TWO-YEAR CREDIT
AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 29,
2009
THE DETROIT EDISON
COMPANY,
THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED
HEREIN,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CITIBANK, N.A.,
|
|
JPMORGAN CHASE
BANK, N.A.,
|
|
THE ROYAL BANK OF
SCOTLAND plc,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as Co-Syndication Agent
|
|
as Co-Syndication Agent
|
|
as Co-Syndication Agent
|
|
|
|
|
|
RBS SECURITIES INC.
,
|
|
THE BANK OF NOVA
SCOTIA,
|
as Co-Lead Arrangers and Joint Book
Runners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Certain Defined
Terms
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Computation of
Time Periods
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
Accounting
Terms
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCES
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Commitment
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Making the
Revolving Credit Advances
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Fees
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Termination or
Reduction of the Commitments; Increase of the
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of
Revolving Credit Advances
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
Interest on
Revolving Credit Advances
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate
Determination
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
Optional
Conversion of Revolving Credit Advances
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
Prepayments of
Revolving Credit Advances
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Increased
Costs
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Illegality
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
Payments and
Computations
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
Sharing of
Payments, Etc
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
Use of
Proceeds
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
Noteless
Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
Defaulting
Lenders
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III:
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
Conditions
Precedent to Effectiveness of this Agreement
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
Conditions
Precedent to Each Borrowing
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Determinations
Under Section 3.01
|
|
|
31
|
|
i
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV:
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
Representations
and Warranties of the Borrower
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V:
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
Affirmative
Covenants
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
Negative
Covenants
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI:
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
|
Events of
Default
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VII:
THE AGENT
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
Authorization
and Action
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
Agent’s
Reliance, Etc
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
Barclays and
Affiliates
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
Lender Credit
Decision
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
|
Indemnification
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
|
Successor
Agent
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
|
Co-Syndication
Agents and Documentation Agent
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII:
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
Amendments,
Etc
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
Notices,
Etc.
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
No Waiver;
Remedies
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and
Expenses
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
Right of
Set-off
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
Binding
Effect
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
Assignments,
Designations and Participations
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
Confidentiality
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
Governing
Law
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
Execution in
Counterparts; Integration
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
Jurisdiction,
Etc
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
Waiver of Jury
Trial
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
|
USA Patriot Act
Notification
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
|
Severability
|
|
|
52
|
|
ii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULES AND
EXHIBITS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
List of
Applicable Lending Offices
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of Note
(If Requested)
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of Notice
of Borrowing
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of
Assignment and Acceptance
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of
Certificate by Borrower
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of Opinion
of General Counsel to the Borrower
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of Opinion
of Hunton & Williams LLP
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of
Compliance Certificate
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Form of Lender
Supplement
|
iii
This
TWO-YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”)
dated as of April 29, 2009 is entered into among THE DETROIT
EDISON COMPANY, a Michigan corporation (the “ Borrower
”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional
lenders (the “ Initial Lenders ”) listed on the
signature pages hereof, and BARCLAYS BANK PLC (“
Barclays ”), as Administrative Agent (the “
Agent ”) for the Lenders (as hereinafter
defined).
In
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article
III, as follows:
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING
TERMS
SECTION
1.01. Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to
be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined):
“
Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, any other Person
that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with such Person or is a director or officer
of such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term
“control” (including the terms
“controlling”, “controlled by” and
“under common control with”) of a Person means the
possession, direct or indirect, of the power to vote 25% or more of
the Voting Stock of such Person or to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.
“
Agent ” has the meaning specified in the recital of
parties to this Agreement.
“
Agent’s Account ” means the account of the Agent
maintained by the Agent at Barclays with its office at 200 Park
Avenue, New York, NY 10166, Account No. 050-019104, Attention:
Nicholas Guzzardo.
“
Agents ” means the Agent and each Co-Syndication
Agent, collectively.
“ Agent
Parties ” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.02(b).
“
Anti-Money Laundering Laws ” has the meaning specified
in Section 4.01(p).
“
Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to
each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the
case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender’s Eurodollar
Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance.
“
Applicable Margin ” means, as of any date,
(i) with respect to all Base Rate Advances, the percentage
rate per annum which is applicable at such time with respect to
Base Rate Advances as set forth in the Pricing Schedule, and
(ii) with respect to all
1
Eurodollar Rate
Advances, the percentage rate per annum which is applicable at such
time with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances as set forth in the
Pricing Schedule.
“
Applicable Percentage ” means, as of any date, the
percentage rate per annum at which Facility Fees are accruing on
each Lender’s Commitment (without regard to usage) at such
time as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.
“
Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural
person) that (a) is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or
investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the
ordinary course of its business, (b) has a combined capital
and surplus of at least $500,000,000, and (c) is administered
or managed by (x) a Lender, (y) an Affiliate of a Lender
or (z) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers
or manages a Lender.
“
Arrangers ” means, collectively, RBS Securities Inc.
and The Bank of Nova Scotia, in their capacities as co-lead
arrangers and joint book runners for the credit facility evidenced
by this Agreement.
“
Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and
acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and
accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C
hereto.
“ Audited
Statements ” means the Consolidated balance sheets of the
Borrower as at December 31, 2008, and the related Consolidated
statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower for the fiscal
year then ended, accompanied by the opinion thereon of the
Borrower’s independent public accountants.
“
Barclays ” has the meaning specified in the recital of
parties to this Agreement.
“ Base
Rate ” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal
to, for any day, the highest of:
(a) the Prime Rate
in effect on such day;
(b) the Eurodollar
Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is
not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus
1%; or
(c) 1/2 of 1% per
annum above the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such
day.
“ Base
Rate Advance ” means a Revolving Credit Advance that
bears interest as provided in Section 2.06(a)(i).
“
Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the recital of
parties to this Agreement.
2
“
Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of
simultaneous Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type and (in the
case of Eurodollar Rate Advances) having the same Interest Period,
made by each of the Lenders pursuant to
Section 2.01.
“
Business Day ” means a day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized by law to close in New York City or
Chicago, Illinois and, if the applicable Business Day relates to
any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in
the London interbank market.
“
Capitalization ” means the sum of (a) Total
Funded Debt plus (b) Consolidated Net Worth.
“
Commitment ” means, for each Lender, the obligation of
such Lender to make Revolving Credit Advances to the Borrower in an
aggregate amount not exceeding the amount set forth opposite such
Lender’s name on Schedule I hereto or if such Lender has
entered into any Assignment and Acceptance, set forth for such
Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to
Section 8.07(d), as such amount may be modified from time to
time pursuant to the terms hereof.
“
Communications ” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.02(b).
“
Confidential Information ” means information that the
Borrower furnishes to the Agent or any Lender designated as
confidential, but does not include any such information that is or
becomes generally available to the public or that is or becomes
available to the Agent or such Lender from a source other than the
Borrower.
“
Consolidated ” refers to the consolidation of accounts
in accordance with GAAP.
“
Consolidated Net Worth ” means, as of any date of
determination, the consolidated total stockholders’ equity,
including capital stock (but excluding treasury stock and capital
stock subscribed and unissued), additional paid-in capital and
retained earnings (but excluding the Excluded Pension Effects) of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“
Convert ”, “ Conversion ” and
“ Converted ” each refers to a conversion of
Revolving Credit Advances of one Type into Revolving Credit
Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.07 or
2.08.
“
Co-Syndication Agents ” means, collectively, The Royal
Bank of Scotland plc, Citibank, N.A., and JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A., in their capacities as co-syndication agents for the credit
facility evidenced by this Agreement.
“ Credit
Agreements ” means, collectively, this Agreement, the DTE
Credit Agreement and the MichCon Credit Agreement.
“
Debt ” of any Person means, without duplication,
(a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money,
(b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase
price of property or services (other than trade payables not
overdue by more than 60 days
3
incurred in the
ordinary course of such Person’s business), (c) all
obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or
other similar instruments, (d) all obligations of such Person
created or arising under any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such
Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender
under such agreement in the event of default are limited to
repossession or sale of such property), (e) all obligations of
such Person as lessee under leases that have been or should be, in
accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (f) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of
acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit,
(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge
Agreements, (h) all Debt of others referred to in clauses (a)
through (g) above or clause (i) below guaranteed directly
or indirectly in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed
directly or indirectly by such Person through an agreement
(1) to pay or purchase such Debt or to advance or supply funds
for the payment or purchase of such Debt, (2) to purchase,
sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property, or to purchase or
sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to
make payment of such Debt or to assure the holder of such Debt
against loss, (3) to supply funds to or in any other manner
invest in the debtor (including any agreement to pay for property
or services irrespective of whether such property is received or
such services are rendered) or (4) otherwise to assure a
creditor against loss (all such obligations under this clause
(h) being “ Guaranteed Obligations ”), and
(i) all Debt referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above
secured by (or for which the holder of such Debt has an existing
right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on
property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract
rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not
assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt. See the
definition of “Nonrecourse Debt” below.
“
Default ” means any Event of Default or any event that
would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that
notice be given or time elapse or both.
“
Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender, as determined by
the Agent, that has (a) failed to fund any portion of its Revolving
Credit Advances within three Business Days of the date required to
be funded by it hereunder, unless the subject of a good faith
dispute, (b) notified the Borrower, the Agent or any Lender in
writing, or has otherwise indicated through a public statement,
that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations
generally under agreements in which it commits to extend credit,
(c) failed, within three Business Days after receipt of a
written request from the Agent, to confirm that it will comply with
the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund
prospective Revolving Credit Advances, unless the subject of a good
faith dispute, (d) otherwise failed to pay over to the Agent
or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it
hereunder within three Business Days of the date when due, unless
the subject of a good faith dispute, or (e) become the subject
of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver,
conservator, trustee, custodian, administrator, assignee for the
benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization
or liquidation of its business, appointed for it, or has taken any
action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of
or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or has a
parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee,
custodian, administrator, assignee for the benefit
4
of creditors or
similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its
business, appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance
of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in
any such proceeding or appointment; provided that
(i) if a Lender would be a “Defaulting Lender”
solely by reason of events relating to a parent company of such
Lender or solely because a Governmental Authority has been
appointed as receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian for such
Lender, in each case as described in clause (e) above, the
Agent may, in its discretion, determine that such Lender is not a
“Defaulting Lender” if and for so long as the Agent is
satisfied that such Lender will continue to perform its funding
obligations hereunder, (ii) subject to the last sentence of
Section 2.17, the Agent and the Borrower, by joint notice to
the Lenders, may declare that a Defaulting Lender is no longer a
“Defaulting Lender” if the Agent and the Borrower each
determines, in its sole respective discretion, that the
circumstances that resulted in such Lender becoming a
“Defaulting Lender” no longer apply, and (iii) a
Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the
ownership or acquisition of Voting Stock or any other equity
interest in such Lender or a parent company thereof by a
Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof
.
“
Designating Lender ” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.07(h).
“
Disclosed Litigation ” has the meaning specified in
Section 4.01(f).
“
Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any
Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic
Lending Office” opposite its name on Schedule I hereto
or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a
Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from
time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.
“ DTE
Energy ” means DTE Energy Company, a Michigan
corporation.
“ DTE
Credit Agreement ” means that certain Two-Year Credit
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among DTE Energy, as
borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party
thereto as lenders, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for
the lenders, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“
Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in
Section 3.01.
“
Eligible Assignee ” means (i) a Lender;
(ii) an Affiliate of a Lender; (iii) a commercial bank
organized under the laws of the United States, or any State
thereof, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000; (iv) a savings and loan association or savings
bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any State
thereof, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000; (v) a commercial bank organized under the laws
of any other country that is a member of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development or has concluded special
lending arrangements with the International Monetary Fund
associated with its General Arrangements to Borrow, or a political
subdivision of any such country, and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $500,000,000, so long as such bank is
acting
5
through a
branch or agency located in the United States; (vi) the
central bank of any country that is a member of the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development; (vii) a finance company,
insurance company or other financial institution or fund (whether a
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity) that is engaged in
making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in
the ordinary course of its business and having a combined capital
and surplus of at least $500,000,000; (viii) an Approved Fund;
and (ix) any other Person approved by the Agent and, so long
as no Event of Default shall be continuing, the Borrower, such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed by either
party; provided , however , that neither the Borrower
nor an Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible
Assignee.
“
Environmental Action ” means any action, suit, demand,
demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice
of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding,
consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any
Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials or
arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to the environment,
including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or
regulatory authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response,
remedial or other actions or damages and (b) by any
governmental or regulatory authority or any third party for
damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation
or injunctive relief.
“
Environmental Law ” means any federal, state, local or
foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order,
judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or
guidance relating to pollution or protection of the environment or
natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to
the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal,
release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.
“
Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval,
identification number, license or other authorization required
under any Environmental Law.
“
ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“ ERISA
Affiliate ” means any Person that for purposes of Title
IV of ERISA is a member of the Borrower’s controlled group,
or under common control with the Borrower, within the meaning of
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
“ ERISA
Event ” means (a) (i) the occurrence of a reportable
event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with
respect to any Plan unless the 30-day notice requirement with
respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC, or (ii) the
requirements of subsection (1) of Section 4043(b) of ERISA
(without regard to subsection (2) of such Section) are met
with respect to a contributing sponsor, as defined in
Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event
described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of
Section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably expected to occur with
respect to such Plan within the following 30 days;
(b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect
to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any
Plan
6
of a notice of
intent to terminate such Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2)
of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan
amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the
cessation of operations at a facility of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of
ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for
which it was a substantial employer, as defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (f) the conditions for the
imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA shall have been
met with respect to any Plan; (g) the adoption of an amendment
to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant
to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the institution by the
PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Plan pursuant to
Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or
condition described in Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes
grounds for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, a Plan.
“
Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to
that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
“
Eurodollar Lending Office ” means, with respect to any
Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its
“Eurodollar Lending Office” opposite its name on
Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant
to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified,
its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender
as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and
the Agent.
“
Eurodollar Rate ” means, for any Interest Period for
each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing,
an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained by
dividing (a) the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page
(or on any successor or substitute page of the Service, or any
successor to or substitute for the Service, providing rate
quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of
the Service, as determined by the Agent after consultation with the
Borrower from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of
interest rates applicable to U.S. dollar deposits in the London
interbank market) at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time)
two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period, as the rate for U.S. dollar deposits with a maturity
comparable to such Interest Period, or in the event that such rate
is not available at such time for any reason, the average (rounded
upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if
such average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which
deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by the principal office of
each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in
the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two
Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an
amount approximately equal to such Reference Bank’s
Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of such Borrowing to be
outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to
such Interest Period, by (b) a percentage equal to 100% minus
the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period,
subject , however , to the provisions of
Section 2.07.
“
Eurodollar Rate Advance ” means a Revolving Credit
Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 2.06(a)(ii).
7
“
Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage ” for any Interest
Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same
Borrowing means the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days
before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations
issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum
reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency,
supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member
bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to
liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency
Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities
that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Eurodollar Rate Advances is determined) having a term equal to such
Interest Period.
“ Events
of Default ” has the meaning specified in
Section 6.01.
“
Excluded Pension Effects ” means the non-cash effects
on Consolidated Net Worth resulting from the implementation of FASB
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158,
Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other
Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87,
88, 106, and 132(R), dated September 2006.
“
Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain Second
Amended and Restated Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of
October 17, 2005, by and among the Borrower, the financial
institutions from time to time parties thereto as lenders, and
Barclays, as Administrative Agent, as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“
Facility Fee ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.03(a).
“ Federal
Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating
interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to
the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day
is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the
quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Agent
from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by
it.
“
Financial Officer ” of any Person means the chief
executive officer, president, chief financial officer, any vice
president, controller, assistant controller, treasurer or any
assistant treasurer of such Person.
“ Funded
Debt ” means, as to any Person, without duplication:
(a) all Debt of such Person for borrowed money or which has
been incurred in connection with the acquisition of assets
(excluding (i) contingent reimbursement obligations in respect
of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances,
(ii) Nonrecourse Debt, (iii) Junior Subordinated Debt,
(iv) Mandatorily Convertible Securities, and (v) Hybrid
Equity
8
Securities),
(b) all capital lease obligations of such Person and
(c) all Guaranteed Obligations of Funded Debt of other
Persons.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America.
“
Governmental Authority ” means the government of the
United States of America 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 supra-national bodies such as the
European Union or the European Central Bank).
“
Guaranteed Obligations ” has the meaning specified in
clause (h) of the definition of
“Debt”.
“
Hazardous Materials ” means (a) petroleum and
petroleum products, by-products or breakdown products, radioactive
materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls
and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or
substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or
toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental
Law.
“ Hedge
Agreements ” means interest rate swap, cap or collar
agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap
agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar
agreements.
“ Hybrid
Equity Securities ” means any securities issued by the
Borrower or its Subsidiary or a financing vehicle of the Borrower
or its Subsidiary that (i) are classified as possessing a
minimum of “intermediate equity content” by S&P,
Basket C equity credit by Moody’s, and 50% equity credit by
Fitch and (ii) require no repayments or prepayments and no
mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to at
least 91 days after the later of the termination of the
Commitments and the repayment in full of the Revolving Credit
Advances and all other amounts due under this Agreement.
“
Identified Reports on Form 8-K ” means those
certain reports of the Borrower on Form 8-K filed or furnished with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27,
February 23, February 24, March 5, March 6, and
April 8, 2009.
“ Initial
Lenders ” has the meaning specified in the recital of
parties to this Agreement.
“
Interest Period ” means, for each Eurodollar Rate
Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance or the date
of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Eurodollar
Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by
the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, with
respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, each subsequent period
commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest
Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the
Borrower pursuant to the
9
provisions
below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two,
three or six months, as the Borrower may, upon notice received by
the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the
third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period,
select; provided , however , that:
(i) the Borrower
may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination
Date then in effect;
(ii) Interest
Periods commencing on the same date for Eurodollar Rate Advances
comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same
duration;
(iii) whenever the
last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day
other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period
shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day,
provided , however , that, if such extension would
cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next
following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period
shall occur on the next preceding Business Day; and
(iv) whenever the
first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial
calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day
in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by
the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest
Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of
such succeeding calendar month.
“
Internal Revenue Code ” means the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“ Junior
Subordinated Debt ” means (a) subordinated junior
deferrable interest debentures of the Borrower, (b) the
related preferred securities, if applicable, of Subsidiaries of the
Borrower and (c) the related subordinated guarantees, if
applicable, of the Borrower, in each case, from time to time
outstanding.
“ Lender
Supplement ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.04(c).
“
Lenders ” means the Initial Lenders and each Person
that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07(a),
(b) and (c).
“
Lien ” means any lien, security interest or other
charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of
preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien
or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any
easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real
property.
“ Loan
Documents ” means this Agreement and the
Notes.
“
Mandatorily Convertible Securities ” means any
mandatorily convertible equity-linked securities issued by the
Borrower or its Subsidiary, so long as the terms of such securities
require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions
or repurchases, in each case prior to at least 91 days after
the later of the termination of the
10
Commitments and
the repayment in full of the Revolving Credit Advances and all
other amounts due under this Agreement.
“
Material Adverse Change ” means any material adverse
change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, performance or properties of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
“
Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse
effect on (a) the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, performance or properties of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of
the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to
which it is a party.
“
MichCon ” means Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, a
Michigan corporation, wholly owned (indirectly) by DTE
Energy.
“ MichCon
Credit Agreement ” means that certain Two-Year Credit
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among MichCon, as borrower,
the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as
lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for
the lenders, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“
Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service,
Inc.
“
Moody’s Rating ” is defined in the Pricing
Schedule.
“
Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan, as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years
made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.
“
Multiple Employer Plan ” means a single employer plan,
as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is
maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and
at least one Person other than the Borrower and the ERISA
Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under
Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been
or were to be terminated.
“
Nonrecourse Debt ” means Debt of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries in respect of which no recourse may be had by
the creditors under such Debt against the Borrower or such
Subsidiary in its individual capacity or against the assets of the
Borrower or such Subsidiary, other than (a) to assets which
were purchased or refinanced by the Borrower or such Subsidiary
with the proceeds of such Debt, (b) to the proceeds of such
assets, or (c) if such assets are held by a Subsidiary formed
solely for such purpose, to such Subsidiary or the equity interests
in such Subsidiary; provided that, for purposes of clarity,
it is understood that Securitization Bonds shall constitute
Nonrecourse Debt for all purposes of the Loan Documents, except to
the extent (and only to the extent) of any claims made against the
Borrower in respect of its indemnification obligations relating to
such Securitization Bonds.
11
“
Note ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.16.
“ Notice
of Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.02(a).
“
Obligations ” means all unpaid principal of and
accrued and unpaid interest on Revolving Credit Advances, all
accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements,
indemnities and other obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders or
to any Lender, the Agent or any indemnified party arising under the
Loan Documents.
“
OFAC ” has the meaning specified in
Section 4.01(o).
“ Other
Taxes ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.13(b).
“
PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
(or any successor).
“
Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation
(including a business trust), joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company or other entity, or a government or any political
subdivision or agency thereof.
“
Plan ” means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple
Employer Plan.
“
Platform ” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.02(b).
“ Pricing
Schedule ” means the Pricing Schedule identifying the
Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage attached hereto
identified as such.
“ Prime
Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum established
by Barclays in New York, New York, from time to time, as
Barclays’ prime rate or base rate.
“
Property ” of a Person means any and all property,
whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such
Person, or other assets owned by such Person.
“ Pro
Rata Share ” means, with respect to a Lender, a portion
equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s
Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate of all the
Lenders’ Commitments; provided that, in the case of
Section 2.17 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist (other than, for
purposes of clarity, a Lender that is attempting to cure its
“Defaulting Lender” status pursuant to the last
sentence of Section 2.17), “Pro Rata Share” shall
mean a portion equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such
Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the
aggregate of all the Lender’s Commitments (disregarding any
such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment). If the Commitment has
terminated or expired, the Pro Rata Shares shall be determined
based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect
to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting
Lender at the time of determination.
“
Receivables Purchase Documents ” means those documents
entered into in connection with any series of receivables purchase
or sale agreements generally consistent with terms contained in
comparable structured finance transactions pursuant to
12
which the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in their respective capacities
as sellers or transferors of any receivables, sell or transfer to
SPCs all of their respective rights, title and interest in and to
certain receivables for further sale or transfer to other
purchasers of or investors in such assets (and the other documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith), as
any such agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, or any replacement or
substitution therefor.
“
Receivables Purchase Facility ” means any
securitization facility made available to the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, pursuant to which receivables of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries are transferred to one or more SPCs, and
thereafter to certain investors, pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the Receivables Purchase Documents.
“
Reference Banks ” means Citibank, N.A., Barclays,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and their respective
successors.
“
Register ” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.07(d).
“
Required Lenders ” means, subject to
Section 2.17, at any time, Lenders owed more than fifty
percent (50%) of the then-aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Revolving Credit Advances owing to the Lenders, or, if no such
principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders having more than
fifty percent (50%) of the Commitments.
“
Revolving Credit Advance ” means an advance by a
Lender to the Borrower as part of a Borrowing, and refers to a Base
Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance (each of which shall be a
“ Type ” of Revolving Credit
Advance).
“
S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings
Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
“ S&P
Rating ” is defined in the Pricing Schedule.
“ SEC
Reports ” means the following reports and financial
statements:
(i) the
Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2008, as filed with or sent to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the Audited Statements of the
Borrower; and
(ii) the
Identified Reports on Form 8-K.
“
Service ” means Reuters Monitor Money Rate
Service.
“
Securitization Bonds ” means Debt of one or more
Securitization SPEs, issued pursuant to The Customer Choice and
Electricity Reliability Act, Act No. 142, Public Acts of
Michigan, 2000, as the same may be amended from time to
time.
“
Securitization SPE ” means an entity established or to
be established by the Borrower for the purpose of issuing
Securitization Bonds and includes The Detroit
13
Edison
Securitization Funding LLC, a limited liability company organized
under the laws of the State of Michigan.
“
Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the
Borrower (A) the total assets (after intercompany
eliminations) of which exceed 30% of the total assets of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (B) the net worth of which
exceeds 30% of the Consolidated Net Worth, in each case as shown on
the audited Consolidated financial statements of the Borrower as of
the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of
determination.
“ Single
Employer Plan ” means a single employer plan, as defined
in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for
employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person
other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so
maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in
the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
“ SPC
” means any special purpose entity established for the
purpose of purchasing receivables in connection with a receivables
securitization transaction permitted under the terms of this
Agreement.
“ SPV
” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.07(h).
“
Subsidiary ” of any Person means any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or
estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued
and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect
a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other
class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting
power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) the
interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability
company, partnership or joint venture or (c) the beneficial
interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly owned or
controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its
other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person’s other
Subsidiaries.
“
Taxes ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.13(a).
“
Terminating Agreements ” means, collectively,
(a) the Existing Credit Agreement, (b) that certain
Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of
October 17, 2005, by and among DTE Energy, as borrower, the
financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as
lenders, and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and
(c) that certain Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Credit
Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, by and among MichCon,
as borrower, the financial institutions from time to time parties
thereto as lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“
Termination Date ” means the earlier of
(a) April 29, 2011, and (b) the date of termination
in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.04 or
6.01.
14
“ Total
Funded Debt ” means all Funded Debt of the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as
determined in accordance with GAAP.
“ 2005
DTE Credit Agreement ” means that certain Five-Year
Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, by and among
DTE Energy, the lenders party thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ 2005
Five-Year Agreement ” means that certain Five-Year Credit
Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, by and among the
Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Barclays, as
Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ Voting
Stock ” means capital stock issued by a corporation, or
equivalent interests in any other 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 if the right so to vote has been suspended by
the happening of such a contingency.
“
Withdrawal Liability ” has the meaning specified in
Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION
1.02. Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement in the
computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later
specified date, the word “from” means “from and
including” and the words “to” and
“until” each mean “to but
excluding”.
SECTION
1.03. Accounting Terms . Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature
shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time
to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Agent
that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to
eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof
in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such
provision (or if the Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required
Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such
purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or
after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such
provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect
and applied immediately before such change shall have become
effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such
provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other
provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial
nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of
amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving
effect to any election under Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards 159 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a
similar result or effect) to value any Debt or other liabilities of
DTE Energy or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value”,
as defined therein.
15
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE REVOLVING
CREDIT ADVANCES
SECTION
2.01. Commitment . Each Lender severally agrees, on the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Revolving
Credit Advances to the Borrower from time to time on any Business
Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination
Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding
such Lender’s Commitment. Each Borrowing shall be in an
aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof, or the remaining balance of
Commitments available for a Borrowing, if such balance is less than
$5,000,000, and shall consist of Revolving Credit Advances of the
same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to
their respective Commitments. Within the limits of each
Lender’s Commitment, the Borrower may borrow under this
Section 2.01, prepay pursuant to Section 2.09 and
reborrow under this Section 2.01.
SECTION
2.02. Making the Revolving Credit Advances .
(a) Each
Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day
prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a
Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, or
10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day of the
proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base
Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to
each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier or telex. Each such
notice of a Borrowing (a “ Notice of Borrowing
”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing
signed by a Financial Officer in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein the requested
(i) date of such Borrowing, (ii) Type of Revolving Credit
Advances comprising such Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of
such Borrowing, (iv) in the case of a Borrowing consisting of
Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest Period for each such
Revolving Credit Advance and (v) wire transfer instructions.
Each Lender shall, before 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the
date of such Borrowing, make available for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent’s
Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of
such Borrowing. After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and
upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the
Borrower as specified in the Notice of Borrowing.
(b) Anything
in subsection (a) above to the contrary notwithstanding,
(i) the Borrower may not select Eurodollar Rate Advances for
any Borrowing if the aggregate amount of such Borrowing is less
than $5,000,000 or if the obligation of the Lenders to make
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to
Section 2.07 or 2.11(a) and (ii) at no time shall the
aggregate number of all Borrowings comprising Eurodollar Rate
Advances outstanding hereunder be greater than ten.
(c) Each
Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the
Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice of
Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances,
the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or
expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to
fulfill on or before the date
16
specified in
such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable
conditions set forth in Article III, including, without
limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost
or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the
Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such
Borrowing when such Revolving Credit Advance, as a result of such
failure, is not made on such date.
(d) Unless
the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the
time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to
the Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing,
the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion
available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance
with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Agent
may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent
that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion
available to the Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally
agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding
amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such
amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the
Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Revolving
Credit Advances comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case
of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay
to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall
constitute such Lender’s Revolving Credit Advance as part of
such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
(e) The
failure of any Lender to make the Revolving Credit Advance to be
made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other
Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Revolving
Credit Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the
Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such other Lender on the
date of any Borrowing.
(a)
Facility Fee . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for
the account of each Lender a facility fee (the “ Facility
Fee ”) on the aggregate amount of such Lender’s
Commitment from the date hereof in the case of each Initial Lender
and from effective date specified in the Assignment and Acceptance
pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other
Lender until all of the Obligations have been paid in full and the
Commitments under this Agreement have been terminated at a rate per
annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to
time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March,
June, September and December, and on the Termination
Date.
(b)
Agent’s Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for
its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed
between the Borrower and the Agent.
SECTION
2.04. Termination or Reduction of the Commitments; Increase of
the Commitments .
(a) The
Commitments shall be automatically terminated on the Termination
Date.
17
(b) The
Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business
Days’ notice to the Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce
ratably in part the unused portions of the respective Commitments
of the Lenders, provided that each partial reduction shall
be in the aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof, or the remaining balance, if less
than $5,000,000. Once terminated, a Commitment or portion thereof
may not be reinstated.
(c) At
any time prior to the Termination Date the Borrower may, on the
terms set forth below, request that the Commitments hereunder be
increased; provided , however , that (i) an increase
in the Commitments hereunder may only be made at a time when no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the
“Commitments” under each of the DTE Credit Agreement
and the MichCon Credit Agreement (as such term is defined in each
of the respective Credit Agreements) must be simultaneously
increased by a ratable portion (in proportion to the aggregate
“Commitments” under each such Credit Agreement (as such
term is defined in each of the respective Credit Agreements))
pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.04(c) of each
thereof, and (iii) in no event shall the aggregate
“Commitments” under all Credit Agreements (as such term
is defined in each of the respective Credit Agreements)
(x) exceed $1,025,000,000, or (y) be increased pursuant
to Section 2.04(c) of each Credit Agreement by an aggregate
amount in excess of $25,000,000. In the event of such a requested
increase in the Commitments, any Lender or other financial
institution which the Borrower and the Agent invite to become a
Lender or to increase its Commitment may set the amount of its
Commitment at a level agreed to by the Borrower and the Agent. In
the event that the Borrower and one or more of the Lenders (or
other financial institutions) shall agree upon such an increase in
the Commitments (i) the Borrower, the Agent and each Lender or
other financial institution increasing its Commitment or extending
a new Commitment shall enter into a supplement to this Agreement
(each, a “ Lender Supplement ”) substantially in
the form of Exhibit G setting forth, among other
things, the amount of the increased Commitment of such Lender or
the new Commitment of such other financial institution, as
applicable, and (ii) the Borrower shall furnish, if requested,
new or amended and restated Notes, as applicable, to each financial
institution that is extending a new Commitment and each Lender that
is increasing its Commitment. No such Lender Supplement shall
require the approval or consent of any Lender whose Commitment is
not being increased. Upon the execution and delivery of such Lender
Supplements as provided above and the occurrence of the
“Effective Date” specified therein, and upon
satisfaction of such other conditions as the Agent may reasonably
specify, the financial institutions that are extending new
Commitments and the Lenders that are increasing their Commitments
(including, without limitation, the Agent administering the
reallocation of the aggregate Revolving Credit Advances ratably
among the Lenders after giving effect to each such increase in the
Commitments, and the delivery of certificates, evidence of
corporate authority and legal opinions on behalf of the Borrower),
this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended
accordingly.
SECTION
2.05. Repayment of Revolving Credit Advances . The Borrower
shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders on
the Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of the
Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding and all other unpaid
Obligations.
18
SECTION
2.06. Interest on Revolving Credit Advances .
(a)
Scheduled Interest . The Borrower shall pay interest on the
unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Advance owing to
each Lender from the date of such Revolving Credit Advance until
such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates
per annum:
(i) Base Rate
Advances . During such periods as such Revolving Credit Advance
is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the
sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time
plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to
time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March,
June, September and December during such periods and on the date
such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in
full.
(ii) Eurodollar
Rate Advances . During such periods as such Revolving Credit
Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all
times during each Interest Period for such Revolving Credit Advance
to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period
for such Revolving Credit Advance plus (y) the
Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears
on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest
Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that
occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the
first day of such Interest Period and on the date such Eurodollar
Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(b)
Default Interest . (i) Upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit
Advance owing to each Lender, payable in arrears on the dates
referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, at a rate per annum
equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum
required to be paid on such Revolving Credit Advance pursuant to
clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, and (ii) the Borrower shall
pay, to the fullest extent permitted by law, interest on the amount
of any interest, fee or other amount payable hereunder that is not
paid when due, from the date such amount shall be due until such
amount shall be paid in full, payable in arrears on the date such
amount shall be paid in full and on demand, at a rate per annum
equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum
required to be paid on Base Rate Advances pursuant to clause (a)(i)
above.
SECTION
2.07. Interest Rate Determination .
(a) If
applicable, each Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Agent
timely information for the purpose of determining each Eurodollar
Rate. If any one or more of the Reference Banks shall not furnish
such timely information to the Agent for the purpose of determining
any such interest rate, the Agent shall determine such interest
rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining
Reference Banks. The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower
and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the
Agent for purposes of Section 2.06(a)(i) or (ii), and the
rate, if any, furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of
determining the interest rate under
Section 2.06(a)(ii).
19
(b) If,
with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Required Lenders
notify the Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period
for such Eurodollar Rate Advances will not adequately reflect the
cost to such Required Lenders of making, funding or maintaining
their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest Period,
the Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders,
whereupon (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically,
on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor,
Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and (ii) the obligation of
the Lenders to make, or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into,
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall
notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing
such suspension no longer exist.
(c) If
the Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest
Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the
provisions contained in the definition of “Interest
Period” in Section 1.01, the Agent will forthwith so
notify the Borrower and the Lenders and such Eurodollar Rate
Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing
Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate
Advances.
(d) On
the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced,
by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than $5,000,000,
such Eurodollar Rate Advances shall automatically Convert into Base
Rate Advances.
(e) Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default,
(i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the
last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert
into a Base Rate Advance and (ii) the obligation of the
Lenders to make, or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into,
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended.
(f) If
the Service is not available or a rate does not timely appear on
the Service and fewer than two Reference Banks furnish timely
information to the Agent for determining the Eurodollar Rate for
any Eurodollar Rate Advances:
(i) the Agent
shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the
interest rate cannot be determined for such Eurodollar Rate
Advances,
(ii) with respect
to Eurodollar Rate Advances, each such Eurodollar Rate Advance will
automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period
therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance (or if such Advance is
then a Base Rate Advance, will continue as a Base Rate Advance),
and
(iii) the
obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to
Convert Revolving Credit Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances
shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and
the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no
longer exist.
SECTION
2.08. Optional Conversion of Revolving Credit Advances . The
Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent
not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third
Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and
subject to the provisions of Sections 2.07 and 2.11(a),
Convert all Revolving Credit Advances of
20
one Type
comprising the same Borrowing into Revolving Credit Advances of the
other Type (it being understood that such Conversion of a Revolving
Credit Advance or of its Interest Period does not constitute a
repayment or prepayment of such Revolving Credit Advance);
provided , however , that any Conversion of
Eurodollar Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only
on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate
Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Eurodollar Rate
Advances shall be in an amount not less than the minimum amount
specified in Section 2.02(b) and no Conversion of any
Revolving Credit Advances shall result in more separate Borrowings
than permitted under Section 2.02(b). Each such notice of a
Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify
(i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Revolving
Credit Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion
is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the initial
Interest Period for each such Eurodollar Rate Advance. Each notice
of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the
Borrower.
SECTION
2.09. Prepayments of Revolving Credit Advances .
(a)
Optional Prepayment . The Borrower may on any Business Day,
upon notice given to the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New
York City time), (i) on the same day for Base Rate Advances
and (ii) on the second Business Day prior to the prepayment in
the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances stating the proposed date and
aggregate principal amount of the prepayment (and if such notice is
given the Borrower shall) prepay the outstanding principal amount
of the Revolving Credit Advances comprising part of the same
Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued
interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount
prepaid; provided , however , that (x) each
partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of
$5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof,
or the remaining balance, if less than $5,000,000, and (y) in
the event of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, the
Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect
thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(c).
(b)
Mandatory Prepayment . The Borrower shall, upon five
Business Days’ notice from the Agent given at the request or
with the consent of the Required Lenders, prepay the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Advances
plus all interest thereon and all other amounts payable
hereunder or under the Notes, in the event that any Person or two
or more Persons acting in concert (other than DTE Energy or any of
its Subsidiaries) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or
indirectly, of Voting Stock of the Borrower (or other securities
convertible into such Voting Stock) representing 30% or more of the
combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the
Borrower.
SECTION
2.10. Increased Costs .
(a) If,
due to either (i) the introduction of or any change in or in
the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the
compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or
other Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of
law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of
agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate
Advances (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.10 any
such
21
increased costs
resulting from taxes (as to which Section 2.13 shall govern),
then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such
Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent
for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to
compensate such Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to
the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and
the Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If
any Lender determines that compliance with any law or regulation or
any guideline or request from any central bank or other
Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law)
affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected
to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such
Lender and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based
upon the existence of such Lender’s commitment to lend
hereunder and other commitments of this type, then, upon demand by
such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), the Borrower
shall pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to
time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to
compensate such Lender or such corporation in the light of such
circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines
such increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such
Lender’s commitment to lend hereunder. A certificate as to
such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error.
(c) In
the event that a Lender demands payment from the Borrower for
amounts owing pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this
Section 2.10, the Borrower may, upon payment of such amounts
and subject to the requirements of Sections 8.04 and 8.07,
substitute for such Lender another financial institution, which
financial institution shall be an Eligible Assignee and shall
assume the Commitments of such Lender and purchase the Revolving
Credit Advances held by such Lender in accordance with
Section 8.07, provided , however , that
(i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(ii) the Borrower shall have satisfied all of its obligations
in connection with the Loan Documents with respect to such Lender,
and (iii) if such assignee is not a Lender, (A) such
assignee is acceptable to the Agent and (B) the Borrower shall
have paid the Agent a $3,000 administrative fee.
(d) If
any Lender requests compensation under this Section 2.10, then
such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different
Applicable Lending Office for funding or booking its Revolving
Credit Advances hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations
hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in
the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment
(i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 2.10 in the future and (ii) would not subject
such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not
otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby
agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any
Lender in connection with any such designation or
assignment.
SECTION
2.11. Illegality .
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify
the Agent that the introduction of or any change in or in the
interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any
central bank or other Governmental Authority asserts
that
22
it is unlawful,
for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its
obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund
or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (i) each
Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, upon such demand,
Convert into a Base Rate Advance or a Revolving Credit Advance that
bears interest at the rate set forth in Section 2.06(a)(i), as
the case may be, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to
make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to Convert Revolving Credit
Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the
Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
(b) If
a Conversion occurs or the obligation of the Lenders to make
Eurodollar Rate Advances or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances
into Eurodollar Rate Advances is suspended, in each case, pursuant
to Section 2.11(a), then the Lender causing such Conversion
and/or suspension shall use reasonable efforts to designate a
different Applicable Lending Office for funding or booking its
Revolving Credit Advances hereunder or to assign its rights and
obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or
affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or
assignment (i) would reinstate the Lenders’ obligations
to make Eurodollar Rate Advances and to Convert Revolving Credit
Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances and (ii) would not
subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would
not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower
hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by
any Lender in connection with any such designation or
assignment.
SECTION
2.12. Payments and Computations .
(a) The
Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and under the Notes not
later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in
U.S. dollars to the Agent at the Agent’s Account in same day
funds and without set off, deduction or counterclaim other than
deductions on account of taxes. The Agent will promptly thereafter
cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of
principal or interest or Facility Fees ratably (other than amounts
payable pursuant to Section 2.10, 2.13 or 8.04(c)) to the
Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending
Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount
payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an
Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information
contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c),
from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and
Acceptance, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under
the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender
assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and
Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments
for periods prior to such effective date directly between
themselves.
(b) The
Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to the extent
payment owed to such Lender is not made when due hereunder or under
the Note held by such Lender, to charge from time to time against
any or all of the Borrower’s accounts with such Lender any
amount so due.
(c) All
computations of interest based on the Base Rate, when such
computations of the Base Rate are based on the Prime Rate, shall be
made by the Agent on the
23
basis of a year
of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations
of interest based on the Base Rate (other than such computations of
the Base Rate that are based on the Prime Rate), of interest based
on the Eurodollar Rate, and of the Facility Fees shall be made by
the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case,
for the actual number of days (including the first day but
excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such
interest or Facility Fees are payable. Each determination by the
Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding
for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(d) Whenever
any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated to be due
on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on
the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall
in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest
or Facility Fee, as the case may be; provided ,
however , that, if such extension would cause payment of
interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in
the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on
the next preceding Business Day.
(e) Unless
the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the
date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the
Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume
that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on
such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption,
cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount
equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent the
Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent,
each Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such
amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon,
for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such
Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Agent,
at the Federal Funds Rate.
(a) Subject
to the exclusions set forth below in this Section 2.13(a) and,
if applicable, compliance with Section 2.13(e), any and all
payments by the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes shall be
made, in accordance with Section 2.12, free and clear of and
without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities
with respect thereto, excluding , in the case of each Lender
and the Agent, any and all present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed on its income,
and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of income taxes,
(i) by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or
the Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political
subdivision thereof and (ii), in the case of each Lender, by the
jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or
any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities
in respect of payments hereunder or under the Notes being
hereinafter referred to as “ Taxes ”).
Notwithstanding the above, if the Borrower shall be required by law
to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder
or under any Note to any Lender or the Agent, the Borrower will so
deduct and (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be
necessary so that after making all such deductions on account of
Taxes (including deductions on account of Taxes applicable to
additional sums payable under this Section 2.13) such Lender
or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the
sum it would have received had no such
24
deductions been
made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and
(iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the
relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with
applicable law.
(b) The
Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or under the
Notes or from the execution, delivery or registration of this
Agreement or the Notes (hereinafter referred to as “ Other
Taxes ”).
(c) Without
duplication of the Borrower’s payment obligations on account
of Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to Sections 2.13(a) and (b),
the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent for the full
amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any
Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this
Section 2.13) imposed on or paid by such Lender or the Agent
(as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties,
interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto.
This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the
date such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) makes written
demand therefor.
(d) Within
30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the Borrower
shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in
Section 8.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt
evidencing payment thereof. In the case of any payment hereunder or
under the Notes by or on behalf of the Borrower through an account
or branch outside the United States or by or on behalf of the
Borrower by a payor that is not a United States person, if the
Borrower determines that no Taxes are payable in respect thereof,
the Borrower shall furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish,
to the Agent, at such address, an opinion of counsel acceptable to
the Agent stating that such payment is exempt from Taxes. For
purposes of this subsection (d) and subsection (e), the terms
“ United States ” and “ United States
person ” shall have the meanings specified in
Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(e) Each
Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the
United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and
delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender and
on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it
becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to
time thereafter as requested in writing by the Borrower (but only
so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so), shall
provide each of the Agent and the Borrower with two original
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as appropriate, or
any successor or other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue
Service, certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States
withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or the
Notes. If any form or document referred to in this subsection
(e) requires the disclosure of information, other than
information necessary to compute the tax payable and information
required on the date hereof by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN
or W-8ECI, that the Lender reasonably considers to be confidential,
the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and shall not
be obligated to include in such form or document such confidential
information; however , such a Lender will not be entitled to
any payment or indemnification on account of any Taxes imposed by
the United States.
(f) Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the Borrower will
not be obligated to make payments on account of or indemnify the
Lenders or the
25
Agents for any
present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or
withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, or any
present or future stamp or other documentary taxes or property
taxes, charges or similar levies that are neither Taxes nor Other
Taxes.
(g) For
any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the
Borrower with the appropriate form described in
Section 2.13(e) ( other than if such failure is
due to a change in law occurring subsequent to the date on which a
form originally was required to be provided, or if such form
otherwise is not required under the first sentence of subsection
(e) above), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification
under Section 2.13(a) or (c) with respect to Taxes
imposed by the United States by reason of such failure;
provided , however , that should a Lender become
subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required
hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as the Lender shall
reasonably request to assist the Lender to recover such
Taxes.
(h) In
the event that a Lender demands payment from the Borrower for
amounts owing pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this
Section 2.13, the Borrower may, upon payment of such amounts
and subject to the requirements of Sections 8.04 and 8.07,
substitute for such Lender another financial institution, which
financial institution shall be an Eligible Assignee and shall
assume the Commitments of such Lender and purchase the Revolving
Credit Advances held by such Lender in accordance with
Section 8.07, provided , however , that
(i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(ii) the Borrower shall have satisfied all of its obligations
in connection with the Loan Documents with respect to such Lender,
and (iii) if such assignee is not a Lender, (A) such
assignee is acceptable to the Agent and (B) the Borrower shall
have paid the Agent a $3,000 administrative fee.
(i) Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event that
a Lender that is not an Initial Lender and who purchased its
interest in this Agreement without the consent of the Borrower
pursuant to Section 8.07(a), seeks (i) payment of
additional amounts pursuant to Section 2.13(a),
(ii) payment of Other Taxes pursuant to Section 2.13(b),
or (iii) indemnification for Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to
Section 2.13(c), the amount of any such payment or
indemnification will be no greater than what it would have been had
the Initial Lender not transferred, assigned or sold its interest
in this Agreement.
(j) If
the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender
or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender
pursuant to this Section 2.13, then such Lender shall use
reasonable efforts to designate a different Applicable Lending
Office for funding or booking its Revolving Credit Advances
hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to
another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment
of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would
eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 2.13 in the future and (ii) would not subject
such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not
otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby
agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any
Lender in connection with any such designation or
assignment.
SECTION
2.14. Sharing of Payments, Etc . If any Lender shall obtain
any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise
of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Revolving
Credit Advances owing to it (other than pursuant to
26
Section 2.10, 2.13 or 8.04(c)) in excess of
its ratable share of payments on account of the Revolving Credit
Advances obtained by all of the Lenders, such Lender shall
forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in
the Revolving Credit Advances owing to them as shall be necessary
to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably
with each of them; provided , however , that if all
or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from
such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be
rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the
purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an
amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the
proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required
repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the
purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable
by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so
recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a
participation from another Lender pursuant to this
Section 2.14 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off)
with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were
the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation.
SECTION
2.15. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Revolving Credit
Advances shall be available (and the Borrower agrees that it shall
use such proceeds) solely for refinancing Debt of the Borrower
under the Existing Credit Agreement (if any), and for general
corporate purposes, including commercial paper liquidity, of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION
2.16. Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness
.
(a) Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to
such Lender resulting from each Revolving Credit Advance made by
such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal
and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.
(b) The
Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record
(i) the date and the amount of each Revolving Credit Advance
made hereunder and the Inter
|