Credit Limit The following criteria constitute Duke Energy Ohio’s creditworthiness requirements for the SSO Suppliers to cover the Total Exposure Amount:
(a) For SSO Suppliers to be granted a Credit Limit without delivering a Total Exposure Amount Guaranty or other Performance Assurances acceptable to Duke Energy Ohio, in the case of an SSO Supplier organized under the laws of the United States, the SSO Supplier must (1) be rated by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, and (2) have a minimum senior unsecured debt rating (or, if unavailable, corporate or issuer rating) equal to the Minimum Rating. If the SSO Supplier is rated by only two rating agencies and the ratings are split, the lower rating will be used. If the SSO Supplier is rated by three rating agencies and the ratings are split, the lower of the two highest ratings will be used; provided that, in the event that the two highest ratings are common, such common rating will be used. If the SSO Supplier and an Affiliate(s) are both winning bidders in the Solicitation for the provision of SSO Supply, then the SSO Supplier or its Guarantor, as applicable, and the Affiliate(s) will proportionally share the maximum level of the Credit Limit using the highest rating as determined for the SSO Supplier or its Guarantor, as applicable, and the Affiliate(s). The maximum level of the Credit Limit to cover the Total Exposure Amount will be determined based on the following table: Credit Rating of the SSO Supplier or its Guarantor Maximum Credit Limit (calculated as the lesser of the percentage of TNW and the applicable Credit Limit Cap below) S&P Xxxxx’x Fitch Percentage of TNW Credit Limit Cap A- and above A3 and above A- and above 16% $60,000,000 BBB+ Baa1 BBB+ 10% $50,000,000 BBB Baa2 BBB 10% $40,000,000 BBB- Baa3 BBB- 8% $30,000,000 BB+ Ba1 BB+ 2% $5,000,000 BB Ba2 BB 1% $2,500,000 BB- and below Ba3 and below BB- and below 0% $0 The SSO Supplier will be required to post cash or a Letter of Credit for the Margin due Duke Energy Ohio as set forth in Section 5.7 of this Agreement.
(b) For SSO Suppliers delivering a Total Exposure Amount Guaranty, in the case of a Guarantor organized under the laws of the United States, the maximum level of the Credit Limit to cover the Total Exposure Amount that could be granted based on the Total Exposure Amount Guaranty will be determined in accordance with subsection (a) above, with reference to the credit rating of the Guarantor, except that the Credit Limit granted to the SSO Supplier will not exceed the amount of the Total Exposure Amount Guaranty.
(c) For an SSO Supplier or Guarantor, if applicable, that has not been organized under the laws of the United States, the following standards will apply:
i. the SSO Supplier must supply such evidence of creditworthiness as to provide Duke Energy Ohio with comparable assurances of creditworthiness as applicable above for SSO Suppliers that have been organized under the laws of the United States; or
ii. if the SSO Supplier is providing a Total Exposure Amount Guaranty, the Guarantor of an SSO Supplier must supply such evidence of creditworthiness as to provide Duke Energy Ohio with comparable assurances of creditworthiness as applicable above for Guarantors of SSO Suppliers that have been organized under the laws of the United States. Duke Energy Ohio may reject such Guarantors that do not meet the creditworthiness requirements.
(d) All SSO Suppliers or Guarantors of SSO Suppliers, if applicable, that have not been organized under the laws of the United States must, in addition to all documentation required elsewhere in this Section 5.6, supply the following to Duke Energy Ohio:
i. For an SSO Supplier: (1) a legal opinion of counsel qualified to practice in the foreign jurisdiction in which the SSO Supplier is organized that (A) the SSO Supplier is duly incorporated and existing in such foreign jurisdiction; (B) this Agreement is the binding and enforceable obligation of the SSO Supplier in such foreign jurisdiction and does not violate any local law or the SSO Supplier’s organizational or governing documents; and (C) all authorizations, approvals, consents, licenses, exemptions or other requirements of governmental, judicial or public bodies in such foreign jurisdiction have been obtained, and all execution formalities have been duly completed, necessary for the enforcement and validity of this Agreement and the performance by the SSO Supplier of its obligations hereunder; and (2) the sworn certificate of the corporate secretary (or similar officer) of such SSO Supplier that the Person executing this Agreement on behalf of the SSO Supplier has the authority to execute this Agreement and that the governing board of such SSO Supplier has approved the execution of this Agreement. Duke Energy Ohio will have full discretion, without liability or recourse to the SSO Supplier, to evaluate the sufficiency of the documents submitted by the SSO Supplier; or
ii. For the Guarantor of an SSO Supplier: (1) a legal opinion of counsel qualified to practice in the foreign jurisdiction in which the Guarantor is organized that (A) the Guarantor is duly incorporated and existing in such foreign jurisdiction; (B) the Total Exposure Amount Guaranty is the binding and enforceable obligation of the Guarantor in such foreign jurisdiction and does not violate any local law or the Guarantor’s organizational or governing documents; and
