immediately followed
19
by a written
notice to such recipient. Such notices shall be (i) delivered
to such recipient at the address or telephone number specified on
Schedule II or as otherwise designated by such recipient by
Requisite Notice to each other party hereto, and (ii) if made
by the Borrower, given or made by a Responsible Officer. Any
written notice delivered shall be delivered as provided in
Section 11.1. Any notice sent by other than hardcopy shall be
promptly confirmed by a telephone call to the recipient and, if
requested by the Agent, by a manually-signed hardcopy
thereof.
SECTION
2.8. Letters of Credit.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, the Fronting Bank agrees to
issue Letters of Credit from time to time for the account of the
Borrower (or to extend the stated maturity thereof or to modify or
amend the terms thereof) for the purposes set forth in
Section 7.9 on not less than five Business Days’ prior
notice thereof by delivery of a Request for Issuance to the Agent
(which shall promptly distribute copies thereof to the Lenders) and
the Fronting Bank. Each Request for Issuance shall specify
(i) the date (which shall be a Business Day) of issuance of
such Letter of Credit (or the date of effectiveness of such
extension, modification or amendment) and the stated expiry date
thereof (which shall be no later than one year following the date
of such issuance), (ii) the proposed stated amount of such
Letter of Credit, (iii) the name and address of the
beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (iv) a statement of
drawing conditions applicable to such Letter of Credit, and if such
Request for Issuance relates to an amendment or modification of a
Letter of Credit, it shall be accompanied by the consent of the
beneficiary of the Letter of Credit thereto. Each Request for
Issuance shall be irrevocable unless modified or rescinded by the
Borrower not less than two Business Days prior to the proposed date
of issuance (or effectiveness) specified therein. Not later than
12:00 noon (Milwaukee, Wisconsin time) on the proposed date of
issuance (or effectiveness) specified in such Request for Issuance,
and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions precedent and the
other requirements set forth herein, the Fronting Bank shall issue
(or extend, amend or modify) such Letter of Credit and provide
notice and a copy thereof to the Agent, which shall promptly
furnish copies thereof to the Lenders. The Fronting Bank shall
provide to the Agent, on a monthly basis, a list of the amounts and
expiration dates of all undrawn Letters of Credit, a copy of which
list the Agent shall furnish to each Lender that requests such
list.
(b) No Letter
of Credit shall be requested or issued hereunder if, after the
issuance thereof, (i) the Outstanding Credits would exceed the
aggregate Commitments or (ii) the LC Outstandings would exceed
the LC Commitment Amount.
(c) In the
event that any Letter of Credit remains outstanding beyond the
fifteenth day prior to the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall either
(i) pay to the Agent an amount equal to 103% of the LC
Outstandings on the later of such date and the date of issuance of
such Letter of Credit, which amount the Agent shall hold in the
Cash Collateral Account for the account of the Borrower, without
interest, for the purpose of paying any draft presented, with the
excess, if any, to be returned to the Borrower upon termination or
expiration of such Letter of Credit and payment in full of all
amounts due hereunder or (ii) deliver a back-up letter of
credit to the Agent securing the Borrower’s reimbursement
obligations with respect to such Letter of Credit in form and
substance acceptable to the Fronting Bank and the Agent and from a
creditworthy financial institution acceptable to the Agent. While
any Letter of Credit is outstanding, the Agent may not
20
release funds
held in the Cash Collateral Account pursuant to this subsection
(c) without the consent of all Lenders.
(d) Each
Lender, upon issuance of a Letter of Credit, shall be deemed to
have purchased without recourse a participation from the Fronting
Bank in such Letter of Credit and the rights and obligations
arising thereunder and any collateral relating thereto, in each
case in an amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment
Percentage of the obligations under such Letter of Credit, and
shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume, as
primary obligor and not as surety, and be obligated to pay to the
Fronting Bank therefor and discharge when due, such Lender’s
Commitment Percentage of the obligations arising under such Letter
of Credit. Without limiting the scope and nature of each
Lender’s participation in any Letter of Credit, to the extent
that the Fronting Bank has not been reimbursed as required
hereunder or under any such Letter of Credit, each Lender shall pay
to the Fronting Bank its Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed
drawing in same day funds on the day of notification by the
Fronting Bank of an unreimbursed drawing pursuant to the provisions
of subsection (e). The obligation of each Lender so to reimburse
the Fronting Bank shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not
be affected by the occurrence of a Default, an Event of Default or
any other occurrence or event. Any such reimbursement shall not
relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to
reimburse the Fronting Bank under any Letter of Credit, together
with interest as hereinafter provided.
(e) In the
event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the Fronting Bank
will promptly notify the Borrower. Unless the Borrower shall
immediately notify the Fronting Bank of its intent otherwise to
reimburse the Fronting Bank for any drawing made prior to the
Maturity Date, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a
Base Rate Advance in the amount of such drawing as provided in
subsection (f), the proceeds of which will be used to satisfy the
reimbursement obligation of the Borrower with respect to such
drawing. If, at any time on or after the Maturity Date, any drawing
is made under any Letter of Credit, the Fronting Bank shall
instruct the Agent to withdraw from the Cash Collateral Account
funds in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing, which the
Agent shall transfer to the Fronting Bank in order to reimburse the
Fronting Bank for such drawing. In the case of any drawing made
under any Letter of Credit prior to the Maturity Date, the Borrower
shall reimburse the Fronting Bank on the day such drawing is paid
either with the proceeds of an Advance obtained hereunder or
otherwise in same day funds as provided herein. If the Borrower
shall fail to reimburse the Fronting Bank as provided herein, the
unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at a per
annum rate equal to the Base Rate plus two percent (2%)
per annum . The Borrower’s reimbursement obligations
hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under all
circumstances irrespective of any rights of set-off, counterclaim
or defense to payment that the applicable account party or the
Borrower may claim or have against the Fronting Bank, the Lenders,
the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit drawn upon or any other
Person, including, without limitation, any defense based on any
failure of the applicable account party or the Borrower to receive
consideration or the legality, validity, regularity or
unenforceability of the Letter of Credit. The Fronting Bank will
promptly notify the Lenders of the amount of any unreimbursed
drawing and each Lender shall promptly pay to the Fronting Bank, in
immediately available funds, the amount of such Lender’s
Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed drawing. Such payment
shall be made on the day such notice is received by such Lender
from the Fronting Bank if such notice is received at or before 2:00
p.m., otherwise such payment shall be made at or before
21
12:00 noon on
the Business Day next succeeding the day such notice is received.
If such Lender does not pay such amount to the Fronting Bank in
full upon such request, such Lender shall, on demand, pay to the
Fronting Bank interest on the unpaid amount during the period from
the date the Lender received the notice regarding the unreimbursed
drawing until the Lender pays such amount to the Fronting Bank in
full at a rate per annum equal to, if paid within two
Business Days of the date of drawing, the Federal Funds Rate and
thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate. Each Lender’s
obligation to make such payment to the Fronting Bank, and the right
of the Fronting Bank to receive the same, shall be absolute and
unconditional, shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever
and without regard to the termination of this Agreement or the
Commitments, the existence of a Default or Event of Default or the
acceleration of the obligations hereunder and shall be made without
any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
Simultaneously with the making of each such payment by a Lender to
the Fronting Bank, such Lender shall, automatically and without any
further action on the part of the Fronting Bank or such Lender,
acquire a participation in an amount equal to such payment
(excluding the portion of such payment constituting interest owing
to the Fronting Bank) in the related unreimbursed drawing portion
of the LC Outstandings and in the interest thereon, and shall have
a claim against the Borrower with respect thereto.
(f) On any
day on which the Borrower shall have requested, or been deemed to
have requested, a Borrowing to reimburse a drawing under a Letter
of Credit, the Fronting Bank shall give notice to the Lenders that
a Borrowing has been requested or deemed requested in connection
with a drawing under a Letter of Credit, in which case an Advance
comprised solely of Base Rate Advances (each such borrowing, a
“ Mandatory Borrowing ”) shall be
immediately made by all Lenders (without giving effect to any
termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 9.1) pro
rata based on each Lender’s Commitment Percentage, and
the proceeds thereof shall be paid directly to the Fronting Bank
for application to the applicable LC Outstandings. Each Lender
hereby irrevocably agrees to make such Base Rate Advances upon any
such request or deemed request on account of each such Mandatory
Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified in the
preceding sentence and on the same such date notwithstanding
(i) the amount of Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the
minimum amount for Borrowings otherwise required hereunder,
(ii) whether any conditions specified in Article III are
then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or Event of Default
then exists, (iv) failure of any such request or deemed request for
a Borrowing to be made by the time otherwise required hereunder,
(v) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing, or (vi) any
reduction in or any termination of the Commitments. Such funding of
Borrowings shall be made on the day notice of such Mandatory
Borrowing is received by each Lender from the Fronting Bank if such
notice is received at or before 2:00 p.m., otherwise such payment
shall be made at or before 12:00 noon on the Business Day next
succeeding the day such notice is received. In the event that any
Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date
otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a
result of the commencement of a proceeding under any applicable
bankruptcy law with respect to the Borrower), then each Lender
hereby agrees that it shall forthwith fund (as of the date the
Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for
any payments received from the Borrower on or after such date and
prior to such purchase) its Commitment Percentage of the
outstanding LC Outstandings; provided, further , that in the
event any Lender shall fail to fund its Commitment Percentage on
the day the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, then
the amount of such Lender’s unfunded Commitment
22
Percentage
therein shall bear interest payable to the Fronting Bank upon
demand, if paid within two Business Days of such date, at the
Federal Funds Rate, and thereafter, at the Base Rate.
(g) The
payment obligations of each Lender under subsection (d) and of
the Borrower under this Agreement in respect of any payment under
any Letter of Credit shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and
shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement under all circumstances, including, without limitation,
the following circumstances:
(i) any lack of
validity or enforceability of any Credit Document or any other
agreement or instrument relating thereto or to such Letter of
Credit;
(ii) any amendment
or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, the terms of any
Credit Document or such Letter of Credit;
(iii) the
existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the
Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary, or any
transferee, of such Letter of Credit (or any persons for whom any
such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the
Fronting Bank, or any other person, whether in connection with any
Credit Document, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such
Letter of Credit, or any unrelated transaction;
(iv) any statement
or any other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving
to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or
any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any
respect;
(v) payment in
good faith by the Fronting Bank under the Letter of Credit issued
by the Fronting Bank against presentation of a draft or certificate
that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
or
(vi) any other
circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any
of the foregoing.
(h) The
Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of any
beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit. Neither the
Fronting Bank, the Lenders nor any of their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents or Affiliates shall be liable or
responsible for (i) the use that may be made of such Letter of
Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee
thereof in connection therewith, (ii) the validity,
sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement
thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged,
(iii) payment by the Fronting Bank against presentation of
documents that do not comply with the terms of such Letter of
Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or
adequate reference to such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other
circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under
such Letter of Credit, except that, and notwithstanding
subsection (f) and the foregoing clauses (i) through
(iii), the Borrower and each Lender shall have the right to bring
suit against the Fronting Bank, and the Fronting Bank shall be
liable to the Borrower and any Lender, to the extent of any direct,
as opposed to consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower or
such Lender that the Borrower or such Lender proves were caused by
the Fronting Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence,
including, in the case of the Borrower, the Fronting Bank’s
willful failure to make
23
timely payment
under such Letter of Credit following the presentation to it by the
beneficiary thereof of a draft and accompanying certificate(s) that
strictly comply with the terms and conditions of such Letter of
Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the
Fronting Bank may accept sight drafts and accompanying certificates
presented under the Letter of Credit issued by the Fronting Bank
that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility
for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information
to the contrary, and payment against such documents shall not
constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence by the Fronting
Bank. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender shall be obligated
to indemnify the Borrower for damages caused by the Fronting
Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(i) The
letters of credit listed on Schedule III shall be deemed
“Letters of Credit” upon the occurrence of the
Effective Date.
(i) All Base Rate
Advances shall accrue interest at the Base Rate.
(ii) All
Eurodollar Advances shall accrue interest at the Eurodollar Rate
applicable to such Eurodollar Advance.
(b)
Interest Payments . Interest on Advances shall be due and
payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date.
SECTION
3.2. Prepayments.
(a)
Optional Prepayments . The Borrower shall have the right to
prepay Advances in whole or in part from time to time without
premium or penalty; provided , however, that
(i) Eurodollar Advances may be prepaid only on two Business
Days’ prior written notice to the Agent, and any prepayment
of Eurodollar Advances will be subject to Section 4.3, and
(ii) each partial prepayment of Advances shall be in the
minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and in increments of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof; provided that if less than
$1,000,000 would remain outstanding after such prepayment, such
prepayment shall be in the amount of the entire outstanding
principal amount of the Advances. Amounts prepaid hereunder shall
be applied as the Borrower may elect; provided that if the
Borrower fails to specify an optional prepayment then such
prepayment shall be applied first to Base Rate Advances, and then
to Eurodollar Advances in direct order of Interest Period
maturities.
(b)
Mandatory Prepayments . If at any time the Outstanding
Credits exceed the aggregate Commitments, the Borrower shall
immediately make a principal payment to the Agent and/or deposit
funds in the Cash Collateral Account in respect of LC Outstandings
pursuant to Section 9.2(d) for the ratable accounts of the
Lenders as shall be necessary in order that the Outstanding Credits
(after giving effect to such prepayment) minus the amount
held in the Cash
24
Collateral
Account after giving effect to such cash collateralization will be
less than or equal to the aggregate Commitments. Any payments made
under this subsection (b) shall be subject to Section 4.3
and, in the case of principal payments, shall be applied first to
Base Rate Advances, and then to Eurodollar Advances in direct order
of Interest Period maturities.
SECTION
3.3. Payment in full at Maturity.
On the Maturity
Date, the entire outstanding principal balance of all Advances,
together with accrued but unpaid interest and all other sums owing
under this Agreement, shall be due and payable in full.
(a)
Facility Fee . In consideration of the Commitments being
made available by the Lenders hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay
to the Agent, for the pro rata benefit of each Lender, a
facility fee at a rate per annum equal to the Facility Fee
Percentage in effect from time to time commencing on the date
hereof, on the Commitment from time to time of such Lender
(regardless of usage), quarterly in arrears, on the last day of
each March, June, September and December, on the Maturity Date, and
(if applicable) on the date after the Maturity Date on which all
Advances and other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder are
paid in full (without regard to any termination of the Commitments
on the Maturity Date).
(b) LC
Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay the Agent for the account of
the Fronting Bank an issuance fee (an “ Issuance
Fee ”) and such other charges as are separately
agreed upon with the Fronting Bank, and agrees to pay to the Agent
for the account of the Lenders a fee (the “ LC
Fee ”) on the face amount of each Letter of Credit
issued by the Fronting Bank calculated at a rate per annum
at all times equal to the Applicable Margin in effect for
Eurodollar Rate Advances, in each case computed on the basis of the
actual number of days that each Letter of Credit is outstanding
over a year of 360 days, payable quarterly in arrears on each
March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31, and on the date that such Letter of Credit
expires or is drawn in full.
(c)
Administrative Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay such other
fees as agreed to by the Borrower in the Fee Letters.
SECTION
3.5. Place and Manner of Payments.
All payments of
principal, interest, fees, expenses and other amounts to be made by
the Borrower under this Agreement shall be received without setoff,
deduction or counterclaim not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date when
due in Dollars and in immediately available funds by the Agent at
its offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Borrower shall, at the
time it makes any payment under this Agreement, specify to the
Agent the Outstanding Credits, fees or other amounts payable by the
Borrower hereunder to which such payment is to be applied (and in
the event that it fails to specify, or if such application would be
inconsistent with the terms hereof, the Agent shall distribute such
payment to the Lenders in such manner as it reasonably determines
in its sole discretion).
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SECTION
3.6. Pro Rata Treatment.
Except to the
extent otherwise provided herein, all Borrowings, each payment or
prepayment of principal of any Advance, each payment of interest on
the Advances, each payment of facility fees, LC Fees, each
reduction of the Commitments, and each conversion or continuation
of any Advance, shall be allocated pro rata among the
Lenders in accordance with the respective Commitment Percentages;
provided that, if any Lender shall have failed to fund its
applicable pro rata share of any Borrowing, then any amount
to which such Lender would otherwise be entitled pursuant to this
Section 3.6 shall instead be payable to the Agent until the
share of such Borrowing not funded by such Lender has been repaid;
and provided , further, that in the event any amount paid to
any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.6 is rescinded or must
otherwise be returned by the Agent, each Lender shall, upon the
request of the Agent, repay to the Agent the amount so paid to such
Lender, with interest for the period commencing on the date such
payment is returned by the Agent until the date the Agent receives
such repayment at a rate per annum equal to, during the
period to but excluding the date two Business Days after such
request, the Federal Funds Rate, and thereafter, the Base Rate
plus two percent per annum .
SECTION
3.7. Computations of Interest and Fees.
(a) Except
for Base Rate Advances bearing interest determined under clause
(i) of the definition of Base Rate, on which interest shall be
computed on the basis of a 365 or 366 day year, as the case
may be, all computations of interest and fees hereunder shall be
made on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year
of 360 days.
(b) It is the
intent of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform to and contract
in strict compliance with applicable usury law from time to time in
effect. All agreements between the Lenders and the Borrower are
hereby limited by the provisions of this subsection, which shall
override and control all such agreements, whether now existing or
hereafter arising and whether written or oral. In no way, nor in
any event or contingency (including but not limited to prepayment
or acceleration of the maturity of any obligation), shall the
interest taken, reserved, contracted for, charged, or received
under this Agreement or otherwise exceed the maximum nonusurious
amount permissible under applicable law. If, from any possible
construction of any of the Credit Documents or any other document,
interest would otherwise be payable in excess of the maximum
nonusurious amount, any such construction shall be subject to the
provisions of this subsection and such documents shall be
automatically reduced to the maximum nonusurious amount permitted
under applicable law, without the necessity of execution of any
amendment or new document. If any Lender shall ever receive
anything of value that is characterized as interest on the Advances
under applicable law and that would, apart from this provision, be
in excess of the maximum lawful amount, an amount equal to the
amount that would have been excessive interest shall, without
penalty, be applied to the reduction of the principal amount owing
on the Advances and not to the payment of interest, or refunded to
the Borrower or the other payor thereof if and to the extent such
amount that would have been excessive exceeds such unpaid principal
amount of the Advances. The right to demand payment of the Advances
or any other indebtedness evidenced by any of the Credit Documents
does not include the right to receive any interest that has not
otherwise accrued on the date of such demand, and the Lenders do
not intend to charge or receive any unearned interest in the event
of such demand. All interest paid or agreed to be paid to the
Lenders with respect to the Advances shall, to the
26
extent
permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated, and
spread throughout the full stated term (including any renewal or
extension) of the Advances so that the amount of interest on
account of such indebtedness does not exceed the maximum
nonusurious amount permitted by applicable law.
SECTION
3.8. Sharing of Payments.
Each Lender agrees
that, in the event that any Lender shall obtain payment in respect
of any Extension of Credit or any other obligation owing to such
Lender under this Agreement through the exercise of a right of
set-off, banker’s lien, counterclaim or otherwise (including,
but not limited to, pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code) in excess of
its pro rata share as provided for in this Agreement, such
Lender shall promptly purchase from the other Lenders a
participation in such Extension of Credit and other obligations, in
such amounts and with such other adjustments from time to time, as
shall be equitable in order that all Lenders share such payment in
accordance with their respective ratable shares as provided for in
this Agreement. Each Lender further agrees that if a payment to a
Lender (which is obtained by such Lender through the exercise of a
right of set-off, banker’s lien, counterclaim or otherwise)
shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored, each Lender that
shall have shared the benef
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