FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT among WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION, as Borrower THE LENDERS IDENTIFIED HEREIN, CITIBANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Documentation Agent BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Co- Documentation Agent...
EXECUTION
COPY
FIVE
YEAR
among
WPS
RESOURCES CORPORATION,
as
Borrower
THE
LENDERS
IDENTIFIED HEREIN,
CITIBANK,
N.A.,
as
Syndication
Agent
U.S.
BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Co-Documentation
Agent
BANK
OF
AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Co-Documentation
Agent
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
Co-Documentation
Agent
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Agent
and
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and
CITIGROUP
GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
as
Co-Lead
Arrangers and Book Managers
DATED
AS OF JUNE 9,
2006
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
||
Section
1.
|
DEFINITIONS
AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
|
1
|
1.1
|
Definitions
|
1
|
1.2
|
Computation
of Time Periods
|
12
|
1.3
|
Accounting
Terms
|
12
|
Section
2.
|
LOANS
|
13
|
2.1
|
Revolving
Loan Commitment
|
13
|
2.2
|
Method
of
Borrowing for Loans
|
13
|
2.3
|
Funding
of
Loans
|
13
|
2.4
|
Continuations
and Conversions
|
14
|
2.5
|
Minimum
Amounts
|
15
|
2.6
|
Reductions
and Increases of Revolving Loan Commitment
|
15
|
2.7
|
Notes
|
16
|
2.8
|
Letters
of
Credit
|
16
|
2.9
|
Extension
of
Maturity Date
|
22
|
Section
3.
|
PAYMENTS
|
24
|
3.1
|
Interest
|
24
|
3.2
|
Prepayments
|
24
|
3.3
|
Payment
in
Full at Maturity
|
25
|
3.4
|
Fees
|
25
|
3.5
|
Place
and
Manner of Payments
|
25
|
3.6
|
Pro
Rata
Treatment
|
26
|
3.7
|
Computations
of Interest and Fees
|
26
|
3.8
|
Sharing
of
Payments
|
27
|
3.9
|
Evidence
of
Debt
|
27
|
i
Section
4.
|
ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS REGARDING LOANS
|
28
|
4.1
|
Eurodollar
Loan Provisions
|
28
|
4.2
|
Capital
Adequacy
|
30
|
4.3
|
Compensation
|
30
|
4.4
|
Taxes
|
31
|
4.5
|
Replacement
of Lenders
|
33
|
|
||
Section
5.
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
33
|
5.1
|
Closing
Conditions
|
33
|
5.2
|
Conditions
to
Each Extension of Credit
|
35
|
Section
6.
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
36
|
6.1
|
Organization
and Good Standing; Assets
|
36
|
6.2
|
Due
Authorization
|
36
|
6.3
|
No
Conflicts
|
36
|
6.4
|
Consents
|
37
|
6.5
|
Enforceable
Obligations
|
37
|
6.6
|
Financial
Condition
|
37
|
6.7
|
No
Material
Change
|
37
|
6.8
|
No
Default
|
37
|
6.9
|
Indebtedness
|
38
|
6.10
|
Litigation
|
38
|
6.11
|
Taxes
|
38
|
6.12
|
Compliance
with Law
|
38
|
6.13
|
ERISA
|
38
|
6.14
|
Use
of
Proceeds; Margin Stock
|
39
|
6.15
|
Government
Regulation
|
40
|
ii
6.16
|
Disclosure
|
40
|
Section
7.
|
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
|
40
|
7.1
|
Information
Covenants
|
40
|
7.2
|
Financial
Covenant
|
42
|
7.3
|
Preservation
of Existence and Franchises
|
42
|
7.4
|
Books
and
Records
|
42
|
7.5
|
Compliance
with Law
|
42
|
7.6
|
Payment
of
Taxes and Other Indebtedness
|
43
|
7.7
|
Insurance
|
43
|
7.8
|
Use
of
Proceeds
|
43
|
7.9
|
Audits/Inspections
|
43
|
7.10
|
Restrictive
Agreements
|
43
|
Section
8.
|
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
|
44
|
8.1
|
Nature
of
Business
|
44
|
8.2
|
Consolidation
and Merger
|
44
|
8.3
|
Sale
or Lease
of Assets
|
44
|
8.4
|
Arm’s-Length
Transactions
|
45
|
8.5
|
Fiscal
Year
|
45
|
8.6
|
Liens
|
45
|
Section
9.
|
EVENTS
OF
DEFAULT
|
47
|
9.1
|
Events
of
Default
|
47
|
9.2
|
Acceleration;
Remedies
|
49
|
9.3
|
Allocation
of
Payments After Event of Default
|
50
|
Section
10.
|
AGENCY
PROVISIONS
|
51
|
10.1
|
Appointment
|
51
|
iii
10.2
|
Delegation
of
Duties
|
51
|
10.3
|
Exculpatory
Provisions
|
51
|
10.4
|
Reliance
on
Communications
|
52
|
10.5
|
Notice
of
Default
|
52
|
10.6
|
Non-Reliance
on Agent and Other Lenders
|
52
|
10.7
|
Indemnification
|
53
|
10.8
|
Agent
in Its
Individual Capacity
|
53
|
10.9
|
Successor
Agent
|
54
|
10.10
|
Other
Agents
|
54
|
|
||
Section
11.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
54
|
11.1
|
Notices
|
54
|
11.2
|
Right
of
Set-Off
|
54
|
11.3
|
Benefit
of
Agreement
|
55
|
11.4
|
No
Waiver;
Remedies Cumulative
|
58
|
11.5
|
Payment
of
Expenses, etc.
|
58
|
11.6
|
Amendments,
Waivers and Consents
|
59
|
11.7
|
Counterparts/Telecopy
|
60
|
11.8
|
Headings
|
60
|
11.9
|
Defaulting
Lender
|
60
|
11.10
|
Survival
of
Indemnification and Representations and Warranties
|
60
|
11.11
|
Confidentiality
|
60
|
11.12
|
Governing
Law; Venue
|
61
|
11.13
|
Waiver
of
Jury Trial; Waiver of Consequential Damages
|
61
|
11.14
|
Time
|
61
|
11.15
|
Severability
|
62
|
iv
11.16
|
Assurances
|
62
|
11.17
|
USA
Patriot
Act Notification
|
62
|
11.18
|
Entirety
|
62
|
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1 | Commitment Percentages |
Schedule 6.1(c) | Subsidiaries |
Schedule 8.3 | Asset Sales |
Schedule 8.6 | Existing Liens |
Schedule 11.1 | Notices |
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 2.2 | Form of Notice of Borrowing |
Exhibit 2.4 | Form of Notice of Continuatin/Converstion |
Exhibit 2.7 | Form of Note |
Exhibit 7.1(c) | Form of Officer's Certificate |
Exhibit 11.3 | Form of Assignment Agreement |
v
FIVE
YEAR
THIS
FIVE YEAR
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Credit Agreement”), dated as of June 9, 2006, is entered
into among WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation (the “Borrower”),
the Lenders (as defined herein), WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., as Co-Lead Arrangers and Book Managers, CITIBANK,
N.A., as Syndication Agent, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A. and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such
capacity, the “Agent”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the
Borrower has
requested that the Lenders provide a $500 million five year revolving credit
facility to the Borrower for the purposes set forth herein; and.
WHEREAS,
the
Lenders have
agreed to provide such five year revolving credit facility on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW,
THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of
the premises and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section
1. DEFINITIONS
AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.1 Definitions.
As
used herein, the
following terms shall have the meanings herein specified unless the context
otherwise requires. Defined terms herein shall include in the singular number
the plural and in the plural the singular:
“Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate”
means
the
Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Percentage.
“Affiliate”
means,
with
respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
(including but not limited to all directors and officers of such Person),
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person.
A
Person shall be deemed to control a corporation if such Person possesses,
directly or indirectly, the power (a) to vote 10% or more of the securities
having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such corporation
or (b) to direct or cause direction of the management and policies of such
corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or
otherwise.
“Agent”
means
Wachovia
Bank, National Association and any successors and assigns in such
capacity.
“Aggregate
Commitments”
means,
collectively, the Revolving Loan Commitment of each Lender.
“Applicable
Percentage”
means,
at any
time, the appropriate applicable percentages corresponding to the Borrower’s
Public Debt Ratings in effect as of the most recent Calculation Date, as shown
below:
Pricing
Level
|
Borrower’s
Public
Debt
Rating
|
Applicable
Percentage
for
Eurodollar
Loans
|
Applicable
Percentage
for
Revolving
Fees
|
Applicable
Percentage
for
Letter
of
Credit
Fees
|
Applicable
Percentage
for
Utilization
Fees
|
I.
|
AA-
from
S&P or
Aa3
from
Xxxxx’x
|
0.085%
|
0.040%
|
0.085%
|
0.050%
|
II.
|
A+
from
S&P or
A1
from
Xxxxx’x
|
0.105%
|
0.045%
|
0.105%
|
0.050%
|
III.
|
A
from
S&P or
A2
from
Xxxxx’x
|
0.150%
|
0.050%
|
0.150%
|
0.050%
|
IV.
|
A-
from
S&P or
A3
from
Xxxxx’x
|
0.165%
|
0.060%
|
0.165%
|
0.050%
|
V.
|
BBB+
from
S&P or
Baa1
from
Xxxxx’x
|
0.280%
|
0.070%
|
0.280%
|
0.050%
|
VI.
|
<BBB
from
S&P or
Baa2
from
Xxxxx’x
|
0.310%
|
0.090%
|
0.310%
|
0.100%
|
or
|
|||||
Unrated
by
S&P
or
Xxxxx’x
|
The
Applicable
Percentage for Eurodollar Loans, the Revolving Fees, the Letter of Credit Fees
and the Utilization Fees shall, in each case, be determined and adjusted on
the
date (each a “Calculation
Date”)
five Business
Days after the date there is a change in the Borrower’s Public Debt Rating. Each
determination of the Applicable Percentage shall be effective from one
Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the
Applicable Percentage shall be applicable to all existing Eurodollar Loans
as
well as any new Eurodollar Loans made.
In
the event that the Public Debt Ratings of S&P and Xxxxx’x do not correspond
to the same Pricing Level, then the higher of the two ratings shall determine
the Pricing Level, except that if the Public Debt Ratings differ by more than
one Pricing Level, the Pricing Level that is one Pricing Level higher than
the
Pricing Level corresponding to the lower of such ratings shall determine the
Pricing Level.
2
The
Borrower shall
promptly deliver to the Agent, at the address set forth on Schedule 11.1,
information regarding any change in the Borrower’s Public Debt Rating, as
determined by S&P and Xxxxx’x, that would change the existing Pricing Level
pursuant to the preceding paragraph.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means
the
Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified,
succeeded or replaced from time to time.
“Base
Rate”
means,
for any
day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest whole
multiple of 1/100 of 1%) equal to the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate
in
effect on such day plus
1/2 of 1% or (b)
the Prime Rate in effect on such day. If for any reason the Agent shall have
determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)
that
it is unable after due inquiry to ascertain the Federal Funds Rate for any
reason, including the inability or failure of the Agent to obtain sufficient
quotations in accordance with the terms hereof, the Base Rate shall be
determined without regard to clause (a) of the first sentence of this definition
until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any
change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate
or the Federal Funds Rate, respectively.
“Base
Rate
Loan”
means
a Loan
which bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“Borrower”
means
WPS
Resources Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation.
“Borrower
Obligations”
means,
without
duplication, all of the obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders and the
Agent, whenever arising, under this Credit Agreement, the Notes or any of the
other Credit Documents.
“Business
Day”
means
any day
other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or required by law or other governmental action
to
close in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Charlotte, North Carolina and New York, New
York;
provided
that in the case
of Eurodollar Loans, such day is also a day on which dealings between banks
are
carried on in U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
“Capitalization”
means
the sum of
(a) Total Funded Debt plus (b) Net Worth.
“Change
of
Control”
means
any of the
following events: (a) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section
13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) has become, directly or indirectly, the
“beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act,
except that a Person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all
shares that any such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), by way of merger,
consolidation or otherwise, of 30% or more of the voting power of the Voting
Stock of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis, after giving effect to the
conversion and exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and other
securities of the Borrower (whether or not such securities are then currently
convertible or exercisable), (b) during any period of two consecutive calendar
years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the board
of
directors of the Borrower cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the
directors of the Borrower then in office unless (i) such new directors were
elected
3
or
nominated by a majority of the directors of the Borrower who constituted the
board of directors of the Borrower at the beginning of such period or (ii)
the
reason for such directors failing to constitute a majority is a result of
retirement by directors due to age, death or disability or (c) the failure
of
the Borrower to own 100% of the common stock of Wisconsin Public Service
Corporation.
“Closing
Date”
means
the date
hereof.
“Code”
means
the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Commitment
Percentage”
means,
for each
Lender, the percentage identified as its Commitment Percentage opposite such
Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1 attached hereto, as such percentage may be
modified by assignment in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement
or
by reductions or increases in the Revolving Loan Commitment pursuant to Section
2.6 hereof.
“Confidential
Information”
means
information
furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender in
connection with this Credit Agreement, but does not include any such information
that (a) is or becomes generally available to the public, (b) was available
to
the Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure
to
the Agent or such Lender by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (c)
is or
becomes available to the Agent or such Lender on a nonconfidential basis from
a
source other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Consenting
Lender”
has
the meaning
specified in Section 2.9.
“Credit
Documents”
means
this Credit
Agreement, the Notes, the LOC Documents and all other related agreements and
documents issued or delivered hereunder or thereunder or pursuant hereto or
thereto.
“Default”
means
any event,
act or condition which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute
an Event of Default.
“Defaulting
Lender”
means,
at any
time, any Lender that, at such time (a) has failed to make a Loan required
pursuant to the term of this Credit Agreement, (b) has failed to pay to the
Agent or any Lender an amount owed by such Lender pursuant to the terms of
this
Credit Agreement or (c) has been deemed insolvent or has become subject to
a
bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or to a receiver, trustee or similar
official.
“Dollars”
and
“$”
means
dollars in
lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Effective
Date”
means
the date on
which the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 shall have been fulfilled (or
waived in the sole discretion of the Lenders) and on which the initial Extension
of Credit shall have been made.
“Eligible
Assignee”
means
(a) a
Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; and (c) any other Person approved by
the
Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Borrower (such approvals not to
4
be
unreasonably
withheld or delayed); provided
that (i) the
Borrower’s consent is not required during the existence and continuation of an
Event of Default, and (ii) neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the Borrower
shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.
“ERISA”
means
the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor
statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations thereunder, all
as
the same may be in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA
shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
an entity,
whether or not incorporated, which is under common control with the Borrower
or
any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA,
or
is a member of a group which includes the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
and which is treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b), (c), (m),
or
(o) of the Code.
“Eurodollar
Loan”
means
a Loan
bearing interest at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar
Rate”
means
with
respect to any Eurodollar Loan, for the Interest Period applicable thereto,
a
rate per annum determined pursuant to the following formula:
"Eurodollar Rate" = | London Interbank Offered Rate |
1 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage |
“Eurodollar
Reserve Percentage”
means,
for any
day, that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect from time
to
time under Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(or any successor), as such regulation may be amended from time to time or
any
successor regulation, as the maximum reserve requirement (including, without
limitation, any basic, supplemental, emergency, special, or marginal reserves)
applicable with respect to Eurocurrency liabilities, as that term is defined
in
Regulation D (or against any other category of liabilities that includes
deposits by reference to which the interest rate of Eurodollar Loans is
determined), whether or not a Lender has any Eurocurrency liabilities subject
to
such reserve requirement at that time. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to
constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such shall be deemed subject to
reserve requirements without benefit of credits or proration, exceptions or
offsets that may be available from time to time to a Lender. The Eurodollar
Rate
shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change
in
the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
“Event
of
Default”
has
the meaning
specified in Section 9.1.
“Extension
Date”
has
the meaning
specified in Section 2.9.
“Extension
of
Credit”
means,
as to any
Lender, (i) the making of a Loan by such Lender (or a participation therein
by a
Lender) and (ii) the issuance of a Letter of Credit by an Issuing Bank (and
the
participation therein by the Lenders).
“Fee
Letter”
means
that
certain letter agreement, dated as of May 31, 2006 between the Agent and the
Borrower, as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to
time.
5
“Federal
Funds
Rate”
means
for any day
the rate per annum (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th 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 (a) if such
day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such
rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day and (b) if no
such
rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds
Rate for such day shall be the average rate quoted to the Agent on such day
on
such transactions as determined by the Agent.
“FIN
46”
means
FASB
Interpretation No. 46 “Consolidation
of Variable Interest Entities”
published
January
2003 by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, as the same may be amended
from time to time.
“First
Mortgage
Indentures”
means
(a) that
certain First Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of January 1, 1941, from
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation to U.S. Bank National Association
(successor to First Wisconsin Trust Company), as trustee, as heretofore or
hereafter amended, modified and supplemented and any substitute or replacement
mortgage indenture, (b) that certain Indenture dated as of December 1, 1998,
between Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association
(successor to Firstar Bank Milwaukee, N.A.), as trustee, as heretofore or
hereafter amended, modified and supplemented and any substitute or replacement
mortgage indenture, and (c) that certain Indenture of Mortgage dated May 1,
1947, from Upper Peninsula Power Company to U.S. Bank National Association
(successor to City National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago), as trustee,
as
heretofore or hereafter amended, modified and supplemented and any substitute
or
replacement mortgage indenture.
“Funded
Debt”
of
any Person
means, without duplication, the sum of (a) all Indebtedness of such Person
for
borrowed money, except to the extent such Indebtedness is “non-recourse” to such
Person or recourse for payment of such Indebtedness is limited to specific
assets of such Person (whether or not included on a consolidated balance sheet
of such Person), (b) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person
under capital lease obligations, (c) all obligations, contingent or otherwise,
relative to the face amount of all letters of credit issued to support
Indebtedness of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, (d) all
Guaranty Obligations of such Person with respect to Indebtedness and obligations
of the type described in clauses (a) through (c) hereof of another Person;
provided that such Guaranty Obligations are required to be reported as
liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP
(and without duplication of any liability already appearing as a liability
on
such balance sheet); and further provided that, in the event a Guaranty
Obligation is limited as to dollar amount, such Guaranty Obligation shall not
exceed such limitation, and (e) all Indebtedness and obligations of the type
described in clauses (a), (b), and (c) hereof of another Person, secured by
a
Lien on any property of such Person whether or not such Indebtedness or
obligations has been assumed by such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Funded Debt shall not include trust preferred securities, if any, shall not
include interest on Indebtedness that is accrued in the ordinary course of
business and shall not include intercompany Indebtedness.
6
“GAAP”
means
generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent
basis and subject to Section 1.3.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any
Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority,
instrumentality or regulatory body.
“Guaranty
Obligations”
means,
with
respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations (other than
endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for
deposit or collection) guaranteeing any Funded Debt of any other Person in
any
manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation any
obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Funded Debt,
or
(b) to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase
of
such Funded Debt or to maintain working capital, solvency or other balance
sheet
condition of such other Person. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder
shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount
equal to the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if
larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is
made; provided that, in the event a Guaranty Obligation is limited as to dollar
amount, such Guaranty Obligation shall not exceed such limitation.
“Indebtedness”
of
any Person
means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed
money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes
or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made,
(c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title
retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person to the extent
of the value of such property (other than customary reservations or retentions
of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course
of
business), (d) all obligations, other than intercompany items, of such Person
issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services
purchased by such Person which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet
of
such Person (other than trade payables), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured
by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right,
contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or
acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have
been assumed, (f) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person, (g) the principal
portion of all obligations of such Person under (i) capital lease obligations
and (ii) any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet
loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product of such Person where such
transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but
is
classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP, (h) all obligations
of
such Person to repurchase any securities which repurchase obligation is related
to the issuance thereof, including, without limitation, obligations commonly
known as residual equity appreciation potential shares, (i) the net obligations
of such Person in respect of interest rate protection agreements, foreign
currency exchange agreements, Permitted Energy Transactions or other interest
or
exchange rate hedging arrangements, and (j) the maximum amount of all
outstanding performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers’
acceptance facilities created for the account of such Person and, without
duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed). The
Indebtedness of any Person shall include the recourse Indebtedness of any
partnership or unincorporated joint venture and for which such Person is legally
obligated.
7
“Interest
Payment
Date”
means
(a) as to
Base Rate Loans, monthly in arrears on the first day of each fiscal month of
the
Borrower and the Maturity Date and (b) as to Eurodollar Loans, the last day
of
each applicable Interest Period and the Maturity Date and, in addition, where
the applicable Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan is greater than three
months, then also on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower during
such Interest Period. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a date which is
not a
Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be deemed to be the next
succeeding Business Day, except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans where
the
next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, then
on the next preceding day.
“Interest
Period”
means,
as to
Eurodollar Loans, a period of one, two, three or six months or, subject to
availability by all Lenders, nine or twelve months duration, as the Borrower
may
elect, commencing, in each case, on the date of the borrowing (including
continuations and conversions of Eurodollar Loans); provided,
however,
(a) if any
Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest
Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (except that where
the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month,
then on the next preceding Business Day), (b) no Interest Period shall extend
beyond any Maturity Date if the amount of such Eurodollar Loans would exceed
the
Revolving Loan Commitments of Lenders for which a later Maturity Date applies
and (c) with respect to Eurodollar Loans, where an Interest Period begins on
a
day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month
in
which the Interest Period is to end, such Interest Period shall end on the
last
Business Day of such calendar month.
“Issuing
Bank”
means
Wachovia
Bank, National Association and any other Lender so long as such Lender expressly
agrees to perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that
by
the terms of this Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as an
Issuing Bank.
“Lender”
means
any of the
Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, any Person added
as a Lender pursuant to Section 2.6 and any Eligible Assignee which may become
a
Lender by way of assignment in accordance with the terms hereof, together with
their successors and permitted assigns.
“Letter
of Credit
Obligations”
means
the stated
amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus, without duplication, any
unpaid reimbursement obligations of the Borrower under the Letters of
Credit.
“Letters
of
Credit”
is
defined in
Section 2.8.
“Leverage
Ratio”
means,
with
respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at any date of determination,
the
ratio of (a) Total Funded Debt to, (b) Capitalization, in each case calculated
in accordance with GAAP.
“Lien”
means
any
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment for security, deposit arrangement,
security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), priority or
charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any unterminated financing
or similar statement or notice filed
8
under
the Uniform
Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in the relevant jurisdiction or other
similar recording or notice statute, and any lease in the nature thereof).
The
term “Lien” shall not include statutory priorities or financing statements filed
in connection with operating leases or sales of accounts owed by customers
for
energy provided or to be provided outside the normal franchise service area
of
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Upper Peninsula Power
Company.
“Loans”
means
the loans
made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.
“LOC
Documents”
means,
with
respect to any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit, any amendments thereto,
any documents delivered in connection therewith, any application therefor,
and
any agreements, instruments, guarantees or other documents (whether general
in
application or applicable only to such Letter of Credit) governing or providing
for (a) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned or at risk or (b)
any collateral security for such obligations.
“London
Interbank
Offered Rate”
means,
with
respect to any Eurodollar Loan for the Interest Period applicable thereto,
(a)
the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered
rate that appears on the page of the Telerate screen (or any successor thereto)
that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate
for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period)
with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately
11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period, or
(b) if
the rate
referenced in the preceding subsection
(a)
does not appear on
such page or service or such page or service is not available, the rate per
annum equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate on such
other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association
Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first
day
of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period,
determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior
to the first day of such Interest Period, or
(c) if
the rates
referenced in the preceding subsections
(a)
and (b)
are not available,
the rate of interest per annum determined by the Agent as the rate of interest
at which deposits in Dollars, in the approximate amount of the Loan to be made
or continued as, or converted into, a Eurodollar loan by Wachovia Bank, National
Association and having a maturity comparable to such Interest Period, would
be
offered to major banks in the London interbank market at their request at
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period rounded upwards to the next 1/100th of
1%.
“Material
Adverse
Effect”
means
a material
adverse effect on (a) the operations, financial condition or business of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower
to perform its obligations under this Credit Agreement or (c) the validity
or
enforceability of this Credit Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents,
or
the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder or thereunder; provided that
matters disclosed in writing to the Lenders prior to the Closing Date shall
not
be deemed to cause a Material Adverse Effect.
9
“Maturity
Date”
means
June 9,
2011, subject to the extension thereof pursuant to Section 2.9; provided,
however,
that the Maturity
Date of any Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender to any requested extension
pursuant to Section 2.8 shall be the Maturity Date in effect immediately prior
to the applicable Extension Date for all purposes of this Credit
Agreement.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x
Investors Service, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such
company in the business of rating securities.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means
a Plan
covered by Title IV of ERISA which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section
3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Multiple
Employer Plan”
means
a Plan
covered by Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.
“Net
Worth”
means,
as of any
date, the shareholders’ equity or net worth of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“Non-Consenting
Lender”
has
the meaning
specified in Section 2.9.
“Notes”
means
the
promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each Lender evidencing the Loans
and substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.7, as such promissory notes may
be
amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time.
“Notice
of
Borrowing”
means
a request
by the Borrower for a Loan in the form of Exhibit 2.2.
“Notice
of
Continuation/Conversion”
means
a request
by the Borrower for the continuation or conversion of a Loan in the form of
Exhibit 2.4.
“Participation
Interest”
means
the
Extension of Credit by a Lender by way of a purchase of a participation in
any
Loans as provided in Section 3.8.
“PBGC”
means
the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV
of
ERISA and any successor thereto.
“Permitted
Energy
Transactions”
means
commodity
sale, purchase or option agreements or other commodity transactions or purchase
or sale of weather derivatives entered into by the Borrower or any Principal
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of the energy or energy related industry
for
non-speculative purposes relating to the purchase or sale of electric power,
electric power transmission capacity, natural gas, natural gas transportation
capacity, natural gas storage, generation spark spreads, heating oil, crude
oil,
propane, coal or currency.
“Person”
means
any
individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, association, trust,
limited liability company or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated),
or
any government or political subdivision or any agency, department or
instrumentality thereof.
10
“Plan”
means
any
employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is covered
by
ERISA and with respect to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or,
if
such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be
deemed to be) an “employer” within the meaning of Section 3(5) of
ERISA.
“Prime
Rate”
means
the per
annum rate of interest established from time to time by the Agent at its
principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina (or such other principal office
as
communicated by the Agent to the Borrower and the Lenders) as its prime rate.
Any change in the interest rate resulting from a change in the prime rate shall
become effective as of 12:01 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) of the
Business Day on which each change in the Prime Rate is announced by the Agent.
The Prime Rate is a reference rate used by the Agent in determining interest
rates on certain loans and is not intended to be the lowest rate of interest
charged on any extension of credit to any debtor.
“Principal
Subsidiary”
means
(a) any of
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Upper Peninsula Power Company, WPS
Resources Capital Corporation, WPS Energy Services, Inc. and their respective
successors and (b) any other Subsidiary, whether owned directly or indirectly
by
the Borrower, which, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken
as
a whole, represents at least twenty percent (20%) of the Borrower’s consolidated
assets or the Borrower’s consolidated net income (or loss), as shown on the most
recent financial statements delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 7.1
below.
“Public
Debt
Rating”
means,
as of any
date, the rating that has been most recently announced by either S&P or
Moody’s, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term
senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower.
“Reportable
Event”
means
a
“reportable event” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA with respect to which the
notice requirements to the PBGC have not been waived.
“Required
Lenders”
means
Lenders
whose aggregate Loans constitute more than 51% of the aggregate Loans of all
Lenders at such time or, if no Loans are then outstanding, Lenders whose
Revolving Loan Commitments constitute more than 51% of the Revolving Loan
Commitment at such time; provided,
however,
that if any
Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time then there shall be excluded
from the determination of Required Lenders the aggregate principal amount of
Loans made by such Lender at such time.
“Revolving
Loan
Commitment”
means,
collectively, FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000), subject to amendment
pursuant to Section 2.6, and with respect to each Lender, shall mean such amount
multiplied by such Lender’s Commitment Percentage.
“S&P”
means
Standard
& Poor’s, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor or
assignee of the business of such division in the business of rating
securities.
“Single
Employer
Plan”
means
any Plan
which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer
Plan.
11
“Subsidiary”
means,
as to any
Person, (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes
having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the
directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time,
any
class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power
by
reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person
directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any partnership,
association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity in which
such person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than 50% equity
interest at any time.
“Termination
Event”
means
(a) with
respect to any Single Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or
the
substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e)
of
ERISA), (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer
(as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination
of
a Multiple Employer Plan, (c) the distribution of a notice of intent to
terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2)
or
4041A of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual
termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, (e) any event
or
condition which might reasonably constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA
for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Plan,
or (f) the complete or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
from a Multiemployer Plan.
“Total
Assets”
means
all assets
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as shown on its most recent quarterly
or
annual audited consolidated balance sheet, as determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“Total
Funded
Debt”
means
all Funded
Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, without duplication, on a
consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Voting
Stock”
means
all classes
of the capital stock (or other voting interests) of a Person then outstanding
and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors.
1.2 Computation
of Time Periods.
For
purposes of
computation of periods of time hereunder, the word “from” means “from and
including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding.”
References in this Credit Agreement to “Articles”, “Sections”, “Schedules” or
“Exhibits” shall be to Articles, Sections, Schedules or Exhibits of or to this
Credit Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.
1.3 Accounting
Terms.
Except
as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be
interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to
financial matters required to be delivered to the Lenders hereunder shall be
prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied in a manner consistent with those
used
in preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 5.1(d). In the
event that any changes occur in GAAP after the date of this Credit Agreement
and
such changes result in a material variation in the method of calculation of
financial covenants or other terms of this Credit Agreement, then the Borrower,
the Agent and
12
the
Lenders agree
to amend such provisions of this Credit Agreement so as to equitably reflect
such changes in order that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s financial
condition will be the same after such changes as if such changes had not
occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any entity that is not a Subsidiary
but
would be required to be consolidated in the financial statements of the Borrower
because of FIN 46, (i) shall not be considered a “Subsidiary” for purposes of
this Agreement and (ii) shall not be included in any computation of any
financial covenant herein.
Section
2. LOANS
2.1 Revolving
Loan Commitment.
Subject
to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make
revolving loans to the Borrower in Dollars, at any time and from time to time,
during the period from the Effective Date to the Maturity Date applicable to
such Lender (each a “Loan”
and
collectively
the “Loans”);
provided,
however,
that, at any time
(i) the sum of the aggregate amount of Loans outstanding shall not exceed the
amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment minus the Letter of Credit Obligations
at such time and (ii) with respect to each individual Lender, the Lender’s
outstanding Loans plus such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the outstanding
Letter of Credit Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Loan
Commitment at such time. Subject to the terms of this Credit Agreement, the
Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Loans.
2.2 Method
of
Borrowing for Loans.
By
no later than
noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) (a) on the date of the requested borrowing
of Loans that will be Base Rate Loans or (b) two Business Days prior to the
date
of the requested borrowing of Loans that will be Eurodollar Loans, the Borrower
shall submit a written Notice of Borrowing in the form of Exhibit
2.2
to the Agent
setting forth (i) the amount requested, (ii) whether such Loans shall accrue
interest at the Base Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, (iii) with respect
to
Loans that will be Eurodollar Loans, the Interest Period applicable thereto
and
(iv) certification that the Borrower has complied in all respects with Section
5.2.
2.3 Funding
of
Loans.
Upon
receipt of a
Notice of Borrowing, the Agent shall promptly inform the Lenders as to the
terms
thereof. Each such Lender shall make its Commitment Percentage of the requested
Loans available to the Agent by 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time)
on
the date specified in the Notice of Borrowing by deposit, in Dollars, of
immediately available funds at the principal offices of the Agent in Charlotte,
North Carolina or at such other address as the Agent may designate in writing.
The amount of the requested Loans will then be made available to the Borrower
by
the Agent by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office
of the Agent, to the extent the amount of such Loans are made available to
the
Agent.
No
Lender shall be
responsible for the failure or delay by any other Lender in its obligation
to
make Loans hereunder; provided,
however,
that the failure
of any Lender to fulfill its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other
Lender of its obligations hereunder. Unless
13
the
Agent shall
have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any such Loan that such
Lender does not intend to make available to the Agent its portion of the Loans
to be made on such date, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
amount available to the Agent on the date of such Loans, and the Agent in
reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion but without any
obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.
If
such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Agent, the Agent
shall be able to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such
Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Agent’s demand
therefor, the Agent will promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall
immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Agent. The Agent shall also
be
entitled to recover from the Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be,
interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date
such
corresponding amount was made available by the Agent to the Borrower to the
date
such corresponding amount is recovered by the Agent at a per annum rate equal
to
(i) from the Borrower at the applicable rate for such Loan pursuant to the
Notice of Borrowing and (ii) from a Lender at the Federal Funds
Rate.
2.4 Continuations
and Conversions.
The
Borrower shall
have the option, on any Business Day, to continue existing Eurodollar Loans
for
a subsequent Interest Period, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans
or to convert Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate Loans; provided,
however,
that (a) each
such continuation or conversion must be requested by the Borrower pursuant
to a
Notice of Continuation/Conversion, in the form of Exhibit
2.4,
in compliance
with the terms set forth below, (b) except as provided in Section 4.1,
Eurodollar Loans may only be continued or converted into Base Rate Loans on
the
last day of the Interest Period applicable hereto, (c) Eurodollar Loans may
not
be continued nor may Base Rate Loans be converted into Eurodollar Loans during
the existence and continuation of a Default or Event of Default and (d) any
request to extend a Eurodollar Loan that fails to comply with the terms hereof
or any failure to request an extension of a Eurodollar Loan that fails to comply
with the terms hereof or any failure to request an extension of a Eurodollar
Loan at the end of an Interest Period shall constitute a conversion to a Base
Rate Loan on the last day of the applicable Interest Period. Each continuation
or conversion must be requested by the Borrower no later than noon (Charlotte,
North Carolina time) (i) on the date for a requested conversion of a Eurodollar
Loan to a Base Rate Loan or (ii) two Business Days prior to the date for a
requested continuation of a Eurodollar Loan or conversion of a Base Rate Loan
to
a Eurodollar Loan, in each case pursuant to a written Notice of
Continuation/Conversion submitted to the Agent which shall set forth (A) whether
the Borrower wishes to continue or convert such Loans and (B) if the request
is
to continue a Eurodollar Loan or convert a Base Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan,
the Interest Period applicable thereto.
The
Borrower hereby
authorizes the Lenders and the Agent to extend, convert or continue Eurodollar
Loans or Base Rate Loans, effect selection of Eurodollar Loans or Base Rate
Loans and to transfer funds based in each case on telephonic notices made by
any
person or persons the Agent or any Lender in good faith believes to be acting
on
behalf of the Borrower. The Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to the Agent
a
written confirmation, if such confirmation is requested by the Agent or any
Lender, of each telephonic notice signed by the chief financial officer,
treasurer, secretary or assistant treasurer of the Borrower. If the
written
14
confirmation
differs in any material respect from the action taken by the Agent and the
Lenders, the records of the Agent and the Lenders shall govern absent manifest
error.
2.5 Minimum
Amounts.
Each
request for a
Loan or a conversion or continuation hereunder shall be subject to the following
requirements: (a) each Eurodollar Loan shall be in a minimum of $5,000,000
(and
in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof), (b) each Base Rate
Loan
shall be in a minimum amount of the lesser of $1,000,000 (and in integral
multiples of $250,000 in excess thereof) or the remaining amount available
to be
borrowed and (c) no more than twelve Eurodollar Loans shall be outstanding
hereunder at any one time. For the purposes of this Section, all Eurodollar
Loans with the same Interest Periods that begin and end on the same date shall
be considered as one Eurodollar Loan, but Eurodollar Loans with different
Interest Periods, even if they begin on the same date, shall be considered
separate Eurodollar Loans.
2.6 Reductions
and Increases of Revolving Loan Commitment.
(a) Upon
at least five
Business Days’ notice, the Borrower shall have the right to permanently
terminate or reduce the aggregate unused amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment
at any time and from time to time; provided
that (i) each
partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount at least equal to $10,000,000
and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 above such amount and (ii) no reduction
shall be made which would reduce the Revolving Loan Commitment to an amount
less
than the then outstanding Loans plus the Letter of Credit Obligations. Any
reduction in (or termination of) the Revolving Loan Commitment shall be
permanent and may not be reinstated.
(b) The
Borrower may
request at any time and from time to time that the aggregate amount of the
Revolving Loan Commitment be increased up to a maximum amount of $750,000,000;
provided
that (i) no
increase in the Revolving Loan Commitment shall be made at a time when a Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from
the requested increase, (ii) no increase in the Revolving Loan Commitment shall
be made at any time after the Revolving Loan Commitment has been terminated
or
reduced, (iii) each partial increase shall be made in an aggregate amount at
least equal to $10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $5,000,000 above such
amount, (iv) no more than two such increases shall be made between the Effective
Date and the earliest stated Maturity Date, and (v) the Borrower shall have
delivered to the Agent certified resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Borrower approving such increase and borrowings in connection therewith. In
the
event of such a requested increase in the Revolving Loan Commitment, (i) each
of
the Lenders shall be given the opportunity to participate in the increased
Revolving Loan Commitment (x) initially to the extent of such Lender’s existing
Commitment Percentage and (y) to the extent that the requested increase of
the
Revolving Loan Commitment is not fulfilled pursuant to the preceding clause
(x),
ratably in the proportion that the respective Commitment Percentages of the
Lenders desiring to participate in the requested increase bear to the total
of
the Commitment Percentages of the increasing Lenders, and (ii) to the extent
that the Lenders do not elect so to participate in such increased Revolving
Loan
Commitment after an opportunity to do so, then the Borrower shall consult with
the Agent as to the number, identity and requested Revolving Loan Commitments
of
additional financial institutions that the Agent may invite to participate
in
the aggregate Revolving Loan
15
Commitment.
The
Agent and each Issuing Bank will not unreasonably refuse to so invite a
commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or of any State
thereof, identified and requested by the Borrower, that has capital and surplus
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and such Issuing Bank in light of the
Revolving Loan Commitment which such commercial bank would assume hereunder.
The
Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any increase in
the
amount of the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment pursuant to this Section
and
of the respective adjusted Revolving Loan Commitment and Commitment Percentage
of each Lender after giving effect thereto. The Borrower acknowledges that,
in
order to maintain Loans in accordance with the Commitment Percentage of each
Lender, a non-pro-rata increase in the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment
may
require prepayment or funding of all or portions of certain Loans on the date
of
such increase (and any such prepayment or funding shall be subject to the other
provisions of this Credit Agreement).
2.7 Notes.
The
Loans made by
the Lenders shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the
Borrower payable to each Lender in substantially the form of Exhibit
2.7
(the “Notes”)
and in a
principal amount equal to the amount of such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of
the Revolving Loan Commitment as originally in effect.
2.8 Letters
of
Credit.
(a) Issuance.
Subject to the
terms and conditions hereof and of the LOC Documents, if any, and any other
terms and conditions which the Agent and applicable Issuing Bank may reasonably
require, each Issuing Bank shall from time to time upon request issue, and
the
Lenders shall participate in, letters of credit (the “Letters
of
Credit”)
for the account
of the Borrower; provided,
however,
that (i) the
aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Obligations shall not at any time exceed
$500,000,000 (provided that the foregoing sublimit shall be increased
automatically by the amount of any increase in the aggregate Revolving Loan
Commitment made pursuant to Section 2.6(b), effective as of the date thereof),
(ii) the sum of the aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding
plus the aggregate amount of Loans outstanding shall not exceed the Aggregate
Commitment and (iii) with respect to each individual Lender, the Lender’s
outstanding Loans plus such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the outstanding
Letter of Credit Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Loan
Commitment at such time. The applicable Issuing Bank may require the issuance
and expiry date of each Letter of Credit to be a day other than (x) a Saturday
or a Sunday or (y) any other day on which the letter of credit issuing office
of
such Issuing Bank is authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
Each Letter of Credit shall be a standby or documentary letter of credit issued
to support the obligations (including pension or insurance obligations),
contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Each Letter
of Credit shall have a stated term not to exceed the earlier of (A) one year,
but may by its terms be renewable annually upon notice (a “Notice
of
Renewal”)
given to the
applicable Issuing Bank on or prior to any date for notice of renewal set forth
in such Letter of Credit but in any event at least three Business Days prior
to
the date of the proposed renewal of such Letter of Credit and upon fulfillment
of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.2 unless such Issuing Bank
has notified the Borrower on or prior to the date for notice of termination
set
forth in such Letter of Credit but in any event at least 30 Business Days prior
to the date of automatic renewal of its election not to renew such
16
Letter
of Credit (a
“Notice
of
Termination”)
and (B) 10
Business Days prior to the Maturity Date of Lenders having aggregate Revolving
Loan Commitments equal to or greater than the aggregate Letter of Credit
Obligations after giving effect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit;
provided
that the terms of
each Letter of Credit that is automatically renewable annually shall
(1) require the applicable Issuing Bank to give the beneficiary named in
such Letter of Credit notice of any Notice of Termination, (2) permit such
beneficiary, upon receipt of such notice, to draw under such Letter of Credit
prior to the date such Letter of Credit otherwise would have been automatically
renewed and (3) not permit the expiration date (after giving effect to any
renewal) of such Letter of Credit in any event to be extended to a date later
than 10 Business Days before the Maturity Date of Lenders having an aggregate
Commitment Percentage equal to or greater than the aggregate Letter of Credit
Obligations after giving effect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit. If
either a Notice of Renewal is not given by the Borrower or a Notice of
Termination is given by the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to the immediately
preceding sentence, such Letter of Credit shall expire on the date on which
it
otherwise would have been automatically renewed; provided,
however,
that even in the
absence of receipt of a Notice of Renewal such Issuing Bank may in its
discretion, unless instructed to the contrary by the Borrower, deem that a
Notice of Renewal had been timely delivered and in such case, a Notice of
Renewal shall be deemed to have been so delivered for all purposes under this
Credit Agreement. Each Letter of Credit shall comply with the related LOC
Documents.
(b) Letter
of Credit
Fees.
(1)
Letter
of Credit
Fees.
In consideration
of the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay
to
the Agent for the pro rata benefit of the Lenders (based on each Lender’s
Commitment Percentage), a per annum fee (the “Letter
of Credit
Fees”)
equal to the
Applicable Percentage on the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn
under all Letters of Credit. The Letter of Credit Fees will be payable in
arrears on the first Business Day after the end of each fiscal quarter of the
Borrower (as well as on the final Maturity Date) for the immediately preceding
fiscal quarter (or portion thereof), beginning with the first of such dates
to
occur after the date of this Credit Agreement.
(2)
Issuing
Bank
Letter of Credit Fees.
In addition to
the Letter of Credit Fees payable pursuant to subsection (1) above, the Borrower
shall pay to each Issuing Bank for its own account, without sharing by the
other
Lenders, a fronting fee in an amount agreed by the Borrower and the applicable
Issuing Bank as a percentage of the outstanding face amount of each Letter
of
Credit issued by such Issuing Bank payable quarterly in arrears at the same
time
the Letter of Credit Fees are payable plus the customary incidental and/or
out
of pocket charges from time to time for its services in connection with the
issuance, amendment, payment, transfer, administration, cancellation and
conversion of, and drawings under, such Letters of Credit (collectively, the
“Issuing
Bank
Letter of Credit Fees”).
(c)
Notice
and
Reports.
The request for
the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be submitted to the applicable Issuing
Bank, with a copy to the Agent, at least two Business Days
17
prior to the requested date of issuance unless otherwise agreed to between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank. Each Issuing Bank will, at least monthly and more frequently upon request, provide to the Agent and the Lenders a detailed report specifying the Letters of Credit issued by it which are then issued and outstanding and any activity with respect thereto which may have occurred since the date of the prior report, and including therein, among other things, the account party, the beneficiary, the face amount, and the expiry date as well as any payments or expirations which may have occurred.
(d) Participations.
Each Lender, upon
issuance of a Letter of Credit, shall be deemed to have purchased without
recourse a risk participation from the applicable Issuing Bank in such Letter
of
Credit and each LOC Document related thereto and the rights and obligations
arising thereunder and any collateral relating thereto, in each case in an
amount equal to its Commitment Percentage of the obligations under such Letter
of Credit, and shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume, as
primary obligor and not as surety, and be obligated to pay to the Agent for
the
account of such Issuing Bank therefor and discharge when due, its Commitment
Percentage of the obligations arising under such Letter of Credit. Without
limiting the scope and nature of each Lender’s participation in any Letter of
Credit, to the extent that the applicable Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed
as required hereunder or under any such Letter of Credit, each such Lender
shall
pay to the Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank its Commitment Percentage
of such unreimbursed drawing in same day funds on the day of notification by
the
Agent of an unreimbursed drawing pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f)
hereof. The obligation of each Lender to so reimburse the Issuing Banks shall
be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by the occurrence of a
Default, an Event of Default or any other occurrence or event. Any such
reimbursement shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the
Borrower to reimburse any Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit, together
with
interest as hereinafter provided. Each Lender further acknowledges and agrees
that its participation in each Letter of Credit will be automatically adjusted
to reflect such Lender’s Commitment Percentage at each time such Lender’s
Commitment Percentage is amended pursuant to an increase of Commitments in
accordance with Section 2.6, an assignment in accordance with Section 11.3
or
otherwise pursuant to this Credit Agreement.
(e) Reimbursement.
In the event of
any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank will
promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent. Unless the Borrower shall
immediately notify the applicable Issuing Bank and the Agent of its intent
to
otherwise reimburse such Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
requested a Loan at the Base Rate in the amount of the drawing as provided
in
subsection (g) hereof, the proceeds of which will be used to satisfy the
reimbursement obligations. The Borrower shall reimburse the applicable Issuing
Bank on the day any drawing under any Letter of Credit is paid either with
the
proceeds of a Loan obtained hereunder or otherwise in same day funds as provided
herein or in the LOC Documents. If the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the
applicable Issuing Bank as provided hereinabove, the unreimbursed amount of
such
drawing shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Base Rate plus
two
percent (2%). The Borrower’s reimbursement obligations hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under all circumstances (except as expressly set
forth below) irrespective of any rights of set-off, counterclaim or defense
to
payment
the
applicable account party or the Borrower may claim or have against the
applicable Issuing Bank , the Agent, the Lenders, the beneficiary of the Letter
of Credit drawn upon or any other Person, including without limitation, any
defense based on any failure of the applicable
18
account
party or
the Borrower to receive consideration or the legality, validity, regularity
or
unenforceability of the Letter of Credit. The applicable Issuing Bank will
promptly notify the Agent and the Lenders of the amount of any unreimbursed
drawing and each Lender shall promptly pay to the Agent for the account of
such
Issuing Bank, in immediately available funds, the amount of such Lender’s
Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed drawing. Such payment shall be made
on the day such notice is received by such Lender from the applicable Issuing
Bank if such notice is received at or before 2:00 p.m., otherwise such payment
shall be made at or before 12:00 noon on the Business Day next succeeding the
day such notice is received. If such Lender does not pay such amount to the
Agent in full upon such request, such Lender shall, on demand, pay to the Agent
for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank interest on the unpaid amount
during the period from the date the Lender received the notice regarding the
unreimbursed drawing until the Lender pays such amount to the Agent in full
at a
rate per annum equal to, if paid within two Business Days of the date of
drawing, the Federal Funds Rate and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base
Rate.
Each Lender’s obligation to make such payment to the Agent for the account of
the applicable Issuing Bank, and the right of the applicable Issuing Bank to
receive the same, shall be absolute and unconditional, shall not be affected
by
any circumstance whatsoever and without regard to the termination of this Credit
Agreement or the Revolving Loan Commitments hereunder, the existence of a
Default or Event of Default or the acceleration of the obligations hereunder
and
shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction
whatsoever. Simultaneously with the making of each such payment by a Lender
to
the Agent, such Lender shall, automatically and without any further action
on
the part of the Agent, any Issuing Bank or such Lender, acquire a participation
in an amount equal to such payment (excluding the portion of such payment
constituting interest owing to an Issuing Bank) in the related unreimbursed
drawing portion of the Letter of Credit Obligation and in the interest thereon
and in the related LOC Documents, and shall have a claim against the Borrower
with respect thereto.
(f) Repayment
with
Loans.
On any day on
which the Borrower shall have requested, or been deemed to have requested,
a
Loan to reimburse a drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Agent shall give
notice to the Lenders that a Loan has been requested or deemed requested in
connection with a drawing under a Letter of Credit, in which case a Loan
comprised solely of Base Rate Loans (each such borrowing, a “Mandatory
Borrowing”)
shall be
immediately made from all Lenders (without giving effect to any termination
of
the Revolving Loan Commitments pursuant to Section 9.1) pro rata based on each
Lender’s respective Commitment Percentage and the proceeds thereof shall be paid
directly to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank for
application to the respective Letter of Credit Obligations. Each Lender hereby
irrevocably agrees to make such Loans upon any such request or deemed request
on
account of each such Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner
specified in the preceding sentence and on the same such date notwithstanding
(i) the amount of
Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount for borrowings of
Loans otherwise required hereunder, (ii) whether any conditions specified in
Article III are then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or Event of Default
then
exists, (iv) failure of any such request or deemed request for Loans to be
made
by the time otherwise required hereunder, (v) the date of such Mandatory
Borrowing, or (vi) any reduction in or any termination of the Revolving Loan
Commitments.
Such
funding of Loans shall be made on the day notice of such Mandatory Borrowing
is
received by each Lender from the Agent if such notice is received at or before
2:00 p.m., otherwise such payment shall be made at or before 12:00 noon on
the
Business Day next
19
succeeding
the day
such notice is received. In the event that any Mandatory Borrowing cannot for
any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including, without
limitation, as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under any applicable
bankruptcy law with respect to the Borrower), then each Lender hereby agrees
that it shall forthwith fund (as of the date the Mandatory Borrowing would
otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for any payments received from the
Borrower on or after such date and prior to such purchase) its Commitment
Percentage in the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations; provided,
further,
that in the event
any Lender shall fail to fund its Commitment Percentage on the day the Mandatory
Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, then the amount of such Lender’s
unfunded Commitment Percentage therein shall bear interest payable to the Agent
for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank upon demand, at the rate equal
to, if paid within two Business Days of such date, the Federal Funds Rate,
and
thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate.
(g) Modification
and
Extension.
The issuance of
any supplement, modification, amendment, or extension to any Letter of Credit
shall, for purposes hereof, be treated in all respects the same as the issuance
of a new Letter of Credit.
(h) International
Standby Practices.
Each Issuing Bank
may have the Letters of Credit be subject to International Standby Practices,
as
published as of the date of issue by the International Chamber of Commerce
(Publication No. 590 or the most recent publication, the “ISP
98”),
in which case
the ISP 98 may be incorporated therein and deemed in all respects to be a part
thereof.
(i) Responsibility
of Agent.
It is expressly
understood and agreed as between the Lenders that the obligations of the Issuing
Banks hereunder to the Lenders are only those expressly set forth in this Credit
Agreement and that each Issuing Bank shall be entitled to assume that the
conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 have been satisfied unless it shall
have acquired actual knowledge that any such condition precedent has not been
satisfied; provided, however, that nothing set forth in this Section 2.8 shall
be deemed to prejudice the right of any Lender to recover from any Issuing
Bank
any amounts made available by such Lender to such Issuing Bank pursuant to
this
Section 2.8 in the event that it is determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction that the issuance of or payment with respect to a Letter of Credit
constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Issuing
Bank.
(j) Conflict
with
LOC Documents.
In the event of
any conflict between this Credit Agreement and any LOC Document, this Credit
Agreement shall govern.
(k) Indemnification
of Issuing Banks.
(1)
In addition to
its other obligations under this Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby agrees
to
protect, indemnify, pay and save each Issuing Bank harmless from and against
any
and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and
expenses (including reasonable, documented attorneys’
fees)
that such Issuing Bank may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct
or
indirect, of (A) the issuance of any Letter of Credit or (B) the failure of
such
Issuing Bank to honor a drawing under a Letter of Credit as a result of any
act
or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or
20
future
de jure or
de facto government or governmental authority (all such acts or omissions,
herein called “Government
Acts”).
(2)
As between the
Borrower and each Issuing Bank and the Lenders, the Borrower shall assume all
risks of the acts, omissions or misuse of any Letter of Credit by the
beneficiary thereof. The Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall not
be
responsible for (except in the case of (A), (B) and (C) below if the applicable
Issuing Bank has actual knowledge to the contrary): (A) the form, validity,
sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted
by
any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any Letter
of
Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; provided that such document(s)
reasonably appear to conform on their face to the terms of the Letter of Credit,
(B) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning
or
purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits
thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be
invalid or ineffective for any reason; (C) failure of the beneficiary of a
Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw
upon
a Letter of Credit; provided that such document(s) reasonably appear to conform
on their face to the terms of the Letter of Credit, (D) errors, omissions,
interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail,
telecopier or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (E) errors in
interpretation of technical terms; (F) any loss or delay in the transmission
or
otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under a Letter
of
Credit or of the proceeds thereof; and (G) any consequences arising from causes
beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Bank, including, without
limitation, any Government Acts. None of the above shall affect, impair, or
prevent the vesting of the Issuing Banks’ rights or powers
hereunder.
(3)
In furtherance
and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions hereinabove
set
forth, any action taken or omitted by any Issuing Bank, under or in connection
with any Letter of Credit issued by it or the related certificates, if taken
or
omitted in good faith and not deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful
misconduct, shall not put such Issuing Bank under any resulting liability to
the
Borrower. It is the intention of the parties that this Credit Agreement shall
be
construed and applied to protect and indemnify each Issuing Bank against any
and
all risks involved in the issuance of the Letters of Credit, all of which risks
are hereby assumed by the Borrower, including, without limitation, any and
all
risks of the acts or omissions, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present
or
future Government Acts. No Issuing Bank shall, in any way, be liable for any
failure by such Issuing Bank or anyone else to pay any drawing under any Letter
of Credit as a result of any Government Acts or any other cause beyond the
control of such Issuing Bank.
(4)
Nothing
in this
subsection (k) is intended to limit the reimbursement obligation of the Borrower
contained in this Section 2.8. The obligations of the Borrower under this
subsection (k) shall survive the termination
21
of
this Credit
Agreement. No act or omission of any current or prior beneficiary of a Letter
of
Credit shall in any way affect or impair the rights of any Issuing Bank to
enforce any right, power or benefit under this Credit Agreement.
(5)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section or in any LOC Document,
neither the Borrower nor any Lender shall have any obligation to indemnify
any
Issuing Bank in respect of any liability incurred by such Issuing Bank arising
out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing Bank, as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this Credit
Agreement shall relieve any Issuing Bank of any liability to the Borrower or
any
Lender in respect of any action taken by such Issuing Bank which action
constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing Bank or
a
violation of the UCP or Uniform Commercial Code (as applicable), as determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction.
2.9 Extension
of Maturity Date.
(a) At
least 30 days
but not more than 45 days prior to any anniversary of the Effective Date, but
not more than twice, the Borrower, by written notice to the Agent, may request
an extension of the Maturity Date in effect at such time by one year from its
then scheduled expiration. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such
request, and each Lender shall in turn, in its sole discretion, not later than
20 days prior to such anniversary of the Effective Date, notify the Borrower
and
the Agent in writing as to whether such Lender will consent to such extension.
If any Lender shall fail to notify the Agent and the Borrower in writing of
its
consent to any such request for extension of the Maturity Date at least 20
days
prior to such anniversary date, such Lender shall be deemed to be a
Non-Consenting Lender with respect to such request. The Agent shall notify
the
Borrower not later than 15 days prior to such anniversary date of the decision
of the Lenders regarding the Borrower’s request for an extension of the Maturity
Date.
(b) If
all the Lenders
consent in writing to any such request in accordance with subsection (a) of
this
Section, the Maturity Date in effect at such time shall, effective as at the
applicable anniversary date (the “Extension
Date”),
be extended for
one year; provided
that on each
Extension Date no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing. If less than all of the Lenders consent in writing to any such
request in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section, the Maturity Date
in
effect at such time shall, effective as at the applicable Extension Date and
subject to subsection (d) of this Section, be extended as to those Lenders
that
so consented (each a “Consenting
Lender”)
but shall not be
extended as to any other Lender (each a “Non-Consenting
Lender”).
To the extent
that the Maturity Date is not extended as to any Lender pursuant to this Section
and the Commitment(s) of such Lender is not assumed in accordance with
subsection (c) of this Section on or prior to the applicable Extension Date,
the
Commitment(s) of such Non-Consenting Lender shall automatically terminate in
whole on such unextended Maturity Date without any further notice or other
action by the Borrower, such Lender or any other Person; provided
that such
Non-Consenting Lender’s rights under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 11.5, and its
obligations under Section 10.7, shall survive the Maturity Date for such Lender
as to matters occurring prior to such date. It is understood and agreed that
no
22
Lender
shall have
any obligation whatsoever to agree to any request made by the Borrower for
any
requested extension of the Maturity Date.
(c) If
less than all of
the Lenders consent to any such request pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section, the Agent shall promptly so notify the Consenting Lenders, and each
Consenting Lender may, in its sole discretion, give written notice to the Agent
not later than 10 days prior to the Maturity Date of the amount of the
Non-Consenting Lenders’ Revolving Loan Commitments for which it is willing to
accept an assignment. If the Consenting Lenders notify the Agent that they
are
willing to accept assignments of Revolving Loan Commitments in an aggregate
amount that exceeds the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitments of the
Non-Consenting Lenders, such Revolving Loan Commitments shall be allocated
among
the Consenting Lenders willing to accept such assignments in such amounts as
are
agreed between the Borrower and the Agent. If after giving effect to the
assignments of Revolving Loan Commitments described above there remains any
Revolving Loan Commitments of Non-Consenting Lenders, the Borrower may arrange
for one or more Consenting Lenders or other Eligible Assignees (each, an
“Assuming
Lender”)
to assume,
effective as of the Extension Date, any Non-Consenting Lender’s Revolving Loan
Commitment and all of the obligations of such Non-Consenting Lender under this
Credit Agreement thereafter arising, without recourse to or warranty by, or
expense to, such Non-Consenting Lender; provided,
however,
that the amount
of the Revolving Loan Commitment of any such Assuming Lender as a result of
such
substitution shall in no event be less than $5,000,000 unless the amount of
the
Revolving Loan Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender is less than $5,000,000,
in which case such Assuming Lender shall assume all of such lesser amount;
and
provided further
that:
(i) any
such Assuming
Lender shall have paid to such Non-Consenting Lender (A) the aggregate principal
amount of, and any interest accrued and unpaid to the effective date of the
assignment on, the outstanding Loans, if any, of such Non-Consenting Lender
plus
(B) any accrued
but unpaid fees owing to such Non-Consenting Lender as of the effective date
of
such assignment;
(ii) all
additional
costs reimbursements, expense reimbursements and indemnities payable to such
Non-Consenting Lender, and all other accrued and unpaid amounts owing to such
Non-Consenting Lender hereunder, as of the effective date of such assignment
shall have been paid to such Non-Consenting Lender; and
(iii) with
respect to any
such Assuming Lender, the applicable processing and recordation fee required
under Section 11.3(b) for such assignment shall have been paid;
provided further
that such
Non-Consenting Lender’s rights under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 11.5, and its
obligations under Section 10.7, shall survive such substitution as to matters
occurring prior to the date of substitution. At least three Business Days prior
to any Extension Date, (A) each such Assuming Lender, if any, shall deliver
to
the Borrower and the Agent an agreement in form and substance satisfactory
to
the Agent and the Borrower pursuant to which such Assuming Lender agrees to
become a Lender under this Credit Agreement, duly executed by such Assuming
Lender, such Non-Consenting Lender, the Borrower and the Agent, (B) any such
Consenting
Lender
shall deliver confirmation in writing satisfactory to the Borrower and the
Agent
as to the increase in the amount of its Revolving Loan Commitment and (C) each
Non-
23
Consenting
Lender
being replaced pursuant to this Section shall deliver to the Agent any Note
held
by such Non-Consenting Lender. Upon the payment or prepayment of all amounts
referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the immediately preceding
sentence, each such Consenting Lender or Assuming Lender, as of the Extension
Date, will be substituted for such Non-Consenting Lender under this Credit
Agreement and shall be a Lender for all purposes of this Credit Agreement,
without any further acknowledgment by or the consent of the other Lenders,
and
the obligations of each such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder shall, by the
provisions hereof, be released and discharged.
(d) If
(after giving
effect to any assignments or assumptions pursuant to subsection (c) of this
Section) Lenders having Commitment Percentages equal to at least 50% of the
Revolving Loan Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Extension Date
consent in writing to a requested extension not later than one Business Day
prior to such Extension Date, the Agent shall so notify the Borrower, and,
subject to the condition that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, the Maturity Date then in effect shall be extended for the
additional one-year period as described in subsection (a) of this Section,
and
all references in this Credit Agreement, and in the Notes, if any, to the
“Maturity
Date”
shall,
with
respect to each Consenting Lender and each Assuming Lender for such Extension
Date, refer to the Maturity Date as so extended. Promptly following each
Extension Date, the Agent shall notify the Lenders (including, without
limitation, each Assuming Lender) of the extension of the scheduled Maturity
Date in effect immediately prior thereto.
Section
3. PAYMENTS
3.1 Interest.
(a) Interest
Rate.
(i) All
Base Rate Loans
shall accrue interest at the Base Rate.
(ii) All
Eurodollar
Loans shall accrue interest at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate applicable to such
Eurodollar Loan.
(b) Default
Rate of
Interest.
Upon the
occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default, the principal
of
and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on the Loans and any other amounts
owing hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall bear interest, payable
on demand, at a per annum rate equal to two percent (2%) plus the rate which
would otherwise be applicable (or if no rate is applicable, then the rate for
Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus two percent (2%) per annum).
(c) Interest
Payments.
Interest on Loans
shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date.
3.2 Prepayments.
(a)
Voluntary
Prepayments.
The Borrower
shall have the right to prepay Loans in whole or in part from time to time
without premium or penalty; provided,
however,
that (i)
Eurodollar Loans may only be prepaid on three Business Days’ prior written
notice to the Agent
24
and
any prepayment
of Eurodollar Loans will be subject to Section 4.3; and (ii) each such partial
prepayment of Loans shall be in the minimum principal amount of $1,000,000;
provided
that if less than
$1,000,000 would remain outstanding after such prepayment, such prepayment
shall
be in the amount of the entire outstanding principal amount of the Loans.
Amounts prepaid hereunder shall be applied as the Borrower may elect;
provided
that if the
Borrower fails to specify a voluntary prepayment then such prepayment shall
be
applied as the Agent may direct. All voluntary prepayments shall be applied
first to Loans that are Base Rate Loans, and then to Loans that are Eurodollar
Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities.
(b) Mandatory
Prepayments.
If at any time
the amount of Loans outstanding plus the Letter of Credit Obligations
outstanding exceeds the Aggregate Commitment, the Borrower shall immediately
make a principal payment to the Agent in the manner and in an amount such that
the sum of Loans outstanding plus the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding
is less than or equal to the Aggregate Commitment. Any payments made under
this
Section 3.2(b) shall be subject to Section 4.3 and shall be applied first to
Loans that are Base Rate Loans, and then to Loans that are Eurodollar Loans
in
direct order of Interest Period maturities.
3.3 Payment
in
Full at Maturity.
On
the Maturity
Date, the entire outstanding principal balance of all Loans and the Letter
of
Credit Obligations, together with accrued but unpaid interest and all other
sums
owing under this Credit Agreement, shall be due and payable in full, unless
accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.2.
3.4 Fees.
(a) Revolving
Fees.
In consideration
of the Revolving Loan Commitment being made available by the Lenders hereunder,
the Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent, for the pro rata benefit of each
Lender, a fee equal to the Applicable Percentage for Revolving Fees multiplied
by the Revolving Loan Commitment (the “Revolving
Fees”).
The accrued
Revolving Fees shall be due and payable in arrears on the first Business Day
after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (as well as on the final
Maturity Date and on any date that the Revolving Loan Commitment is reduced)
for
the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (or portion thereof), beginning with
the first of such dates to occur after the Closing Date.
(b) Utilization
Fees.
At any time the
principal amount of outstanding Loans and outstanding Letter of Credit
Obligations hereunder shall exceed an amount equal to fifty percent
(50%) of
the Aggregate
Commitment, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent hereunder, for the pro rata
benefit of the Lenders, fees (“Utilization
Fees”) equal
to the
Applicable Percentage for Utilization Fees on
the principal
amount of outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations. The Utilization
Fees, if any, shall be due and payable in arrears on the first Business Day
after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (as well as the final
Maturity Date) and any date of reduction in the Revolving Loan
Commitments.
(c) Administrative
Fees.
The Borrower
agrees to pay to the Agent, for its own account, an annual fee as agreed to
between the Borrower and the Agent in the Fee Letter.
3.5 Place
and
Manner of Payments.
25
All
payments of
principal, interest, fees, expenses and other amounts to be made by the Borrower
under this Credit Agreement shall be received without setoff, deduction or
counterclaim not later than 2:00 p.m.(Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the
date when due in Dollars and in immediately available funds by the Agent at
its
offices in Charlotte, North Carolina. Unless the application of a payment is
specifically directed by the Borrower (or if such application would be
inconsistent with the terms hereof), the Agent shall distribute payments
received from the Borrower to the Lenders in such manner as it reasonably
determines in its sole discretion.
3.6 Pro
Rata
Treatment.
Except
to the
extent otherwise provided herein, all Loans, each payment or prepayment of
principal of any Loan, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment
of
Revolving Fees, each reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment, and each
conversion or continuation of any Loans, shall be allocated pro rata among
the
Lenders in accordance with the respective Commitment Percentages; provided
that,
if any Lender shall have failed to pay its applicable pro rata share of any
Loan, then any amount to which such Lender would otherwise be entitled pursuant
to this Section 3.6 shall instead be payable to the Agent until the share of
such Not funded by such Lender has been repaid; and provided,
further,
that in the event
any amount paid to any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.6 is rescinded or
must
otherwise be returned by the Agent, each Lender shall, upon the request of
the
Agent, repay to the Agent the amount so paid to such Lender, with interest
for
the period commencing on the date such payment is returned by the Agent until
the date the Agent receives such repayment at a rate per annum equal to, during
the period to but excluding the date two Business Days after such request,
the
Federal Funds Rate, and thereafter, the Base Rate plus two percent (2%) per
annum.
3.7 Computations
of Interest and Fees.
(a) Except
for Base
Rate Loans, on which interest shall be computed on the basis of a 365 or 366
day
year as the case may be, all computations of interest and fees hereunder shall
be made on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360
days.
(b) It
is the intent of
the Lenders and the Borrower to conform to and contract in strict compliance
with applicable usury law from time to time in effect. All agreements between
the Lenders and the Borrower are hereby limited by the provisions of this
paragraph which shall override and control all such agreements, whether now
existing or hereafter arising and whether written or oral. In no way, nor in
any
event or contingency (including but not limited to prepayment or acceleration
of
the maturity of any obligation), shall the interest taken, reserved, contracted
for, charged, or received under this Credit Agreement, under the Notes or
otherwise, exceed the maximum nonusurious amount permissible under applicable
law. If, from any possible construction of any of the Credit Documents or any
other document, interest would otherwise be payable in excess of the maximum
nonusurious amount, any such construction shall be
subject to the
provisions of this paragraph and such documents shall be automatically reduced
to the maximum nonusurious amount permitted under applicable law, without the
necessity of execution of any amendment or new document. If any Lender shall
ever receive anything of value which is characterized as interest on the Loans
under applicable law and which would, apart from this provision, be in excess
of
the maximum lawful amount, an amount equal to the
26
amount
which would
have been excessive interest shall, without penalty, be applied to the reduction
of the principal amount owing on the Loans and not to the payment of interest,
or refunded to the Borrower or the other payor thereof if and to the extent
such
amount which would have been excessive exceeds such unpaid principal amount
of
the Loans. The right to demand payment of the Loans or any other indebtedness
evidenced by any of the Credit Documents does not include the right to receive
any interest which has not otherwise accrued on the date of such demand, and
the
Lenders do not intend to charge or receive any unearned interest in the event
of
such demand. All interest paid or agreed to be paid to the Lenders with respect
to the Loans shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized,
prorated, allocated, and spread throughout the full stated term (including
any
renewal or extension) of the Loans so that the amount of interest on account
of
such indebtedness does not exceed the maximum nonusurious amount permitted
by
applicable law.
3.8 Sharing
of
Payments.
Each
Lender agrees
that, in the event that any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any Loan
or any other obligation owing to such Lender under this Credit Agreement through
the exercise of a right of set-off, banker’s lien, counterclaim or otherwise
(including, but not limited to, pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code) in excess
of
its pro rata share as provided for in this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall
promptly purchase from the other Lenders a participation in such Loans and
other
obligations, in such amounts and with such other adjustments from time to time,
as shall be equitable in order that all Lenders share such payment in accordance
with their respective ratable shares as provided for in this Credit Agreement.
Each Lender further agrees that if a payment to a Lender (which is obtained
by
such Lender through the exercise of a right of set-off, banker’s lien,
counterclaim or otherwise) shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored,
each Lender which shall have shared the benefit of such payment shall, by
repurchase of a participation theretofore sold, return its share of that benefit
to each Lender whose payment shall have been rescinded or otherwise restored.
The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing such a participation may,
to
the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all rights of payment, including
set-off, banker’s lien or counterclaim, with respect to such participation as
fully as if such Lender were a holder of such Loan or other obligation in the
amount of such participation. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Credit Agreement, if any Lender shall fail to remit to the Agent or any other
Lender an amount payable by such Lender to the Agent or such other Lender
pursuant to this Credit Agreement on the date when such amount is due, such
payments shall accrue interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount
is due until the day such amount is paid to the Agent or such other Lender,
at a
rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. If under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured
claim
in lieu of a setoff to which this Section 3.8 applies, such Lender shall, to
the
extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in
a
manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders under this Section 3.8 to
share
in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.
3.9
Evidence of
Debt.
(a) Each
Lender shall
maintain an account or accounts evidencing each Loan made by such Lender to
the
Borrower from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest
payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Credit Agreement.
Each
27
Lender
will make
reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of its account or accounts and
to
promptly update its account or accounts from time to time, as
necessary.
(b) The
Agent shall
maintain the Register pursuant to Section 11.3(c), and a subaccount for each
Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded
(i)
the amount, type and Interest Period of each such Loan hereunder, (ii) the
amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable
to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Agent
hereunder from or for the account of the Borrower and each Lender’s share
thereof. The Agent will make reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of
the
subaccounts referred to in the preceding sentence and to promptly update such
subaccounts from time to time, as necessary.
(c) The
entries made in
the accounts, Register and subaccounts maintained pursuant to subsection (b)
of
this Section 3.9 (and, if consistent with the entries of the Agent, subsection
(a) and the Notes issued to the Lenders) shall be prima facie evidence of the
existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded;
provided,
however,
that the failure
of any Lender or the Agent to maintain any such account, such Register or such
subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect
the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans made by such Lender in
accordance with the terms hereof.
Section
4. ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS REGARDING LOANS
4.1 Eurodollar
Loan Provisions.
(a) Unavailability.
In the event that
the Agent shall have determined in good faith (i) that U.S. dollar deposits
in
the principal amounts requested with respect to a Eurodollar Loan are not
generally available in the London interbank Eurodollar market or (ii) that
reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate, the Agent
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give notice of such determination
to
the Borrower and the Lenders. In the event of any such determination under
clauses (i) or (ii) above, until the Agent shall have advised the Borrower
and
the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist,
(A) any request by the Borrower for Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to be
a
request for Base Rate Loans, (B) any request by the Borrower for conversion
into
or continuation of Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to be a request for
conversion into or continuation of Base Rate Loans and (C) any Loans that were
to be converted or continued as Eurodollar Loans on the first day of an Interest
Period shall be converted to or continued as Base Rate Loans.
(b) Change
in
Legality.
Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, if any change, after the date hereof, in any law
or
regulation (including the introduction of any new law or regulation) or in
the
interpretation thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
administration or interpretation thereof 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 Agent,
such
Lender may:
(A) declare
that
Eurodollar Loans, and conversions to or continuations of Eurodollar Loans,
will
not thereafter be made by such Lender hereunder, whereupon any
28
request
by the
Borrower for, or for conversion into or continuation of, Eurodollar Loans shall,
as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for, or for conversion into or
continuation of, Base Rate Loans, unless such declaration shall be subsequently
withdrawn; and
(B) require
that all
outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted to Base Rate Loans in
which
event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically converted to Base Rate
Loans.
In
the event any
Lender shall exercise its rights under clause (A) or (B) above, all payments
and
prepayments of principal which 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 Base
Rate
Loans made by such Lenders in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of,
such
Eurodollar Loans.
(c) Requirements
of
Law.
If at any time a
Lender shall incur increased costs or reductions in the amounts received or
receivable hereunder with respect to the making, the commitment to make or
the
maintaining of any Eurodollar Loan because of (i) any change, after the date
hereof, in any applicable law, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or
order
(or in the interpretation or administration thereof and including the
introduction of any new law or governmental rule, regulation, guideline or
such
order) including, without limitation, the imposition, modification or deemed
applicability of any reserves, deposits or similar requirements (such as, for
example, but not limited to, a change in official reserve requirements, but,
in
all events, excluding reserves required under Regulation D to the extent
included in the computation of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate) or (ii) other
circumstances affecting the London interbank Eurodollar market; then the
Borrower shall pay to such Lender promptly upon written demand therefore,
accompanied by a statement in reasonable detail showing the calculation of
the
amount demanded, such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate
of,
or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender
may
determine in its reasonable discretion) as may be required to compensate such
Lender for such increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder.
Each determination and calculation made by a Lender under this Section 4.1
shall, absent manifest error, be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto.
Any conversions of Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall
subject the Borrower to the payments required by Section 4.3. This Section
shall
survive termination of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents
and
payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
Failure
or delay on
the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 4.1
shall
not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation;
provided
that the Borrower
shall not be required to compensate such Lender pursuant to this Section for
any
increased costs or reductions incurred more than 90 days prior to the date
that
such Lender notifies the Borrower of the change in or in the interpretation
of
law or regulation
giving
rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to
claim compensation therefor; provided further
that, if the
change in or in the interpretation of law or regulation 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.
29
4.2 Capital
Adequacy.
If
any Lender has
determined that the adoption or effectiveness, after the date hereof, of any
applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change
therein (after the date hereof), or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by such Lender (or its parent corporation) with any request or directive
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any
such
authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect
of
reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s (or parent corporation’s) capital
or assets as a consequence of its commitments or obligations hereunder to a
level below that which such Lender (or its parent corporation) could have
achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, change or compliance (taking
into
consideration such Lender’s (or parent corporation’s) policies with respect to
capital adequacy), then, upon notice from such Lender, accompanied by a
statement in reasonable detail showing the calculation of the amount demanded,
the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as
will
compensate such Lender for such reduction. Each determination by any such Lender
of amounts owing under this Section 4.2 shall, absent manifest error, be
conclusive and binding on the parties hereto. This Section shall survive
termination of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and payment
of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
Failure
or delay on
the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 4.2
shall
not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation;
provided
that the Borrower
shall not be required to compensate such Lender pursuant to this Section for
any
increased costs or reductions incurred more than 90 days prior to the date
that
such Lender notifies the Borrower of the change in or in the interpretation
of
law or regulation giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of
such
Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further
that, if the
change in or in the interpretation of law or regulation 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.
4.3 Compensation.
The
Borrower
promises to indemnify each Lender and to hold each Lender harmless from any
loss
or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a)
default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or
continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice
requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Credit Agreement,
(b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of a Eurodollar Loan after
the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of
this Credit Agreement, (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on
a
day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto and
(d)
the payment, continuation
or
conversion of a Eurodollar Loan on a day which is not the last day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto or the failure to repay a Eurodollar Loan
when required by the terms of this Credit Agreement. Such indemnification may
include an amount equal to (i) an amount of interest calculated at the
Eurodollar Rate which would have accrued on the amount in question, for the
period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert,
continue or repay to the last day of the applicable Interest Period (or, in
the
case of a failure to borrow,
30
convert
or
continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such
failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Eurodollar
Loans provided for herein minus (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably
determined by such Lender) which would have accrued to such Lender on such
amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading
banks in the interbank Eurocurrency market. The agreements in this Section
shall
survive the termination of this Credit Agreement and the payment of the Loans
and all other amounts payable hereunder.
4.4 Taxes.
(a) Except
as provided
below in this Section 4.4, all payments made by the Borrower under this Credit
Agreement and any Notes shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction
or withholding for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or
other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings,
now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any court,
or governmental body, agency or other official, excluding taxes measured by
or
imposed upon all or a portion of the net income of any Lender or its applicable
lending office, or any branch or affiliate thereof, and all franchise taxes,
branch and branch profit taxes, taxes on doing business or taxes on the capital
or net worth of any Lender or its applicable lending office, or any branch
or
affiliate thereof, in each case imposed in lieu of net income taxes: (i) by
the
jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender, applicable lending office,
branch or affiliate is organized or is located, or in which its principal
executive office is located, or any nation within which such jurisdiction is
located or any political subdivision thereof or (ii) by reason of any connection
between the jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Lender, applicable lending
office, branch or affiliate other than a connection arising solely from such
Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations, or received
payment under or enforced, this Credit Agreement or any Notes. If any such
non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or
withholdings (“Non-Excluded
Taxes”)
are required to
be withheld from any amounts payable to an Agent or any Lender hereunder or
under any Notes, (A) the amounts so payable to the Agent or such Lender shall
be
increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Agent or such Lender (after
payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable
hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Credit Agreement
and
any Notes, provided,
however,
that the Borrower
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any Non-Excluded Taxes and shall not
be
required to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender that is not
organized under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof
if
such Lender fails to timely comply with the requirements of paragraph (b) of
this Section 4.4 whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes are payable by the Borrower,
and (B) as promptly as possible after requested, the Borrower shall send to
the
Agent for its own account or for the account of such Lender, as the case may
be,
a certified copy of an original official receipt received by the Borrower
showing payment thereof. If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes
of
which it has notice when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to
remit to the Agent the required receipts or other required documentary
evidence,
the
Borrower shall indemnify the Agent and any Lender for any incremental Non
Excluded Taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by the Agent
or
any Lender as a result of any such failure. The agreements in this Section
4.4
shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement and the payment of the
Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
31
(b) Each
Lender that is
not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state
thereof shall:
(A) on
or before the
date of any payment by the Borrower under this Credit Agreement or the Notes
to
such Lender, deliver to the Borrower and the Agent (x) two duly completed copies
of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or W-8BEN, or successor
applicable form, as the case may be, certifying that it is entitled to receive
payments under this Credit Agreement and any Notes without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes and (y) an Internal
Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9, or successor applicable form, as the case
may
be, certifying that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup
withholding tax;
(B) deliver
to the
Borrower and the Agent two further copies of any such form or certification
on
or before the date that any such form or certification expires or becomes
obsolete and after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most
recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower; and
(C) obtain
such
extensions of time for filing and complete such forms or certifications as
may
reasonably be requested by the Borrower or the Agent; or
(ii) in
the case of any
such Lender that is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of
the Internal Revenue Code, (A) represent to the Borrower (for the benefit of
the
Borrower and the Agent) that it is not a bank within the meaning of Section
88l(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) agree to furnish to the Borrower,
on or before the date of any payment by the Borrower, with a copy to the Agent,
two accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8, or successor applicable form certifying to such Lender’s legal
entitlement at the date of such certificate to an exemption from U.S.
withholding tax under the provisions of Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code with respect to payments to be made under this Credit Agreement and any
Notes (and to deliver to the Borrower and the Agent two further copies of such
form on or before the date it expires or becomes obsolete and after the
occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recently provided form
and, if necessary, obtain any extensions of time reasonably requested by the
Borrower or the Agent for filing and completing such forms), and (C) agree,
to
the extent legally entitled to do so, upon reasonable request by the Borrower,
to provide to the Borrower (for the benefit of the Borrower and the Agent)
such
other forms as may be reasonably required in order to establish the legal
entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from withholding with respect to
payments under this Credit Agreement and any Notes.
Notwithstanding
the
above, if any change in treaty, law or regulation has occurred after the date
such Person becomes a Lender hereunder which renders all such forms inapplicable
or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any
such
form with respect to it and such Lender so advises the Borrower and the Agent,
then such Lender shall be exempt from such requirements. Each Person that shall
become a Lender or a participant of a Lender pursuant to Section 11.3 shall,
upon the effectiveness of the related transfer, be required
32
to
provide all of
the forms, certifications and statements required pursuant to this subsection
(b); provided that in the case of a participant of a Lender, the obligations
of
such participant of a Lender pursuant to this subsection (b) shall be determined
as if the participant of a Lender were a Lender except that such participant
of
a Lender shall furnish all such required forms, certifications and statements
to
the Lender from which the related participation shall have been
purchased.
4.5 Replacement
of Lenders.
The
Agent and each
Lender shall use reasonable efforts to avoid or mitigate any increased cost
or
suspension of the availability of an interest rate under Sections 4.1 through
4.4 above to the greatest extent practicable (including transferring the Loans
to another lending office of Affiliate of a Lender) unless, in the opinion
of
the Agent or such Lender, such efforts would be likely to have an adverse effect
upon it. In the event a Lender makes a request to the Borrower for additional
payments in accordance with Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.4, then, provided that no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time, the
Borrower may, at its own expense (such expense to include any transfer fee
payable to the Agent under Section 11.3(b) and any expense pursuant to Section
4) and in its sole discretion, require such Lender to transfer and assign in
whole (but not in part), without recourse (in accordance with and subject to
the
terms and conditions of Section 11.3(b)), all of its interests, rights and
obligations under this Credit Agreement to an Eligible Assignee which shall
assume such assigned obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if
a
Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (a) such assignment shall not
conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other
Governmental Authority and (b) the Borrower or such assignee shall have paid
to
the assigning Lender in immediately available funds the principal of and
interest accrued to the date of such payment on the portion of the Loans
hereunder held by such assigning Lender and all other amounts owed to such
assigning Lender hereunder, including amounts owed pursuant to Sections 4.1
through 4.4.
Section
5. CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
5.1 Closing
Conditions.
The
obligation of
the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and make the initial Extension
of Credit is subject to satisfaction (or waiver) of the following
conditions:
(a) Executed
Credit
Documents.
Receipt by the
Agent of duly executed copies of (i) this Credit Agreement, (ii) the Notes
and
(iii) all other Credit Documents, each in form and substance acceptable to
the
Lenders.
(b) Corporate
Documents.
Receipt by the
Agent of the following:
(i) Charter
Documents.
Copies of the
articles of incorporation or other charter documents of the Borrower certified
to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental
Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation and certified
by a secretary or assistant secretary of the Borrower to be true and correct
as
of the Closing Date, together with any other information required by Section
326
of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, 31
33
U.S.C.
Section
5318, or necessary for the Agent or any Lender to verify the identity of
Borrower as required by Section 326 of such Act.
(ii) Bylaws.
A copy of the
bylaws of the Borrower certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of the
Borrower to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.
(iii) Resolutions.
Copies of
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving and adopting
the
Credit Documents to which it is a party, the transactions contemplated therein
and authorizing execution and delivery thereof, certified by a secretary or
assistant secretary of the Borrower to be true and correct and in force and
effect as of the Closing Date.
(iv) Good
Standing.
Copies of (A)
certificates of good standing, existence or its equivalent with respect to
the
Borrower certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental
Authorities of the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation and each other
jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify and be in good standing would
have a Material Adverse Effect and (B) to the extent available, a certificate
indicating payment of all corporate franchise taxes certified as of a recent
date by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of the state or other
jurisdiction of incorporation and each other jurisdiction in which the failure
to pay such franchise taxes would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Incumbency.
An incumbency
certificate of the Borrower certified by a secretary or assistant secretary
of
the Borrower to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.
(c) Opinion
of
Counsel.
Receipt by the
Agent of an opinion, or opinions, from legal counsel to the Borrower addressed
to the Agent and the Lenders and dated as of the Effective Date, in each case
satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent.
(d) Financial
Statements.
Receipt by the
Lenders of the audited financial statements of the Borrower and its consolidated
subsidiaries, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, including
balance sheets and income and cash flow statements, in each case audited by
Deloitte & Touche and prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(e) Fees
and
Expenses.
Payment by the
Borrower of all fees and expenses owed by it to the Lenders and the Agent,
including, without limitation, payment to the Agent of the fees set forth in
the
Fee Letter.
(f) Litigation.
Except as
disclosed in the Borrower’s Annual Report on its Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2005 and in subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act
of
1934 made prior to the Closing Date, there shall not exist any action, suit
or
investigation, nor shall any action, suit or investigation be pending or
threatened before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that materially
adversely affects the Borrower or any transaction contemplated hereby or on
the
ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Credit
Documents.
34
(g) Material
Adverse
Effect.
No event or
condition shall have occurred since the date of the financial statements
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(d) above that has had or would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(h) Officer’s
Certificates.
The Agent shall
have received a certificate or certificates executed by the chief financial
officer, treasurer, secretary or assistant treasurer of the Borrower as of
the
Closing Date stating that (i) the Borrower is in compliance with all existing
material financial obligations, (ii) no action, suit, investigation or
proceeding is pending or, to his knowledge, threatened in any court or before
any arbitrator or governmental instrumentality that purports to affect the
Borrower or any transaction contemplated by the Credit Documents, if such
action, suit, investigation or proceeding would have or would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) immediately after giving
effect to this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents and all the
transactions contemplated therein to occur on such date, (A) no Default or
Event
of Default exists, (B) all representations and warranties contained herein
and
in the other Credit Documents, are true and correct in all material respects
on
and as of the date made and (C) the Borrower is in compliance with the financial
covenant set forth in Section 7.2.
(i) Other.
Receipt by the
Lenders of such other documents, instruments, agreements or information as
reasonably requested by any Lender.
5.2 Conditions
to Each Extension of Credit.
In
addition to the
conditions precedent stated elsewhere herein, (excluding after the Closing
Date
those contained in Sections 5.1(f) and 5.1(g) hereof), the Lenders shall not
be
obligated to make any new Extension of Credit unless:
(a) Request.
The Borrower
shall have timely delivered, (i) in the case of any new Loan, a duly executed
and completed Notice of Borrowing in conformance with all the terms and
conditions of this Credit Agreement and (ii) in the case of any Letter of
Credit, the necessary application and any other LOC Documents required by the
applicable Issuing Bank.
(b) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein (excluding after
the
Closing Date those contained in Sections 6.7 and 6.10) are true and correct
in
all material respects at and as if made as of the date of the making of the
Extension of Credit.
(c) No
Default.
No Default or
Event of Default shall exist or be continuing either prior to or after giving
effect thereto.
(d) Availability.
Immediately after
giving effect to the making of an Extension of Credit (and the application
of
the proceeds thereof), the sum of the Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations
outstanding shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment.
The
delivery of
each Notice of Borrowing and each application for a Letter of Credit shall
constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower of the correctness
of
the matters specified in subsections (b), (c) and (d) above.
35
Section
6. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
The
Borrower hereby
represents and warrants to each Lender that:
6.1 Organization
and Good Standing; Assets.
(a) The
Borrower and
each of its Principal Subsidiaries (i) is a corporation or limited liability
company validly existing and in good standing (or equivalent status) under
its
jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly qualified and in good standing as
a
foreign corporation or limited liability company authorized to do business
in
every jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse
Effect and (iii) has the requisite corporate or limited liability company power
and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now
conducted and as proposed to be conducted.
(b) The
Borrower and
each of its Principal Subsidiaries has good and marketable title (or, in the
case of personal property, valid title) or valid leasehold interests in its
assets, except for (i) minor defects in title that do not materially interfere
with the ability of the Borrower or the relevant Principal Subsidiary to conduct
its business as now conducted and (ii) other defects that, either individually
or in the aggregate, do not materially adversely affect the financial condition,
properties or operations of the Borrower or the relevant Principal Subsidiary.
All such assets and properties are free and clear of any Lien, other than Liens
permitted under Section 8.6 hereof.
(c) The
Borrower’s
Principal Subsidiaries and other Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date are set
forth on Schedule
6.1(c)
hereto. All
outstanding shares of capital stock having ordinary voting power for the
election of directors of each of the Borrower’s Principal Subsidiaries have been
validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable (except as provided by
Wisconsin Statutes section 180.0622, as judicially interpreted) and, in the
case
of each of the Principal Subsidiaries, are owned beneficially by the Borrower
or
another Subsidiary, free and clear of any Lien.
6.2 Due
Authorization.
The
Borrower (a)
has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to incur the
obligations herein and therein provided for and (b) is duly authorized to,
and
has been authorized by all necessary corporate action to, execute, deliver
and
perform this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents.
6.3 No
Conflicts.
Neither
the
execution and delivery of the Credit Documents, nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the
terms and provisions thereof by the Borrower will (a) violate or conflict with
any provision of its organizational documents or bylaws, (b) violate, contravene
or materially conflict with any law, regulation (including without limitation,
Regulation U, Regulation X and any regulation promulgated by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit
applicable to it, (c) violate, contravene or materially conflict with
contractual
36
provisions
of, or
cause an event of default under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed
of trust, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party
or by
which it may be bound, the violation of which would have a Material Adverse
Effect or (d) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with respect
to its properties.
6.4 Consents.
No
consent,
approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification
with, any court or Governmental Authority (including, without limitation, the
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin pursuant to Chapter 201 of the Wisconsin
Statutes) or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery
or performance of this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents
that has not been obtained.
6.5 Enforceable
Obligations.
This
Credit
Agreement and the other Credit Documents have been duly executed and delivered
and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable
against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as may
be
limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws or similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally or by general equitable principles.
6.6 Financial
Condition.
(a) The
financial
statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.1(d) and pursuant
to
Sections 7.1(a) and (b): (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject
to the provisions of Section 1.3 and subject to, in the case of the interim
financial statements, year end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) and
(ii) present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and for such
periods.
(b) Since
December 31,
2005, there has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower
or
any of its Principal Subsidiaries of any material part of the business or
property of the Borrower and its Principal Subsidiaries, other than sales of
inventory during the course of business, and no purchase or other acquisition
by
the Borrower and its Principal Subsidiaries of any business or property
(including any capital stock of any other Person) material in relation to the
financial condition of the Borrower and its Principal Subsidiaries, in each
case, which, is not (i) reflected in the most recent financial statements
delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1 or in the notes thereto, (ii)
permitted by the terms of this Credit Agreement or (iii) disclosed to the
Lenders prior to the date hereof.
6.7 No
Material
Change.
Since
December 31,
2005, there has been no development or event relating to or affecting the
Borrower and its Principal Subsidiaries which has had or would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.8 No
Default.
37
Neither
the
Borrower nor any Principal Subsidiary is in default in any respect under any
contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or
other agreement or obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its
properties is bound which default would have or would be reasonably likely
to
have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default presently exists
and is continuing.
6.9 Indebtedness.
As
of December 31,
2005, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no Indebtedness except as disclosed
in the financial statements referenced in Section 5.1(d) and to the extent
required to be disclosed by GAAP.
6.10 Litigation.
Except
as disclosed
to the Lenders in writing prior to the Closing Date, there are no actions,
suits
or legal, equitable, arbitration or administrative proceedings, pending or,
to
the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened against the Borrower which
has
had or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.11 Taxes.
The
Borrower and
each of its Principal Subsidiaries has filed, or caused to be filed, all
material tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed
and paid all amounts of taxes shown thereon to be due (including interest and
penalties) and has paid all other taxes, fees, assessments and other
governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp
taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such taxes which are not
yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith and by proper
proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in
accordance with GAAP. As of the date of this Credit Agreement, the Borrower
is
not aware of any proposed tax assessments against it which have had or would
be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.12 Compliance
with Law.
The
Borrower and
each of its Principal Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, rules,
regulations, orders and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, the
failure to comply with which has had or would be reasonably likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.13 ERISA.
Except
as would not
result or be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect:
(a)
During the
five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or
deemed made: (i) no Termination Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge
of the Borrower, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of
which any Termination Event would be reasonably likely to occur, with respect
to
any Plan; (ii) no “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in
Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has
occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan has been
38
maintained,
operated, and funded in compliance with its own terms and in material compliance
with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable federal or
state laws; and (iv) no Lien in favor or the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is
reasonably likely to arise on account of any Plan.
(b) No
liability has
been or is reasonably expected by the Borrower to be incurred under Sections
4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA with respect to any Single Employer Plan by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) Except
as disclosed
in the Borrower’s financial statements in accordance with FASB 87, the
accumulated benefit obligation under each Single Employer Plan (determined
utilizing the actuarial assumptions used for purposes of FASB 87), did not,
as
of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation
is made or deemed made, exceed the current value of the assets of such Plan
allocable to such obligation.
(d) Neither
the
Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge of
the
Borrower, is reasonably likely to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA
to
any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. Neither the Borrower nor
any
ERISA Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is
in
reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent
(within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated (within
the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to the best
knowledge of the Borrower, reasonably likely to be in reorganization, insolvent,
or terminated.
(e) No
prohibited
transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the
Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a
Plan
which has subjected or would be reasonably likely to subject the Borrower or
any
ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(1)
of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument
pursuant to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required
to indemnify any person against any such liability.
(f) The
present value
(determined using actuarial and other assumptions which are reasonable with
respect to the benefits provided and the employees participating) of the
liability of the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate for post-retirement welfare
benefits to be provided to their current and former employees under Plans which
are welfare benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), net of all
assets under all such Plans allocable to such benefits, are reflected on the
financial statements referenced in Section 7.1 in accordance with FASB
106.
(g) Each
Plan which is
a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections 601-609
of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code apply has been administered in compliance
in all material respects with such sections.
6.14 Use
of
Proceeds; Margin Stock.
The
proceeds of the
Loans hereunder will be used solely for the purposes specified in Section 7.9.
None of such proceeds will be used (a) in violation of Regulation U or
Regulation X (i) for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any “margin stock” as
defined in
39
Regulation
U or
Regulation X or (ii) for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness
which was originally incurred to purchase or carry “margin stock” or (b) for the
acquisition of another Person unless the board of directors (or other comparable
governing body) or stockholders, as appropriate, of such Person has approved
such acquisition.
6.15 Government
Regulation.
The
Borrower is not
an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or controlled by such a
company.
6.16 Disclosure.
Neither
this Credit
Agreement nor any financial statements delivered to the Lenders nor any other
document, certificate or statement furnished to the Lenders by or on behalf
of
the Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains
any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained therein or herein, taken
as
a whole, not misleading on the date when made.
Section
7. AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
The
Borrower hereby
covenants and agrees that so long as this Credit Agreement is in effect and
until all Borrower Obligations have been paid in full and the Revolving Loan
Commitments hereunder shall have terminated:
7.1 Information
Covenants.
The
Borrower will
furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Agent:
(a) Annual
Financial
Statements.
As soon as
available, and in any event within 120 days after the close of each fiscal
year
of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of such fiscal year, together
with
a common stock equity statement which includes retained earnings and a
consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in
comparative form figures for the preceding fiscal year, all such financial
information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and audited
by
independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing
reasonably acceptable to the Agent and whose opinion shall be to the effect
that
such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except
for
changes with which such accountants concur) and shall not be limited as to
the
scope of the audit or qualified in
any respect. The
Lenders agree that delivery of the Borrower’s Form 10-K will meet the financial
information requirements of this Section 7.1(a).
(b) Quarterly
Financial Statements.
As soon as
available, and in any event within 60 days after the close of each fiscal
quarter of the Borrower (other than the fourth fiscal quarter) a consolidated
balance sheet and income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as
of
the end of such fiscal quarter, together with a related consolidated statement
of cash flows for such fiscal quarter in each case setting forth in comparative
form figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all
such
financial information described above to be in reasonable
40
form
and detail and
reasonably acceptable to the Agent, and accompanied by the review letter
required to be filed with the Borrower’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q pursuant
to Section 10-01(d) of Regulation S-X, if any, and a certificate of the chief
financial officer, treasurer, secretary or assistant treasurer of the Borrower
to the effect that such quarterly financial statements fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting
from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
The Lenders agree that the delivery of the Borrower’s Form 10-Q will meet the
financial information requirements of this Section 7.1(b).
(c) Officer’s
Certificate.
At the time of
delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b)
above, a certificate of the chief financial officer, treasurer, secretary or
assistant treasurer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit
7.1(c),
(i) demonstrating
compliance with the financial covenant contained in Section 7.2 by calculation
thereof as of the end of each such fiscal period, including a reconciliation
in
reasonable detail of excluding entities excluded because of the last sentence
of
Section 1.3 with respect to FIN 46, on the computation of compliance with the
covenant contained in Section 7.2, (ii) stating that no Default or Event of
Default exists, or if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying
the
nature and extent thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with
respect thereto and (iii) confirming the then existing Public Debt Ratings
of
the Borrower.
(d) Notices.
Upon the Borrower
obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written notice to the Agent
immediately of (i) the occurrence of an event or condition consisting of a
Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and existence thereof and
what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, and (ii) the
occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any of its
Principal Subsidiaries: (A) the pendency or commencement of any litigation,
arbitral or governmental proceeding against the Borrower or any of its Principal
Subsidiaries, the claim of which is in excess of $35,000,000 or which, if
adversely determined, would have or be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect or (B) the institution of any proceedings against the Borrower
or
any of its Principal Subsidiaries with respect to, or the receipt of notice
by
such Person of potential liability or responsibility for violation, or alleged
violation of any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, the violation
of which would be reasonably likely have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) ERISA.
Upon the
Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate obtaining knowledge thereof,
the Borrower will give written notice to the Agent and each of the Lenders
promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) of: (i) any event or
condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable Event, that
constitutes, or would be reasonably likely
to lead to,
a Termination Event that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect; (ii) with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the receipt of notice
as
prescribed in ERISA or otherwise of any material withdrawal liability assessed
against the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, or
of a
determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent
(both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA) that would be reasonably likely
to lead to a withdrawal liability that would be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect; (iii) the failure to make full payment on or before
the
due date (including extensions) thereof of all amounts which the Borrower or
any
of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates is required to contribute to each Plan
pursuant to its terms to meet the
41
minimum
funding
standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with respect thereto if such failure
would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) any change
in the funding status of any Plan that would be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect; together, with a description of any such event or
condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by an officer of the
Borrower briefly setting forth the details regarding such event, condition,
or
notice, and the action, if any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed
to be taken by the Borrower with respect thereto. Promptly upon request, the
Borrower shall furnish the Agent and each of the Lenders with such additional
information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested, including,
but
not limited to, copies of each annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as
well
as all schedules and attachments thereto required to be filed with the
Department of Labor and/or the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and
the Code, respectively, for each “plan-year” (within the meaning of Section
3(39) of ERISA).
(f) Other
Information.
With reasonable
promptness upon any such request, such other information regarding the business,
properties or financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
as
the Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request.
Financial
reports
required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above shall be deemed
to have been delivered on the date on which such report is posted on the SEC’s
website at xxx.xxx.xxx, and such posting shall be deemed to satisfy the
financial reporting requirements of clauses (a) and (b) above, provided that,
in
each instance the Company shall provide all other reports and certificates
required to be delivered under this Section 7.1 in the manner set forth in
Section 11.1.
7.2 Financial
Covenant.
The
Borrower will
maintain a Leverage Ratio as of the last day of each of its fiscal quarters
of
not greater than .65 to 1.00.
7.3 Preservation
of Existence and Franchises.
Except
as expressly
permitted by Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 below, the Borrower will, and will
cause
each of its Principal Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to preserve
and
keep in full force and effect its existence, and material rights, franchises
and
authority.
7.4 Books
and
Records.
Subject
to Section
1.3, the Borrower will, and will cause its Principal Subsidiaries to, keep
complete and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance with
good accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the establishment
and
maintenance of appropriate reserves).
7.5 Compliance
with Law.
The
Borrower will,
and will cause each of its Principal Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws,
rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by all
42
Governmental
Authorities, applicable to it and its property, if the failure to comply would
have or be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.6 Payment
of
Taxes and Other Indebtedness.
The
Borrower will,
and will cause each of its Principal Subsidiaries to, pay, settle or discharge
(a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed
upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before
they shall become delinquent and (b) all lawful claims (including claims for
labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien
which
is not permitted by Section 8.6 upon any of its properties; provided,
however,
that neither the
Borrower nor any Principal Subsidiary shall be required to pay any such tax,
assessment, charge, levy, claim or Indebtedness which is being contested in
good
faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves therefor
have
been established in accordance with GAAP, unless the failure to make any such
payment (i) would give rise to an immediate right to foreclose or collect on
a
Lien securing such amounts or (ii) would have or reasonably be likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
7.7 Insurance.
The
Borrower will,
and will cause each of its Principal Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain
in
full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance,
liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance)
in
such amounts, covering such risks and liabilities and with such deductibles
or
self-insurance retentions as are in accordance with normal industry practice;
provided,
however,
that the Borrower
and its Principal Subsidiaries may self-insure to the same extent as other
companies engaged in similar businesses and to the extent consistent with
prudent business practice.
7.8 Use
of
Proceeds.
The
proceeds of the
Loans may be used solely (a) to provide working capital and (b) for other
general corporate purposes.
7.9 Audits/Inspections.
Upon
reasonable
notice and during normal business hours, the Borrower will, and will cause
each
of its Principal Subsidiaries to, permit representatives appointed by the Agent,
including, without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys,
and
appraisers to visit and inspect the Borrower’s and its Principal Subsidiaries’
property, including its books and records, its accounts receivable and
inventory, the Borrower’s and its Principal Subsidiaries' facilities
and
their other business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof
and
to write down and record any information such representative obtains and shall
permit the Agent or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy
of information provided to the Lenders and to discuss all such matters with
the
officers, employees and representatives of the Borrower and its Principal
Subsidiaries. All information so obtained shall be subject to the provisions
of
Section 11.11 below.
7.10 Restrictive
Agreements.
43
The
Borrower will
not, and will not permit any Principal Subsidiary to, enter into any agreement
that restricts the ability of any Principal Subsidiary to pay dividends or
other
distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock; provided that
it
is understood and agreed that (a) the foregoing covenant does not prohibit
the
Borrower or a Principal Subsidiary from entering into agreements that contain
financial covenants which require the maintenance of a minimum net worth or
compliance with financial ratios without explicitly addressing the ability
to
pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to shares of its capital
stock and (b) the foregoing covenant does not apply to limitations or
restrictions imposed by law or in regulatory proceedings or in the articles
of
incorporation of Wisconsin Pubic Service Corporation as in effect on the date
hereof or restrictions which arise only if dividends on preferred stock issued
by such Principal Subsidiary have not been paid.
Section
8. NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
The
Borrower hereby
covenants and agrees that so long as this Credit Agreement is in effect and
until all Borrower Obligations have been paid in full and the Revolving Loan
Commitments shall have terminated:
8.1 Nature
of
Business.
The
Borrower will
not, and will not permit any of its Principal Subsidiaries to, alter in any
material respect the character of the business of the Borrower and its Principal
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that conducted as of the Closing Date;
provided
that the foregoing
shall not prevent the disposition of assets, business or operations permitted
by
Section 8.3 below so long as the Borrower shall have complied with all other
terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement.
8.2 Consolidation
and Merger.
The
Borrower will
not, and will not permit any of its Principal Subsidiaries to, enter into any
transaction of merger or consolidation or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself
(or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided that, a Person may be
merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary
of
the Borrower, so long as (a) if the Borrower is involved in the transaction,
the
Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, (b) if a Principal
Subsidiary is involved, such Principal Subsidiary or a wholly owned Subsidiary
of the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity; provided that
the
foregoing shall not prohibit mergers, consolidations or liquidations of a
Principal Subsidiary into the Borrower, and (c) immediately before and after
such merger or consolidation there does not exist a Default or an Event of
Default.
8.3
Sale or
Lease of Assets.
Within
any twelve
month period, the Borrower will not, and will not permit its Subsidiaries to,
convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of assets, business or
operations with a book value (net of assumed liabilities associated with the
assets that are the subject of such transaction) in excess of twenty-five
percent (25%) of Total Assets, as calculated as of the end of the most recent
fiscal quarter, provided
that the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries may convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose
of
assets, business or operations consisting of
44
(a)
sales of
inventory or other assets acquired for resale in the ordinary course of
business, (b) sales of accounts owed by customers for energy provided or to
be
provided outside the normal franchise service area of Wisconsin Public Service
Company and Upper Peninsula Power Company, (c) sales, transfers or other
dispositions of assets between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned
Subsidiaries, (d) sales, transfers or other dispositions of obsolete or worn-out
tools, equipment or other property no longer used or useful in business and
sales of intellectual property determined to be uneconomical, negligible or
obsolete, (e) sales, transfers or other dispositions of the assets listed on
Schedule 8.3, (f) non-exclusive licenses of intellectual property, and (g)
sales, transfers or other dispositions of assets the proceeds of which are
invested in other energy related assets.
8.4 Arm’s-Length
Transactions.
The
Borrower will
not, and will not permit any of its Principal Subsidiaries to, enter into any
transaction or series of transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course
of
business, with any Affiliate other than on terms and conditions substantially
as
favorable to the Borrower or the Principal Subsidiary as would be obtainable
in
a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate,
other than (a) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned
Subsidiaries, (b) customary fees to non-officer directors of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries and (c) employment and severance arrangements with officers
and
employees of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business.
8.4 Fiscal
Year.
The
Borrower will
not, and will not permit any of its Principal Subsidiaries to, change its fiscal
year (a) without prior written notification to the Lenders and (b) if such
change would materially affect the Lenders’ ability to read and interpret the
financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 or calculate the
financial covenant in Section 7.2.
8.5 Liens.
The
Borrower will
not, and will not permit any of its Principal Subsidiaries to, contract, create,
incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its property
or
assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible), whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, except for (a) Liens securing Borrower
Obligations, (b) the Lien of First Mortgage Indentures or any Liens
attaching to the property to which the Lien of the First Mortgage Indentures
attach; provided that such Liens do not secure Funded Debt (other than Funded
Debt secured by the First Mortgage Indentures), (c) Liens for taxes not yet
due or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
for which adequate reserves determined
in
accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject
to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account
thereof), (d) Liens in respect of property imposed by law arising in the
ordinary course of business such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, warehousemen’s,
carrier’s, landlords’ and other nonconsensual statutory Liens which are not yet
due and payable, which have been in existence less than 90 days or which are
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to
which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure,
sale or loss on account
45
thereof),
(e) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure
payment of worker’s compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, pensions or
social security programs, (f) Liens arising from good faith deposits in
connection with or to secure performance of tenders, bids, leases, government
contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than obligations in respect
of the payment of borrowed money), (g) Liens arising from good faith
deposits in connection with or to secure performance of statutory obligations
and surety and appeal bonds, (h) easements, rights-of-way (and liens on
easements or rights-of-way or the underlying real estate), restrictions
(included zoning restrictions), minor defects or irregularities in title and
other similar charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing
the use of the encumbered property for its intended purposes, (i) judgment
Liens that would not constitute an Event of Default, (j) Liens arising by
virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens,
rights of setoff or similar rights as to deposit accounts or other funds
maintained with a creditor depository institution, (k) any Lien created or
arising over any property which is acquired, constructed or created by the
Borrower or any Principal Subsidiary, but only if (i) such Lien secures only
principal amounts (not exceeding the cost of such acquisition, construction
or
creation) raised for the purposes of such acquisition, construction or creation
together with any costs, expenses, interest and fees incurred in relation
thereto or a guarantee given in respect thereof, (ii) such Lien is created
or
arises on or before 180 days after the completion of such acquisition,
construction or creation and (iii) such Lien is confined solely to the property
so acquired, constructed or created and any improvements thereto and proceeds
and products thereof, (l) any Lien on any property or assets acquired from
a Person which is merged with or into the Borrower or any Principal Subsidiary
in accordance with Section 8.2, and is not created in anticipation of any such
transaction, (m) any Lien on any property or assets existing at the time of
acquisition of such property or assets by the Borrower or any Principal
Subsidiary and which is not created in anticipation of such acquisition, (n)
Liens existing on the Closing Date and described on Schedule
8.6
attached hereto,
(o) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure
obligations of the Borrower or any Principal Subsidiary under interest rate
protection agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements, Permitted Energy
Transactions or other interest or exchange rate hedging arrangements, (p) Liens
on cash, cash collateral, cash deposits or deposit accounts furnished to or
for
the benefit of Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (“MISO”)
or other transmission providers or energy market administrators to secure the
payment and performance of obligations (i) in connection with the purchase
of
electric transmission service from MISO or such other transmission providers
or
(ii) related to energy, capacity or ancillary service transactions entered
into
through markets administered by MISO or such other transmission providers or
energy market administrators, (q) Liens, if any, arising in connection with
the
securitization of environmental retrofit receivables, (r) any extension, renewal
or replacement (or successive
extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or in part, of any Liens
referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (q), for amounts not exceeding
the maximum principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by the Lien so
extended, renewed or replaced; provided
that such
extension, renewal or replacement Lien is limited to all or a part of the same
property or assets that were covered by the Lien extended, renewed or replaced
(plus improvements on such property or assets), and (s) any other Lien or Liens
which in the aggregate secure Indebtedness or other obligations at any one
time
not in excess of an amount equal to 7.5% of Total Assets.
46
Section
9. EVENTS
OF
DEFAULT
9.1 Events
of
Default.
An
Event of Default
shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each
an “Event
of
Default”):
(a) Payment.
The Borrower
shall: (i) default in the payment when due of any principal of any of the Loans
or Letter of Credit Obligations; or (ii) default, and such default shall
continue for three or more Business Days, in the payment when due of any
interest on the Loans or Letter of Credit Obligations or of any fees or other
amounts owing hereunder, under any of the other Credit Documents or in
connection herewith.
(b) Representations.
Any
representation, warranty or statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower
(or any of its officers or agents) herein, in any of the other Credit Documents,
or in any statement or certificate delivered or required to be delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove untrue in any material respect on the
date as of which it was deemed to have been made.
(c) Covenants.
The Borrower
shall:
(i) default
in the due
performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in
Sections 7.1(a), 7.1(b), 7.1(c), 7.1(d), 7.2, 7.3, 7.9, 8.2, 8.3 or 8.6;
or
(ii) default
in the due
performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than
those referred to in subsections (a), (b) or (c)(i) of this Section 9.1)
contained in this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document and such default
shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the earlier
of
the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the
Agent.
(d) Credit
Documents.
Any Credit
Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or the Borrower shall so
assert or any Credit Document shall fail to give the Agent and/or the Lenders
the rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby.
(e) Bankruptcy,
etc.
The occurrence of
any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any of its Principal
Subsidiaries: (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the
premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower
or
any
of
its Principal Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator
or
similar official of the Borrower or any of its Principal Subsidiaries or for
any
substantial part of its property or ordering the winding up or liquidation
of
its affairs; or (ii) an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect is commenced against
the Borrower or any of its Principal Subsidiaries and such petition remains
unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) the
Borrower or any of its Principal Subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case
under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter
47
in
effect, or
consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any
such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official
of
such Person or any substantial part of its property or make any general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) the Borrower or any of its
Principal Subsidiaries shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due or any action shall be taken by such Person in
furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes.
(f) Defaults
Under
Other Agreements.
With respect to
any Indebtedness in excess of $35,000,000 (other than Indebtedness outstanding
under this Credit Agreement) of the Borrower or any of its Principal
Subsidiaries (i) the Borrower or any of its Principal Subsidiaries shall (A)
default in any payment (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto,
if any) with respect to any such Indebtedness, or (B) default (after giving
effect to any applicable grace period) in the observance or performance relating
to such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing,
securing or relating thereto, or any other event or condition shall occur or
condition exist other than non-material defaults under any First Mortgage
Indenture, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause,
or permit, the holder of the holders of such Indebtedness (or trustee or agent
on behalf of such holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any
notice or lapse of time is required) any such Indebtedness to become due prior
to its stated maturity (unless no holder, or trustee on behalf of any holder,
has asserted that such event constitutes a default thereunder); or (ii) any
such
Indebtedness shall be declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid other
than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment prior to the stated maturity
thereof; or (iii) any such Indebtedness shall mature and remain unpaid. The
foregoing cross default provision shall not apply to Indebtedness to the extent
recourse to the Borrower is limited to specific assets in a project financing;
i.e., defaults under agreements governing non-recourse project financing
indebtedness are excluded.
(g) Judgments.
One or more
judgments, orders, or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any
of
its Principal Subsidiaries involving a liability of $35,000,000 or more, in
the
aggregate (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by a carrier
who has been notified of, and has not disputed the claim made for payment of,
the amount of such judgment or order), and such judgments, orders or decrees
shall continue unsatisfied, undischarged and unstayed for a period ending on
the
first to occur of (i) the fifth Business Day after last day on which such
judgment, order or decree becomes final and unappealable and, where applicable,
with the status of a judicial lien or (ii) 60 days; provided
that if such
judgment, order or decree provides for periodic payments over time then the
Borrower shall have a grace period of 30 days with respect to each such periodic
payment.
(h) ERISA.
The occurrence of
any of the following events or conditions if any of the same would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect: (A) any “accumulated funding
deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of
the Code, whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any
lien shall arise on the assets of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or
any
ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (B) a Termination Event shall
occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable
opinion of the Agent, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for
purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (C) a Termination Event shall occur with respect
to a Multiemployer Plan
48
or
Multiple
Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, likely to
result in (i) the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA,
or
(ii) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate incurring
liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the
meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning of Section
4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (D) any prohibited transaction (within the
meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of
fiduciary responsibility shall occur which would be reasonably likely to subject
the Borrower, any of Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate to liability under
Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(1) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code,
or
under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the Borrower, any
of
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify
any
person against any such liability.
(i) Change
of
Control.
The occurrence of
any Change of Control.
9.2 Acceleration;
Remedies.
Upon
the occurrence
and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent may, and shall,
upon the request and direction of the Required Lenders, by written notice to
the
Borrower take any of the following actions without prejudice to the rights
of
the Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower, except
as
otherwise specifically provided for herein:
(i) Termination
of
Revolving Loan Commitments.
Declare the
Revolving Loan Commitments terminated whereupon the Revolving Loan Commitments
shall be immediately terminated.
(ii) Acceleration
of
Borrower Obligations.
Declare the
unpaid amount of all Borrower Obligations to be due whereupon the same shall
be
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice
of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
(iii) Cash
Collateral.
Direct the
Borrower to pay (and the Borrower agrees that upon receipt of such notice,
or
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(e), it will
immediately pay) to the Agent additional cash, to be held, without interest,
by
the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in a cash collateral account as
additional security for the Letter of Credit Obligations in respect of
subsequent drawings under all then outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount
equal to the maximum aggregate amount which may be drawn under all Letters
of
Credits then outstanding.
(iv) Enforcement
of
Rights.
Enforce any and
all rights and interests created and existing under the Credit Documents,
including, without limitation, all rights of set-off.
Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(e) shall occur,
then
the Revolving Loan Commitments shall automatically terminate and all Borrower
Obligations, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid
fees and other indebtedness or obligations owing to the Lenders and the Agent
hereunder shall immediately
49
become
due and
payable without the giving of any notice or other action by the Agent or the
Lenders.
Notwithstanding
the
fact that enforcement powers reside primarily with the Agent, each Lender has,
to the extent permitted by law, a separate right of payment and shall be
considered a separate “creditor” holding a separate “claim” within the meaning
of Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other insolvency
statute.
9.3 Allocation
of Payments After Event of Default.
Notwithstanding
any
other provisions of this Credit Agreement, after the occurrence and during
the
continuance of an Event of Default, all amounts collected or received by the
Agent or any Lender on account of amounts outstanding under any of the Credit
Documents shall be paid over or delivered as follows:
FIRST,
to the
payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including without
limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Agent or-any of the Lenders in
connection with enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit Documents,
pro rata as set forth below;
SECOND,
to payment
of any fees owed to the Agent or any Lender, pro rata as set forth
below;
THIRD,
to the
payment of all accrued interest payable to the Lenders hereunder, pro rata
as
set forth below;
FOURTH,
to the
payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans and unreimbursed
drawings under Letters of Credit, and to the payment or cash collateralization
of the outstanding Letters of Credit Obligations, pro rata as set forth
below;
FIFTH,
to all other
obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents
and not repaid pursuant to clauses “FIRST” through “FOURTH” above;
and
SIXTH,
to the
payment of the surplus, if any, to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive
such surplus.
In
carrying out the
foregoing, (a) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided
until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category; (b) each
of the Lenders
shall
receive an amount equal to its pro rata share (based on the proportion that
the
then outstanding Loans, and Letter of Credit Obligations held by such Lender
bears to the aggregate then outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations),
of amounts available to be applied; and (c) to the extent that any amounts
available for distribution pursuant to clause “FOURTH” above are attributable to
the issued but undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, such amounts
shall be held by the Agent in a cash collateral account and applied (x) first,
to reimburse the Lenders from time to time for any drawings under such Letters
of Credit and (y) then, following
50
the
expiration of
all Letters of Credit, to all other obligations of the types described in
clauses “FOURTH,” and “FIFTH” above in the manner provided in this Section
9.3.
Section
10. AGENCY
PROVISIONS
10.1 Appointment.
Each
Lender hereby
designates and appoints Wachovia Bank, National Association as agent of such
Lender to act as specified herein and the other Credit Documents, and each
such
Lender hereby authorizes the Agent, as the agent for such Lender, to take such
action on its behalf under the provisions of this Credit Agreement and the
other
Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
expressly delegated by the terms hereof and of the other Credit Documents,
together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere herein and in the other
Credit Documents, the Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities,
except those expressly set forth herein and therein, or any fiduciary
relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, or shall otherwise exist
against the Agent. The provisions of this Section are solely for the benefit
of
the Agent and the Lenders and the Borrower shall not have any rights as a third
party beneficiary of the provisions hereof. In performing its functions and
duties under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, the Agent
shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not assume and shall not
be
deemed to have assumed any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with
or
for the Borrower. The Agent agrees to give each Lender prompt notice of each
notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Credit
Agreement.
10.2 Delegation
of Duties.
The
Agent may
execute any of its duties hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by
or
through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel
concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent shall not be
responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care.
10.3 Exculpatory
Provisions.
Neither
the Agent
nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
affiliates shall be liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken
by it or such Person under or in connection herewith or in connection with
any
of the other Credit Documents (except for its or such Person’s own gross
negligence or willful misconduct), or responsible in any manner to any of the
Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties
made by
the Borrower contained herein or in any of the other Credit Documents or in
any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for
in,
or received by the Agent under or in connection herewith or in connection with
the other Credit Documents, or enforceability or sufficiency therefor of any
of
the other Credit Documents, or for any failure of the Borrower to perform its
obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agent shall not be responsible to
any
Lender for the effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability,
collectibility or sufficiency of this Credit Agreement, or any of the other
Credit Documents or for
51
any
representations, warranties, recitals or statements made herein or therein
or
made by the Borrower in any written or oral statement or in any financial or
other statements, instruments, reports, certificates or any other documents
in
connection herewith or therewith furnished or made by the Agent to the Lenders
or by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender or be required
to
ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms,
conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained herein or therein
or
as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans or of the existence or possible
existence of any Default or Event of Default or to inspect the properties,
books
or records of the Borrower. The Agent is not a trustee for the Lenders and
owes
no fiduciary duty to the Lenders.
10.4 Reliance
on
Communications.
The
Agent shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note,
writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram,
telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other
document or conversation believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct
and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon
advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel
to the Borrower, independent accountants and other experts selected by the
Agent
with reasonable care). The Agent may deem and treat the Lenders as the owner
of
its interests hereunder for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment,
negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Agent in
accordance with Section 11.3(b). The Agent shall be fully justified in failing
or refusing to take any action under this Credit Agreement or under any of
the
other Credit Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence
of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified
to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense
which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such
action. The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents
in
accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (or to the extent specifically
provided in Section 11.6, all the Lenders) and such request and any action
taken
or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders
(including their successors and assigns).
10.5 Notice
of
Default.
The
Agent shall not
be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event
of Default hereunder unless the Agent has received notice from a Lender or
the
Borrower referring to the Credit Document, describing such Default or Event
of
Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” In the event that
the Agent receives such a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof
to
the Lenders. The Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default
or
Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required
Lenders.
10.6
Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders.
Each
Lender
expressly acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of its officers,
directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates has made any
representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Agent or any
affiliate thereof hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to
52
constitute
any
representation or warranty by the Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents
to
the Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or
any
other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business,
assets, operations, property, financial and other conditions, prospects and
creditworthiness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and made its own decision
to make its Extensions of Credit hereunder and enter into this Credit Agreement.
Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance
upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information
as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit
analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this
Credit Agreement, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform
itself as to the business, assets, operations, property, financial and other
conditions, prospects and creditworthiness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.
Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be
furnished to the Lenders by the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall not have any
duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other
information concerning the business, operations, assets, property, financial
or
other conditions, prospects or creditworthiness of the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries which may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
Affiliates.
10.7 Indemnification.
Each
Lender agrees
to indemnify the Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed
by
the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so),
ratably according to its Commitment Percentage, from and against any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time
(including without limitation at any time following the payment in full of
the
Borrower Obligations) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent
in its capacity as such in any way relating to or arising out of this Credit
Agreement or the other Credit Documents or any documents contemplated by or
referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under or in connection with any
of
the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any
portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent or from any losses suffered by
the
Agent solely as a result of the Borrower’s failure to make payments as required
pursuant to Section 3.4(c). If any indemnity furnished to the Agent for any
purpose shall, in the opinion of the Agent, be insufficient or become impaired,
the Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to
do
the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished.
The
agreements in this Section 10.7 shall survive the payment of the Borrower
Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the other Credit
Documents.
10.8
Agent
in Its Individual Capacity.
The
Agent in its
individual capacity and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from
and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as though the Agent were not Agent hereunder. With respect to
the
Loans made and all Borrower Obligations owing to it, the Agent in its individual
capacity shall have the same
53
rights
and powers
under this Credit Agreement as any Lender and may exercise the same as though
they were not Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include the
Agent in its individual capacity.
10.9 Successor
Agent.
The
Agent may, and
at the request of the Required Lenders shall, resign as the Agent upon 30 days
notice to the Lenders. If the Agent resigns under this Credit Agreement, the
Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for
the
Lenders which successor agent shall be approved by the Borrower. If no successor
agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Agent,
the Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower,
a
successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment
as successor agent hereunder, such successor agent shall succeed to all the
rights, powers and duties of the retiring Agent and the term “Agent” shall mean
such successor agent and the retiring Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as
Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as
Agent, the provisions of this Section 10 and Section 11.5 shall inure to its
benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken, by it while it was
the
Agent under this Credit Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted
appointment as the Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring
Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall
nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of
the
duties of the Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders
appoint a successor agent with the Borrower’s approval, as provided for above;
provided that the Borrower’s approval shall not be required after and during the
continuance of an Event of Default.
10.10 Other
Agents.
None
of the Joint
Book Managers, the Joint Lead
Arrangers, the
Syndication Agent or the Documentation Agents, in their capacity as such, shall
have any duties or obligations of any kind under this Agreement.
Section
11. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Notices.
Except
as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications shall have
been
duly given and shall be effective (a) when delivered, (b) when transmitted
via
telecopy (or other facsimile device) or (c) the Business Day following the
day
on which the same has been delivered prepaid to a reputable national overnight
air courier service, in each case to the respective parties at the address
or
telecopy numbers set forth on Schedule
11.1,
or at such other
address as such party may specify by written notice to the other parties
hereto.
11.2
Right
of Set-Off.
In
addition to any
rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law or otherwise, and not
by
way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default and the commencement of remedies described
in
Section 9.2,
54
each
Lender is
authorized at any time and from time to time, without presentment, demand,
protest or other notice of any kind (all of which rights being hereby expressly
waived), to set off and to appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general
or special) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender
(including, without limitation branches, agencies or Affiliates of such Lender
wherever located) to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against
obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder, under
the
Notes, the other Credit Documents or otherwise, irrespective of whether the
Agent or the Lenders shall have made any demand hereunder and although such
obligations, liabilities or claims, or any of them, may be contingent or
unmatured. The Borrower hereby agrees that any Person purchasing a participation
in the Loans and Revolving Loan Commitments hereunder pursuant to Section
11.3(c) may exercise all rights of set-off with respect to its participation
interest as fully as if such Person were a Lender hereunder.
11.3 Benefit
of
Agreement.
(a) Generally.
This Credit
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided the
Borrower may not assign and transfer any of its interests without the prior
written consent of the Lenders; and provided, further, that the rights of each
Lender to transfer, assign or grant participations in its rights and/or
obligations hereunder shall be limited as set forth below in this Section
11.3.
(b) Assignments.
Each Lender may
assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, all
or a
portion of its Loans, its Notes, and its Revolving Loan Commitment);
provided,
however,
that:
(i) each
such
assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee;
(ii) except
in the case
of an assignment to another Lender or an assignment of all of a Lender’s rights
and obligations under this Credit Agreement, any such partial assignment shall
be in an amount at least equal to $5,000,000 (or, if less, the remaining amount
of the Revolving Loan Commitment being assigned by such Lender) and an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;
(iii) each
such
assignment by a Lender shall be of a constant and not varying, percentage of
all
of its rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement and the Notes;
and
(iv) the
parties to such
assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent for its acceptance an
Assignment Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit
11 .3(b),
together with a processing fee (other than in connection with any assignment
to
an Affiliate of such Lender) from the assignor of $3,500.
Upon
execution,
delivery, and acceptance of such Assignment Agreement, the assignee thereunder
shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of such assignment, have the
obligations, rights, and benefits of a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender
shall, to the extent of such
55
assignment,
relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Credit
Agreement. Upon the consummation of any assignment pursuant to this Section
11.3(b), the assignor, the Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate
arrangements so that, if required, new Notes are issued to the assignor and
the
assignee. If the assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America or a state thereof, it shall deliver to the Borrower and
the
Agent certification as to exemption from deduction or withholding of taxes
in
accordance with Section 4.4.
By
executing and
delivering an assignment agreement in accordance with this Section 11.3(b),
the
assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to
confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows:
(A) such assigning Lender represents and warrants that it is legally authorized
to enter into such assignment agreement and it is the legal and beneficial
owner
of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim
created by such assigning Lender and the assignee warrants that it is an
Eligible Assignee; (B) except as set forth in clause (A) above, such assigning
Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with
respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in
connection with this Credit Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or
any
other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto, or the
execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or
value
of this Credit Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto or the financial
condition of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the performance or observance
by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Credit Agreement, any
of
the other Credit Documents or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant hereto or thereto; (C) such assignee represents and warrants that
it is
legally authorized to enter into such assignment agreement; (D) such assignee
confirms that it has received a copy of this Credit Agreement, the other Credit
Documents and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate
to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such assignment
agreement; (E) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the
Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender, and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make
its
own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Credit Agreement
and the other Credit Documents; (F) such assignee appoints and authorizes the
Agent to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this
Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document as are delegated to the Agent
by
the terms hereof or thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto; and (G) such assignee agrees that it will perform in
accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this
Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents are required to be performed
by
it as a Lender.
(c) Register.
The Agent shall
maintain a copy of each Assignment Agreement delivered to and accepted by it
and
a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the
Lenders and the
Revolving Loan Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each
Lender from time to time (the “Register”).
The entries in
the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose
name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of
this
Credit Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower
or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable
prior
notice.
56
(d) Acceptance.
Upon its receipt
of an Assignment Agreement executed by the parties thereto, together with any
Note subject to such assignment and payment of the processing fee, the Agent
shall, if such Assignment Agreement has been completed and is in substantially
the form of Exhibit
11.3(b)
hereto, (i) accept
such Assignment Agreement, (ii) record the information contained therein in
the
Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the parties
thereto.
(e) Participations.
Each Lender may
sell participations to one or more Persons in all or a portion of its rights,
obligations or rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including
all
or a portion of its Revolving Loan Commitment, its Notes and its Loans);
provided,
however,
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, (iii) the participant shall be entitled to
the
benefit of the yield protection provisions contained in Sections 4.1 through
4.4, inclusive, but only to the extent that such Lender is entitled to payment
or reimbursement under such Sections, and the right of set-off contained in
Section 11.2 and (iv) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly
with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under
this Credit Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce
the obligations of the Borrower relating to its Loans and its Notes and to
approve any amendment, modification, or waiver of any provision of this Credit
Agreement (other than amendments, modifications, or waivers decreasing the
amount of principal of or the rate at which interest is payable on such Loans
or
Notes, extending any scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for the
payment of interest on such Loans or Notes, or extending its Revolving Loan
Commitment).
(f) Nonrestricted
Assignments.
Notwithstanding
any other provision set forth in this Credit Agreement, any Lender may at any
time assign and pledge all or any portion of its Loans and its Notes to any
Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A and any
Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment
shall
release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder.
(g) Information.
Any Lender may
furnish any information concerning the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the
possession of such Lender from time to time to assignees and participants
(including prospective assignees and participants); provided that the furnishing
of such information shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.11
below.
(h) SPC’s.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting
Lender”)
may grant to a
special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”) 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) nothing herein
shall constitute
a
commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, (ii) if an 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, (iii) no SPC shall have any voting rights pursuant to Section 11.6
(all
such voting rights shall be retained by the Granting Lenders), (iv) with respect
to notices, payments and other matters hereunder, the Borrower, the Agent and
the Lenders shall not be obligated to deal with an SPC, but may limit their
communications and other dealings relevant to such SPC to the applicable
Granting Lender, and (v) with respect to the funding of any Loan by an SPC,
the
Borrower shall not have to pay any greater cost, or incur any
57
greater
expense,
under the provisions of Section 4 of this Credit Agreement or otherwise, than
if
all Loans were funded by the applicable Granting Lender without the involvement
of an SPC. The funding of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Revolving
Loan Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent that, and as if,
such
Loan were funded by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that
no 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. In
furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreements
shall survive termination of this Credit Agreement) that, prior to the date
that
is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial
paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against,
or
join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the
laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to
the
contrary contained in this Credit Agreement, any SPC may 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 to such SPC. This clause (h) may not be amended without the prior
written consent of each Granting Lender, all or any part of whose Loan is being
funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment.
11.4 No
Waiver;
Remedies Cumulative.
No
failure or delay
on the part of the Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or
privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document and no course of dealing
between the Borrower and the Agent or any Lender shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or
privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege
hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Agent or any Lender would
otherwise have. No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle
the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Agent or the Lenders
to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or
demand.
11.5 Payment
of
Expenses, etc.
The
Borrower agrees
to: (i) pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and
the
Lead Arranger in connection with (A) the negotiation, preparation, execution
and
delivery and administration of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein (including,
without limitation, legal fees of one
counsel for the
Agent) and (B) any amendment, waiver or consent relating hereto and thereto
including, but not limited to, any such amendments, waivers or consents
resulting from or related to any work-out, renegotiation or restructure relating
to the performance by the Borrower under this Credit Agreement, (ii) pay all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders in
connection with (A) enforcement of the Credit Documents and the documents and
instruments referred to therein (including, without limitation, in connection
with any such enforcement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
for
the Agent and each of the Lenders) and (B) any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding of the Borrower and (iii) indemnify
58
the
Agent, the Lead
Arranger and each Lender, its officers, directors, employees, representatives,
affiliates and agents from and hold each of them harmless against any and all
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by any of them as
a
result of, or arising out of, or in any way related to, or by reason of, any
investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Agent, the
Lead Arranger or any Lender is a party thereto) related to the entering into
and/or performance of any Credit Document or the use of proceeds of any Loans
(including other extensions of credit) hereunder or the consummation of any
other transactions contemplated in any Credit Document, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred in
connection with any such investigation, litigation or other proceeding (but
excluding any such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses to the
extent incurred by reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the
part
of the Person to be indemnified or such Person’s employer, employee or
co-employee); provided that the foregoing indemnity by the Borrower shall not
extend to disputes solely among the Lenders or litigation commenced by the
Borrower which (a) seeks enforcement of any of the Borrower’s rights hereunder
and (b) is determined in a final judgment adverse to the Agent and the
Lenders.
11.6 Amendments,
Waivers and Consents.
Neither
this Credit
Agreement, nor any other Credit Document nor any of the terms hereof or thereof
may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated unless such amendment,
change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing and signed by the
Required Lenders and the Borrower; provided that no such amendment, change,
waiver, discharge or termination shall without the consent of each
Lender:
(a) extend
the Maturity
Date, or postpone or extend the time for any payment or prepayment of
principal;
(b) reduce
the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest (other than as a result of waiving the
applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) thereon or fees
or
other amounts payable hereunder;
(c) reduce
or waive the
principal amount of any Loan;
(d) increase
or extend
the Revolving Loan Commitment of a Lender (it being understood and agreed that
a
waiver of any Default or Event of Default shall not constitute a change in
the
terms of any Revolving Loan Commitment of any Lender);
(e) release
the
Borrower from its obligations under the Credit Documents;
(f) amend,
modify or
waive any provision of this Section 11.6 or Section 3.6, 3.8, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,
4.4, 9.1(a), 11.2, 11.3 or 11.5;
(g) reduce
any
percentage specified in, or otherwise modify, the definition of Required
Lenders; or
(h) consent
to the
assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations
under (or in respect of) the Credit Documents.
59
No
provision of
Section 2.8 may be amended or modified without the consent of each Issuing
Bank,
and no provision of Section 10 may be amended or modified without the consent
of
the Agent.
Notwithstanding
the
fact that the consent of all the Lenders is required in certain circumstances
as
set forth above, each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on
any
reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that
the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code supersedes the
unanimous consent provisions set forth herein.
11.7 Counterparts/Telecopy.
This
Credit
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which where
so
executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute
one and the same instrument. Delivery of executed counterparts by telecopy
shall
be as effective as an original and shall constitute a representation that an
original will be delivered.
11.8 Headings.
The
headings of the
sections and subsections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall
not
in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Credit
Agreement.
11.9 Defaulting
Lender.
Each
Lender
understands and agrees that if such Lender is a Defaulting Lender then it shall
not be entitled to vote on any matter requiring the consent of the Required
Lenders or to object to any matter requiring the consent of all the Lenders
(other than an increase in the Commitment(s) of such Defaulting Lender or any
reduction of the amount of principal or interest owed to such Defaulting
Lender); provided,
however,
that all other
benefits and obligations under the Loan Documents shall apply to such Defaulting
Lender.
11.10 Survival
of
Indemnification and Representations and Warranties.
All
indemnities set
forth herein and all representations and warranties made herein shall survive
the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement, the making of the Loans
and
the repayment of the Loans and other obligations and the termination of the
Revolving Loan Commitments hereunder.
11.11
Confidentiality.
Neither
the Agent
nor any Lender shall disclose any Confidential Information to any Person,
without the prior written consent of the Borrower, other than (a) to the Agent’s
or such Lender’s Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents,
attorneys, accountants and advisors (it being understood that the Persons to
whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of
such
Confidential Information and such person shall have agreed to keep such
Confidential Information confidential on substantially the same terms as
provided herein) and, as contemplated by Section 11.3, to actual or prospective
assignees and
60
participants,
and,
in each such case, then only on a confidential basis, (b) as required by any
law, rule or regulation or by judicial process, (c) to any rating agency when
required by it to do so; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, such
rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any
Confidential Information relating to the Borrower received by it from such
Lender, (d) as requested or required by any state, federal or foreign authority
or examiner regulating banks or banking, (e) to protect, preserve, exercise
or
enforce the Agent’s or such Lender’s rights under or pursuant to this Credit
Agreement or any Note, and (f) to perform any of the Agent’s or such Lender’s
obligations under or pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any Note.
11.12 Governing
Law; Venue.
(a) THIS
CREDIT
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF
THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Any legal
action or proceeding with respect to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit
Document may be brought in the courts of the State of New York, or of the United
States for the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and delivery
of
this Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and
in
respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of
such
courts. Nothing herein shall affect the right of a Lender to commence legal
proceedings or to otherwise proceed against the Borrower in any other
jurisdiction.
(b) The
Borrower hereby
irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out
of or
in connection with this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document brought
in
the courts referred to in subsection (a) hereof and hereby further irrevocably
waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action
or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.
11.13 Waiver
of
Jury Trial; Waiver of Consequential Damages.
EACH
OF THE PARTIES
TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN
ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CREDIT
AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY. THE BORROWER AGREES NOT TO ASSERT ANY CLAIM AGAINST THE AGENT, ANY
LENDER, ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES, ATTORNEYS
OR
AGENTS, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR OTHERWISE RELATING TO ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREIN.
11.14 Time.
All
references to
time herein shall be references to Central Standard Time or Central Daylight
Time, as the case may be, unless specified otherwise.
61
11.15 Severability.
If
any provision of
any of the Credit Documents is determined to be illegal, invalid or
unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining
provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without
giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.
11.16 Assurances.
The
Borrower
agrees, upon the request of the Agent, to promptly take such actions, as
reasonably requested, as are consistent with and necessary to carry out the
intent of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents.
11.17 USA
Patriot
Act Notification.
The
following
notification is provided to the Borrower pursuant to Section 326 of the USA
Patriot Act of 2001, 31 U.S.C. Section 5318:
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT. To help the government
fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law
requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information
that identifies each person or entity that opens an account, including any
deposit account, treasury management account, loan, other extension of credit,
or other financial services product. What this means for the Borrower: When
the
Borrower opens an account, if the Borrower is an individual, the Agent and
the
Lenders will ask for the Borrower’s name, residential address, tax
identification number, date of birth, and other information that will allow
the
Agent and the Lenders to identify the Borrower, and, if the Borrower is not
an
individual, the Agent and the Lenders will ask for the Borrower’s name, tax
identification number, business address, and other information that will allow
the Agent and the Lenders to identify the Borrower. The Agent and the Lenders
may also ask, if the Borrower is an individual, to see the Borrower’s driver’s
license or other identifying documents, and, if the Borrower is not an
individual, to see the Borrower’s legal organizational documents or other
identifying documents.
11.18 Entirety.
This
Credit
Agreement together with the other Credit Documents represent the entire
agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements
and understandings,
oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or correspondence
relating to the Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated herein and
therein.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank, Signature Pages Follow]
62
Each
of the parties
hereto has caused a counterpart of this Credit Agreement to be duly executed
and
delivered as of the date first above written.
Borrower: |
WPS RESOURCES
CORPORATION
|
By: ________________________________
Name:
_____________________________
Title: ________________________________
|
|
Lenders: |
WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
individually in its capacity
as a
Lender, an Issuing Bank and as Agent
|
By: ________________________________
Name:
_____________________________
Title: ________________________________
|
|
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
CITIBANK,
N.A.
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
U.S.
BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
BANK
OF
AMERICA, N.A.
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
UBS
LOAN
FINANCE LLC
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
UNION
BANK
OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
STATE
STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
COMERICA
BANK
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
XXXXX
FARGO
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Signature
Page to
WPS Resources Corporation Five Year Credit Agreement.
THE
NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
By: ________________________________
Name:
________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Schedule
1.1
to
Five
Year Credit
Agreement
Commitment
Percentages
Lender
|
Commitment
Percentage
|
Revolving
Loan
Commitment
|
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
|
15.50%
|
$
77,500,000
|
Citibank,
N.A.
|
12.00%
|
$
60,000,000
|
U.S.
Bank
National Association
|
12.00%
|
$
60,000,000
|
Bank
of
America, N.A.
|
12.00%
|
$
60,000,000
|
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A.
|
12.00%
|
$
60,000,000
|
UBS
Loan
Finance LLC
|
10.00%
|
$
50,000,000
|
Union
Bank of
California, N.A.
|
8.00%
|
$
40,000,000
|
State
Street
Bank and Trust Company
|
5.00%
|
$
25,000,000
|
Comerica
Bank
|
5.00%
|
$
25,000,000
|
Xxxxx
Fargo
Bank, National Association
|
5.00%
|
$
25,000,000
|
The
Northern
Trust Company
|
3.50%
|
$
17,500,000
|
100.00%
|
$500,000,000
|
Schedule
6.1(c)
to
Five
Year Credit
Agreement
Identity
of Affiliates and Subsidiaries of WPS Resources
Corporation
and
Corporate Relationship to Each Other
(Greater than 50% Ownership)
|
||||||||||
WPS
RESOURCES
CORPORATION
|
||||||||||
Wisconsin
Public Service Corporation
|
||||||||||
WPS
Leasing,
Inc.
|
||||||||||
WPS
Investments, LLC (approximately 74.4% ownership)
|
||||||||||
WPS
Nuclear
Corporation
|
||||||||||
Michigan
Gas
Utilities Corporation
|
||||||||||
Minnesota
Energy Resources Corporation
|
||||||||||
WPS
Visions,
Inc.
|
||||||||||
WPS
Resources
Capital Corporation
|
||||||||||
WPS
Energy
Services, Inc.
|
||||||||||
Quest
Energy,
LLC
|
||||||||||
WPS
Energy
Services of Canada Corp.
|
||||||||||
Advantage
Energy, Inc.
|
||||||||||
3096210
Nova
Scotia Company
|
||||||||||
WPS
Power
Development, LLC
|
||||||||||
PDI
Xxxxxxxx,
Inc.
|
||||||||||
Mid-American
Power, LLC
|
||||||||||
WPS
Canada
Generation, Inc.
|
||||||||||
WPS
New
England Generation, Inc.
|
||||||||||
Wisconsin
Woodgas LLC
|
||||||||||
ECO
Coal
Pelletization #12 LLC (70% ownership)
|
||||||||||
Synfuel
Solutions Operating, LLC
|
||||||||||
Sunbury
Holdings, LLC
|
||||||||||
Sunbury
Generation, LLC
|
||||||||||
WPS
Westwood
Generation, LLC
|
||||||||||
WPS
Empire
State, Inc.
|
||||||||||
WPS
Beaver
Falls Generation, LLC
|
||||||||||
WPS
Niagara
Generation, LLC
|
||||||||||
WPS
Syracuse
Generation, LLC
|
||||||||||
Combined
Locks
Energy Center, LLC
|
||||||||||
Upper
Peninsula Power Company
|
||||||||||
Upper
Peninsula Building Development Company
|
||||||||||
Penvest,
Inc.
|
||||||||||
Schedule
8.3
to
Five
Year Credit
Agreement
Asset
Sales
1.
|
Sale
of
Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant.
|
2.
|
Sale
of
Sunbury plant and emission
allowances.
|
3.
|
Sale
of
accounts receivable in connection with the securitization of environmental
retrofits.
|
4.
|
Sale
of 30%
of Weston 4 to Dairyland.
|
Schedule
8.6
to
Five
Year Credit
Agreement
Existing
Liens
Secured
Party, Filing
Date
and Filing Number
|
Description
|
Debtor:
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
|
|
Xxxxx
Fargo
Bank Northwest, N.A.
11/05/92
01312991
(Wisconsin DFI)
|
Synthetic
lease of railcars; probably not a Lien.
|
First
Security Bank of Utah
11/11/93
00000000
(Wisconsin DFI)
|
Synthetic
lease of railcars; probably not a Lien.
|
First
Security Bank of Utah
11/29/93
00000000
(Wisconsin DFI)
|
Synthetic lease of railcars; probably not a Lien. |
Debtor:
WPS Energy Services, Inc.
|
|
PSEG
Energy
Resources & Trade LLC
04/21/03
030006474021
(Wisconsin DFI)
|
All
property,
rights and interest of the Debtor in a BGS-FP Master Agreement and
all of
Debtor’s present and future rights to payment deriving from the sale of
any Product created pursuant to the BGS-FP Master Agreement, together
with
all instruments and documents of title representing any of the
aforementioned.
|
The
Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company
1/09/06
060000384823
|
(a)
All
Accounts Receivable billed by the Secured Party on a Utility Consolidated
Basis on behalf of Debtor and described on Secured Party’s invoices as
“FSG Energy Services-Gas Supplier Energy Charge,” and all Contract Rights
of Debtor, whether now or hereafter existing pursuant to Debtor’s
participation as a supplier of natural gas to retail customers on
Secured
Party’s gas distribution system under The Cincinnati Gas &
Electric Rate FRAS
|
(P.U.C.O No. 18 Sheet No. 44.5) program (the “FRAS Tariff”); (b) all cash or other collateral posted by Debtor with Secured Party pursuant to the FRAS Tariff or the Gas Supply Contract; and (c) all proceeds of the foregoing and interest thereon. |
Schedule
11.1
to
Five
Year Credit
Agreement
Borrower
WPS
Resources
Corporation
Attn:
Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
000
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
P.O.
Box
19001
Xxxxx
Xxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Phone: (000)
000-0000
Fax: (000)
000-0000
Agent
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
000
X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx/XX0
Xxxxxxxxx,
X.X.
00000-0000
Phone: (000)
000-0000
Fax: (000)
000-0000
xxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Lenders
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Bank
of America,
N.A.
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone:
(000)
000-0000
Fax:
(000)
000-0000
xxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Comerica
Bank
000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone
(000)
000-0000
xxxxxxxxx@Xxxxxxxx.xxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Citibank,
N.A.
000
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX
00000
Phone: (000)
000-0000
Fax: (000)
000-0000
xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
(Nida)
JPMorgan
Chase
Bank, N.A.
00
X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 19
Mailcode:
IL1-0010
Xxxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone:
(000)
000-0000
Fax:
(000)
000-0000
Xxxxxxx.x.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
The
Northern Trust
Company
00
X. XxXxxxx, X0
Xxxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone:
(000)
000-0000
Fax:
(000)
000-0000
Voy
Pearson
State
Street Bank
and Trust Company
000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX00
Xxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone:
(000)
000-0000
Fax:
(000)
000-0000
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
UBS
Loan Finance
LLC
000
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx.
Xxxxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone:
(000)
000-0000
Fax:
(000)
000-0000
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Union
Bank of
California, N.A.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx, XX
00000
Phone:
(000)
000-0000
Fax:
(000)
000-0000
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
U.S.
Bank National
Association
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone: (000)
000-0000
Fax: (000)
000-0000
xxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Fargo Bank,
National Association
MAC
N9305-031
00
Xxxxx 0xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone:
(000)
000-0000
Fax:
(000)
000-0000
Xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Exhibit
2.2
FORM
OF
NOTICE OF BORROWING
TO: Wachovia
Bank,
National Association
Attention:
Agency
Services
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xx., Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
RE: Five
Year Credit
Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006 among
WPS
Resources
Corporation (the “Borrower”),
Wachovia
Bank,
National Association as Agent, the agents party thereto and the
Lenders
party
thereto (as the same may be amended, modified,
extended
or
restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”)
DATE: ,
____
______________________________________________________________________________
1. |
This
Notice
of Borrowing is made pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
All
capitalized terms used herein unless otherwise defined shall have
the
meanings set forth in the Credit
Agreement.
|
2. |
Please
be
advised that the Borrower is requesting a Loan in the amount of
$_____________ to be funded on ___________, ____ at the interest
rate
option set forth in paragraph 3
below.
|
3. |
The
interest
rate option applicable to the requested Loan shall be equal
to:
|
A. the
Base
Rate
B. the
Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of:
__________
one
month
__________
two
months
__________
three
months
__________
six
months
4. |
On
the date
of the requested Loan, immediately after giving effect to the funding
and
the application thereof, the aggregate amount of Loans plus all Letter
of
Credit Obligations outstanding will be $__________, which is less
than or
equal to the Revolving Loan
Commitment.
|
5. |
On
and as of
the date of the requested Loan, immediately after giving effect to
the
funding and the application thereof, the representations and warranties
made by the Borrower in any Credit Document (excluding those contained
in
Sections 6.7 and 6.10 of the Credit Agreement) are true and correct
in all
material respects except to the extent they expressly relate to an
earlier
date.
|
6. |
No
Default or
Event of Default exists or is continuing or will be caused by giving
effect to this Notice of Borrowing.
|
WPS
RESOURCES
CORPORATION
By:______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Exhibit
2.4
FORM
OF
NOTICE OF CONTINUATION/CONVERSION
TO: Wachovia
Bank,
National Association
Attention:
Agency
Services
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xx., Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
RE: Five
Year Credit
Agreement entered into as of June 9, 2006,
among
WPS Resources
Corporation (the “Borrower”),
Wachovia
Bank,
National Association, as Agent, the agents party thereto and the
Lenders
party
thereto (as the same may be amended, modified,
extended
or
restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”)
DATE: __________,
____
1.
|
This
Notice
of Continuation/Conversion is made pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein unless otherwise defined
shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit
Agreement.
|
2.
|
Please
be
advised that the Borrower is requesting that a portion of the current
outstanding Loans, in the amount of $___________, be continued or
converted at the interest rate option set forth in paragraph 3
below.
|
3.
|
The
interest
rate option applicable to the continuation or conversion of all or
part of
the existing Loans shall be equal
to:
|
A. the
Base
Rate
B. the
Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of
______
one
month
______
two
months
______
three
months
______
six
months
4.
|
Subsequent
to
the continuation or conversion of the Loans, as requested herein,
the
aggregate amount of Loans plus all Letter of Credit Obligations
outstanding will be $___, which is less than or equal to the Revolving
Loan Commitment.
|
5.
|
No
Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused
by
giving effect to this Notice of Continuation
Conversion.
|
WPS
RESOURCES
CORPORATION
By:_______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Exhibit
2.7
to
Five
Year Credit
Agreement
FORM
OF
NOTE
June
9,
2006
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED,
WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby
promises to pay to the order of ___________ (the “Lender”), at the office of
Wachovia Bank, National Association (the “Agent”) as set forth in that certain
Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006, among the Borrower, the
Lenders named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent (as
the
same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the
“Credit Agreement”), or at such other place or places as the holder of this Note
may designate, the aggregate principal amount of all advances made by the Lender
as Loans (and not otherwise repaid), in Dollars and in immediately available
funds, on the dates and in the principal amounts provided in the Credit
Agreement, and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan
made
by the Lender, at such office, in like money and funds, for the period
commencing on the date of each Loan until each Loan shall be paid in full,
at
the rates per annum and on the dates provided in the Credit
Agreement.
This
Note is one of
the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement and evidences Loans made by the
Lender thereunder. The Lender shall be entitled to the benefits of the Credit
Agreement. Capitalized terms used in this Note have the respective meanings
assigned to them in the Credit Agreement and the terms and conditions of the
Credit Agreement are expressly incorporated herein and made a part
hereof.
The
Credit
Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of the Loans evidenced
by this Note upon the occurrence of certain events (and for payment of
collection costs in connection therewith) and for prepayments of Loans upon
the
terms and conditions specified therein. In the event this Note is not paid
when
due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in
addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including
reasonable attorney fees.
Except
as permitted
by Section 11.3(b) of the Credit Agreement, this Note may not be assigned by
the
Lender to any other Person.
The
date, amount,
type, interest rate and duration of Interest Period (if applicable) of each
Loan
made by the Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on account of the
principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Agent and the Lender on its books;
provided that the failure of the Agent or the Lender to make any such
recordation shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to make a payment
when due of any amount owing hereunder or under this Note in respect of the
Loans to be evidenced by this Note, and each such recordation shall be prima
facie evidence of the obligations owing under this Note absent manifest
error.
THIS
NOTE
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF
NEW YORK.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Note to be executed as of the
date
first above written.
WPS
RESOURCES
CORPORATION
By:______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Exhibit
7.1(c)
FORM
OF
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
TO: Wachovia
Bank,
National Association
Attention:
Agency
Services
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xx., Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
RE: Five
Year Credit
Agreement dated as of June 9, 2006
among
WPS Resources
Corporation (the “Borrower”),
Wachovia
Bank,
National Association, as Agent, the agents party thereto and the
Lenders
party
thereto (as the same may be amended, modified,
extended
or
restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”)
DATE: _________,
___
Pursuant
to the
terms of the Credit Agreement, I, _________________________ [Chief Financial
Officer/Treasurer/Secretary/Assistant Treasurer] of WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION
hereby certify that, as of the fiscal quarter ending ____________, ____, the
statements below are accurate and complete in all respects (all capitalized
terms used below shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit
Agreement):
A. Attached
hereto as
Schedule I are (x) calculations (calculated as of the date of the financial
statements referred to in paragraph C. below) demonstrating compliance by the
Borrower with the financial covenant contained in Section 7.2 of the Credit
Agreement and (y) Borrower’s Public Debt Ratings as of the date
hereof.
B. No
Default or Event
of Default exists under the Credit Agreement, except as indicated on a separate
page attached hereto, together with an explanation of the action taken or
proposed to be taken by the Borrower with respect thereto.
C. The
quarterly/annual financial statements for the fiscal quarter/year ended
___________ which accompany this certificate fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from normal
year-end audit adjustments.
WPS
RESOURCES
CORPORATION
By:_______________________________________
[Chief
Financial
Officer/Treasurer/Secretary
Assistant
Treasurer]
Schedule
1
to
Exhibit
7.1(c)
to
Credit
Agreement
Maximum
Leverage
Ratio
1. Total
Funded
Debt
|
$______________________
|
2. Net
Worth
|
$______________________
|
3. Capitalization
(Line 1 + Line 2)
|
$______________________
|
4. Total
Funded
Debt to Capitalization Ratio:
(Line
1/Line
3)
|
______:
1.00
|
Maximum
Permitted Total Funded
Debt
to
Capitalization Ratio: .65:
1.0
|
Borrower’s
Public
Debt Ratings:
S&P_________________________________
Xxxxx’s______________________________
Exhibit
11.3
FORM
OF
ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
Reference
is made
to that certain Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2006, among
WPS
RESOURCES CORPORATION(the “Borrower”), the agents party thereto, the Lenders
party thereto and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent for the Lenders
(as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time,
the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1. The
Assignor hereby
sells and assigns to the Assignee, without recourse and without representation
and warranty except as expressly set forth herein, and the Assignee hereby
purchases and assumes from the Assignor, without recourse and without
representation and warranty except as expressly set forth herein, the interests
set forth below (the “Assigned Interest”) in the Assignor’s rights and
obligations under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, the
interests set forth below in the Commitment Percentage of the Assignor on the
Effective Date (as defined below) and the Loans owing to the Assignor in
connection with the Assigned Interest which are outstanding on the Effective
Date. The purchase of the Assigned Interest shall be at par (unless otherwise
agreed to by the Assignor and the Assignee) and periodic payments made with
respect to the Assigned Interest which (a) accrued prior to the Effective Date
shall be remitted to the Assignor and (b) accrue from and after the Effective
Date shall be remitted to the Assignee.
2. The
Assignor (a)
represents and warrants to the Assignee that it is the legal and beneficial
owner of the Assigned Interest and that the Assigned Interest has not previously
been transferred or encumbered and is free and clear of any adverse claim
created by the Assignor; (b) makes no representation or warranty and assumes
no
responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in connection with the Credit Documents or the execution, legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit
Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (c)
makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect
to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance
by
the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Credit Documents or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (d) attaches the Note
held by the Assignor and requests that the Agent exchange such Note for a new
Note payable to the order of the Assignee in an amount equal to the Revolving
Loan Commitment assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto and to the Assignor
in
an amount equal to the Revolving Loan Commitment retained by the Assignor,
if
any, as specified herein.
3. The
Assignee (a)
confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with
copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 7.1 thereof and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment; (b) agrees that
it
will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or any
other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking
or
not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (c) confirms that it is
an
Eligible
Assignee;
(d) appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf
and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement as are
delegated to the Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and
discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; (e) agrees that it will perform
in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of
the
Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender, and (f)
attaches any U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other forms required under Section
4.4.
4. Following
the
execution of this Assignment, it will be delivered to the Agent, together with
the transfer fee required pursuant to Section 11.3(b) of the Credit Agreement,
for acceptance and recording by the Agent. The effective date for this
Assignment (the “Effective Date”) shall be the date of acceptance hereof by the
Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, unless otherwise specified
herein.
5. Upon
the consent of
the Borrower and the Agent, as applicable, as of the Effective Date, (a) the
Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the
Assigned Interest, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and
(b) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment, relinquish
its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit
Agreement.
6. This
Assignment
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State
of
New York.
7. This
Assignment may
be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an
original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
8. Terms
of
Assignment
(a)
Legal
Name of
Assignor: ________________
(b)
Legal
Name of
Assignee: ________________
(c)
Effective
Date of
Assignment: ________________
(d)
Commitment
Percentage Assigned: ________________%
(e)
|
Total
Loans
outstanding
as
of
Effective
Date
$________________
|
(f)
|
Principal
Amount of Revolving
Loans
assigned on Effective
Date
(the
amount
set forth in (e)
multiplied
by the percentage set
forth
in (d)) $________________
|
(g)
Revolving
Loan
Commitment $________________
2
(h)
|
Principal
Amount of Revolving
Loan
Commitment assigned
on
Effective
Date (the amount
set
forth
in (g) multiplied by
the
percentage
set forth in
(d)) $________________
|
The
terms set forth
above
are
hereby agreed
to:
______________________,
as Assignor
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
_______________________,
as Assignee
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
CONSENTED
TO (if
applicable):
WPS
RESOURCES
CORPORATION
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
WACHOVIA
BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Agent
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
3