FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of June 2, 2006 among CLECO POWER LLC, as Borrower The Lenders Party Hereto JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and WESTLB AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agents KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, UNION BANK...
EXHIBIT 10.2
CONFORMED COPY
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FIRST
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated
as of June 2, 2006
among
as
Borrower
The
Lenders Party Hereto
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A. and WESTLB AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
as
Syndication Agents
KEYBANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
N.A.,
CALYON,
NEW YORK BRANCH and COBANK, ACB,
as
Documentation Agents
and
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK,
as
Administrative Agent
___________________________
BNY
CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
and
WESTLB
AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
as
Co-Lead Arrangers
BNY
CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
as
Book Runner
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Xxxxx
Xxxx LLP
1290
Avenue of the Americas
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
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RSDOCS1\1320712.1
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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1
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SECTION
1.1
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DEFINED
TERMS
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1
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SECTION
1.2
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CLASSIFICATION
OF LOANS AND BORROWINGS
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19
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SECTION
1.3
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TERMS
GENERALLY
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19
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SECTION
1.4
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ACCOUNTING
TERMS; GAAP
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19
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SECTION
1.5
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ROUNDING
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19
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20
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SECTION
2.1
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COMMITMENTS
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20
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SECTION
2.2
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LOANS
AND BORROWINGS
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20
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SECTION
2.3
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REQUESTS
FOR BORROWINGS
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21
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SECTION
2.4
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FUNDING
OF BORROWINGS
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21
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SECTION
2.5
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TERMINATION,
REDUCTION AND INCREASE OF COMMITMENTS
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22
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SECTION
2.6
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REPAYMENT
OF LOANS; EVIDENCE OF DEBT
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23
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SECTION
2.7
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PREPAYMENT
OF LOANS
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24
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SECTION
2.8
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LETTERS
OF CREDIT
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25
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SECTION
2.9
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PAYMENTS
GENERALLY; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF SET OFFS
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28
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30
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SECTION
3.1
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INTEREST
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30
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SECTION
3.2
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INTEREST
ELECTIONS RELATING TO BORROWINGS
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31
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SECTION
3.3
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FEES
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32
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SECTION
3.4
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ALTERNATE
RATE OF INTEREST
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33
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SECTION
3.5
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INCREASED
COSTS; ILLEGALITY
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33
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SECTION
3.6
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BREAK
FUNDING PAYMENTS
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35
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SECTION
3.7
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TAXES
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35
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SECTION
3.8
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MITIGATION
OBLIGATIONS
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37
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37
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SECTION
4.1
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ORGANIZATION;
POWERS
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37
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SECTION
4.2
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AUTHORIZATION;
ENFORCEABILITY
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37
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SECTION
4.3
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GOVERNMENTAL
APPROVALS; NO CONFLICTS
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38
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SECTION
4.4
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FINANCIAL
CONDITION; NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE
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38
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SECTION
4.5
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PROPERTIES
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38
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SECTION
4.6
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LITIGATION
AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
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38
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SECTION
4.7
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COMPLIANCE
WITH LAWS AND AGREEMENTS
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40
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SECTION
4.8
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INVESTMENT
AND HOLDING COMPANY STATUS
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40
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SECTION
4.9
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TAXES
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40
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SECTION
4.10
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ERISA
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40
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SECTION
4.11
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DISCLOSURE
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40
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SECTION
4.12
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SUBSIDIARIES
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41
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SECTION
4.13
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FEDERAL
RESERVE REGULATIONS, ETC.
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41
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41
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SECTION
5.1
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FIRST
RESTATEMENT EFFECTIVE DATE
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41
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SECTION
5.2
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EACH
CREDIT EVENT
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43
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44
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SECTION
6.1
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FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION
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44
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SECTION
6.2
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NOTICES
OF MATERIAL EVENTS
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44
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SECTION
6.3
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LEGAL
EXISTENCE
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46
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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SECTION
6.4
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TAXES
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46
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SECTION
6.5
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INSURANCE
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46
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SECTION
6.6
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PAYMENT
OF INDEBTEDNESS AND PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS
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46
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SECTION
6.7
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CONDITION
OF PROPERTY
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47
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SECTION
6.8
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OBSERVANCE
OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
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47
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SECTION
6.9
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INSPECTION
OF PROPERTY; BOOKS AND RECORDS; DISCUSSIONS
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47
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SECTION
6.10
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LICENSES,
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
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47
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SECTION
6.11
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FINANCIAL
COVENANTS
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47
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SECTION
6.12
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USE
OF PROCEEDS
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47
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48
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SECTION
7.1
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LIENS
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48
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SECTION
7.2
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MERGER,
CONSOLIDATION, PURCHASE OR SALE OF ASSETS, ETC.
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50
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SECTION
7.3
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LOANS,
ADVANCES, ETC.
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52
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SECTION
7.4
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AMENDMENTS,
ETC. OF CERTAIN AGREEMENTS
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52
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52
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55
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57
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SECTION
10.1
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NOTICES
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57
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SECTION
10.2
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WAIVERS;
AMENDMENTS
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58
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SECTION
10.3
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EXPENSES;
INDEMNITY; DAMAGE WAIVER
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59
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SECTION
10.4
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SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS
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60
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SECTION
10.5
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SURVIVAL
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63
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SECTION
10.6
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COUNTERPARTS;
INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS
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64
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SECTION
10.7
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SEVERABILITY
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64
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SECTION
10.8
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RIGHT
OF SET OFF
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64
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SECTION
10.9
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GOVERNING
LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
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64
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SECTION
10.10
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WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
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65
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SECTION
10.11
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HEADINGS
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65
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SECTION
10.12
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INTEREST
RATE LIMITATION
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65
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SECTION
10.13
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ADVERTISEMENT
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66
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SECTION
10.14
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USA
PATRIOT ACT NOTICE
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66
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SECTION
10.15
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TREATMENT
OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
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66
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SECTION
10.16
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SAVINGS
CLAUSE
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66
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SCHEDULES:
Schedule
2.1
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List
of Commitments
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Schedule
4.6
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Disclosed
Matters
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Schedule
4.12
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List
of Subsidiaries
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Schedule
7.1
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List
of Existing Liens
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EXHIBITS:
Exhibit
A
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Form
of Assignment and Assumption
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Exhibit
B
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Form
of Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower
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Exhibit
C
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Form
of Credit Request
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Exhibit
D
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Form
of Note
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Exhibit
E
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Form
of Compliance Certificate
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Exhibit
F
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Form
of Increase Supplement
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Exhibit
G
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Form
of Departing Lender Letter
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FIRST
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of June
2,
2006,
by
and among CLECO POWER LLC, the Lenders party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and WESTLB AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as syndication agents hereunder, KEYBANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A CALYON, NEW YORK BRANCH
and
COBANK, ACB, as documentation agents hereunder, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as
Administrative Agent for the Lenders hereunder.
RECITALS
A. Reference
is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2005, by and among Cleco
Power LLC, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and WestLB
AG,
New York Branch, as syndication agents, KeyBank National Association and Union
Bank of California, N.A., as documentation agents, and The Bank of New York,
as
administrative agent (as amended prior to the First Restatement Date (as defined
below), the “Original
Credit Agreement”).
B. On
the
First Restatement Date, the parties hereto desire to make certain changes to
the
Original Credit Agreement by amending and restating the Original Credit
Agreement in its entirety as hereinafter set forth.
C. This
Credit Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Original Credit
Agreement. For convenience, this Credit Agreement is dated as of June 2, 2006
(the “First
Restatement Date”),
and
references to certain matters relating to the period prior thereto have been
deleted.
The
parties hereto agree as follows:
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1 Defined
Terms.
As used
in this Credit Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified
below:
“ABR”,
when
used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or
the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined
by
reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“Accountants”
means
PricewaterhouseCoopers, L.L.P. or another registered public accounting firm
of
recognized national standing.
“Adjusted
LIBO Rate”
means,
with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest
rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal
to
(i)
the LIBO
Rate for such Interest Period multiplied
by (ii)
the
Statutory Reserve Rate.
“Administrative
Agent”
means
BNY, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders
hereunder.
“Administrative
Questionnaire”
means
an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative
Agent.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under
common Control with the Person specified.
“Agents”
means,
collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agents and the
Documentation Agents.
“Alternate
Base Rate”
means,
for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (i)
the
Prime Rate in effect on such day and (ii)
the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus
1/2 of
1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate
or
the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the
effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective
Rate.
“Applicable
Margin”
means,
at all times from and after the First Restatement Date and during the periods
in
which the applicable Pricing Level set forth below is in effect: (i)
with
respect to Eurodollar Borrowings and the Letter of Credit participation fee
payable under Section
3.3(b)(i),
the
percentage set forth in the following table under the heading “Eurodollar
Margin and
LC
Fee”, and (ii)
with
respect to facility fees payable under Section
3.3(a),
the
percentage set forth in the following table under the heading “Facility Fee”:
Pricing
Level
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Eurodollar
Margin
and
LC Fee
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Facility
Fee
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Pricing
Level I
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0.280%
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0.070%
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Pricing
Level II
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0.320%
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0.080%
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Pricing
Level III
|
0.400%
|
0.100%
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Pricing
Level IV
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0.525%
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0.125%
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Pricing
Level V
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0.700%
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0.150%
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Pricing
Level VI
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0.900%
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0.200%
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Changes
in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Pricing Level shall
become effective on the effective date of any change in the Senior Debt Rating
from S&P or Moody’s. Notwithstanding anything in clause (a) of this
definition to the contrary, in the event of a split in the Senior Debt Rating
from S&P and Moody’s that would otherwise result in the application of more
than one Pricing Level (had the provisions regarding the applicability of other
Pricing Levels contained in the definitions thereof not been given effect),
then
the Applicable Margin shall be determined as follows: (i)
in the
event of a split in the Senior Debt Rating from S&P and Moody’s by one
rating level, then the Applicable Margin shall be determined using the Pricing
Level within which the higher of the two rating categories would otherwise
fall,
and (ii)
in the
event of a split in the Senior Debt Rating from S&P and Moody’s by more than
one rating level, then the Applicable Margin shall be determined using the
Pricing Level within which the next highest level above the lower of the two
rating categories would otherwise fall.
“Applicable
Percentage”
means,
with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented
by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the
Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most
recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
“Approved
Fund”
means,
with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in commercial loans,
any
other fund that invests in commercial loans and is managed or advised by the
same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment
advisor.
“Asset
Sale”
means
any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries to any Person of any property (including any Equity Interests
or
other securities of another Person) of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries,
other than inventory or accounts receivables or other receivables sold,
transferred or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business,
provided
that,
notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, for purposes of
the
Loan Documents, the term “Asset Sale” shall not include the creation or granting
of any Lien other than a conditional sale or other title retention
arrangement.
“Assignment
and Assumption”
means
an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with
the
consent of any party whose consent is required by Section
10.4),
and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit
A
or in
such other form as shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Availability
Period”
means
the period from and including the First Restatement Effective Date to but
excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and, if different, the date of
termination of the Commitments.
“BNY”
means
The Bank of New York.
“Board”
means
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of
America.
“Borrower”
means
Cleco Power LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company.
“Borrower
Materials”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.2.
“Borrowing”
means
Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in
the
case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in
effect.
“Business
Day”
means
any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks
in
New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed, provided
that,
when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business
Day”
shall
also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits
in the London interbank market.
“Calyon”
means
Calyon, New York Branch.
“Capital
Lease Obligations”
means
with respect to any Person, obligations of such Person with respect to leases
which, in accordance with GAAP, are required to be capitalized on the financial
statements of such Person.
“Change
in Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following: (i)
the
consummation of any transaction the result of which is that any “person” or
“group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of more than 50% of the total voting
power in the aggregate of all classes of the Voting Securities of the Parent
then outstanding or (ii)
the
occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board
of
directors
of the Parent by Persons who were neither nominated by the board of directors
of
the Parent nor appointed by directors so nominated.
“Change
in Law”
means
(i)
the
adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the First Restatement Date,
(ii)
any
change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority after the First Restatement Date or
(iii)
compliance by any Credit Party (or, for purposes of Section
3.5(b),
by any
lending office of such Credit Party or by such Credit Party’s holding company,
if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the First
Restatement Date.
“Chase”
means
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
“CoBank”
means
CoBank, ACB.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Commitment”
means,
with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans and
to
acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder in an aggregate
outstanding amount not exceeding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment as set
forth on Schedule
2.1 plus,
the
amount of any increase set forth in each Increase Supplement executed and
delivered by such Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or in the
Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed
its
Commitment in accordance with Section
10.4(b),
as
applicable, as such Commitment may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to
Section
2.5
or
pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.4. The
initial aggregate amount of the Commitments on the First Restatement Date is
$275,000,000.
“Compliance
Certificate”
means
a
certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit
E.
“Continuing
Lender”
means
a
Person that is a Lender hereunder on the First Restatement Effective Date and
that was a Lender under and as defined in the Original Credit Agreement
immediately prior to the First Restatement Effective Date.
“Control”
means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability
to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlling” and
“Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Corporate
Officer”
means
with respect to the Borrower, the chairman of the board, the president, any
vice
president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the
secretary, the treasurer, or the controller thereof.
“Credit
Event”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
5.2.
“Credit
Exposure”
means,
with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of such Lender’s Loans and its LC Exposure at such
time.
“Credit
Parties”
means
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders.
-4-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“Credit
Request”
means
a
Credit Request, substantially in the form of Exhibit
C,
or in
such other form as shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Default”
means
any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or that upon
notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event
of
Default.
“Departing
Lender”
means
a
Person that was a Lender under and as defined in the Original Credit Agreement
immediately prior to the First Restatement Effective Date and that is not a
Lender hereunder on the First Restatement Effective Date.
“Departing
Lender Letter”
means
the letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit
G,
pursuant to which a Departing Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
consent to (i)
the exit
of such Departing Lender from the Original Credit Agreement and (ii)
the
termination of the Commitment (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement)
of
such Departing Lender, in each case simultaneously with the First Restatement
Effective Date.
“Disclosed
Matters”
means
the actions, suits, proceedings and environmental matters disclosed in
Schedule
4.6.
“Disqualified
Stock”
means
any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the
holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures (excluding any
maturity as a result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof to the
extent not prohibited by this Credit Agreement) or is mandatorily redeemable,
pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the
unconditional sole option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Equity
Interests which do not constitute Disqualified Stock), in whole or in part,
on
or prior to the date that is one year after the Maturity Date. The term
“Disqualified Stock” shall also include any options, warrants or other rights
that are convertible into Disqualified Stock or that are redeemable at the
option of the holder, or required to be redeemed, prior to the date that is
180
days after the Maturity Date.
“Documentation
Agents”
means,
collectively, KeyBank, UBOC, Calyon, New York Branch and CoBank, in their
capacities as documentation agents for the Lenders hereunder.
“dollars”
or
“$”
refers
to lawful money of the United States of America.
“EBITDA”
means,
for any period, net income for such period of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus,
without
duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such net income, the
sum
of (i)
Interest
Expense for such period, (ii)
provision for income taxes for such period, (iii)
the
aggregate amount attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period,
and (iv)
the
aggregate amount of items to the extent constituting extraordinary non-recurring
or non-operating charges or expenses during such period and minus,
without
duplication and to the extent added in determining such net income for such
period, the aggregate amount of extraordinary, non-recurring and non-operating
additions to income during such period.
“Eligible
Assignee”
means
any of the following: (i) commercial banks, finance companies, insurance
companies and other financial institutions and funds (whether a corporation,
partnership or other entity) engaged generally in making, purchasing or
otherwise investing in commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business;
provided
that any
such entity shall be entitled, as of the date such entity becomes a Lender,
to
receive payments under its Note without deduction or
-5-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
withholding
with respect to United States federal income tax, (ii)
each of the Lenders and (iii) any Affiliate or Approved Fund of a Lender.
“Eligible
SPC”
means
a
special purpose corporation that (i)
is
organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, (ii)
is
engaged in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in
the
ordinary course of its business and (iii)
issues
(or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated at least A-1 or the
equivalent thereof by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The
McGraw Hill Companies or at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof by from Xxxxx’x
Investors Service, Inc.
“Employee
Stock Ownership Plan”
means
The Cleco Power LLC 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan.
“environment”
means
ambient air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable
water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, the workplace or
as
otherwise defined in any Environmental Law.
“Environmental
Claim”
means
any written accusation, allegation, notice of violation, claim, demand, order,
directive, cost recovery action or other cause of action by, or on behalf of,
any Governmental Authority or any Person for damages, injunctive or equitable
relief, personal injury (including sickness, disease or death), Remedial Action
costs, tangible or intangible property damage, natural resource damages,
nuisance, pollution, any adverse effect on the environment caused by any
Hazardous Material, or for fines, penalties or restrictions, resulting from
or
based upon (i)
the
existence, or the continuation of the existence, of a Release (including sudden
or non-sudden, accidental or non-accidental Releases), (ii)
exposure
to any Hazardous Material, (iii)
the
presence, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of
any
Hazardous Material or (iv)
the
violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental
Permit.
“Environmental
Law”
means
any and all applicable present and future treaties, laws, rules, regulations,
codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding
agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental
Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation
of natural resources, the presence, management, Release or threatened Release
of
any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
“Environmental
Permit”
means
any permit, approval, authorization, certificate, license, variance, filing
or
permission required by or from any Governmental Authority pursuant to any
Environmental Law.
“Equity
Interest”
means
(i)
shares
of corporate stock, partnership interests, membership interests, and any other
interest that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits
and losses of, or distribution of assets of, the issuing Person, and
(ii)
all
warrants, options or other rights to acquire any Equity Interest set forth
in
clause (i) of this defined term.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b)
or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section
412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the
Code.
-6-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“ERISA
Event”
means
(i)
any
“reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations
issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the
30
day notice period is waived); (ii)
the
existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as
defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not
waived; (iii)
the
filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(a) of ERISA of
an
application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any
Plan; (iv)
the
incurrence by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any
liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan;
(v)
the
receipt by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC
or
a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any
Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (vi)
the
incurrence by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any
liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan
or
Multiemployer Plan; or (vii)
the
receipt by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice,
or
the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower, any Subsidiary or
any
ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability
or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent
or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
“Eurodollar”,
when
used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or
the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined
by
reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
“Event
of Default”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Article
8.
“Evergreen
Letter of Credit”
means
any Letter of Credit that, by its terms, provides that it shall be automatically
renewed or extended for a stated period of time at the end of its then scheduled
expiry date unless the Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof prior
to
such expiry date that the Issuing Bank elects not to renew or extend such Letter
of Credit.
“Federal
Funds Effective Rate”
means,
for any day, a rate per annum (expressed as a decimal, rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of
the
rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published
by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such
day, provided
that
(i)
if the
day for which such rate is to be determined is not a Business Day, the Federal
Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on
the
next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business
Day,
and (ii)
if such
rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for
such
day shall be the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions
received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.
“FERC”
means
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to the functions thereof.
“Financial
Officer”
means
the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or
controller of the Borrower.
“Financial
Statements”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.4(a).
“Finsub”
shall
mean a bankruptcy-remote entity that is a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the
Borrower organized solely for the purpose of engaging in the Storm Recovery
Program and activities related thereto.
-7-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“First
Restatement Date”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Recital
C.
“First
Restatement Effective Date”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1.
“Foreign
Lender”
means
any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that
in
which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United
States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be
deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute
of
Certified Public Accountants and in the statements and pronouncements of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statement by such other
entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession,
which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination,
consistently applied.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any
political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency,
commission, exchange, association, board, authority, instrumentality, regulatory
body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or
pertaining to government.
“Granting
Lender”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.4(g).
“Guarantee”
of
or
by any Person (the “guarantor”)
means
any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having
the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of
any
other Person (the “primary
obligor”)
in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
guarantor, direct or indirect, (i)
to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of)
such
Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds
for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (ii)
to
purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring
the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof,
(iii)
to
maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement
condition or liquidity of the primary obligor as to enable the primary obligor
to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv)
as an
account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued
to
support such Indebtedness or obligation, provided
that the
term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business. The term “Guaranteed” has a meaning correlative
thereto. The amount of any Guarantee of a Person shall be deemed to be an amount
equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect
of which such Guarantee is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary
obligation for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the
instrument evidencing such Guarantee) or, if not stated or determinable, the
maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by
such Person in good faith, provided,
however,
the
amount of any Guarantee of a Person in respect of any agreement by any other
Person to purchase electricity, gas or fuel from a counterparty shall be deemed
to be the maximum reasonably anticipated liability of such other Person, as
determined in good faith by such Person, net of any obligation or liability
of
such counterparty to purchase electricity, gas or fuel from such other Person,
provided further
that the
obligations of such other Person to so purchase electricity, gas or fuel from
such counterparty shall be terminable at the election of such other Person
in
the event of a default by such counterparty in its obligations to so purchase
electricity, gas or fuel for such other Person.
-8-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic
substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum
distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated
biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances
or
wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Increase
Supplement”
means
an increase supplement in the form of Exhibit
F.
“Increasing
Lender”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.5(d).
“Indebtedness”
means
as to any Person, at a particular time, all items which constitute, without
duplication, (i) indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price
of property (excluding trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of
business and excluding any such obligations payable solely through the issuance
of Equity Interests (other than the Disqualified Stock and Equity Interests
convertible into Disqualified Stock)), (ii) indebtedness evidenced by notes,
bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (iii) obligations with respect to
any
conditional sale or title retention agreement, (iv) indebtedness arising under
acceptance facilities and the amount available to be drawn under all letters
of
credit issued for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all
drafts drawn thereunder to the extent such Person shall not have reimbursed
the
issuer in respect of the issuer’s payment of such drafts, (v) all liabilities
secured by any Lien on any property owned by such Person even though such Person
has not assumed or otherwise become liable for the payment thereof (other than
carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, repairmen’s or other like non consensual
statutory Liens arising in the ordinary course of business; provided that the
amount of such liabilities included for purposes of this definition will be
the
amount equal to the lesser of the fair market value of such property and the
amount of the liabilities so secured), (vi) liabilities in respect of any
obligation (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, redeem, retire, acquire or
make any other payment in respect of any shares of equity securities or any
option, warrant or other right to acquire any shares of equity securities,
(vii)
obligations under Capital Lease Obligations, (viii) indebtedness in respect
of
Disqualified Stock valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum
fixed repurchase price plus
accrued
dividends and (ix) Guarantees of such Person in respect of Indebtedness of
others. Regardless of whether or not the Storm Recovery Bonds or other
obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including Finsub) in respect
of
the Storm Recovery Program constitutes Indebtedness under GAAP, the Indebtedness
and other liabilities of Finsub in respect of the Storm Recovery Bonds and
any
credit enhancement with respect thereto shall be taken into account in
calculating Indebtedness.
“Indemnitee”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.3(b).
“Indenture”
means
the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1988, between the Borrower and The Bank
of
New York, as trustee.
“Information”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.15.
“Integrated
Resources Plan”
means
the portions of the Utility’s strategic integrated resources plan which involves
replacing, repowering or adding electric power generation, transmission or
distribution facilities to meet the measured and forecasted demand and
consumption requirements of its customers, including the acquisition,
construction or improvement of generation facilities and fuel conversion
repowering projects for existing generation facilities to diversify fuel
sources, with any project undertaken to implement the foregoing being subject
to
regulation by the LPSC by prior issuance of a certificate of public convenience
and necessity or in a ratemaking proceeding, prudence review or a combination
thereof.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all copyrights, trademarks, servicemarks, patents, trade names and service
names.
“Inter-Affiliate
Policies Agreement”
means
the Inter-Affiliate Policies and the Inter-Affiliate Procedures of Cleco
Corporation, each dated as of April 11, 2005.
“Interest
Coverage Ratio”
means
as of any fiscal quarter end, the ratio of (i)
EBITDA
for the period of the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending thereon to
(ii)
Interest
Expense for such period.
“Interest
Election Request”
means
a
request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with
Section
3.2.
“Interest
Expense”
means
for any period, the interest expense, both expensed and capitalized (including
the interest component in respect of Capital Lease Obligations), of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries during such period, determined on a consolidated basis
in
accordance with GAAP. Regardless of whether or not the Storm Recovery Bonds
or
other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including Finsub) in
respect of the Storm Recovery Program constitutes Indebtedness under GAAP,
the
Indebtedness and other liabilities of Finsub in respect of the Storm Recovery
Bonds and any credit enhancement with respect thereto shall be taken into
account in calculating Interest Expense.
“Interest
Payment Date”
means
(i)
with
respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and
December, (ii)
with
respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable
to the Borrowing of which such Eurodollar Loan is a part and, in the case of
a
Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration,
each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals
of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and
(iii)
with
respect to all Loans, the Maturity Date.
“Interest
Period”
means,
with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date
of
such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar
month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may
elect, provided
that
(i)
if any
Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest
Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such next
succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case
such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and
(ii)
any
Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month
(or
on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last
calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day
of
the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date
of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made
and
thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or
continuation of such Borrowing.
“Issuing
Bank”
means
BNY, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit.
“KeyBank”
means
KeyBank National Association.
“LC
Disbursement”
means
a
payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“LC
Exposure”
means,
at any time, (i)
with
respect to all of the Lenders, the sum, without duplication, of (x) the
aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time
plus
(y) the
aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed
by or
on behalf of the Borrower at such time and (ii)
with
respect to each Lender, its Applicable Percentage of the amount determined
under
clause (i).
“Lenders”
means
the Persons listed on Schedule
2.1
and any
other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment
and
Assumption an Increase Supplement, other than any such Person that ceases to
be
a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.
“Letter
of Credit”
means
any standby letter of credit (and any successive renewals thereof) issued
pursuant to this Credit Agreement, and including any Letters of Credit (under
and as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) which remain outstanding on
the
First Restatement Effective Date.
“Letter
of Credit Commitment”
means,
with respect to the Issuing Bank, the commitment of the Issuing Bank to issue
Letters of Credit hereunder. The amount of the Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit
Commitment is $100,000,000.
“LIBO
Rate”
means,
with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate
appearing on the Dow Xxxxx Markets Telerate Page 3750 (or on any successor
or
substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such
Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on
such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time
to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to
dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such
Interest Period. In the event that such rate does not appear on the Dow Xxxxx
Markets Telerate Page 3750 (or on any such successor or substitute page, or
any
successor to or substitute for such Service) at such time for any reason, then
the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest
Period shall be the rate of interest per annum, as reported by BNY to the
Administrative Agent, quoted by BNY to leading banks in the interbank eurodollar
market as the rate at which BNY is offering Dollar deposits in an amount equal
approximately to the Eurodollar Loan of BNY to which such Interest Period shall
apply for a period equal to such Interest Period, as quoted at approximately
11:00 a.m. two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period.
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any asset, (i)
any
mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or
security interest in, on or of such asset, (ii)
the
interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital
lease or title retention agreement relating to such asset and (iii)
in the
case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party
with respect to such securities.
“Loan”
means
a
loan referred to in Section
2.1(a)
and made
pursuant to Section
2.4.
“Loan
Documents”
means
this Credit Agreement, the Notes and the documentation in respect of each Letter
of Credit.
“LPSC”
means
the Louisiana Public Service Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding
to the functions thereof.
-11-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“LPSC
Order”
means,
collectively, (i)
that
certain Special Order No. 11-2005 dated March 15, 2005, issued by the LPSC
with
respect to Docket No. S-28529 and (ii)
that
certain Order No. U-28765-A dated May 12, 2006, issued by the LPSC to the
Borrower with respect to Docket No. U-28765, and
any
renewal or replacement order thereof, together with any supplemental order
thereto, authorizing the Borrower to issue notes or drafts maturing not more
than five year after the date of issue or renewal thereof or assumption of
liability thereon in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of
$275,000,000.
“Margin
Stock”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.
“Material
Adverse Change”
means
a
material adverse change in (i) the financial condition, operations, business,
prospects or property of (a) the Borrower or (b) the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform
its
obligations under the Loan Documents or (iii) the ability of the Credit Parties
to enforce their rights and remedies under the Loan Documents.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on (i) the financial condition, operations, business,
prospects or property of (a) the Borrower or (b) the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform
its
obligations under the Loan Documents or (iii) the ability of the Credit Parties
to enforce their rights and remedies under the Loan Documents.
“Material
Obligations”
means
as of any date, Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents)
or operating leases of any one or more of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or,
in
the case of the Borrower only, any Guarantee, in an aggregate principal amount
exceeding $20,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Obligations, the
“principal amount” of Indebtedness, operating leases or Guarantees at any time
shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements)
that the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, would be required to pay
if
such Indebtedness, operating leases or Guarantees became due and payable on
such
day.
“Material
Total Assets”
means
as of any date of determination, the total assets of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP.
“Maturity
Date”
means
June 2, 2011.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means
a
multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“New
Lender”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.5(d).
“Notes”
means, with
respect to each Lender, a promissory note evidencing such Lender’s Loans payable
to the order of such Lender (or, if required by such Lender, to such Lender
and
its registered assigns) substantially in the form of Exhibit
D.
“Original
Credit Agreement”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Recital
A.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“Other
Taxes”
means
any and all current or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise
or
property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made
hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with
respect to, the Loan Documents.
“Parent”
means
Cleco Corporation, a Louisiana corporation.
“Participant”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.4(d).
“Patriot
Act”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.15.
“PBGC”
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in
ERISA.
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
means:
(a) Liens
imposed by law for taxes, assessments or similar charges incurred in the
ordinary course of business that are not yet due or are being contested in
compliance with Section
6.4,
provided
that
enforcement of such Liens is stayed pending such contest;
(b) landlords’,
vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and
other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business
and
securing obligations that are not which are not delinquent or are being
contested in compliance with Section
6.6,
provided
that
enforcement of such Liens is stayed pending such contest;
(c) pledges
and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or
regulations (but not ERISA);
(d) pledges
and deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than
contracts for the payment of money), leases, purchase agreements to the extent
that the related purchase is permitted by Section
7.3,
statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment
liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under
clause (j) of Article
8;
(f) easements,
zoning restrictions, rights of way, rights of way, minor defects, irregularities
and other similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in
the
ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and
do
not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially
interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, as the case may be;
(g) Liens
in
favor of a financial institution encumbering deposits (including the right
of
set-off) held by such financial institution in the ordinary course of its
commercial business and which are within the general parameters customary in
the
banking industry; and
(h) Liens
on
Margin Stock to the extent that a prohibition on such Liens would violate
Regulation U;
-13-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(i) leases
or
subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary
conduct of business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries;
(j) licenses
of Intellectual Property granted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of business and not materially interfering with the ordinary
conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries; and
(k) Liens
in
favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure
payment of custom duties in connection with the importation of
goods.
“Person”
means
any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint
venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
“Plan”
means
any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject
to
the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302
of
ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of
ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of
ERISA.
“Platform”
has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.2.
“Pricing
Level”
means
Pricing Level I, Pricing Level II, Pricing Level III, Pricing Level IV, Pricing
Level V or Pricing Level VI, as the context may require.
“Pricing
Level I”
means
any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii)
the
Senior Debt Rating is A- or higher by S&P or A3 or higher by Moody’s.
“Pricing
Level II”
means
any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii)
the
Senior Debt Rating is BBB+ or higher by S&P or Baa1 or higher by Moody’s and
(iii) Pricing Level I does not apply.
“Pricing
Level III”
means
any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii)
the
Senior Debt Rating is BBB or higher by S&P or Baa2 or higher by Moody’s and
(iii) Pricing Levels I and II do not apply.
“Pricing
Level IV”
means
any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii)
the
Senior Debt Rating is BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s and
(iii) Pricing Levels I, II and III do not apply.
“Pricing
Level V”
means
any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii)
the
Senior Debt Rating is (x)
BB+ or
higher by S&P and Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or (y)
BBB- or
higher by S&P and Ba1 or higher by Moody’s and (iii) Pricing Levels I, II,
III and IV do not apply.
“Pricing
Level VI”
means
any time when none of Pricing Levels I, II, III, IV and V is
applicable.
“Prime
Rate”
means
the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by BNY
as
its prime commercial lending rate at its principal office in New York City;
each
change in the Prime Rate being effective from and including the date such change
is publicly
-14-
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
announced
as being effective. The Prime Rate is not intended to be lowest rate of interest
charged by BNY in connection with extensions of credit to
borrowers.
“Properties”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.6.
“Public
Lender” has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.2.
“Register”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.4(c).
“Regulation
D”
means
Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Regulation
T”
means
Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Regulation
U”
means
Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Regulation
X”
means
Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Related
Parties”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person
and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Remedial
Action”
means
(a) “remedial action” as such term is defined in CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. Section
9601(24), and (b) all other actions required by any Governmental Authority
or
voluntarily undertaken to: (i) clean up, remove, treat, xxxxx or in any other
way address any Hazardous Material in the environment; (ii) prevent the Release
or threat of Release, or minimize the further Release of any Hazardous Material
so it does not migrate or endanger or threaten to endanger public health,
welfare or the environment; or (iii) perform studies and investigations in
connection with, or as a precondition to, (i) or (ii) above.
“Required
Deposit Amount”
means
in the event that as a result of the deposit of cash collateral with the
Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
2.8(i)
the
Borrower (i)
is not
required to grant a security interest in such cash collateral to any other
Person, an amount equal to the LC Exposure on the date on which cash collateral
is required to be deposited, or (ii)
is
required to grant a security interest in such cash collateral to any other
Person, an amount equal to the LC Exposure on the date on which cash collateral
is required to be deposited multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is
the sum of the LC Exposure plus
the
principal amount of all other obligations to be secured by such cash collateral
and the denominator of which is the amount of such LC Exposure.
“Required
Lenders”
means,
at any time, Lenders having unused Commitments, LC Exposure and outstanding
Loans representing at least 51% of the sum of the unused Commitments, LC
Exposure and outstanding Loans of all Lenders.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, or
any successor thereto.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding
to the functions thereof.
“Senior
Debt Rating”
means
at any date, the credit rating identified by S&P or Moody’s as the credit
rating which (i) it has assigned to long term unsecured senior debt of the
Borrower or (ii) would assign to long term unsecured senior debt of the Borrower
were the Borrower to issue or have outstanding any long term unsecured senior
debt on such date. If either (but not both) Moody’s or S&P shall cease to be
in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Pricing Levels shall
be determined on the basis of the ratings provided by the other rating
agency.
“Statutory
Reserve Rate”
means
a
fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one
and
the denominator of which is the number one minus
the
aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages, if any, (including any marginal,
special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established
by the Board to which member banks of the United States Federal Reserve System
in New York City with deposits exceeding $250,000,000) are subject for
eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency
liabilities”
in
Regulation D). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant
to
Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency
funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or
credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time
to
time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The
Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the
effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
“Storm
Recovery Act”
means
the Louisiana Electric Utility Storm Recovery Securitization Act.
“Storm
Recovery Activity”
means
any activity or activities by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with
the restoration of service associated with electric power outages affecting
the
Borrower’s customers as the result of a storm or storms, including mobilization,
staging, and construction, reconstruction, replacement, or repair of electric
generation, transmission, or distribution facilities.
“Storm
Recovery Asset Sale”
means
any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower to Finsub of Storm
Recovery Property pursuant to a Storm Recovery Financing Order.
“Storm
Recovery Bonds”
means
bonds, debentures, notes, certificates of participation, certificates of
ownership, or other evidences of Indebtedness or ownership that are issued
by
Finsub pursuant to an indenture, contract, or other agreement pursuant to a
Storm Recovery Financing Order, the proceeds of which are used directly or
indirectly to provide, recover, finance, or refinance LPSC-approved Storm
Recovery Costs, Storm Recovery Financing Costs and costs to replenish or fund
a
Storm Recovery Reserve to such level as the LPSC may authorize in the applicable
Storm Recovery Financing Order, and which are secured by or payable from Storm
Recovery Property.
“Storm
Recovery Charges”
means
the amounts authorized by the LPSC to recover, finance or refinance Storm
Recovery Costs, Storm Recovery Financing Costs, and costs to replenish or fund
a
Storm Recovery Reserve to such level as the LPSC may authorize in a Storm
Recovery Financing Order.
“Storm
Recovery Costs”
means,
as approved by the LPSC, costs incurred or to be incurred by the Borrower in
undertaking a Storm Recovery Activity.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“Storm
Recovery Financing Costs”
means,
collectively, (i)
interest
and acquisition, defeasance, or redemption premiums that are payable on Storm
Recovery Bonds, (ii)
any
payment required under an ancillary agreement and any amount required to fund
or
replenish reserve or other accounts established under the terms of any
indenture, ancillary agreement, or other financing documents pertaining to
Storm
Recovery Bonds, (iii)
any
other cost related to issuing, supporting, repaying, and servicing Storm
Recovery Bonds, including servicing fees, accounting and auditing fees, trustee
fees, legal fees, consulting fees, administrative fees, placement and
underwriting fees, capitalized interest, rating agency fees, stock exchange
listing and compliance fees, and filing fees, including costs related to
obtaining the Storm Recovery Financing Order; (iv)
any
income taxes and license fees imposed on the revenues generated from the
collection of Storm Recovery Charges or otherwise resulting from the collection
of Storm Recovery Charges, in any such case whether paid, payable, or accrued,
and (v)
any
state and local taxes, franchise, gross receipts, and other taxes or similar
charges including but not limited to regulatory assessment fees, in any such
case whether paid, payable, or accrued.
“Storm
Recovery Financing Order”
means
an order of the LPSC which allows for (i)
the
issuance by Finsub of Storm Recovery Bonds, (ii)
the
imposition, collection, and periodic adjustments of Storm Recovery Charges
by
the Borrower, (iii)
the
creation of Storm Recovery Property, (iv)
the
sale, assignment, or transfer of Storm Recovery Property by the Borrower to
Finsub.
“Storm
Recovery Program”
means
the sale of, or transfer of interests in, Storm Recovery Property by the
Borrower to Finsub in exchange for consideration equal to the fair market value
of such Storm Recovery Property (i.e., a “true sale) and the issuance of Storm
Recovery Bonds by Finsub.
“Storm
Recovery Program Documentation”
means
all written agreements that may from time to time be entered into by the
Borrower and/or Finsub in connection with any Storm Recovery Program.
“Storm
Recovery Property”
means
the contract right constituting incorporeal movable property newly created
pursuant to the Storm Recovery Act which may consist of any of (i)
all
rights and interests of the Borrower or Finsub under a Storm Recovery Financing
Order, including the right to impose, xxxx, charge, collect, and receive Storm
Recovery Charges authorized in such Storm Recovery Financing Order and to obtain
periodic adjustments to such charges as may be provided in such Storm Recovery
Financing Order, (ii)
all
revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, money, or proceeds
arising from the rights and interests specified in clause (i) above, regardless
of whether such revenues, collections, claims, rights to payment, payments,
money, or proceeds are imposed, billed, received, collected, or maintained
together with or commingled with other revenues, collections, rights to payment,
payments, money, or proceeds.
“Storm
Recovery Reserve”
means
a
storm reserve or such other similar reserve established by the Borrower pursuant
to order or rule of the LPSC.
“subsidiary”
means,
as to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture or other business entity of which such Person or any
Subsidiary of such Person, directly or indirectly, either (i) in respect of
a
corporation, owns or controls more than 50% of the outstanding Equity
Interests having
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar
managing body, irrespective of whether a class or classes shall or might have
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, or (ii) in respect
of an association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity, is
entitled to share in more than 50% of
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
the
profits and losses, however determined. Unless the context otherwise requires,
references to a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be references to a Subsidiary
of
the Borrower.
“Syndication
Agents”
means,
collectively, Chase and WestLB, in their capacities as syndication agents for
the Lenders hereunder.
“Tax”
means
any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, fee, deduction or
withholding of any nature, and whatever called, by a Governmental Authority,
on
whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld or
assessed.
“Tax
on
the Overall Net Income”
means,
as to any Person, a Tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that Person’s
principal office (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office in the
United States of America designated in its Administrative Questionnaire or
such
other office as such Lender may designate in writing to the Administrative
Agent
and the Borrower) is located, or by any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof, or in which that Person is deemed to be doing business,
on
all or part of the net income, profits or gains of that Person (whether
worldwide, or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered
to
arise in or to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise).
“Total
Capitalization”
means,
at any time, the difference between (i)
the sum
of each of the following at such time with respect to the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP: (a)
preferred Equity Interests (less deferred compensation relating to unallocated
convertible preferred Equity Interests held by the Employee Stock Ownership
Plan), plus (b) common Equity Interests and any premium on Equity Interests
thereon (as such term is used in the Financial Statements), excluding
accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, plus (c) retained earnings,
plus
(d) Total Indebtedness, and (ii)
treasury
stock at such time of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Total
Indebtedness”
means
at any time, all Indebtedness (net of unamortized premium and discount (as
such
term is used in the Financial Statements)) at such time of the Borrower and
the
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Regardless of whether or not the Storm Recovery Bonds or other obligations
of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including Finsub) in
respect of the Storm Recovery Program constitutes
Indebtedness under GAAP, the Indebtedness and other liabilities of Finsub in
respect of the Storm Recovery Bonds and any credit enhancement with respect
thereto shall be taken into account in calculating Total
Indebtedness.
“Transactions”
means
(i)
the
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document to
which it is a party, (ii)
the
borrowing of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit, and
(iii)
the use
of the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit.
“Type”,
when
used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of
interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined
by reference to (i)
the
Adjusted LIBO Rate or (ii)
the
Alternate Base Rate.
“UBOC”
means
Union Bank of California, N.A
“Utility
Mortgage”
means
the Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of July 1, 1950, made by the Utility to
Bank
One Trust Company, NA, as Trustee.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
“Voting
Security”
means
a
security which ordinarily has voting power for the election of the board of
directors (or other governing body), whether at all times or only so long as
no
senior class of Equity Interests has such voting power by reason of any
contingency.
“WestLB”
means
WestLB AG, New York Branch.
“Withdrawal
Liability”
means
liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial
withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part
I of
Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Section
1.2 Classification
of Loans and Borrowings.
For
purposes of this Credit Agreement, (i)
Loans
may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) and
(ii)
Borrowings may also be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar
Borrowing”).
Section
1.3 Terms
Generally.
The
definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural
forms
of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words
“include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same
meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise,
(i)
any
definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein
shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document
as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii)
any
definition of or reference to any law shall be construed as referring to such
law as from time to time amended and any successor thereto and the rules and
regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder, (iii)
any
reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s
successors and assigns, (iv)
the
words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be
construed to refer to this Credit Agreement in its entirety and not to any
particular provision hereof, (v)
all
references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be
construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules
to,
this Credit Agreement, and (vi)
the
words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and
properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract
rights.
Section
1.4 Accounting
Terms; GAAP.
Except
as
otherwise expressly provided herein, as used in the Loan Documents and in any
certificate, opinion or other document made or delivered pursuant thereto,
accounting terms not defined in Section 1.1, and accounting terms partly
defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the
respective meanings given to them under GAAP. If at any time any change in
GAAP
would affect the computation of any financial requirement set forth in this
Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall
negotiate in good faith to amend such requirement to reflect such change in
GAAP
(subject to the approval of the Required Lenders), provided that, until
so amended, (i)
such
requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to
such
change therein and (ii)
the
Borrower shall provide to the Credit Parties financial statements and other
documents required under this Credit Agreement or as reasonably requested
hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such
requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, the computation of financial ratios
and
requirements set forth in this Credit Agreement shall be consistent with the
Borrower’s financial statements required to be delivered hereunder.
Section
1.5 Rounding.
Any
financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the
other
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
component,
carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such
ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest
number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
THE
CREDITS
Section
2.1 Commitments.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender agrees to make Loans to the
Borrower in dollars from time to time during the Availability Period in an
aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s Credit Exposure
exceeding such Lender’s Commitment. Within the foregoing limits and subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay
and
reborrow Loans.
(b) On
the
First Restatement Effective Date and subject to the terms and conditions
hereof:
(i) each
Continuing Lender whose Commitment is higher or lower than its Commitment (under
and as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) shall be deemed to have entered
into a master assignment and assumption, in form and substance substantially
similar to Exhibit
A,
pursuant to which each such Continuing Lender shall have assigned to or assumed
from each other such Continuing Lender a portion of the Commitment, Loans and
LC
Exposure of each such Continuing Lender such that the outstanding Loans and
LC
Exposure of each Lender immediately after First Restatement Effective Date
reflect proportionately the Commitments as set forth on Schedule
2.1;
and
(ii) in
connection with such assignment, each such Continuing Lender shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of each such other Lender, such amount
as
shall be necessary to reflect the assignment to it of Loans, and in connection
with such master assignment each such Continuing Lender may treat the assignment
of Eurodollar Borrowings as a prepayment of such Eurodollar Borrowings for
purposes of Section
3.6.
Section
2.2 Loans
and Borrowings.
(a) Each
Loan
shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders
ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any
Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other
Lender of its obligations hereunder, provided
that the
Commitments of the Lenders are several, and no Lender shall be responsible
for
any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject
to Section
3.4,
each
Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as
applicable, in each case as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith.
Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic
or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan, provided
that any
exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to
repay
such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement.
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Cleco
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(c) At
the
commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of
1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing
is
made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000, provided
that an
ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused
balance of the total Commitments or in an aggregate amount that is required
to
finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section
2.8(e).
Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time,
provided
that
there shall not at any time be more than a total of five Eurodollar Borrowings
outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled
to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest
Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity
Date.
Section
2.3 Requests
for Borrowings.
(a) To
request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall deliver a Credit Request to the
Administrative Agent by hand or facsimile (or transmit by electronic
communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the
Administrative Agent) or notify the Administrative Agent by telephone, in each
case to be promptly confirmed by the delivery to the Administrative Agent of
a
signed Credit Request (i)
in the
case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:30 a.m., New York City time,
three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (ii)
in the
case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:30 a.m., New York City time, on
the
date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Credit Request (including each such
telephonic request) shall be irrevocable and shall specify the following
information in compliance with Section
2.2:
(i) the
aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the
date
of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether
such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;
(iv) in
the
case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable
thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term
“Interest Period”; and
(v) the
location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be
disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section
2.4.
(b) If
no
election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing
shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect
to
any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt
of a Credit Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent
shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such
Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
Section
2.4 Funding
of Borrowings.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(a) Each
Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date
thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m., New York
City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated
by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. Subject to Section
5.2,
the
Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly
crediting or otherwise transferring the amounts so received, in like funds,
to
an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent and
designated by the Borrower in the applicable Credit Request,
provided
that ABR
Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in
Section 2.8(e)
shall be
remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.
(b) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to
the
proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to
the
Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative
Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date
in
accordance with Section
2.4(a)
or
Section
2.8(e)
and may,
in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower or the Issuing
Bank, as applicable, a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has
not
in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally
agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding
amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is made available to the Borrower or the Issuing Bank, as applicable,
to
but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i)
in the
case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a
rate
determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry
rules
on interbank compensation or (ii)
in the
case of the Borrower, the interest rate that would be otherwise applicable
to
such Borrowing. Such payment by the Borrower, however, shall be without
prejudice to its rights against such Lender. If such Lender pays such amount
to
the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan
included in such Borrowing.
Section
2.5 Termination,
Reduction and Increase of Commitments.
(a) Unless
previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity
Date.
(b) The
Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the
Commitments, provided
that
(i)
the
Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect
to any concurrent prepayment or repayment of the Loans in accordance with
Section
2.7,
the sum
of the Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments, (ii)
each
such reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (iii)
any
reduction of the Commitments to an amount below the LC Commitment shall be
automatically reduce the LC Commitment on a dollar for dollar
basis.
(c) The
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate
or
reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three
Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction,
specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following
receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of
the
contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section
shall be irrevocable, provided
that a
notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state
that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit
facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice
to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if
such
condition is not satisfied. Each reduction, and any termination, of the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Commitments
shall be permanent and each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably
among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
(d) The
Borrower may at any time and from time to time prior to the Maturity Date,
at
its sole cost, expense and effort, request any one or more of the Lenders to
increase its Commitment (the decision to increase the Commitment of a Lender
to
be within the sole and absolute discretion of such Lender), or any other Person
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank to
provide a new Commitment, by submitting to the Administrative Agent and the
Issuing Bank an Increase Supplement duly executed by the Borrower and each
such
Lender or other Person, as the case may be. If such Increase Supplement is
in
all respects reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing
Bank, the Administrative Agent shall execute such Increase Supplement and the
Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy thereof to the Borrower and each
such
Lender or other Person, as the case may be. Upon execution and delivery of
such
Increase Supplement by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, (x) in
the
case of each such Lender (an “Increasing
Lender”),
its
Commitment shall be increased to the amount set forth in such Increase
Supplement, (y) in the case of each such other Person (a “New
Lender”),
such
New Lender shall become a party hereto and have the rights and obligations
of a
Lender under the Loan Documents and its Commitment shall be as set forth in
such
Increase Supplement; provided
that:
(i) immediately
after giving effect thereto, the sum of all increases in the aggregate
Commitments made pursuant to this Section
2.5(d)
shall
not exceed $25,000,000;
(ii) each
such
increase of the aggregate Commitments shall be in an amount not less than
$10,000,000 or such amount plus an integral multiple of $1,000,000;
(iii) if
Loans
would be outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such increase,
then
simultaneously with such increase (1) each such Increasing Lender, each New
Lender and each other Lender shall be deemed to have entered into a master
assignment and assumption, in form and substance substantially similar to
Exhibit
A,
pursuant to which each such other Lender shall have assigned to each such
Increasing Lender and each such New Lender a portion of its Commitment, Loans
and LC Exposure necessary to reflect proportionately the Commitments as adjusted
in accordance with this subsection (d), and (2) in connection with such
assignment, each such Increasing Lender and each such New Lender shall pay
to
the Administrative Agent, for the account of each such other Lender, such amount
as shall be necessary to reflect the assignment to it of Loans, and in
connection with such master assignment each such other Lender may treat the
assignment of Eurodollar Borrowings as a prepayment of such Eurodollar
Borrowings for purposes of Section
3.6;
(iv) each
such
other Person shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
all forms, if any, that are required to be delivered by such other Person
pursuant to Section
3.7;
and
(v) the
Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies
for each Lender a certificate of a Financial Officer demonstrating pro forma
compliance with the terms of this Credit Agreement through the Maturity Date
and
the Administrative Agent shall have received such certificates and other items
as it shall reasonably request in connection with such increase.
Section
2.6 Repayment
of Loans; Evidence of Debt.
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(a) The
Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent
for
the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on
the
Maturity Date.
(b) Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the debt of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from
each
Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest
payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The
Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record
(i)
the
amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period,
if
any, applicable thereto, (ii)
the
amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable
from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii)
the
amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account
of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The
entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) or (c) of
this Section shall, to the extent not inconsistent with any entries made in
the
Notes, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations
recorded therein, provided
that the
failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts
or
any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower
to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Credit
Agreement.
(e) The
Loans
made by each Lender shall be evidenced by a Note payable to the order of such
Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit
D.
Section
2.7 Prepayment
of Loans.
(a) Voluntary
Prepayments.
The
Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any
Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this Section.
(b) Prepayments
Resulting from the Reduction of the Total Commitments.
In the
event of any partial reduction or termination of the Commitments, then
(i)
at or
prior to the date of such reduction or termination, the Administrative Agent
shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the sum of the Credit Exposures
after giving effect thereto and (ii)
if such
sum would exceed the total Commitments after giving effect to such reduction
or
termination, then the Borrower shall, on the date of such reduction or
termination, prepay Borrowings in an amount sufficient to eliminate such
excess.
(c) Notice
of Prepayment; Application of Prepayments.
The
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by
facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder, (i) in the case of a prepayment of
a
Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:30 a.m., New York City time, three
Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment
of
an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date
of
the prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the
prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof
to
be prepaid, provided
that, if
a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of
termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section
2.5,
then
such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is
revoked in accordance with Section
2.5.
Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each
partial prepayment of any Borrowing under Section
2.7(a)
shall,
when added to the amount of each concurrent reduction of
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
the
Commitments and prepayment of Borrowings under such Sections, be in an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (or, if the outstanding
principal balance of the Revolving Loans is less that such minimum amount,
then
such lesser outstanding principal balance, as the case may be). Each prepayment
of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid
Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent
required by Section 3.1.
Section
2.8 Letters
of Credit.
(a) General.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the
issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in dollars for its own account, in
a
form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time
and from time to time during the period from the First Restatement Effective
Date to the tenth Business Day preceding the last day of the Availability
Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions
of
this Credit Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of
credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered
into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit,
the terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement shall control.
(b) Notice
of Issuance; Amendment; Renewal; Extension; Certain Conditions.
To
request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or
extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver
or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for
doing
so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the
Administrative Agent (not later than three Business Days before the requested
date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a Credit Request
requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of
Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on
which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph
(c)
of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address
of
the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to
prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit, provided
that no
such notice shall be required in connection with the extension of an Evergreen
Letter of Credit. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall
submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in
connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall
be
issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and, upon issuance, amendment,
renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall be deemed
to
represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment,
renewal or extension, (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the Letter of Credit
Commitment and (ii) the total Credit Exposures shall not exceed the total
Commitments.
(c) Expiration
Date.
Each
Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the
earlier of (i) the date that is one year after the date of the issuance of
such
Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one
year
after such renewal or extension), and (ii) the date that is ten Business Days
prior to the Maturity Date, provided
that any
Letter of Credit may provide for the automatic renewal thereof for any period
(unless the Issuing Bank elects not to extend) so long as such period ends
(x)
ten
Business Days prior to the Maturity Date or (y)
if the
Borrower shall have deposited cash collateral with the Administrative Agent
as
required by Section
2.8(i),
ten
Business Days prior to the date that is one year after the date of the issuance
of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof,
one year after such renewal or extension).
(d) Participations.
By the
issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing
the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Issuing
Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender and each
Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter
of
Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount
available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in
furtherance of the foregoing, each such Lender hereby absolutely and
unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account
of
the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement
made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due
as
provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment
required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each such Lender
acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant
to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional
and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any
amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and
continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and
that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding
or reduction whatsoever; provided that no Lender shall be obligated to
make any payment to the Administrative Agent for any wrongful LC Disbursement
made by the Issuing Bank as a result of acts or omissions constituting willful
misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Issuing Bank.
(e) Reimbursement
If the
Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit,
then the Issuing Bank shall either (i)
notify
the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Bank therefor, in which case the Borrower
shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent
an
amount equal to such LC Disbursement and any accrued interest thereon not later
than 2:00 p.m. on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower
shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 11:00 a.m. on such
date, or if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such
time
on such date, then not later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately
following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, provided
that, if
the LC Disbursement is equal to or greater than $1,000,000, the Borrower may,
subject to the conditions of borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance
with Section
2.3
or this
Section
2.8
that
such payment be financed with an ABR Borrowing in an equivalent amount and,
to
the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be
discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Borrowing, and/or (ii)
notify
the Administrative Agent that the Issuing Bank is requesting that the Lenders
make an ABR Borrowing in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement and any accrued
interest thereon, in which case (A) the Administrative Agent shall notify each
Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made
as part of such ABR Borrowing, and (B) each Lender shall, whether or not any
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any representation or warranty
shall be accurate, any condition to the making of any Loan hereunder shall
have
been fulfilled, or any other matter whatsoever, make the Loan to be made by
it
under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such
purpose by notice to the Lenders on (1) the Business Day that such Lender
receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon, New York
City time, on the day of receipt or (2) the Business Day immediately following
the day that such Lender receives such notice, if such notice is not received
prior to such time on the day of receipt. Such Loans shall, for all purposes
hereof, be deemed to be an ABR Borrowing referred to in Section
2.2(a)
and made
pursuant to Section
2.3,
and the
Lenders obligations to make such Loans shall be absolute and unconditional.
The
Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Issuing Bank by
promptly crediting or otherwise transferring the amounts so received, in like
funds, to the Issuing Bank for the purpose of repaying in full the LC
Disbursement and all accrued interest thereon.
(f) Obligations
Absolute.
The
Borrower’s obligations to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph
(e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall
be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
under
any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i)
any lack
of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document,
or
any term or provision therein, (ii)
any
draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged,
fraudulent, insufficient or invalid in any respect or any statement therein
being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii)
payment
by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft
or
other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit,
(iv)
any
amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the
provisions of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document, (v)
the
existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower,
any
other party guaranteeing, or otherwise obligated with, such Borrower, any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof or any other Person may at any time have
against the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, any Credit Party or any
other Person, whether in connection with this Credit Agreement, any other Loan
Document or any other related or unrelated agreement or transaction, or
(vi)
any
other act or omission to act or delay of any kind of any Credit Party or any
other Person or any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not
similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this
Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of
set-off against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither any Credit Party
nor any of their respective Related Parties shall have any liability or
responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer
of
any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder
(irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding
sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission
or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to
any
Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder),
any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from
causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided
that the
foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability
to
the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential
damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the
extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused
by
the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and
other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms
thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross
negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be
deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of
the
foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that,
with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in
substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank
may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents
without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice
or
information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such
documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of
such
Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement
Procedures.
The
Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all
documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit.
The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify (which may include telephonic notice,
promptly confirmed by facsimile) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
of
such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make
an LC
Disbursement thereunder; provided
that any
failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower
of
its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to
any
such LC Disbursement.
(h) Interim
Interest.
If the
Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall
reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is
made,
the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including
the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the
Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable
to ABR Loans; provided
that, if
the Borrower
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
fails
to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this
Section, then Section
3.1(b)
shall
apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account
of
the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment
by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing
Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such
payment.
(i) Cash
Collateral.
In the
event that (i)
an Event
of Default shall occur and be continuing or (ii)
any
Letters of Credit are outstanding on or after the tenth Business Day prior
to
the Maturity Date (or any LC Disbursements remain unreimbursed on or after
such
date), the Borrower shall deposit with the Administrative Agent in immediately
available funds on the Business Day on which it receives notice from the
Administrative Agent or Required Lenders demanding the deposit of cash
collateral in the case of clause (i), or on or before the tenth Business Day
prior to the Maturity Date in the case of clause (ii), an amount equal to the
Required Deposit Amount, which amount shall be held by the Administrative Agent
as cash collateral pursuant to a cash collateral agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank to secure the
Borrower’s reimbursement obligations with respect to LC Disbursements;
provided
that the
obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately,
and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or
other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described
in clause (h) or (i) of Article
8.
Such
deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment
and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Credit Agreement.
The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including
the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Such deposit shall not
bear interest, nor shall the Administrative Agent be under any obligation
whatsoever to invest the same, provided
that, at
the request of the Borrower, such deposit shall be invested by the
Administrative Agent in direct short term obligations of, or short term
obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally
guaranteed by, the United States of America, in each case maturing no later
than
the expiry date of the Letter of Credit giving rise to the relevant LC Exposure.
Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such
account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent
to
reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been
reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction
of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such
time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to
the
consent of Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the
Borrower under this Credit Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide
an
amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event
of
Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned
to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have
been
cured or waived. If the Borrower is required to provide cash collateral
hereunder as a result of clause (ii) of the first sentence of this subsection,
the amount thereof (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned
to
the Borrower when the LC Exposure is zero and all Letters of Credit shall have
been returned to the Issuing Bank and shall have been cancelled.
Section
2.9 Payments
Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) The
Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder or under
any other Loan Document (whether of principal of Loans, LC Disbursements,
interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Sections
3.5,
3.6,
3.7
or
10.3,
or
otherwise) prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in
immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts
received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the
Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding
Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments
shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its office at One Wall Street,
New
York, New York, or such other office as to which the Administrative Agent may
notify
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
the
other parties hereto, except payments to be made to the Issuing Bank as
expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections
3.5,
3.6,
3.7
and
10.3
shall be
made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall
distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person
to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment
hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of
any
payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period
of
such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.
(b) Each
Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each
payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of fees, each reduction of the
Commitments and each conversion of any Borrowing to or continuation of any
Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the
Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments (or, if
such
Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the
respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans). Each Lender agrees
that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder,
the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage
of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount. If at any
time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative
Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal of Loans, unreimbursed LC
Disbursements, interest, fees and commissions then due hereunder, such funds
shall be applied (i)
first,
towards payment of interest, fees and commissions then due hereunder, ratably
among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest,
fees and commissions then due to such parties and (ii)
second,
towards payment of principal of Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then
due
hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the
amounts of principal of Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to
such
parties.
(c) If
any
Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise,
obtain payment in respect of any principal of, or interest on, any of its Loans
or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment
of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations
in LC Disbursements and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received
by
any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall
purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations
in LC Disbursements of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit
of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with
the aggregate amount of principal of, and accrued interest on, their respective
Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, provided
that
(i)
if any
such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving
rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the
purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and
(ii)
the
provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment
made
by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this
Credit Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the
assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations
in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower
or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this
paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees,
to
the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender
acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise
against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such
participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower
in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior
to
the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account
of
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
the
applicable Credit Parties hereunder that the Borrower will not make such
payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such
payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such
assumption, distribute to such Credit Parties the amount due. In such event,
if
the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each such Credit Party
severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the
amount so distributed to such Credit Party with interest thereon, for each
day
from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding
the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal
Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(e) If
any
Credit Party shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant
to Section
2.4(b)
or
2.8(d),
then
the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary
provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Credit Party to satisfy such Credit Party’s
obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are
fully
paid.
INTEREST,
FEES, YIELD PROTECTION, ETC.
Section
3.1 Interest.
(a) The
Loans
comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate.
The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the
Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing
plus
the
Applicable Margin.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan, any reimbursement
obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or any fee or other amount payable
by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity,
upon
acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as
well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i)
in the
case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus
the rate
otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraph of
this
Section or (ii)
in the
case of any other amount, 2% plus
the rate
applicable to ABR Borrowings as provided in the preceding paragraph of this
Section.
(c) Accrued
interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment
Date
for such Loan, provided
that
(i)
interest
accrued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section shall be payable on demand,
(ii)
in the
event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the
principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such
repayment or prepayment, and (iii)
in the
event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current
Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on
the
effective date of such conversion.
(d) All
interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except
that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when
the
Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis
of
a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be
payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but
excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO
Rate
or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such
determination shall be conclusive
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
absent
clearly demonstrable error. The Administrative Agent shall, as soon as
practicable, notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the effective date and
the
amount of each such change in the Prime Rate, but any failure to so notify
shall
not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to pay interest on
the
Loans in the amounts and on the dates required.
Section
3.2 Interest
Elections
Relating to Borrowings.
(a) Each
Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Credit
Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial
Interest Period as specified in such Credit Request. Thereafter, the Borrower
may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such
Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods
therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different
options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which
case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding
the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion
shall be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b) To
make
an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent a signed Interest Election Request in a form approved
by
the Administrative Agent (or notify the Administrative Agent by telephone,
to be
promptly confirmed by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a signed Interest
Election Request) by the time that a Credit Request would be required under
Section
2.3
if the
Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election
to
be made on the effective date of such election.
(c) Each
such
telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall
specify the following information:
(i) the
Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different
options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the
portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case
the
information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) of this paragraph
shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the
effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request,
which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether
the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;
and
(iv) if
the
resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be
applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
If
any
such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not
specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected
an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(d) Promptly
following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent
shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of
each resulting Borrowing.
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Cleco
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(e) If
the
Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request prior to the end
of
the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid
as
provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall be
converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof,
if
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent,
at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so
long
as an Event of Default is continuing, (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be
converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid,
each
Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the
Interest Period applicable thereto.
Section
3.3 Fees.
(a) The
Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each
Lender, a facility fee, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the
Applicable Margin on the daily amount of the Commitment of such Lender
(regardless of usage) during the period from and including the date on which
this Credit Agreement becomes effective pursuant to Section
10.6
to but
excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided
that, if
such Lender continues to have any Credit Exposure after its Commitment
terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount
of such Lender’s Credit Exposure from and including the date on which such
Lender’s Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender
ceases to have any Credit Exposure. Accrued facility fees shall be payable
in
arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year,
each date on which the Commitments are permanently reduced and on the date
on
which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur
after the First Restatement Date, provided
that all
unpaid facility fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments
terminate and provided further
that
facility fees which accrue after the Commitments terminate shall be payable
on
demand. All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days
and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first
day but excluding the last day).
(b) The
Borrower agrees to pay (i)
to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with
respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at a
rate
per annum equal to the Applicable Margin on the average daily amount of such
Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed
LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the First Restatement
Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s
Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any
LC
Exposure and (ii)
to the
Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the
rate
or rates per annum separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Issuing
Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion
thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from
and including the First Restatement Effective Date to but excluding the later
of
the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases
to
be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to
the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or
processing of drawings thereunder. Accrued participation fees and fronting
fees
shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and
December of each year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the
First Restatement Date; provided
that all
such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and
any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall
be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to
this paragraph shall be payable within ten days after demand. All participation
fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days
and
shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first
day
but
excluding the last day).
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(c) The
Borrower agrees to pay to each Credit Party, for its own account, fees and
other
amounts payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon in
writing between the Borrower and such Credit Party.
(d) All
fees
and other amounts payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in
immediately available funds. Fees and other amounts paid shall not be refundable
under any circumstances.
Section
3.4 Alternate
Rate of Interest.
If
prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar
Borrowing:
(a) the
Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent
manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining
the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest
Period; or
(b) the
Administrative Agent is advised by Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO
Rate
or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately
and fairly reflect the cost of making or maintaining their Loans included in
such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then
the
Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders
by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) or facsimile as promptly as practicable
thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the
Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist,
(i)
any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing
to,
or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be
ineffective, and (ii) if any Credit Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing,
such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.
Section
3.5 Increased
Costs; Illegality.
(a) If
any
Change in Law shall:
(i) impose,
modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement
against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended
by,
any Credit Party (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted
LIBO Rate); or
(ii) impose
on
any Credit Party or the London interbank market any other condition affecting
this Credit Agreement, any Eurodollar Loans made by such Credit Party or any
participation therein or any Letter of Credit or participation
therein;
and
the
result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Credit
Party of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or the cost to such Credit
Party of issuing, participating in or maintaining any Letter of Credit hereunder
or to increase the cost to such Credit Party or to reduce the amount of any
sum
received or receivable by such Credit Party hereunder (whether of principal,
interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Credit Party such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Credit Party for such
additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
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Cleco
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(b) If
any
Credit Party determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements
has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Credit
Party’s capital or on the capital of such Credit Party’s holding company, if
any, as a consequence of this Credit Agreement or the Loans made, the Letters
of
Credit issued or the participations therein held, by such Credit Party to a
level below that which such Credit Party or such Credit Party’s holding company
could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such
Credit Party’s policies and the policies of such Credit Party’s holding company
with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will
pay
to such Credit Party such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Credit Party or such Credit Party’s holding company for any such reduction
suffered.
(c) A
certificate of a Credit Party setting forth the amount or amounts necessary
to
compensate such Credit Party or its holding company, as applicable, as specified
in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower
and
shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Credit
Party the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after
receipt thereof.
(d) Failure
or delay on the part of any Credit Party to demand compensation pursuant to
this
Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Credit Party’s right to demand
such compensation; provided
that the
Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Credit Party pursuant to this
Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 90 days prior
to the date that such Credit Party notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law
giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Credit Party’s
intention to claim compensation therefor; and provided further
that, if
the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is
retroactive, then the 90 day period referred to above shall be extended to
include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(e) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Credit Agreement, if, after the First Restatement
Date, any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or
maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its obligations as
contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice
to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent:
(i) such
Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter (for the duration
of such unlawfulness) be made by such Lender hereunder (or be continued for
additional Interest Periods) and ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such
duration) be converted into Eurodollar Loans, whereupon any request for a
Eurodollar Borrowing or to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing
or
to continue a Eurodollar Borrowing, as applicable, for an additional Interest
Period shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or
a
request to continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or
to
convert a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as applicable), unless such
declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and
(ii) such
Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted
to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically
converted to ABR Loans, as of the effective date of such notice as provided
in
the last sentence of this paragraph.
In
the
event any Lender shall exercise its rights under clause (i) or (ii) of this
paragraph, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have
been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such
Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied
to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Section
3.6 Break
Funding Payments.
In
the
event of (a)
the
payment or prepayment (voluntary or otherwise) of any principal of any
Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable
thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b)
the
conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto, (c)
the
failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date
specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such
notice may be revoked under Section 2.7(c) and is revoked in accordance
therewith), or (d)
the
assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest
Period or maturity date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 3.8, then, in any such event, the Borrower
shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to
such
event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any
Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be
the
excess, if any, of (i)
the
amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such
Loan
had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been
applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the
last
day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure
to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest
Period for such Loan), over (ii)
the
amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period
at
the interest rate that such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement
of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from
other
banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any
amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this
Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent
manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due
on
any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
Section
3.7 Taxes.
(a) Payments
to be Free and Clear.
Provided that all documentation, if any, then required to be delivered by any
Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
3.7(c)
has been
delivered, all sums payable by the Borrower under the Loan Documents shall
be
paid free and clear of and (except to the extent required by law) without any
deduction or withholding on account of any Tax (other than a Tax on the Overall
Net Income of any Lender (for which payment need not be free and clear, but
no
deduction or withholding shall be made unless then required by applicable law))
imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or within the United States
or any political subdivision in or of the United States or any other
jurisdiction from or to which a payment is made by or on behalf of the Borrower
or by any federation or organization of which the United States or any such
jurisdiction is a member at the time of payment.
(b) Grossing
up of Payments.
If the
Borrower or any other Person is required by law to make any deduction or
withholding on account of any such Tax from any sum paid or payable by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any of the Loan
Documents:
(i) the
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and such Lender of any such
requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as the Borrower
becomes aware of it;
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Cleco
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(ii) the
Borrower shall pay any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach
thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on the
Borrower) for its own account or (if that liability is imposed on the
Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be) on behalf of and in
the
name of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may
be;
(iii) the
sum
payable by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or a Lender in respect
of
which the relevant deduction, withholding or payment is required shall be
increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of that
deduction, withholding or payment, the Administrative Agent or such Lender,
as
the case may be, receives on the due date therefor a net sum equal to what
it
would have received had no such deduction, withholding or payment been required
or made; and
(iv) within
30
days after paying any sum from which it is required by law to make any deduction
or withholding, and within 30 days after the due date of payment of any Tax
which it is required by clause (ii) above to pay, the Borrower shall deliver
to
the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender evidence satisfactory to
the
other affected parties of such deduction, withholding or payment and of the
remittance thereof to the relevant Governmental Authority;
(v) provided
that no additional amount shall be required to be paid to any Lender under
clause (iii) above except to the extent that any change after the First
Restatement Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages
hereof) or after the date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which
such Lender became a Lender (in the case of each other Lender) if any such
requirement for a deduction, withholding or payment as is mentioned therein
shall result in an increase in the rate of such deduction, withholding or
payment from that in effect at the date of this Agreement or at the date of
such
Assignment and Assumption, as the case may be, in respect of payments to such
Lender, and provided
further
that any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this
Section
3.7
shall
use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and
regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending
Office or take other appropriate action if the making of such a change or the
taking of such action, as the case may be, would avoid the need for, or reduce
the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would
not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous
to
such Lender.
(c) Tax
Certificates.
Each
Foreign Lender listed on the signature pages hereof that has not done so on
or
before the First Restatement Date shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy
to
the Administrative Agent), on or prior to the First Restatement Effective Date
(in the case of each Foreign Lender listed on the signature pages hereof) or
on
the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes
a Lender (in the case of each other Foreign Lender), and at such other times
as
may be necessary in the determination of the Borrower or the Administrative
Agent (each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), including upon the
occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent counterpart of
any
form set forth below previously delivered by such Foreign Lender to the
Borrower, such certificates, documents or other evidence, properly completed
and
duly executed by such Foreign Lender (i) two accurate and complete original
signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W8-BEN or Form W8-ECI, or
successor applicable form and (ii) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or
W-9
(or any other certificate or statement of exemption required by Treasury
Regulations Section 1.1441 4(a) or Section 1.1441 6(c) or any successor thereto)
to establish that such Foreign Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding
of
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Cleco
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United
States federal income tax under Section 1441 or 1442 of the Code or otherwise
(or under any comparable provisions of any successor statute) with respect
to
any payments to such Foreign Lender of principal, interest, fees or other
amounts payable under any of the Loan Documents. The Borrower shall not be
required to pay any additional amount to any such Foreign Lender under
Section
3.7(b)(iii)
if such
Foreign Lender shall have failed to satisfy the requirements of the immediately
preceding sentence; provided
that if
such Foreign Lender shall have satisfied such requirements on the First
Restatement Effective Date (in the case of each Foreign Lender listed on the
signature pages hereof) or on the effective date of the Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other
Foreign Lender), nothing in this Section shall relieve the Borrower of its
obligation to pay any additional amounts pursuant to Section
3.7(b)(iii)
in the
event that, as a result of any change in applicable law, such Foreign Lender
is
no longer properly entitled to deliver certificates, documents or other evidence
at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Foreign Lender is not
subject to withholding as described in the immediately preceding
sentence.
Section
3.8 Mitigation
Obligations.
In the
event that (i)
the
Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts to any Lender pursuant
to
Section
3.5,
Section
3.6
or
Section
3.7,
or
(ii)
any
Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder on two or more
occasions, the Borrower may, within 60 days of the demand by such Lender for
such additional amounts or the relevant default by such Lender, as the case
may
be, and subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Section
10.4,
designate an Eligible Assignee (acceptable to the Administrative Agent and
the
Issuing Bank) to purchase and assume all its interests, rights and obligations
under the Loan Documents, without recourse to or warranty by or expense to,
such
Lender, for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of such
Lender’s Loans plus any accrued but unpaid interest thereon and accrued but
unpaid facility fees, utilization fees and letter of credit fees in respect
of
such Lender’s Commitment and any other amounts payable to such Lender hereunder,
and to assume all the obligations of such Lender hereunder, and, upon such
purchase, such Lender shall no longer be a party hereto or have any rights
hereunder (except those that survive full repayment hereunder) and shall be
relieved from all obligations to the Borrower hereunder, and the Eligible
Assignee shall succeed to the rights and obligations of such Lender hereunder.
The Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Eligible Assignee a Note.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that a Lender
is
replaced pursuant to this Section
3.8
as a
result of the Borrower becoming obligated to pay additional amounts to such
Lender pursuant to Section
3.5,
Section
3.6
or
Section
3.7,
such
Lender shall be entitled to receive such additional amounts as if it had not
been so replaced.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
The
Borrower represents and warrants to the Credit Parties that:
Section
4.1 Organization;
Powers.
Each of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is duly organized or formed, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization
or
formation, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as
now
conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every
jurisdiction where such qualification is required.
Section
4.2 Authorization;
Enforceability.
The
Transactions are within the corporate powers of the Borrower and have been
duly
authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required,
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
equity
holder action. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by the
Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation thereof,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.
Section
4.3 Governmental
Approvals; No Conflicts.
The
Transactions (i)
do not
require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other
action by, any Governmental Authority, except for (x) information filings to
be
made in the ordinary course of business, which filings are not a condition
to
the Borrower’s performance under the Loan Documents, and (y) such as have been
obtained or made and are in full force and effect and not subject to any appeals
period, provided
that the
LPSC Order is subject to appeal until July 6, 2006, (ii)
will not
violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by laws or other
organizational documents of the Borrower or any order of any Governmental
Authority, (iii)
will not
violate or result in a default under any material indenture, agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Borrower or its assets, or give rise to a right
thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower, and (iv)
will not
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower
(other than Liens expressly permitted by Section
7.1).
Section
4.4 Financial
Condition; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) The
Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Credit Parties copies of its Form
10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, containing the audited consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and the related consolidated
statements of income, members’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal years ending
December 31, 2005, December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 (with the applicable
related notes and schedules, the “Financial
Statements”).
The
Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly
present the consolidated financial condition and results of the operations
of
the Borrower as of the dates and for the periods indicated therein.
(b) Since
December 31, 2005,
each
of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has conducted its business only in the
ordinary course (other than activities under the Storm Recovery Program) and
there has been no Material Adverse Change.
Section
4.5 Properties.
(a) Each
of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has, subject to Liens expressly permitted
by
Section
7.1,
good
title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property
material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not
interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or
to
utilize such properties for their intended purposes.
(b) Each
of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owns, possesses adequate licenses or is
otherwise entitled to use, all Intellectual Property material to its business,
and the use thereof by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries does not infringe
upon
the rights of any other Person, except for any failure to own or have such
rights or any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.6 Litigation
and Environmental Matters.
(a) There
are
no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental
Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened
in
writing
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
against
or affecting the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (i)
that, if
adversely determined (and provided that there exists a reasonable possibility
of
such adverse determination), could reasonably be expected, individually or
in
the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed
Matters), except that the commencement by the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries
or any Governmental Authority of a rate proceeding or earnings review before
such Governmental Authority shall not constitute such a pending or threatened
action, suit or proceeding unless and until such Governmental Authority has
made
a final determination thereunder that could reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect, or (ii)
that
involve any Loan Document or the Transactions.
(b) Except
for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that,
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result
in
a Material Adverse Effect:
(i) to
the
best knowledge of the Borrower, the properties owned, leased or operated by
the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries (the “Properties”)
do not
contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i)
constitute, or constituted a violation of, (ii) require Remedial Action under,
or (iii) could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which
violations, Remedial Actions and liabilities, in the aggregate, could reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
(ii) to
the
best knowledge of the Borrower, the Properties and all operations of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects, and
in
the last five years have been in compliance, with all Environmental Laws, and
all necessary Environmental Permits have been obtained and are in effect, except
to the extent that such non-compliance or failure to obtain any necessary
permits, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect,
(iii) to
the
best knowledge of the Borrower, there have been no Releases or threatened
Releases at, from, under or proximate to the Properties or otherwise in
connection with the current or former operations of the Borrower or the
Subsidiaries, which Releases or threatened Releases, in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
(iv) neither
the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice directly or
otherwise learned indirectly (through a Corporate Officer) of an Environmental
Claim in connection with the Properties or the current or former operations
of
the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or with regard to any Person whose liabilities
for environmental matters the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has retained or
assumed, in whole or in part, contractually, by operation of law or otherwise,
which, in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, nor do the Borrower or the Subsidiaries have reason to believe
that any such notice will be received or is being overtly threatened,
and
(v) to
the
best knowledge of the Borrower, Hazardous Materials have not been transported
from the Properties, nor have Hazardous Materials been generated, treated,
stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties in a manner that
could give rise to liability under any Environmental Law, nor have the Borrower
or the Subsidiaries retained or assumed any liability, contractually, by
operation of law or otherwise, with respect to the generation, treatment,
storage or disposal of Hazardous Materials, which transportation,
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Cleco
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generation,
treatment, storage or disposal, or retained or assumed liabilities, in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) Since
the
First Restatement Date, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed
Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially
increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.7 Compliance
with Laws and Agreements.
Each of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations
and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and
all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its
property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate,
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other
than Disclosed Matters). No Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section
4.8 Investment
and Holding Company Status.
Neither
the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is an “investment company” or a company
“controlled” by an “investment company” as defined in, or is otherwise subject
to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940,
Section
4.9 Taxes.
Each of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all
Tax
returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be
paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (i)
Taxes
that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books
adequate reserves or (ii)
to the
extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result
in a
Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.10 ERISA.
Each of the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates is in compliance in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the
regulations and published interpretations thereunder except for any such failure
that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events
for
which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected
to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated
benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes
of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date
of the most audited recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed
by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan,
and
the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded
Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent audited
financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $10,000,000
the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.
Section
4.11 Disclosure.
The Borrower has disclosed to the Credit Parties all agreements, instruments
and
corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of the Subsidiaries is
subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information
furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Credit Party
in connection with the negotiation of the Loan Documents or delivered thereunder
when taken as a whole (as modified or supplemented by other information so
furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading,
provided
that, to
the extent any such reports, financial statements, certificates or other
information was based upon or constitutes a
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Cleco
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forecast
or a projection, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared
in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the
time.
Section
4.12 Subsidiaries.
As
of the
First Restatement Date, the Borrower has only the Subsidiaries set forth on
Schedule
4.12,
which
Schedule sets forth with respect to each Subsidiary, the identity of each Person
which owns Equity Interests in such Subsidiary and the percentage of the issued
and outstanding Equity Interests owned by each such Person. The shares of each
corporate Subsidiary are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non
assessable and are owned free and clear of any Liens, other than Liens permitted
pursuant to Section
7.1(n).
The
interest of the Borrower in each non-corporate Subsidiary is owned free and
clear of any Liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section
7.1(n).
As of
the First Restatement Date, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has issued
any Disqualified Stock.
Section
4.13 Federal
Reserve Regulations,
etc.
(a) Neither
the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one
of
their important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose
of buying or carrying Margin Stock. Immediately before and after giving effect
to the making of each Loan and the issuance of each Letter of Credit, Margin
Stock will constitute less than 25% of the Borrower’s assets as determined in
accordance with Regulation U.
(b) No
part
of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be used, whether
directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately,
(i)
to
purchase, acquire or carry any Margin Stock or for any purpose that entails
a
violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the regulations
of
the Board, including Regulation T, U or X or (ii)
to fund
a personal loan to or for the benefit of a director or executive officer of
a
Borrower or any Subsidiary.
CONDITIONS
Section
5.1 First
Restatement Effective Date.
The
obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue
Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date (the
“First
Restatement Effective Date”)
on
which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance
with Section
10.2):
(a) Credit
Agreement.
The
Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto
either (i)
a
counterpart of this Credit Agreement signed on behalf of such party or
(ii)
written
evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile
transmission of a signed signature page of this Credit Agreement) that such
party has signed a counterpart of this Credit Agreement.
(b) Notes.
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a Note for each Lender, signed on
behalf of the Borrower.
(c) Legal
Opinion.
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed
to the Credit Parties and dated the First Restatement Effective Date) from
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, L.L.P., special counsel to the Borrower, substantially in the
form of Exhibit
B,
and
covering such other matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan Documents and
the
Transactions as the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Required
Lenders may reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to
deliver such opinions.
(d) Organizational
Documents, etc.
The
Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as
the
Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to
(i)
the
organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower (including (x) either
(1) a certificate of incorporation of the Borrower, certified as of a recent
date by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
(2) a
certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying
that there have been no amendments or other changes to its certificate of
incorporation since April 25, 2005 or, if so, setting forth same, and (y)
certificates of good standing (or comparable certificates) for the Borrower,
certified as of a recent date prior to the First Restatement Effective Date,
by
the Secretaries of State (or comparable official) of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation and each other jurisdiction in which it is qualified to do
business, (ii)
the
authorization of the Transactions, (iii)
the
incumbency of its officer or officers who may sign the Loan Documents, including
therein a signature specimen of such officer or officers and (iv)
any
other legal matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan Documents or the
Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(e) Officer’s
Certificate.
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, dated the First Restatement Effective
Date and signed by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer
of
the Borrower (or other Financial Officer acceptable to the Administrative
Agent):
(i) confirming
compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of
Section
5.2;
and
(ii) certifying
that all approvals and consents of all Persons required to be obtained in
connection with the consummation of the Transactions have been duly obtained
and
are in full force and effect and that all required notices have been given
and
all required waiting periods have expired, attaching thereto true and complete
copies of all such required governmental and regulatory authorizations and
approvals, including the approval of LPSC.
(f) Departing
Lenders, Interest, Fees and Expenses.
The
Administrative Agent shall have received (i)
a
Departing Lender Letter (or a facsimile thereof) signed by each Departing Lender
and the Borrower, (ii)
for the
account of the Continuing Lenders and the Departing Lenders, all interest on
the
Loans (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement), all facility fees (as
provided in Section
3.3(a)
of the
Original Credit Agreement), all letter of credit fees (as provided in
Section
3.3(b)
of the
Original Credit Agreement), and all utilization fees (as provided in
Section
3.3(c)
of the
Original Credit Agreement), in each case accrued to, but excluding, the First
Restatement Effective Date, and, in connection therewith, all Interest Periods
(as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) shall be deemed terminated on
the
First Restatement Effective Date, (iii)
for the
account of the Departing Lenders, the outstanding principal amount of the Loans
(as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) of the Departing Lenders, and
(iv)
for the
account of the Credit Parties and the Departing Lenders, all other fees and
amounts due and payable on or prior to the First Restatement Effective Date
in
connection with this Credit Agreement and the Original Credit Agreement,
including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out of pocket
expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower. The Borrower shall
pay to the Continuing Lenders and the Departing Lenders all losses, costs and
expenses in connection with the termination of the Interest Periods referred
to
in clause (ii) above in the manner and at the time required by Section
3.6
of the
Original Credit Agreement. Each Lender hereby consents to such exit of each
Departing Lender from the Original
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Credit
Agreement and the payment to each such Departing Lender of all principal,
interest, fees and other sums owing to it under the Original Credit Agreement
on
or about the First Restatement Effective Date.
(g) No
Material Adverse Change.
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Financial Officer,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, dated the First
Restatement Effective Date, to the effect that since December 31, 2005, no
Material Adverse Change has occurred.
(h) Certain
Agreements.
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized
officer of the Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, (i) certifying that there have been no amendments to
any
of the Utility Mortgage, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan or the
Inter-Affiliate Policies Agreement, or, if so, setting forth same, which
amendments, if any, shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent shall notify each of the Borrower and the Credit Parties
of
the First Restatement Effective Date, and each such notice shall be conclusive
and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders
to
make Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall
not
become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived
pursuant to Section
10.2)
at or
prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 30, 2005 (and, in the event
such
conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate
at
such time).
Section
5.2 Each
Credit Event.
The
obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing,
and
of the Issuing Bank to issue, increase, amend, renew or extend a Letter of
Credit, (each such event being called a “Credit
Event”)
is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents
shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date
of
such issuance, increase, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, except
to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an
earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have
been
true and correct on and as of such earlier date,
(b) At
the
time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or such issuance,
increase, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, no Default shall
have
occurred and be continuing.
(c) The
Administrative Agent shall have received such other documentation and assurances
as shall be reasonably required by it in connection therewith.
(d) Such
Loan
or Letter of Credit shall not be prohibited by any applicable law, rule or
regulation.
Each
Borrowing and each issuance, increase, amendment, renewal or extension of a
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty
by
the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs
(a)
and (b) of this Section.
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Cleco
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AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
the
Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest
on
each Loan and all fees and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents shall
have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired and all LC
Disbursements have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with
the
Credit Parties that:
Section
6.1 Financial
Statements and Other Information.
The
Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) As
soon
as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal
year, (i) a copy of the Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K in respect of such
fiscal year required to be filed by the Borrower with the SEC, together with
the
financial statements attached thereto, and (ii) the Borrower’s audited
consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of income,
stockholder’s equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal year,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous
fiscal year, all reported on by the Accountants (without a “going concern” or
like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception
as to
the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial
statements present fairly in all material respects the financial conditions
and
results of operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during such fiscal
year;
(b) As
soon
as available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the
first
three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, (i) a copy of the Borrower’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in respect of such fiscal quarter required to
be
filed by the Borrower with the SEC, together with the financial statements
attached thereto, and (ii) the Borrower’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet
and related consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity and cash
flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion
of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance
sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a duly
authorized Financial Officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all
material respects the financial conditions and results of operations of the
Borrower on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied,
subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of
footnotes;
(c) Within
60
days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters (120 days after
the end of the last fiscal quarter), a Compliance Certificate, signed by a
Financial Officer (or such other officer as shall be acceptable to the
Administrative Agent) as to the Borrower’s compliance, as of such fiscal quarter
ending date, with Section
6.11,
and as
to the occurrence or continuance of no Default or Event of Default as of such
fiscal quarter ending date and the date of such certificate; and
(d) promptly
following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations,
business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
or
compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as any Credit Party may
reasonably request.
Section
6.2 Notices
of Material Events.
The
Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the
following:
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(a) Prompt
written notice of the occurrence of any (i) Event of Default or Default,
specifying the nature and extent thereof and (ii) a Material Adverse
Change;
(b) Prompt
written notice of: (i) any material citation, summons, subpoena, order to show
cause or other document naming the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries a party
to any proceeding before any Governmental Authority, and include with such
notice a copy of such citation, summons, subpoena, order to show cause or other
document, or (ii) any lapse or other termination of, or refusal to renew or
extend, any material Intellectual Property, license, permit, franchise or other
authorization issued to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries by any Person
or
Governmental Authority, provided
that any
of the foregoing set forth in this subsection (b) could, individually or in
the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or call
into
question the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents;
(c) Promptly
upon becoming available, copies of all (i) regular, periodic or special reports,
schedules and other material which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
may
be required to file with or deliver to any securities exchange or the SEC,
or
any other Governmental Authority succeeding to the functions thereof, (ii)
copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities
of
the Borrower or of any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any
indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to
be
furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.2,
(iii)
material news releases and annual reports relating to the Borrower or any of
the
Subsidiaries, and (iv) upon the written request of the Administrative Agent,
reports that the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries sends to or files with
FERC, the LPSC or any similar state or local Governmental Authority;
(d) Prompt
written notice of any order, notice, claim or proceeding received by, or brought
against, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or with respect to any real
property under any Environmental Law, that could reasonably be expected to
have
a Material Adverse Effect; and
(e) Prompt
written notice of any change by either Xxxxx’x or S&P in the Senior Debt
Rating.
Each
notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of
a
Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth
the
details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken
or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
Documents
required to be delivered pursuant to Section
6.1(a)
or
(b)
or
clauses (i) through (iii) of Section
6.2(c)
(to the
extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the
SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to
have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents,
or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the
website address listed in Section
10.1;
or (ii)
on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or
intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative have
access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the
Administrative Agent), provided
that:
(i)
the
Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies
until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii)
the
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by facsimile
or
electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the
Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e.,
soft
copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every
instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Compliance
Certificates required by Section 6.1(c) to the Administrative Agent.
Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have
no
obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents
referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor
compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender
shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its
copies of such documents.
The
Borrower hereby acknowledges that (i)
the
Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders on a confidential basis
materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder
(collectively, “Borrower
Materials”)
by
posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic
system (the “Platform”)
and
(b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do
not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower
or its securities) (each, a “Public
Lender”).
The
Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower in writing if it receives written
notice from a Lender identifying itself as a Public Lender. The Borrower hereby
agrees that it will notify the Administrative Agent in the event that any
non-public information is included in the Borrower Materials and to cooperate
with the Administrative Agent to ensure that such non-public information is
not
distributed to a Public Lender.
Section
6.3 Legal
Existence.
Except
as permitted under Section
7.3,
the
Borrower shall maintain its legal existence in good standing in the jurisdiction
of its incorporation or formation and in each other jurisdiction in which the
failure so to do could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
and cause each of the Subsidiaries to maintain its legal existence in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure so to do could reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
6.4 Taxes.
The
Borrower shall pay and discharge when due, and cause each of the Subsidiaries
so
to do, all Taxes, assessments and governmental charges, license fees and levies
upon or with respect to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be,
and
all Taxes upon the income, profits and property of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, which if unpaid, could individually or collectively reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or become a Lien on the property
of
the Borrower or such Subsidiary (other than a Lien described in clause (a)
of
the definition of Permitted Encumbrances), as the case may be, unless and to
the
extent only that such Taxes, assessments, charges, license fees and levies
shall
be contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted
by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, provided
that
such reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required by the
Accountants in accordance with GAAP shall have been made therefor.
Section
6.5 Insurance.
The
Borrower shall maintain, and cause each of the Subsidiaries to maintain, with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its
property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including
in any event public liability and business interruption coverage) as are usually
insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or
a
similar business; and furnish to the Administrative Agent, upon written request
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, full information as to the insurance
carried.
Section
6.6 Payment
of Indebtedness and Performance of Obligations.
The
Borrower shall pay and discharge when due, and cause each of the Subsidiaries
to
pay and discharge when due, all lawful Indebtedness, obligations and claims
for
labor, materials and supplies or otherwise which, if unpaid, could individually
or collectively reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect
or
(ii) become a Lien upon property of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
(other than a Lien expressly permitted by Section
7.1),
unless
and to the extent only that the validity of such Indebtedness, obligation or
claim shall be contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
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Cleco
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diligently
conducted, provided
that
such reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required by the
Accountants in accordance with GAAP shall have been made therefor.
Section
6.7 Condition
of Property.
The
Borrower shall at all times, maintain, protect and keep in good repair, working
order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and cause each of the
Subsidiaries so to do, all material property necessary to the operation of
the
Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s, as the case may be, material
businesses.
Section
6.8 Observance
of Legal Requirements.
The
Borrower shall observe and comply in all respects, and cause each of the
Subsidiaries so to do, with all laws, ordinances, orders, judgments, rules,
regulations, certifications, franchises, permits, licenses, directions and
requirements of all Governmental Authorities, which now or at any time hereafter
may be applicable to it, including ERISA and all Environmental Laws, a violation
of which could individually or collectively reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect, except such thereof as shall be contested in good
faith
and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted by it, provided
that
such reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required by the
Accountants in accordance with GAAP shall have been made therefor.
Section
6.9 Inspection
of property;
Books and Records; Discussions.
The
Borrower shall keep proper books of record and account in which full, true
and
correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all requirements of law shall be
made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities
and permit representatives of the Administrative Agent and any Lender to visit
its offices, to inspect any of its property and examine and make copies or
abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often
as may reasonably be desired, and to discuss the business, operations,
prospects, licenses, property and financial condition of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries with the officers thereof and the Accountants; provided
that, so
long as no Default or Event of Default exists, none of the Administrative Agent,
its agents, its representatives or the Lenders shall be entitled to examine
or
make copies or abstracts of, or otherwise obtain information with respect to,
the Borrower’s records relating to pending or threatened litigation if any such
disclosure by the Borrower could reasonably be expected (i) to give rise to
a
waiver of any attorney/client privilege of the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries relating to such information or (ii) to be otherwise materially
disadvantageous to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in the defense of
such litigation.
Section
6.10 Licenses,
Intellectual
Property.
The
Borrower shall obtain or maintain, as applicable, and cause each of the
Subsidiaries to obtain or maintain, as applicable, in full force and effect,
all
licenses, franchises, Intellectual Property, permits, authorizations and other
rights as are necessary for the conduct of its business and the failure of
which
to obtain or maintain could, individually or collectively, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
6.11 Financial
Covenants.
(a) The
Borrower shall maintain at all times Total Indebtedness equal to or less than
65% of Total Capitalization.
(b) The
Borrower will not permit the Interest Coverage
Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than
2.50:1.00.
Section
6.12 Use
of
Proceeds.
The
proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit will be used only as follows:
(i)
to
refinance the Indebtedness under the Existing Loan Documents, (ii)
to
reimburse the Issuing Bank in respect of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit,
(iii)
to pay
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
transaction
fees and expenses and (iv)
for
general corporate purposes not inconsistent with the terms hereof including
commercial paper backup No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of
Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately,
incidentally or ultimately, to (x)
purchase, acquire or carry any Margin Stock, (y)
for any
purpose that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the Board,
including Regulations T, U and X, or (z)
to fund
a personal loan to or for the benefit of a director or executive officer of
the
Borrower or any Subsidiary.
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
the
Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest
on
each Loan and all fees and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents shall
have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired and all LC
Disbursements have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees
with
the Credit Parties that:
Section
7.1 Liens.
The
Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur,
assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired by it, except:
(a) Liens
now
existing or hereafter arising in favor of the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders under the Loan Documents;
(b) Permitted
Encumbrances;
(c) Liens
on
any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Finsub)
existing on the First Restatement Date and set forth in Schedule
7.1,
as
renewed from time to time, but not any increases in the amounts secured thereby
or the property subject to such Lien thereon (except under the Utility
Mortgage);
(d) purchase
money Liens on property of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (other than
Finsub) acquired after the First Restatement Date to secure Indebtedness of
the
Borrower or such Subsidiary incurred in connection with the acquisition of
such
property, provided
that
each such Lien is limited to such property so acquired;
(e) Liens
existing on property of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (other than
Finsub) acquired after the First Restatement Date provided
that
such Liens are at all times thereafter limited to the property so acquired
and
were not created in contemplation of such acquisition;
(f) the
Lien
evidenced by the Utility Mortgage as renewed from time to time; provided,
however,
that
such Lien shall not extend to or over any property of a character not subject
on
the First Restatement Date to the Lien granted under the Utility Mortgage;
(g) “permitted
liens”
as
defined under Section 1.04
of the
Utility Mortgage, as in effect on the First Restatement Date, other than
“funded
liens”
described in clause (ix) of said Section 1.04, other Liens not
otherwise prohibited by Section
5.05
of the
Utility Mortgage as in effect on the First Restatement Date, and, in the event
the Utility Mortgage is terminated, Liens of the same type and nature as the
foregoing Liens referred to in this clause (g), provided
that the
amounts secured
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
by
such
Liens shall not exceed the amounts that may be secured by such foregoing Liens
as the last day on which the Utility Mortgage was in effect;
(h) Liens
created to secure Indebtedness representing, or incurred to finance, the cost
of
property acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower in the ordinary
course of business after the First Restatement Date and not subject to
(i)
the Lien
referred to in clause (f) above or (ii)
Liens
securing Indebtedness existing on such property at the time of acquisition
thereof, provided, in all cases, such Liens are limited to such property
acquired, constructed or improved;
(i) Liens
existing on property of any Person at the time that such Person becomes a
Subsidiary of the Borrower provided
that
such Liens were not created to secure the acquisition of such
Person;
(j) Liens
to
secure Indebtedness of any Subsidiary (other than Finsub) to the Borrower or
to
any of its other Subsidiaries (other than Finsub);
(k) Liens
on
property (including any natural gas, oil or other mineral property) to secure
all or a part of the cost of exploration, drilling or development thereof or
to
secure Indebtedness incurred to provide funds for any such purpose;
(l) Liens
and
security interests created, incurred or assumed in connection with the purchase,
lease, financing or refinancing of pollution control facilities (and which
Liens
and security interest are limited to such pollution control
facilities);
(m) Liens
of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Finsub) (i)
created
to secure sales or factoring of accounts receivable and other receivables,
and
(ii)
to the
extent not covered by clause (i) of this subsection, Liens on accounts
receivables and other receivables, to secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or
any
of the Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $40,000,000;
(n) Liens
on
any equity interest owned or otherwise held by or on behalf of the Borrower
or
any Subsidiary (other than Finsub) created in connection with any project
financing;
(o) Liens
to
secure obligations of the Borrower in respect of agreements to purchase or
sell
electricity, gas or fuel from counterparties, provided
that the
aggregate amount secured under this clause (o) shall not exceed $15,000,000;
(p) Liens
on
the property of Finsub incurred pursuant to the Storm Recovery Program
Documentation securing Indebtedness of Finsub incurred pursuant thereto,
provided
that
(i)
the
conditions set forth in Section
7.2(g)
have
been satisfied and (ii)
such
Liens do not extend to any other property of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than Finsub); and
(q) Liens
created for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or
in
part Indebtedness secured by any lien, mortgage or security interest referred
to
in the foregoing clauses (a) through (p); provided,
however,
that
the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the
principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension,
renewal or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement, as
the
case may be, shall be limited to all or a part of the property or indebtedness
that secured the lien or mortgage so extended, renewed or replaced (and any
improvements on such property).
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(a) sales
or
other dispositions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of inventory and short-term
government securities, commercial paper, money market mutual funds and other
similar short-term cash equivalent investments, in each case in the ordinary
course of business;
(b) sales
or
factoring of accounts receivables and other receivables by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Finsub);
(c) Asset
Sales by any of the Subsidiaries (other than Finsub) to any of the other
Subsidiaries (other than Finsub);
(d) (i)
other
Asset Sales by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Finsub), provided
that
(A) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or after
giving effect thereto and (B) the amount of such Asset Sale, when added to
the total amount of all Asset Sales made by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
(other than Finsub) during the immediately preceding twelve month period
pursuant to this subsection (d)(i) shall not exceed 18% or more of Material
Total Assets as of the first day of such twelve month period and (ii)
sales of
transmission assets pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority,
provided
that
fair market value shall have been received for such transmission assets;
(e) any
of
the Subsidiaries (other than Finsub) may merge or consolidate with or into,
or
acquire control of, or acquire all or any portion of the assets of any Person,
provided
that
immediately after giving effect thereto, the total consideration to be paid
by
the Subsidiaries to or for the account of any Person (other than the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries) in connection therewith, but not counting purchases or
other acquisitions of property made as part of the Borrower’s Integrated
Resources Plan, when added to the total consideration paid by the Borrower
and
the Subsidiaries to or for the account of any Person (other than the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries) in connection with all other mergers, consolidations
and
acquisitions permitted under Sections
7.2(e)
and
7.2(f)
during
the immediately preceding twelve month period, and all loans, advances and
other
arrangements outstanding at such time and permitted under Section
7.3
shall
not exceed 15% of Material Total Assets as of the most recently completed fiscal
quarter;
(f) mergers,
consolidations or acquisitions of or by the Borrower with, into or of another
Person (other than Finsub but including acquisitions by the Borrower of all
or
any portion of the assets of any Person), in each case as to which the following
conditions have been satisfied:
(i) immediately
before and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall
exist;
(ii) immediately
before and after giving effect thereto, all of the representations and
warranties contained in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct except
as
the context thereof otherwise requires and except for those representations
and
warranties which by their terms or by necessary implication are expressly
limited to a state of
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
facts
existing at a time prior to such merger, consolidation or acquisition, as the
case may be, or such other matters relating thereto as are identified in a
writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and are satisfactory to
the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(iii) the
Borrower shall be the surviving entity thereof or, in the event the Borrower
shall not be the surviving entity thereof, (1) such surviving entity shall
be
organized in a State of the United States with substantially all of its assets
and businesses located and conducted in the United States and (2) the
Administrative Agent shall have received (A) a certificate, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (x) attaching a true and
complete copy of each agreement, instrument or other document effecting such
merger, consolidation or acquisition, together with an agreement signed on
behalf of such surviving entity pursuant to which such surviving entity shall
have expressly assumed all of the indebtedness, liabilities and other
obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents, each of which shall be
in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (y) certifying
that such merger, consolidation or acquisition has been consummated in
accordance with such agreements, instruments or other documents referred to
in
the immediately preceding clause (x), and (B) such documents, legal opinions
and
certificates as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request relating
to
the organization, existence and, if applicable, good standing of such surviving
entity, the authorization of such merger, consolidation or acquisition and
any
other legal matters relating to such surviving entity, the assumption agreement
referred to in the immediately preceding clause (x) or such merger,
consolidation or acquisition,
(iv) immediately
after giving effect thereto, the total consideration to be paid by the Borrower
to or for the account of any Person (other than the Subsidiaries) in connection
therewith, but not counting purchases or other acquisitions of property made
as
part of the Borrower’s Integrated Resources Plan, when added to the total
consideration paid by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to or for the account
of
any Person (other than the Borrower and the Subsidiaries) in connection with
all
mergers, consolidations and acquisitions permitted under Sections
7.2(e)
and
7.2(f)
during
the immediately preceding twelve month period, and all loans, advances,
investments and other arrangements outstanding at such time and permitted under
Section
7.3
shall
not exceed 15% of Material Total Assets as of the most recently completed fiscal
quarter, and
(v) the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received a certificate duly
signed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower identifying the Person
to be
merged with or into, consolidated with, or acquired by, the Borrower, and
certifying as to each of the matters set forth in subclauses (i) through (iv)
of
this clause (f); and
(g) Storm
Recovery Asset Sales by the Borrower to Finsub in connection with the Storm
Recovery Program as to which the following conditions have been
satisfied:
(i) immediately
before and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall
exist;
(ii) immediately
before and after giving effect thereto, all of the representations and
warranties contained in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct except
as
the context thereof otherwise requires and except for those representations
and
warranties which by their terms or by necessary implication are expressly
limited to a state of facts existing at a time prior to such Storm Recovery
Asset Sale or such other matters relating
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
thereto
as are identified in a writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
and
are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(iii) the
Storm
Recovery Asset Sale is without recourse to the Borrower;
(iv) 100%
of
the consideration paid to the Borrower in connection therewith is in
cash;
(v) in
connection with the initial closing of the Storm Recovery Program, the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Financial Officer
(attaching calculations in reasonable detail) certifying that the Borrower
will
be in compliance with the covenants set forth in Section
6.11
immediately after giving effect to the Storm Recovery Program and any
Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith;
(vi) in
connection with the initial closing of the Storm Recovery Program, the
Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the Storm Recovery Financing
Order (and from time to time thereafter, copies of any amendments, supplements
or modifications thereof or any additional Storm Recovery Financing Orders);
and
(vii) in
connection with the initial closing of the Storm Recovery Program, the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an officer of the
Borrower attaching true, correct and complete copies of the Storm Recovery
Program Documentation.
Section
7.3 Loans,
Advances, etc.The
Borrower shall not, at any time, make any loan or advance to, or enter into
any
arrangement for the purpose of providing funds or credit to, any Person, or
permit any of the Subsidiaries so to do, other than (i) provided
that
immediately before and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of
Default shall exist, loans or advances to the Parent and to any of its
subsidiaries (other than Finsub), (ii)
the
Storm Recovery Program subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth
in Section
7.2(g),
and
(iii)
other
loans, advances or arrangements (other than to Finsub) the total outstanding
amount of which, when added to the total consideration paid by the Borrower
and
the Subsidiaries in connection with all mergers, consolidations and acquisitions
of or by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries during the immediately preceding
twelve month period, shall not exceed 15% of Material Total Assets as of the
most recently completed fiscal quarter.
Section
7.4 Amendments,
etc. of Certain Agreements.
The
Borrower shall not enter into or agree to any amendment, modification or waiver,
or permit any of the Subsidiaries so to do, of any term or condition of, or
any
of its rights under, the Utility Mortgage, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan
(other than amendments and modifications of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan
required by tax laws to maintain the qualified status under Section 401(a)
of
the Code and any adoptive instruments or other agreements providing for
participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan by the Borrower’s affiliates)
or the Storm Recovery Program Documentation, which amendment, modification
or
waiver could, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, materially
and adversely affect the interests of the Lenders under the Loan Documents.
EVENTS
OF
DEFAULT
If
any of
the following events (each an “Event
of Default”)
shall
occur:
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(a) the
Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement
obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become
due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for
prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) the
Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or on any reimbursement
obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or any fee, commission or any
other
amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable
under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable,
and
such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business
Days;
(c) any
representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary in or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment
or
modification hereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate,
financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection
with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver
thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when
made
or deemed made;
(d) the
Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement
contained in Section
6.3,
6.11
or
6.12
or in
Article
7,
(e) the
Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement
contained in any Loan Document to which it is a party (other than those
specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall
continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the Borrower shall have
obtained knowledge thereof;
(f) the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal,
interest or otherwise and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material
Obligations when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving
effect to any applicable grace period);
(g) any
event
or condition occurs that results in any Material Obligations becoming due prior
to their scheduled maturity or payment date, or that enables or permits (with
or
without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders
of any Material Obligations or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf
to
cause any Material Obligations to become due prior to their scheduled maturity
or payment date or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or
defeasance thereof prior to their scheduled maturity or payment date (in each
case after giving effect to any applicable cure period), provided
that
this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due
solely as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets
securing such Indebtedness or (ii) intercompany indebtedness;
(h) the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries shall (i) suspend or discontinue its
business, (ii) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iii) generally
not pay its debts as such debts become due, (iv) admit in writing its inability
to pay its debts as they become due, (v) file a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy, (vi) become insolvent (however such insolvency shall be evidenced),
(vii) file any petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization,
arrangement, composition, readjustment of debt, liquidation or dissolution
or
similar relief under any present or future statute, law or regulation of any
jurisdiction, (viii) petition or apply to any tribunal for any receiver,
custodian or any trustee for any substantial part of its property, (ix) be
the
subject of any such proceeding filed against it which remains undismissed for
a
period of 45 days, (x) file any answer admitting or not contesting the material
allegations of any such petition filed against it or any order, judgment or
decree approving such petition in any such proceeding, (xi) seek, approve,
consent to, or acquiesce in any
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
such
proceeding, or in the appointment of any trustee, receiver, sequestrator,
custodian, liquidator, or fiscal agent for it, or any substantial part of its
property, or an order is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver,
custodian, liquidator or fiscal agent and such order remains in effect for
45
days, or (xii) take any formal action for the purpose of effecting any of the
foregoing or looking to the liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower or any
of
the Subsidiaries; or
(i) an
order
for relief is entered under the United States bankruptcy laws or any other
decree or order is entered by a court having jurisdiction (i) adjudging the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries bankrupt or insolvent, (ii) approving as
properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, liquidation, arrangement,
adjustment or composition of or in respect of Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries under the United States bankruptcy laws or any other applicable
Federal or state law, (iii) appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Borrower
or
any of the Subsidiaries or of any substantial part of the property thereof,
or
(iv) ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Borrower
or
any of the Subsidiaries, and any such decree or order continues unstayed and
in
effect for a period of 45 days; or
(j) one
or
more judgments or decrees against the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or
any
combination thereof aggregating in excess of $10,000,000, which judgment or
decree (i) shall not be fully covered by insurance after taking into account
any
applicable deductibles and (ii) shall remain unpaid, unstayed on appeal,
undischarged, unbonded or undismissed for a period of at least 30 days;
or
(k) any
Loan
Document shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or the
Borrower shall so assert in writing or shall disavow any of its obligations
thereunder; or
(l) an
ERISA
Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when
taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or
(m) any
authorization or approval or other action by any Governmental Authority required
for the execution, delivery or performance of any Loan Document shall be
terminated, revoked or rescinded or shall otherwise no longer be in full force
and effect;
(n) a
Change
in Control shall occur or a change in control, fundamental change or any similar
circumstance which, under the Indenture (including any supplemental indentures
thereto but only to the extent that it is in full force and effect on the
relevant date) results in an obligation of the Borrower to prepay, purchase,
offer to purchase, redeem or defease in excess of $5,000,000 of Indebtedness
thereunder.
then,
and
in every such event (other than an event described in clause (h) or (i) of
this
Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event,
the
Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall,
by
notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions (whether
before or after the First Restatement Effective Date), at the same or different
times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall
terminate immediately and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due
and
payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to
be
due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon
the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with
accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower
accrued under the Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately,
without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event described in clause
(h)
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Each
Credit Party hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent
and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf
and
to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the
terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto.
The
Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights
and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise
the
same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such Person and its
Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in
any
kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof
as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
The
Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those
expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(i)
the
Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied
duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing,
(ii)
the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action
or
exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers
expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent
is
required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number
or
percentage of the Credit Parties as shall be necessary under the circumstances
as provided in Section
10.2),
and
(iii)
except
as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any
duty
to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any
information relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that is
communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or
any
of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable
for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request
of
the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Credit Parties
as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section
10.2)
or in
the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless
and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the
Borrower or a Credit Party (and, promptly after its receipt of any such notice,
it shall give each Credit Party and the Borrower notice thereof), and the
Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain
or inquire into (a)
any
statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan
Document, (b)
the
contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder
or in
connection therewith, (c)
the
performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms
or
conditions set forth therein, (d)
the
validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness thereof or any other
agreement, instrument or other document or (e)
the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article
5
or
elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required
to
be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any
liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent,
statement, instrument, document or other
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
writing
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper
Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it
orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person,
and
shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent
may
consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent
accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any
action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such
counsel, accountants or experts.
The
Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights
and powers by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the
Administrative Agent, provided that no such delegation shall serve as a
release of the Administrative Agent or waiver by the Borrower of any rights
hereunder. The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any
and
all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective
Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall
apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative
Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities
in
connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein
as
well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Subject
to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as
provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time
by
notifying the Credit Parties and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the
Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld and not to be required during the
existence of an Event of Default), to appoint a successor, which successor
Administrative Agent shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of
the
United States or any State thereof and having a combined capital, surplus,
and
undivided profits of at least $100,000,000. If no successor shall have been
so
appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment
within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its
resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Credit
Parties, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with
an
office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the
acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor,
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent
shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed
between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s
resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section
10.3
shall
continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its
sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken
or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative
Agent.
Each
Credit Party acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon
the Administrative Agent or any other Credit Party and based on such documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis
and
decision to enter into this Credit Agreement. Each Credit Party also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Credit Party and based on such documents
and
information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make
its
own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon any Loan
Document, any related agreement or any document furnished
thereunder.
Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Runner, Arrangers
or
Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or
responsibilities under this
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Credit
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as
applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Bank
hereunder.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
10.1 Notices.
(i) Notices
Generally.
Except
in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given
by telephone (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and
other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be
delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or
registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows:
(ii) if
to the
Borrower, to it at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 5226; Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (Telephone: (000) 000-0000; Facsimile: (000) 000-0000),
website xxx.xxxxx.xxx;
(iii) if
to the
Administrative Agent, or BNY as Issuing Bank, to it at Agency Funding
Administration, Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention
of: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Agency Function Administration, 18th Floor (Telephone No.
(000) 000-0000); Facsimile No. (000) 000-0000 or 6366 or 6367, with a
copy to The Bank of New York, at Energy Industries Division, Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx,
00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention of: Xxxx-Xxxx Xxxxxxx (Telephone
No. (000) 000-0000; Facsimile No. (000) 000-0000); and
(iv) if
to any
other Credit Party, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in
its
Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices
sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered
mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by
facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not
given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have
been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the
recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent
provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said
paragraph (b).
(b) Electronic
Communications.
Notices
and other communications to the Credit Parties hereunder may be delivered or
furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet
websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent,
provided
that the
foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Credit Party pursuant to
Article 2
if such
Credit Party has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of
receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The
Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept
notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications
pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided
that
approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or
communications.
Unless
the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other
communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the
sender’s receipt of an
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Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
acknowledgement
from the intended recipient (such as by the
“return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other
written acknowledgement), provided
that if
such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours
of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been
sent
at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and
(ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website
shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient
at
its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification
that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website
address therefor.
(c) Change
of Address, Etc.
Any
party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
Section
10.2 Waivers;
Amendments.
(a) No
failure or delay by any Credit Party in exercising any right or power under
any
Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of
steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies
of
the Credit Parties under the Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive
of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any
provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower
therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted
by
paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan and/or
the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit shall not
be
construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Credit Party
may
have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Neither
any Loan Document nor any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified
except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the
Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, provided
that no
such agreement shall (i)
increase
the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender or
increase the Letter of Credit Commitment without the consent of the Issuing
Bank, (ii)
reduce
the principal amount of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation with respect
to
a LC Disbursement, or reduce the rate of any interest (other than under
Section
3.1(b)),
or
reduce any fees, payable under the Loan Documents, without the written consent
of each Credit Party affected thereby, (iii)
postpone
the date of payment at stated maturity of any Loan or the date of payment of
any
reimbursement obligation with respect to an LC Disbursement, any interest or
any
fees payable under the Loan Documents, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse
any such payment, or postpone the stated termination or expiration of the
Commitments without the written consent of each Credit Party affected thereby,
(iv)
change
any provision hereof in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of
payments required by Section
2.9(b)
or the
pro rata reduction of Commitments required by Section
2.5(c),
without
the written consent of each Credit Party affected thereby, and (v)
change
any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of the term “Required
Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of
Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any
determination or grant any consent hereunder, or change the currency in which
Loans are to be made, Letters of Credit are to be issued or payment under the
Loan Documents is to be made, or add additional borrowers, without the written
consent of each Lender, and provided further
that no
such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties
of
the Administrative Agent or
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
the
Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent or the Issuing Bank , as applicable.
Section
10.3 Expenses;
Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Cost
and Expenses.
The
Borrower shall pay (i)
all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative
Agent
and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements
of
counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of
the
credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of
each Loan Document or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions
thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby shall be
consummated), (ii)
all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in
connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter
of
Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Credit Party, including the
reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Credit Party
and any consultant or expert witness fees and expenses, in connection with
the
enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents,
including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made
or
Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations
in
respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification
by the Borrower.
The
Borrower shall indemnify each Credit Party and each Related Party thereof (each
such Person being called an “Indemnitee”)
against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or
asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a
result of (i)
the
execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument
contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties to the Loan Documents
of
their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions
or any other transactions contemplated thereby, (ii)
any Loan
or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof including any refusal
of
the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if
the
documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with
the terms of such Letter of Credit, (iii)
any
actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any
property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or any
Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries or (iv)
any
actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating
to
any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and
regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided
that
such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
that
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined
by
a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee
or
arising solely from claims between or among one or more Indemnitees
(c) Reimbursement
by Lenders.
To the
extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it
to
the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank under paragraph (a) or (b) of
this
Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or
the
Issuing Bank, as applicable, an amount equal to the product of such unpaid
amount multiplied
by
a
fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of such Lender’s unused Commitment
plus
the
outstanding principal balance of such Lender’s Loans and such Lender’s LC
Exposure and the denominator of which is the sum of the unused Commitments
plus
the
outstanding principal balance of all Lenders Loans and the LC Exposure of all
Lenders (in each case determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed
expense or indemnity payment is sought or, in the event that no Lender shall
have any
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
unused
Commitments, outstanding Loans or LC Exposure at such time, as of the last
time
at which any Lender had any unused Commitments, outstanding Loans or LC
Exposure), provided
that the
unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related
expense, as applicable, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative
Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, in its capacity as such.
(d) Waiver
of Consequential Damages, etc.
To the
extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby
waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for
special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct
and
actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, any
Loan
Document or any agreement, instrument or other document contemplated thereby,
the Transactions or any Loan or any Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds
thereof.
(e) Payments.
All
amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly but in no event later
than ten days after written demand therefor.
Section
10.4 Successors
and Assigns
(a) Successors
and Assigns Generally.
The
provisions of this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer
any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of
the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise
transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i)
to an
assignee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section,
(ii)
by way
of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this
Section or (iii)
by way
of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions
of
paragraph (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or
transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Credit
Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person
(other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this
Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related
Parties of each of Credit Party) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or by reason of this Credit Agreement.
(b) Assignments
by Lenders.
Any
Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of
its
rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all or a portion
of its Commitments and the Loans and obligations in respect of its LC Exposure
at the time owing to it); provided
that any
such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum
Amounts.
(A) in
the
case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s
Commitments and the Loans and obligations in respect of its LC Exposure at
the
time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate
of a
Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in
any
case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount
of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder)
or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance
of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined
as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment
is
delivered to the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Administrative
Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of
the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the
Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii) Proportionate
Amounts.
Each
partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of
all
the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement with
respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned.
(iii) Required
Consents.
No
consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required
by
paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the
consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender,
an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
(B) the
consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of an unfunded
or revolving facility if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender
with a Commitment in respect of such facility, an Affiliate of such Lender
or an
Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and
(C) the
consent of the Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation
of
the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit
(whether or not then outstanding).
(iv) Assignment
and Assumption.
The
parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent
an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee
of
$3,500,
and the
assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
an
Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No
Assignment to Borrower.
No such
assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or
Subsidiaries.
(vi) No
Assignment to Natural Persons.
No such
assignment shall be made to a natural person.
Subject
to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified
in
each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to
this
Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment
and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Credit
Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the
interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its
obligations under this Credit Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment
and
Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under
this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall
continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.5,
3.6,
3.7
and
10.3
with
respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of
such
assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations
under this Credit Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
shall
be
treated for purposes of this Credit Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a
participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d)
of
this Section.
(c) Register.
The
Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the
Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in New York, New York a copy
of
each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments
of,
and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms
hereof from time to time (the “Register”).
The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is
recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder
for
all purposes of this Credit Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.
The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender,
at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior
notice.
(d) Participations.
Any
Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower
or
the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a
natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or
Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”)
in all
or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Credit
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing
to it); provided
that
(i) such Lender’s obligations under this Credit Agreement shall remain
unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Credit Party shall continue to
deal
solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and
obligations under this Credit Agreement.
Any
agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation
shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this
Credit Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any
provision of this Credit Agreement; provided
that
such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without
the
consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver
with
respect to the following: described in the first proviso in Section 10.1(b)
that
directly affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (e) of this Section,
the
Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section 3.5,
3.6
and
3.7
to the
same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law,
each
Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.8 as
though
it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.10(c)
as
though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations
upon Participant Rights.
A
Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections
Section 3.5
or
3.7
than the
applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the
participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation
to
such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A
Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be
entitled to the benefits of Section 3.7
unless
the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and
such
Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.7(c)
as
though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain
Pledges.
Any
Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Credit Agreement to secure obligations of
such
Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal
Reserve Bank; provided
that no
such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party
hereto.
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Cleco
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(g) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting
Lender”)
may
grant to an Eligible SPC, identified as such in writing to the Administrative
Agent and the Borrower, the option to fund all or any part of any Loan that
such
Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to fund pursuant to this Credit
Agreement, provided that
(i)
such
designation shall not be effective unless the Borrower consents thereto (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), (ii)
nothing
herein shall constitute a commitment by any Eligible SPC to fund any Loan,
and
(iii)
if an
Eligible SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to fund
all
or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to fund such
Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The funding of a Loan by an Eligible SPC
hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same
extent, and as if, such Loan were funded by such Granting Lender. As to any
Loans or portion thereof made by it, each Eligible SPC shall have all the rights
that a Lender making such Loans or portion thereof would have had under this
Credit Agreement and otherwise, provided
that (x)
its voting rights under this Credit Agreement shall be exercised solely by
its
Granting Lender (y) its Granting Lender shall remain solely responsible to
the
other parties hereto for the performance of such Granting Lender’s obligations
under this Credit Agreement, including its obligations in respect of the Loans
or portion thereof made by it and (z) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely
and directly with such Granting Lender in connection with the Granting Lender’s
rights and obligations under the Loan Documents. Each Granting Lender shall
act
as administrative agent for its Eligible SPC and give and receive notices and
other communications on its behalf. Any payments for the account of any Eligible
SPC shall be paid to its Granting Lender as administrative agent for such
Eligible SPC and neither the Borrower nor the Administrative Agent shall be
responsible for any Granting Lender’s application of such payments. Each party
hereto hereby agrees that no Eligible SPC shall be liable for any indemnity
or
payment under this Credit Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable
for so long as, and to the extent, the Granting Lender provides such indemnity
or makes such payment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Credit Agreement, any Eligible SPC may (i) at any time, subject to payment
of the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section
10.4(b),
assign
all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to its Granting Lender (but
nothing contained herein shall be construed in derogation of the obligation
of
the Granting Lender to make Loans hereunder) or to any Eligible Assignee
consented to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (which consents shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed or, in the case of the Borrower’s
consent, shall not be required during the continuance of an Event of Default)
providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such Eligible
SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans, and (ii) disclose on a
confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans
to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or
guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancements to such Eligible SPC. This Section
may not be amended without the prior written consent of each Granting Lender,
all or any part of whose Loans is being funded by an Eligible SPC at the time
of
such amendment.
Section
10.5 Survival.
All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower
herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in
connection with or pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document
shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and
shall survive the execution and delivery of any Loan Document and the making
of
any Loans and the issuance of any Letter of Credit, regardless of any
investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding
that any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or
incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended
hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal
of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any LC Disbursement or any fee or
any
other amount payable under the Loan Documents is outstanding and unpaid or
any
Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired
or terminated. The provisions of Sections
3.5,
3.6,
3.7,
10.3,
10.9,
10.10
and
Article
9
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and the
LC
Disbursements, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the
termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Credit Agreement
or
any provision hereof.
Section
10.6 Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness.
This
Credit Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties
hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original,
but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one contract. This
Credit Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable
to any Credit Party or the syndication of the credit facility established
hereunder constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the
subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and
understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except
as provided in Section
5.1,
this
Credit Agreement shall become effective as of the date set forth in the preamble
to this Credit Agreement when it shall have been executed by the Administrative
Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof
which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties
and
thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of this Credit Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Credit
Agreement.
Section
10.7 Severability.
In the
event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Credit Agreement
should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the
invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not
in
and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction).
The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect
of
which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions.
Section
10.8 Right
of Set-off.
If an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and the acceleration
of
the obligations owing in connection with the Loan Documents, or at any time
upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under clause
(a) of Article
8,
each of
the Lenders and their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time
and
from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set-off
and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional
or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by it to
or
for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the
obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents held by it, irrespective of whether
or
not it shall have made any demand therefor and although such obligations may
be
unmatured. The rights of each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates
under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including
other
rights of set-off) that it may have. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify
the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application
made by such Lender, provided
that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set off and
application.
Section
10.9 Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) This
Credit Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of New York.
(b) The
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or
Federal court of the
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
United
States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any
thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Credit
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of
any
judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all claims in respect
of
any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York
State
court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in such Federal court.
Each
of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this
Credit Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any
other Credit Party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating
to this Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents against the Borrower,
or
any of its property, in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) The
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent
it
may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of
or
relating to this Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any court
referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such court.
(d) The
Borrower irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided
for
notices in Section
10.1.
Nothing
in this Credit Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Credit
Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section
10.10 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT
OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION,
SEEK
TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER
PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL
WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section
10.11 Headings.
Article
and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience
of reference only, are not part of this Credit Agreement and shall not affect
the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Credit
Agreement.
Section
10.12 Interest
Rate Limitation.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest
rate applicable to any Loan or LC Disbursement, together with all fees, charges
and other amounts that are treated as interest thereon under applicable law
(collectively the “charges”),
shall
exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “maximum
rate”)
that
may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender
holding an interest in such Loan or LC Disbursement in accordance with
applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan or LC
Disbursement hereunder, together with all of the charges payable in respect
thereof, shall be limited to the maximum rate and, to the extent lawful, the
interest and the charges that would have been payable
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
in
respect of such Loan or LC Disbursement but were not payable as a result of
the
operation of this Section shall be cumulated, and the interest and the charges
payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or LC Disbursements or periods
shall be increased (but not above the maximum rate therefor) until such
cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective
Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such
Lender.
Section
10.13 Advertisement.
The
Borrower hereby authorizes each of BNY to publish the name of the Borrower
and
the amount of the financing evidenced hereby in any “tombstone” or comparable
advertisement which BNY elects to publish. In addition, the Borrower agrees
that
BNY may provide lending industry trade organizations with information necessary
and customary for inclusion in league table measurements after the First
Restatement Effective Date.
Section
10.14 USA
Patriot Act Notice.
Each
Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the
Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby
notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot
Act
(Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the
“Patriot
Act”),
it is
required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower,
which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other
information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot
Act.
Section
10.15 Treatment
of Certain Information.
Each
Credit Party agrees to use reasonable precautions to keep confidential, in
accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information
of the same nature, all non-public information supplied by the Borrower or
any
Subsidiary pursuant to this Credit Agreement which (i) is clearly identified
by
such Person as being confidential at the time the same is delivered to such
Credit Party or (ii) constitutes any financial statement, financial projections
or forecasts, budget, Compliance Certificate, audit report, management letter
or
accountants’ certification delivered hereunder (“Information”),
provided that nothing herein shall limit the disclosure of any information
(a)
to any of its respective Related Parties that needs to know such information,
(b) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena
or similar legal process, or requested by any bank regulatory authority, (c)
on
a confidential basis, to prospective lenders or participants or their counsel,
(d) to auditors, accountants, consultants and advisors, and any analogous
counterpart thereof, (e) to any other Credit Party, (f) in connection with
any
litigation to which any one or more of the Credit Parties is a party, (g) to
the
extent such information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result
of
a breach of this Credit Agreement, (B) becomes available to any of the Credit
Parties on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or
any
of its Affiliates or (C) was available to the Credit Parties on a
non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure to any of them by the Borrower
or
any of its Affiliates; and (h) to the extent the Borrower shall have consented
to such disclosure in writing.
Section
10.16 Savings
Clause.
This
Credit Agreement is intended solely as an amendment of, and contemporaneous
restatement of, the terms and conditions of the Original Credit Agreement and
this Credit Agreement is not intended and should not be construed as in any
way
extinguishing or terminating the Original Credit Agreement. Nothing in this
Credit Agreement shall affect the rights of the Credit Parties to payments
under
Articles
2,
3
and
11
of the
Original Credit Agreement for the period prior to the effectiveness hereof
and
such rights shall continue to be governed by the provisions of the Original
Credit Agreement.
[Signature
pages follow]
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers
as
of the day and year first above written.
CLECO
POWER LLC
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
Treasurer
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Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK, individually,
as Issuing Bank, and as Administrative Agent |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Managing
Director
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
individually, and as a Syndication Agent |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
WESTLB
AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
individually, and as a Syndication Agent |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx
Xx Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Director
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Director
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
KEYBANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
individually, and as a Documentation Agent |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx X.
Xxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxx
X. Xxxx
|
|
Title:
Assistant
Vice President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
UNION
BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,
individually, and as a Documentation Agent |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
CALYON,
NEW YORK BRANCH,
individually, and as a Documentation Agent |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Managing
Director
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
COBANK,
ACB, individually, and as a
Documentation Agent |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx
Guilds
|
|
Name:
Xxxx
Guilds
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
COMERICA
BANK
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Xx.
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
SOCIETE
GENERALE
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
BANK
HAPOALIM B.M.
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Senior
Vice President
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
CREDIT
SUISSE , CAYMAN ISLANDS
BRANCH |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx
Xx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxx
Xx
|
|
Title:
Director
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
Associate
|
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
XXXXXXX
XXXXX CREDIT PARTNERS
L.P. |
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Managing
Director
|
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
CAPITAL
ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Xx.
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
WHITNEY
NATIONAL BANK
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice
President
|
|
Cleco
Power LLC First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement