$700,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT
among
KEYSPAN CORPORATION,
as Borrower,
The Several Lenders
from Time to Time Parties Hereto,
CITIBANK, N.A,.
as Syndication Agent,
EUROPEAN AMERICAN BANK,
as Documentation Agent,
and
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Administrative Agent
Dated as of October 30, 2000
CHASE SECURITIES INC,
Lead Arranger and Book Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Section 1 DEFINITIONS.....................................................................................1
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1.1 Defined Terms...................................................................................1
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1.2 Other Definitional Provisions..................................................................14
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Section 2 AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS................................................................15
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2.1 Commitments....................................................................................15
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2.2 Competitive Bid Procedure......................................................................15
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2.3 Procedure for Loan Borrowing...................................................................17
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2.4 Facility Fees, etc.............................................................................17
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2.5 Termination or Reduction of Commitments........................................................17
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2.6 Optional Prepayments...........................................................................18
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2.7 Conversion and Continuation Options............................................................18
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2.8 Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches.............................................................18
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2.9 Interest Rates and Payment Dates...............................................................19
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2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees...............................................................19
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2.11 Inability to Determine Interest Rate...........................................................19
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2.12 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments................................................................20
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2.13 Requirements of Law............................................................................21
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2.14 Taxes..........................................................................................22
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2.15 Indemnity......................................................................................24
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2.16 Change of Lending Office.......................................................................24
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2.17 Replacement of Lenders.........................................................................24
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Section 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................................................................25
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3.1 Financial Condition............................................................................25
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3.2 No Change......................................................................................25
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3.3 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law.......................................................26
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3.4 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations........................................26
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3.5 No Legal Bar...................................................................................26
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3.6 Litigation.....................................................................................26
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3.7 No Default.....................................................................................26
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3.8 Ownership of Property; Liens...................................................................27
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3.9 Intellectual Property..........................................................................27
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3.10 Taxes..........................................................................................27
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3.11 Federal Regulations............................................................................27
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3.12 Labor Matters..................................................................................27
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3.13 ERISA..........................................................................................28
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3.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations......................................................28
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3.15 Subsidiaries...................................................................................28
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3.16 Use of Proceeds................................................................................28
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3.17 Environmental Matters..........................................................................28
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3.18 Accuracy of Information, etc...................................................................29
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Section 4 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT...........................................................................30
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4.1 Conditions to Closing Date.....................................................................30
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4.2 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit......................................................30
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4.3 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit.........................................................31
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Section 5 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS..........................................................................31
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5.1 Financial Statements...........................................................................31
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5.2 Certificates; Other Information................................................................32
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5.3 Payment of Obligations.........................................................................32
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5.4 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance...........................................................32
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5.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance.............................................................33
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5.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions.........................................33
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5.7 Notices........................................................................................33
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5.8 Environmental Laws.............................................................................34
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5.9 Transaction with Affiliates....................................................................34
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Section 6 NEGATIVE COVENANTS.............................................................................34
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6.1 Financial Condition Covenant...................................................................34
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6.2 Liens..........................................................................................34
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6.3 Fundamental Changes............................................................................35
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6.4 Disposition of Property........................................................................36
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6.5 Negative Pledge Clauses........................................................................36
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6.6 Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Subsidiaries..................................36
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Section 7 EVENTS OF DEFAULT..............................................................................36
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Section 8 THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.......................................................................39
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8.1 Appointment....................................................................................39
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8.2 Delegation of Duties...........................................................................39
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8.3 Exculpatory Provisions.........................................................................39
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8.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent...............................................................39
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8.5 Notice of Default..............................................................................40
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8.6 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.........................................40
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8.7 Indemnification................................................................................41
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8.8 Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity................................................41
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8.9 Successor Administrative Agent.................................................................41
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Section 9 MISCELLANEOUS..................................................................................42
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9.1 Amendments and Waivers.........................................................................42
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9.2 Notices........................................................................................42
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9.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.................................................................43
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9.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties.....................................................43
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9.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes..................................................................43
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9.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments.........................................44
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9.7 Adjustments; Set-off...........................................................................46
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9.8 Counterparts...................................................................................46
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9.9 Severability...................................................................................47
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9.10 Integration....................................................................................47
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9.11 GOVERNING LAW..................................................................................47
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9.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers............................................................47
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9.13 Acknowledgements...............................................................................48
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9.14 Confidentiality................................................................................48
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9.15 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL..........................................................................48
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SCHEDULES:
1.1 Commitments
3.4 Consents, Authorizations, Filings and Notices
3.15 Subsidiaries
6.2(f) Existing Liens
6.5 Existing Negative Pledge Clauses
6.6 Existing Limitations on Restrictions on Distributions from Subsidiaries
EXHIBITS:
A Form of Closing Certificate
B Form of Assignment and Acceptance
C Form of Legal Opinion of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.
D Form of Exemption Certificate
CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 30, 2000, among KEYSPAN
CORPORATION, a New York corporation (the "Borrower"), the several banks and
other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this
Agreement (the "Lenders"), CITIBANK, N.A., as syndication agent, EUROPEAN
AMERICAN BANK, as Documentation Agent, and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
administrative agent.
The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1 DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined Xxxxx.Xx used in this Agreement, the terms listed in this
Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.
"ABR": for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary,
to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in
effect on such day, (b) the Base CD Rate in effect on such day plus 1% and
(c) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%.
For purposes hereof: "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of interest per annum
publicly announced from time to time by the Reference Lender as its prime
rate in effect at its principal office in New York City (the Prime Rate not
being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by the Reference
Lender in connection with extensions of credit to debtors); "Base CD Rate"
shall mean the sum of (a) the product of (i) the Three-Month Secondary CD
Rate and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator
of which is one minus the C/D Reserve Percentage and (b) the C/D Assessment
Rate; and "Three-Month Secondary CD Rate" shall mean, for any day, the
secondary market rate for three-month certificates of deposit reported as
being in effect on such day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day,
the next preceding Business Day) by the Board through the public
information telephone line of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (which
rate will, under the current practices of the Board, be published in
Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) during the week following
such day), or, if such rate shall not be so reported on such day or such
next preceding Business Day, the average of the secondary market quotations
for three-month certificates of deposit of major money center banks in New
York City received at approximately 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such
day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, on the next preceding
Business Day) by the Reference Lender from three New York City negotiable
certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by it. Any
change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Three-Month
Secondary CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as
of the opening of business on the effective day of such change in the Prime
Rate, the Three-Month Secondary CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective
Rate, respectively.
"ABR Loans": Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based
upon the ABR.
"Administrative Agent": The Chase Manhattan Bank, together with its
affiliates, as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with any of its
successors.
"Affiliate": as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or
indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" of a Person
means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more of
the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors
(or persons performing similar functions) of such Person or (b) direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether
by contract or otherwise.
"Aggregate Exposure": with respect to any Lender at any time, the
amount of such Lender's Commitments then in effect or, if the Commitments
have been terminated, the amount of such Lender's Loans then outstanding.
"Aggregate Exposure Percentage": with respect to any Lender at any
time, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of such Lender's Aggregate
Exposure at such time to the Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders at such
time.
"Agreement": this Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
"Applicable Margin": for each Type of Loan, the rate per annum set
forth under the relevant column heading below which corresponds with the
most current rating of the Borrower's senior unsecured long-term debt
issued by S&P, Xxxxx'x and/or Fitch respectively; provided that for each
day the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding is greater than the
amount equal to 33% of the Total Commitments, the Applicable Margin then in
effect on all borrowings will be increased by 0.125% per annum.
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Applicable Margin Applicable Margin
Ratings For Eurodollar Loans for ABR Loans
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A/A2 0.305% 0.000%
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A-/A3 0.425% 0.000%
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BBB+/Baa1 0.525% 0.000%
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BBB/Baa2 0.625% 0.000%
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