|
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4-2
$225,000,000 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
CREDIT AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY
AND
THE BANKS PARTY HERETO
AND
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
AND
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NA AND
FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
AS SYNDICATION AGENTS
AND
BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY AND
CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.,
AS DOCUMENTATION AGENTS
AND
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
AS LEAD ARRANGER
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 16, 2004
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- ----
<S> <C>
1. CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS................................................................................................
1
1.1 Certain
Definitions.....................................................................................
1
1.2
Construction............................................................................................
22
1.2.1. Number;
Inclusion................................................................................
22
1.2.2.
Determination....................................................................................
22
1.2.3. Agent's Discretion and
Consent...................................................................
22
1.2.4. Documents Taken as a
Whole.......................................................................
22
1.2.5.
Headings.........................................................................................
22
1.2.6. Implied References to this
Agreement.............................................................
23
1.2.7.
Persons..........................................................................................
23
1.2.8. Modifications to
Documents.......................................................................
23
1.2.9. From, To and
Through.............................................................................
23
1.2.10.Shall;
Will......................................................................................
23
1.3 Accounting
Principles...................................................................................
23
2. REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN
FACILITIES.........................................................................
24
2.1
Commitments.............................................................................................
24
2.1.1. Revolving Credit
Loans...........................................................................
24
2.1.2. Swing Loan
Commitment............................................................................
24
2.2 Nature of Banks' Obligations with Respect to Revolving
Credit Loans..................................... 24
2.3 Certain
Fees............................................................................................
25
2.4 Revolving Credit Loan
Requests..........................................................................
25
2.5 Swing Loan
Requests.....................................................................................
26
2.6 Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing
Loans...........................................................
26
2.6.1. Making Revolving Credit
Loans....................................................................
26
2.6.2. Making Swing
Loans...............................................................................
27
2.7 Swing Loan
Note.........................................................................................
27
2.8 Use of
Proceeds.........................................................................................
27
2.9 Letter of Credit
Subfacility............................................................................
27
2.9.1. Issuance of Letters of
Credit....................................................................
27
2.9.2. Letter of Credit
Fees............................................................................
28
2.9.3. Disbursements,
Reimbursement.....................................................................
28
2.9.4. Repayment of Participation
Advances..............................................................
29
2.9.5.
Documentation....................................................................................
30
2.9.6. Determinations to Honor Drawing
Requests.........................................................
30
2.9.7. Nature of Participation and Reimbursement
Obligations............................................ 30
2.9.8.
Indemnity........................................................................................
32
2.9.9. Liability for Acts and
Omissions.................................................................
32
2.10 Borrowings to Repay Swing
Loans.........................................................................
34
2.11 Right to Increase
Commitments...........................................................................
34
</TABLE>
- i -
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- -----
<S> <C>
3. INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED..............................................................................................
35
4. INTEREST
RATES.....................................................................................................
35
4.1 Interest Rate
Options...................................................................................
35
4.1.1. Revolving Credit Interest Rate
Options...........................................................
35
4.1.2. Rate
Quotations..................................................................................
35
4.1.3. Change in Fees or Interest
Rates.................................................................
36
4.2 Interest
Periods........................................................................................
36
4.2.1. Amount of Borrowing
Tranche......................................................................
36
4.2.2.
Renewals.........................................................................................
36
4.3 Interest After
Default..................................................................................
37
4.3.1. Letter of Credit Fees, Interest
Rate.............................................................
37
4.3.2. Other
Obligations........F.......................................................................
37
4.3.3.
Acknowledgment...................................................................................
37
4.4 Euro-Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs;
Deposits Not Available.......................... 37
4.4.1.
Unascertainable..................................................................................
37
4.4.2. Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not
Available.............................................. 38
4.4.3. Agent's and Bank's
Rights........................................................................
38
4.5 Selection of Interest Rate
Options......................................................................
39
5.
PAYMENTS...........................................................................................................
39
5.1
Payments................................................................................................
39
5.2 Pro Rata Treatment of
Banks.............................................................................
39
5.3 Interest Payment
Dates..................................................................................
40
F5.4
Prepayments............................................................................................
40
5.4.1. Voluntary
Prepayments............................................................................
40
5.4.2. Replacement of a
Bank............................................................................
41
5.4.3. Change of Lending
Office.........................................................................
42
5.5 Voluntary Commitment
Reductions.........................................................................
42
5.6 Additional Compensation in Certain
Circumstances........................................................
42
5.6.1. Increased Costs or Reduced Return Resulting From Taxes,
Reserves,
Capital Adequacy Requirements, Expenses,
Etc..................................................... 42
5.6.2.
Indemnity........................................................................................
43
5.7 Interbank Market
Presumption............................................................................
44
5.8
Taxes...................................................................................................
44
5.8.1. No
Deductions....................................................................................
44
5.8.2. Stamp
Taxes......................................................................................
44
5.8.3. Indemnification for Taxes Paid by a
Bank.........................................................
45
5.8.4.
Certificate......................................................................................
45
5.8.5.
Survival.........................................................................................
45
</TABLE>
- ii -
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- ----
<S> <C>
5.9
Notes..................................................................................................
45
5.10 Settlement Date
Procedures..............................................................................
45
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES.....................................................................................
46
6.1 Representations and
Warranties..........................................................................
46
6.1.1. Organization and
Qualification...................................................................
46
6.1.2.
Subsidiaries.....................................................................................
46
6.1.3. Power and
Authority..............................................................................
47
6.1.4. Validity and Binding
Effect......................................................................
47
6.1.5. No
Conflict......................................................................................
47
6.1.6.
Litigation.......................................................................................
47
6.1.7. Title to
Properties..............................................................................
48
6.1.8. Financial
Statements.............................................................................
48
6.1.9. Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock; Section 20
Subsidiaries........................................... 48
6.1.10.Full
Disclosure..................................................................................
49
6.1.11.Taxes............................................................................................
49
6.1.12.Consents and
Approvals...........................................................................
49
6.1.13.No Event of Default; Compliance With
Instruments................................................. 50
6.1.14.Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses,
Etc................................................... 50
6.1.15.Insurance........................................................................................
50
6.1.16.Compliance With
Laws.............................................................................
50
6.1.17.Material Contracts; Burdensome
Restrictions......................................................
51
6.1.18.Investment Companies; Regulated
Entities.........................................................
51
6.1.19.Plans and Benefit
Arrangements...................................................................
51
6.1.20.Employment
Matters...............................................................................
52
6.1.21.Environmental
Matters............................................................................
52
6.1.22.Senior Debt
Status...............................................................................
53
6.1.23.Hedging Contract
Policies........................................................................
53
6.1.24.Permitted Related Business
Opportunities.........................................................
53
6.1.25.Anti-Terrorism Laws; Executive Order No.
13224................................................... 53
6.2 Continuation of
Representations.........................................................................
54
7. CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF
CREDIT............................................................
54
7.1 First Loans and Letters of
Credit.......................................................................
54
7.1.1. Officer's
Certificate............................................................................
54
7.1.2. Secretary's
Certificate..........................................................................
54
7.1.3. Opinion of
Counsel...............................................................................
55
7.1.4. Legal
Details....................................................................................
55
7.1.5. Payment of
Fees..................................................................................
55
7.1.6.
Consents.........................................................................................
56
7.1.7. Officer's Certificate Regarding
MACs.............................................................
56
</TABLE>
- iii -
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- ----
<S> <C>
7.1.8. No Violation of
Laws.............................................................................
56
7.1.9. No Actions or
Proceedings........................................................................
56
7.1.10. Hedging Contract
Policies.......................................................................
56
7.1.11. Termination of Commitments and Repayment of Outstanding
Indebtedness............................ 56
7.2 Each Additional Loan or Letter of
Credit................................................................
56
8.
COVENANTS..........................................................................................................
57
8.1 Affirmative
Covenants...................................................................................
57
8.1.1. Preservation of Existence,
Etc...................................................................
57
8.1.2. Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes,
Etc..................................................... 57
8.1.3. Maintenance of
Insurance.........................................................................
58
8.1.4. Maintenance of Properties and
Leases.............................................................
58
8.1.5. Maintenance of Patents, Trademarks,
Etc..........................................................
58
8.1.6. Visitation
Rights................................................................................
58
8.1.7. Keeping of Records and Books of
Account..........................................................
59
8.1.8. Plans and Benefit
Arrangements...................................................................
59
8.1.9. Compliance With
Laws.............................................................................
59
8.1.10. Use of
Proceeds.................................................................................
59
8.1.11. Hedging Contract
Policies.......................................................................
60
8.2 Negative
Covenants......................................................................................
60
8.2.1.
Indebtedness.....................................................................................
60
8.2.2.
Liens............................................................................................
61
8.2.3.
Guaranties.......................................................................................
62
8.2.4. Loans and
Investments............................................................................
62
8.2.5. Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations,
Acquisitions.............................................. 63
8.2.6. Dispositions of Assets or
Subsidiaries...........................................................
64
8.2.7. Affiliate
Transactions...........................................................................
64
8.2.8. Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint
Ventures.................................................... 65
8.2.9. Continuation of or Change in
Business............................................................
65
8.2.10.Plans and Benefit
Arrangements...................................................................
65
8.2.11. Fiscal
Year.....................................................................................
65
8.2.12. Maximum Leverage
Ratio..........................................................................
66
8.2.13. Minimum Interest Coverage
Ratio.................................................................
66
8.2.14. No Limitation on Dividends and Distributions by Borrower
or its Subsidiaries.................... 66
8.2.15. Payment of Dividends;
Redemptions...............................................................
66
8.2.16. No Modification of Hedging Contract
Policies.................................................... 66
8.2.17. Off-Balance Sheet
Financing.....................................................................
67
8.2.18. Amendments to NJNG Note
Agreement...............................................................
67
8.2.19. No Violation of Anti-Terrorism
Laws.............................................................
67
8.3 Reporting
Requirements..................................................................................
68
</TABLE>
- iv -
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- ----
<S> <C>
8.3.1. Quarterly Financial
Statements...................................................................
68
8.3.2. Annual Financial
Statements......................................................................
68
8.3.3. Certificate of the
Borrower......................................................................
69
8.3.4. Notice of
Default................................................................................
69
8.3.5. Notice of
Litigation.............................................................................
69
8.3.6. Notice of Change in Debt
Rating..................................................................
70
8.3.7. Sale of
Assets...................................................................................
70
8.3.8. Budgets, Forecasts, Other Reports and
Information................................................ 70
8.3.9. Notices Regarding Plans and Benefit
Arrangements.................................................
70
9.
DEFAULT............................................................................................................
72
9.1 Events of
Default.......................................................................................
72
9.1.1. Payments Under Loan
Documents....................................................................
72
9.1.2. Breach of
Warranty...............................................................................
72
9.1.3. Breach of Negative Covenants or Visitation
Rights................................................ 72
9.1.4. Breach of Other
Covenants........................................................................
72
9.1.5. Defaults in Other Agreements or
Indebtedness.....................................................
73
9.1.6. Final Judgments or
Orders........................................................................
73
9.1.7. Loan Document
Unenforceable......................................................................
73
9.1.8. Uninsured Losses; Proceedings Against
Assets..................................................... 74
9.1.9. Notice of Lien or
Assessment.....................................................................
74
9.1.10.
Insolvency......................................................................................
74
9.1.11. Events Relating to Plans and Benefit
Arrangements............................................... 74
9.1.12. Cessation of
Business...........................................................................
75
9.1.13. Change of
Control...............................................................................
75
9.1.14. Involuntary
Proceedings.........................................................................
75
9.1.15. Voluntary
Proceedings...........................................................................
75
9.2 Consequences of Event of
Default........................................................................
76
9.2.1. Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or
Reorganization Proceedings................ 76
9.2.2. Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization
Proceedings............................................. 76
9.2.3.
Set-off..........................................................................................
77
9.2.4. Suits, Actions,
Proceedings......................................................................
77
9.2.5. Application of Proceeds; Collateral
Sharing......................................................
77
9.2.6. Other Rights and
Remedies........................................................................
78
10. THE
AGENT.........................................................................................................
78
10.1
Appointment.............................................................................................
78
10.2 Delegation of
Duties....................................................................................
79
10.3 Nature of Duties; Independent Credit
Investigation......................................................
79
10.4 Actions in Discretion of Agent; Instructions From the
Banks............................................. 80
</TABLE>
- v -
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- ----
<S> <C>
10.5 Reimbursement and Indemnification of Agent by the
Borrower.................................................. 80
10.6 Exculpatory Provisions; Limitation of
Liability.............................................................
81
10.7 Reimbursement and Indemnification of Agent by
Banks.........................................................
81
10.8 Reliance by
Agent...........................................................................................
82
10.9 Notice of
Default...........................................................................................
82
10.10
Notices.....................................................................................................
82
10.11 Banks in Their Individual Capacities; Agents in Its
Individual Capacity..................................... 83
10.12 Holders of
Notes............................................................................................
83
10.13 Equalization of
Banks.......................................................................................
83
10.14 Successor
Agent.............................................................................................
84
10.15 Agent's
Fee.................................................................................................
84
10.16 Availability of
Funds.......................................................................................
84
10.17
Calculations................................................................................................
85
10.18
Beneficiaries...............................................................................................
85
10.19 No Reliance on Agent's Customer Identification
Program......................................................
85
11.
MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................................................................
86
11.1 Modifications, Amendments or
Waivers........................................................................
86
11.1.1. Increase of Revolving Credit Commitments; Extension of
Expiration Date.............................. 86
11.1.2. Release of Collateral or
Guarantor..................................................................
86
11.1.3.
Miscellaneous.......................................................................................
87
11.2 No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing
Required................................................... 87
11.3 Reimbursement and Indemnification of Banks by the Borrower;
Taxes........................................... 87
11.4
Holidays....................................................................................................
88
11.5 Funding by Branch, Subsidiary or
Affiliate..................................................................
89
11.5.1. Notional
Funding....................................................................................
89
11.5.2. Actual
Funding......................................................................................
89
11.6 Notices; Lending
Offices....................................................................................
89
11.7
Severability................................................................................................
90
11.8 Governing
Law...............................................................................................
90
11.9 Prior
Understanding.........................................................................................
91
11.10 Duration;
Survival..........................................................................................
91
11.11 Successors and Assigns; Joinder of a
Bank...................................................................
91
11.12
Confidentiality.............................................................................................
93
11.12.1.
General............................................................................................
93
11.12.2. Sharing Information With Affiliates of the
Banks................................................... 93
11.13
Counterparts................................................................................................
93
11.14 Agent's or Bank's
Consent...................................................................................
94
11.15
Exceptions..................................................................................................
94
11.16 WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL........................................................................................
94
</TABLE>
- vi -
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- ----
<S> <C>
11.17 JURISDICTION &
VENUE.........................................................................................
94
11.18 Certifications From Banks and
Participants...................................................................
95
11.18.1. Tax
Withholding.....................................................................................
95
11.18.2. USA Patriot
Act.....................................................................................
96
</TABLE>
- vii -
<PAGE>
LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1.1(A) - PRICING GRID
SCHEDULE 1.1(B) - COMMITMENTS OF BANKS AND ADDRESSES FOR
NOTICES
SCHEDULE 1.1(P) - PERMITTED LIENS
SCHEDULE 2.9.1 - EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT
SCHEDULE 6.1.2 - SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE 6.1.12 - CONSENTS AND APPROVALS
SCHEDULE 6.1.23 - HEDGING CONTRACT POLICIES
SCHEDULE 6.1.24 PERMITTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
SCHEDULE 8.2.1 - EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT 1.1(A) - ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 1.1(B) - BANK JOINDER
EXHIBIT 1.1(R) - REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
EXHIBIT 1.1(S) - SWING LOAN NOTE
EXHIBIT 2.4 - LOAN REQUEST
EXHIBIT 2.5 - SWING LOAN REQUEST
EXHIBIT 5.5 - COMMITMENT REDUCTION NOTICE
EXHIBIT 7.1.3(A) - OPINION OF COUNSEL
EXHIBIT 7.1.3(B) - OPINION OF IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
EXHIBIT 8.2.5 - ACQUISITION COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
EXHIBIT 8.3.3 - COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
- viii -
<PAGE>
CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of December 16, 2004 and is
made by and
among NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a New Jersey corporation
(the "Borrower"),
the BANKS (as hereinafter defined), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NA and
FLEET NATIONAL
BANK, each in its capacity as a syndication agent, BANK OF
TOKYO-MITSUBISHI
TRUST COMPANY and CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., each in its
capacity as a
documentation agent, and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its
capacity as
administrative agent for the Banks under this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to
in such capacity as the "Agent").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested the Banks to provide a
revolving
credit facility to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount
not to exceed
$225,000,000; and
WHEREAS, the revolving credit facility shall be used for
refinancing
existing indebtedness and general corporate purposes of the
Borrower; and
WHEREAS, the Banks are willing to provide such credit upon the
terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of their
mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and intending to
be legally bound
hereby, covenant and agree as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions.
In addition to words and terms defined elsewhere in this
Agreement,
the following words and terms shall have the following meanings,
respectively,
unless the context hereof clearly requires otherwise:
Acquired Person shall mean a Person or business acquired by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in a transaction
which is a
Permitted Acquisition.
Acquisition Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning
assigned to that term in Section 8.2.5.
Additional Bank shall have the meaning assigned to that term
in Section 11.11(iv).
<PAGE>
Affiliate as to any Person shall mean any other Person (i)
which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is
under common
control with such Person, (ii) which beneficially owns or holds
10% or more of
any class of the voting or other equity interests of such
Person, or (iii) 10%
or more of any class of voting interests or other equity
interests of which is
beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by such
Person. Control, as
used in this definition, shall mean 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 ownership of voting securities, by
contract or
otherwise, including the power to elect a majority of the
directors or trustees
of a corporation or trust, as the case may be.
Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and its
successors and assigns.
Agent's Fee shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 10.15.
Agent's Letter shall have the meaning assigned to that term
in
Section 10.15.
Agreement shall mean this Credit Agreement, as the same may
be
supplemented or amended from time to time, including all
schedules and exhibits.
Anti-Terrorism Laws shall mean any Laws relating to
terrorism
or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224, the
USA Patriot Act,
the Laws comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, and
the Laws
administered by the United States Treasury Department's Office
of Foreign Asset
Control (as any of the foregoing Laws may from time to time be
amended, renewed,
extended, or replaced).
Applicable Facility Fee Rate shall mean the percentage rate
per annum at the indicated level of Debt Rating in the pricing
grid on Schedule
1.1(A) below the heading "Facility Fee." The Applicable Facility
Fee Rate shall
be computed in accordance with the parameters set forth on
Schedule 1.1(A).
Applicable Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall mean the
percentage
rate per annum at the indicated level of Debt Rating in the
pricing grid on
Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading "Letter of Credit Fee." The
Applicable Letter
of Credit Fee Rate shall be computed in accordance with the
parameters set forth
on Schedule 1.1(A).
Applicable Margin shall mean, as applicable:
(A) the percentage spread to be added to Base Rate under the
Base Rate Option at the indicated level of Debt Rating in the
pricing grid on
Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading "Base Rate Spread," or
(B) the percentage spread to be added to Euro-Rate under the
Euro-Rate Option at the indicated level of Debt Rating in the
pricing grid on
Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading "Euro-Rate Spread."
2
<PAGE>
The Applicable Margin shall be computed in accordance with
the
parameters set forth on Schedule 1.1(A).
Approved Fund shall mean, with respect to any Bank, any
Person
(other than a natural person) that is engaged in making,
purchasing, holding or
investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the
ordinary course
of its business and that is administered by such Bank, an
Affiliate of such Bank
or an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or
manages such Bank.
Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall mean an Assignment
and Assumption Agreement by and among a Purchasing Bank, a
Transferor Bank and
the Agent, as Agent and on behalf of the remaining Banks,
substantially in the
form of Exhibit 1.1(A).
Authorized Officer shall mean those individuals, designated
by
written notice to the Agent from the Borrower, authorized to
execute notices,
reports and other documents on behalf of the Borrower required
hereunder. The
Borrower may amend such list of individuals from time to time by
giving written
notice of such amendment to the Agent.
Bank Joinder shall mean a Bank Joinder substantially in the
form of Exhibit 1.1(B).
Bank Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an Interest
Rate
Hedge which is provided by any Bank and that meets the following
requirements:
such Interest Rate Hedge (i) is documented in a standard
International Swap
Dealer Association Agreement, (ii) provides for the method of
calculating the
reimbursable amount of the provider's credit exposure in a
reasonable and
customary manner, and (iii) is entered into for hedging (rather
than
speculative) purposes. The liabilities of the Borrower to the
provider of any
Bank-Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall be "Obligations"
hereunder and otherwise
treated as Obligations for the purposes of each of the other
Loan Documents.
Banks shall mean the financial institutions named on
Schedule
1.1(B) and their respective successors and assigns as permitted
hereunder, each
of which is referred to herein as a Bank.
Base Rate shall mean the greater of (i) the interest rate
per
annum announced from time to time by the Agent at its Principal
Office as its
then prime rate, which rate may not be the lowest rate then
being charged
commercial borrowers by the Agent, or (ii) the Federal Funds
Open Rate plus 1/2%
per annum.
Base Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to
have
Revolving Credit Loans bear interest at the rate and under the
terms and
conditions set forth in Section 4.1.1(i).
Benefit Arrangement shall mean at any time an "employee
benefit plan," within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA,
which is neither a
Plan nor a Multiemployer Plan
3
<PAGE>
and which is maintained, sponsored or otherwise contributed to
by any member of
the ERISA Group.
Blocked Person shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in
Subsection 6.1.25.
Borrower shall mean New Jersey Natural Gas Company, a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State
of New Jersey.
Borrowing Date shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the
date
for the making thereof or the renewal or conversion thereof at
or to the same or
a different Interest Rate Option, which shall be a Business
Day.
Borrowing Tranche shall mean specified portions of Loans
outstanding as follows: (i) any Loans to which a Euro-Rate
Option applies which
become subject to the same Interest Rate Option under the same
Loan Request by
the Borrower and which have the same Interest Period shall
constitute one
Borrowing Tranche, and (ii) all Loans to which a Base Rate
Option applies shall
constitute one Borrowing Tranche.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or
Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are
authorized or required
to be closed for business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and if the
applicable
Business Day relates to any Loan to which the Euro-Rate Option
applies, such day
must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in the
London interbank
market.
Closing Date shall mean the Business Day on which the first
Loan shall be made, which shall be December 16, 2004. The
closing shall take
place on the Closing Date at such time and place as the parties
agree.
Commercial Letter of Credit shall mean any letter of credit
which is issued in respect of the purchase of goods or services
by the Borrower
in the ordinary course of its business.
Commitment shall mean as to any Bank its Revolving Credit
Commitment and, in the case of the Agent, its Swing Loan
Commitment, and
Commitments shall mean the aggregate of the Revolving Credit
Commitments and
Swing Loan Commitment of all of the Banks.
Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning assigned to
such
term in Section 8.3.3.
Consideration shall mean with respect to any Permitted
Acquisition, the aggregate of (i) the cash paid by the
Borrower,
directly or indirectly, to the seller in connection therewith,
(ii) the
Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower, whether in
favor of the seller
or otherwise and whether fixed or contingent, (iii) any Guaranty
given or
incurred by the
4
<PAGE>
Borrower in connection therewith, and (iv) any other
consideration given or
obligation incurred by the Borrower in connection therewith.
Consolidated Income from Operations for any period of
determination shall mean (i) the sum of net income (provided
that there shall be
excluded from net income: (a) any extraordinary items of gain or
loss
(including, without limitation, those items created by mandated
changes in
accounting treatment), and (b) any gain or loss of any Person
accounted for on
the equity method except to the extent of cash distributions
received by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower during the period of
determination
with respect to any gain of any Person accounted for on the
equity method),
depreciation, amortization, other non-cash charges to net
income, interest
expense and income tax expense minus (ii) non-cash credits to
net income, in
each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period
determined and
consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Interest Expense for any period of
determination
shall mean interest expense for such period of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance
with GAAP.
Consolidated Shareholders' Equity shall mean as of any date
of
determination the sum of the amounts under the headings "Common
Shareholders'
Equity" and "Preferred Shareholders' Equity" on the balance
sheet, prepared in
accordance with GAAP, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated
basis as of such date of determination.
Consolidated Total Capitalization shall mean as of any date
of
determination the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness,
plus (ii)
Consolidated Shareholders' Equity.
Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall mean as of any date of
determination total Indebtedness, without duplication, of the
Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
Contamination shall mean the presence or release or threat
of
release of Regulated Substances in, on, under or emanating to or
from the
Property, which pursuant to Environmental Laws requires
notification or
reporting to an Official Body, or which pursuant to
Environmental Laws requires
the performance of a Remedial Action or which otherwise
constitutes a violation
of Environmental Laws.
Debt Rating shall mean the rating of the Borrower's senior
secured long-term debt by each of Standard & Poor's and
Moody's.
Dollar, Dollars, U.S. Dollars and the symbol $ shall mean
lawful money of the United States of America.
Drawing Date shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 2.9.3.2.
5
<PAGE>
Environmental Complaint shall mean any (i) notice of
non-compliance or violation, citation or order relating in any
way to any
Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Contamination or
Regulated Substance;
(ii) civil, criminal, administrative or regulatory investigation
instituted by
an Official Body relating in any way to any Environmental Law,
Environmental
Permit, Contamination or Regulated Substance; (iii)
administrative, regulatory
or judicial action, suit, claim or proceeding instituted by any
Person or
Official Body or any other written notice of liability or
potential liability
from any Person or Official Body, in either instance, relating
to or setting
forth allegations or a cause of action for personal injury
(including but not
limited to death), property damage, natural resource damage,
contribution or
indemnity for the costs associated with the performance of
Remedial Actions,
direct recovery for the costs associated with the performance of
Remedial
Actions, liens or encumbrances attached to or recorded or levied
against
property for the costs associated with the performance of
Remedial Actions,
civil or administrative penalties, criminal fines or penalties
or declaratory or
equitable relief arising under any Environmental Laws; or (iv)
subpoena, request
for information or other written notice or demand of any type
issued by an
Official Body pursuant to any Environmental Laws.
Environmental Laws shall mean all federal, state, local and
foreign Laws (including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive
Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections
9601 et seq., the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901
et seq., the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 1801
et seq., the
Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.,
the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. Sections 1251 et seq., the
Federal Safe
Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 300f-300j, the Federal
Air Pollution
Control Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq., the Oil Pollution
Act, 33 U.S.C.
Section 2701 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act, 7
U.S.C. Sections 136 to 136y, the Occupational Safety and Health
Act, 29 U.S.C.
Section 651 et seq., each as amended, and any regulations
promulgated or any
equivalent state or local Law, and any amendments thereto) and
any consent
decrees, consent orders, consent agreements, settlement
agreements, judgments,
orders, directives, policies or programs issued by or entered
into with an
Official Body pertaining or relating to: (i) pollution or
pollution control;
(ii) protection of human health from exposure to Regulated
Substances; (iii)
protection of the environment and/or natural resources; (iv)
protection of
employee safety in the workplace and protection of employees
from exposure to
Regulated Substances in the workplace (but excluding workers
compensation and
wage and hour Laws); (v) the presence, use, management,
generation, manufacture,
processing, extraction, treatment, recycling, refining,
reclamation, labeling,
sale, transport, storage, collection, distribution, disposal or
release or
threat of release of Regulated Substances; (vi) the presence of
Contamination;
(vii) the protection of endangered or threatened species; and
(viii) the
protection of Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
Environmental Permits shall mean all permits, licenses,
bonds
or other forms of financial assurances, consents, registrations,
identification
numbers, approvals or authorizations required under
Environmental Laws (i) to
own, occupy or maintain the Property; (ii) for the operations
and business
activities of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii)
for the
performance of a Remedial Action.
6
<PAGE>
Environmental Records shall mean all notices, reports,
records, plans, applications, forms or other filings relating or
pertaining to
the Property, Contamination, the performance of a Remedial
Action and the
operations and business activities of the Borrower and any of
its Subsidiaries
which pursuant to Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits or
at the request or
direction of an Official Body either must be submitted to an
Official Body or
which otherwise must be maintained.
Environmentally Sensitive Area shall mean (i) any wetland as
defined by applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) any area
designated as a coastal
zone pursuant to applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws;
(iii) any area
of historic or archeological significance or scenic area as
defined or
designated by applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws;
(iv) habitats of
endangered species or threatened species as designated by
applicable Laws,
including Environmental Laws; or (v) a floodplain or other flood
hazard area as
defined pursuant to any applicable Laws.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, and any
successor statute of similar import, and the rules and
regulations thereunder,
as from time to time in effect.
ERISA Group shall mean, at any time, the Borrower and all
members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or
businesses
(whether or not incorporated) under common control and all other
entities which,
together with the Borrower, are treated as a single employer
under Section 414
of the Internal Revenue Code.
Euro-Rate shall mean, with respect to the Loans comprising
any
Borrowing Tranche to which the Euro-Rate Option applies for any
Interest Period,
the interest rate per annum determined by the Agent by dividing
(the resulting
quotient rounded upwards, if necessary to the nearest 1/100th of
1% per annum)
(i) the rate of interest determined by the Agent in accordance
with its usual
procedures (which determination shall be conclusive, absent
manifest error) to
be the average of the London interbank offered rates for U.S.
Dollars quoted by
the British Bankers' Association as set forth on Moneyline
Telerate (or
appropriate successor or, if the British Bankers' Association or
its successor
ceases to provide such quotes, a comparable replacement
determined by the Agent)
display page 3750 (or such other display page on the Moneyline
Telerate service
as may replace display page 3750), two (2) Business Days prior
to the first day
of such Interest Period for an amount comparable to such
Borrowing Tranche and
having a Borrowing Date and a maturity comparable to such
Interest Period by
(ii) a number equal to 1.00 minus the Euro-Rate Reserve
Percentage. The
Euro-Rate may also be expressed by the following formula:
7
<PAGE>
Average of London interbank offered rates quoted
by BBA or appropriate successor as shown on
Euro-Rate = Moneyline Telerate Service display page 3750
------------------------------------------------
1.00 - Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage
The Euro-Rate shall be adjusted with respect to any Loan to
which the Euro-Rate Option applies that is outstanding on the
effective date of
any change in the Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage as of such
effective date. The
Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower of the Euro-Rate
as determined or
adjusted in accordance herewith, which determination shall be
conclusive absent
manifest error.
Euro-Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to
have
Revolving Credit Loans bear interest at the rate and under the
terms and
conditions set forth in Section 4.1.1(ii).
Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage shall mean as of any day the
maximum percentage in effect on such day as prescribed by the
Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining
the reserve
requirements (including supplemental, marginal and emergency
reserve
requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently
referred to as
"Eurocurrency Liabilities").
Event of Default shall mean any of the events described in
Section 9.1 and referred to therein as an "Event of
Default."
Executive Order No. 13224 shall mean the Executive Order No.
13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as
the same has
been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or
replaced.
Existing Credit Facility shall mean that certain Credit
Agreement among the Borrower, the banks party thereto, Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi
Trust Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, previously known as
JPMorgan Chase
Bank, each in its capacity as a syndication agent, Fleet
National Bank and
SunTrust Bank, each in its capacity as a documentation agent,
and PNC Bank,
National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent
for the Banks,
dated December 23, 2002 (as amended by that certain First
Amendment, dated
August 13, 2003, that certain Second Amendment and Consent,
dated December 19,
2003, that certain Third Amendment, dated July 12, 2004, and
that certain Fourth
Amendment, dated August 31, 2004).
Existing Letters of Credit shall have the meaning assigned
to
that term in Section 2.9.1.
Expiration Date shall mean, with respect to the Revolving
Credit Commitments, December 16, 2009.
Facility Fees collectively and Facility Fee separately shall
have the meaning given to such terms in Section 2.3.1.
8
<PAGE>
Facility Usage Fees collectively and Facility Usage Fee
separately shall have the meaning given to such terms in Section
2.3.2.
Federal Funds Open Rate for any day shall mean the rate per
annum (based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed)
determined by the
Agent in accordance with its usual procedures (which
determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) to be the "Open" rate for
federal funds
transactions as of the opening of business for federal funds
transactions among
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds
brokers on such
day, as quoted by Garvin Guybutler, any successor entity
thereto, or any other
broker selected by the Agent, as set forth on the applicable
Telerate display
page; provided, however, that if such day is not a Business Day,
the Federal
Funds Open Rate for such day shall be the "Open" rate on the
immediately
preceding Business Day, or if no such rate shall be quoted by a
federal funds
broker at such time, such other rate as determined by the Agent
in accordance
with its usual procedures.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as
are in effect in the United States from time to time, subject to
the provisions
of Section 1.3, and applied on a consistent basis both as to
classification of
items and amounts.
Governmental Acts shall have the meaning assigned to that
term
in Section 2.9.8.
Guaranty of any Person shall mean any obligation of such
Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any liability or
obligation of any
other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly,
including any
agreement to indemnify or hold harmless any other Person, any
performance bond
or other suretyship arrangement and any other form of assurance
against loss,
except endorsement of negotiable or other instruments for
deposit or collection
in the ordinary course of business.
Hedging Contract Policies shall mean the written internal
policies and procedures with respect to hedging or trading of
gas contracts or
other commodity, hedging contracts of any kind, or any
derivatives or other
similar financial instruments of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries, as in effect
on the date of this Agreement and as hereafter amended in
accordance with
Section 8.2.16, a copy of which has been delivered to the Agent
and each Bank.
Hedging Transaction shall mean any transaction entered into
by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the
Hedging Contract
Policies.
Historical Statements shall have the meaning assigned to
that
term in Section 6.1.8(i).
Hybrid Security shall mean any of the following: (i)
beneficial interests issued by a trust which constitutes a
Subsidiary of the
Borrower, substantially all of the assets of which trust are
unsecured
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower
or proceeds
thereof, and all payments of which Indebtedness are required to
be, and are,
distributed
9
<PAGE>
to the holders of beneficial interests in such trust promptly
after receipt by
such trust, or (ii) any shares of capital stock or other equity
interest that,
other than solely at the option of the issuer thereof, by their
terms (or by the
terms of any security into which they are convertible or
exchangeable) are, or
upon the happening of an event or the passage of time would be,
required to be
redeemed or repurchased, in whole or in part, or have, or upon
the happening of
an event or the passage of time would have, a redemption or
similar payment.
Inactive Subsidiary shall mean, at any time, any Subsidiary
of
any Person, which Subsidiary (i) does not conduct any business
or have
operations, and (ii) does not have total assets with a net book
value, as of any
date of determination, in excess of $100,000.
Indebtedness shall mean, as to any Person at any time, any
and
all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or
unmatured,
liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or
contingent, or joint
or several) of such Person for or in respect of: (i) borrowed
money, (ii)
amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note
purchase or
acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations
(contingent or
otherwise) under any letter of credit, currency swap agreement,
interest rate
swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate or
currency exchange
rate management device, (iv) any other transaction (including
forward sale or
purchase agreements, capitalized leases and conditional sales
agreements) having
the commercial effect of a borrowing of money entered into by
such Person to
finance its operations or capital requirements (but not
including trade payables
and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business
which are not
represented by a promissory note or other evidence of
indebtedness and which are
not more than thirty (30) days past due), (v) any Hedging
Transaction, to the
extent that any indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of such
Person in
respect thereof constitutes "indebtedness" as determined in
accordance with
GAAP, (vi) any Guaranty of any Hedging Transaction described in
the immediately
preceding clause (v), (vii) any Guaranty of Indebtedness for
borrowed money,
(viii) any Hybrid Security described in clause (i) of the
definition of Hybrid
Security, or (ix) the mandatory repayment obligation of the
issuer of any Hybrid
Security described in clause (ii) of the definition of Hybrid
Security.
Ineligible Security shall mean any security which may not be
underwritten or dealt in by member banks of the Federal Reserve
System under
Section 16 of the Banking Act of 1933 (12 U.S.C. Section 24,
Seventh), as
amended.
Insolvency Proceeding shall mean, with respect to any
Person,
(a) a case, action or proceeding with respect to such Person (i)
before any
court or any other Official Body under any bankruptcy,
insolvency,
reorganization or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect,
or (ii) for the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
trustee,
sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of such Person
or otherwise
relating to the liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or relief
of such Person,
or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
composition,
marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar
arrangement in respect of
such Person's creditors generally or any substantial portion of
its creditors;
undertaken under any Law.
10
<PAGE>
Interest Period shall mean the period of time selected by
the
Borrower in connection with (and to apply to) any election
permitted hereunder
by the Borrower to have Revolving Credit Loans bear interest
under the Euro-Rate
Option. Subject to the last sentence of this definition, such
period shall be
one, two, three or six Months, and solely with approval of the
Agent a shorter
period. Such Interest Period shall commence on the effective
date of such
Interest Rate Option, which shall be (i) the Borrowing Date if
the Borrower is
requesting new Loans, or (ii) the date of renewal of or
conversion to the
Euro-Rate Option if the Borrower is renewing or converting to
the Euro-Rate
Option applicable to outstanding Loans. Notwithstanding the
second sentence
hereof: (A) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a
date which is not
a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business
Day unless such
Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case
such Interest
Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and (B) the
Borrower shall
not select, convert to or renew an Interest Period for any
portion of the Loans
that would end after the Expiration Date.
IRH Provider shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 9.2.5.2 [Collateral Sharing].
Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an interest rate exchange,
collar, cap, swap, adjustable strike cap, adjustable strike
corridor or similar
agreements entered into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in
order to provide
protection to, or minimize the impact upon, the Borrower and/or
its Subsidiaries
of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to
Indebtedness.
Interest Rate Option shall mean any Euro-Rate Option or Base
Rate Option.
Internal Revenue Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code
of
1986, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, and any
successor statute of similar import, and the rules and
regulations thereunder,
as from time to time in effect.
Investment shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 8.2.4.
Labor Contracts shall mean all employment agreements,
employment contracts, collective bargaining agreements and other
agreements
among the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and its
employees.
Law shall mean any law (including common law), constitution,
statute, treaty, regulation, rule, ordinance, opinion, release,
ruling, order,
injunction, writ, decree, bond, judgment, authorization or
approval, lien or
award of or settlement agreement with any Official Body.
Letter of Credit shall have the meaning assigned to that
term
in Section 2.9.1.
Letter of Credit Borrowing shall have the meaning assigned
to
such term in Section 2.9.3.4.
11
<PAGE>
Letter of Credit Fee shall have the meaning assigned to that
term in
Section 2.9.2.
Letters of Credit Outstanding shall mean at any time the sum of
(i)
the aggregate undrawn face amount of outstanding Letters of
Credit and (ii) the
aggregate amount of all unpaid and outstanding Reimbursement
Obligations and
Letter of Credit Borrowings.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien,
security
interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of
any nature
whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given,
including any
conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any
assignment, deposit
arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of,
security and any
filed financing statement or other notice of any of the
foregoing (whether or
not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time
of the filing).
LLC Interests shall have the meaning given to such term in
Section
6.1.2.
Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Agent's Letter,
the
Notes (if any), and any other instruments, certificates or
documents delivered
or contemplated to be delivered hereunder or thereunder or in
connection
herewith or therewith, as the same may be supplemented or
amended from time to
time in accordance herewith or therewith, and Loan Document
shall mean any of
the Loan Documents.
Loan Request shall mean a request for a Revolving Credit Loan or
a
request to select, convert to or renew a Base Rate Option or
Euro-Rate Option
with respect to an outstanding Revolving Credit Loan in
accordance with Sections
2.4, 2.5, 4.1 and 4.2.
Loans shall mean collectively and Loan shall mean separately
all
Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans or any Revolving Credit
Loan or Swing
Loan.
Material Adverse Change shall mean any set of circumstances
or
events which (a) has or could reasonably be expected to have any
material
adverse effect whatsoever upon the validity or enforceability of
this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, (b) is or could reasonably be
expected to be
material and adverse to the business, properties, assets,
financial condition,
results of operations or prospects of the Borrower, (c) impairs
materially or
could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of
the Borrower to
duly and punctually pay the Indebtedness or otherwise perform
the obligations in
accordance with the Loan Documents, or (d) impairs materially or
could
reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the
Agent or any of
the Banks, to the extent permitted, to enforce their legal
remedies pursuant to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Month, with respect to an Interest Period under the
Euro-Rate
Option, shall mean the interval between the days in consecutive
calendar months
numerically corresponding to the first day of such Interest
Period. If any
Euro-Rate Interest Period begins on a day of a calendar month
for which there is
no numerically corresponding day in the month in
12
<PAGE>
which such Interest Period is to end, the final month of such
Interest Period
shall be deemed to end on the last Business Day of such final
month.
Moody's shall mean Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its
successors.
Mortgage Indenture shall mean that certain Indenture of Mortgage
and
Deed of Trust dated April 1, 1952 from the Borrower to BNY
Midwest Trust
Company, as successor to Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Trustee,
as heretofore
and hereafter amended, modified and supplemented.
Multiemployer Plan shall mean any employee benefit plan which is
a
"multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA and to
which the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group is then
making or accruing
an obligation to make contributions or, within the preceding
five Plan years,
has made or had an obligation to make such contributions.
Multiple Employer Plan shall mean a Plan which has two or
more
contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any member of
the ERISA Group)
at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a
plan is described
in Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA.
Net Cash Proceeds shall mean, with respect to any issuance of
debt
or a Hybrid Security, an amount equal to the cash proceeds
received by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from or in respect of such
transaction
(including, when received: (i) any cash proceeds received as
income or other
deferred cash proceeds, or (ii) cash proceeds of any non-cash
proceeds of such
transaction), less all investment banking fees, discounts and
commissions, legal
fees, consulting fees, accountants' fees, underwriting discounts
and commissions
and other customary and reasonable fees and expenses actually
incurred in
connection therewith.
NJNG Note Agreement shall mean the Note Agreement, dated March
15,
2004, as the same may be supplemented, amended, or modified from
time to time as
permitted by Section 8.2.18 [Amendments to NJNG Note Agreement]
hereof.
NJNG Notes shall mean the unsecured Indebtedness issued by
the
Borrower pursuant to the NJNG Note Agreement.
Notes shall mean the Revolving Credit Notes and Swing Loan Note,
if
any.
Notices shall have the meaning assigned to that term in
Section
11.6.
Obligations shall mean any obligation or liability of the
Borrower
to the Agent or any of the Banks, howsoever created, arising or
evidenced,
whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or
hereafter existing,
or due or to become due, under or in connection with this
Agreement, any Notes,
the Letters of Credit, the Agent's Letter or any other Loan
Document.
Obligations shall include the liabilities to any Bank under any
Bank-Provided
13
<PAGE>
Interest Rate Hedge but shall not include the liabilities to
other Persons under
any other Interest Rate Hedge.
Official Body shall mean any national, federal, state, local
or
other government or political subdivision or any agency,
authority, board,
bureau, central bank, commission, department or instrumentality
of either, or
any court, tribunal, grand jury or arbitrator, in each case
whether foreign or
domestic.
Parent shall mean New Jersey Resources Corporation, a
corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New
Jersey, of which
Borrower is a wholly owned Subsidiary.
Participation Advance shall mean, with respect to any Bank,
such
Bank's payment in respect of its participation in a Letter of
Credit Borrowing
according to its Ratable Share pursuant to Section 2.9.3.4.
Partnership Interests shall have the meaning given to such term
in
Section 6.1.2.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
established
pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any
successor.
Permitted Acquisitions shall have the meaning assigned to such
term
in Section 8.2.5 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations,
Acquisitions].
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any
agency
or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full
faith and credit of
the United States of America maturing in twelve (12) months or
less from the
date of acquisition;
(ii) repurchase agreements having a duration of not more than
sixty
(60) days that are collateralized by full faith and credit
obligations of the
United States Government or obligations guaranteed by the United
States
Government and its agencies;
(iii) interests in investment companies registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or in a separate
portfolio of such
an investment company), that invest primarily in full faith and
credit
obligations of the United States Government or obligations
guaranteed by the
United States Government and its agencies and repurchase
agreements
collateralized by such obligations;
(iv) time deposits with any office located in the United States
of
the Banks or any other bank or trust company which is organized
under the laws
of the United States and has combined capital, surplus and
undivided profits of
not less than $500,000,000 or with any bank which is organized
other than under
the laws of the United States (y) the commercial paper of which
is rated at
least A-1 by Standard & Poor's and P-1 by Moody's (or, if
such
14
<PAGE>
commercial paper is rated only by Standard & Poor's, at
least A-1 by Standard &
Poor's, or if such commercial paper is rated only by Moody's, at
least P-1 by
Moody's) or (z) the long term senior debt of which is rated at
least AA by
Standard & Poor's and Aa2 by Moody's (or, if such debt is
rated only by Standard
& Poor's, at least AA by Standard & Poor's, or if such
debt is rated only by
Moody's, at least Aa2 by Moody's);
(v) commercial paper having a maturity of not more than one
year
from the date of such investment and rated at least A-1 by
Standard & Poor's and
P-1 by Moody's (or, if such commercial paper is rated only by
Standard & Poor's,
at least A-1 by Standard & Poor's or, if such commercial
paper is rated only by
Moody's, at least P-1 by Moody's);
(vi) instruments held for collection in the ordinary course
of
business;
(vii) any equity or debt securities or other form of debt
instrument
obtained in settlement of debts previously contracted; and
(viii) any Investment arising out of a Permitted Related
Business
Opportunity.
Permitted Liens shall mean:
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments, or similar charges, incurred
in
the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and
payable;
(ii) Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business
to
secure payment of workmen's compensation, or to participate in
any fund in
connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance,
old-age pensions
or other social security programs;
(iii) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers,
or
other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary
course of
business that are not yet due and payable and Liens of landlords
securing
obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and
payable or in
default;
(iv) Any Lien arising out of judgments or awards but only to
the
extent that the creation of any such Lien shall not be an event
or condition
which, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would
cause Borrower to
be in violation of Section 9.1.6;
(v) Security interests in favor of lessors of personal
property,
which property is the subject of a true lease;
(vi) Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course
of
business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts
(other than for the
repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of the
aggregate amount
due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety,
appeal,
indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the
ordinary course of
business;
15
<PAGE>
(vii) Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions,
easements,
rights-of-way or other restrictions on the use of real property
and minor
defects to title to real property, none of which materially
impairs the use of
such property or the value thereof;
(viii) Liens on property leased by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of
the Borrower securing obligations of the Borrower or such
Subsidiary to the
lessor under such leases, so long as to the extent the payments
or other amounts
due and owing under any such lease constitute Indebtedness, such
Indebtedness is
permitted under Section 8.2.1;
(ix) Any Lien existing on the date of this Agreement and
described
on Schedule 1.1(P), provided, that, to the extent any such Lien
secures
Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.2.1(ii), such Lien may
continue to secure
any renewals or extensions of such Indebtedness permitted by
Section 8.2.1(ii)
so long as (i) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured
by any such Lien
is not hereafter increased and (ii) no additional assets become
subject to such
Lien;
(x) Liens on assets of the Borrower existing on the Closing
Date
(other than on any "Excepted Property" of the Borrower, as
"Excepted Property"
is defined in the Mortgage Indenture on the Closing Date), which
Liens secure
outstanding Indebtedness as of the Closing Date under the
Mortgage Indenture and
thereafter Liens on assets of the Borrower (other than on any
"Excepted
Property") which additional Liens secure outstanding
Indebtedness as of the
Closing Date under the Mortgage Indenture and any additional
Indebtedness which
is issued in accordance with Article Two of the Mortgage
Indenture and is
otherwise permitted by Section 8.2.1(iii);
(xi) Purchase Money Security Interests, provided, that the
aggregate
amount of loans and deferred payments secured by such Purchase
Money Security
Interests shall not exceed $20,000,000 (excluding for the
purpose of this
computation any loans or deferred payments secured by Liens
described on
Schedule 1.1(P));
(xii) Liens on any property or asset of an Acquired Person so
long
as: (a) such Liens secure Indebtedness of the Acquired Person
and such
Indebtedness and such Liens on property or assets of the
Acquired Person existed
prior to the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition and were
not created in
contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, (b)
such Liens apply
solely to the assets of the Acquired Person and do not apply to
any asset of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (c) after giving
effect to such
Permitted Acquisition and all other Permitted Acquisitions made
by the Borrower
and any Subsidiary of the Borrower from and after the Closing
Date, the
aggregate outstanding amount of all Indebtedness secured by
Liens permitted by
this clause (xii) shall not exceed $75,000,000; and
(xiii) The following, (A) if the validity or amount thereof is
being
contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings
diligently
conducted so long as levy and execution thereon have been stayed
and continue to
be stayed or (B) if a final judgment is entered and such
judgment is discharged
within thirty (30) days of entry, and could not be reasonably
expected to result
in a Material Adverse Change:
16
<PAGE>
(1) Claims or Liens for taxes, assessments or charges due
and
payable and subject to interest or penalty, provided that the
Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, maintains such reserves
or other
appropriate provisions as shall be required by GAAP and pays all
such
taxes, assessments or charges forthwith upon the commencement
of
proceedings to foreclose any such Lien;
(2) Claims, Liens or encumbrances upon, and defects of title
to, real or personal property, including any attachment of
personal or
real property or other legal process prior to adjudication of a
dispute on
the merits; or
(3) Claims or Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen,
carriers, or other statutory nonconsensual Liens.
Permitted Related Business Opportunity shall mean any
transaction
with another Person (other than any Inactive Subsidiary of
Parent) involving
business activities or assets reasonably related or
complementary to the
business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as conducted on
the Closing Date
or as may be conducted pursuant to Section 8.2.9, including,
without limitation,
the management and marketing of storage, capacity and
transportation of gas and
other forms of energy, the generation, transmission or storage
of gas and other
forms of energy, or the access to gas and energy transmission
lines, and
business initiatives for the conservation and efficiency of gas
and energy.
Permitted Transferee shall mean, as of any date of
determination,
any of the following with respect to any then current officer or
director of the
Parent: (i) such Person's spouse, lineal descendants or lineal
descendant's of
such Person's spouse, (ii) any charitable corporation or trust
established by
such officer or director or by any Person described in the
immediately preceding
clause (i), (iii) any trust (or in the case of a minor, a
custodial account
under a Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act) of which the
beneficiary or
beneficiaries are one or more Persons described in the
immediately preceding
clauses (i) or (ii), or (iv) any executor or administrator upon
the death of
such officer or director or the death of any Person described in
the immediately
preceding clauses (i) or (ii).
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
limited
liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated
organization, joint venture, government or political subdivision
or agency
thereof, or any other entity.
Plan shall mean at any time an employee pension benefit plan
(including a Multiple Employer Plan, but not a Multiemployer
Plan) which is
covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum
funding standards
under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and either (i) is
maintained by
any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the
ERISA Group or
(ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been
maintained by any
entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for
employees of any
entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
17
<PAGE>
PNC Bank shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, its
successors
and assigns.
Potential Default shall mean any event or condition which
with
notice, passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of
Default.
Principal Office shall mean the main banking office of the Agent
in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Prohibited Transaction shall mean any prohibited transaction
as
defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section
406 of ERISA for
which neither an individual nor a class exemption has been
issued by the United
States Department of Labor.
Property shall mean all real property, both owned and leased, of
the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.
Purchase Money Security Interest shall mean Liens upon
tangible
personal property securing loans to the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the
Borrower or deferred payments by the Borrower or such Subsidiary
for the
purchase of such tangible personal property.
Purchasing Bank shall mean a Bank which becomes a party to
this
Agreement by executing an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement.
Ratable Share shall mean the proportion that a Bank's
Commitment
(excluding its Swing Loan Commitment) bears to the Commitments
(excluding the
Swing Loan Commitment) of all of the Banks.
Regulated Entity shall mean any Person which is subject under
Law to
any of the laws, rules or regulations respecting the financial,
organizational
or rate regulation of electric companies, public utilities, or
public utility
holding companies.
Regulated Substances shall mean, without limitation, any
substance,
material or waste, regardless of its form or nature, defined
under Environmental
Laws as a "hazardous substance," "pollutant," "pollution,"
"contaminant,"
"hazardous or toxic substance," "extremely hazardous substance,"
"toxic
chemical," "toxic substance," "toxic waste," "hazardous waste,"
"special
handling waste," "industrial waste," "residual waste," "solid
waste," "municipal
waste," "mixed waste," "infectious waste," "chemotherapeutic
waste," "medical
waste," or "regulated substance", or any other substance,
material or waste,
regardless of its form or nature, which is regulated, controlled
or governed by
Environmental Laws due to its radioactive, ignitable, corrosive,
reactive,
explosive, toxic, carcinogenic or infectious properties or
nature or any other
material, substance or waste, regardless of its form or nature,
which otherwise
is regulated, controlled or governed by Environmental Laws,
including without
limitation, petroleum and petroleum products (including crude
oil and any
fractions thereof), natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures
thereof,
asbestos, urea formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenlys, mercury,
radon and
radioactive materials.
18
<PAGE>
Regulation U shall mean Regulation U, T, G, or X as promulgated
by
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended
from time to
time.
Reimbursement Obligation shall have the meaning assigned to
such
term in Section 2.9.3.2.
Remedial Action shall mean any investigation,
identification,
characterization, delineation, cleanup, removal, remediation,
containment,
control or abatement of or other response actions to Regulated
Substances and
any closure or post-closure measures associated therewith.
Reportable Event shall mean a reportable event described in
Section
4043 of ERISA and regulations thereunder with respect to a Plan
or Multiemployer
Plan.
Required Banks shall mean
(A) if there are no Loans, Reimbursement Obligations or Letter
of
Credit Borrowings outstanding, Required Banks shall mean Banks
whose Commitments
(excluding the Swing Loan Commitments) aggregate at least 51% of
the Commitments
of all of the Banks, or
(B) if there are Loans, Reimbursement Obligations, or Letter
of
Credit Borrowings outstanding, Required Banks shall mean:
(i) prior to a termination of the Commitments hereunder
pursuant to Section 9.2.1 or 9.2.2, any Bank or group of Banks
if the sum of the
Loans (excluding the Swing Loans), Reimbursement Obligations and
Letter of
Credit Borrowings of such Banks then outstanding aggregates at
least 51% of the
total principal amount of all of the Loans (excluding the Swing
Loans),
Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Borrowings then
outstanding.
(ii) after a termination of the Commitments hereunder
pursuant
to Section 9.2.1 or 9.2.2, any Bank or group of Banks if the sum
of the Loans,
Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Borrowings of
such Banks then
outstanding aggregates at least 51% of the total principal
amount of all of the
Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Borrowings
then
outstanding.
Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Borrowings shall
be deemed, for
purposes of this definition, to be in favor of the Agent and not
a participating
Bank if such Bank has not made its Participation Advance in
respect thereof and
shall be deemed to be in favor of such Bank to the extent of its
Participation
Advance if it has made its Participation Advance in respect
thereof.
Required Share shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in
Section 5.10.
19
<PAGE>
Revolving Credit Commitment shall mean, as to any Bank at any
time,
the amount initially set forth opposite its name on Schedule
1.1(B) in the
column labeled "Amount of Commitment for Revolving Credit
Loans," and thereafter
as determined by the Agent after giving effect to each
applicable Bank Joinder
and Assignment and Assumption Agreement executed by such Bank
and delivered to
the Agent, and Revolving Credit Commitments shall mean the
aggregate Revolving
Credit Commitments of all of the Banks.
Revolving Credit Loans shall mean collectively and Revolving
Credit
Loan shall mean separately all Revolving Credit Loans or any
Revolving Credit
Loan made by the Banks or one of the Banks to the Borrower
pursuant to Section
2.1.1 or 2.9.3.
Revolving Credit Note shall mean any Revolving Credit Note of
the
Borrower in the form of Exhibit 1.1(R) issued by the Borrower at
the request of
a Bank pursuant to Section 5.9 evidencing the Revolving Credit
Loans to such
Bank, together with all amendments, extensions, renewals,
replacements,
refinancings or refundings thereof in whole or in part.
Revolving Facility Usage shall mean at any time the sum of
the
Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, the Swing Loans outstanding
and the Letters
of Credit Outstanding.
SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
governmental agencies substituted therefor.
SEC Filings shall mean the Parent's Form 10-K, filed with the
SEC
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 and Forms 10-Q, the
first filed
with the SEC for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2003, the
second filed
with SEC for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004 and the
third filed with
the SEC for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004.
Section 20 Subsidiary shall mean the Subsidiary of the bank
holding
company controlling any Bank, which Subsidiary has been granted
authority by the
Federal Reserve Board to underwrite and deal in certain
Ineligible Securities.
Settlement Date shall mean the 7th day of each week (if such day
is
a Business Day and if not, the next succeeding Business Day) and
any other
Business Day on which the Agent elects to effect settlement
pursuant to Section
5.10.
Significant Subsidiary shall mean, any Subsidiary of the
Borrower
which at any time (i) has gross revenues equal to or in excess
of five percent
(5%) of the gross revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
on a
consolidated basis, or (ii) has total assets equal to or in
excess of five
percent (5%) of the total assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis, in either case, as determined and
consolidated in accordance
with GAAP.
Solvent shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular
date,
that on such date (i) such Person is able to realize upon its
assets and pay its
debts and other liabilities as they mature in the normal course
of business, and
(ii) such Person has not incurred debts or liabilities beyond
such Person's
ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature.
20
<PAGE>
Standard & Poor's shall mean Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services, a
division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its
successors.
Standby Letter of Credit shall mean a Letter of Credit issued
to
support obligations of the Borrower, contingent or otherwise,
which finances the
working capital and business needs of the Borrower incurred in
the ordinary
course of its business, but excluding any Letter of Credit under
which the
stated amount of such Letter of Credit increases automatically
over time.
Subsidiary of any Person at any time shall mean (i) any
corporation
or trust of which 50% or more (by number of shares or number of
votes) of the
outstanding capital stock or shares of beneficial interest
normally entitled to
vote for the election of one or more directors or trustees
(regardless of any
contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting
rights) is at such
time owned directly or indirectly by such Person or one or more
of such Person's
Subsidiaries, (ii) any partnership of which such Person is a
general partner or
of which 50% or more of the partnership interests is at the time
directly or
indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such Person's
Subsidiaries,
(iii) any limited liability company of which such Person is a
member or of which
50% or more of the limited liability company interests is at the
time directly
or indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such
Person's Subsidiaries
or (iv) any corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability
company or other
entity which is controlled or capable of being controlled by
such Person or one
or more of such Person's Subsidiaries.
Subsidiary Shares shall have the meaning assigned to that term
in
Section 6.1.2.
Swing Loan Commitment shall mean PNC Bank's commitment to make
Swing
Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.2 hereof in an
aggregate principal
amount up to $35,000,000.
Swing Loan Interest Rate shall mean as to each Swing Loan the
rate
of interest quoted by PNC Bank applicable thereto and accepted
by the Borrower
with respect to such Swing Loan.
Swing Loan Note shall mean the Swing Loan Note of the Borrower
in
the form of Exhibit 1.1(S) evidencing the Swing Loans, together
with all
amendments, extensions, renewals, replacements, refinancings or
refundings
thereof in whole or in part.
Swing Loan Request shall mean a request for Swing Loans made
in
accordance with Section 2.5 hereof.
Swing Loans shall mean collectively and Swing Loan shall
mean
separately all Swing Loans or any Swing Loan made by PNC Bank to
the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.1.2 hereof.
21
<PAGE>
Transferor Bank shall mean the selling Bank pursuant to an
Assignment and Assumption Agreement.
USA Patriot Act shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America
by
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
Terrorism Act of
2001, Public Law 107-56, as the same has been, or shall
hereafter be, renewed,
extended, amended or replaced.
1.2 Construction.
Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires,
the
following rules of construction shall apply to this Agreement
and each of the
other Loan Documents:
1.2.1. Number; Inclusion.
references to the plural include the singular, the plural,
the
part and the whole; "or" has the inclusive meaning represented
by the phrase
"and/or" and "including" has the meaning represented by the
phrase "including
without limitation";
1.2.2. Determination.
references to "determination" of or by the Agent or the
Banks
shall be deemed to include good-faith estimates by the Agent or
the Banks (in
the case of quantitative determinations) and good-faith beliefs
by the Agent or
the Banks (in the case of qualitative determinations) and such
determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error;
1.2.3. Agent's Discretion and Consent.
whenever the Agent or the Banks are granted the right herein
to act in its or their sole discretion or to grant or withhold
consent such
right shall be exercised in good faith;
1.2.4. Documents Taken as a Whole.
the words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder," "hereto" and
similar terms in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer
to this
Agreement or such other Loan Document as a whole and not to any
particular
provision of this Agreement or such other Loan Document;
1.2.5. Headings.
the section and other headings contained in this Agreement
or
such other Loan Document and the Table of Contents (if any),
preceding this
Agreement or such other Loan Document are for reference purposes
only and shall
not control or affect the construction of this Agreement or such
other Loan
Document or the interpretation thereof in any respect;
22
<PAGE>
1.2.6. Implied References to this Agreement.
article, section, subsection, clause, schedule and exhibit
references are to this Agreement or other Loan Document, as the
case may be,
unless otherwise specified;
1.2.7. Persons.
reference to any Person includes such Person's successors
and
assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns
are permitted by
this Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the case may be,
and reference to
a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any
other capacity;
1.2.8. Modifications to Documents.
reference to any agreement (including this Agreement and any
other Loan Document together with the schedules and exhibits
hereto or thereto),
document or instrument means such agreement, document or
instrument as amended,
modified, replaced, substituted for, superseded or restated;
1.2.9. From, To and Through.
relative to the determination of any period of time, "from"
means "from and including," "to" means "to but excluding," and
"through" means
"through and including"; and
1.2.10. Shall; Will.
references to "shall" and "will" are intended to have the
same
meaning.
1.3 Accounting Principles.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all computations
and
determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all
financial
statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made and prepared
in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation
where
appropriate), and all accounting or financial terms shall have
the meanings
ascribed to such terms by GAAP; provided, however, that all
accounting terms
used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] (and all defined terms
used in the
definition of any accounting term used in Section 8.2) shall
have the meaning
given to such terms (and defined terms) under GAAP as in effect
on the date
hereof applied on a basis consistent with those used in
preparing the Annual
Statements referred to in Section 6.1.8(i) [Historical
Statements]. In the event
of any change after the date hereof in GAAP, and if such change
would result in
the inability to determine compliance with the financial
covenants set forth in
Section 8.2 based upon the Borrower's regularly prepared
financial statements by
reason of the preceding sentence, then the parties hereto agree
to endeavor, in
good faith, to agree upon an amendment to this Agreement that
would adjust such
financial covenants in a manner that would not affect the
23
<PAGE>
substance thereof, but would allow compliance therewith to be
determined in
accordance with the Borrower's financial statements at that
time.
2. REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN FACILITIES
2.1 Commitments.
2.1.1. Revolving Credit Loans.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon
the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Bank
severally agrees
to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower at any time or
from time to time
on or after the date hereof to the Expiration Date, provided
that, after giving
effect to each such Revolving Credit Loan the aggregate amount
of Revolving
Credit Loans from such Bank shall not exceed such Bank's
Revolving Credit
Commitment minus such Bank's Ratable Share of the amount of
Letters of Credit
Outstanding; and provided further that the Revolving Facility
Usage at any time
shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments of all the
Banks. Within such
limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of
this Agreement,
the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this
Section 2.1.1. The
outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans,
together with
accrued interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the
Expiration Date.
2.1.2. Swing Loan Commitment.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon
the representations and warranties herein set forth, PNC Bank
agrees to make
Swing Loans to the Borrower at any time or from time to time
after the date
hereof to, but not including, the Expiration Date, in an
aggregate principal
amount of up to but not in excess of the Swing Loan Commitment,
provided that
the Revolving Facility Usage at any time shall not exceed the
Revolving Credit
Commitments of all the Banks. Within such limits of time and
amount and subject
to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may
borrow, repay and
reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.2. The outstanding
principal amount of all
Swing Loans, together with accrued interest thereon, shall be
due and payable on
the earlier of the Settlement Date applicable thereto or the
Expiration Date.
2.2 Nature of Banks' Obligations with Respect to Revolving
Credit Loans.
Each Bank shall be obligated to participate in each request for
Revolving
Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.4 [Revolving Credit Loan
Requests] in
accordance with its Ratable Share. The aggregate amount of each
Bank's Revolving
Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrower at any time
shall never
exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share
of the amount of
Letters of Credit Outstanding. The obligations of each Bank
hereunder are
several. The failure of any Bank to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not
affect the Obligations of the Borrower to any other party nor
shall any other
party be liable for the failure of
24
<PAGE>
such Bank to perform its obligations hereunder. The Banks shall
have no
obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder on or after
the Expiration
Date.
2.3 Certain Fees.
2.3.1 Facility Fees.
Accruing from the date hereof until the Expiration Date, the
Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each
Bank, as
consideration for such Bank's Revolving Credit Commitment
hereunder, a
nonrefundable facility fee (the "Facility Fee") equal to the
Applicable Facility
Fee Rate (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual
days elapsed)
on the average daily amount of such Bank's Revolving Credit
Commitment as the
same may be constituted from time to time. All Facility Fees
shall be payable
quarterly in arrears on the first day of each January, April,
July and October
after the date hereof and on the Expiration Date or upon
acceleration of the
Loans.
2.3.2 Facility Usage Fees.
During the period commencing on the date hereof until the
Expiration Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the
account of each
Bank, a nonrefundable fee (the "Facility Usage Fee") for each
day when Revolving
Facility Usage exceeds thirty-three and one-third percent
(33-1/3%) of the
Revolving Credit Commitments in an amount equal to the sum of
(i) 0.125% per
annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual
days elapsed)
computed on the amount of the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding
on such day
plus (ii) 0.125% per annum (computed on the basis of a year of
360 days and
actual days elapsed) computed on the amount of the Letters of
Credit Outstanding
on such day, and with respect to PNC Bank only, plus (iii)
0.125% per annum
(computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days
elapsed) computed
on the amount of the Swing Loans outstanding on such day,
provided, however,
that any Facility Usage Fee paid with respect to clause (ii)
above, shall be
paid to the Agent for the account of the Agent and not a
participating Bank if
such Bank has not made its Participation Advance in respect of
any Reimbursement
Obligations or Letter of Credit Borrowings. The Facility Usage
Fee shall be
payable quarterly in arrears on the first day of each January,
April, July, and
October after the date hereof and on the Expiration Date or upon
acceleration of
the Loans.
2.4 Revolving Credit Loan Requests.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time
to time
prior to the Expiration Date request the Banks to make Revolving
Credit Loans or
renew or convert the Interest Rate Option applicable to existing
Revolving
Credit Loans pursuant to Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], by
delivering to the
Agent, not later than 10:00 a.m., Pittsburgh time, (i) three (3)
Business Days
prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making
of Revolving
Credit Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies or the date
of conversion to
or the renewal of the Euro-Rate Option for any such Loans; and
(ii) one (1)
Business Day prior to either the proposed Borrowing Date with
respect to the
making of a Revolving Credit Loan to which the
25
<PAGE>
Base Rate Option applies or the last day of the preceding
Interest Period with
respect to the conversion to the Base Rate Option for any Loan,
of a duly
completed Loan Request therefor substantially in the form of
Exhibit 2.4 or a
Loan Request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by
letter, facsimile
or telex in the form of such Exhibit, it being understood that
the Agent may
rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic
request without
the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Loan
Request shall
be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the proposed Borrowing
Date; (ii) the
aggregate amount of the proposed Revolving Credit Loans
comprising each
Borrowing Tranche, the amount of which shall be in integral
multiples of
$1,000,000 and not less than $3,000,000 for each Borrowing
Tranche to which the
Euro-Rate Option applies and not less than the lesser of
$1,000,000 and in
integral multiples of $100,000 or the maximum amount available
for Borrowing
Tranches to which the Base Rate Option applies; (iii) whether
the Euro-Rate
Option or Base Rate Option shall apply to the proposed Loans
comprising the
applicable Borrowing Tranche; and (iv) in the case of a
Borrowing Tranche to
which the Euro-Rate Option applies, an appropriate Interest
Period for the Loans
comprising such Borrowing Tranche.
2.5 Swing Loan Requests.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from
time to time prior to the Expiration Date request PNC Bank to
make a Swing Loan
by delivery to PNC Bank, not later than 12:00 noon Pittsburgh
time, on the
proposed Borrowing Date of a duly completed request therefor
substantially in
the form of Exhibit 2.5. hereto or a request by telephone
immediately confirmed
in writing by letter, facsimile or telex, it being understood
that PNC Bank may
rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic
request without
the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each
Swing Loan Request
shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the proposed
Borrowing Date, (ii) the
term of the proposed Swing Loan, which shall be no less than one
day and no
longer than seven (7) days, and (iii) the principal amount of
such Swing Loan,
which shall not be less than $250,000 and shall be an integral
multiple of
$100,000.
2.6 Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans.
2.6.1. Making Revolving Credit Loans.
The Agent shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan
Request for or with respect to Revolving Credit Loans pursuant
to Section 2.4
[Revolving Credit Loan Requests], notify the Banks with
Revolving Credit
Commitments of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying: (i)
the proposed
Borrowing Date and the time and method of disbursement of the
Revolving Credit
Loans requested thereby; (ii) the amount and type of each such
Revolving Credit
Loan and the applicable Interest Period (if any); and (iii) the
apportionment
among the Banks of such Revolving Credit Loans as determined by
the Agent in
accordance with Section 2.2 [Nature of Banks' Obligations]. Each
Bank shall
remit the principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan to the
Agent such that
the Agent is able to, and the Agent shall, to the extent the
Banks have made
funds available to it for such purpose and subject to Section
7.2
26
<PAGE>
[Each Additional Loan or Letter of Credit], fund such Revolving
Credit Loans to
the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at
the Principal
Office prior to 2:00 p.m., Pittsburgh time, on the applicable
Borrowing Date,
provided that if any Bank fails to remit such funds to the Agent
in a timely
manner, the Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with
its own funds
the Revolving Credit Loans of such Bank on such Borrowing Date,
and such Bank
shall be subject to the repayment obligation in Section 10.16
[Availability of
Funds].
2.6.2. Making Swing Loans.
So long as PNC Bank elects to make Swing Loans, PNC Bank
shall, after receipt by it of a Swing Loan Request pursuant to
Section 2.5 fund
such Swing Loan to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately
available funds
at the Principal Office prior to 2:00 p.m. Pittsburgh time on
the Borrowing
Date. Each Swing Loan shall bear interest at the Swing Loan
Interest Rate
applicable thereto.
2.7 Swing Loan Note.
The obligation of the Borrower to repay the unpaid principal
amount of the Swing Loans made to it by PNC Bank together with
interest thereon
shall be evidenced by a demand promissory note of the Borrower
dated the Closing
Date in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1(S)
payable to the
order of PNC Bank in a face amount equal to the Swing Loan
Commitment.
2.8 Use of Proceeds.
The proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the Borrower for
general
corporate purposes of the Borrower, including without
limitation, to support the
issuance by the Borrower of short term notes in the commercial
paper market, and
in accordance with Section 8.1.10 [Use of Proceeds].
2.9 Letter of Credit Subfacility.
2.9.1. Issuance of Letters of Credit.
Borrower may request the issuance of a letter of credit
(each
a "Letter of Credit") on behalf of itself by delivering to the
Agent a completed
application and agreement for letters of credit in such form as
the Agent may
specify from time to time by no later than 10:00 a.m.,
Pittsburgh time, at least
five (5) Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed
to by the Agent,
in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Each Letter of
Credit shall be a
Standby Letter of Credit (and may not be a Commercial Letter of
Credit). Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on the
agreements of the
other Banks set forth in this Section 2.9, the Agent or any of
the Agent's
Affiliates will issue a Letter of Credit provided that each
Letter of Credit
shall (A) have a maximum maturity of twelve (12) months from the
date of
issuance, and (B) in no event expire later than ten (10)
Business Days prior to
the Expiration Date and providing that in no event shall (i) the
amount of
Letters of Credit Outstanding exceed, at any one time,
$75,000,000 or (ii) the
Revolving Facility Usage exceed, at
27
<PAGE>
any one time, the Revolving Credit Commitments. Schedule 2.9.1
sets forth
letters of credit issued by PNC Bank, National Association, as
administrative
agent, under the Existing Credit Facility, which are outstanding
as of the
Closing Date (the "Existing Letters of Credit"). It is expressly
agreed that the
Existing Letters of Credit are Letters of Credit under this
Agreement.
2.9.2. Letter of Credit Fees.
The Borrower shall pay (i) to the Agent for the ratable
account of the Banks a fee (the "Letter of Credit Fee") equal to
the Applicable
Letter of Credit Fee Rate then in effect (computed on the basis
of a year of 360
days and actual days elapsed) per annum, and (ii) to the Agent
for its own
account a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum (computed on
the basis of a
year of 360 days and actual days elapsed), which fees shall be
computed on the
daily average amount of Letters of Credit Outstanding and shall
be payable
quarterly in arrears commencing with the first Business Day of
each January,
April, July and October following issuance of each Letter of
Credit and on the
Expiration Date. The Borrower shall also pay to the Agent for
the Agent's sole
account the Agent's then in effect customary fees and
administrative expenses
payable with respect to the Letters of Credit as the Agent may
generally charge
or incur from time to time in connection with the issuance,
maintenance,
modification (if any), assignment or transfer (if any),
negotiation, and
administration of Letters of Credit.
2.9.3. Disbursements, Reimbursement.
2.9.3.1 Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of
Credit, each Bank shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally
agrees to, purchase from the Agent a participation in such
Letter of Credit and
each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Bank's
Ratable Share of the
maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit
and the amount
of such drawing, respectively.
2.9.3.2 In the event of any request for a drawing under
a Letter of Credit by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the
Agent will
promptly notify the Borrower. Provided that it shall have
received such notice,
the Borrower shall reimburse (such obligation to reimburse the
Agent shall
sometimes be referred to as a "Reimbursement Obligation") the
Agent prior to
12:00 noon, Pittsburgh time on each date that an amount is paid
by the Agent
under any Letter of Credit (each such date, an "Drawing Date")
in an amount
equal to the amount so paid by the Agent. In the event the
Borrower fails to
reimburse the Agent for the full amount of any drawing under any
Letter of
Credit by 12:00 noon, Pittsburgh time, on the Drawing Date, the
Agent will
promptly notify each Bank thereof, and the Borrower shall be
deemed to have
requested that Revolving Credit Loans be made by the Banks under
the Base Rate
Option to be disbursed on the Drawing Date under such Letter of
Credit, subject
to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit
Commitment and
subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 [Each
Additional Loan] other
than any notice requirements. Any notice given by the Agent
pursuant to this
Section 2.9.3.2 may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing;
provided that
the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the
conclusiveness
or binding effect of such notice.
28
<PAGE>
2.9.3.3 Each Bank shall upon any notice pursuant to
Section 2.9.3.2 make available to the Agent an amount in
immediately available
funds equal to its Ratable Share of the amount of the drawing,
whereupon the
participating Banks shall (subject to Section 2.9.3.4) each be
deemed to have
made a Revolving Credit Loan under the Base Rate Option to the
Borrower in that
amount. If any Bank so notified fails to make available to the
Agent for the
account of the Agent the amount of such Bank's Ratable Share of
such amount by
no later than 2:00 p.m., Pittsburgh time on the Drawing Date,
then interest
shall accrue on such Bank's obligation to make such payment,
from the Drawing
Date to the date on which such Bank makes such payment (i) at a
rate per annum
equal to the Federal Funds Open Rate during the first three (3)
days following
the Drawing Date and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to the rate
applicable to
Loans under the Base Rate Option on and after the fourth (4th)
day following the
Drawing Date. The Agent will promptly give notice of the
occurrence of the
Drawing Date, but failure of the Agent to give any such notice
on the Drawing
Date or in sufficient time to enable any Bank to effect such
payment on such
date shall not relieve such Bank from its obligation under this
Section 2.9.3.3,
provided, however, interest shall not accrue on any Bank's
obligation to make a
payment under this Section 2.9.3.3, until such Bank has received
notice of the
Drawing Date from the Agent.
2.9.3.4 With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is
not converted into Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate
Option to the
Borrower in whole or in part as contemplated by Section 2.9.3.2,
because of the
Borrower's failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in
Section 7.2 [Each
Additional Loan] other than any notice requirements or for any
other reason, the
Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the Agent a
borrowing (each a
"Letter of Credit Borrowing") in the amount of such drawing.
Such Letter of
Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together
with interest) and
shall bear interest at the rate per annum applicable to the
Revolving Credit
Loans under the Base Rate Option. Each Bank's payment to the
Agent pursuant to
Section 2.9.3.3 shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of
its participation
in such Letter of Credit Borrowing and shall constitute a
"Participation
Advance" from such Bank in satisfaction of its participation
obligation under
this Section 2.9.3.
2.9.4. Repayment of Participation Advances.
2.9.4.1 Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Agent for
its account of immediately available funds from the Borrower (i)
in
reimbursement of any payment made by the Agent under the Letter
of Credit with
respect to which any Bank has made a Participation Advance to
the Agent, or (ii)
in payment of interest on such a payment made by the Agent under
such a Letter
of Credit, the Agent will pay to each Bank, in the same funds as
those received
by the Agent, the amount of such Bank's Ratable Share of such
funds, except the
Agent shall retain the amount of the Ratable Share of such funds
of any Bank
that did not make a Participation Advance in respect of such
payment by Agent.
2.9.4.2 If the Agent is required at any time to return
to the Borrower, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator,
custodian, or any
official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of the
payments made by the
Borrower to the Agent pursuant to Section 2.9.4.1 in
reimbursement of a payment
made under the Letter of Credit or interest or fee
29
<PAGE>
thereon, each Bank shall, on demand of the Agent, forthwith
return to the Agent
the amount of its Ratable Share of any amounts so returned by
the Agent plus
interest thereon from the date such demand is made to the date
such amounts are
returned by such Bank to the Agent, at a rate per annum equal to
the Federal
Funds Open Rate in effect from time to time.
2.9.5. Documentation.
The Borrower agrees to be bound by the terms of the Agent's
application and agreement for letters of credit and the Agent's
written
regulations and customary practices relating to letters of
credit, though such
interpretation may be different from the Borrower's own. In the
event of a
conflict between such application or agreement and this
Agreement, this
Agreement shall govern. It is understood and agreed that, except
in the case of
gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Agent shall not be
liable for any
error and/or mistakes, whether of omission or commission, in
following the
Borrower's written instructions or those contained in the
Letters of Credit or
any modifications, amendments or supplements thereto, provided
that the Borrower
agrees that all instructions provided to the Agent by the
Borrower with respect
to any Letter of Credit shall be provided in writing.
2.9.6. Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests.
In determining whether to honor any request for drawing
under
any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the Agent shall
be responsible
only to determine that the documents and certificates required
to be delivered
under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they
comply on their
face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit.
2.9.7. Nature of Participation and Reimbursement
Obligations.
Each Bank's obligation in accordance with this Agreement to
make the Revolving Credit Loans or Participation Advances, as
contemplated by
Section 2.9.3, as a result of a drawing under a Letter of
Credit, and the
Obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the Agent upon a draw
under a Letter of
Credit, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and
shall be performed
strictly in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.9 under
all
circumstances, including the following circumstances:
(i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which such Bank may have against the Agent or any of
its Affiliates,
the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever;
(ii) the failure of the Borrower or any other Person to
comply, in connection with a Letter of Credit Borrowing, with
the conditions
applicable to Revolving Credit Loans set forth in Section 2.1.1
[Revolving
Credit Loans], 2.4 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests], 2.6 [Making
Revolving
Credit Loans and Swing Loans] or 7.2 [Each Additional Loan or
Letter of Credit]
or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement for the making of a
Revolving Credit
Loan, it being acknowledged that such conditions are not
required for the
30
<PAGE>
making of a Letter of Credit Borrowing and the obligation of the
Banks to make
Participation Advances under Section 2.9.3;
(iii) any lack of validity or enforceability of any
Letter of Credit;
(iv) any claim of breach of warranty that might be made
by the Borrower or any Bank against any beneficiary of a Letter
of Credit, or
the existence of any claim, set-off, recoupment, counterclaim,
crossclaim,
defense or other right which the Borrower or any Bank may have
at any time
against a beneficiary, successor beneficiary any transferee or
assignee of any
Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof (or any Persons for
whom any such
transferee may be acting), the Agent or its Affiliates or any
Bank or any other
Person or, whether in connection with this Agreement, the
transactions
contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any
underlying
transaction between the Borrower or any Subsidiaries of the
Borrower and the
beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured);
(v) the lack of power or authority of any signer of (or
any defect in or forgery of any signature or endorsement on) or
the form of or
lack of validity, sufficiency, accuracy, enforceability or
genuineness of any
draft, demand, instrument, certificate or other document
presented under or in
connection with any Letter of Credit, or any fraud or alleged
fraud in
connection with any Letter of Credit, or the transport of any
property or
provisions of services relating to a Letter of Credit, in each
case even if the
Agent or any of the Agent's Affiliates has been notified
thereof;
(vi) payment by the Agent or any of its Affiliates under
any Letter of Credit against presentation of a demand, draft or
certificate or
other document which does not comply with the terms of such
Letter of Credit;
(vii) the solvency of, or any acts of omissions by, any
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or any other Person having
a role in any
transaction or obligation relating to a Letter of Credit, or the
existence,
nature, quality, quantity, condition, value or other
characteristic of any
property or services relating to a Letter of Credit;
(viii) any failure by the Agent or any of Agent's
Affiliates to issue any Letter of Credit in the form requested
by the Borrower,
unless the Agent has received written notice from the Borrower
of such failure
within three (3) Business Days after the Agent shall have
furnished the Borrower
a copy of such Letter of Credit and such error is material and
no drawing has
been made thereon prior to receipt of such notice;
(ix) any adverse change in the business, operations,
properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or
prospects of the
Borrower or any Subsidiaries of the Borrower;
(x) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document by any party thereto;
31
<PAGE>
(xi) the occurrence or continuance of an Insolvency
Proceeding with respect to the Borrower;
(xii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Potential
Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(xiii) the fact that the Expiration Date shall have
passed or this Agreement or the Commitments hereunder shall have
been
terminated; and
(xiv) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever,
whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Bank shall be required to make
a Revolving
Credit Advance or a Participation Advance in excess of its
Revolving Credit
Commitment minus its Ratable Share of any Letters of Credit
Outstanding.
2.9.8. Indemnity.
In addition to amounts payable as provided in Section 10.5
[Reimbursement and Indemnification of Agent by the Borrower],
the Borrower
hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless the
Agent and any of
Agent's Affiliates that has issued a Letter of Credit from and
against any and
all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, taxes, penalties,
interest,
judgments, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including
reasonable fees,
expenses and disbursements of counsel and allocated costs of
internal counsel)
which the Agent or any of Agent's Affiliates may incur or be
subject to as a
consequence of the issuance of any Letter of Credit, other than
as a result of
(A) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent as
determined by a
final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the
wrongful dishonor
by the Agent or any of Agent's Affiliates of a proper demand for
payment made
under any Letter of Credit, except if such dishonor resulted
from any act or
omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future
de jure or de
facto government or governmental authority (all such acts or
omissions herein
called "Governmental Acts").
2.9.9. Liability for Acts and Omissions.
As between the Borrower and the Agent, or the Agent's
Affiliates, the Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and
omissions of, or
misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries
of such Letters
of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the
foregoing, the Agent
shall not be responsible for any of the following including any
losses or
damages to the Borrower or other Person or property relating
therefrom: (i) the
form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal
effect of any
document submitted by any party in connection with the
application for an
issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact
prove to be in
any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate,
fraudulent or forged
(even if the Agent or the Agent's Affiliates shall have been
notified thereof);
(ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring
or assigning or
purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or
the rights or
benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in
part,
32
<PAGE>
which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason;
(iii) the failure
of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit, or any other
party to which
such Letter of Credit may be transferred, to comply fully with
any conditions
required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit or any
other claim of the
Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit, or
any such
transferee, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any
beneficiary of
any Letter of Credit or any such transferee; (iv) errors,
omissions,
interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any
messages, by mail,
cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in
cipher; (v)
errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or
delay in the
transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to
make a drawing
under any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof;
(vii) the
misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit
of the proceeds
of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any
consequences arising
from causes beyond the control of the Agent or the Agent's
Affiliates, as
applicable, including any Governmental Acts, and none of the
above shall affect
or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of the Agent's or the
Agent's
Affiliates rights or powers hereunder. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall
relieve the Agent from liability for the Agent's gross
negligence or willful
misconduct in connection with actions or omissions described in
such clauses (i)
through (viii) of such sentence. In no event shall the Agent or
the Agent's
Affiliates be liable to the Borrower for any indirect,
consequential,
incidental, punitive, exemplary or special damages or expenses
(including
without limitation attorneys' fees), or for any damages
resulting from any
change in the value of any property relating to a Letter of
Credit.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent
and each of its Affiliates (i) may rely on any oral or other
communication
believed in good faith by the Agent or such Affiliate to have
been authorized or
given by or on behalf of the applicant for a Letter of Credit,
(ii) may honor
any presentation if the documents presented appear on their face
substantially
to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter
of Credit; (iii)
may honor a previously dishonored presentation under a Letter of
Credit, whether
such dishonor was pursuant to a court order, to settle or
compromise any claim
of wrongful dishonor, or otherwise, and shall be entitled to
reimbursement to
the same extent as if such presentation had initially been
honored, together
with any interest paid by the Agent or its Affiliate; (iv) may
honor any drawing
that is payable upon presentation of a statement advising
negotiation or
payment, upon receipt of such statement (even if such statement
indicates that a
draft or other document is being delivered separately), and
shall not be liable
for any failure of any such draft or other document to arrive,
or to conform in
any way with the relevant Letter of Credit; (v) may pay any
paying or
negotiating bank claiming that it rightfully honored under the
laws or practices
of the place where such bank is located; and (vi) may settle or
adjust any claim
or demand made on the Agent or its Affiliate in any way related
to any order
issued at the applicant's request to an air carrier, a letter of
guarantee or of
indemnity issued to a carrier or any similar document (each an
"Order") and
honor any drawing in connection with any Letter of Credit that
is the subject to
such Order, notwithstanding that any drafts or other documents
presented in
connection with such Letter of Credit fail to conform in any way
with such
Letter of Credit.
In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the
specific provisions set forth above, any action taken or omitted
by the Agent or
the Agent's Affiliates under or in connection with the Letters
of Credit issued
by it or any documents and certificates
33
<PAGE>
delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall
not put the Agent
or the Agent's Affiliates under any resulting liability to the
Borrower or any
Bank.
2.10 Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans.
PNC Bank may, at its option, exercisable at any time for any
reason
whatsoever, demand repayment of the Swing Loans, and each Bank
shall make a
Revolving Credit Loan in an amount equal to such Bank's Ratable
Share of the
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Swing Loans, plus,
if PNC Bank so
requests, accrued interest thereon, provided that no Bank shall
be obligated in
any event to make Revolving Credit Loans in excess of its
Revolving Credit
Commitment minus such Bank'
|