EXHIBIT 99.1
EXECUTION COPY
REVOLVING CREDIT
AGREEMENT
among
NISOURCE FINANCE
CORP.,
as Borrower,
NISOURCE INC.,
as Guarantor,
THE LEAD ARRANGERS
and
LENDERS
Party Hereto,
as Lenders,
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST
BOSTON
as Syndication Agent,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A.,
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD., CHICAGO BRANCH
and
CITICORP USA, INC.,
as Co-Documentation Agents
BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as Administrative Agent and LC Bank,
BARCLAYS CAPITAL
and
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
Lead Arrangers
BARCLAYS CAPITAL
Sole Book Runner
Dated as of
March 11, 2005
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
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SECTION 1.01.
Defined Terms
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SECTION 1.02.
Classification of Loans and
Borrowings
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SECTION 1.03.
Terms Generally
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SECTION 1.04.
Accounting Terms;
Gaap
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ARTICLE II THE
CREDITS
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SECTION 2.01.
Commitments
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SECTION 2.02.
Revolving Loans and
Revolving Borrowings; Requests for Borrowings
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SECTION 2.03.
Swingline Loans
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SECTION 2.04.
Letters of
Credit
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SECTION 2.05.
Funding of
Borrowings
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SECTION 2.06.
Interest
Elections
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SECTION 2.07.
Mandatory Termination or
Reduction of Commitments
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SECTION 2.08.
Mandatory
Prepayments
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SECTION 2.09.
Optional Reduction of
Commitments
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SECTION 2.10.
Repayment of Loans; Evidence
of Debt
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SECTION 2.11.
Optional Prepayment of
Loans
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SECTION 2.12.
Fees
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SECTION 2.13.
Interest
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SECTION 2.14.
Alternate Rate of
Interest
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SECTION 2.15.
Increased Costs
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SECTION 2.16.
Break Funding
Payments
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SECTION 2.17.
Taxes
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SECTION 2.18.
Payments Generally; Pro Rata
Treatment; Sharing of Set-Offs
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SECTION 2.19.
Mitigation Obligations;
Replacement of Lenders
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ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS
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SECTION 3.01.
Conditions Precedent to the
Effectiveness of this Agreement
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SECTION 3.02.
Conditions Precedent to Each
Extension of Credit
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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ARTICLE V
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
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ARTICLE VI
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
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ARTICLE VII
FINANCIAL COVENANT
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ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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ARTICLE IX THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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ARTICLE X
GUARANTY
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SECTION 10.01.
The Guaranty
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SECTION 10.02.
Waivers
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ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 11.01.
Notices
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SECTION 11.02.
Waivers;
Amendments
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SECTION 11.03.
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage
Waiver
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SECTION 11.04.
Successors and
Assigns
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SECTION 11.05.
Survival
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SECTION 11.06.
Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness
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SECTION 11.07.
Severability
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SECTION 11.08.
Right of Setoff
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SECTION 11.09.
Governing Law; Jurisdiction;
Consent to Service of Process
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SECTION 11.10.
WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL
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SECTION 11.11.
Headings
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SECTION 11.12.
Confidentiality
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SECTION 11.13.
USA PATRIOT ACT
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ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND
SCHEDULES
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ANNEX A
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Pricing Grid |
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EXHIBIT A
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Form of Assignment and
Acceptance |
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EXHIBIT B-1
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Form of Opinion of Schiff Hardin
LLP |
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EXHIBIT B-2
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Form of Opinion of Thelen Reid &
Priest LLP |
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SCHEDULE 2.01
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Lenders and Commitments |
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SCHEDULE 2.04
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Transitional Letters of Credit |
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SCHEDULE 3.01
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Financing Facilities to be
Terminated |
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SCHEDULE
6.01(e)
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Existing Agreements |
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT ,
dated as of March 11, 2005 (this “
Agreement ”), among NISOURCE FINANCE
CORP. , an Indiana corporation, as Borrower (the “
Borrower ”), NISOURCE INC. , a Delaware
corporation (“ NiSource ”), as Guarantor
(the “ Guarantor ”), the Lead Arrangers
and other Lenders from time to time party hereto, the
Co-Documentation Agents party hereto, CREDIT SUISSE FIRST
BOSTON , as Syndication Agent and BARCLAYS BANK PLC , as
issuer of any Letters of Credit provided for hereunder (in such
capacity, the “LC Bank” ) and as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity,
the “ Administrative Agent ”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS , the parties are
willing to enter into this Revolving Credit Agreement on the terms
and subject to the conditions herein set forth.
NOW , THEREFORE , the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Defined
Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have
the meanings specified below:
“ ABR ”,
when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether
such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base
Rate.
“ Administrative
Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire
in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“ Affiliate
” means, with respect to a specified 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 amount of the
Commitments of all Lenders, as in effect from time to time. As of
the date hereof, the Aggregate Commitments equal
$1,250,000,000.
“ Alternate Base
Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum
equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day
and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day
plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a
change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall
be effective from and including the effective date of such change
in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate,
respectively.
“ Applicable
Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender, the
percentage of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such
Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or
expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be
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determined
based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect
to any assignments.
“ Applicable Rate
” means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or
Eurodollar Revolving Loan, or with respect to the Facility Fees,
the LC Risk Participation Fee and the Utilization Fee payable
hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum
determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.
“ Arrangers
” means each of Barclays and Credit Suisse First Boston.
“ Assignment and
Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any
party whose consent is required by Section 11.04), and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A
or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“ Availability
Period ” means the period from and including the
Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date.
“ Barclays
” means Barclays Bank PLC, an English banking
corporation.
“ Beneficiary
” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.
“ Board ”
means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the
United States of America.
“ Borrower
” means NiSource Finance Corp., Inc. an Indiana
corporation.
“ Borrowing
” means Loans of the same Type and Class, made, converted or
continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as
to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
“ Borrowing
Request ” means a request by the Borrower for a
Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02.
“ Business Day
” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or
required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used
in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “
Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on
which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the
London interbank market.
“ Capital Lease
” means, as to any Person, any lease of real or personal
property in respect of which the obligations of the lessee are
required, in accordance with GAAP, to be capitalized on the balance
sheet of such Person.
“ Capital Stock
” means any and all shares, interests, participations or
other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a
corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person
other than a corporation (including, but not limited to, all common
stock and preferred stock and partnership, membership and joint
venture
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interests
in a Person), and any and all warrants, rights or options to
purchase any of the foregoing.
“ Cash Account
” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.
“ CERCLA ”
means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act, 42, U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq., as
amended.
“ Change of
Control ” means (a) any “person” or
“group” within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall
become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) of more than 50% of the then outstanding voting Capital
Stock of the Guarantor, (b) Continuing Directors shall cease
to constitute at least a majority of the directors constituting the
Board of Directors of the Guarantor, (c) a consolidation or
merger of the Guarantor shall occur after which the holders of the
outstanding voting Capital Stock of the Guarantor immediately prior
thereto hold less than 50% of the outstanding voting Capital Stock
of the surviving entity; (d) more than 50% of the outstanding
voting Capital Stock of the Guarantor shall be transferred to an
entity of which the Guarantor owns less than 50% of the outstanding
voting Capital Stock; (e) there shall occur a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor; or (f) the
Borrower, NIPSCO or Columbia shall cease to be a Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary of the Guarantor (except to the extent otherwise
permitted under clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of
Section 6.01(b)).
“ Change in Law
” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation
after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law,
rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof
by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or
(c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of
Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by
such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request,
guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of
any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this
Agreement.
“ Class ”,
when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether
such Loan is, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are, Revolving
Loans or Swingline Loans.
“ Code ”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
“ Columbia
” means Columbia Energy Group, a Delaware corporation.
“ Commitment
” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such
Lender to make Revolving Loans hereunder and to participate in
Letters of Credit issued hereunder as set forth herein, as such
commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time or terminated
pursuant to Section 2.07 or Section 2.09 and
(b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to
assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 11.04.
The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is
(x) the amount set forth on Schedule 2.01 opposite such
Lender’s name; or (y) the amount set forth in the
Assignment and
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Acceptance
pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as
applicable.
“ Consolidated
Capitalization ” means the sum of
(a) Consolidated Debt, (b) consolidated common equity of
the Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined in
accordance with GAAP, and (c) the aggregate liquidation
preference of preferred stocks (other than preferred stocks subject
to mandatory redemption or repurchase) of the Guarantor and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries upon involuntary liquidation.
“ Consolidated
Debt ” means, at any time, the Indebtedness of the
Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries that would be
classified as debt on a balance sheet of the Guarantor determined
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“ Consolidated Net
Tangible Assets ” means, at any time, the total
amount of assets appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (other than Utility Subsidiaries),
determined in accordance with GAAP and prepared as of the end of
the fiscal quarter then most recently ended, less , without
duplication, the following (other than those of Utility
Subsidiaries):
(a) all current liabilities
(excluding any thereof that are by their terms extendable or
renewable at the sole option of the obligor thereon, without
requiring the consent of the obligee, to a date more than
12 months after the date of determination);
(b) all reserves for depreciation and
other asset valuation reserves (but excluding any reserves for
deferred Federal income taxes, arising from accelerated
amortization or otherwise);
(c) all intangible assets, such as
goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents and unamortized debt
discount and expense, carried as an asset on such balance sheet;
and
(d) all appropriate adjustments on
account of minority interests of other Persons holding common stock
of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor.
“ Consolidated
Subsidiary ” means, on any date, each Subsidiary of
the Guarantor the accounts of which, in accordance with GAAP, would
be consolidated with those of the Guarantor in its consolidated
financial statements if such statements were prepared as of such
date.
“ Contingent
Guaranty ” means a direct or contingent liability in
respect of a Project Financing (whether incurred by assumption,
guaranty, endorsement or otherwise) that either (a) is limited
to guarantying performance of the completion of the Project that is
financed by such Project Financing or (b) is contingent upon,
or the obligation to pay or perform under which is contingent upon,
the occurrence of any event other than failure of the primary
obligor to pay upon final maturity (whether by acceleration or
otherwise).
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“ Continuing
Directors ” means (a) all members of the board
of directors of the Guarantor who have held office continually
since the Effective Date, and (b) all members of the board of
directors of the Guarantor who were elected as directors after the
Effective Date and whose nomination for election was approved by a
vote of at least 50% of the Continuing Directors.
“ 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.
“ Credit
Documents ” means (a) this Agreement, any
promissory notes executed pursuant to Section 2.10, and any
Assignment and Acceptances, (b) any certificates, opinions and
other documents required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 3.01, and (c) any other documents delivered by a
Credit Party pursuant to or in connection with any one or more of
the foregoing.
“ Credit Party
” means each of the Borrower and the Guarantor; and “
Credit Parties ” means the Borrower and the
Guarantor, collectively.
“ Debt for Borrowed
Money ” means, as to any Person, without duplication,
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money,
(b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all Capital
Lease obligations of such Person, and (d) all obligations of
such Person under synthetic leases, tax retention operating leases,
off-balance sheet loans or other off-balance sheet financing
products that, for tax purposes, are considered indebtedness for
borrowed money of the lessee but are classified as operating leases
under GAAP.
“ Debt to Capitalization
Ratio ” means, at any time, the ratio of Consolidated
Debt to Consolidated Capitalization.
“ Default ”
means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default
or that, upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or
waived, become an Event of Default.
“ Dollars ”
or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the
United States of America.
“ Effective Date
” means the date on which this Agreement has been executed
and delivered by each of the Borrower, the Guarantor, the
Syndication Agent, the Co-Documentation Agents, the initial Lenders
and the Swingline Lender, the LC Bank and the Administrative
Agent.
“ Environmental
Laws ” means any and all foreign, federal, state,
local or municipal laws (including, without limitation, common
laws), rules, orders, regulations,
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statutes,
ordinances, codes, decrees, judgments, awards, writs, injunctions,
requirements of any Governmental Authority or other requirements of
law regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of
conduct concerning, pollution, waste, industrial hygiene,
occupational safety or health, the presence, transport,
manufacture, generation, use, handling, treatment, distribution,
storage, disposal or release of Hazardous Substances, or protection
of human health, plant life or animal life, natural resources or
the environment, as now or at any time hereafter in effect.
“ Environmental
Liability ” means any liability, contingent or
otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of
environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the
Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries 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, and the regulations promulgated and
rulings issued thereunder.
“ ERISA Affiliate
” means any Person who, for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, is
a member of the Guarantor’s controlled group, or under common
control with the Guarantor, within the meaning of Section 414
of the Code and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued
thereunder.
“ ERISA Event
” means (a) a reportable event, within the meaning of
Section 4043 of ERISA, unless the 30-day notice requirement
with respect thereto has been waived by the PBGC, (b) the
provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to
terminate such Plan, pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) and
4041(c) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan
amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA), (c) the
withdrawal by the Guarantor or an 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,
(d) the failure by the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate to
make a payment to a Plan required under Section 302(f)(1) of
ERISA, which Section imposes a lien for failure to make required
payments, (e) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring
the provision of security to such Plan, pursuant to
Section 307 of ERISA, or (f) 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 which may
reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under
Section 4042 of ERISA 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, as in effect from time to
time.
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“ Eurodollar
”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether such Loan is, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are,
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBO
Rate.
“ Eurodollar Rate Reserve
Percentage ” of any Lender for the Interest Period
for any Eurodollar Loan means the reserve percentage applicable
during such Interest Period (or if more than one such percentage
shall be so applicable, the daily average of such percentages for
those days in such Interest Period during which any such percentage
shall be so applicable) under regulations issued from time to time
by the Board (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve
requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency,
supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for such Lender
with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including
Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such Interest
Period.
“ Event of
Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Article VIII.
“ 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) income or
franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income or net
earnings by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction
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 and (b) in case of a
Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the
Borrower under Section 2.19(d)), any withholding tax that
(i) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at
the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement,
except to the extent that such Foreign Lender’s assignor (if
any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional
amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax
pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or (ii) is attributable to
such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with
Section 2.17 (e) when legally able to do so.
“ Exposure
” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, such
Lender’s Outstanding Loans plus such Lender’s
Applicable Percentage of the aggregate LC Outstandings at such time
plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the
aggregate Unreimbursed LC Disbursements at such time.
“ Extension of
Credit ” means (a) the making by any Lender of a
Revolving Loan, (b) the making by the Swingline Lender of any
Swingline Loan, (c) the issuance of a Letter of Credit by the
LC Bank or (d) the amendment of any Letter of Credit having
the effect of extending the stated termination date thereof,
increasing the LC Outstandings, or otherwise altering any of the
material terms or conditions thereof.
“ Facility Fee
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.
“ Federal Bankruptcy
Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11
U.S.C. l 101 et seq.) as now or
hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
“ Federal Funds Effective
Rate ” means, for any day, the weighted average
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the
rates on overnight
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Federal
funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System
arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next
succeeding 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 (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100
of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions
received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“ Foreign Lender
” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For
purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each
State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
constitute a single jurisdiction.
“ GAAP ”
means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
of America consistent with those applied in the preparation of the
financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e).
“ Governmental
Authority ” means the government of the United States
of America, any other nation, or any political subdivision of the
United States of America or any other nation, 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 and includes, in any
event, an “Independent System Operator” or any entity
performing a similar function.
“ Granting Lender
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.04.
“ Guarantor
” means NiSource.
“ Guaranty
” means the guaranty of the Guarantor pursuant to
Article X of this Agreement.
“ Hazardous
Materials ” means any asbestos; flammables; volatile
hydrocarbons; industrial solvents; explosive or radioactive
materials; hazardous wastes; toxic substances; liquefied natural
gas; natural gas liquids; synthetic gas; oil, petroleum, or related
materials and any constituents, derivatives, or byproducts thereof
or additives thereto; or any other material, substance, waste,
element or compound (including any product) regulated pursuant to
any Environmental Law, including, without limitation, substances
defined as “hazardous substances,” “hazardous
materials,” “contaminants,”
“pollutants,” “hazardous wastes,”
“toxic substances,” “solid waste,” or
“extremely hazardous substances” in (i) CERCLA,
(ii) the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C.
Section 1801 et seq., (iii) the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq., (iv) the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C.
Section 1251 et seq., (v) the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.
Section 7401 et seq., (vi) the Toxic Substances Control
Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq., (vii) the Safe
Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 300f et seq., or
(viii) foreign, state, local or municipal law, in each case,
as may be amended from time to time.
9
“ Indebtedness
” of any Person means (without duplication) (a) Debt for
Borrowed Money, (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred
purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts
payable arising in the ordinary course of business which are not
overdue, (c) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person in respect of any letters of credit, bankers’
acceptances or interest rate, currency or commodity swap, cap or
floor arrangements, (d) all indebtedness of others secured by
(or for which the holder of such indebtedness has an existing
right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on
property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the
indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (e) all amounts
payable by such Person in connection with mandatory redemptions or
repurchases of preferred stock, and (f) obligations of such Person
under direct or indirect guarantees in respect of, and obligations
(contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or
otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of,
indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in
clauses (a) through (e) above.
“ Indemnified
Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“ Indemnitee
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03.
“ Index Debt
” means the senior unsecured long-term debt securities of the
Borrower, without third-party credit enhancement provided by a
Person other than the Guarantor.
“ Information
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.
“ Insufficiency
” means, with respect to any Plan, the amount, if any, by
which the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits
under such Plan exceeds the fair market value of assets allocable
to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent
valuation date for such Plan using actuarial assumptions used in
determining such Plan’s normal cost for purposes of
Section 4l2(b)(2)(A) of the Code.
“ Interest Election
Request ” means a request by the Borrower to convert
or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with
Section 2.06.
“ Interest Payment
Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan,
the last day of each March, June, September and December,
(b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the
Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a
part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest
Period of more than three months’ duration, the day that is
three months after the first day of such Interest Period,
(c) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the date such
Swingline Loan is required to be repaid and (d) with respect
to any Loan, the Termination Date.
“ Interest Period
” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one,
two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect;
provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a
day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be
extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next
succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month,
in
10
which case
such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
and (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last
Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such
Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last
calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the
date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such
Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing,
thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent
conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
“LC
Outstandings” means, for any date of determination,
the aggregate maximum amount available to be drawn under all
Letters of Credit outstanding on such date (assuming the
satisfaction of all conditions for drawing enumerated therein).
“ LC Risk Participation
Fee ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.12.
“ Lenders ”
means (a) the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01, including
any such Person identified thereon or in the signature pages hereto
as a Lead Arranger, and any other Person that shall have become a
party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, other than
any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an
Assignment and Acceptance, (b) the Swingline Lender in respect
of the Swingline Loans made by it and (c) if and to the extent
so provided in Section 2.04(c), the LC Bank.
“Letter of
Credit” means a letter of credit issued by the LC
Bank pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, together with the
letters of credit deemed issued by the LC Bank hereunder pursuant
to Section 2.04(h), in each case, as such letter of credit may
from time to time be amended, modified or extended in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.
“ LIBO Rate
” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any
Interest Period, the rate appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or on
any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor
to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations
comparable to those currently provided on such page of such
service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to
time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates
applicable to 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 dollar
deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the
event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason,
then the “ LIBO Rate ” with respect to
such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the
rate at which Dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity
comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal
London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available
funds in the London interbank market at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period.
“ Lien ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
11
“ Loans ”
means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to
this Agreement.
“ Margin Stock
” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations U and
X issued by the Board.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means a material adverse effect on
(a) the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole; (b) the validity or enforceability of any of
Credit Documents or the rights, remedies and benefits available to
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder; or
(c) the ability of the Borrower or the Guarantor to consummate
the Transactions.
“ Material
Subsidiary ” means at any time the Borrower, NIPSCO,
Columbia, and each Subsidiary of the Guarantor, other than the
Borrower, NIPSCO and Columbia, in respect of which:
(a) the Guarantor’s and its
other Subsidiaries’ investments in and advances to such
Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries exceed 10% of the consolidated
total assets of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, as of the end of the most recent fiscal year; or
(b) the Guarantor’s and its
other Subsidiaries’ proportionate interest in the total
assets (after intercompany eliminations) of such Subsidiary and its
Subsidiaries exceeds 10% of the consolidated total assets of the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent
fiscal year; or
(c) the Guarantor’s and its
other Subsidiaries’ equity in the income from continuing
operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principles of such Subsidiary and
its Subsidiaries exceeds 10% of the consolidated income of the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the most recent fiscal year.
“ Moody’s
” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any
successor thereto.
“ Multiemployer
Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“ Multiple Employer
Plan ” means a single employer plan, as defined in
Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, which (a) is maintained for
employees of the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate and at least one
Person other than the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates, or
(b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or
an ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or
4069 of ERISA in the event that such plan has been or were to be
terminated.
“ NIPSCO ”
means Northern Indiana Public Service Company, an Indiana
corporation.
12
“ Non-Recourse
Debt ” means Indebtedness of the Guarantor or any of
its Subsidiaries which is incurred in connection with the
acquisition, construction, sale, transfer or other disposition of
specific assets, to the extent recourse, whether contractual or as
a matter of law, for non-payment of such Indebtedness is limited
(a) to such assets or (b) if such assets are (or are to
be) held by a Subsidiary formed solely for such purpose, to such
Subsidiary or the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary.
“ Obligations
” means all amounts, direct or indirect, contingent or
absolute, of every type or description, and at any time existing
and whenever incurred (including, without limitation, after the
commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding), owing to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or any other Credit Document.
“ Other Taxes
” means any and 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 from the
execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect
to, this Agreement.
“ Outstanding
Loans ” means, as to any Lender at any time, the
aggregate principal amount of all Loans made or maintained by such
Lender then outstanding; provided, however, that for
purposes of any calculation of the Outstanding Loans, any then
outstanding Swingline Loans shall be deemed allocated among the
Lenders (other than the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such)
in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
“ Participant
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.04.
“ PBGC ”
means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and
defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar
functions.
“ Person ”
means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company,
trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership,
Governmental Authority or other entity.
“ Plan ”
means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer
Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in
respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if
such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA
be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in
Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“ Pricing Grid
” means the pricing grid attached hereto as Annex A.
“ Prime Rate
” means the rate of interest per annum publicly
announced from time to time by Barclays as its prime rate in effect
at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime
Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is
publicly announced as being effective.
“ Project ”
means an energy or power generation, transmission or distribution
facility (including, without limitation, a thermal energy
generation, transmission or
13
distribution facility and an electric power generation,
transmission or distribution facility (including, without
limitation, a cogeneration facility)), a gas production,
transportation or distribution facility, or a minerals extraction,
processing or distribution facility, together with (a) all
related electric power transmission, fuel supply and fuel
transportation facilities and power supply, thermal energy supply,
gas supply, minerals supply and fuel contracts, (b) other
facilities, services or goods that are ancillary, incidental,
necessary or reasonably related to the marketing, development,
construction, management, servicing, ownership or operation of such
facility, (c) contractual arrangements with customers,
suppliers and contractors in respect of such facility, and
(d) any infrastructure facility related to such facility,
including, without limitation, for the treatment or management of
waste water or the treatment or remediation of waste, pollution or
potential pollutants.
“ Project
Financing ” means Indebtedness incurred by a Project
Financing Subsidiary to finance (a) the development and
operation of the Project such Project Financing Subsidiary was
formed to develop or (b) activities incidental thereto;
provided that such Indebtedness does not include recourse to
the Guarantor or any of its other Subsidiaries other than
(x) recourse to the Capital Stock in any such Project
Financing Subsidiary, and (y) recourse pursuant to a
Contingent Guaranty.
“ Project Financing
Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Guarantor
(a) that (i) is not a Material Subsidiary, and
(ii) whose principal purpose is to develop a Project and
activities incidental thereto (including, without limitation, the
financing and operation of such Project), or to become a partner,
member or other equity participant in a partnership, limited
liability company or other entity having such a principal purpose,
and (b) substantially all the assets of which are limited to
the assets relating to the Project being developed or Capital Stock
in such partnership, limited liability company or other entity (and
substantially all of the assets of any such partnership, limited
liability company or other entity are limited to the assets
relating to such Project); provided that such Subsidiary
incurs no Indebtedness other than in respect of a Project
Financing.
“ Register
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.04.
“ Related Parties
” means, with respect to any specified Person, such
Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers,
employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such
Person’s Affiliates.
“ Request for
Issuance ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.04.
“ Required
Lenders ” means Lenders having more than 50% in
aggregate amount of the Commitments, or if the Commitments shall
have been terminated, of the Total Outstanding Principal.
“ Responsible
Officer ” of a Credit Party means any of (a) the
President, the chief financial officer, the chief accounting
officer and the Treasurer of such Credit Party and (b) any
other officer of such Credit Party whose responsibilities include
monitoring compliance with this Agreement.
14
“ Revolving Loan
” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.02.
“ S&P ”
means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The
McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.
“ SPFV ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.04.
“ Subsidiary
” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other
entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding shares of
stock or other ownership interests having by the terms thereof
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors
or other managers of such corporation or other entity (irrespective
of whether or not at the time stock or other equity interests of
any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity
shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of
any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or
controlled by such Person or one or more of the Subsidiaries of
such Person.
“ Substantial
Subsidiaries ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.01.
“Swingline
Commitment” means, for the Swingline Lender, the
amount set forth as the Swingline Lender’s Swingline
Commitment on Schedule 2.01 hereto.
“Swingline Facility
Amount” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.01(b).
“Swingline
Loan” means a loan made by the Swingline Lender
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Swingline
Lender” means Barclays.
“ Swingline Rate
” means: (a) in the case of a Swingline Loan in an
original principal amount of $100,000 or more, a fixed rate of
interest equal to the sum of (i) the Swingline Lender’s
cost of funds as determined by the Swingline Lender in its sole
discretion with reference to its funding sources on the date such
Swingline Loan is made for a term equal to the period such
Swingline Loan is to be outstanding plus (ii) the Applicable
Rate then in effect for Eurodollar Revolving Loans or (b) in
the case of a Swingline Loan in an original principal amount of
less than $100,000, a floating rate of interest equal to the sum of
(i) the Alternate Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate
then in effect for Alternate Base Rate Loans, in each case, as
notified to the Borrower at the time such Swingline Loan is made.
Any Swingline Rate determined in accordance with clause (a), above,
shall be adjusted in each case from time to time to give effect to
all applicable reserve requirements, including, without limitation,
special, emergency or supplemental reserves.
“Swingline
Request” means a request by the Borrower for the
Swingline Lender to make a Swingline Loan, which shall contain the
information in respect of such requested Swingline Loan specified
in Section 2.03(b) and shall be delivered to the Swingline
Lender and the Administrative Agent in writing, or by telephone,
immediately confirmed in writing.
15
“ Syndication
Agent ” means Credit Suisse First Boston, in its
capacity as syndication agent for the Lenders hereunder.
“ Taxes ”
means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental
Authority, including any interest, penalties and additions to tax
imposed thereon or in connection therewith.
“ Terminating
Facilities ” means financing facilities described on
Schedule 3.01 hereto.
“ Termination
Date ” means the earliest of (a) May 11,
2010 and (b) the date upon which the Commitments are
terminated pursuant to Section 8.1 or otherwise.
“ Total Outstanding
Principal ” means the aggregate amount of the
Outstanding Loans of all Lenders plus the aggregate LC Outstandings
plus the aggregate Unreimbursed LC Disbursements.
“ Transactions
” means the execution, delivery and performance by the
Borrower and the Guarantor of this Agreement and the Borrowing of
Loans and issuances of Letters of Credit hereunder.
“ Type ”,
when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether
the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such
Borrowing, is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate or the
Alternate Base Rate.
“Unreimbursed LC
Disbursement” means the unpaid obligation (or, if the
context so requires, the amount of such obligation) of the Borrower
to reimburse the LC Bank for a payment made by the LC Bank under a
Letter of Credit, but shall not include any portion of such
obligation that has been repaid with the proceeds of, or converted
to, Loans hereunder.
“ Utility
Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary of the Guarantor that
is subject to regulation by a Governmental Authority (federal,
state or otherwise) having authority to regulate utilities, and any
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof.
“ Utilization Fee
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.
“ Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which all of the outstanding shares
of stock or other ownership interests in which, other than
directors’ qualifying shares (or the equivalent thereof), are
at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such
Person or one or more of the Subsidiaries of such Person.
“ Withdrawal
Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan
as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such
Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in
Sections 4201, 4203 and 4205 of ERISA.
16
SECTION 1.02. Classification
of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement,
Loans may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a
“ Revolving Loan ”) or by Type (
e.g. , a “ Eurodollar Loan ”) or
by Class and Type ( e.g. , a “ Eurodollar
Revolving Loan ”). Borrowings also may be classified
and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a “ Revolving
Borrowing ”) or by Type ( e.g. , a “
Eurodollar Borrowing ”) or by Class and Type (
e.g. , a “ Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing ”).
SECTION 1.03. Terms
Generally. 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 “or”
shall not be exclusive. The word “will” shall be
construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word
“shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise
(a) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document herein 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), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be
construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns,
(c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and
“hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be
construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any
particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to
Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to
refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to,
this Agreement and (e) 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. The terms “knowledge of”,
“awareness of” and “receipt of notice of”
in relation to a Credit Party, and other similar expressions, mean
knowledge of, awareness of, or receipt of notice by, a Responsible
Officer of such Credit Party. In the event the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, shall cease to be of
effect and not replaced, references herein to such Act shall cease
to be of effect.
17
SECTION 1.04. Accounting
Terms; GAAP. 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 Administrative
Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision
hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the
Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the
operation of such provision (or if the Administrative 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.
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS
SECTION 2.01.
Commitments.
(a) Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving
Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability
Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in
(i) such Lender’s Exposure exceeding such Lender’s
Commitment or (ii) the sum of the Exposures of all of the
Lenders exceeding the Aggregate Commitments.
(b) Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make
Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the
Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not
result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline
Loans made by the Swingline Lender then outstanding under this
Agreement exceeding the Swingline Lender’s Swingline
Commitment, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all
Swingline Loans then outstanding under this Agreement exceeding
$200,000,000 (the “Swingline Facility
Amount” ), (iii) any Lender’s Exposure
exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or (iv) the sum of
the Exposures of all of the Lenders exceeding the Aggregate
Commitments.
(c) Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, the LC Bank agrees to issue, extend or
amend Letters of Credit and each Lender agrees to participate in
such Letters of Credit, in each case as set forth herein, from time
to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate stated
amount that will not result in (i) the aggregate LC
Outstandings under this Agreement exceeding $500,000,000,
(ii) any Lender’s Exposure exceeding such Lender’s
Commitment or (iii) the sum of the Exposures of all of the
Lenders exceeding the Aggregate Commitments.
(d) Within the foregoing limits
and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans and
Swingline Loans and request the issuance, extension or amendment of
Letters of Credit.
18
SECTION 2.02. Revolving Loans
and Revolving Borrowings; Requests for Borrowings.
(a) Each Revolving Loan shall be
made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by
the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective
Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to
be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations
hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several
and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s
failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to
Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised
entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may
request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make
any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or
Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any
exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the
Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each
Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral
multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000. At the time
that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be
in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000;
provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be to an aggregate
amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Aggregate
Commitments. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be
outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any
time be more than a total of ten Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings
outstanding under this Agreement.
(d) To request a Revolving
Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of
such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or
(b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than
11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed
Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be
irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or
telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request
in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the
Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall
specify the following information:
(i) the aggregate amount of the
requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing,
which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be
an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto,
which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term
“Interest Period”.
If no election as to the
Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall
be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with
respect to any requested Eurodollar
19
Revolving Borrowing, then
the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of
one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a
Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details
thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as
part of the requested Borrowing.
(e) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to
request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Eurodollar
Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto
would end after the Termination Date.
SECTION 2.03. Swingline
Loans. (a) Each Swingline Loan to be made by the
Swingline Lender shall be made on notice given by the Borrower to
the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent via fax
transmission in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof not later
than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the borrowing date of
the proposed Swingline Loan (which shall be a Business Day) or such
later time as the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent may
agree. Each such notice (a “ Swingline Request
”) shall specify the requested borrowing date of such
Swingline Loan, the amount thereof and the maturity date thereof
(which shall be a Business Day not later than five days from the
date such Swingline Loan is to be made). Upon receipt of any
Swingline Request, the Swingline Lender shall give to the
Administrative Agent prompt notice thereof by fax transmission, and
shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of the
Swingline Rate to be applicable thereto. The Swingline Lender
shall, before 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the borrowing date
of such Swingline Loan, make such Swingline Loan available to the
Administrative Agent, in same day funds, and, after the
Administrative Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon
fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds
available to the Borrower to an account within the United States of
America specified in the relevant Swingline Request or, if not so
specified, in accordance with Section 2.05.
(b) Each Swingline Loan shall
bear interest at the Swingline Rate and shall mature on the first
to occur of: (i) the date specified in the relevant Swingline
Request, (ii) the date that is five days following the date
such Swingline Loan was made and (iii) the Termination Date.
At no time shall more than a total of five Swingline Loans be
outstanding under this Agreement.
(c) At any time upon written
demand by the Swingline Lender, with a copy of such demand to the
Administrative Agent, and automatically upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default, each other Lender shall purchase from the
Swingline Lender, and the Swingline Lender shall sell and assign to
each such other Lender, such other Lender’s pro rata share
(based on its Applicable Percentage) of the Swingline Loans of the
Swingline Lender outstanding as of the date of such demand or
occurrence, as the case may be, by making available to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender an
amount in same day funds equal to the portion of the principal
amount of each outstanding Swingline Loan to be purchased by such
Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to each such sale and
assignment. Each Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent
for the account of the Swingline Lender its pro rata share (based
on its Applicable Percentage) of each outstanding Swingline Loan
purchased pursuant to this clause (c) on (i) the Business
Day on which demand therefor is made by the Swingline Lender,
provided, that, notice of such demand is received by such
Lender not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such
Business Day, (ii) the first Business Day next succeeding such
demand, if notice of such demand is received after such time or
(iii) the first
20
Business Day next
succeeding the date such Lender has actual knowledge of the
occurrence of such Event of Default. Upon any such assignment by
the Swingline Lender to any other Lender of a portion of any
Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender represents and warrants to
such other Lender that the Swingline Lender is the legal and
beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it, but makes no
other representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with
respect to such Swingline Loan, the Credit Documents or the
Borrower. If and to the extent that any Lender shall not have so
made its participated portion of such Swingline Loan or portion
thereof available to the Administrative Agent for the account of
the Swingline Lender, such Lender agrees to pay to the Swingline
Lender forthwith on demand such amount together with interest
thereon for each day from the date of demand by the Swingline
Lender until the date such amount is paid to the Swingline Lender,
at the Federal Funds Effective Rate. If such Lender shall pay such
amount to the Swingline Lender on any Business Day, such amount so
paid in respect of principal shall constitute an ABR Revolving Loan
made by such Lender on such Business Day for all purposes of this
Agreement, and the outstanding principal amount of the relevant
Swingline Loan(s) shall be reduced accordingly by such amount on
such Business Day. The obligation of each other Lender to purchase
its pro rata share of the Swingline Lender’s Swingline Loans
in accordance with this subsection shall be absolute and
unconditional, notwithstanding the occurrence of any circumstances,
including, without limitation any Event of Default or any setoff,
deduction or other defense asserted by the Borrower or any other
Person, except that any Lender shall have the right to bring
suit against the Swingline Lender, and the Swingline Lender shall
be liable to such Lender, to the extent of any direct, as opposed
to consequential, damages suffered by such Lender which such Lender
proves were caused by the Swingline Lender’s wilful
misconduct or gross negligence.
SECTION 2.04. Letters of
Credit
(a) LC Bank. Subject to
the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may from time to time
request Barclays, as LC Bank, to issue, extend or amend one or more
Letters of Credit hereunder. Any such request by the Borrower shall
be notified to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days
prior to the date upon which the Borrower proposes that the LC Bank
issue, extend or amend such Letter of Credit. At no time shall
(i) the aggregate LC Outstandings exceed the sum of the
Commitments or (ii) the sum of the aggregate LC Outstandings
under this Agreement exceed $500,000,000.
(b) Letters of Credit.
Each Letter of Credit shall be issued (or the stated maturity
thereof extended or terms thereof modified or amended) on not less
than five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof to the
Administrative Agent (which shall promptly distribute copies
thereof to the Lenders) and the LC Bank. Each such notice (a
“Request for Issuance” ) shall specify
(i) the date (which shall be a Business Day) of issuance of
such Letter of Credit (or the date of effectiveness of such
extension, modification or amendment) and the stated expiry date
thereof (which shall be not later than the Termination Date),
(ii) the proposed stated amount of such Letter of Credit and
(iii) such other information as shall demonstrate compliance
of such Letter of Credit with the requirements specified therefor
in this Agreement. Each Request for Issuance shall be irrevocable
unless modified or rescinded by the Borrower not less than two days
prior to the proposed date of issuance (or effectiveness) specified
therein. If the LC Bank shall have approved the form of such Letter
of Credit (or such extension, modification or amendment thereof),
the LC Bank shall not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City
time) on the proposed date
21
specified in such Request
for Issuance, and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions
precedent and the other requirements set forth herein and as
otherwise agreed to between the LC Bank and the Borrower, issue (or
extend, amend or modify) such Letter of Credit and provide notice
and a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative
Agent shall furnish (x) to each Lender, a copy of such notice
and (y) to each Lender that may so request, a copy of such
Letter of Credit.
(c) Reimbursement on
Demand . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.04(d)
hereof, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay (whether with the
proceeds of Loans made pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) to
the LC Bank on demand (i) on and after each date on which the
LC Bank shall pay any amount under any Letter of Credit a sum equal
to such amount so paid (which sum shall constitute a demand loan
from the LC Bank to the Borrower from the date of such payment by
the LC Bank until so paid by the Borrower), plus (ii) interest
on any amount remaining unpaid by the Borrower to the LC Bank under
clause (i), above, from the date such sum becomes payable on demand
until payment in full, at a rate per annum which is equal to
2% plus the then applicable Alternate Base Rate until paid in
full.
(d) Loans for Unreimbursed
LC Disbursements . If the LC Bank shall make any payment under
any Letter of Credit and if the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 3.02 of this Agreement have been satisfied as of the
date of such honor, then, each Lender’s payment made to the
LC Bank pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 2.04 in
respect of such Unreimbursed LC Disbursement shall be deemed to
constitute an ABR Loan made for the account of the Borrower by such
Lender. Each such ABR Loan shall mature and be due and payable on
the earlier of (i) the first March 31, June 30,
September 30 or December 31 to occur following the date
such ABR Loan is made and (ii) the Termination Date.
(e) Participation;
Reimbursement of LC Bank .
(i) Upon the issuance of any Letter
of Credit by the LC Bank (and, in the case of the Letters of Credit
identified on Schedule 2.04, on the Effective Date), the LC
Bank hereby sells and transfers to each Lender, and each Lender
hereby acquires from the LC Bank, an undivided interest and
participation to the extent of such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage in and to such Letter of Credit, including the
obligations of the LC Bank under and in respect thereof and the
Borrower’s reimbursement and other obligations in respect
thereof, whether now existing or hereafter arising.
(ii) If the LC Bank shall not have
been reimbursed in full for any payment made by the LC Bank under
any Letter of Credit on the date of such payment, the LC Bank shall
promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative
Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such non-reimbursement
and the amount thereof. Upon receipt of such notice from the
Administrative Agent, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the LC Bank an amount equal to such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Unreimbursed LC
Disbursement, plus interest on such amount at a rate per annum
equal to the Federal Funds Rate from the date of such payment by
the LC Bank to the date of payment to the LC Bank by such Lender.
All such payments by each Lender shall be made in United States
dollars and in same day funds not later than 3:00 P.M. (New York
City time) on the later to occur of (A) the
22
Business
Day immediately following the date of such payment by the LC Bank
and (B) the Business Day on which such Lender shall have
received notice of such non-reimbursement; provided, however
, that if such notice is received by such Lender later than
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such Business Day, such
payment shall be payable on the next Business Day. Each Lender
agrees that each such payment shall be made without any offset,
abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. If a Lender shall
have paid to the LC Bank its ratable portion of any Unreimbursed LC
Disbursement, together with all interest thereon required by the
second sentence of this subparagraph (ii), such Lender shall be
entitled to receive its ratable share of all interest paid by the
Borrower in respect of such Unreimbursed LC Disbursement. If such
Lender shall have made such payment to the LC Bank, but without all
such interest thereon required by the second sentence of this
subparagraph (ii), such Lender shall be entitled to receive its
ratable share of the interest paid by the Borrower in respect of
such Unreimbursed LC Disbursement only from the date it shall have
paid all interest required by the second sentence of this
subparagraph (ii).
(iii) The failure of any Lender to
make any payment to the LC Bank in accordance with subparagraph
(ii) above, shall not relieve any other Lender of its
obligation to make payment, but neither the LC Bank nor any Lender
shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make
such payment. If any Lender shall fail to make any payment to the
LC Bank in accordance with subparagraph (ii) above, then such
Lender shall pay to the LC Bank forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day
until the date such amount is repaid to the LC Bank at the Federal
Funds Rate. Nothing herein shall in any way limit, waive or
otherwise reduce any claims that any party hereto may have against
any non-performing Lender.
(iv) If any Lender shall fail to make
any payment to the LC Bank in accordance with subparagraph (ii),
above, then, in addition to other rights and remedies which the LC
Bank may have, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, at
the request of the LC Bank, to withhold and to apply to the payment
of such amounts owing by such Lender to the LC Bank and any related
interest, that portion of any payment received by the
Administrative Agent that would otherwise be payable to such
Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, if any Lender shall fail
to make any payment to the LC Bank in accordance with subparagraph
(ii), above, and such failure shall continue for five Business Days
following written notice of such failure from the LC Bank to such
Lender, the LC Bank may acquire, or transfer to a third party in
exchange for the sum or sums due from such Lender, such
Lender’s interest in the related Unreimbursed LC Disbursement
and all other rights of such Lender hereunder in respect thereof,
without, however, relieving such Lender from any liability for
damages, costs and expenses suffered by the LC Bank as a result of
such failure, and prior to such transfer, the LC Bank shall be
deemed, for purposes of Section 2.18 and Article VIII
hereof, to be a Lender hereunder owed a Loan in an amount equal to
the outstanding principal amount due and payable by such Lender to
the Administrative Agent for the account of such LC Bank pursuant
to subparagraph (ii), above. The purchaser of any such interest
shall be deemed to have acquired an interest senior to the interest
of such Lender and shall be
23
entitled to
receive all subsequent payments which the LC Bank or the
Administrative Agent would otherwise have made hereunder to such
Lender in respect of such interest.
(f) Obligations
Absolute. The payment obligations of each Lender under
Section 2.04(e) and of the Borrower under Section 2.04(c)
of this Agreement in respect of any payment under any Letter of
Credit and any Loan made under Section 2.04(d) shall be
unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all
circumstances, including, without limitation, the following
circumstances:
(i) any lack of validity or
enforceability of any Credit Document or any other agreement or
instrument relating thereto or to such Letter of Credit;
(ii) any amendment or waiver of, or
any consent to departure from, all or any of the Credit
Documents;
(iii) the existence of any claim,
set-off, defense or other right which the Borrower may have at any
time against any beneficiary, or any transferee, of such Letter of
Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such
transferee may be acting), the LC Bank, or any other Person,
whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions
contemplated herein or by such Letter of Credit, or any unrelated
transaction;
(iv) any statement or any other
document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be
forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any
statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
(v) payment in good faith by the LC
Bank under the Letter of Credit issued by the LC Bank against
presentation of a draft or certificate which does not comply with
the terms of such Letter of Credit; or
(vi) any other circumstance or
happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing.
(g) Liability of LC Bank and
the Lenders. The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and
omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit.
Neither the LC Bank, the Lenders nor any of their respective
officers, directors, employees, agents or Affiliates shall be
liable or responsible for (i) the use that may be made of such
Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or
transferee thereof in connection therewith; (ii) the validity,
sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement
thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged;
(iii) payment by the LC Bank against presentation of documents
that do not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit,
including failure of any documents to bear any reference or
adequate reference to such Letter of Credit; or (iv) any other
circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under
such Letter of Credit, except that the Borrower or any
Lender shall have the right to bring suit against the LC Bank, and
the LC Bank shall be liable to the Borrower and any Lender, to the
extent of any direct, as opposed to consequential, damages suffered
by the Borrower or such Lender which the Borrower or such Lender
proves were caused by the LC Bank’s wilful misconduct or
gross negligence, including the LC Bank’s wilful or
grossly
24
negligent failure to make
timely payment under such Letter of Credit following the
presentation to it by the beneficiary thereof of a draft and
accompanying certificate(s) which strictly comply with the terms
and conditions of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in
limitation of the foregoing, the LC Bank may accept sight drafts
and accompanying certificates presented under the Letter of Credit
issued by the LC Bank that appear on their face to be in order,
without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any
notice or information to the contrary. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no Lender shall be obligated to indemnify the Borrower
for damages caused by the LC Bank’s wilful misconduct or
gross negligence, and the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse
the Lenders hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional,
notwithstanding the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the LC
Bank.
(h) Transitional
Provision . Schedule 2.04 contains a schedule of certain
letters of credit issued for the account of the Borrower prior to
the Effective Date. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
contained in Sections 3.01 and 3.02, from and after the
Effective Date such letters of credit shall be deemed to be Letters
of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.04.
SECTION 2.05. Funding of
Borrowings.
(a) Each Lender shall make each
Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by
wire transfer of immediately available funds by 3:00 p.m., New York
City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently
designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The
Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower
by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an
account established and maintained by the Borrower at the
Administrative Agent’s office in New York City.
(b) Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the
proposed time 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 paragraph (a) of this Section 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 with interest thereon, for each day from and including the
date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding
the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case
of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) in
the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR
Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent,
then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included
in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.06. Interest
Elections.
(a) Each Borrowing initially
shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request
and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial
Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter,
the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different
Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in
this Section. The Borrower
25
may elect different options
with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in
which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the
Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans
comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate
Borrowing.
(b) To make an election pursuant
to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent
of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request
would be required under Section 2.02 if the Borrower were
requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to
be made on the effective date of such election. Each such
telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall
be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the
Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a
form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the
Borrower.
(c) Each telephonic and written
Interest Election Request shall specify the following information
in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrowing to which such
Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are
being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the
portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in
which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses
(iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each
resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the
election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which
shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing
is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a
Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto
after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest
Period”.
If any such Interest
Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not
specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to
have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt
of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall
advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such
Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Borrower fails to
deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a
Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period
applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as
provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing
shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any
contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the
Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an
Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing
may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and
26
(ii) unless repaid,
each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at
the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.07. Mandatory
Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
Unless previously terminated, the
Commitments shall terminate on the Termination Date.
SECTION 2.08. Mandatory
Prepayments.
(a) If at any time the Total
Outstanding Principal exceeds the Aggregate Commitments then in
effect for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, as
a result of any reduction in the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.09), the Borrower shall prepay Loans in such
aggregate amount (together with accrued interest thereon to the
extent required by Section 2.13) as shall be necessary so
that, after giving effect to such prepayment, the Total Outstanding
Principal does not exceed the Aggregate Commitments.
(b) Each prepayment of Loans
pursuant to this Section 2.08 shall be accompanied by the
Borrower’s payment of any amounts payable under
Section 2.16 in connection with such prepayment. Prepayments
of Revolving Loans shall be applied ratably to the Loans so
prepaid.
SECTION 2.09. Optional
Reduction of Commitments.
(a) The Borrower may at any time
terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments;
provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments
shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $10,000,000
and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the
Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of
the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Total
Outstanding Principal would exceed the Aggregate Commitments
thereafter in effect.
(b) The Borrower shall notify
the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the
Commitments under Section 2.09(a) at least five Business Days
prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction,
specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly
following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall
advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered
by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable;
provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments
delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned
upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case
such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the
Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date)
if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of
the Commitments shall be permanent.
(c) Each reduction of the
Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall be made
ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective
Commitments immediately preceding such reduction.
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of
Loans; Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Borrower hereby
unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent
(i) for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal
amount of each Revolving Loan on the
27
Termination Date,
(ii) for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal
amount of each ABR Loan deemed to be made pursuant to
Section 2.04(d) on the maturity date therefor as determined
pursuant to Section 2.04(d) and (iii) for the account of
the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each
Swingline Loan on the maturity date therefor as determined pursuant
to Section 2.03.
(b) Each Lender (including the
Swingline 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 Loan (including each
Swingline Loan) made by such Lender, including the amounts of
principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent
shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the
amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and
the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any
principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable
from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the
amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder
for the account of the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) and
each Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the
accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of
this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence
and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided
that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to
maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner
affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender (including the
Swingline Lender) may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by
a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare,
execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the
order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such
Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the
Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such
promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including
after assignment pursuant to Section 11.04) be represented by
one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of
the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a
registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.11. Optional
Prepayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall have the
right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing
(including any Swingline Borrowing) in whole or in part, subject to
prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this
Section.
(b) The Borrower shall notify
the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of
any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a
Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment,
(ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later
than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before
the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a
Swingline Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be
irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date
28
and the principal amount of
each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided
that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a
conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as
contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment
may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in
accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of
any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent
shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial
prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that
would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving
Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, and
each partial prepayment of a Swingline Borrowing shall be in an
amount not less than $100,000 or any integral multiple thereof, it
being understood that the foregoing minimums shall not apply to the
prepayment in whole of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all
Lenders or to the prepayment in whole of the outstanding Swingline
Loans of the Swingline Lender. Each prepayment of a Revolving
Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the
prepaid Revolving Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by
accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and by
any amounts payable under Section 2.16 in connection with such
prepayment.
SECTION 2.12.
Fees.
(a) The Borrower agrees to pay
to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a
facility fee (each a “ Facility Fee ”),
which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of
the Commitment of such Lender (whether used or unused) during the
period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the
date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, if
such Lender continues to have any Outstanding Loans after its
Commitment terminates, then such Facility Fee shall continue to
accrue on the daily amount of such Lender’s Outstanding Loans
from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to
but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any
Outstanding Loans. Accrued Facility Fees shall be payable in
arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of
each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate,
commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective
Date; provided that any Facility Fees accruing after the
date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.
All Facility Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of
360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days
elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay
to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a letter
of credit risk participation fee (each a “ LC Risk
Participation Fee ”), which shall accrue at the
Applicable Rate on the average daily amount of the LC Outstandings
during the period from and including the Effective Date to but
excluding the Termination Date or such later date as on which there
shall cease to be any LC Outstandings. Accrued LC Risk
Participation Fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of
March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on
which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date
to occur after the Effective Date; provided that any LC Risk
Participation Fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments
terminate shall be payable on demand. All LC Risk Participation
Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and
shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including
the first day but excluding the last day). The Borrower shall also
pay to the LC Bank for its own account (x) a fronting fee,
which fronting fee shall accrue at a per annum rate agreed upon
between the Borrower and the LC Bank on the average daily amount of
the LC Outstanding during the period such Letter of Credit shall
be
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outstanding, which fronting
fee shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June,
September and December of each year and on the date on which such
Letter of Credit terminates, and (y) documentary and
processing charges in connection with the issuance, or modification
cancellation, negotiation, or transfer of, and draws under Letters
of Credit in accordance with the LC Bank’s standard schedule
for such charges as in effect from time to time.
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay
to the Administrative Agent, for its own account and for the
account of the other Persons entitled thereto, the fees provided
for in that certain fee letter dated March 11, 2005, executed
and delivered with respect to the credit facility provided for
herein, in each case, in the amounts and at the times set forth
therein and in immediately available funds.
(d) If at any time the Total
Outstanding Principal exceeds 50% of the Aggregate Commitments, the
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of
the Lenders ratably in proportion to their respective Applicable
Percentages, a utilization fee (the “ Utilization
Fee ”) calculated for each day with respect to the
Total Outstanding Principal on such day at the rate for such day
determined in accordance with the Pricing Grid. The accrued
Utilization Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last day of
March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on
which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date
to occur after the Effective Date; provided that any
Utilization Fee accruing after the date on which the Commitments
terminate shall be payable on demand. The Utilization Fee shall be
computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be
payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first
day but excluding the last day).
(e) All fees payable hereunder
shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to
the Administrative Agent (for distribution, in the case of Facility
Fees, LC Risk Participation Fees and any Utilization Fee, to the
Lenders). Fees due and paid shall not be refundable under any
circumstances.
SECTION 2.13.
Interest.
(a) The Loans comprising each
ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal
to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each
Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum
equal to the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such
Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) Each Swingline Loan shall
bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Swingline
Rate, as determined for such Swingline Loan and notified by the
Swingline Lender to the Borrower in accordance with
Section 2.03(a).
(d) Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee
or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when
due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise,
such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before
judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case
of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise
applicable to such Loan as provided above or (ii) in the case
of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as
provided above.
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