CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of May 11, 2006 among KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, CERTAIN LENDERS, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and BNP PARIBAS, THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,...
Exhibit
10.2.b
[Published
CUSIP Number: ____]
Dated
as
of May 11, 2006
among
KANSAS
CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY,
CERTAIN
LENDERS,
BANK
OF
AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent,
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
Syndication Agent,
and
BNP
PARIBAS, THE
BANK
OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,
LIMITED,
CHICAGO BRANCH and
WACHOVIA BANK N.A.,
as
Co-Documentation Agents
BANC
OF
AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
and
X.X.
XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
Joint
Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Runners
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
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1
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1.1
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Definitions.
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1
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1.2
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Accounting
Principles.
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14
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1.3
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Letter
of Credit Amounts.
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14
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ARTICLE
II THE CREDITS
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14
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2.1
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Commitment
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14
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2.2
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Required
Payments; Termination.
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15
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2.3
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Ratable
Loans.
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15
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2.4
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Types
of Advances; Minimum Amount.
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15
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2.5
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Facility
Fee; Utilization Fee.
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15
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2.6
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Changes
in Aggregate Commitment.
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15
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2.7
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Optional
Prepayments.
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16
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2.8
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Method
of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Advances.
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17
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2.9
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Conversion
and Continuation of Outstanding Advances.
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17
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2.10
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Changes
in Interest Rate, etc.
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18
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2.11
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Rates
Applicable After Default.
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18
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2.12
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Meted
of Payment.
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19
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2.13
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Noteless
Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness.
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19
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2.14
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Telephonic
Notices.
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20
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2.15
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Interest
Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis.
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20
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2.16
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Notification
of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment
Reductions.
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20
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2.17
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Lending
Installations.
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21
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2.18
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Non-Receipt
of Funds by the Administrative Agent.
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21
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2.19
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Letters
of Credit.
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21
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2.20
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Extension
of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment
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26
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ARTICLE
III YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES
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27
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3.1
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Yield
Protection.
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27
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3.2
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Changes
in Capital Adequacy Regulations.
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28
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3.3
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Availability
of Types of Advances.
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29
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3.4
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Funding
Indemnification.
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29
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3.5
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Taxes.
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29
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3.6
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Lender
Statements; Survival of Indemnity.
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31
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ARTICLE
IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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31
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4.1
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Initial
Credit Extension.
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31
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4.2
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Each
Credit Extension.
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32
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ARTICLE
V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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33
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5.1
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Existence
and Standing.
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33
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5.2
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Authorization
and Validity
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33
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5.3
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No
Conflict; Government Consent
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34
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5.4
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Financial
Statements
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34
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5.5
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Material
Adverse Change
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34
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5.6
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Taxes
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34
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i
5.7
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Litigation;
etc.
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35
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5.8
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ERISA.
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35
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5.9
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Accuracy
of Information.
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35
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5.10
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Regulation
U.
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35
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5.11
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Material
Agreements.
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35
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5.12
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Compliance
With Laws.
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36
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5.13
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Ownership
of Properties.
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36
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5.14
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Plan
Assets; Prohibited Transactions.
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36
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5.15
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Environmental
Matters.
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36
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5.16
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Investment
Company Act.
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36
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5.17
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Pari
Passu Indebtedness.
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36
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5.18
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Solvency.
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37
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ARTICLE
VI COVENANTS
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37
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6.1
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Financial
Reporting.
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37
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6.2
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Permits,
Etc.
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39
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6.3
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Use
of Proceeds.
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39
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6.4
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Notice
of Default.
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39
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6.5
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Conduct
of Business.
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39
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6.6
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Taxes.
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40
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6.7
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Insurance.
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40
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6.8
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Compliance
with Laws.
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40
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6.9
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Maintenance
of Properties; Books of Record.
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40
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6.10
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Inspection.
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41
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6.11
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Consolidations,
Mergers and Sale of Assets.
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41
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6.12
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Liens.
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42
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6.13
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Affiliates.
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45
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6.14
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ERISA.
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45
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6.15
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Total
Indebtedness to Total Capitalization
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45
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6.16
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Restriction
on Subsidiary Dividends.
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45
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ARTICLE
VII DEFAULTS
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46
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7.1
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A
Change of Control shall occur.
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47
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ARTICLES
VIII ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND
REMEDIES
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48
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8.1
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Acceleration,
Letter of Credit Account.
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48
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8.2
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Amendments.
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48
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8.3
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Preservation
of Rights.
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49
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ARTICLE
IX GENERAL PROVISIONS
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50
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9.1
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Survival
of Representations.
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50
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9.2
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Governmental
Regulation.
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50
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9.3
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Headings.
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50
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9.4
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Entire
Agreement.
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50
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9.5
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Several
Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement.
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50
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9.6
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Expenses;
Indemnification.
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50
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9.7
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Numbers
of Documents.
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51
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9.8
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Accounting.
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52
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9.9
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Severability
of Provisions.
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52
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9.10
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Nonliability
of Lenders.
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52
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ii
9.11
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Limited
Disclosure.
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52
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9.12
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USA
PATRIOT ACT NOTIFICATION.
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53
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9.13
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Nonreliance.
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53
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9.14
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No
Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
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53
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ARTICLE
X THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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54
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10.1
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Appointment
and Authority.
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54
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10.2
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Rights
as a Lender.
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54
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10.3
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Exculpatory
Provisions.
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55
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10.4
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Reliance
by Administrative Agent.
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56
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10.5
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Delegation
of Duties.
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56
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10.6
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Resignation
of Administrative Agent.
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56
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10.7
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Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
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57
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10.8
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No
Other Duties, Etc.
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57
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10.9
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Administrative
Agent May File Proofs of Claim
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57
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ARTICLE
XI SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS
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58
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11.1
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Setoff.
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58
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11.2
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Ratable
Payments.
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59
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ARTICLE
XII BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS;
PARTICIPATIONS
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59
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12.1
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Successors
and Assigns.
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59
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12.2
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Replacement
of Lenders.
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62
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ARTICLE
XIII NOTICES
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63
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13.1
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Notices.
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63
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13.2
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Change
of Address.
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63
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ARTICLE
XIV COUNTERPARTS
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64
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ARTICLES XV OTHER
AGENTS
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64
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ARTICLE
XVI CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL
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64
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16.1
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CHOICE
OF LAW.
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64
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16.2
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CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION.
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64
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16.3
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WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
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65
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ARTICLE
XVII TERMINATION OF EXISTING CREDIT FACILITY
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65
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iii
SCHEDULES
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I
II
III
IV
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Commitments
Pricing
Schedule
Processing
& Recordation Fees
Certain
Addresses for Notices
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EXHIBITS
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A
B
C
D
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Form
of Compliance Certificate
Form
of Assignment and Assumption
Form
of Wire Transfer Instructions
Form
of Note
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iv
This
Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2006 is among Kansas City Power & Light
Company, a Missouri corporation, the Lenders, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
Syndication Agent and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent. The
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions.
As
used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings (such
meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
such
terms):
“Additional
Commitment Lender” is defined in Section
2.20(d).
“Administrative
Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any
of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative
Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the
Administrative Agent.
“Advance”
means a borrowing hereunder (or conversion or continuation thereof) consisting
of the aggregate amount of the several Loans made on the same Borrowing Date
(or
date of conversion or continuation) by the Lenders to the Borrower of the same
Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Advances, for the same Interest
Period.
“Affiliate”
of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this
definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms
“controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities or by contract or otherwise.
“Agents”
means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent, and
“Agent” means either of them.
“Aggregate
Commitment” means the aggregate of the Commitments of all Lenders, as changed
from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The amount of the Aggregate
Commitment in effect as of the Closing Date is TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($250,000,000); provided
however
at such time as the Borrower provides the Administrative Agent with a legal
opinion satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent
confirming that the Borrower has received all necessary governmental consents,
approvals and authorization to incur up to $400,000,000 or more of Obligations
under this Agreement, the
Aggregate
Commitment shall be automatically increased on a pro rata basis to FOUR HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLARS ($400,000,000).
“Aggregate
Outstanding Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate of the
Outstanding Credit Exposure of all Lenders.
“Agreement”
means this credit agreement, as it may be amended or modified and in effect
from
time to time.
“Alternate
Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of
(a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate
of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time
by
Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of
America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired
return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a
reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or
below
such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America
shall
take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public
announcement of such change.
“Applicable
Margin” means, with respect to Advances of any Type at any time, the percentage
rate per annum which is applicable at such time with respect to Advances
of such
Type as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.
“Approved
Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender,
(b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an
entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Approving
Lenders” is defined in Section
2.20(e).
“Arrangers”
means Banc of America Securities LLC and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., and
“Arranger” means either of them.
“Article”
means an article of this Agreement unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Assignment
Agreement” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an
Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required
by
Section 12.1(b)),
and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit B
or any
other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable
Indebtedness” means, on any date, (i) in respect of any Capitalized Lease
Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear
on a
balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with
GAAP,
and (ii) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount
of
the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on
a
balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with
GAAP if
such lease were accounted for as a Capitalized Lease.
2
“Authorized
Officer” means any of the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial
Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower, in each case acting
singly.
“Bank
of
America” means Bank of America, N.A. in its individual capacity and its
successors.
“BAS”
means Banc of America Securities LLC.
“Borrower”
means Kansas City Power & Light Company, a Missouri corporation, and its
permitted successors and assigns.
“Borrowing
Date” means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.
“Borrowing
Notice” is defined in Section 2.8.
“Business
Day” means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate selection of
Eurodollar Advances, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks
generally are open in Chicago and New York City for the conduct of substantially
all of their commercial lending activities and on which dealings in United
States dollars are carried on in the London interbank market and (ii) for all
other purposes, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally
are open in Chicago and New York City for the conduct of substantially all
of
their commercial lending activities.
“Capitalized
Lease” of a Person means any lease of Property by such Person as lessee which
would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance
with GAAP.
“Capitalized
Lease Obligations” of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such
Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance
sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Change
of Control” means an event or series of events by which:
(i)
|
any
“person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee
benefit plan of Great Plains or its Subsidiaries, or any Person acting
in
its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator
of any
such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and
13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly,
of 33 1/3% or more of the equity interests of Great Plains;
or
|
(ii)
|
during
any period of 12 consecutive months (or such lesser period of time
as
shall have elapsed since the formation of Great Plains), a majority
of the
members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body
of
Great Plains ceases to be composed of individuals (x) who were members
of
that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such
period,
(y) whose election or nomination
|
3
|
to
that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals
referred to in clause (x)
above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at
least a
majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (z) whose
election
or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was
approved by individuals referred to in clauses (x)
and (y)
above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at
least a
majority of that board or equivalent governing
body.
|
“Closing
Date” means May 11, 2006.
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“Commitment”
means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Loans and to
participate in Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not exceeding the amount
set forth on Schedule I
hereto
or as set forth in any Assignment Agreement relating to any assignment that
has
become effective pursuant to Section 12.1(b),
as such
amount may be modified from time to time pursuant to the terms
hereof.
“Consolidated
Net Income” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, the net income of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
from continuing operations, excluding extraordinary items for that
period.
“Consolidated
Subsidiaries” means all Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are (or should be)
included when preparing the consolidated financial statements of the
Borrower.
“Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries, Shareholders’ Equity of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries on that date minus
the
Intangible Assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on that
date.
“Contingent
Obligation” of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which
such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase
or
provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable
upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person, or agrees to maintain
the
net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person,
or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against
loss.
“Controlled
Group” means all members of a controlled group of corporations or other business
entities and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common
control which, together with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, are
treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“Conversion/Continuation
Notice” is defined in Section 2.9.
“Credit
Extension” means the making of an Advance or the issuance of a Letter of
Credit.
4
“Default”
means an event described in Article VII.
“Eligible
Assignee” means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender;
(c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural
person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent and the Issuers, and
(ii) unless a Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each
such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided
that
notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the
Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Environmental
Laws” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws,
judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees,
plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses,
agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to (i) the protection
of
the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on human health, (iii)
emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous
substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or land, or (iv) the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or
wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from
time
to time, and any rule or regulation issued thereunder.
“Eurodollar
Advance” means an Advance which bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar
Rate.
“Eurodollar
Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate
per annum (rounded to the nearest multiple of 1/16 of 1%) determined by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
Eurodollar
Rate =
|
Eurodollar
Base Rate
1.00
- Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
|
Where,
“Eurodollar
Base Rate” means,
for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers
Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other
commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated
by
the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not
available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such
Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative
Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first
day
of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the
Eurodollar Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with
a
term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s
London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their
5
request
at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period.
“Eurodollar
Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve
percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in
effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations
issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve
requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve
requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to
as
“Eurocurrency liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar
Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change
in
the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
“Eurodollar
Loan” means a Loan which bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar
Rate.
“Excluded
Taxes” means, in the case of each Lender or applicable Lending Installation and
the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise
taxes imposed on it, by (i) the jurisdiction under the laws of which such
Lender
or the Administrative Agent is incorporated or organized or (ii) the
jurisdiction in which the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s principal
executive office or such Lender’s applicable Lending Installation is
located.
“Exhibit”
refers to an exhibit to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Existing
Credit Facility” means the credit agreement among the Borrower, JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and the other lenders party thereto dated
as
of December 15, 2004, as amended or modified from time to time.
“Facility
Fee Rate” means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum at which facility
fees are accruing at such time as set forth in the Pricing
Schedule.
“Facility
Termination Date” means (a) the later of (i) May 11, 2011 and (ii) with respect
to some or all of the Lenders if the facility termination date is extended
pursuant to Section 2.20, such extended facility termination date or (b)
any
earlier date on which the Aggregate Commitment is reduced to zero or otherwise
terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Federal
Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum 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 Effective Rate for such
day
shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day
as so
published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is
so
published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective
Rate
for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to
a whole
multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such
transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
6
“Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter dated April 6, 2006 among the Agents, the Arrangers, the Borrower and Great Plains.
“Floating
Rate Advance” means an Advance which bears interest at the Alternate Base
Rate.
“Floating
Rate Loan” means a Loan which bears interest at the Alternate Base
Rate.
“FRB”
means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
“Fund”
means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged
in
making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans
and
similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its
business.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time
in
the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and
the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“Great
Plains” means Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri
corporation.
“Great
Plains Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date among Great Plains, the financial institutions party thereto,
JPMorgan, as syndication agent and Bank of America, as administrative agent,
as
amended or modified from time to time.
“including”
means “including without limiting the generality of the following”.
“Indebtedness”
means, as to any Person at a particular time, all of the following, without
duplication, to the extent recourse may be had to the assets or properties
of
such Person in respect thereof: (i) all obligations of such Person for
borrowed
money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes,
loan agreements or other similar instruments; (ii) any direct or contingent
obligations of such Person in the aggregate in excess of $2,000,000 arising
under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), banker’s
acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments; (iii)
net
obligations of such Person under Swap Contracts; (iv) all obligations of
such
Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (except
trade
accounts payable arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary
course
of business), and indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured
by a
Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness
arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether
or
not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited
in
recourse; (v) Capitalized Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations
of
such Person; and (vi) all Contingent Obligations of such Person in respect
of
any of the foregoing.
For
all
purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness
of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner
or
a joint venturer,
7
unless
such Indebtedness is non-recourse to such Person. It is understood and agreed
that Indebtedness (including Contingent Obligations) shall not include any
obligations of the Borrower with respect to subordinated, deferrable interest
debt securities, and any related securities issued by a trust or other special
purpose entity in connection therewith, as long as the maturity date of such
debt is subsequent to the Facility Termination Date; provided
that the
amount of mandatory principal amortization or defeasance of such debt prior
to
the Facility Termination Date shall be included in this definition of
Indebtedness. The amount of any Capitalized Lease Obligation or Synthetic Lease
Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable
Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.
“Intangible
Assets” means, assets that are considered to be intangible assets under GAAP,
including, but not limited to, customer lists, goodwill, computer software,
copyrights, trade names, trademarks, patents, franchises and
licenses.
“Interest
Period” means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance, a period of one, two, three
or six months commencing on a Business Day selected by the Borrower pursuant
to
this Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end on the day which corresponds
numerically to such date one, two, three or six months thereafter; provided
that if
there is no such numerically corresponding day in such next, second, third
or
sixth succeeding month, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business
Day
of such next, second, third or sixth succeeding month. If an Interest Period
would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period
shall end on the next succeeding Business Day; provided
that if
said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new calendar month, such Interest
Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.
“Issuer”
means each of Bank of America, JPMorgan and any other Lender approved by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in each case in its capacity as an issuer
of Letters of Credit hereunder.
“Issuer
Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter Credit
Application and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by
the
applicable Issuer and the Borrower or in favor of the applicable Issuer and
relating to such Letter of Credit.
“JPMorgan”
means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its individual capacity, and its
successors.
“LC
Collateral Account” is defined in Section 2.19(k).
“Lenders”
means the lending institutions listed on the signature pages of this Agreement
and their respective successors and assigns.
“Lending
Installation” means, with respect to a Lender or the Administrative Agent, the
office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Administrative
Agent listed on the signature pages hereof or on a Schedule or otherwise
selected by such Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.17.
8
“Letter
of Credit” is defined in Section 2.19(a).
“Letter
of Credit Application” is defined in Section 2.19(c).
“Letter
of Credit Fee” is defined in Section 2.19(d).
“Letter
of Credit Fee Rate” means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum applicable
to Letter of Credit Fees at such time as set forth in the Pricing
Schedule.
“Letter
of Credit Obligations” means, at any time, the sum, without duplication, of (i)
the aggregate undrawn stated amount of all Letters of Credit at such time
plus
(ii) the aggregate unpaid amount of all Reimbursement Obligations at such
time.
“Lien”
means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference, priority or other
security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale,
Capitalized Lease or other title retention agreement).
“Loan”
means, with respect to a Lender, such Lender’s loans made pursuant to
Article II
(or any
conversion or continuation thereof).
“Loan
Documents” means this Agreement, each Note issued pursuant to Section 2.13,
each
Letter of Credit, each Letter of Credit Application and the Fee
Letter.
“Material
Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, Property,
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, or prospects of
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower
to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents or (iii) the validity
or
enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of
the
Agents, the Lenders or the Issuers thereunder.
“Material
Indebtedness” is defined in Section 7.5.
“Modification”
and “Modify” are defined in Section 2.19(a).
“Moody’s”
means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer
Plan” means a Plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or
any other arrangement to which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group is a party to which more than one employer is obligated to make
contributions.
“Non-Extending
Lender” is defined in Section
2.20(b).
“Non-U.S.
Lender” is defined in Section 3.5(iv).
“Note”
is
defined in Section 2.13.
9
“Notice
Date” is defined in Section 2.20(b).
“Obligations”
means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans,
all
Reimbursement Obligations and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all
accrued
and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other
obligations of the Borrower to any Lender, any Issuer, either Agent or
any
indemnified party arising under any Loan Document.
“Other
Taxes” is defined in Section 3.5(ii).
“Outstanding
Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (i) the
aggregate principal amount of its Loans outstanding at such time, plus
(ii) its
Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Obligations at such time.
“Participant”
is defined in Section 12.1(d).
“Payment
Date” means the last Business Day of each March, June, September and
December.
“PBGC”
means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor
thereto.
“Person”
means any natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture, partnership,
limited
liability company, association, enterprise, trust or other entity or
organization, or any government or political subdivision or any agency,
department or instrumentality thereof.
“Plan”
means an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of
ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the
Code as to which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group may
have any
liability.
“Pricing
Schedule” means Schedule II
attached
hereto identified as such.
“Prime
Rate” means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of interest announced by
Bank of America from time to time (which is not necessarily the lowest
rate
charged to any customer). The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America
based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return,
general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference
point
for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect
at
the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement
of such
change.
“Property”
of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible,
intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned or leased by
such
Person.
“Pro
Rata
Share” means, with respect to any Lender on any date of determination, the
percentage which the amount of such Lender’s Commitment is of the Aggregate
Commitment (or, if the Commitments have terminated, which such Lender’s
Outstanding Credit Exposure is
10
of
the
Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure) as of such date. For purposes of
determining liability for any indemnity obligation under Section 2.19(j)
or
9.6(iii),
each
Lender’s Pro Rata Share shall be determined as of the date the applicable Issuer
or the Administrative Agent notifies the Lenders of such indemnity obligation
(or, if such notice is given after termination of this Agreement, as of
the date
of such termination).
“Register”
is defined in Section
12.1(c).
“Regulation D”
means Regulation D of the FRB as from time to time in effect and any
successor thereto or other regulation or official interpretation of the
FRB
relating to reserve requirements applicable to member banks of the Federal
Reserve System.
“Regulation U”
means Regulation U of the FRB as from time to time in effect and any
successor or other regulation or official interpretation of the FRB relating
to
the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
margin stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve
System.
“Reimbursement
Obligations” means, at any time, the aggregate of all obligations of the
Borrower then outstanding under Section 2.19
to
reimburse the Issuers for amounts paid by the Issuers in respect of any
one or
more drawings under Letters of Credit.
“Related
Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person
and
of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Reportable
Event” means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the
regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding,
however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation waived the
requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days
of the occurrence of such event; provided
that a
failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and
of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the
issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with
either
Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.
“Required
Lenders” means Lenders in the aggregate having more than 50% of the Aggregate
Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, Lenders
in the
aggregate holding more than 50% of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit
Exposure.
“Re-Transfer”
is defined in Section
2.6(b).
“S&P”
means Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill
Companies, Inc.
“Schedule”
refers to a specific schedule to this Agreement, unless another document
is
specifically referenced.
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
11
“Section”
means a numbered section of this Agreement, unless another document is
specifically referenced.
“Shareholders’
Equity” means, as of any date of determination for the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, shareholders’ equity as of
that date determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Significant
Subsidiary” means, at any time, each Subsidiary which (i) as of the date of
determination, owns consolidated assets equal to or greater than 15% of the
consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (ii) which had
consolidated net income from continuing operations (excluding extraordinary
items) during the four most recently ended fiscal quarters equal to or greater
than 15% of Consolidated Net Income during such period.
“Single
Employer Plan” means a Plan maintained by the Borrower or any member of the
Controlled Group for employees of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group.
“Subsidiary”
of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding
securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be owned
or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its
Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any
partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar
business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary
voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled; or (iii)
any
other Person the operations and/or financial results of which are required
to be
consolidated with those of such first Person in accordance with GAAP. Unless
otherwise expressly stated, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a
Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Substantial
Portion” means, with respect to the Property of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, Property which (i) represents more than 10% of the consolidated
assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as would be shown
in
the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the
month in which such determination is made, or (ii) is responsible for more
than
10% of the consolidated net sales or of the Consolidated Net Income of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial
statements referred to in clause (i)
above.
“Swap
Contract” means (i) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit
derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity
options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options,
bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward
bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward
foreign exchange transactions, cap transaction, floor transactions, collar
transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions,
currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any
combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any
of
the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject
to
any master agreement, and (ii) any and all transactions of any kind, and the
related confirmations, which are subject to the terms
12
and
conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the
International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign
Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master
agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including
any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Syndication
Agent” means JPMorgan, in its capacity as syndication agent hereunder, and not
in its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor thereto.
“Synthetic
Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (i) a
so-called synthetic or off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (ii)
an
agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that
do not
appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency
or
bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of
such
Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Taxes”
means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities with respect to the
foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes.
“’34
Act
Reports” means the periodic reports of the Borrower filed with the SEC on Forms
10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or any successor forms thereto).
“Total
Capitalization” means Total Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries plus the sum of (i) Shareholder’s Equity (without giving effect to
the application of FASB Statement No. 133 or 149) and (ii) to the extent
not
otherwise included in Indebtedness or Shareholder’s Equity, preferred and
preference stock and securities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries included
in
a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
in accordance with GAAP.
“Total
Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (and without duplication), excluding
Indebtedness arising under Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course
of
business to hedge bona fide transactions and business risks and not for
speculation.
“Transfer”
is defined in Section
2.6(b).
“Type”
means, with respect to any Advance, its nature as a Floating Rate Advance
or a
Eurodollar Advance.
“Unmatured
Default” means an event which but for the lapse of time or the giving of notice,
or both, would constitute a Default.
“Utilization
Fee Rate” means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum at which utilization
fees are accruing at such time as set forth in the Pricing
Schedule.
13
“Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary” of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary all of the outstanding voting
securities of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such
Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such
Person, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association,
joint
venture or similar business organization 100% of the ownership interests
having
ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or
controlled.
1.2 Accounting
Principles.
Unless
the context otherwise clearly requires, all accounting terms not expressly
defined herein shall be construed, and all financial computations required
under
this Agreement shall be made, in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied;
provided
that if
the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to
amend
any covenant in Section 6
to
eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant
(or
if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders
wish
to amend any covenant in Section 6
for such
purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined
on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in
GAAP
became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant
is
amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required
Lenders.
1.3 Letter
of Credit Amounts.
Unless
otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time
shall
be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such
time; provided
that
with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any
Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases
in
the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed
to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect
to
all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect
at
such time.
ARTICLE
II
THE
CREDITS
2.1 Commitment.
From
and
including the date of this Agreement and prior to the Facility Termination
Date,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, (a) each
Lender
severally agrees to make Loans to the Borrower from time to time in amounts
not
to exceed in the aggregate at any one time outstanding the amount of its
Commitment and (b) each Issuer agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the
account
of the Borrower from time to time (and each Lender severally agrees to
participate in each such Letter of Credit as more fully set forth in
Section 2.19);
provided
(i) that
the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not at any time exceed the
Aggregate Commitment; and (ii) the Outstanding Credit Exposure of any Lender
shall not at any time exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment. Subject to
the terms of
14
this
Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow at any time prior
to the
Facility Termination Date. The Commitments shall expire on the Facility
Termination Date.
2.2 Required
Payments; Termination.
The
Borrower shall (a) repay the principal amount of all Advances made to it
on the
Facility Termination Date and (b) deposit into the LC Collateral Account
on the
Facility Termination Date an amount in immediately available funds equal
to the
aggregate stated amount of all Letters of Credit that will remain outstanding
after the Facility Termination Date.
2.3 Ratable
Loans.
Each
Advance hereunder shall consist of Loans made from the several Lenders
ratably
in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares.
2.4 Types
of Advances; Minimum Amount.
The
Advances may be Floating Rate Advances or Eurodollar Advances, or a combination
thereof, selected by the Borrower in accordance with Sections 2.8
and
2.9.
Each
Eurodollar Advance shall be in the amount of $5,000,000 or a higher integral
multiple of $1,000,000, and each Floating Rate Advance shall be in the
amount of
$1,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof.
2.5 Facility
Fee; Utilization Fee.
The
Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each
Lender (a) a facility fee at a per annum rate equal to the Facility Fee
Rate on
such Lender’s Commitment (regardless of usage) from the date hereof to but
excluding the Facility Termination Date, payable on each Payment Date and
on the
Facility Termination Date and, if applicable, thereafter on demand and
(b) a
utilization fee at a rate per annum equal to the Utilization Fee Rate on
such
Lender’s Outstanding Credit Exposure for any date on which the Aggregate
Outstanding Credit Exposure exceeds 50% of the Aggregate Commitment such
utilization fee to be payable on each Payment Date, on the Facility Termination
Date and, if applicable, thereafter on demand.
2.6 Changes
in Aggregate Commitment.
(a) The
Borrower may permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment in whole, or in
part
ratably among the Lenders (according to their respective Pro Rata Shares)
in
integral multiples of $5,000,000, upon at least three Business Days’ prior
written notice to the Administrative Agent, which notice shall specify
the
amount of any such reduction; provided
that the
amount of the Aggregate Commitment may not be reduced below the Aggregate
Outstanding Credit Exposure. All accrued facility fees and utilization
fees
shall be payable on the effective date of any termination of the obligations
of
the Lenders to make Loans hereunder.
(b) (i)
Subject to Section 4.2, the Borrower and Great Plains may, by joint election
in
a written notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly provide
a
copy of such notice to the Lenders) and the “Administrative Agent” under the
Great Plains Credit Agreement,
15
transfer
up to $200,000,000 of the unused Commitments (as such term is defined in
the
Great Plains Credit Agreement) from the Great Plains Credit Agreement to
the
Commitments hereunder (any such addition, a “Transfer”) and (ii) subject to
Section 4.2 of the Great Plains Credit Agreement, the Borrower and Great
Plains
may, by joint election in a written notice to the Administrative Agent
(which
shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to the Lenders) and the
“Administrative Agent” under the Great Plains Credit Agreement, re-transfer up
to $200,000,000 of the unused Commitments previously transferred to this
Agreement from the Great Plains Credit Agreement pursuant to subclause
(b)(i)
above back to the Commitments (as such term is defined in the Great Plains
Credit Agreement) under the Great Plains Credit Agreement (any such reduction,
a
“Re-Transfer”). For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and agree
that after giving effect to any Transfer or Re-Transfer contemplated in
subclauses (i) and (ii) above, (x) the aggregate Commitments hereunder
shall not
exceed $600,000,000, (y) the aggregate Commitments under and as defined
in the
Great Plains Credit Agreement shall not exceed $600,000,000 and (z) the
aggregate commitments under both this Agreement and the Great Plains Credit
Agreement shall not exceed $1,000,000,000.
(c) On
the
effective date of a Transfer, which shall be specified in the notice
delivered
pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(i) and which shall not be less than five
(5) Business
Days subsequent to the date of giving of such notice, then subject
to the
satisfaction of the conditions precedent specified in Section 4.2,
(i) the
Commitments hereunder shall be ratably increased by the aggregate
amount
specified in such notice and (ii) the aggregate amount of the “Commitments”
under and as defined in the Great Plains Credit Agreement shall be
ratably
decreased by such amount. Such Transfer and the consequent decreases
and
increases shall be irrevocable subject, however, to subsequent permissible
Re-Transfers in accordance with the terms hereof.
(d) On
the
effective date of a Re-Transfer, which shall be specified in the
notice
delivered pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(ii) and which shall not be less
than five
(5) Business Days subsequent to the date of giving of such notice,
then subject
to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent specified in Section
4.2 of the
Great Plains Credit Agreement, (i) the Commitments hereunder shall
be ratably
decreased by the aggregate amount specified in such notice and (ii)
the
aggregate amount of the “Commitments” under and as defined in the Great Plains
Credit Agreement shall be ratably increased by such amount. Such
Re-Transfer and
the consequent decreases and increases shall be irrevocable.
2.7 Optional
Prepayments.
(a) The
Borrower may from time to time prepay Floating Rate Advances upon one
Business
Day’s prior notice to the Administrative Agent, without penalty or premium.
Each
partial prepayment of Floating Rate Advances shall be in an aggregate
amount of
$1,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof.
(b) The
Borrower may from time to time prepay Eurodollar Advances (subject
to the
payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by Section 3.4)
upon
three Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent, without penalty
or premium. Each partial
16
prepayment
of Eurodollar Advances shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000
or a higher
integral multiple of $1,000,000.
(c) All
prepayments of Advances shall be applied ratably to the Loans of
the Lenders in
accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.
2.8 Method
of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New
Advances.
The
Borrower shall select the Type of Advance and, in the case of each
Eurodollar
Advance, the Interest Period applicable thereto from time to time.
The Borrower
shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (a “Borrowing Notice”)
not later than noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Borrowing
Date of
each Floating Rate Advance and not later than noon (Charlotte,
North Carolina
time) three Business Days before the Borrowing Date for each Eurodollar
Advance,
specifying:
(i) the
Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such Advance,
(ii) the
aggregate amount of such Advance,
(iii) the
Type
of Advance selected, and
(iv) in
the
case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period applicable
thereto.
Not
later
than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on each Borrowing Date,
each Lender shall make available its Loan or Loans in funds immediately
available to the Administrative Agent at its address specified
pursuant to
Article XIII.
The
Administrative Agent will make the funds so received from the Lenders
available
to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s aforesaid address.
2.9 Conversion
and Continuation of Outstanding Advances.
Floating
Rate Advances shall continue as Floating Rate Advances unless and
until such
Floating Rate Advances are converted into Eurodollar Advances pursuant
to this
Section 2.9
or are
repaid in accordance with Section 2.7.
Each
Eurodollar Advance shall continue as a Eurodollar Advance until
the end of the
then applicable Interest Period therefor, at which time such Eurodollar
Advance
shall be automatically converted into a Floating Rate Advance unless
(x) such
Eurodollar Advance is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.7
or (y)
the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent a Conversion/Continuation
Notice (as defined below) requesting that, at the end of such Interest
Period,
such Eurodollar Advance continue as a Eurodollar Advance for the
same or another
Interest Period. Subject to the terms of Section 2.4,
the
Borrower may elect from time to time to convert all or any part
of a Floating
Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Advance. The Borrower shall give
the
Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (a “Conversion/Continuation Notice”) of
each conversion of a Floating Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Advance
or
continuation of a Eurodollar Advance not later than 11:00 a.m.
17
(Charlotte,
North Carolina time) at least three Business Days prior to the
date of the
requested conversion or continuation, specifying:
(i) the
requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such conversion
or
continuation,
(ii) the
aggregate amount and Type of the Advance which is to be converted
or continued,
and
(iii) the
amount of such Advance which is to be converted into or continued
as a
Eurodollar Advance and the duration of the Interest Period applicable
thereto.
2.10 Changes
in Interest Rate, etc.
Each
Floating Rate Advance shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount
thereof, for each day from and including the date such Advance
is made or is
automatically converted from a Eurodollar Advance into a Floating
Rate Advance
pursuant to Section 2.9,
to but
excluding the date it is paid or is converted into a Eurodollar
Advance pursuant
to Section 2.9
hereof,
at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate for such
day. Changes in
the rate of interest on that portion of any Advance maintained
as a Floating
Rate Advance will take effect simultaneously with each change
in the Alternate
Base Rate. Each Eurodollar Advance shall bear interest on the
outstanding
principal amount thereof from and including the first day of
the Interest Period
applicable thereto to (but not including) the last day of such
Interest Period
at the interest rate determined by the Administrative Agent as
applicable to
such Eurodollar Advance based upon the Borrower’s selections under Sections 2.8
and
2.9
and
otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof. No Interest Period
may end after
the Facility Termination Date.
2.11 Rates
Applicable After Default.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.8
or
2.9,
during
the continuance of a Default or Unmatured Default the Required
Lenders may, at
their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice may be
revoked at the
option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision
of
Section 8.2
requiring unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest
rates),
declare that no Advance may be made as, converted into or continued
as a
Eurodollar Advance. During the continuance of a Default the Required
Lenders
may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice
may be revoked at
the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision
of Section 8.2
requiring unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest
rates),
declare that (i) each Eurodollar Advance shall bear interest
for the remainder
of the applicable Interest Period at the rate otherwise applicable
to such
Interest Period plus 2% per annum, (ii) each Floating Rate Advance
shall bear
interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate
in effect from
time to time plus 2% per annum and (iii) the Letter of Credit
Fee Rate shall be
increased by 2% per annum; provided
that,
during the continuance of a Default under Section 7.6
or
7.7,
the
interest rates set forth in clauses (i)
and
(ii)
above
and the increase in the Letter of Credit Fee Rate set forth in
clause (iii)
above
shall be
18
applicable
to all applicable Credit Extensions without any election or action on the part
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
2.12 Method
of Payment.
All
payments of the Obligations hereunder shall be made, without setoff, deduction,
or counterclaim, in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent
at
the Administrative Agent’s address specified pursuant to Article XIII,
or at
any other Lending Installation of the Administrative Agent specified in writing
by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, by 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North
Carolina time) on the date when due and shall be applied ratably by the
Administrative Agent among the Lenders in accordance with their respective
Pro
Rata Shares. Each payment delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account
of any Lender shall be delivered promptly by the Administrative Agent to such
Lender in the same type of funds that the Administrative Agent received at
its
address specified pursuant to Article XIII
or at
any Lending Installation specified in a notice received by the Administrative
Agent from such Lender.
2.13 Noteless
Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness.
(i) Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting
from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts
of
principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.
(ii) The
Administrative Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (a)
the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period
with respect thereto, (b) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder,
(c) the original stated amount of each Letter of Credit and the amount of Letter
of Credit Obligations outstanding at any time and (d) the amount of any sum
received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each
Lender’s share thereof.
(iii) The
entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to clauses (i)
and
(ii)
above
shall be prima
facie
evidence
of the existence and amounts of the Obligations therein recorded; provided that
the
failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts
or
any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower
to repay the Obligations in accordance with their terms.
(iv) Any
Lender may request that its Loans be evidenced by a promissory note
substantially in the form of Exhibit D
(a
“Note”). In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such
Lender a Note payable to the order of such Lender. Thereafter, the Loans
evidenced by such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after
any assignment pursuant to Section 12.1(b))
be
represented by one or more Notes payable to the order of the payee named therein
or any assignee pursuant to Section 12.1(b),
except
to the extent that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such
Note for cancellation and requests that such Loans once again be evidenced
as
described in clauses (i)
and
(ii)
above.
19
2.14 Telephonic
Notices.
The
Borrower hereby authorizes the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to extend,
convert or continue Advances, effect selections of Types of Advances and to
transfer funds based on telephonic notices made by any person or persons the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in good faith believes to be acting on behalf
of the Borrower. The Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to the Administrative
Agent a written confirmation, if such confirmation is requested by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, of each telephonic notice signed by an
Authorized Officer. If the written confirmation differs in any material respect
from the action taken by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, the records
of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall govern absent manifest
error.
2.15 Interest
Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis.
Interest
accrued on each Floating Rate Advance shall be payable on each Payment Date,
commencing with the first such date to occur after the date hereof, and at
maturity. Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Advance shall be payable on the
last day of its applicable Interest Period, on any date on which such Eurodollar
Advance is prepaid, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and at maturity.
Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Advance having an Interest Period longer
than three months shall also be payable on the last day of each three-month
interval during such Interest Period. All computations of interest for Floating
Rate Loans when the Alternate Base Rate is determined by the Prime Rate shall
be
made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual
days elapsed. All other computations of interest and fees shall be calculated
for actual days elapsed on the basis of a 360-day year. Interest shall be
payable for the day an Advance is made but not for the day of any payment on
the
amount paid if payment is received prior to 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North
Carolina time) at the place of payment (it being understood that the
Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have received a payment prior to
1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) if (x) the Borrower has provided
the Administrative Agent with evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
that the Borrower has initiated a wire transfer of such payment prior to such
time and (y) the Administrative Agent actually receives such payment on the
same
Business Day on which such wire transfer was initiated). If any payment of
principal of or interest on an Advance shall become due on a day which is not
a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day
and, in the case of a principal payment, such extension of time shall be
included in computing interest in connection with such payment.
2.16 Notification
of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment
Reductions.
Promptly
after receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of
the
contents of each Aggregate Commitment reduction notice, Borrowing Notice,
Conversion/Continuation Notice, and repayment notice received by it hereunder.
The Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the interest rate applicable
to each Eurodollar Advance promptly upon determination of such interest rate
and
will give each Lender prompt notice of each change in the Alternate Base Rate.
The Administrative Agent will also promptly
20
notify each Lender of any increase or reduction of the
Aggregate Commitments pursuant to the terms hereof.
2.17 Lending
Installations.
Each
Lender may book its Loans at any Lending Installation selected by such Lender
and may change its Lending Installation from time to time. All terms of this
Agreement shall apply to any such Lending Installation and the Loans and
any
Notes issued hereunder shall be deemed held by each Lender for the benefit
of
such Lending Installation. Each Lender may, by written notice to the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower in accordance with Article XIII,
designate replacement or additional Lending Installations through which Loans
will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are to be
made.
2.18 Non-Receipt
of Funds by the Administrative Agent.
Unless
the Borrower or a Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Administrative
Agent
prior to the date on which it is scheduled to make payment to the Administrative
Agent of (i) in the case of a Lender, the proceeds of a Loan or (ii) in the
case
of the Borrower, a payment of principal, interest or fees to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Lenders, that it does not intend to make such
payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such payment has been made.
The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the amount
of
such payment available to the intended recipient in reliance upon such
assumption. If such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, has not in
fact
made such payment to the Administrative Agent, the recipient of such payment
shall, on demand by the Administrative Agent, repay to the Administrative
Agent
the amount so made available together with interest thereon in respect of
each
day during the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available
by the Administrative Agent until the date the Administrative Agent recovers
such amount at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of payment by a
Lender,
the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day or (y) in the case of payment
by
the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan.
2.19 Letters
of Credit.
(a) Issuance.
Each
Issuer hereby agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
to issue standby letters of credit (each a “Letter of Credit”) and to extend,
increase, decrease or otherwise modify Letters of Credit (“Modify,” and each
such action a “Modification”) from time to time from and including the date of
this Agreement and prior to the Facility Termination Date upon the request
of
the Borrower; provided
that
immediately after each such Letter of Credit is issued or Modified, the
Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment.
No Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date later than the date that is
five
days prior to the scheduled Facility Termination Date.
(b) Participations.
Upon
the issuance or Modification by any Issuer of a Letter of Credit in accordance
with this Section 2.19,
such
Issuer shall be deemed, without further action by any Person, to have
unconditionally and irrevocably sold to each Lender, and each Lender shall
be
deemed, without further action by any Person, to have unconditionally and
irrevocably
21
purchased
from such Issuer, a participation in such Letter of Credit (and each
Modification thereof) and the related Letter of Credit Obligations in proportion
to its Pro Rata Share.
(c) Notice.
Subject
to Section 2.19(a),
the
Borrower shall give the applicable Issuer and the Administrative Agent
notice
prior to 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) at least three
Business Days (or such lesser period of time as such Issuer may agree in
its
sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of issuance or Modification
of each
Letter of Credit, specifying the beneficiary, the proposed date of issuance
(or
Modification) and the expiry date of such Letter of Credit, and describing
the
proposed terms of such Letter of Credit and the nature of the transactions
proposed to be supported thereby. Upon receipt of such notice, the applicable
Issuer shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative
Agent shall promptly notify each Lender, of the contents thereof and of
the
amount of such Lender’s participation in such proposed Letter of Credit. The
issuance or Modification by an Issuer of any Letter of Credit shall, in
addition
to the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV
(the
satisfaction of which such Issuer shall have no duty to ascertain, it being
understood, however, that such Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit
if it
has received written notice from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
or any
Lender one day prior to the proposed date of issuance, that any such condition
precedent has not been satisfied), be subject to the conditions precedent
that
such Letter of Credit shall be satisfactory to such Issuer and that the
Borrower
shall have executed and delivered such application agreement and/or such
other
instruments and agreements relating to such Letter of Credit as such Issuer
shall have reasonably requested (each a “Letter of Credit Application”). In the
event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms
of any
Letter of Credit Application, the terms of this Agreement shall
control.
(d) Letter
of Credit Fees.
The
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the
Lenders
ratably in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares, with respect
to
each Letter of Credit, a letter of credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) at a
per annum rate equal to the Letter of Credit Fee Rate in effect from time
to
time on the daily maximum amount available under such Letter of Credit,
such fee
to be payable in arrears on each Payment Date, on the Facility Termination
Date
and, if applicable, thereafter on demand. The Borrower shall also pay to
each
Issuer for its own account (x) a fronting fee in the amount agreed to by
such
Issuer and the Borrower from time to time, with such fee to be payable
in
arrears on each Payment Date, and (y) documentary and processing charges
in
connection with the issuance or Modification of and draws under Letters
of
Credit in accordance with such Issuer’s standard schedule for such charges as in
effect from time to time.
(e) Administration;
Reimbursement by Lenders.
Upon
receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any demand for
payment
under such Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuer shall notify the
Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify
the
Borrower and each Lender of the amount to be paid by such Issuer as a result
of
such demand and the proposed payment date (the “Letter of Credit Payment Date”).
The responsibility of any Issuer to the Borrower and each Lender shall
be only
to determine that the documents delivered under each Letter of Credit issued
by
such Issuer in connection with a demand for payment are in conformity in
all
material respects with such Letter of Credit. Each Issuer shall endeavor
to
exercise the same care in its issuance and administration of Letters of
Credit
as it does with respect to letters of credit in which no participations
are
granted, it being understood that in the
22
absence
of any gross negligence or willful misconduct by such Issuer, each Lender
shall
be unconditionally and irrevocably obligated, without regard to the occurrence
of any Default or any condition precedent whatsoever, to reimburse such
Issuer
on demand for (i) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of each payment
made by such Issuer under each Letter of Credit to the extent such amount
is not
reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19(f)
below,
plus (ii) interest on the foregoing amount, for each day from the date
of the
applicable payment by such Issuer to the date on which such Issuer is reimbursed
by such Lender for its Pro Rata Share thereof, at a rate per annum equal
to the
Federal Funds Effective Rate or, beginning on third Business Day after
demand
for such amount by such Issuer, the rate applicable to Floating Rate
Advances.
(f) Reimbursement
by Borrower.
The
Borrower shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse
each
Issuer through the Administrative Agent on or before the applicable Letter
of
Credit Payment Date for any amount to be paid by such Issuer upon any
drawing
under any Letter of Credit, without presentment, demand, protest or other
formalities of any kind; provided
that the
Borrower shall not be precluded from asserting any claim for direct (but
not
consequential) damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves
were
caused by (i) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Issuer
in
determining whether a request presented under any Letter of Credit complied
with
the terms of such Letter of Credit or (ii) such Issuer’s failure to pay under
any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a request strictly
complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. All
such
amounts paid by an Issuer and remaining unpaid by the Borrower shall
bear
interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum
equal
to the sum of 2% plus the rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances.
The
Administrative Agent will pay to each Lender ratably in accordance with
its Pro
Rata Share all amounts received by it from the Borrower for application
in
payment, in whole or in part, of the Reimbursement Obligation in respect
of any
Letter of Credit, but only to the extent such Lender made payment to
the
applicable Issuer in respect of such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.19(e).
(g) Obligations
Absolute.
The
Borrower’s obligations under this Section 2.19
shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective
of
any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may
have or
have had against any Issuer, any Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter
of
Credit. The Borrower further agrees with the Issuers and the Lenders
that
neither any Issuer nor any Lender shall be responsible for, and the Borrower’s
Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Letter of Credit shall not
be
affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents
or of
any endorsements thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove
to be in
any or all respects invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between
or
among the Borrower, any of its Affiliates, the beneficiary of any Letter
of
Credit or any financing institution or other party to whom any Letter
of Credit
may be transferred or any claims or defenses whatsoever of the Borrower
or of
any of its Affiliates against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit
or any
such transferee. No Issuer shall be liable for any error, omission, interruption
or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice,
however
transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit. The Borrower agrees
that
any action taken or omitted by any Issuer or any Lender under or in connection
with any Letter of Credit and the related drafts and documents, if done
without
gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be binding upon the Borrower
and
shall not put any Issuer or any
23
Lender
under any liability to the Borrower. Nothing in this Section 2.19(g)
is
intended to limit the right of the Borrower to make a claim against any
Issuer
for damages as contemplated by the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.19(f).
(h) Actions
of Issuers.
Each
Issuer shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying,
upon
any Letter of Credit, draft, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate,
affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, facsimile, telex or teletype
message,
statement, order or other document believed by it 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, independent accountants and other
experts selected by such Issuer. Each Issuer shall be fully justified
in failing
or refusing to take any action under this Agreement unless it shall first
have
received such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it reasonably
deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable
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.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.19,
each
Issuer shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining
from
acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a request of the Required
Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant
thereto shall be binding upon the Lenders and any future holder of a
participation in any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuer.
(i) Indemnification.
The
Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, each Issuer
and the
Administrative Agent, and their respective directors, officers, agents
and
employees, from and against any and all claims and damages, losses, liabilities,
costs or expenses which such Person may incur (or which may be claimed
against
such Person by any other Person whatsoever) by reason of or in connection
with
the issuance, execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or failure
to pay
under any Letter of Credit or any actual or proposed use of any Letter
of
Credit, including any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or
expenses
which any Issuer may incur by reason of or in connection with (i) the
failure of
any other Lender to fulfill or comply with its obligations to such Issuer
hereunder (but nothing herein contained shall affect any right the Borrower
may
have against any defaulting Lender) or (ii) by reason of or on account
of such
Issuer issuing any Letter of Credit which specifies that the term “Beneficiary”
therein includes any successor by operation of law of the named Beneficiary,
but
which Letter of Credit does not require that any drawing by any such
successor
Beneficiary be accompanied by a copy of a legal document, satisfactory
to such
Issuer, evidencing the appointment of such successor Beneficiary; provided
that the
Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any Person for any claims,
damages,
losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the
extent,
caused by (x) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of any Issuer
in
determining whether a request presented under any Letter of Credit issued
by
such Issuer complied with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (y) any
Issuer’s
failure to pay under any Letter of Credit issued by it after the presentation
to
it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such
Letter
of Credit. Nothing in this Section 2.19(i)
is
intended to limit the obligations of the Borrower under any other provision
of
this Agreement.
(j) Lenders’
Indemnification.
Each
Lender shall, ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, indemnify
each
Issuer and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents
and
employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any
cost,
expense
24
(including
reasonable counsel fees and charges), claim, demand, action, loss or
liability
(except such as result from such indemnitees’ gross negligence or willful
misconduct or such Issuer’s failure to pay under any Letter of Credit issued by
it after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with
the terms
and conditions of such Letter of Credit) that such indemnitees may suffer
or
incur in connection with this Section 2.19
or any
action taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.
(k) LC
Collateral Account.
The
Borrower agrees that it will establish on the Facility Termination Date
(or on
such earlier date as may be required pursuant to Section 8.1),
and
thereafter maintain so long as any Letter of Credit Obligation remains
outstanding or any other amount is payable to any Issuer or the Lenders
in
respect of any Letter of Credit, a special collateral account pursuant
to
arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (the “LC Collateral
Account”) at the Administrative Agent’s office at the address specified pursuant
to Article XIII,
in the
name of the Borrower but under the sole dominion and control of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and in which the
Borrower
shall have no interest other than as set forth in Section 8.1.
The
Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent,
on
behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the Issuers,
a security
interest in all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to all funds
which may from time to time be on deposit in the LC Collateral Account,
to
secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Obligations.
The
Administrative Agent will invest any funds on deposit from time to time
in the
LC Collateral Account in certificates of deposit of Bank of America having
a
maturity not exceeding 30 days. If funds are deposited in the LC Collateral
Account pursuant to Section 2.2(b)
and the
provisions of Section 8.1
are not
applicable,
then
the Administrative Agent shall release from the LC Collateral Account
to the
Borrower, upon the request of the Borrower, an amount
equal to
the excess (if any) of all funds in the LC Collateral Account over the
Letter of
Credit Obligations.
(l) Issuers’
Obligation to Issue Letters of Credit.
No
Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit
if:
(i) any
order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator
shall by
its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuer from issuing such
Letter of
Credit, or any law applicable to such Issuer or any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority
with
jurisdiction over such Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such Issuer
refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter
of
Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuer with respect to
such
Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for
which such
Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing
Date, or shall impose upon such Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or
expense
which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such Issuer in
good xxxxx
xxxxx material to it;
(ii) the
issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies
of such
Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally; or
(iii) except
as
otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuer,
such
Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than
$250,000.
25
(m) Rights
as a Lender.
In its
capacity as a Lender, each Issuer shall have the same rights and obligations
as
any other Lender.
2.20 Extension
of Facility Termination Date.
(a) Request
for Extension.
The
Borrower may by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly
notify
the Lenders) given not more than 60 days and not less than 45 days
prior to any
anniversary of the Closing Date, request that each Lender extend the
Facility
Termination Date for an additional one year from the then existing
Facility
Termination Date; provided,
that
the Borrower shall only be permitted to exercise this extension option
two times
during the term of the Agreement.
(b) Lenders
Election to Extend.
Each
Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice
to the
Administrative Agent given not later than 15 days following the receipt
of
notice of such request from the Administrative Agent (the “Notice Date”), advise
the Administrative Agent in writing whether or not such Lender agrees
to such
extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Facility
Termination Date (a “Non-Extending Lender”) shall notify the Administrative
Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event
no later
than the Notice Date) and any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative
Agent on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending
Lender.
The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate
any
other Lender to so agree.
(c) Notification
by Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of each Lender’s determination
under this Section no later than the date 15 days after the Notice Date
(or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business
Day).
(d) Additional
Commitment Lenders.
The
Borrower shall have the right on or before the applicable anniversary
of the
Closing Date to replace each Non-Extending Lender with, and add as
“Lenders”
under this Agreement in place
thereof,
one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) as
provided in Section 12.2,
each of
which Additional Commitment Lenders shall have entered into an Assignment
Agreement pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall,
undertake,
a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already
a Lender,
its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender’s Commitment hereunder on
such date)
and
shall be a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement.
(e) Minimum
Extension Requirement.
If all
of the Lenders agree to any such request for extension of the Facility
Termination Date then the Facility Termination for all Lenders shall
be extended
for the additional one year, as applicable. If there exists any Non-Extending
Lenders then the Borrower shall (i) withdraw its extension request
and the
Facility Termination Date will remain unchanged or (ii) provided that
the
Required Lenders (but for the avoidance of doubt, not including any
Additional
Commitment Lenders) have agreed to the extension request (such Lenders
agreeing
to such extension, the “Approving Lenders”), then the Borrower may extend the
Facility Termination Date solely as to the Approving Lenders and the
Additional
Commitment Lenders with a reduced amount of Aggregate Commitments during
such
extension period equal to the aggregate
26
Commitments
of the Approving Lenders and the Additional Commitment Lenders; it
being
understood that (A) the Facility Termination Date relating to any Non-Extending
Lenders not replaced by an Additional Commitment Lender shall not be
extended
and the repayment of all obligations owed to them and the termination
of their
Commitments shall occur on the already existing Facility Termination
Date and
(B) the Facility Termination Date relating to the Approving Lenders
and the
Additional Commitment Lenders shall be extended for an additional year,
as
applicable.
(f) Conditions
to Effectiveness of Extensions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any extension of the Facility Termination
Date
pursuant to this Section shall not be effective with respect to any Lender
unless:
(i) no
Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing
on the date
of such extension and after giving effect thereto;
(ii) the
representations
and
warranties contained in Article
V
are true
and correct on and as of the date of such extension except to the extent
any
such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier
date,
in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true
and correct
on and as of such earlier date; and
(iii) on
any
Facility Termination Date, the Borrower shall prepay any Loans outstanding
on
such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.4)
to the
extent necessary to keep outstanding Loans ratable with any revised
Pro Rata
Shares of the respective Lenders effective as of such date.
ARTICLE
III
YIELD
PROTECTION; TAXES
3.1 Yield
Protection.
If,
on or
after the date of this Agreement, the adoption of any law or any
governmental or
quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline or directive
(whether or
not having the force of law), or any change in the interpretation
or
administration thereof by any governmental or quasi-governmental
authority,
central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation
or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender, any applicable
Lending
Installation or any Issuer with any request or directive (whether
or not having
the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency:
(i) subjects
any Lender, any applicable Lending Installation or any Issuer to
any Taxes, or
changes the basis of taxation of payments (other than with respect
to Excluded
Taxes) to any Lender in respect of its Eurodollar Loans or Letters
of Credit or
participations therein, or
27
(ii) imposes
or increases or deems applicable any reserve, assessment, insurance
charge,
special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits
with or for
the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender, any applicable
Lending
Installation or any Issuer (other than reserves and assessments taken
into
account in determining the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar
Advances),
or
(iii) imposes
any other condition the result of which is to increase the cost to
any Lender,
any applicable Lending Installation or any Issuer of making, funding
or
maintaining its Eurodollar Loans or of issuing or participating in
Letters of
Credit or reduces any amount receivable by any Lender, any applicable
Lending
Installation or any Issuer in connection with its Eurodollar Loans
or Letters of
Credit, or requires any Lender, any applicable Lending Installation
or any
Issuer to make any payment calculated by reference to the amount
of Eurodollar
Loans or Letters of Credit held or interest received by it, by an
amount deemed
material by such Lender or such Issuer, as the case may be,
and
the
result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender,
the
applicable Lending Installation or such Issuer of making or maintaining
its
Eurodollar Loans, Letters of Credit or Commitment or to reduce the
return
received by such Lender, the applicable Lending Installation or such
Issuer in
connection with such Eurodollar Loans, Letters of Credit or Commitment,
then,
within 15 days of demand by such Lender or such Issuer, the Borrower
shall pay
such Lender or such Issuer such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate
such Lender or such Issuer for such increased cost or reduction in
amount
received.
3.2 Changes
in Capital Adequacy Regulations.
If
a
Lender or an Issuer determines the amount of capital required or
expected to be
maintained by such Lender, any Lending Installation of such Lender,
such Issuer
or any corporation controlling such Lender or such Issuer is increased
as a
result of a Change, then, within 15 days of demand by such Lender
or such
Issuer, the Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuer the amount
necessary
to compensate for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion
of such
increased capital which such Lender or such Issuer determines is
attributable to
this Agreement, its Outstanding Credit Exposure or its Commitment
to make Loans
or to issue or participate in Letters of Credit hereunder (after
taking into
account such Lender’s policies as to capital adequacy). “Change” means (i) any
change after the date of this Agreement in (or in the interpretation
of) the
Risk-Based Capital Guidelines or (ii) any adoption of or change in
(or any
change in the interpretation of) any other law, governmental or
quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline, interpretation,
or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) after the date
of this
Agreement which affects the amount of capital required or expected
to be
maintained by any Lender, any Lending Installation, any Issuer or
any
corporation controlling any Lender or any Issuer. “Risk-Based Capital
Guidelines” means (x) the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the United
States on the date of this Agreement, including transition rules,
and (y) the
corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities
outside
the United States implementing the July 1988 report of the Basle Committee
on Banking Regulation and Supervisory Practices Entitled “International
Convergence of Capital
28
Measurements
and Capital Standards,” including transition rules, and any amendments to such
regulations adopted prior to the date of this Agreement.
3.3 Availability
of Types of Advances.
If
(i)
any Lender determines that maintenance of its Eurodollar Loans at
a suitable
Lending Installation would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation,
or
directive, whether or not having the force of law, (ii) the Required
Lenders
determine that (a) deposits of a type and maturity appropriate to
match fund
Eurodollar Advances are not available or (b) the interest rate applicable
to a
Type of Advance does not accurately reflect the cost of making or
maintaining
such Advance or (iii) the Administrative Agent determines that adequate
and
reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Base
Rate, then the
Administrative Agent shall suspend the availability of the affected
Type of
Advance and, in the case of clause (i),
require
any affected Eurodollar Advances to be repaid or converted to Floating
Rate
Advances, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts
required
by Section 3.4.
3.4 Funding
Indemnification.
If
any
conversion, prepayment or payment of a Eurodollar Advance occurs
on a date which
is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period, whether because
of
acceleration, prepayment or otherwise, or a Eurodollar Advance is
not made,
paid, continued or converted on the date or in the amount specified
by the
Borrower for any reason other than default by the Lenders, the Borrower
will
indemnify each Lender for any loss or cost incurred by it resulting
therefrom,
including any loss or cost in liquidating or employing deposits acquired
to fund
or maintain such Eurodollar Advance.
3.5 Taxes.
(i) All
payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender, any
Issuer or the
Administrative Agent hereunder or under any Note shall be made free
and clear of
and without deduction for any and all Taxes. If the Borrower shall
be required
by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable
hereunder to
any Lender, any Issuer or the Administrative Agent, (a) the sum payable
shall be
increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including
deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.5)
such
Lender, such Issuer or the Administrative Agent (as the case may
be) receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions
been made,
(b) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (c) the Borrower shall
pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable
law and
(d) the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original
copy of
a receipt evidencing payment thereof within 30 days after such payment
is
made.
(ii) In
addition, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or future
stamp or
documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges
or similar
levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under any Note
or Letter
of Credit Application or from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise
with
respect to, this Agreement, any Note or any Letter of Credit Application
(“Other
Taxes”).
29
(iii) The
Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and
each Issuer for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including any Taxes
or
Other Taxes imposed on amounts payable under this Section 3.5)
paid by
the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuer and any liability
(including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto. Payments due under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days
of
the date the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuer makes demand
therefor pursuant to Section 3.6.
(iv) Each
Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America
or a state thereof (each a “Non-U.S. Lender”) agrees that it will, not less than
ten Business Days after the date of this Agreement (or, if later, the date
it
becomes a party hereto), (i) deliver to each of the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent two duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, certifying in either case that such Lender
is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes, and (ii) deliver to
each
of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a United States Internal Revenue
Form W-8BEN or W-9, as the case may be, and certify that it is entitled to
an exemption from United States backup withholding tax. Each Non-U.S. Lender
further undertakes to deliver to each of the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent (x) renewals or additional copies of such form (or any successor form)
on
or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete, and (y) after
the
occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms so delivered
by it, such additional forms or amendments thereto as may be reasonably
requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent. All forms or amendments
described in the preceding sentence shall certify that such Lender is entitled
to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of
any
United States federal income taxes, unless an event (including any change in
treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such
delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such forms inapplicable
or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any
such
form or amendment with respect to it and such Lender advises the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without
any deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax.
(v) For
any
period during which a Non-U.S. Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with
an
appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv)
above
(unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental
authority, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was
required to be provided), such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to
indemnification under this Section 3.5
with
respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided
that,
should a Non-U.S. Lender which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced
rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes because of its failure to
deliver a form required under clause (iv)
above,
the Borrower shall take such steps as such Non-U.S. Lender shall reasonably
request to assist such Non-U.S. Lender to recover such Taxes.
(vi) Any
Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax
with respect to payments under this Agreement or any Note pursuant to the law
of
any relevant jurisdiction or any treaty shall deliver to the Borrower (with
a
copy to the Administrative Agent),
30
at
the
time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed
documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to
be
made without withholding or at a reduced rate.
3.6 Lender
Statements; Survival of Indemnity.
To
the
extent reasonably possible and upon the request of the Borrower, each Lender
shall designate an alternate Lending Installation with respect to its Eurodollar
Loans to reduce any liability of the Borrower to such Lender under Sections 3.1,
3.2
and
3.5
or to
avoid the unavailability of Eurodollar Advances under Section 3.3,
so long
as such designation is not, in the judgment of such Lender, disadvantageous
to
such Lender. Each Lender or each Issuer, as applicable, shall deliver a written
statement of such Lender or such Issuer to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) as to any amount due under Section 3.1,
3.2,
3.4
or
3.5.
Such
written statement shall set forth in reasonable detail the calculations upon
which such Lender or such Issuer determined such amount and shall be final,
conclusive and binding on the Borrower in the absence of manifest error.
Determination of amounts payable under such Sections in connection with a
Eurodollar Loan shall be calculated as though each Lender funded its Eurodollar
Loan through the purchase of a deposit of the type and maturity corresponding
to
the deposit used as a reference in determining the Eurodollar Rate applicable
to
such Loan, whether in fact that is the case or not. Unless otherwise provided
herein, the amount specified in the written statement of any Lender or any
Issuer shall be payable on demand after receipt by the Borrower of such written
statement. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections 3.1,
3.2,
3.4
and
3.5
shall
survive payment of the Obligations and termination of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
IV
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
4.1 Initial
Credit Extension.
The
Lenders and the Issuers shall not be required to make the initial Credit
Extension hereunder until the Borrower has furnished the Administrative Agent
with (a) all fees required to be paid to the Lenders on the date hereof,
(b)
evidence that, prior to or concurrently with the initial Credit Extension
hereunder, all obligations under the Existing Credit Facility have been paid
in
full and all commitments to lend thereunder have been terminated and (c)
all of
the following, in form and substance satisfactory to each Agent and each
Lender,
and in sufficient copies for each Lender:
(i) Copies
of
the articles or certificate of incorporation of the Borrower, together with
all
amendments, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Borrower, and a certificate of good standing, certified by the appropriate
governmental officer in its jurisdiction of incorporation, as well as any
other
information that any Lender may request that is required by Section 326 of
the USA PATRIOT ACT or necessary for the Administrative Agent or any Lender
to
verify the identity of the Borrower as required by Section 326 of the USA
PATRIOT ACT.
31
(ii) Copies,
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, of
its
by-laws and of its Board of Directors’ resolutions and of resolutions or actions
of any other body authorizing the execution of the Loan Documents to which
the
Borrower is a party.
(iii) An
incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of
the Borrower, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signatures
of
the Authorized Officers and any other officers of the Borrower authorized
to
sign the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party, upon which certificate
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until
informed of any change in writing by the Borrower.
(iv) A
certificate, signed by the Chief Accounting Officer or the Chief Financial
Officer of the Borrower, stating that on the initial Borrowing Date no Default
or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing.
(v) A
written
opinion of the Borrower’s counsel, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and
its
counsel.
(vi) Executed
counterparts of this Agreement executed by the Borrower and each
Lender.
(vii) Any
Notes
requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.13
payable
to the order of each such requesting Lender.
(viii) If
the
initial Credit Extension will be the issuance of a Letter of Credit, a properly
completed Letter of Credit Application.
(ix) Evidence
of the effectiveness of the Great Plains Credit Agreement, having terms
substantially similar to the terms hereof.
(x) Written
money transfer instructions, in substantially the form of Exhibit C,
addressed to the Administrative Agent and signed by an Authorized Officer
who
has executed and delivered an incumbency certificate in accordance with the
terms hereof, together with such other related money transfer authorizations
as
the Administrative Agent may have reasonably requested.
(xi) Such
other documents as any Lender or its counsel may have reasonably
requested.
4.2 Each
Credit Extension.
The
Lenders shall not be required to make any Credit Extension (other than a
Credit
Extension that, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the
proceeds thereof, does not
32
increase
the aggregate amount of outstanding Credit Extensions) or increase its
Commitment pursuant to any Transfer, unless on the date of such Credit Extension
or Transfer:
(i) No
Default or Unmatured Default exists or would result from such Credit
Extension.
(ii) The
representations and warranties contained in Article V
are true
and correct as of the date of such Credit Extension except to the extent
any
such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier
date,
in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and
correct
on and as of such earlier date; provided
that
this clause (ii)
shall
not apply to the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.5
(as it
relates to clause (i)
or
(ii)
of the
definition of “Material Adverse Effect”), clause (a)
of the
first sentence of Section 5.7
and the
second sentence of Section 5.7
with
respect to any borrowing hereunder which is not part of the Initial Credit
Extension.
Each
delivery of a Borrowing Notice and each request for the issuance of a Letter
of
Credit shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that
the
conditions contained in Sections 4.2(i)
and
(ii)
have
been satisfied. Any Lender may require delivery of a duly completed compliance
certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit A
as a
condition to making a Credit Extension.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
The
Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
5.1 Existence
and Standing.
Each
of
the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership
(in
the case of Subsidiaries only) or limited liability company duly and properly
incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to
the
extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the
laws of
its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite
authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business
is
conducted.
5.2 Authorization
and Validity.
The
Borrower has the power and authority and legal right to execute and deliver
the
Loan Documents and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution
and
delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents and the performance of its
obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper corporate
proceedings, and the Loan Documents constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance
with
their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally.
33
5.3 No
Conflict; Government Consent.
Neither
the execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents, nor the
consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with
the
provisions thereof will violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Borrower or (ii) the
Borrower’s articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws or (iii) the
provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which the Borrower
is a
party or is subject, or by which it, or its Property, is bound, or conflict
with
or constitute a default thereunder, or result in, or require, the creation
or
imposition of any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower pursuant to
the
terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement. No order, consent,
adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing,
recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect
of
any governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which
has not been obtained by the Borrower, is required to be obtained by the
Borrower in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents,
the borrowings under this Agreement, the payment and performance by the Borrower
of the Obligations or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability
of any of the Loan Documents.
5.4 Financial
Statements.
The
June
30, 2005, September 30, 2005, December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006 consolidated
financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries heretofore delivered
to the Lenders were prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly present the
consolidated financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries at such dates and the consolidated results of their operations
for
the periods then ended subject, in the case of the June 30, 2005, September
30,
2005 and March 31, 2006 financial statements, to normal year-end
adjustments.
5.5 Material
Adverse Change.
Since
December 31, 2005, there has been no change in the business, Property,
prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
5.6 Taxes.
The
Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal
tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed
and have paid all taxes due and payable pursuant to said returns or pursuant
to
any assessment received by the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries,
except such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which
adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP and as to which
no
Lien exists. No tax liens have been filed and no material claims are being
asserted against the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary with respect to
any
such taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower
and
its Significant Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental
charges are adequate.
34
5.7 Litigation;
etc.
Except
as
set forth in the Borrower’s ‘34 Act Reports, there is no litigation,
arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or,
to
the knowledge of any of their officers, threatened against or affecting the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which (a) could reasonably be expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay the
making of any Credit Extension. Other than any liability incident to any
litigation, arbitration or proceeding which could not reasonably be expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower has no material contingent
obligations not provided for or disclosed in the financial statements referred
to in Section 5.4.
5.8 ERISA.
The
Borrower and each other member of the Controlled Group has fulfilled its
obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with
respect to each Plan and is in compliance with the presently applicable
provisions of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan, except to the extent
that noncompliance, individually or in the aggregate, has not resulted in and
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither
the Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has (i) sought a
waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code in
respect of any Plan, (ii) failed to make any required contribution or payment
to
any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or made any amendment to any Plan which has
resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond
or
other security under ERISA or the Code or (iii) incurred any liability under
Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under
Section 4007 of ERISA.
5.9 Accuracy
of Information.
No
information, exhibit or report furnished by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender in connection with
the
negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan Documents contained any material
misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary
to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
5.10 Regulation U.
The
Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its
important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock
(as
defined in Regulation U), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing
or carrying margin stock. Margin stock constitutes less than 25% of the value
of
those assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are subject to any
limitation on sale, pledge or other restriction hereunder.
5.11 Material
Agreements.
Neither
the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a party to any agreement or instrument or
subject to any charter or other corporate restriction which is reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
is in
default in the performance,
35
observance
or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained
in
any agreement to which it is a party, which default could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.12 Compliance
With Laws.
The
Borrower and its Subsidiaries have complied with all applicable statutes,
rules,
regulations, orders and restrictions of any domestic or foreign government
or
any instrumentality or agency thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct
of
their respective businesses or the ownership of their respective Property
except
for any failure to comply with any of the foregoing which could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.13 Ownership
of Properties.
On
the
date of this Agreement, the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries will
have
good title, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.12,
to all
of the Property and assets reflected in the Borrower’s most recent consolidated
financial statements provided to the Administrative Agent as owned by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
5.14 Plan
Assets; Prohibited Transactions.
To
the
Borrower’s knowledge, the Borrower is not an entity deemed to hold “plan assets”
within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 of another entity’s
employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is
subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Code), and neither the execution of this Agreement nor
the making of Loans hereunder gives rise to a prohibited transaction within
the
meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code.
5.15 Environmental
Matters.
Except
as
set forth in the Borrower’s ‘34 Act Reports, there are no known risks and
liabilities accruing to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries due to
Environmental Laws that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.16 Investment
Company Act.
Neither
the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an
“investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
5.17 Pari
Passu Indebtedness.
The
Indebtedness under the Loan Documents ranks at least pari passu
with all
other unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower.
36
5.18 Solvency.
As
of the
date hereof and after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents, the Borrower and each Significant Subsidiary
is solvent. For purposes of the preceding sentence, solvent means (a) the
fair
saleable value (on a going concern basis) of the Borrower’s assets or a
Significant Subsidiary’s assets, as applicable, exceed its liabilities,
contingent or otherwise, fairly valued, (b) such Person will be able to pay
its
debts as they become due and (c) such Person will not be left with unreasonably
small capital as is necessary to satisfy all of its current and reasonably
anticipated obligations giving due consideration to the prevailing practice
in
the industry in which such Person is engaged. In computing the amount of
contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities
will be
computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances
existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected
to
become an actual or matured liability. The Borrower is not entering into
the
Loan Documents with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud its current
or
future creditors, nor does the Borrower intend to or believe that it will
incur,
as a result of entering into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
debts
beyond its ability to repay.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
During
the term of this Agreement, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent
in writing:
6.1 Financial
Reporting.
The
Borrower will maintain, for itself and each Subsidiary, a system of accounting
established and administered in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and furnish to the Lenders:
(i) Within
90
days after the close of each of its fiscal years, an unqualified audit report
certified by an independent registered public accounting firm which is a
member
of the “Big Four,” prepared in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis for
itself and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of
the end
of such period and related statements of income, common shareholders’ equity and
cash flows, accompanied by any management letter prepared by said
accountants.
(ii) Within
45
days after the close of the first three quarterly periods of each of its
fiscal
years, for itself and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, either (a) consolidated
and
consolidating unaudited balance sheets as at the close of each such period
and
consolidated and consolidating profit and loss and reconciliation of surplus
statements and a statement of cash flows for the period from the beginning
of
such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all certified by its Chief
Accounting Officer or Chief Financial Officer or (b) if the Borrower is then
a
“registrant” within the meaning of Rule 1-01 of
37
Regulation S-X
of the SEC and required to file a report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, a copy
of the Borrower’s report on Form 10-Q for such quarterly
period.
(iii) Together
with the financial statements required under Sections 6.1(i)
and
(ii),
a
compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit A
signed
by its Chief Accounting Officer or Chief Financial Officer setting forth
calculations of the financial covenants contained in Section 6
and
stating that no Default or Unmatured Default exists, or if any Default or
Unmatured Default exists, stating the nature and status thereof.
(iv) As
soon
as possible and in any event within 10 days after the Borrower or any member
of
the Controlled Group knows that any Reportable Event has occurred with respect
to any Plan, a statement, signed by the Chief Accounting Officer or Chief
Financial Officer of the Borrower, describing said Reportable Event and the
action which the Borrower or member of the Controlled Group proposes to take
with respect thereto.
(v) As
soon
as possible and in any event within two days after receipt of notice by the
Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group of the PBGC’s intention to
terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan,
a copy
of such notice.
(vi) Promptly
upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of the Borrower, copies of
all
financial statements, reports and proxy statements so furnished.
(vii) Promptly
upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements and annual,
quarterly, monthly or other regular reports which the Borrower files with
the
SEC.
(viii) As
soon
as possible, and in any event within three days after an Authorized Officer
of
the Borrower shall have knowledge thereof, notice of any change by Xxxxx’x or
S&P in the senior unsecured debt rating of the Borrower.
(ix) Such
other information (including non-financial information) as the Administrative
Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
The
statements and reports required to be furnished by the Borrower pursuant
to
clauses (ii),
(vi)
and
(vii)
above
shall be deemed furnished for such purpose upon becoming publicly available
on
the SEC’s XXXXX web page.
The
Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or BAS
will
make available to the Lenders and Issuers materials and/or information
provided
by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower
Materials”)
by
posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic
system (the “Platform”)
and
(b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do
not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the
Borrower
or its securities) (each, a “Public
Lender”).
The
Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made
available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC”
which, at a minimum, shall mean
38
that
the
word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking
Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the
Agents, the Arrangers, the Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower
Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect
to
the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and
state
securities laws (provided,
however,
that to
the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Specified Information, they
shall
be treated as set forth in Section 9.11(a));
(y)
all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available
through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the
Administrative Agent and BAS shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials
that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of
the Platform not designated “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Borrower shall be under no obligation to xxxx any Borrower Materials
“PUBLIC.”
6.2 Permits,
Etc.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, take all
reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses
and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business,
except
to the extent failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect; and preserve or renew all of its registered patents,
trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which
could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.3 Use
of Proceeds.
The
Borrower will use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (i) to repay the
Existing Credit Facility and (ii) for the general corporate and working
capital
purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including support for the
Borrower’s commercial paper. The Borrower will not use any of the proceeds of
the Credit Extensions to purchase or carry any margin stock (as defined
in
Regulation U) or to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
margin stock. The Borrower will not permit margin stock to constitute 25%
or
more of the value of those assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
which are
subject to any limitation on sale, pledge or other restriction
hereunder.
6.4 Notice
of Default.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, give prompt notice in
writing
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the occurrence of any Default
or
Unmatured Default and of any other development, financial or otherwise,
which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.5 Conduct
of Business.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, carry on
and
conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially
the
same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted and do all things
necessary to remain duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and
(to the
extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing as a
39
domestic
corporation, partnership or limited liability company in its jurisdiction
of
incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and maintain all requisite
authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business
is
conducted.
6.6 Taxes.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, timely file
United
States federal and applicable foreign, state and local tax returns required
by
law and pay when due all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and
levies
upon it or its income, profits or Property, except those which are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to
which
adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP.
6.7 Insurance.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, maintain
with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates
of
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (other than any captive insurance company)
insurance on all their Properties and business against loss or damage of
the
kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar
business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried
under
similar circumstances by such other Persons, and the Borrower will furnish
to
any Lender upon request full information as to the insurance carried. Such
insurance may be subject to co-insurance, deductibility or similar clauses
which, in effect, result in self-insurance of certain losses; provided
that
such self-insurance is in accord with the customary industry practices
for
Persons in the same or similar businesses and adequate insurance reserves
are
maintained in connection with such self-insurance to the extent required
by
GAAP.
6.8 Compliance
with Laws.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, comply with
all
laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees
or
awards to which it may be subject including all Environmental Laws, the
failure
to comply with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.9 Maintenance
of Properties; Books of Record.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, (i) do all
things
necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep its Property in good
repair,
working order and condition, and make all necessary and proper repairs,
renewals
and replacements so that its business carried on in connection therewith
may be
properly conducted at all times and (ii) keep proper books of record and
account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all material
financial transactions and the assets and business of the Borrower and
each
Significant Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP; provided
that
nothing in this Section shall prevent the Borrower or any Significant
Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of its
Property or equipment if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of such
Person,
desirable in the conduct of its business.
40
6.10 Inspection.
The
Borrower will, and if a Default or Unmatured Default exists, will cause
each
Subsidiary to, permit the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, by their
respective representatives and agents, to inspect any of the Property,
books and
financial records of such Person, to examine and make copies of the books
of
accounts and other financial records of such Person, and to discuss the
affairs,
finances and accounts of such Person with, and to be advised as to the
same by,
such Person’s officers at such reasonable times and intervals as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may designate. After the occurrence
and
during the continuance of a Default, any such inspection shall be at the
Borrower’s expense; at all other times, the Borrower shall not be liable to pay
the expenses of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with
such
inspections.
6.11 Consolidations,
Mergers and Sale of Assets.
The
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Significant Subsidiary to, sell,
lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its
assets
(whether by a single transaction or a number of related transactions and
whether
at one time or over a period of time) or consolidate with or merge into
any
Person or permit any Person to merge into it, except
(i) A
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary may be merged into the Borrower.
(ii) Any
Significant Subsidiary may sell all or substantially all of its assets
to, or
consolidate or merge into, another Significant Subsidiary; provided
that,
immediately before and after such merger, consolidation or sale, no Default
or
Unmatured Default shall exist.
(iii) The
Borrower may sell or transfer accounts receivable pursuant to one or more
securitization transactions.
(iv) The
Borrower may sell all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate
with
or merge into, any other corporation, or permit another corporation to
merge
into it; provided
that (a)
the surviving corporation, if such surviving corporation is not the Borrower,
or
the transferee corporation in the case of a sale of all or substantially
all of
the Borrower’s assets (1) shall be a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof or the District
of
Columbia, (2) shall be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Great Plains, (3) shall
expressly assume in a writing satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
the due
and punctual payment of the Obligations and the due and punctual performance
of
and compliance with all of the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents to be performed or complied with by the Borrower and (4) shall
deliver
all documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 4.1(i),
(ii),
(iii),
(v)
and
(ix),
(b)
immediately before and after such merger, consolidation or sale, there
shall not
exist any Default or Unmatured Default and (c) the surviving corporation
of such
merger or consolidation, or the transferee corporation of the assets of
the
Borrower, as applicable, has, both immediately before and after such
41
merger,
consolidation or sale, a Xxxxx’x Rating of Baa3 or better or an S&P Rating
of BBB - or better.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries will not
convey,
transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or
a series
of transactions, but excluding (a) sales of inventory in the ordinary course
of
business, (b) transactions permitted by clauses
(i)
through
(iv)
above
and (c) transfers by the Borrower of assets related to, or ownership interests
in, Iatan 2 to co-owners of Iatan 2 pursuant to the co-ownership, co-operating
or other similar agreements of the co-owners of Iatan 2) in the aggregate
within
any 12-month period, more than 20% of the aggregate book value of the assets
of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as calculated as of the
end of
the most recent fiscal quarter.
6.12 Liens.
The
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Significant Subsidiary to, create,
incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower
or
any of its Significant Subsidiaries, except:
(i) Liens
for
taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on its Property if
the same
shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty,
or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and
for
which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside
on its
books.
(ii) Liens
imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’ and landlords’
liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business
which
secure payment of obligations not more than 60 days past due or which are
being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves shall have been set aside on its books.
(iii) Liens
arising out of pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business under
worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other
social security or retirement benefits, or similar legislation, other than
any
Lien imposed under ERISA.
(iv) Liens
incidental to the normal conduct of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary
or the ownership or leasing of its Property or the conduct of the ordinary
course of its business, including (a) zoning restrictions, easements, building
restrictions, rights of way, reservations, restrictions on the use of real
property and such other encumbrances or charges against real property as
are of
a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character
and which are not substantial in amount and do not in any material way
affect
the marketability of the same, (b) rights of lessees and lessors under
leases,
(c) rights of collecting banks having rights of setoff, revocation, refund
or
chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Borrower or any
Significant Subsidiary on deposit with or in the possession of such banks,
(d)
Liens or deposits to secure the performance of statutory obligations, tenders,
bids, contracts,
42
leases,
progress payments, performance or return-of-money bonds, surety and appeal
bonds, performance or other similar bonds, letters of credit, or other
obligations of a similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of business,
and
(e) Liens required by any contract or statute in order to permit the Borrower
or
Significant Subsidiary to perform any contract or subcontract made by it
with or
pursuant to the requirements of a governmental entity, in each case which
are
not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of
advances of credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of Property
and
which do not in the aggregate impair the use of Property in the operation
of the
business of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
(v) Liens
arising under the General Mortgage Indenture and Deed of Trust Dated
December 1, 1986 from the Borrower to UMB, N.A.
(vi) Liens
on
Property of the Borrower existing on the date hereof and any renewal or
extension thereof; provided
that the
Property covered thereby is not increased and any renewal or extension
of the
obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by this
Agreement.
(vii) Judgment
Liens which secure payment of legal obligations that would not constitute
a
Default under Section 7.9.
(viii) Liens
on
Property acquired by the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary after the
date
hereof, existing on such Property at the time of acquisition thereof (and
not
created in anticipation thereof); provided
that in
any such case no such Lien shall extend to or cover any other Property
of the
Borrower or such Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be.
(ix) Liens
on
the Property, revenues and/or assets of any Person that exist at the time
such
Person becomes a Significant Subsidiary and the continuation of such Liens
in
connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the obligations secured
by
such Liens.
(x) Liens
on
Property securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed at the time of, or within
12
months after, the acquisition of such Property for the purpose of financing
all
or any part of the cost of acquiring such Property; provided
that (a)
such Lien attaches to such Property concurrently with or within 12 months
after
the acquisition thereof, (b) such Lien attaches solely to the Property
so
acquired in such transaction and (c) the principal amount of the Indebtedness
secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value determined
at the
date of incurrence, whichever is lower, of the Property being acquired
on the
date of acquisition.
(xi) Liens
on
any improvements to Property securing Indebtedness incurred to provide
funds for
all or part of the cost of such improvements in a principal amount not
exceeding
the cost of construction of such improvements and incurred within 12 months
after completion of such improvements or construction, provided that such
Liens
do not
43
extend
to
or cover any property of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary other
than
such improvements.
(xii) Liens
to
government entities granted to secure pollution control or industrial revenue
bond financings, which Liens in each financing transaction cover only Property
the acquisition or construction of which was financed by such financings
and
Property related thereto.
(xiii) Liens
on
or over gas, oil, coal, fissionable material, or other fuel or fuel products
as
security for any obligations incurred by such Person (or any special purpose
entity formed by such Person) for the sole purpose of financing the acquisition
or storage of such fuel or fuel products or, with respect to nuclear fuel,
the
processing, reprocessing, sorting, storage and disposal thereof.
(xiv) Liens
on
(including Liens arising out of the transfer or sale of, or financings
secured
by) accounts receivable and/or contracts which will give rise to accounts
receivable of the Borrower; and other Liens on (including Liens arising
out of
the transfer or sale of, or financings secured by) accounts receivable
and/or
contracts which will give rise to accounts receivable of any Subsidiary
in an
aggregate amount not at any time exceeding $10,000,000.
(xv) Liens
on
Property or assets of a Significant Subsidiary securing obligations owing
to the
Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary.
(xvi) Liens
on
Property of the Borrower arising in connection with utility co-ownership,
co-operating and similar agreements that are consistent with the utilities
business and ancillary operations.
(xvii) Liens
on
assets held by entities which are required to be included in the Borrower’s
consolidated financial statements solely as a result of the application
of
Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46R, as it may
be
amended or supplemented.
(xviii) Liens
securing Swap Contracts permitted to be incurred under this
Agreement.
(xix) Liens
securing any extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness
secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (viii), (ix),
(x),
(xi), (xii), (xiii) and (xx); provided that (A) such new Lien shall be
limited
to all or part of the same Property that secured the original Lien (plus
improvements on such Property) and (B) the amount secured by such Lien
at such
time is not increased to any amount greater than the amount outstanding
at the
time of such renewal, replacement or refinancing.
(xx) Liens
which would otherwise not be permitted by clauses
(i)
through
(xix)
securing
additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary;
provided
that
after giving effect thereto the aggregate unpaid
44
principal amount of Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries (including prepayment premiums and penalties) secured by Liens permitted by this clause (xv) shall not exceed the greater of (a) $35,000,000 and (b) 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
6.13 Affiliates.
Except
to
the extent required by applicable law with respect to transactions among
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the Borrower will not, and will not permit
any
Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction (including the purchase or sale
of any
Property or service) with, or make any payment or transfer to, any Affiliate
except in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the reasonable
requirements of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and
reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than
the
Borrower or such Subsidiary would obtain in a comparable arms-length
transaction.
6.14 ERISA.
The
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Significant Subsidiary to, (i)
voluntarily terminate any Plan, so as to result in any material liability
of the
Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary to the PBGC or (ii) enter into any
Prohibited Transaction (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code and in
Section 406 of ERISA) involving any Plan which results in any liability of
the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to cause a Material Adverse Effect or
(iii)
cause any occurrence of any Reportable Event which results in any liability
of
the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary to the PBGC that could reasonably
be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to cause a Material Adverse
Effect
or (iv) allow or suffer to exist any other event or condition known to
the
Borrower which results in any material liability of the Borrower or any
Significant Subsidiary to the PBGC.
6.15 Total
Indebtedness to Total Capitalization.
The
Borrower shall at all times cause the ratio of (i) Total Indebtedness to
(ii)
Total Capitalization to be less than or equal to 0.65 to 1.0.
6.16 Restrictions
on Subsidiary Dividends.
The
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Significant Subsidiary to, be
a party
to any agreement prohibiting or restricting the ability of such Significant
Subsidiary to declare or pay dividends to the Borrower; provided
that the
foregoing provisions of this Section
6.16
shall
not prohibit the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary from entering into
any
debt instrument containing a total debt to capitalization covenant.
45
ARTICLE
VII
DEFAULTS
The
occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a
Default:
7.1 Any
representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower
to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this
Agreement, any Loan, or any certificate or information delivered in connection
with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be materially false on
the
date as of which made.
7.2 Nonpayment
of principal of any Loan when due, nonpayment of any Reimbursement Obligations
within one Business Day after the same becomes due, or nonpayment of interest
upon any Loan or of any fee or other obligation under any of the Loan Documents
within three Business Days after the same becomes due.
7.3 The
breach by the Borrower of any of the terms or provisions of Section 6.3,
6.10
(with
respect to the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.11,
6.12,
6.13,
6.15
or
6.16.
7.4 The
breach by the Borrower (other than a breach which constitutes a Default under
another Section of this Article VII)
of any
of the terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within 30
days after the earlier of (a) the Borrower becoming aware of such breach and
(b)
receipt by the Borrower of written notice from the Administrative Agent or
any
Lender; provided
that if
such breach is capable of cure but (i) cannot be cured by payment of money
and
(ii) cannot be cured by diligent efforts within such 30-day period, but such
diligent efforts shall be properly commenced within such 30-day period and
the
Borrower is diligently pursuing, and shall continue to pursue diligently, remedy
of such failure, the cure period shall be extended for an additional 90 days,
but in no event beyond the Facility Termination Date.
7.5 Failure
of the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay when due any
Indebtedness aggregating in excess of $25,000,000 (“Material Indebtedness”); or
the default by the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in the
performance of any term, provision or condition contained in any agreement
under
which any such Material Indebtedness was created or is governed, or any other
event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or event
is to
cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness to
cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;
or
any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or repurchased
(other than by a regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated maturity
thereof; or the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall not pay,
or admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become
due.
7.6 The
Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall (i) have an order for
relief entered with respect to it under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now
or
hereafter in effect, (ii) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors,
(iii)
apply for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver,
custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it
46
or
any
Substantial Portion of its Property, (iv) institute any proceeding seeking
an
order for relief under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect
or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution,
winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to file an answer or other pleading
denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (v)
take any corporate, partnership or limited liability company action to authorize
or effect any of the foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.6
or (vi)
fail to contest in good faith any appointment or proceeding described in
Section 7.7.
7.7 Without
the application, approval or consent of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
a receiver, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed
for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Substantial Portion of its
Property, or a proceeding described in Section 7.6(iv)
shall be
instituted against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and such appointment
continues undischarged or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed
for
a period of 30 consecutive days.
7.8 Any
court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize or otherwise
appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of the Property
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which, when taken together with all other
Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries so condemned, seized,
appropriated, or taken custody or control of, during the twelve-month period
ending with the month in which any such action occurs, constitutes a Substantial
Portion.
7.9 The
Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall fail within 30 days to
pay, bond or otherwise discharge (i) any judgment or order for the payment
of
money in excess of $25,000,000 (either singly or in the aggregate with other
such judgments) or (ii) any non-monetary final judgment that has, or could
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, in either case which
is not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good
faith.
7.10 A
Change
of Control shall occur.
7.11 A
Reportable Event shall have occurred with respect to a Plan which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and, 30 days after
notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative
Agent
or any Lender, such Reportable Event shall still exist.
7.12 Any
authorization or approval or other action by any governmental authority or
regulatory body required for the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower shall fail to have been
obtained or be terminated, revoked or rescinded or shall otherwise no longer
be
in full force and effect, and such occurrence shall (i) adversely affect the
enforceability of the Loan Documents against the Borrower and (ii) to the extent
that such occurrence can be cured, shall continue for five days.
47
7.13 Great
Plains shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding stock
of the Borrower which, in the absence of any contingency, has the right to
vote
in an election of directors of the Borrower.
ARTICLE
VIII
ACCELERATION,
WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES
8.1 Acceleration;
Letter of Credit Account.
(a) If
any
Default described in Section 7.6
or
7.7
occurs
with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
hereunder and the obligation and power of the Issuers to issue Letters of Credit
shall automatically terminate and the Obligations shall immediately become
due
and payable without any election or action on the part of the Administrative
Agent, any Lender or any Issuer and the Borrower will be and become thereby
unconditionally obligated, without any further notice, act or demand, to pay
to
the Administrative Agent an amount in immediately available funds, which funds
shall be held in the LC Collateral Account, equal to the excess of (i) the
amount of Letter of Credit Obligations at such time over (ii) the amount on
deposit in the LC Collateral Account at such time which is free and clear of
all
rights and claims of third parties and has not been applied against the
Obligations (such difference, the “Collateral Shortfall Amount”). If any other
Default occurs, the Administrative Agent may with the consent, or shall at
the
request, of the Required Lenders, (x) terminate or suspend the obligations
of
the Lenders to make Loans hereunder and the obligation and power of the Issuers
to issue Letters of Credit, or declare the Obligations to be due and payable,
or
both, whereupon the Obligations shall become immediately due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which the
Borrower hereby expressly waives, and (y) upon notice to the Borrower and in
addition to the continuing right to demand payment of all amounts payable under
this Agreement, make demand on the Borrower to pay, and the Borrower will,
forthwith upon such demand and without any further notice or act, pay to the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds the Collateral Shortfall
Amount, which funds shall be deposited in the LC Collateral
Account.
If
(a)
within 30 days after acceleration of the maturity of the Obligations or
termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder as a
result of any Default (other than any Default as described in Section 7.6
or
7.7
with
respect to the Borrower) and (b) before any judgment or decree for the payment
of the Obligations due shall have been obtained or entered, the Required Lenders
(in their sole discretion) shall so direct, the Administrative Agent shall,
by
notice to the Borrower, rescind and annul such acceleration and/or
termination.
8.2 Amendments.
Subject
to the provisions of this Article VIII,
the
Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent in writing of
the
Required Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into agreements supplemental hereto
for the purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan Documents
or
changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower hereunder
or
waiving any Default hereunder; provided
that no
such supplemental agreement shall:
48
(i) Extend
the final maturity of any Loan or the expiry date of any Letter of Credit to
a
date after the Facility Termination Date or forgive all or any portion of the
principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment
of
interest or fees thereon, without the consent of each Lender directly affected
thereby.
(ii) Reduce
the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, without the
consent of each Lender directly affected thereby.
(iii) Increase
the amount of the Commitment of any Lender without the consent of such Lender
(except as provided for in Section
2.6),
or
extend the Facility Termination Date (except as provided for in Section
2.20),
reduce
the amount or extend the payment date for, the mandatory payments required
under
Section 2.2,
or
permit the Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement without the
consent of each Lender directly affected thereby.
(iv) Amend
this Section 8.2
without
the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby.
(v) Release
any funds from the LC Collateral Account, except to the extent such release
is
expressly permitted hereunder without the consent of each Lender directly
affected thereby.
No
amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Administrative
Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Administrative
Agent, and no amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to any
Issuer shall be effective without the written consent of such Issuer. The
Administrative Agent may waive payment of the fee required under Section 12.1(b)
without
obtaining the consent of any other party to this Agreement.
8.3 Preservation
of Rights.
No
delay
or omission of the Lenders, the Issuers or the Administrative Agent to exercise
any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such right or be construed
to be
a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and the making of a Credit
Extension notwithstanding the existence of a Default or the inability of the
Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent to such Credit Extension shall
not
constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any single or partial exercise of any
such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents whatsoever shall be valid unless
in writing signed by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.2,
and
then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All remedies
contained in the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be cumulative and
all
shall be available to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuers
until the Obligations have been paid in full.
49
ARTICLE
IX
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
9.1 Survival
of Representations.
All
representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in this Agreement
shall
survive the making of the Credit Extensions herein contemplated.
9.2 Governmental
Regulation.
Anything
contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall
be
obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any limitation
or
prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.
9.3 Headings.
Section headings
in the Loan Documents are for convenience of reference only, and shall not
govern the interpretation of any of the provisions of the Loan
Documents.
9.4 Entire
Agreement.
The
Loan
Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding among the Borrower,
the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuers and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
the
Lenders and the Issuers relating to the subject matter thereof.
9.5 Several
Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement.
The
respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint
and no
Lender shall be the partner or agent of any other (except to the extent to
which
the Administrative Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any
Lender to perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any
other
Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be
construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than
the
parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns;
provided
that the
parties hereto expressly agree that each Arranger shall enjoy the benefits
of
the provisions of Sections 9.6,
9.10
and
10.7
to the
extent specifically set forth therein and shall have the right to enforce
such
provisions on its own behalf and in its own name to the same extent as if
it
were a party to this Agreement.
9.6 Expenses;
Indemnification.
(i) The
Borrower shall reimburse the Agents and the Arrangers for any reasonable
costs
and expenses (including fees and charges of outside counsel for the Agents)
paid
or incurred by the Agents or the Arrangers in connection with the preparation,
negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication, distribution (including via
the
internet), review, amendment,
50
modification,
and administration of the Loan Documents. The Borrower also agrees to reimburse
each Agent, each Arranger, each Lender and each Issuer for any reasonable
costs,
internal charges and expenses (including fees and charges of attorneys for
such
Agent, such Arranger, such Lender and such Issuer, which attorneys may be
employees of such Agent, such Arranger, such Lender or such Issuer) paid
or
incurred by either Agent, either Arranger, any Lender or any Issuer in
connection with the collection and enforcement, attempted enforcement, and
preservation of rights and remedies under, any of the Loan Documents (including
all such costs and expenses incurred during any “workout” or restructuring in
respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding).
(ii) The
Borrower hereby further agrees to indemnify each Agent, each Arranger, each
Lender, each Issuer, their respective affiliates and the directors, officers
and
employees of the foregoing against all losses, claims, damages, penalties,
judgments, liabilities and expenses (including all expenses of litigation
or
preparation therefor whether or not either Agent, either Arranger, any Lender
or
any Issuer or any affiliate is a party thereto) which any of them may pay
or
incur arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents,
the transactions contemplated hereby or the direct or indirect application
or
proposed application of the proceeds of any Credit Extension hereunder except
to
the extent that they are determined in a final non-appealable judgment by
a
court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence
or
willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification. In the case of any
investigation, litigation or proceeding to which the indemnity in this
Section applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such
investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by a third party, by the
Borrower or by any affiliate of the Borrower. The obligations of the Borrower
under this Section 9.6
shall
survive the payment of the Obligations and termination of this
Agreement.
(iii) To
the
extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount
required under subsection (i) or (ii) of this Section to be paid
by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Issuer
or any
Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay
to
the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuer or such Related
Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the
time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought)
of
such unpaid amount, provided
that the
unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related
expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or any Issuer in its capacity
as
such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or any Issuer in connection
with
such capacity.
9.7 Numbers
of Documents.
All
statements, notices, closing documents, and requests hereunder shall be
furnished to the Administrative Agent with sufficient counterparts so that
the
Administrative Agent may furnish one to each of the Lenders.
51
9.8 Accounting.
Except
as
provided to the contrary herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be
interpreted and all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made in
accordance with GAAP.
9.9 Severability
of Provisions.
Any
provision in any Loan Document that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable,
or
invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative,
unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that
jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision
in
any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents
are
declared to be severable.
9.10 Nonliability
of Lenders.
The
relationship between the Borrower on the one hand and the Lenders, the Issuers
and the Agents on the other hand shall be solely that of borrower and lender.
None of either Agent, either Arranger, any Lender or any Issuer shall have
any
fiduciary responsibilities to the Borrower. None of either Agent, either
Arranger, any Lender or any Issuer undertakes any responsibility to the Borrower
to review or inform the Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase
of
the Borrower’s business or operations. The Borrower agrees that none of either
Agent, either Arranger, any Lender or any Issuer shall have liability to
the
Borrower (whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered
by the Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related
to,
the transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan
Documents, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith,
unless it is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction that such losses resulted from the gross negligence
or
willful misconduct of the party from which recovery is sought. None of either
Agent, either Arranger, any Lender, any Issuer or any Related Party of any
of
the foregoing Persons shall have any liability with respect to, and the Borrower
hereby waives, releases and agrees not to xxx for, any special, indirect,
consequential or punitive damages suffered by the Borrower in connection
with,
arising out of, or in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions
contemplated thereby. None of either Agent, either Arranger, any Lender,
any
Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons shall be liable
for
any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information
or
other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic
or
other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement
or the
other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
except
to the extent such recipient receives such information due to the gross
negligence of the party from which recovery is sought.
9.11 Limited
Disclosure.
(a) Neither
the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may disclose to any Person any Specified
Information (as defined below) except (i) to its, and its Affiliates’, officers,
employees, agents, accountants, legal counsel, advisors and other
representatives who have a need to know such Specified Information (it being
understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is
52
made
will
be informed of the confidential nature of such Specified Information and
instructed to keep such Specified Information confidential) or (ii) with
the
Borrower’s prior consent. “Specified Information” means information that the
Borrower furnishes to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that is designated
in writing as confidential, but does not include any such information that
is or
becomes generally available to the public or that is or becomes available
to the
Administrative Agent or such Lender from a source other than the
Borrower.
(b) The
provisions of clause (a)
above
shall not apply to Specified Information (i) that is a matter of general
public
knowledge or has heretofore been or is hereafter published in any source
generally available to the public, (ii) that is required to be disclosed
by law,
regulation or judicial order, (iii) that is requested by any regulatory body
with jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or (iv) that
is
disclosed (A) to legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors
to
such Lender, (B) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy
hereunder or under any Note or any suit or other litigation or proceeding
relating to this Agreement or any Note, (C) to a rating agency if required
by
such agency in connection with a rating relating to Credit Extensions hereunder
or (D) to assignees or participants or potential assignees or participants
who
agree to be bound by the provisions of this Section 9.11.
9.12 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, the Lenders will ask for the Borrower’s name, tax
identification number, business address and other information that will allow
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to identify the Borrower. The
Administrative Agent and the Lenders may also ask to see the Borrower’s legal
organizational documents or other identifying documents.
9.13 Nonreliance.
Each
Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin
stock (as defined in Regulation U of the FRB) for the repayment of the
Loans provided for herein.
9.14 No
Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
In
connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the
Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’
understanding, that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any
related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in
connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of
any
other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the
Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agents and the Arrangers,
on the other hand, and the
53
Borrower
is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the
terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by
the
other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification
hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such
transaction, each Agent and Arranger is and has been acting solely as a
principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower
or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other
Person; (iii) no Agent or Arranger has assumed or will assume an advisory,
agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect
to any
of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto,
including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof
or
of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any Agent or Arranger
has
advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on
other
matters) and no Agent or Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower or any
of
its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except
those
obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv)
the
Agents and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in
a
broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those
of the
Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Agent or Arranger has any obligation
to
disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary
relationship; and (v) the Agents and the Arrangers have not provided and
will
not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect
to any
of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver
or
other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Borrower
has
consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent
it has deemed appropriate. The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against any
Agent
and any Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or
fiduciary duty.
ARTICLE
X
THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
10.1 Appointment
and Authority.
Each
of
the Lenders and the Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to
act
on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on
its
behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent
by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as
are
reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely
for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuers,
and
the Borrower shall have no rights as a third party beneficiary of any of
such
provisions.
10.2 Rights
as a Lender.
The
Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same
rights
and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise
the
same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or
“Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context
otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent
hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may
accept
deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other
advisory
54
capacity
for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the
Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to
the
Lenders.
10.3 Exculpatory
Provisions.
The
Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those
expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting
the
generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall
not
be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether
a
Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall
not
have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary
powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby
or
by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to
exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number
or
percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in
the
other Loan Documents), provided
that the
Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its
opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent
to
liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law;
and
(c) shall
not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents,
have
any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose,
any
information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is
communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent
or
any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The
Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken
by it
(i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other
number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the
Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under
the
circumstances as provided in Sections 8.1
and
8.2)
or (ii)
in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default
or
Unmatured Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Unmatured
Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or
an
Issuer.
The
Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain
or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or
in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents
of
any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder
or
in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of
any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein
or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default, (iv) the
validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement,
any
other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v)
the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV
or
elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required
to
be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
55
10.4 Reliance
by Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur
any
liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent,
statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic
message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed
by
it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated
by the
proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement
made to
it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper
Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining
compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance
of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction
of a Lender or an Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such
condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuer unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such
Lender
or such Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter
of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be
counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected
by
it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in
accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or
experts.
10.5 Delegation
of Duties.
The
Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its
rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through
any
one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative
Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise
its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The
exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent
and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent,
and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the
syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities
as Administrative Agent.
10.6 Resignation
of Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the
Lenders, the Issuers and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with
the
Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in
the
United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United
States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required
Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the
retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring
Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuers, appoint
a
successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above;
provided
that if
the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no
qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall
nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the
retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) all
payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or
through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender
and
each Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a
successor Administrative Agent as provided for
56
above
in
this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative
Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all
of
the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired)
Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged
from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan
Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this
Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative
Agent
shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed
between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative
Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions
of this Article and Section 9.6
shall
continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent,
its
sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions
taken
or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent
was acting as Administrative Agent.
Any
resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this
Section shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuer. Upon the
acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a)
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuer, (b) the retiring Issuer
shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under
the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor Issuer shall issue letters
of
credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at
the
time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring
Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuer with
respect
to such Letters of Credit.
10.7 Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
Each
Lender and each Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their
Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this
Agreement. Each Lender and each Issuer also acknowledges that it will,
independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other
Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and
information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make
its
own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished
hereunder or thereunder.
10.8 No
Other Duties, Etc.
Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners or Arrangers
listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or
responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,
except
in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or
an
Issuer hereunder.
10.9 Administrative
Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
In
case
of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial
proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective
of
whether the principal of any Loan or L/C
57
Obligation
shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise
and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any
demand
on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such
proceeding or otherwise
(a) to
file
and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing
and
unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations and all other
Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as
may be
necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuers
and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuers
and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and
all
other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuers and the Administrative Agent under
Sections 2.5,
2.19(d),
and
9.6)
allowed
in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to
collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on
any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and
any
custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other
similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each
Lender and each Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent
and, in
the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuers, to pay to the Administrative
Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and
any
other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.5
and
9.6.
Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any
Issuer
any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting
the
Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative
Agent
to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such
proceeding.
ARTICLE
XI
SETOFF;
RATABLE PAYMENTS
11.1 Setoff.
In
addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the Lenders under
applicable law, if the Borrower becomes insolvent, however evidenced, or
any
Default occurs, any and all deposits (including all account balances, whether
provisional or final and whether or not collected or available) and any
other
Indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender or any Affiliate of
any
Lender to or for the credit or account of the Borrower may be offset and
applied
toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such Lender, whether or
not the
Obligations, or any part hereof, shall then be due.
58
11.2 Ratable
Payments.
If
any
Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise, has payment made to it upon its
Outstanding Credit Exposure (other than payments received pursuant to
Section 3.1,
3.2,
3.4
or
3.5
and
payments made to any Issuer in respect of Reimbursement Obligations so
long as
the Lenders have not funded their participations therein) in a greater
proportion than that received by any other Lender, such Lender agrees,
promptly
upon demand, to purchase a portion of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit
Exposure
held by the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will
hold its
Pro Rata Share of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. If any Lender,
whether in connection with setoff or amounts which might be subject to
setoff or
otherwise, receives collateral or other protection for its Obligations
or such
amounts which may be subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly upon
demand, to take such action necessary such that all Lenders share in the
benefits of such collateral ratably in accordance with their respective
Pro Rata
Shares. In case any such payment is disturbed by legal process, or otherwise,
appropriate further adjustments shall be made.
ARTICLE
XII
BENEFIT
OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS
12.1 Successors
and Assigns.
(a) The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted
hereby,
except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its
rights
or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any
of its
rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance
with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of
participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this
Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest
subject
to the restrictions of subsection (d) of this Section (and any other attempted
assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing
in
this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon
any
Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and
assigns
permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)
of this
Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties
of
each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuers and the Lenders) any legal
or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement.
(b) Any
Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or
a portion
of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion
of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection
(b)
participations in Letter of Credit Obligations) at the time owing to it);
provided
that
(i) except
in
the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning
Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an
assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund
with
respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for
this
purpose includes Loans
59
outstanding
thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal
outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each
such
assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment Agreement with respect
to
such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is
specified in the Assignment Agreement, as of the Trade Date, shall not
be less
than $5,000,000 unless
each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default has occurred
and is
continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided,
however,
that
concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent
assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee
(or
to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated
as a
single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount
has
been met;
(ii) each
partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part
of all
the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect
to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;
(iii) any
assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent
and the
Issuers unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender
(whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible
Assignee);
(iv) such
Lender shall at the same time enter into an Assignment Agreement (as defined
in
the Great Plains Credit Agreement) with the same Eligible Assignee(s) in
an
amount representing an equal proportion of such Lender’s Commitment (as defined
in the Great Plains Credit Agreement) under the Great Plains Credit Agreement;
and
(v) the
parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent
an Assignment Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee
in the
amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule
III,
and the
Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
Subject
to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant
to
subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment Agreement, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be
a party
to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment
Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement,
and
the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned
by
such Assignment Agreement, be released from its obligations under this
Agreement
(and, in the case of an Assignment Agreement covering all of the assigning
Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to
be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of
Sections 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, and 9.6 with respect to facts and circumstances
occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request,
the
Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee
Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations
under
this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated
for
purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such
60
Lender
of
a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with
subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) The
Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the
Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each
Assignment Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation
of the
names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal
amounts of the Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations owing to, each Lender
pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in
the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and
the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register
pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of
this
Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for inspection by each of the Borrower and the Issuers at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In
addition,
at any time that a request for a consent for a material or substantive
change to
the Loan Documents is pending, any Lender may request and receive from
the
Administrative Agent a copy of the Register.
(d) Any
Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower
or
the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than
a
natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or
Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s
rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion
of
its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in
Letter of Credit Obligations) owing to it); provided
that
(i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged,
(ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties
hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuers shall continue to deal
solely
and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and
obligations under this Agreement.
Any
agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation
shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this
Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement; provided
that
such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without
the
consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification
described in the proviso to Section 8.2
that
affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the
Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits
of
Sections 3.1, 3.4 and 3.5 to
the
same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law,
each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section 11.1 as
though
it were a Lender, provided
such
Participant agrees to be subject to Section 11.2 as though it were a
Lender.
(e) A
Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under
Section 3.1 or 3.5 than
the
applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the
participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation
to
such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A
Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not
be
entitled to the benefits of Section 3.5 unless the Borrower is notified
61
of
the
participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for
the
benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.5(iv) as though it were a
Lender.
(f) Any
Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if
any) to
secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to
secure
obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided
that no
such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as
a party
hereto.
(g) The
words
“execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment
Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping
of
records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect,
validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use
of a
paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and
as
provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures
in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures
and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic
Transactions Act.
(h)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time
Bank
of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to
subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, upon 30 days’ notice to the
Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an Issuer. In the event of any such
resignation as an Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from
among
the Lenders another Issuer hereunder; provided,
however,
that no
failure by the Borrower to appoint any such Issuer shall affect the resignation
of Bank of America as an Issuer. If Bank of America resigns as an Issuer,
it
shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an Issuer
hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective
date of its resignation as Issuer and all Letter of Credit Obligations
with
respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to fund risk
participations pursuant to Section 2.19(e)).
12.2 Replacement
of Lenders.
If
(i)
any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.1, (ii) the Borrower is
required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any governmental
authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.4 or (iii)
any Lender is a Non-Extending Lender pursuant to Section 2.20(b), then
the
Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender
and the
Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without
recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained
in, and
consents required by, Section 12.1(b)), all of its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible
Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Eligible Assignee may
be
another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided
that:
(a) the
Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee
specified in Section 12.1(b);
62
(b) such
Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Loans and participations, accrued interest thereon, accrued
fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other
Loan
Documents from such Eligible Assignee (to the extent of such outstanding
principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of
all
other amounts);
(c) in
the
case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.1
or
payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.4,
such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments
thereafter; and
(d) such
assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A
Lender
shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior
thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances
entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease
to
apply.
ARTICLE
XIII
NOTICES
13.1 Notices.
Except
as
otherwise permitted by Section 2.14
with
respect to borrowing notices, all notices, requests and other communications
to
any party hereunder shall be in writing (including electronic transmission,
facsimile transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party:
(i)
in the case of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at its address
or
facsimile number set forth on Schedule
IV,
(ii) in
the case of any Lender, at its address or facsimile number specified in
its
Administrative Questionnaire or (iii) in the case of any party, at such
other
address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the
purpose
by notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in accordance with
the
provisions of this Section 13.1.
Each
such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (a) if given
by
facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the facsimile number specified
in
this Section and confirmation of receipt is received, (b) if given by mail,
72 hours after such communication is deposited in the mails with first
class
postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, or (c) if given by any other means,
when delivered (or, in the case of electronic transmission, received) at
the
address specified in this Section; provided
that
notices to the Administrative Agent under Article II
shall
not be effective until received.
13.2 Change
of Address.
The
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and any Lender may each change the address
for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties
hereto.
63
ARTICLE
XIV
COUNTERPARTS
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto
may
execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. This Agreement
shall be
effective when it has been executed by the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent
and the Lenders and each party has notified the Administrative Agent by
facsimile transmission or telephone that it has taken such action.
ARTICLE
XV
OTHER
AGENTS
No
Lender
identified on the cover page, the signature pages or otherwise in this
Agreement, or in any document related hereto, as being the “Syndication Agent”
or a “Co-Documentation Agent” shall have any right, power, obligation,
liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement in such capacity
other
than those applicable to all Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges that it
has not
relied, and will not rely, on the Syndication Agent or any Co-Documentation
Agent in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or refraining
from
taking any action hereunder or pursuant hereto.
ARTICLE
XVI
CHOICE
OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
16.1 CHOICE
OF LAW.
THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND
NOT THE
LAW OF CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL
LAWS
APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.
16.2 CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION.
THE
BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF
ANY
UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY,
NEW YORK
IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT
AND THE
BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION
OR
PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES
ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH
SUIT,
ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY ISSUER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS
64
AGAINST
THE BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING
BY
THE BORROWER AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE
OF
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,
ANY
MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK.
16.3 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
THE
BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH LENDER AND EACH ISSUER HEREBY
WAIVE
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,
ANY
MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING
OUT
OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP
ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.
ARTICLE
XVII
TERMINATION
OF EXISTING CREDIT FACILITY
Lenders
which are parties to the Existing Credit Facility (and which constitute
“Required Lenders” under and as defined in the Existing Credit Facility) hereby
waive any advance notice requirement for terminating the commitments under
the
Existing Credit Facility, and the Borrower and the applicable Lenders agree
that
the Existing Credit Facility and the commitments thereunder shall be terminated
on the date hereof (except for any provisions thereof which by their terms
survive termination thereof).
65
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Issuers and the Agents have
executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
KANSAS
CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Treasurer
and Chief Risk Officer
|
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
an Issuer and as a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent, as an Issuer and as a
Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
BNP
PARIBAS,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxxxx
X. XxXxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. XxXxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Managing
Director
|
|
By:
|
/s/Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Director
|
THE
BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LIMITED, CHICAGO BRANCH,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Tsuguyuki
Umene
|
|
Name:
|
Tsuguyuki
Umene
|
|
Title:
|
Deputy
General Manager
|
WACHOVIA
BANK N.A.,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
BANK
OF NEW YORK,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxx-Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Managing
Director
|
KEYBANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
THE
BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Managing
Director
|
UMB
BANK, N.A.,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
COMMERCE
BANK, N.A.,
as
a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/R.
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xx.
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xx.
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|