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Exhibit 10.1
This Credit Agreement has been filed to provide investors with
information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any
other factual information about the Tennessee Valley Authority. The
representations and warranties of the parties in this Credit
Agreement were made to, and solely for the benefit of, the other
parties to this Credit Agreement. The assertions embodied in the
representations and warranties may be qualified by information
included in schedules, exhibits or other materials exchanged by the
parties that may modify or create exceptions to the representations
and warranties. Accordingly, investors should not rely on the
representations and warranties as characterizations of the actual
state of facts at the time they were made or otherwise.
FALL MATURITY CREDIT
AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 17, 2006
Among
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY,
as the Borrower
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as a Lender
and
THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING
TERMS
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1
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1.01 Defined Terms
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1
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1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions
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13
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1.03 Accounting Terms
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14
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1.04 Times of Day
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14
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ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS
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14
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2.01 Loans
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14
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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of
Loans
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14
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2.03 Prepayments
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15
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2.04 Termination or Reduction of Aggregate
Commitments; Availability
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16
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2.05 Repayment of Loans
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17
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2.06 Interest
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17
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2.07 Commitment Fee
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17
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2.08 Computation of Interest and Fees
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18
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2.09 Evidence of Debt
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18
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2.10 Payments Generally; Administrative
Agent’s Clawback
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18
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2.11 Sharing of Payments by Lenders
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19
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ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND
ILLEGALITY
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20
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3.01 Taxes
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20
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3.02 Illegality
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22
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3.03 Inability to Determine Rates
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22
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3.04 Increased Costs
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23
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3.05 Compensation for Losses
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24
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3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of
Lenders
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24
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3.07 Survival
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25
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ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO
LOANS
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25
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4.01 Conditions to Closing
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25
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4.02 Conditions to all Loans
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26
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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26
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5.01 Existence, Qualification and
Power
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26
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5.02 Authorization; No Contravention
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26
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5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other
Consents
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27
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5.04 Binding Effect
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27
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5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse
Effect
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27
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5.06 Litigation
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27
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5.07 No Default
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28
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5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens
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28
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5.09 Environmental Compliance
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28
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5.10 Payment of Governmental Charges
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28
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5 11 ERISA Compliance
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28
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5.12 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act;
Public Utility Holding Company Act
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29
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5 13 Disclosure
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29
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5 14 Compliance with Laws
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30
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ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
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30
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6.01 Financial Statements
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30
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6.02 Certificates; Other Information
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30
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6.03 Notices
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31
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i
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6.04 Payment of Obligations
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32
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6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.
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32
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6.06 Maintenance of Properties
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32
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6.07 Maintenance of Insurance
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32
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6.08 Compliance with Laws
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32
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6.09 Books and Records
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33
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6.10 Inspection Rights
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33
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6.11 Use of Proceeds
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33
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ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS
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33
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7.01 Liens
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33
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7.02 Indebtedness
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33
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7.03 Fundamental Changes; Subsidiaries
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34
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7.04 Change in Nature of Business
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34
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7.05 Use of Proceeds
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34
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ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND
REMEDIES
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34
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8.01 Events of Default
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34
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8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default
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36
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8.03 Application of Funds
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37
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ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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37
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9.01 Appointment and Authority
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37
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9.02 Rights and Obligations as a
Lender
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38
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9.03 Exculpatory Provisions
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38
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9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent
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39
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9.05 Delegation of Duties
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39
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9.06 Resignation of Administrative
Agent
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39
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9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and
Other Lenders
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40
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9.08 No Other Duties; Etc
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40
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9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of
Claim
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40
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ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS
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41
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10.01 Amendments, Etc.
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41
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10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile
Copies
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42
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10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies
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43
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10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; and Damage
Waiver
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43
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10.05 Payments Set Aside
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45
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10.06 Successors and Assigns
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45
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10.07 Treatment of Certain Information;
Confidentiality
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47
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10.08 Set-off
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48
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10.09 Interest Rate Limitation
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48
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10.10 Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness
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48
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10.11 Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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49
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10.12 Severability
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49
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10.13 Replacement of Lenders
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49
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10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc
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50
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10.15 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury
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50
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10.16 USA PATRIOT Act Notice
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51
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10.17 Statement of Borrower regarding the
Bankruptcy Code of the United States
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51
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10.18 TVA Related Provisions
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51
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ii
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SCHEDULES
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2.01 Commitments and Applicable
Percentages
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7.01 Other Permitted Liens
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10.02 Certain Addresses for Notices
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EXHIBITS
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2.02 Form of Loan Notice
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2.09 Form of Note
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10.07 Form of Assignment and
Assumption
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10.18 Certification for Contracts, Grants, Loans,
and Cooperative Agreements
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iii
FALL MATURITY CREDIT AGREEMENT
This FALL MATURITY CREDIT
AGREEMENT is entered into as of May 17, 2006 among TENNESSEE
VALLEY AUTHORITY, a wholly owned corporate agency and
instrumentality of the United States of America (the "
Borrower "), the Lenders (defined herein) and BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and as Administrative Agent.
The Borrower has requested that
the Lenders provide $1.25 billion in credit facilities for the
purposes set forth herein, and the Lenders are willing to do so on
the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms.
As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
" Administrative Agent "
means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under
any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative
agent.
" Administrative Agent’s
Office " means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as
appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 or
such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from
time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
" Administrative
Questionnaire " means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form
supplied by the Administrative Agent.
" Affiliate " means, with
respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or
is under common Control with the Person specified.
" Aggregate Commitments "
means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders. The
initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the
Closing Date is ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($1,250,000,000).
" Agreement " means this
Fall Maturity Credit Agreement.
" Annual Financial
Statements " means the balance sheet of the Borrower as of the
end of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005, and the
related statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal
year.
" Applicable Percentage "
means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage
(carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate
Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such
time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans
has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the
Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage
of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable
Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to
any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of
each Lender is
set forth opposite the name of such Lender on
Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption
pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as
applicable.
"Applicable Rate" means, for any
day, the following percentages per annum based upon the S&P
Debt Rating and the Moody’s Debt Rating then in effect:
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Pricing
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Moody’s Debt
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LIBOR Rate
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Tier
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S&P Debt Rating
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Rating
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Loans
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Base Rate Loans
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Commitment Fee
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1
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AAA
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Aaa
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0.10
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%
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0.00
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%
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0.06
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%
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2
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AAA but on CreditWatch
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Aaa but on
Watchlist
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0.18
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%
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0.00
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%
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0.08
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%
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3
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AA+
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Aa1
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0.33
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%
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0.00
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%
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0.18
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%
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4
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AA
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Aa2
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0.33
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%
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0.00
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%
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0.18
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%
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5
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AA-
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Aa3
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0.43
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%
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0.00
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%
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0.28
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%
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The Applicable Rate shall be determined by the
Administrative Agent based on the lower of the S&P Debt Rating
and Moody’s Debt Rating then in effect. Each change in the
Applicable Rate shall be effective on and as of the date of such
change and shall be applicable to all existing Loans and to any new
Loans made on and after the date thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time that either the
Moody’s Debt Rating is lower than Aa3 or the S&P
Debt Rating is lower than AA-, the Applicable Rate shall be
increased to (a) with respect to the LIBOR Rate Loans, two and
one-half percent (2.50%), (b) with respect to Base Rate Loans,
one-half of one percent (0.50%), and (c) with respect to the
Commitment Fee, one-half of one percent (0.50%).
" Approved Fund " means any
Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an
Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an
entity that administers or manages a Lender.
" Assignment and Assumption
" means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and
an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent
is required by Section, 10.06(b)) , and accepted by the
Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of
Exhibit 10.07 or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
" Availability Period "
means the period from and including the Closing Date to the
earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of
termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.04, and (c) the date of termination of
the commitment of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to Section
8.02.
" Bank of America " means
Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
" Base Rate " means for any
day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the
Federal Funds Rate plus one-half of one percent (0.5%) and
(b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly
announced from time to time by Bank of America as its "prime rate."
The "prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of America based upon
various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired
return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used
as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced
at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in the "prime
rate" announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening
of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such
change.
" Base Rate Loan " means a
Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
2
" Borrower " has the
meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
" Borrowing " means a
borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and, in
the case of LIBOR Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period, made
by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
" Business Day " means any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact
closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office
is located and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Rate Loan, means
any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by
and between banks in the LIBOR market.
" Businesses " means, at
any time, a collective reference to the businesses operated by the
Borrower at such time.
" Change in Law " means the
occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the
following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule,
regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule,
regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or
application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the
making or issuance of any guideline or directive by any
Governmental Authority.
" Closing Date " means the
date hereof.
" Commitment " means, as to
each Lender, its obligation to make Loans to the Borrower pursuant
to Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount at any
one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite
such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the
Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a
party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from
time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
" Contractual Obligation "
means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by
such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to
which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property
is bound.
" Control " means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether
through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or
otherwise. " Controlling " and " Controlled " have
meanings correlative thereto. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another
Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly,
power to vote five percent (5%) or more of the securities having
ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing
general partners or the equivalent.
" Debtor Relief Laws "
means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other
liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership,
insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the
United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time
in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
" Default " means any event
or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the
giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an
Event of Default.
" Default Rate " means
(a) with respect to any Loan, the interest rate (including any
Applicable Rate and any applicable Liquidity Premium) otherwise
applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum and
(b) with respect to any other Obligation, an interest rate
equal to the sum of (i) the Base Rate
3
plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to
Base Rate Loans plus (c) two percent (2%) per annum, in
each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
" Defaulting Lender " means
any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the
Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day
of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has
otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder
within one (1) Business Day of the date when due, unless the
subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed
insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding.
" Dollar " and " $ "
mean lawful money of the United States.
" Eligible Assignee " means
(a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an
Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural
person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent and
(ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the
foregoing, "Eligible Assignee" shall not include (i) the
Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or
(ii) without the consent of the Borrower, any Person that is
primarily in the business of producing or transmitting
electricity.
" Environmental Laws "
means to the extent relating to pollution and the protection of the
environment or the release of any materials into the environment,
including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air
emissions and discharges to waste or public sewer systems: any and
all applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws,
regulations, ordinances, rules or judgments; any and all applicable
administrative orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses or agreements made with or issued by any
governmental authority; and any and all applicable governmental
restrictions.
" Environmental Liability "
means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any
liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines,
penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower directly or indirectly
resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any
Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling,
transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous
Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials,
(d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous
Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement
or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is
assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
" ERISA " means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from
time to time.
" ERISA Affiliate " means
any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together
with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section
414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code or, solely for
purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code, is treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
" ERISA Event " means
(a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan;
(b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan
year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that
is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA;
(c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a
Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a
notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as
a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the
commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan
or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an
4
event or condition which constitutes grounds under
Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or
Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability
under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not
delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate.
" Event of Default " has
the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
" Excluded Taxes " means,
with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other
recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any
obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or
measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and
franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the
jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws
of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal
office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its
applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits
taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by
any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and
(c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee
pursuant to a request by the Borrower under
Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on
amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign
Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office)
or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or
inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law occurring
after such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto) to comply with
Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign
Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of
designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive
additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such
withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a).
" Facilities " means, at
any time, a collective reference to the facilities and real
properties owned, leased or operated by the Borrower.
" Federal Funds Rate "
means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds
brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day;
provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day,
the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on
the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is
so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal
Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward,
if necessary, to a whole multiple of one-hundredth of one percent
(1/100 of 1%)) charged to Bank of America on such day on such
transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
" Foreign Lender " means
any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other
than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For
purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof
and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single
jurisdiction.
" FRB " means the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
" Fund " means any Person
(other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in
making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial
loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of
its business.
" GAAP " means generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in
the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board
and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board, including, without limitation, Financial Accounting
Standards Board Statement No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of
Certain Types of Regulation, consistently applied and as in
effect from time to time.
5
" Governmental Authority "
means the government of the United States or any other nation, or
of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and
any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court,
central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions
of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies
such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
" Hazardous Materials "
means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all
hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants,
including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or
asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon
gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or
wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental
Law.
" Indemnified Taxes " means
Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
" Indemnitees " has the
meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
" Interest Payment Date "
means (a) as to any LIBOR Rate Loan, the last day of each
Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date;
provided , however, that if any Interest Period for a
LIBOR Rate Loan exceeds one month, the respective dates that fall
every month after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also
be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan,
the last Business Day of each calendar month and the Maturity
Date.
" Interest Period" means,
as to each LIBOR Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such
LIBOR Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a
LIBOR Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six
months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice;
provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would
otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended
to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls
in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall
end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period that
begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day
for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last
Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall
extend beyond the Maturity Date.
" Interim Financial
Statements " means the balance sheet of the Borrower as of the
end of the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005, and the
related statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal
year.
" Internal Revenue Code "
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
" IRS " means the United
States Internal Revenue Service.
" Laws " means,
collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local
statutes, treaties, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes and
binding administrative or judicial precedents or authorities,
including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation
or administration thereof, and all applicable binding
administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses,
authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any
Governmental Authority.
6
" Lender " means each of
Bank of America and the other Persons identified as a "Lender" on
the signature pages hereto and its successors and assigns and, as
the context requires.
" Lending Office " means,
as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as
such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such
other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
" LIBOR Base Rate " means,
for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan, the rate
per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate ("
BBA LIBOR "), as published by Reuters (or other commercially
available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by
the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for
delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term
equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available
at such time for any reason, then the "LIBOR Rate" for such
Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the
Administrative Agent (and agreed to by the Borrower) to be the rate
at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such
Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the
LIBOR Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of
America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be
offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in
the LIBOR market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m.
(London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period.
" LIBOR Rate " means, for
any Interest Period with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan, a rate per
annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing (a) the LIBOR Base Rate for such
LIBOR Rate Loan for such Interest Period by (b) one (1) minus
the LIBOR Reserve Percentage for such LIBOR Rate Loan for such
Interest Period.
"LIBOR Rate Loan" means a
Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the LIBOR Rate.
"LIBOR Reserve Percentage"
means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve
percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five
(5) decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not
applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to
time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve
requirement) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently
referred to as "eurocurrency liabilities"). The LIBOR Rate for each
outstanding LIBOR Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of
the effective date of any change in the LIBOR Reserve
Percentage.
" Lien " means any
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement,
encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference,
priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in
the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real
property, and any financing lease having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing).
"Liquidity Premium" means,
for any day, the following percentages per annum based upon the
Notice Period and the principal amount of any Borrowing, any
conversion of Loans from one Type to the other and any continuation
of LIBOR Rate Loans:
7
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Size of Borrowing, Conversion or
Continuation
|
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³
$500 Million but less
|
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³
$1 Billion but less than
|
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Notice Period
|
|
< $500 Million
|
|
than $l Billion
|
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$1.25 Billion
|
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Same Day
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0.05
|
%
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0.05
|
%
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|
0.10
|
%
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|
One Day
|
|
|
0.05
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%
|
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|
0.05
|
%
|
|
|
0.05
|
%
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|
Two or More Days
|
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|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
The Liquidity Premium shall apply to each
Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and
each continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans. As used herein, "Notice
Period" means the period equal to the number of Business Days
notice that the Borrower provides to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to Section 2.02 prior to the date of the
applicable Borrowing, conversion or continuation (any such notice
provided after 1:00 pm on any Business Day shall for purposes
hereof be deemed to have been provided on the immediately
succeeding Business Day). If the Borrower fails to give a timely
notice requesting a conversion or continuation of an outstanding
Loan and such Loan is converted to, or continued as, a LIBOR Rate
Loan with an Interest Period of one month pursuant to
Section 2.02, then, for purposes of the Liquidity
Premium, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given same day notice
for such conversion or continuation.
" Loan " has the meaning
specified in Section 2.01.
" Loan Documents " means
this Agreement and each Note.
" Loan Notice " means a
notice of (a) a Borrowing of Loans, (b) a conversion of
Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of
LIBOR Rate Loans, in each case pursuant to
Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.02 .
" Material Adverse Effect "
means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse
effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities
(actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Borrower; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the
Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to
which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the
legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the
Borrower of any Loan Document. The parties agree that a downgrade
of the S&P Debt Rating or the Moody’s Debt Rating shall
not itself constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
" Maturity Date " means
November 12, 2006 (being the date 180 days following the
Closing Date).
" Moody’s " means
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor
thereto.
" Moody’s Debt Rating
" means, at any time, the rating (if any) assigned to the
Borrower’s senior unsecured long term non-credit enhanced
debt by Moody’s.
" Multiemployer Plan "
means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the
preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make
contributions.
" Note " has the meaning
specified in Section 2.09.
8
"Nuclear Decommissioning
Trust" means the Nuclear Decommissioning Trust established by
the Borrower to fund the future decommissioning of nuclear power
facilities operated by the Borrower.
" Obligations " means all
advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and
duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document, whether
direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption),
absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or
hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after
the commencement by or against the Borrower of any proceeding under
any Debtor Relief Laws naming the Borrower as the debtor in such
proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are
allowed claims in such proceeding.
" Other Taxes " means all
present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or
property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment
made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the
execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect
to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
" Participant " has the
meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
" PBGC " means the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
" Pension Plan " means any
"employee pension benefit plan" (as such term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that
is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or
in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in
Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during
the immediately preceding five plan years.
" Permitted Liens " means
any of the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan
Document;
(b) the pledge by the Borrower of
Net Power Proceeds (as defined under the Power Resolution) to
secure bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued
under the Power Resolution;
(c) Liens existing on the date
hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01;
(d) Liens for taxes (other than
Liens imposed under ERISA), assessments or governmental charges or
levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and
by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate
reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the
applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;
(e) Liens imposed under Law,
including statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers, and Liens
imposed pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title
arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that
such Liens secure only amounts not yet due and payable or, if due
and payable, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to
enforce the same or are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in
accordance with GAAP have been established;
9
(f) pledges or deposits in the
ordinary course of business in connection with workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance, Pension Plan, Nuclear
Decommissioning Trust and other social security legislation, other
than any Lien imposed by ERISA;
(g) deposits to secure the
performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than
indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than
bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and
other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course
of business;
(h) easements, rights-of-way,
restrictions, licenses, permits and other similar encumbrances
affecting real property which, in the aggregate, do not materially
interfere with the ordinary conduct of the Borrower’s power
program;
(i) Liens securing judgments for
the payment of money (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to
such judgments) not in excess of the Threshold Amount (except to
the extent covered by independent third-party insurance as to which
the insurer has acknowledged in writing its obligation to cover),
unless any such judgment remains undischarged for a period of more
than thirty consecutive days during which execution is not
effectively stayed;
(j) Liens securing Indebtedness
incurred to provide funds for the construction, acquisition,
enlargement, improvement, replacement, operation and maintenance of
the Borrower’s power system; provided that
(i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any Property other
than (A) the Property financed by such indebtedness,
(B) supporting and other related facilities, including without
limitation, facilities that are shared or used in common by
multiple units or facilities and that are necessary for or
otherwise used in the operation of the Property being financed and
(C) other Property to the extent such Liens would otherwise be
Permitted Liens, (ii) the indebtedness secured thereby does
not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of
the Property being acquired on the date of acquisition and
(iii) such Liens attach to such Property concurrently with or
within one year after (A) the later of the completion of such
construction or commencement of full operation of such Property or
(B) ninety (90) days from the acquisition thereof, as
applicable;
(k) leases, subleases, licenses or
easements involving real or personal property, whether or not the
economic equivalent of a sale, where the Borrower obtains a
sublease, service contract or other arrangements giving the
Borrower a right to the output or use of related Property which is
the subject of such lease, sublease, license or easement ("
Lease Transactions "), and Liens granted in such leaseholds,
subleaseholds, licenses or easements in connection with such Lease
Transactions;
(1) leases or subleases granted to
others not interfering in any material respect with the business of
the Borrower;
(m) any interest of title of a
lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or
equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign
jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Agreement;
(n) Liens deemed to exist in
connection with investments in repurchase agreements;
(o) normal and customary rights of
setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository
institutions;
10
(p) Liens of a collection bank
arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on
items in the course of collection;
(q) Liens of sellers of goods to
the Borrower arising under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial
Code or similar provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course
of business, covering only the goods sold and securing only the
unpaid purchase price for such goods and related expenses;
(r) Liens existing on Property at
the time of the acquisition thereof by the Borrower,
provided that such Liens are not created in contemplation of
such acquisition; and
(s) any renewals or extensions of
any Liens permitted under (b), (c), (j), or (1) above,
provided that (i) any renewal or extension is limited
to the Property subject to such Lien, (ii) the amount secured
or benefited thereby is not increased, (iii) the direct or any
contingent obligor with respect to the Lien is not changed and
(iv) any renewal or extension of any indebtedness secured or
benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.02.
" Person " means any
natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental
Authority or other entity.
" Plan " means any
"employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with
respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA
Affiliate.
"Power Resolution" means
the Basic Tennessee Valley Authority Power Bond Resolution, as
amended from time to time.
" Property " means any
interest of any kind in any property or asset, whether real,
personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.
" Register " has the
meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
" Related Parties " means,
with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of
such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
"Reportable Event" means
any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than
events for which the thirty-day notice period has been waived.
"Required Lenders" means,
at any time, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of
(a) the unfunded Commitments and the outstanding Loans and
participations therein or (b) if the Commitments have been
terminated, the outstanding Loans and participations therein. The
unfunded Commitments of, and the outstanding Loans held or deemed
held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of
making a determination of Required Lenders.
" Responsible Officer "
means the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Senior
Manager, Finance, or the Senior Manager, Cash Management, of the
Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a
Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have been
authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Borrower and
such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have
acted on behalf of the Borrower.
11
" S&P " means Standard
& Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
"S&P Debt Rating"
means, at any time, the rating (if any) assigned to the
Borrower’s senior unsecured long term non-credit enhanced
debt by S&P.
" SEC " means the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any of its principal functions.
" Subsidiary " of a Person
means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares
of Voting Stock is at the time beneficially owned, directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such
Person.
" Swap Contract " means
(a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit
derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity
swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or
equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index
swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward
bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign
exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar
transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap
transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other
similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing
(including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether
or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master
agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and
the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and
conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement
published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association,
Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any
other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with
any related schedules, a " Master Agreement "), including
any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
"Swap Termination Value"
means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking
into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting
agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on
or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and
termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such
termination value(s) and (b) for any date prior to the date
referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the
mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined
based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available
quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts
(which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
" Taxes " means all present
or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings,
assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental
Authority (other than Other Taxes), including any interest,
additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
"Threshold Amount" means
$1 billion.
"Treasury Management
Agreement" means any agreement governing the provision of
treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts,
funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts,
returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox,
account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance
services.
" TVA Act " means the
Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933, as amended.
" Type " means, with
respect to any Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR
Rate Loan.
12
"Unfunded Pension
Liability" means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit
liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the
current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in
accordance with the assumptions used for funding that Pension Plan
pursuant to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code for the
applicable plan year.
" United States " and "
U.S. " mean the United States of America.
" Voting Stock " means,
with respect to any Person, capital stock or other ownership and
equity interests issued by such Person the holders of which are
ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for
the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions)
of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended
by the happening of such a contingency.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.
With reference to this Agreement
and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or
in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms
herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The
words " include ," "includes" and " including " shall
be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." The
word " will " shall be construed to have the same meaning
and effect as the word " shall ." Unless the context
requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any
agreement, instrument or other document shall be construed as
referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from
time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject
to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or
modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document),
(ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to
include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the
words " herein ," " hereof and " hereunder ,"
and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall
be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not
to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a
Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall
be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and
Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear,
(v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and
regulatory provisions consolidating, amending replacing or
interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation
shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation
as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and
(vi) the words " asset " and " property " shall
be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to
any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods
of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word
"from" means " from and including ;" the words " to "
and " until " each mean " to but excluding ;" and the
word " through " means " to and including ."
(c) Section headings herein and in
the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference
only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document.
13
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. Except
as otherwise specifically provided herein, all accounting terms not
specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in
conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios
and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant
to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP
applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time,
applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the
Annual Financial Statements.
(b) Changes in GAAP.
If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of
any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document,
and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request,
the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall
negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to
preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in
GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders);
provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio
or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with
GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall
provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial
statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as
reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation
between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and
after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
1.04 Times of Day.
Unless otherwise specified, all
references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern
time (daylight or standard, as then applicable).
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS
2.01 Loans.
Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make
loans (each such loan, a " Loan ") to the Borrower in
Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the
Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any
time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment;
provided, however, that after giving effect to any
Borrowing of Loans, the outstanding principal amount of Loans shall
not exceed the Aggregate Commitments. Within the limits of each
Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and
conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this
Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.03 .
and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Loans may be Base
Rate Loans or LIBOR Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of
Loans.
(a) Each Borrowing, each
conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each
continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans shall be made upon the
Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent,
which may be given by telephone by an individual identifying
himself or herself as a Responsible Officer. Each such notice must
be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on
the date of the requested Borrowing, conversion or continuation.
Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this
Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery
to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately
completed and signed by a Responsible Officer. Each Borrowing of,
conversion to or continuation of Loans shall be in a principal
amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall
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specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing,
a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation
of LIBOR Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing,
conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a
Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be
borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be
borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and
(v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with
respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of a Loan
in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice
requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loan
shall be made as, converted to, or continued as, a LIBOR Rate Loan
with an Interest Period of one month. Any such automatic conversion
to a LIBOR Rate Loan with an Interest Period of one month shall be
effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect
with respect to the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan. If the Borrower
requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR
Rate Loans in any Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest
Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of
one month.
(b) Following receipt of a
Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable
Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is
provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify
each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to a LIBOR
Rate Loan with an Interest Period of one month as described in the
preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall
make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent
in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s
Office not later than 3:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in
the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable
conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the
Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to
the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent
either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the
books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or
(ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance
with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the
Administrative Agent by the Borrower.
(c) Except as otherwise
provided herein, a LIBOR Rate Loan may be continued or converted
only on the last day of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate
Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested
as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Rate Loans without the
consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may
demand that any or all of the then outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans be
converted immediately to Base Rate Loans.
(d) The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest
rate applicable to any Interest Period for LIBOR Rate Loans upon
determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate
Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the
Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s
prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the
public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to
all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the
other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall
not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect
to Loans (for purposes hereof, LIBOR Rate Loans with separate or
different Interest Periods will be considered as separate Loans
even if their Interest Periods expire on the same date).
2.03 Prepayments.
(a) Voluntary
Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon notice from the Borrower to
the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time
voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or
penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received
by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (A) one
(1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment; and
(ii) any such prepayment shall be in a principal amount of
$1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
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thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then
outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of
such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its
receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such
notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such
prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be
due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a
LIBOR Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the
amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required
pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be
applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their
respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments
of Loans. If for any reason the outstanding principal amount of
the Loans at any time exceeds the Aggregate Commitments then in
effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans in an aggregate
amount equal to such excess. Prepayments shall be applied first to
Base Rate Loans and then to LIBOR Rate Loans in direct order of
Interest Period maturities. All prepayments under this
Section 2.03(b) and Section 2.04(a)(ii)
shall be subject to Section 3.05, but otherwise without
premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the
principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.
2.04 Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Commitments;
Availability.
(a) Termination or
Reduction of Aggregate Commitments.
(i) Optional. The Borrower
may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the
Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the
Aggregate Commitments to an amount not less than the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of Loans; provided that
(i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative
Agent not later than 12:00 noon five (5) Business Days prior
to the date of termination or reduction, and (ii) any such
partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or
any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such
notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments.
Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the
Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage.
All fees accrued with respect thereto until the effective date of
any termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be
paid on the effective date of such termination or reduction.
(ii) Mandatory. If at any
time the Moody’s Debt Rating is reduced to lower than Aa3
and the S&P Debt Rating is reduced to lower than AA-,
the Required Lenders may, in their sole discretion, upon written
notice to the Borrower (the "Commitment Termination
Notice"), terminate the Aggregate Commitments and require the
prepayment of the Loans and other Obligations in full on the date
ninety (90) days after the effective date of such reduction in
the Moody’s Debt Rating and S&P Debt Rating.
(b) Availability.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or any other Loan
Document to the contrary, if at any time either the Moody’s
Debt Rating is reduced to lower than Aa3 or the S&P Debt
Rating is reduced to lower than AA-, then the Borrower shall not be
permitted to request, and the Lenders shall not be obligated to
make, any new Loans (although the Borrower shall be permitted to
continue and convert existing Loans); provided that so long
as the Required Lenders have not delivered the Termination Notice
to the Borrower, the Borrower shall be permitted to request, and
the Lenders shall be obligated to make, new Loans upon the
occurrence of one of the following: (i) the Moody’s Debt
Rating is raised to Aa3 or higher and the S&P Debt
Rating is raised to AA- or higher or (ii) the Required
Lenders consent to the Borrower making new Loan borrowings.
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2.05 Repayment of Loans.
The Borrower shall repay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, on the
Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Loans
outstanding on such date.
2.06 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions
of subsection (b) below, (i) each LIBOR Rate Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each
Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
(A) the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period plus
(B) the Applicable Rate plus (C) the applicable
Liquidity Premium; and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the
applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
(A) the Base Rate plus (B) the Applicable Rate
plus (C) the applicable Liquidity Premium.
(b) (i) If any amount payable by the Borrower under any
Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any
applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear
interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times
equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable Laws.
(ii) Upon the request of the
Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower
shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding
Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at
all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable Laws.
(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest
on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall
be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan
shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date
applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified
herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance
with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and
after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief
Law.
2.07 Commitment Fee.
The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender in accordance
with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the "
Commitment Fee ") equal to the product of the Applicable
Rate times (ii) the actual daily amount by which the
Aggregate Commitments exceed the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Loans. The Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times
during the Availability Period, including at any time during which
one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met,
and shall be due and payable in arrears on the first Business Day
of each calendar month, commencing with the first such date to
occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date. The
Commitment Fee shall be calculated monthly in arrears, and if there
is any change in the Applicable Rate during any calendar month, the
actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the
Applicable Rate separately for each period during such calendar
month that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
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2.08 Computation of Interest and Fees.
All computations of interest for
Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of
America’s "prime rate" shall be made on the basis of a year
of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days
elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made
on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which
results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if
computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on
each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not
accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the
Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is
repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to
Section 2.10(a), bear interest for one day.
2.09 Evidence of Debt.
The Loans made by each Lender
shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by
such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course
of business. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so
shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the
Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the
Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and
records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of
the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts
and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the
absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made
through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and
deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a
promissory note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in
addition to such accounts or records. Each such promissory note
shall be in the form of Exhibit 2.09 (a " Note
"). Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse
thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its
Loans and payments with respect thereto.
2.10 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s
Clawback.
(a) General. All
payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition
or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the
Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is
owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in
immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date
specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute
to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share
as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by
wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments
received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be
deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any
applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Subject to the
definition of "Interest Period", if any payment to be made by the
Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment
shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees,
as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative
Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing
that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative
Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
share available on such date in accordance with
Section 2.02 and may, in reliance upon such assumption,
make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such
event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable
Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the
applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount
in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day
from and including the date such amount is made available to the
Borrower
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to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative
Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such
Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined
by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry
rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of a
payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to
Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such
interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping
period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the
Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such
period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing
to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall
constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any
payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the
Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make
such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrower:
Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the
date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for
the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not
make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the
Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith
and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the
Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in
fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees
to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount
so distributed to such Lender in immediately available funds with
interest thereon for each day from and including the date such
amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to
the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate
and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance
with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(c) Failure to Satisfy
Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the
Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender
as provided in the foregoing provisions of this
Article II, and such funds are not made available to
the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to
the applicable Loan set forth in Article IV are not
satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as
received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of
Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to
make Loans and to make payments pursuant to
Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure
of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or
to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date
required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its
corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its
Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under
Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source.
Subject to Section 3.06(a), nothing herein shall be
deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in
any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by
any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any
Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.11 Sharing of Payments by Lenders.
If any Lender shall, by exercising
any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in
respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by
it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a
proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations
and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro
rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender
receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the
Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase
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(for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of the
other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be
equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared
by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of
principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and
other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or
subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the
payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price
restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this
Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment
made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express
terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a
Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a
participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant,
other than to the Borrower (as to which the provisions of this
Section shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the
foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under
applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant
to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower
rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such
participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of
the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of
Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation
of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be
made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the
Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any
Indemnified Taxes or any Other Taxes from such payments, then
(i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that
after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such
deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in
accordance with applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other
Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of
subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other
Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by
the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent and each Lender for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes
or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed
or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this
Section) paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the
case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses
arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed
or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. If the
Administrative Agent or any Lender desires indemnification under
this Section 3.01 (c), the Administrative Agent or such
Lender, as the case may be, shall notify the Borrower of the
payment of the
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applicable Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as promptly as is
practicable, and in no event later than one hundred twenty
(120) days after the later of the date of such payment (or, if
later, the date the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the
case may be, is notified of its obligation to make such payment by
the applicable Governmental Authority). If the Administrative Agent
or such Lender, as the case may be, fails to prove such notice to
the Borrower within one hundred twenty (120) days after the
date of such payment (or, if later, the date the Administrative
Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is notified of its
obligation to make such payment by the applicable Governmental
Authority), the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case
may be, shall not be entitled to indemnification under this
Section 3.01(c) for such payment. Payment by the
Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.01 (c) shall be
made within thirty (30) days after the date the Administrative
Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, makes written demand
therefore (submitted through the Administrative Agent in the case
of a demand by a Lender) which demand shall be accompanied by a
certificate describing in reasonable detail the amount of the
payment and the basis thereof.
(d) Evidence of
Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental
Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such
Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the
return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of
Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption
from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the
jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or
any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to
payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver
to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the
time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested
by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly
completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law
as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a
reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested
by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such
other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably
requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will
enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine
whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or
information reporting requirements.
Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax
purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies
as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on
which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement
(and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower
or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is
legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is
applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for
benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a
party,
(ii) duly completed copies of
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign
Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio
interest under section 881 (c) of the Code, (x) a
certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not
(A) a "bank" within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the
Code, (B) a "10 percent shareholder" of the Borrower
within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or
(C) a "controlled foreign corporation" described in section
881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
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(iv) any other form prescribed by
applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a
reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed
together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed
by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the
withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain
Refunds. If the Administrative Agent
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