CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of December 3, 2008 among PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC. as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and The Other Lenders Party Hereto BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole...

CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of December 3, 2008 among PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC. as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and The Other Lenders Party Hereto BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole...

Document Metadata

Table of Contents

Document Metadata

Exhibit 10.5

Published Deal CUSIP Number:

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 3, 2008

among

PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
as the Borrower,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager

Table of Contents


	Section	Page
	ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01	Defined Terms		1
1.02	Other Interpretive Provisions		20
1.03	Accounting Terms		20
1.04	Rounding		21
1.05	Times of Day		21
	ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01	Loans		21
2.02	Borrowings and Conversions of Loans		22
2.03	[Reserved]		23
2.04	[Reserved]		32
2.05	Prepayments		34
2.06	Termination or Reduction of Commitments		35
2.07	Repayment of Loans		36
2.08	Interest		36
2.09	Fees		37
2.10	Computation of Interest and Fees		37
2.11	Evidence of Debt		37
2.12	Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback		38
2.13	Sharing of Payments by Lenders		40
	ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01	Taxes		43
3.02	Illegality		45
3.03	Inability to Determine Rates		45
3.04	Increased Costs		46
3.05	[Reserved]		47
3.06	Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders		48
3.07	Survival		48
	ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01	Conditions of Initial Credit Extension		48
4.02	Conditions to all Credit Extensions		50
	ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


5.01	Existence, Qualification and Power	51
5.02	Authorization; No Contravention	51
5.03	Governmental Authorization; Other Consents	51
5.04	Binding Effect	51
5.05	Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event	51
5.06	Litigation	52
5.07	No Default	52
5.08	Ownership of Property; Liens	52
5.09	Environmental Compliance	52
5.10	Insurance	53
5.11	Taxes	53
5.12	ERISA Compliance	53
5.13	Subsidiaries; Equity Interests	54
5.14	Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act	54
5.15	Disclosure	54
5.16	Compliance with Laws	54
5.17	Taxpayer Identification Number	55
	ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

6.01	Financial Statements	55
6.02	Certificates; Other Information	56
6.03	Notices	57
6.04	Payment of Obligations	58
6.05	Preservation of Existence, Etc	58
6.06	Maintenance of Properties	58
6.07	Maintenance of Insurance	58
6.08	Compliance with Laws	58
6.09	Books and Records	59
6.10	Inspection Rights	59
6.11	Use of Proceeds	59
6.12	Guarantors	59
	ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

7.01	[Reserved]	60
7.02	Fundamental Changes	61
7.03	Change in Nature of Business	62
7.04	Transactions with Affiliates	62
7.05	Burdensome Agreements	62
7.06	Ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization	63
7.07	Amendments to Note Agreements	63


	ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01	Events of Default	63
8.02	Remedies Upon Event of Default	65
8.03	Application of Funds	65

	ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01	Appointment and Authority	66
9.02	Rights as a Lender	67
9.03	Exculpatory Provisions	67
9.04	Reliance by Administrative Agent	68
9.05	Delegation of Duties	68
9.06	Resignation of Administrative Agent	68
9.07	Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders	69
9.08	No Other Duties, Etc	70
9.09	Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim	70
9.10	Guaranty Matters	70

	ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
10.01	Amendments, Etc	71
10.02	Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication	72
10.03	No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies	74
10.04	Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver	74
10.05	Payments Set Aside	76
10.06	Successors and Assigns	76
10.07	Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality	80
10.08	Right of Setoff	81
10.09	Interest Rate Limitation	81
10.10	Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness	81
10.11	Survival of Representations and Warranties	82
10.12	Severability	82
10.13	Replacement of Lenders	82
10.14	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc	83
10.15	Waiver of Jury Trial	84
10.16	No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility	84
10.17	USA PATRIOT Act Notice	85


SIGNATURES					S-1

iii

SCHEDULES

EXHIBITS


				*Form of*
		A		Loan Notice
		B		Note
		C		Compliance Certificate
		D		Assignment and Assumption
		E		Guaranty
		F		Opinion Matters

CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of December 3, 2008, among PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders, which, as of the Closing Date, are $150,000,000.

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

“Alternative Base Rate” means, for all Loans, on any day any such Loan is outstanding, the fluctuating rate of interest (rounded upwards, as necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) 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, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, for Dollar deposits with a term of one month, as adjusted from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion for changes in deposit insurance requirements and other regulatory costs. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Alternative Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative

Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery in immediately available funds in the approximate amount of the Dollar denominated Loans outstanding with a term equivalent to one month would be offered by the Administrative Agent’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on each day any such Loan is outstanding.

“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:


	Applicable Rate
						Applicable Rate for LIBOR
Pricing	Debt Ratings		Applicable Rate for			Floating Rate Loans and
Level	S&P/Xxxxx’x		Commitment Fee			Base RateLoans

1	≥ AA-/Aa3			0.20	%		0.75	%
2		A+/A1		0.20	%		1.00	%
3		A/A2		0.25	%		1.25	%
4		A-/A3		0.30	%		1.50	%
5	≤ BBB+/Baa1			0.40	%		1.75	%

“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Xxxxx’x (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Debt Rating specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vii). Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

“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.

“Arranger” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.

“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

“Assignment and Assumption” 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 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease 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 (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation of any Person, 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 capital lease.

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, including the notes thereto.

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to Section 8.02.

“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the Alternative Base Rate plus 1.00%, and (c) 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.

“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

“BBA LIBOR” means the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate.

“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located.

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.

“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

(a) 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 such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity 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, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

(b) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors).

“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under standby letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, except to the extent such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

“COSO” means the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Xxxxxxxx Commission.

“Credit Extension” means each Borrowing.

“Debt Rating” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Rate.”

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) 2% per annum.

“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into

the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day, 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 LIBOR Daily Floating Rate for each outstanding LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower

hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a).

“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 25, 2006, among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party thereto.

“Federal Funds 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 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 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.

“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated October 9, 2008, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

“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 in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting

Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that, the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Guarantors” means, collectively, each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Regulated Entity.

“Guaranty” means that certain Guaranty Agreement executed by a Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, as supplemented from time to time by execution and delivery of Guaranty Joinder Agreements pursuant to Section 6.12 or otherwise.

“Guaranty Joinder Agreement” means each Guaranty Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form thereof attached to the Guaranty, executed and delivered by a Regulated Entity to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.12.

“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) 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;

(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

(e) 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;

(f) capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

(h) all Guarantees 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 (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any capital lease 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.

“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

“Interest Payment Date” means, as to any Loan, the first Business Day following the end of each month and the Maturity Date.

“Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws.

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case having the force of law.

“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

“LIBOR Daily Floating Rate” means a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:


		LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate
LIBOR Daily Floating Rate	=
		1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

Where,

“LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate” means, for all LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, the fluctuating rate of interest (rounded upwards, as necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the 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, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, for Dollar deposits with a term equivalent to a one month interest period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery in same day funds in the approximate amount of the LIBOR Floating Rate Loan being made or converted and with a term equivalent to a one-month interest period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major

banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on each day any such Loan is outstanding.

“LIBOR Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

“Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter and the Guaranty.

“Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing or (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

“Margin Stock” means “margin stock” as such term is defined in Regulation T, U or X of the FRB.

“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

“Maturity Date” means March 31, 2009, or such earlier date on which the Commitment may terminate in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Medium Term Note Indebtedness” means all indebtedness outstanding under the Medium Term Notes Indenture.

“Medium Term Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture dated as of April 1, 1993 between the Borrower and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee.

“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Related Credit Arrangement, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

“Outstanding Amount” means with respect to Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date.

“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed in the Securities Laws.

“Regulated Entity” means any direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower that is regulated by any state public utility commission.

“Related Credit Arrangements” means, collectively, Related Swap Contracts and Related Treasury Management Arrangements.

“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.

“Related Swap Contract” means a Swap Contract which is entered into or maintained by any Loan Party with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

“Related Treasury Management Arrangement” means an arrangement for the delivery of treasury management services to or for the benefit of any Loan Party which is entered into or maintained with a Lender or Affiliate of a Lender and which is not prohibited by the express terms of the Loan Documents.

“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

“Request for Credit Extension” means with respect to a Borrowing or conversion of Loans, a Loan Notice.

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings; provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

“Responsible Officer” means the president, senior vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, or vice president-chief risk officer of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or

other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

“Restricted Payment” means, with respect to any Person, any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of such Person, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to such Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx” means the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.

“Senior Note Agreements” means, collectively, (i) the Note Agreement dated as of July 30, 1991, and (ii) the Note Agreement dated as of September 21, 1992, for the issuance of $35,000,000 8.51% Senior Notes due September 30, 2017.

“Senior Note Indebtedness” means all indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Note Agreements.

“Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

“Swap Contract” means (a) 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 transactions, 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 (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms 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.

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the xxxx-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) 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 all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

“Threshold Amount” means $35,000,000.

“Total Capitalization” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) Shareholders’ Equity on such date plus (ii) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness on such date.

“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan.

“Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

1.03 Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower’s independent public accountants or otherwise required by a change in GAAP).

(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document then such computation shall be made in accordance with GAAP as so changed unless (i) the Borrower shall have objected to determining compliance on such basis at or prior to the time of delivery of such financial statements, or (ii) the Required Lenders shall so object in writing within 30

days after delivery of such financial statements, in either of which events such calculations shall be made on a basis consistent with those used in the preparation of the latest financial statements as to which no such objection shall have been made.

1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01 Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

2.02 Borrowings and Conversions of Loans.

(a) Each Borrowing and each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., (i) on the requested date of any Borrowing of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans or (ii) on the requested date of any conversion of (A) LIBOR Floating Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans or (B) Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of or conversion to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing or a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing or conversion, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed or converted, and (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice, then the applicable Loans shall be made as LIBOR Floating Rate Loans; provided that, if the LIBOR Daily

Floating Rate is unavailable, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

(c) At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s “prime rate” used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate on the date such change occurs.

2.03 [Reserved].

2.04 [Reserved].

2.05 Prepayments.

(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of prepayment of any Loan; and (ii) any prepayment of Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(b) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the

date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

2.07 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

2.08 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

2.09 Fees.

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal

to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of the Outstanding Amount of Loans. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each month, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated monthly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any month, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such month that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “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 fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

2.11 Evidence of Debt. The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to 12:00 noon on the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative

processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) 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) the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, 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 of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all applicable LIBOR Floating Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Floating Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or a conversion thereto

that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate with respect to a proposed LIBOR Floating Rate Loan, or (c) the LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate with respect to a proposed LIBOR Floating Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Floating Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of or conversion to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

3.04 Increased Costs.

(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate);

(ii) subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any LIBOR Floating Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender); or

(iii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any LIBOR Floating Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or

amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

Any Lender requesting compensation under Sections 3.01 and 3.04 hereof shall do so within 90 days of the event giving rise to such request or otherwise lose the right to request such compensation.

3.05 [Reserved].

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or 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 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if 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 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranty, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrower and each Guarantor is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(v) a favorable opinion of in-house counsel to the Borrower and Xxxxx & Xxx Xxxxx, PLLC, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit F and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) that

there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the current Debt Ratings;

(viii) a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended on July 31, 2008, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(ix) (A) the $50,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility dated October 27, 2008, between the Borrower and Bank of America, N.A. and (B) the $25,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility dated October 29, 2008, between the Borrower and Branch Banking and Trust Company have each been, or substantially simultaneously herewith will be, terminated; and

(x) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

(b) Any fees required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the Loan Documents on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V (except for Section 5.05(c)) or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.

(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party (a) is (i) duly organized or formed, validly existing and (ii), as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite corporate power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clauses (a)(ii), (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law, except in each case referred to in clauses (b) or (c) to the extent that such conflict, breach or violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated July 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial information delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, of (i) covenant compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as specifically disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07 No Default. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by the Existing Credit Agreement.

5.09 Environmental Compliance. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that except as specifically disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance), with such deductibles and covering such assets and risks of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with customary business practices in the industry of the Borrower, as necessary and appropriate in the good faith business judgment of the Borrower.

5.11 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or the remedial amendment cycle under Revenue Procedure 2007-44 (2007-28 IRB 54) for applying for such a letter from the IRS has not expired and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Borrower or a Subsidiary in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13. The Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part(b) of Schedule 5.13. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) 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 (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.03 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be Margin Stock.

(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling (as defined under the ICA, defined below) the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “ICA”).

5.15 Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder

or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time.

5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number. The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 10.02.

ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Guarantor to:

6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies for distribution to each Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall deliver such copies promptly to each Lender after the Administrative Agent’s receipt:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event by the date on which consolidated financial statements for such period are required to be delivered to the SEC under the Securities Laws (without regard to any extensions of such date permitted by the Securities Laws for which any special application is required) (and if the Borrower does not have to deliver such consolidated financial statements to the SEC under the Securities Laws, then as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Borrower), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of each fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by (i) a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders (which shall include but not be limited to Deloitte & Touche, LLP), which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and applicable Securities Laws and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit or with respect to the absence of any material misstatement and (ii) an attestation report of such

Registered Public Accounting Firm as to the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx expressing a conclusion that the Borrower has maintained effective internal controls over financial reporting based on the COSO criteria; and

(b) as soon as available, but in any event by the date on which consolidated financial statements for such period are required to be delivered to the SEC under the Securities Laws (without regard to any extensions of such date permitted by the Securities Laws for which any special application is required) (and if the Borrower does not have to deliver such consolidated financial statements to the SEC under the Securities Laws, then as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of each fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, and cash flows for such portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, and to the extent that the Borrower has filed a Form 10K or Form 10Q for the respective financial period with the SEC, it shall be deemed to have satisfied clauses (a) and (b) above.

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2008), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower;

(b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(e) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; and

(f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) or (d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders 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 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 Administrative Agent, the Arranger 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 Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (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 the Arranger 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”.

6.03 Notices. Promptly, but in any event, within five (5) days of the Borrower becoming aware thereof, notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (ii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(e) of the determination by the Registered Public Accounting Firm providing the opinion required under Section 6.01(a)(ii) (in connection with its preparation of such opinion) or the Borrower’s determination at any time of the occurrence or existence occurrence of any Internal Control Event; and

(f) of any announcement by Xxxxx’x or S&P of any change or possible change in a Debt Rating.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(f)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including all federal, state and other material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.02 or 7.03; (b) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its origination, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (c) 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 that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) 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.

6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof, except in the case of both (a) and (b) above, where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain insurance (including self-insurance) with respect to its properties and business as necessary and appropriate in the customary business practice in the industry of the Borrower.

6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower, but not more frequently than once per every twelve (12) month period; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice as often as may be reasonably requested.

6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for (a) general working capital needs, capital expenditures and permitted acquisitions, (b) subject to the proviso

below, the purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower of shares of its capital stock and related preferred stock purchase rights, and (c) other lawful corporate purposes, other than, directly or indirectly, (i) for a purpose in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document, (ii) to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (iii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Borrower or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (iv) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock, or (v) to acquire any security in any transaction that is subject to Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that notwithstanding clauses (ii) through (v) above, the Borrower may use proceeds of Loans as described in clause (b) above so long as either (x) the Margin Stock so acquired is promptly retired following the purchase or other acquisition thereof or (y) at all times and after giving effect to each such purchase or acquisition, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are represented by Margin Stock owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

6.12 Guarantors. Notify the Administrative Agent at the time that any Person becomes a Regulated Entity, and promptly thereafter (and in any event within 30 days), cause such Person to

(a) in the case of the first Regulated Entity becoming a Guarantor, a Guaranty and thereafter for each additional Regulated Entity, a Guaranty Joinder Agreement duly executed by such Regulated Entity;

(b) an opinion of counsel to each Person executing the Guaranty or Guaranty Joinder Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.12 dated as of the date of delivery of such applicable agreements and other Loan Documents provided for in this Section 6.12 and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, each of which opinions may be in form and substance, including assumptions and qualifications contained therein, substantially similar to those opinions of counsel delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a); and

(c) with respect to each Person executing any Guaranty or Guaranty Joinder Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.12, current copies of the Organization Documents of each such Person, minutes of duly called and conducted meetings (or duly effected consent actions) of the board of directors, partners, or appropriate committees thereof (and, if required by such Organization Documents or applicable law, of the shareholders, members or partners) of such Person authorizing the actions and the execution and delivery of documents described in this Section 6.12, all certified by the applicable Governmental Authority or appropriate officer as the Administrative Agent may elect.

ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly:

7.01 [Reserved].

7.02 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or discontinue or eliminate, a line of business; provided, that so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

(a) the Borrower may merge with another Person if (i) such Person is organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of its states, and (ii) the Borrower is the surviving corporation; and

(b) any Guarantor may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Guarantors.

7.03 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

7.04 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind (other than this Agreement and any other Loan Document) with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Guarantor as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Guarantor at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among the Borrower and any Guarantor or between and among any Guarantors.

7.05 Burdensome Agreements. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the Existing Credit Agreement) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Regulated Entity to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person except, with respect to clause (iii) above, for (1) any document or instrument governing purchase money Indebtedness, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (2) Medium Term Notes Indenture and the Senior Note Agreements, (3) any Lien permitted by the Existing Credit Agreement or any document or instrument governing any such Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Lien, and (4) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any property permitted under Section 7.03 pending the consummation of such sale; or (b) (except for the Medium Term Notes Indenture, the Senior Note Agreements and any other agreement or indenture providing for the issuance of senior indebtedness on parity with the Obligations) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

7.06 Ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization. Permit the ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization to exceed 0.70 to 1.00 at any time.

7.07 Amendments to Note Agreements. Enter into or suffer to exist any amendment or modification (a) to the amortization schedule or prepayment provisions (excluding the waiver of any prepayment premium or penalty) of the Indebtedness created under the Medium Term Notes Indenture and the Senior Note Agreements or (b) to any other terms or conditions contained in the Medium Term Notes Indenture and the Senior Note Agreements if such modification (i) would conflict with or be more restrictive than the terms or provisions of this Agreement, (ii) would provide for collateral security for such Indebtedness in excess of that provided under such agreements as of the Closing Date, (iii) would expand any negative pledge provision provided for therein, or (iv) would alter any provision of the events of default under those agreements.

ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02 (within five days of the date when due, in the case of Section 6.02(a)) , 6.03, 6.05(a), 6.10, 6.11 or 6.12 or Article VII, or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Guaranty; or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the Borrower becoming aware thereof or having received notice thereof; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) Any Loan Party (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of the Medium Term Note Indebtedness, the Senior Notes Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to the Medium Term Note Indebtedness, the Senior Notes

Indebtedness or any other such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Loan Party is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount;

(f) Existing Credit Agreement. The occurrence of any Event of Default under the Existing Credit Agreement (as such term is defined therein), regardless of whether the lenders party to the Existing Credit Agreement waive such Event of Default thereunder; or

(g) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(h) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

(i) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(j) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(k) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or

(l) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to payment of Obligations consisting of liabilities under any Related Credit Arrangement with any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender party to a Related Credit Arrangement and as to which the Agent has received notice of the amounts owed thereunder from the applicable Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender party to a Related Credit Arrangement, such payments under this clause Fifth to be allocated on a pro rata basis according to such amounts owed as to which the Agent has received such notice; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders 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 and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions; provided, the foregoing provisions are not intended to limit the rights granted to the Borrower under this Article as a primary party of interest.

9.02 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 capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with

the Borrower 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.

9.03 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 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 10.01 and 8.02) 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 unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

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, (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.

9.04 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 that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. 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.

9.05 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.

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders 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, 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 (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) 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 directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for 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 10.04 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.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender 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 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.

9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Manager or the Arranger 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 or a Lender hereunder.

9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan 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 the 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 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04) 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 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, 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 2.09 and 10.04.

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 any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

9.10 Guaranty Matters. The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.

ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS

10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;

(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or

(g) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender;

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices

under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of external counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), and (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any external counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations

hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (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) 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) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by such Indemnitee 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 other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence of willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

10.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. 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 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 (f) 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 and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. 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 at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the

case of an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an 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) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned.

(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, it being deemed reasonable on the part of the Borrower to withhold consent to any assignment that would cause the Borrower to incur additional costs under Section 3.01(a)) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to be a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 10.06; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, 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 and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption 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 3.01, 3.04, and 10.04 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 Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

(c) Register. 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 and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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 first proviso to Section 10.01 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 3.01 and 3.04 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 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this 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) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption 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.

10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or

Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent and any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender and its respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the

interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall become effective when they shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement and any other Loan Document by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if 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 3.01, if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender is a Restricted Lender (as defined below) 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 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an

assignee that shall assume such obligations (which 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 10.06(b);

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents from the 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 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d) in the case of any such assignment by a Restricted Lender, the assignee must have approved in writing the substance of the amendment, waiver or consent which caused the assignor to be a Restricted Lender; and

(e) 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.

For the purposes of this Section 10.13, a “Restricted Lender” means a Lender that fails to approve an amendment, waiver or consent requested by the Loan Parties pursuant to Section 10.01 that has received the written approval of not less than the Required Lenders but also requires the approval of such Lender.

10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA SITTING IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NORTH

CAROLINA STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees 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 Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, the 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 thereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each 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) neither the Administrative Agent nor the 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 the Administrative Agent or the Arranger has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor 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 Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a board range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger 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 the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.


		PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.

		By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
		Name:		Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
		Title:		Treasurer

		BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent

		By: /s/ XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX
		Name:		Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
		Title:		Vice President

		BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender

		By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
		Name:		Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
		Title:		Senior Vice President

		REGIONS BANK

		By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
		Name:		Xxxxxxx XxXxxxx
		Title:		Senior Vice President

		BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY

		By: /s/ X. XXXXXX XXXXXX, JR.
		Name:		X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Jr.
		Title:		Senior Vice President

		U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

		By: /s/ XXXXXXX XX XXXXXX
		Name:		Xxxxxxx Xx Xxxxxx
		Title:		Senior Vice President

		CAROLINA FIRST BANK

		By: /s/ X. XXXX XXXXXXX
		Name:		X. Xxxx Xxxxxxx

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
Credit Agreement
Signature Page


		Title:		Senior Vice President

		FIFTH THIRD BANK, N.A.

		By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
		Name:		Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
		Title:		Vice President

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
Credit Agreement
Signature Page

SCHEDULE 2.01

COMMITMENTS AND
APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES


			Applicable
Lender	Commitment		Percentage
Bank of America, N.A.	$	25,000,000.00		16.666666667	%
Regions Bank		25,000,000.00		16.666666667	%
Branch Banking and Trust Company		25,000,000.00		16.666666667	%
U.S. Bank National Association		25,000,000.00		16.666666667	%
Carolina First Bank		25,000,000.00		16.666666666	%
Fifth Third Bank, N.A.		25,000,000.00		16.666666666	%

Total	$	150,000,000.00		100.000000000	%

S-1

SCHEDULE 5.13

SUBSIDIARIES AND
OTHER EQUITY INVESTMENTS

Part (a). Subsidiaries.

(i) Direct Subsidiaries

Piedmont Energy Partners, Inc.
Piedmont Hardy Storage Company, LLC
Piedmont ENCNG Company, LLC

(ii) Indirect Subsidiaries

Piedmont Energy Company
Piedmont Interstate Pipeline Company
Piedmont Intrastate Pipeline Company
Piedmont Propane Company

Part (b). Other Equity Investments.

SouthStar Energy Services, LLC
Pine Needle LNG Company, LLC
Cardinal Pipeline Company, LLC
Hardy Storage Company, LLC

S-2

SCHEDULE 10.02

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

BORROWER:

Primary Contact

PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
Office of the Treasurer
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000.000.0000
Telecopier: 704.731.4097
e-mail: xxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
website address: xxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx/
U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 00-0000000

Secondary

PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
Office of General Council
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Telephone: 000.000.0000
Telecopier: 704.365.8515
e-mail: xxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
website address: xxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx/
U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 00-0000000

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

Your contacts in Agency Servicing:


Primary		Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
		AVP; Client Service Representative
		Telephone: (000) 000-0000
		Fax: (000) 000-0000
		Address: 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
		Mail Code NC1-001-04-39
		Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000

S-3


Secondary	Xxxxx Xxxx
	AVP; Client Service Representative
	Telephone: (000) 000-0000
	Fax: (000) 000-0000
	Address: 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
	Mail Code XX0-000-00-00
	Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000

Wire Instructions:	Bank of America, N.A. ABA #: 000-000-000
	New York, NY	Acct.#: 000-000-000-0000
		Attn:Credit Services
		Ref: Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

Your contacts in Agency Management:
Primary	Xxxxx Call	(financial reporting requirements, bank group communications)
	Agency Officer
	Bank of America, N.A.
	Mail Code: IL1-231-08-30
	000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
	Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
	Telephone: (000) 000-0000
	Fax: (000) 000-0000
	Email: xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx

Secondary	Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
	Agency Officer
	Bank of America, N.A.
	Mail Code: IL1-231-08-30
	000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
	Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
	Telephone: (000) 000-0000
	Fax: (000) 000-0000
	Email: xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx

S-4

SCHEDULE 10.06

PROCESSING AND RECORDATION FEES

The Administrative Agent will charge a processing and recordation fee (an “Assignment Fee”) in the amount of $2,500 for each assignment; provided, however, that in the event of two or more concurrent assignments to members of the same Assignee Group (which may be effected by a suballocation of an assigned amount among members of such Assignee Group) or two or more concurrent assignments by members of the same Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group), the Assignment Fee will be $2,500 plus the amount set forth below:


Transaction	Assignment Fee
First four concurrent assignments or suballocations to members of an Assignee Group (or from members of an Assignee Group, as applicable)		-0-

Each additional concurrent assignment or suballocation to a member of such Assignee Group (or from a member of such Assignee Group, as applicable)	$	500

S-5

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF LOAN NOTICE

Date: ___________, _____

To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2008 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

o A Borrowing of Loans o A conversion of Loans


			1.			On _________________________ (a Business Day).

			2.			In the amount of $______________.

			3.			Comprised of _____________________________.
						[Type of Loan requested]

			4.			For Eurodollar Rate Loans: with an Interest Period of ____________ months.

The Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the provisos to the first sentence of Section 2.01 of the Agreement.


	PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

Form of Loan Notice

A-1

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF NOTE

December 3, 2008

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “Borrower”) hereby promises to pay to _____________________ or registered assigns (the “Lender”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2008 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement. All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.

This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein. This Note is also entitled to the benefits of the Guaranty. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.

Form of Note

B-1

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.


	PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

Form of Note

B-2

LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO

Amount of

Principal or

Outstanding

End of

Interest

Principal

Type of

Amount of

Interest

Paid This

Balance

Notation

Date

Loan Made

Period

Date

This Date

Made By

Form of Note

B-3

EXHIBIT C

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Financial Statement Date: __________, _____

To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the of the Borrower, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the Borrower, and that:

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements; provided, if the applicable Form 10K has been filed with the SEC, no such attachment or certification is necessary and paragraph 1 may be omitted]

1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant required by such section.

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements; provided, if the applicable Form 10Q has been filed with the SEC, (a) no such attachment or certification is necessary, (b) the first sentence of paragraph 1 may be omitted and (c) the second sentence with the bracketed language shall be utilized as paragraph 1]

1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the unaudited financial statements required by Section 6.01(b) of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the above date. Such financial statements [contained in the Form 10Q most recently filed with the SEC] fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

2. The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements.

Form of Compliance Certificate

C-1

3. A review of the activities of the Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Borrower performed and observed all its Obligations under the Loan Documents, and

[select one:]

[to the best knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the Borrower performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default has occurred and is continuing.]

—or—

[to the best knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]

4. The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (except Section 5.05(c)) of the Agreement, and any representations and warranties of the Borrower that are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection with the Loan Documents, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Compliance Certificate, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 of the Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 of the Agreement, including the statements in connection with which this Compliance Certificate is delivered.

5. The financial covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedules 2 and 3 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of _______________, ____.


	PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

Form of Compliance Certificate

C-2

For the Quarter/Year ended __________________ (“Statement Date”)

SCHEDULE 2
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)

I. Section 7.06 — Ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization.


A.	Consolidated Funded Indebtedness at Statement Date:	$

B.	Total Capitalization at Statement Date:

	1. Shareholders’ Equity:	$

	2. Consolidated Funded Indebtedness:	$

	3. Total Capitalization (Line I.B.1 plus Line I.B.2):	$

C.	Ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization (Line I.A ÷ Line I.B.3):		to 1

	Maximum permitted:		0.70 to 1.00

Form of Compliance Certificate

C-3

EXHIBIT D

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each] Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “Assignor”) and [the][each] Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “Assignee”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees] hereunder are several and not joint.] Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the respective Assignors] under the respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “Assigned Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any] Assignor.

1.		Assignor[s]: ______________________________

2.		Assignee[s]: ______________________________ [for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [identify Lender]]

3.		Borrower: Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

4.		Administrative Agent: Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

Form of Assignment and Assumption

D-1

5.		Credit Agreement: Credit Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2008, among Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

6.		Assigned Interest:

Aggregate

Amount of

Percentage

Commitment/

Assigned of

Loans for all

Loans

Commitment/

CUSIP

Assignor[s]¹

Assignee[s]²

Lenders³

Assigned

Loans ⁴

Number

[7.

Trade Date: __________________] ⁵

Effective Date: __________________, 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:


	ASSIGNOR [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
	By:
		Title:


¹		List each Assignor, as appropriate.

²		List each Assignee, as appropriate.

³		Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

⁴		Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

⁵		To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

Form of Assignment and Assumption

D-2


	ASSIGNEE [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
	By:
		Title:


Consented to and Accepted: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By:
	Title:


Consented to: PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
By:
	Title:

Form of Assignment and Assumption

D-3

ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1. Assignor. [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) of the Credit Agreement (subject to receipt of such consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type presented by [the][such] Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the][any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not

Form of Assignment and Assumption

D-4

taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of North Carolina.

Form of Assignment and Assumption

D-5

EXHIBIT E

FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT

THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “Guaranty Agreement”), dated as of , 20 , is made by EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED AND EACH OTHER PERSON WHO SHALL BECOME A PARTY HERETO BY EXECUTION OF A GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT (each a “Guarantor” and collectively the “Guarantors”) to BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for each of the lenders (the “Lenders” now or hereafter party to the Credit Agreement defined below (collectively with the Administrative Agent, and certain other Persons parties to Related Credit Arrangements as more particularly described in Section 19 hereof, the “Beneficiaries”). All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Beneficiaries have agreed to provide to PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC. (the “Borrower”) certain credit facilities, including a revolving credit facility pursuant to the terms of that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 2008, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (as from time to time amended, revised, modified, supplemented or amended and restated, the “Credit Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Regulated Entity and will materially benefit from the Loans made and to be made under the Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is required to enter into this Guaranty Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, a material part of the consideration given in connection with and as an inducement to the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent was the obligation of the Borrower to cause each Guarantor to enter into this Guaranty Agreement, and the Beneficiaries are unwilling to extend and maintain the credit facilities provided under the Loan Documents unless the Guarantors enter into this Guaranty Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally, absolutely, continually and irrevocably guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Beneficiaries the payment and performance in full of the Guaranteed Liabilities (as defined below). For all purposes of this Guaranty Agreement, “Guaranteed Liabilities” means: (a) the Borrower’s prompt payment in full, when due or declared due and at all such times, of all

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-1

Obligations and all other amounts pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Notes, and all other Loan Documents heretofore, now or at any time or times hereafter owing, arising, due or payable from the Borrower to any one or more of the Beneficiaries, including principal, interest, premiums and fees (including, but not limited to, loan fees and reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of external counsel (“Attorney Costs”); (b) the Borrower’s prompt, full and faithful performance, observance and discharge of each and every agreement, undertaking, covenant and provision to be performed, observed or discharged by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, the Notes and all other Loan Documents; and (c) the prompt payment in full by each Loan Party, when due or declared due and at all such times, of obligations and liabilities now or hereafter arising under Related Credit Arrangements. The Guarantors’ obligations to the Beneficiaries under this Guaranty Agreement are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Guarantors’ Obligations” and, with respect to each Guarantor individually, the “Guarantor’s Obligations”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liability of each Guarantor individually with respect to its Guarantor’s Obligations shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.

Each Guarantor agrees that it is jointly and severally, directly and primarily liable (subject to the limitation in the immediately preceding sentence) for the Guaranteed Liabilities.

2. Payment. If the Borrower shall default in payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Liabilities, whether principal, interest, premium, fee (including, but not limited to, loan fees and Attorney Costs), or otherwise, when and as the same shall become due, and after expiration of any applicable grace period, whether according to the terms of the Credit Agreement, by acceleration, or otherwise, or upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement, then any or all of the Guarantors will, upon demand thereof by the Administrative Agent, fully pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Beneficiaries, subject to any restriction on each Guarantor’s Obligations set forth in Section 1 hereof, an amount equal to all the Guaranteed Liabilities then due and owing.

3. Absolute Rights and Obligations. This is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. The Guarantors’ Obligations under this Guaranty Agreement shall be joint and several, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and each Guarantor hereby expressly waives, to the extent permitted by law, any defense to its obligations under this Guaranty Agreement to which it is a party by reason of:

(a) any lack of legality, validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, of any of the Notes, of any other Loan Document, or of any other agreement or instrument creating, providing security for, or otherwise relating to any of the Guarantors’ Obligations, any of the Guaranteed Liabilities, or any other guaranty of any of the Guaranteed Liabilities (the Loan Documents and all such other agreements and instruments being collectively referred to as the “Related Agreements”);

(b) any action taken under any of the Related Agreements, any exercise of any right or power therein conferred, any failure or omission to enforce any right conferred thereby, or any waiver of any covenant or condition therein provided;

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-2

(c) any acceleration of the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Liabilities, of the Guarantor’s Obligations of any other Guarantor, or of any other obligations or liabilities of any Person under any of the Related Agreements;

(d) any release, exchange, non-perfection, lapse in perfection, disposal, deterioration in value, or impairment of any security for any of the Guaranteed Liabilities, for any of the Guarantor’s Obligations of any Guarantor, or for any other obligations or liabilities of any Person under any of the Related Agreements;

(e) any dissolution of the Borrower or any Guarantor or any other party to a Related Agreement, or the combination or consolidation of the Borrower or any Guarantor or any other party to a Related Agreement into or with another entity or any transfer or disposition of any assets of the Borrower or any Guarantor or any other party to a Related Agreement;

(f) any extension (including without limitation extensions of time for payment), renewal, amendment, restructuring or restatement of, any acceptance of late or partial payments under, or any change in the amount of any borrowings or any credit facilities available under, the Credit Agreement, any of the Notes or any other Loan Document or any other Related Agreement, in whole or in part;

(g) the existence, addition, modification, termination, reduction or impairment of value, or release of any other guaranty (or security therefor) of the Guaranteed Liabilities (including without limitation the Guarantor’s Obligations of any other Guarantor and obligations arising under any other Guaranty now or hereafter in effect);

(h) any waiver of, forbearance or indulgence under, or other consent to any change in or departure from any term or provision contained in the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other Related Agreement, including without limitation any term pertaining to the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Liabilities, any of the Guarantor’s Obligations of any other Guarantor, or any of the obligations or liabilities of any party to any other Related Agreement;

(i) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Guarantor) which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of such Guarantor, or might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of, a surety or a guarantor, including without limitation any right to require or claim that resort be had to the Borrower or any other Loan Party or to any collateral in respect of the Guaranteed Liabilities or Guarantors’ Obligations, whether arising under North Carolina General Statutes Sections 26-7 and 26-9 or otherwise.

It is the express purpose and intent of the parties hereto that this Guaranty Agreement and the Guarantors’ Obligations hereunder and under each Guaranty Joinder Agreement shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and shall not be discharged except by payment as herein provided.

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-3

4. Currency and Funds of Payment. All Guarantors’ Obligations will be paid in lawful currency of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, regardless of any law, regulation or decree now or hereafter in effect that might in any manner affect the Guaranteed Liabilities, or the rights of any Beneficiary with respect thereto as against the Borrower, or cause or permit to be invoked any alteration in the time, amount or manner of payment by the Borrower of any or all of the Guaranteed Liabilities.

5. Events of Default. Without limiting the provisions of Section 2 hereof, in the event that there shall occur and be continuing an Event of Default, then notwithstanding any collateral or other security or credit support for the Guaranteed Liabilities, at the Administrative Agent’s election and without notice thereof or demand therefor, the Guarantors’ Obligations shall immediately be and become due and payable.

6. Subordination. Until this Guaranty Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 22 hereof, each Guarantor hereby unconditionally subordinates all present and future debts, liabilities or obligations now or hereafter owing to such Guarantor (i) of the Borrower, to the payment in full of the Guaranteed Liabilities, (ii) of every other Guarantor (an “obligated guarantor”), to the payment in full of the Guarantors’ Obligations of such obligated guarantor, and (iii) of each other Person now or hereafter constituting a Loan Party, to the payment in full of the obligations of such Loan Party owing to any Beneficiary and arising under the Loan Documents or the Related Credit Arrangements. All amounts due under such subordinated debts, liabilities, or obligations shall, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (but not until such time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), be collected and, upon request by the Administrative Agent, paid over forthwith to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Beneficiaries on account of the Guaranteed Liabilities, the Guarantors’ Obligations, or such other obligations, as applicable, and, after such request and pending such payment, shall be held by such Guarantor as agent and bailee of the Beneficiaries separate and apart from all other funds, property and accounts of such Guarantor.

7. Suits. Each Guarantor from time to time shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Beneficiaries, on demand, at the Administrative Agent’s Office or such other address as the Administrative Agent shall give notice of to such Guarantor, the Guarantors’ Obligations as they become or are declared due, and in the event such payment is not made forthwith, the Administrative Agent may proceed to suit against any one or more or all of the Guarantors. At the Administrative Agent’s election, one or more and successive or concurrent suits may be brought hereon by the Administrative Agent against any one or more or all of the Guarantors, whether or not suit has been commenced against the Borrower, any other Guarantor, or any other Person and whether or not the Beneficiaries have taken or failed to take any other action to collect all or any portion of the Guaranteed Liabilities or have taken or failed to take any actions against any collateral securing payment or performance of all or any portion of the Guaranteed Liabilities, and irrespective of any event, occurrence, or condition described in Section 3 hereof.

8. Set-Off and Waiver. Each Guarantor waives any right to assert against any Beneficiary as a defense, counterclaim, set-off, recoupment or cross claim in respect of its

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-4

Guarantor’s Obligations, any defense (legal or equitable) or other claim which such Guarantor may now or at any time hereafter have against the Borrower or any or all of the Beneficiaries without waiving any additional defenses, set-offs, counterclaims or other claims otherwise available to such Guarantor.

9. Waiver of Notice; Subrogation.

(a) Each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law notice of the following events or occurrences: (i) acceptance of this Guaranty Agreement; (ii) the Lenders’ heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter making Loans and otherwise loaning monies or giving or extending credit to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or otherwise entering into arrangements with any Loan Party giving rise to Guaranteed Liabilities, whether pursuant to the Credit Agreement or the Notes or any other Loan Document or Related Agreement or any amendments, modifications, or supplements thereto, or replacements or extensions thereof; (iii) presentment, demand, default, non-payment, partial payment and protest; and (iv) any other event, condition, or occurrence described in Section 3 hereof. Each Guarantor agrees that each Beneficiary may heretofore, now or at any time hereafter do any or all of the foregoing in such manner, upon such terms and at such times as each Beneficiary, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems advisable, without in any way or respect impairing, affecting, reducing or releasing such Guarantor from its Guarantor’s Obligations, and each Guarantor hereby consents to each and all of the foregoing events or occurrences.

(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that payment or performance by such Guarantor of its Guarantor’s Obligations under this Guaranty Agreement may be enforced by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Beneficiaries upon demand by the Administrative Agent to such Guarantor without the Administrative Agent being required, such Guarantor expressly waiving to the extent permitted by law any right it may have to require the Administrative Agent, to (i) prosecute collection or seek to enforce or resort to any remedies against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Liabilities, or (ii) seek to enforce or resort to any remedies with respect to any security interests, Liens or encumbrances granted to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or other party to a Related Agreement by the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Person on account of the Guaranteed Liabilities or any guaranty thereof, IT BEING EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD, ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO BY SUCH GUARANTOR THAT DEMAND UNDER THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT MAY BE MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AND THE PROVISIONS HEREOF ENFORCED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EFFECTIVE AS OF THE FIRST DATE ANY EVENT OF DEFAULT OCCURS AND IS CONTINUING UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

(c) Each Guarantor further agrees with respect to this Guaranty Agreement that it shall have no right of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution or indemnity, nor any right of recourse to security for the Guaranteed Liabilities unless and until 93 days immediately following the Facility Termination Date (as defined below) shall have

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-5

elapsed without the filing or commencement, by or against any Loan Party, of any state or federal action, suit, petition or proceeding seeking any reorganization, liquidation or other relief or arrangement in respect of creditors of, or the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee or conservator in respect to, such Loan Party or its assets. This waiver is expressly intended to prevent the existence of any claim in respect to such subrogation, reimbursement, contribution or indemnity by any Guarantor against the estate of any other Loan Party within the meaning of Section 101 of the Bankruptcy Code, in the event of a subsequent case involving any other Loan Party. If an amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such rights at any time prior to termination of this Guaranty Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 22 hereof, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Beneficiaries, to be credited and applied upon the Guarantors’ Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement or otherwise as the Beneficiaries may elect. The agreements in this subsection shall survive repayment of all of the Guarantors’ Obligations, the termination or expiration of this Guaranty Agreement in any manner, including but not limited to termination in accordance with Section 22 hereof, and occurrence of the Facility Termination Date. For purposes of this Guaranty Agreement, “Facility Termination Date” means the date as of which all of the following shall have occurred: (a) the Borrower shall have permanently terminated the credit facilities under the Loan Documents by final payment in full of all Outstanding Amounts, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and fees thereon; (b) all Commitments shall have terminated or expired; (c) the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and each other Loan Party under all Related Credit Arrangements shall have been fully, finally and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full and the Related Credit Arrangements shall have expired or been terminated, or other arrangements satisfactory to the counterparties shall have been made with respect thereto; and (d) the Borrower and each other Loan Party shall have fully, finally and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full all of their respective obligations and liabilities arising under the Loan Documents, including with respect to the Borrower and the Obligations (except for future obligations consisting of continuing indemnities and other contingent Obligations of the Borrower or any Loan Party that may be owing to any of its Related Parties or any Lender pursuant to the Loan Documents and expressly survive termination of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document).

10. Effectiveness; Enforceability. This Guaranty Agreement shall be effective as of the date first above written and shall continue in full force and effect until termination in accordance with Section 22 hereof. Any claim or claims that the Beneficiaries may at any time hereafter have against a Guarantor under this Guaranty Agreement may be asserted by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Beneficiaries by written notice directed to such Guarantor in accordance with Section 24 hereof.

11. Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor warrants and represents to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Beneficiaries, that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Guaranty Agreement (or the Guaranty Joinder Agreement to which it is a party, as applicable), and to perform its obligations under this Guaranty Agreement, that this Guaranty Agreement (or the Guaranty Joinder Agreement to which it is a party, as applicable) has been

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-6

duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Guarantor by its duly authorized representatives; that this Guaranty Agreement (and any Guaranty Joinder Agreement to which such Guarantor is a party) is legal, valid, binding and enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles; and that such Guarantor’s execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty Agreement (and any Guaranty Joinder Agreement to which such Guarantor is a party) do not violate or constitute a breach of any of its Organizational Documents, any agreement or instrument to which such Guarantor is a party, or any law, order, regulation, decree or award of any governmental authority or arbitral body to which it or its properties or operations is subject.

12. Expenses. Each Guarantor agrees to be jointly and severally liable for the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses, including Attorney Costs, incurred by any Beneficiary in connection with the enforcement of this Guaranty Agreement, whether or not suit be brought.

13. Reinstatement. Each Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, at any time payment received by any Beneficiary in respect of any Guaranteed Liabilities is rescinded or must be restored for any reason, or is repaid by any Beneficiary in whole or in part in good faith settlement of any pending or threatened avoidance claim.

14. [Intentionally Omitted.]

15. Reliance. Each Guarantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Beneficiaries, that: (a) such Guarantor has adequate means to obtain on a continuing basis (i) from the Borrower, information concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Parties’ financial condition and affairs and (ii) from other reliable sources, such other information as it deems material in deciding to provide this Guaranty Agreement and any Guaranty Joinder Agreement (“Other Information”), and has full and complete access to the Loan Parties’ books and records and to such Other Information; (b) such Guarantor is not relying on any Beneficiary or its or their employees, directors, agents or other representatives or Affiliates, to provide any such information, now or in the future; (c) such Guarantor has been furnished with and reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement and such other Loan Documents and Related Agreements as it has requested, is executing this Guaranty Agreement (or the Guaranty Joinder Agreement to which it is a party, as applicable) freely and deliberately, and understands the obligations and financial risk undertaken by providing this Guaranty Agreement (and any Guaranty Joinder Agreement); (d) such Guarantor has relied solely on the Guarantor’s own independent investigation, appraisal and analysis of the Borrower, the Borrower’s financial condition and affairs, the “Other Information”, and such other matters as it deems material in deciding to provide this Guaranty Agreement (and any Guaranty Joinder Agreement) and is fully aware of the same; and (e) such Guarantor has not depended or relied on any Beneficiary or its or their employees, directors, agents or other representatives or Affiliates, for any information whatsoever concerning the Borrower or the Borrower’s financial condition and affairs or any other matters material to such Guarantor’s decision to provide this Guaranty Agreement (and any

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-7

Guaranty Joinder Agreement), or for any counseling, guidance, or special consideration or any promise therefor with respect to such decision. Each Guarantor agrees that no Beneficiary has any duty or responsibility whatsoever, now or in the future, to provide to such Guarantor any information concerning the Borrower or the Borrower’s financial condition and affairs, or any Other Information, other than as expressly provided herein, and that, if such Guarantor receives any such information from any Beneficiary or its or their employees, directors, agents or other representatives or Affiliates, such Guarantor will independently verify the information and will not rely on any Beneficiary or its or their employees, directors, agents or other representatives or Affiliates, with respect to such information.

16. Rules of Interpretation. The rules of interpretation contained in Sections 1.02 and 1.05 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Guaranty Agreement and each Guaranty Joinder Agreement and are hereby incorporated by reference. All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the delivery of documents and any extension of credit referred to herein or guaranteed hereby.

17. [Intentionally Omitted.]

18. Binding Agreement; Assignment. Subject to the limitations referenced in this Section 18 and in the Credit Agreement regarding assignment, this Guaranty Agreement, each Guaranty Joinder Agreement and the terms, covenants and conditions hereof and thereof, shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto, and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, however, that no Guarantor shall be permitted to assign any of its rights, powers, duties or obligations under this Guaranty Agreement, any Guaranty Joinder Agreement or any other interest herein or therein without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence of this Section 18, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons, or grant to one or more Persons participations in or to, all or any part of its rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement (to the extent permitted by the Credit Agreement); and to the extent of any such assignment or participation such other Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Lender herein or otherwise, subject however, to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, including Article IX thereof (concerning the Administrative Agent) and Section 10.07 thereof concerning assignments and participations. All references herein to the Administrative Agent shall include any successor thereof.

19. Related Credit Arrangements. All obligations of any Loan Party under Related Credit Arrangements to which any Lender or its Affiliates are a party shall be deemed to be Guaranteed Liabilities, and each Lender or Affiliate of a Lender party to any such Related Credit Arrangement shall be deemed to be a Beneficiary hereunder with respect to such Guaranteed Liabilities; provided, however, that such obligations shall cease to be Guaranteed Liabilities at such time, prior to the Facility Termination Date, as such Person (or Affiliate of such Person) shall cease to be a “Lender” under the Credit Agreement.

No Person who obtains the benefit of this Guaranty Agreement by virtue of the provisions of this Section shall have, prior to the Facility Termination Date, any right to notice of

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-8

any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Guarantors’ Obligations (including the release or modification of any Guarantors’ Obligations or security therefor) other than in its capacity as a Lender and only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Each Beneficiary not a party to the Credit Agreement who obtains the benefit of this Guaranty Agreement by virtue of the provisions of this Section shall be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, and that with respect to the actions and omissions of the Administrative Agent hereunder or otherwise relating hereto that do or may affect such Beneficiary, the Administrative Agent and each of its Related Parties shall be entitled to all the rights, benefits and immunities conferred under Article IX of the Credit Agreement.

20. Severability. The provisions of this Guaranty Agreement are independent of and separable from each other. If any provision hereof shall for any reason be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, but this Guaranty Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

21. Counterparts. This Guaranty Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Guaranty Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart executed by the Guarantors against whom enforcement is sought. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 21, the provisions of Section 10.10 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Guaranty Agreement.

22. Termination. Subject to reinstatement pursuant to Section 13 hereof, this Guaranty Agreement and each Guaranty Joinder Agreement, and all of the Guarantors’ Obligations hereunder (excluding those Guarantors’ obligations relating to Guaranteed Liabilities that expressly survive such termination) shall terminate on the Facility Termination Date.

23. Remedies Cumulative; Late Payments. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any other Beneficiary provided by law or under the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents or other applicable agreements or instruments. The making of the Loans and other credit extensions pursuant to the Credit Agreement and other Related Agreements shall be conclusively presumed to have been made or extended, respectively, in reliance upon each Guarantor’s guaranty of the Guaranteed Liabilities pursuant to the terms hereof. Any amounts not paid when due under this Guaranty Agreement shall bear interest at the Default Rate.

24. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder or under any Guaranty Joinder Agreement shall be given, (a) with respect to each Guarantor, at the address of the Borrower indicated in Schedule 10.02 of the Credit Agreement and (b) with respect to the Administrative Agent or any other Beneficiary, at the Administrative Agent’s address indicated in Schedule 10.02 of the Credit Agreement. All such addresses may be modified, and all such

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-9

notices shall be given and shall be effective, as provided in Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement for the giving and effectiveness of notices and modifications of addresses thereunder.

25. Joinder. Each Person who shall at any time execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty Joinder Agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto shall thereupon irrevocably, absolutely and unconditionally become a party hereto and obligated hereunder as a Guarantor, and all references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the Guarantors or to the parties to this Guaranty Agreement shall be deemed to include such Person as a Guarantor hereunder.

26. Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH GUARANTOR HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA SITTING IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT OR ANY GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH GUARANTOR HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NORTH CAROLINA STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH GUARANTOR HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT OR IN ANY GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT OR ANY GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH GUARANTOR HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT OR ANY GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH GUARANTOR HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-10

EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH GUARANTOR HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 24. NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY GUARANTOR HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

(e) WAIVER OF JURYTRIAL. EACH GUARANTOR HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT OR ANY GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH GUARANTOR HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT AND THE GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

[Signature page follows.]

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-11

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed and delivered this Guaranty Agreement as of the day and year first written above.


	GUARANTORS:
	By:
		Name:
		Title:


	ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-12

EXHIBIT A

Form of Guaranty Joinder Agreement

GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT

THIS GUARANTY JOINDER AGREEMENT (the “Guaranty Joinder Agreement”), dated as of , 20 is made by , a (the “Joining Guarantor”), delivered to BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”) under that certain Credit Agreement (as amended, revised, modified, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), dated as of December 3, 2008, by and among PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Joining Guarantor is a Subsidiary that is a Regulated Entity and required by the terms of the Credit Agreement to become a “Guarantor” under the Credit Agreement and be joined as a party to the Guaranty; and

WHEREAS, the Joining Guarantor will materially benefit directly and indirectly from the credit facilities made available and to be made available to the Borrower by the Lenders under the Credit Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, the Joining Guarantor hereby agrees as follows with the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Beneficiaries (as defined in the Guaranty and including any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender party to any Related Credit Arrangement):

1. Joinder. The Joining Guarantor hereby irrevocably, absolutely and unconditionally becomes a party to the Guaranty as a Guarantor and bound by all the terms, conditions, obligations, liabilities and undertakings of each Guarantor or to which each Guarantor is subject thereunder, including without limitation the joint and several, unconditional, absolute, continuing and irrevocable guarantee to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Beneficiaries of the payment and performance in full of the Guaranteed Liabilities (as defined in the Guaranty) whether now existing or hereafter arising, all with the same force and effect as if the Joining Guarantor were a signatory to the Guaranty.

2. Affirmations. The Joining Guarantor hereby acknowledges and reaffirms as of the date hereof with respect to itself, its properties and its affairs each of the waivers, representations, warranties, acknowledgements and certifications applicable to any Guarantor contained in the Guaranty.

3. Severability. The provisions of this Guaranty Joinder Agreement are independent of and separable from each other. If any provision hereof shall for any reason be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or

Form of Guaranty Agreement

E-13

enforceability of any other provision hereof, but this Guaranty Joinder Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

4. Counterparts. This Guaranty Joinder Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Guaranty Joinder Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart executed by the Joining Guarantor. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, the provisions of Section 10.02(b) of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Guaranty Joinder Agreement.

5. Delivery. Joining Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives notice of acceptance of this Guaranty Joinder Agreement and acknowledges that the Guaranteed Liabilities are and shall be deemed to be incurred, and credit extensions under the Loan Documents and the Related Credit Arrangements made and maintained, in reliance on this Guaranty Joinder Agreement and the Guarantor’s joinder as a party to the Guaranty as herein provided.

6. Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial. The provisions of Section 26 of the Guaranty are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Joining Guarantor has duly executed and delivered this Guaranty Joinder Agreement as of the day and year first written above.


	JOINING GUARANTOR:
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

Form of Guaranty Agreement

F-14

EXHIBIT G

OPINION MATTERS

See attached.

Opinion Matters

F-1



		Xxxxx & Xxx Xxxxx PLLC
December 3, 2008		Attorneys at Law

		Suite 4700
		000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
		Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000

		T 704 331 1000
		F 000 000 0000
		xxx.xxxxxx.xxx

To Those on the Attached Distribution List

Re: Credit Agreement in favor of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), in connection with that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 2008 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower; Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent; and each lender from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement. For purposes of rendering our opinion set forth herein, we have reviewed originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents, each of which is dated as of the date hereof:

	1.		the Credit Agreement;

	2.		Note in favor of Bank of America, N.A.;

	3.		Note in favor of Branch Banking and Trust Company;

	4.		Note in favor of U.S. Bank National Association;

	5.		Note in favor of Regions Bank;

	6.		Note in favor of Carolina First Bank; and

	7.		Note in favor of Fifth Third Bank, N.A.

The Credit Agreement and the Notes are individually referred to herein as a “Loan Document” and collectively as the “Loan Documents”. As to various questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied upon, and assumed without independent investigation the accuracy of, the representations made by the parties to the Loan Documents (other than those which are expressed as our opinions).

In addition, for purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined such corporate records of the Borrower, certificates of public officials, certificates of appropriate officers and officials of the Borrower and such other documents, and have made such inquiries, as we have deemed appropriate.

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all

Research Triangle, NC
Charleston, SC

December 3, 2008
Page 2

documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. For the purposes of the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have further assumed: (i) the legal capacity of all natural persons executing any Loan Document; (ii) that there are no oral or written statements or agreements, course of performance after the date hereof between any parties to the Loan Documents, course of dealing between any parties to the Loan Documents or usage of trade that modify, amend or vary any of the terms of any Loan Document; (iii) that, as to factual matters, any certificate, representation or other document upon which we have relied and which was given or dated earlier than the date of this opinion letter, continues to remain accurate, insofar as relevant to the opinions contained herein, from such earlier date through and including the date hereof; (iv) that there has been no mutual mistake of fact between any parties to the Loan Documents, or misrepresentation, fraud or deceit on the part of any party to the Loan Documents in connection with the execution, delivery, performance under, or transactions contemplated by, the Loan Documents; (v) all parties to the Loan Documents (other than the Borrower) are in good standing and validly existing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization; (vi) due authorization, execution and delivery of the Loan Documents by all parties thereto (other than the Borrower); (vii) that each of the parties to the Loan Documents (other than the Borrower) has the power and authority to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to perform its respective obligations thereunder; (viii) that each Loan Document is valid, binding and enforceable against all parties thereto other than the Borrower; (ix) that the execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations thereunder will not violate or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (A) any law or regulation (other than any law or regulation of the State of North Carolina or federal law or regulation of the United States, in each case excepting any law or regulation that has been excepted from this opinion letter pursuant to the next following paragraph and the enumerated items thereafter), (B) any order, writ, judgment, injunction, or decree of any court, governmental authority or arbitrator, or (C) (except as expressly provided in paragraph 3 below) any agreement, document or instrument to which any such party is a party, by which it or its property is bound, or to which it is subject; and (x) that all parties to the Loan Documents are in material compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations governing the conduct of their business with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

The opinions set forth herein are limited to matters governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina and the federal laws of the United States, and no opinion is expressed herein as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion concerning any matter respecting or affected by any laws other than laws that a lawyer admitted to practice law in the State of North Carolina exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably recognize as being directly applicable to the Borrower or the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion concerning the following legal issues or the application of any such laws or regulations to the matters on which our opinions are referenced:

(i) federal and state securities laws and regulations;

(ii) except as set forth in paragraph 6 hereof, Federal Reserve Board margin regulations;

(iii) pension and employee benefit laws and regulations;

(iv) federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and regulations, including without limitation the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976;

(v) federal and state laws and regulations concerning document filing requirements and notice other than the North Carolina Business Corporation Act;

December 3, 2008
Page 3

(vi) compliance with fiduciary duty requirements;

(vii) the statutes, administrative decisions, and rules and regulations of county, municipal and special political subdivisions, whether state-level, regional or otherwise;

(viii) fraudulent transfer laws;

(ix) federal and state environmental laws and regulations;

(x) federal and state tax laws and regulations;

(xi) federal and state land use and subdivision laws and regulations;

(xii) federal patent, copyright and trademark, state trademark, and other federal and state intellectual property laws and regulations;

(xiii) federal and state laws, regulations and policies concerning national and local emergency;

(xiv) state and federal regulatory laws or regulations specifically applicable to any entity solely because of the business in which it is engaged;

(xv) federal and state laws and regulations concerning the condition of title to any property, the priority of any security interest or lien, or the perfection of a lien or security interest in personal property; or

(xvi) laws, rules and regulations relating to money laundering and terrorist groups, including without limitation the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), Public Law 107-56, 115 Stat. 380 (October 26, 2001), as amended, Executive Order 13224, the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 App. U.S.C. 1, et. seq., any similar or related law and the rules and regulations (temporary or permanent) promulgated under the foregoing or by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of Treasury, as each is amended from time to time.

Based upon the foregoing, and such legal considerations as we have deemed necessary and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. Based solely on a certificate from the Secretary of State of North Carolina dated as of November 18, 2008, the Borrower is a corporation validly existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina.

2. The Borrower has all necessary corporate power to execute and deliver the Loan Documents and to perform its obligations thereunder. The Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower.

3. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations thereunder (a) have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Borrower, (b) do not violate the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the

December 3, 2008
Page 4

Borrower, (c) do not violate any federal law, rule or regulation of the United States of America or any law, rule or regulation of the State of North Carolina and (d) do not result in a material breach of or a material default under any document identified in Schedule 1 hereto (except that we express no opinion with respect to (i) matters which require the performance of a mathematical calculation or the making of a financial or accounting determination and (ii) the matters described in the following sentence). Section 6A in each of the Senior Note Agreements purports to limit the ability of Subsidiaries of the Borrower to make Restricted Payments in certain circumstances, and such purported limitations technically conflict with the provisions of Section 7.05(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement.

4. Each of the Loan Documents constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

5. Based solely upon the factual certifications in the Officer’s Certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Borrower is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

6. Assuming the Borrower complies with the provisions of the Credit Agreement relating to the use of proceeds of the Loans, the making of the Loans under the Credit Agreement does not violate Regulation U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

7. Under federal laws, rules and regulations of the United States of America and the laws, rules and regulations of the State of North Carolina, no consent, approval, authorization, declaration or filing by or with any governmental authority, commission, board or agency is required for the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents that has not been obtained or made as of the date hereof.

Our opinions concerning the enforceability of the Loan Documents are subject to the following qualifications:

(a) Enforcement of the Loan Documents may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratoria or similar state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect and which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general.

(b) Enforcement of the Loan Documents is subject both to general principles of equity and to considerations of public policy, including the requirement that the parties thereto act with commercial reasonableness and in good faith to the extent required by applicable law, the application of which may deny certain rights and may be applied by a court of proper jurisdiction, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. For purposes of this paragraph, the terms “general principles of equity” and “considerations of public policy” may include, but are not limited to, issues related to the right to or obligation of the appointment of a receiver in certain circumstances; the ability of an entity to appoint an attorney-in-fact; fiduciary obligations of attorneys-in-fact; the enforceability of usury savings clauses; waiver of procedural, substantive, or constitutional rights, including, without limitation, the right of statutory or equitable redemption; disclaimers or limitations of liability; waiver of defenses; waiver of acceleration rights through historical acceptance of late payments; the exercise of self-help or other remedies without judicial process; accounting for rent or sale proceeds; requirements of mitigation of damages; and enforcement of default interest provisions. Any provision waiving a right to jury trial is unenforceable as against public policy pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 22B-10.

December 3, 2008
Page 5

(c) The enforceability and availability of certain remedies, rights and waiver provisions, may be limited or rendered ineffective by applicable law; provided, that subject to the other exceptions noted herein, there exist legally adequate remedies for the realization of the principal benefits intended to be afforded under the Loan Documents.

(d) We express no opinion on the enforceability of any provision in a Loan Document purporting to prohibit, restrict or condition the assignment of rights under such Loan Document to the extent such restriction on assignability is rendered ineffective by Section 9-408 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

(e) We express no opinion with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents providing that the acceptance by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of a past due installment or other performance by a party shall not be deemed a waiver of its right to accelerate any payment obligation or other rights under the Loan Documents.

(f) We express no opinion with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents purporting to require a party to pay or reimburse attorneys’ fees incurred by another party or to indemnify another party therefor which may be limited by applicable law and public policy.

(g) We express no opinion with respect to any waiver of the statute of limitations contained in the Loan Documents.

(h) We express no opinion with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents which requires that any amendments or waivers to the Loan Documents must be in writing.

(i) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provision in the Loan Documents that purports to excuse a party for liability for its own acts.

(j) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provision in the Loan Documents that purports to make void any act done in contravention thereof.

(k) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provision in the Loan Documents that purports to authorize a party to act in its sole discretion, that imposes liquidated damages, penalties, late payment charges or forfeiture or that relates to evidentiary standards or other standards by which any of the Loan Documents is to be construed.

(l) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of provisions of the Loan Documents providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to such party’s own negligence or willful misconduct, or where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy.

(m) Provisions, if any, in the Loan Documents to the effect that waiver by a party of performance obligations by another party shall not be deemed a waiver of such party’s right thereafter to cause the applicable document to be in default may not be enforceable in all circumstances, unless such party shall (i) first provide written notice to the other party that subsequent defaults will not be accepted and will result in a default under the Loan Documents, and (ii) thereafter, timely and diligently pursue its default remedies under the Loan Documents. We express no opinion on the enforceability of any provision of the Loan Documents to the extent that such provision constitutes a waiver of illegality as a defense to performance of contract obligations.

December 3, 2008
Page 6

(n) We express no opinion with respect to any consent to venue, jurisdiction or service of process provisions or any waiver of an objection that an action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(o) We express no opinion with respect to any severability provisions.

(p) We express no opinion with respect to any provision waiving the obligation to marshal assets.

(q) We express no opinion with respect to any provision of any Loan Document to the extent it authorizes or permits any affiliate of a Lender or any purchaser of a participation interest to set-off or apply any deposit, property or indebtedness.

(r) North Carolina General Statutes Section 6-21.2 sets forth the procedures and limitations applicable to the collection of attorneys’ fees and accordingly, any provisions in the Loan Documents related to the ability of the Lenders or any other party to collect attorneys’ fees upon default are subject to those limitations.

Our opinion is rendered solely in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Loan Documents and may not be relied upon for any other purpose or in any manner by any Person other than the addressees hereof, except that we hereby consent to reliance hereon by any successor or any future assignee (collectively, the “Reliance Parties”) of your interest in the loans under the Credit Agreement pursuant to an assignment that is made and consented to in accordance with the express provisions of Section 10.06 of the Credit Agreement, on the condition and understanding that (i) this letter speaks only as of the date hereof, (ii) we have no responsibility or obligation to update this letter, to consider its applicability or correctness to any person other than its addressee(s), or to take into account changes in law, facts or any other developments of which we may later become aware, and (iii) any such reliance by a Reliance Party must be actual and reasonable under the circumstances existing at the time of assignment, including any changes in law, facts or any other developments known to or reasonably knowable by the Reliance Party at such time.

No copies of this opinion may be delivered or furnished to any other party other than a Reliance Party, nor may all or portions of this opinion be quoted, circulated or referred to in any other document without our prior written consent, except that copies of this opinion may be provided if required by applicable law or to any regulatory agency having supervisory authority over a Reliance Party and except that this opinion may be used in connection with the assertion of a defense as to which this opinion is relevant and necessary or in response to a court order or other legal process. The opinions expressed in this letter are rendered as of the date hereof and we express no opinion as to circumstances or events or change in applicable law that may occur subsequent to such date.


	Very truly yours, XXXXX & XXX XXXXX PLLC /s/ XXXXX & XXX XXXXX PLLC

December 3, 2008
Page 7

Distribution List

Bank of America, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and a Lender

Branch Banking and Trust Company,
as a Lender

U.S. Bank National Association,
as a Lender

Regions Bank,
as a Lender

Carolina First Bank,
as a Lender

Fifth Third Bank, N.A.,
as a Lender

Schedule 1

Material Contracts
(in the form as filed by Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Note Agreement, dated as of September 21, 1992, between Piedmont and Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company (Exhibit 4.30, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1992).

Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1993, between Piedmont and Citibank, N.A., Trustee (Exhibit 4.1, Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 33-59369),

Amendment to Note Agreement, dated as of September 16, 2005, by and between Piedmont and Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company.

Medium-Term Note, Series A, dated as of July 23, 1993 (Exhibit 4.7, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1993).

Medium-Term Note, Series A, dated as of October 6, 1993 (Exhibit 4.8, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1993).

6.		First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 25, 1994, between PNG Acquisition Company, Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., and Citibank, N.A., Trustee (Exhibit 4.2, Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 33-59369).

7.		Medium-Term Note, Series A, dated as of September 19, 1994 (Exhibit 4.9, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1994).

8.		Form of Master Global Note (Exhibit 4.4, Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 33-59369).

9.		Pricing Supplement of Medium-Term Notes, Series B, dated October 3, 1995 (Exhibit 4.10, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995).

10.		Pricing Supplement of Medium-Term Notes, Series B, dated October 4, 1996 (Exhibit 4.11, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996).

11.		Rights Agreement, dated as of February 27, 1998, between Piedmont and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent, including the Rights Certificate (Exhibit 10.1, Form 8-K dated February 27, 1998).

12.		Agreement of Substitution and Amendment of Common Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2003, between Piedmont and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, Inc. (Exhibit 4.10, Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-111806).

13.		Form of Master Global Note, executed September 9, 1999 (Exhibit 4.4, Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-26161).

Schedule 1 - 1

14.		Pricing Supplement of Medium Term Notes, Series C, dated September 15, 1999 (Rule 424(b)(3) Pricing Supplement to Form S-3 Registration Statement Nos. 33-59369 and 333-26161).

15.		Pricing Supplement of Medium Term Notes, Series C, dated September 15, 1999 (Rule 424(b)(3) Pricing Supplement to Form S-3 Registration Statement Nos. 33-59369 and 333-26161).

16.		Pricing Supplement No. 3 of Medium-Term Notes, Series C, dated September 26, 2000 (Rule 424(b)(3) Pricing Supplement to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-26161).

17.		Form of Master Global Note, executed June 4, 2001 (Exhibit 4.4, Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-62222).

18.		Pricing Supplement No. 1 of Medium Term Notes, Series D, dated September 18, 2001 (Rule 424(b)(3) Pricing Supplement to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-62222).

19.		Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 15, 2003, between Piedmont and Citibank, N.A., Trustee (Exhibit 4.3, Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 33-106268).

20.		Form of 5% Medium-Term Note, Series E, dated as of December 19, 2003 (Exhibit 99.1, Form 8-K, dated December 23, 2003).

21.		Form of 6% Medium-Term Note, Series E, dated as of December 19, 2003 (Exhibit 99.2, Form 8-K, dated December 23, 2003).

22.		Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 20, 2006, between Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (Exhibit 4.1, Form 8-K dated June 20,2006).

23.		Form of 6.25% Insured Quarterly Note Series 2006, Due 2036 (Exhibit 4.2 (as included in Exhibit 4.1), Form 8-K dated June 20, 2006).

24.		Agreement of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance dated as of March 29, 2007, by and among the registrant, Citibank, N.A., and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 4.1, Form 10-Q for quarter ended April 30, 2007).

25.		Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SouthStar Energy Services LLC, effective January 1, 2004 between Piedmont Energy Company and Georgia Natural Gas Company (Exhibit 10.1, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2004).

26.		First Amendment to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SouthStar Energy Services LLC, dated as of July 31, 2006, between Piedmont Energy Company and Georgia Natural Gas Company (Exhibit 10.28, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006).

27.		Certified Extract of Resolutions dated as of November 20, 2006 concerning certain matters under the Written Consent of the Executive Committee of SouthStar Energy Services LLC dated as of August 28, 2006.

28.		Certified Extract of Resolutions dated as of November 20, 2006 concerning certain matters under the Written Consent of the Executive Committee of SouthStar Energy Services LLC dated as of September 20, 2006.

Schedule 1 - 2

29.		Equity Contribution Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004, between Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation and Piedmont Natural Gas Company (Exhibit 10.1, Form 8-K dated November 16, 2004).

30.		Construction, Operation and Maintenance Agreement by and Between Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation and Hardy Storage Company, LLC, dated November 12, 2004 (Exhibit 10.2, Form 8-K dated November 16, 2004).

31.		Operating Agreement of Hardy Storage Company, LLC, dated as of November 12, 2004 (Exhibit 10.3, Form 8-K dated November 16, 2004).

32.		Guaranty of Principal dated as of June 29, 2006 by Piedmont Energy Partners, Inc. in favor of US Bank National Association, as agent (Exhibit 10.1, Form 8-K dated July 5, 2006).

33.		Residual Guaranty dated as of June 29, 2006 by Piedmont Energy Partners, Inc. in favor of US Bank National Association, as agent (Exhibit 10.2, Form 8-K dated July 5,2006).

34.		Credit Agreement dated as of April 25, 2006 among Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Bank of America, N.A.

Schedule 1 - 3

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
OF
PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
FOR
OPINION OF XXXXX & XXX XXXXX PLLC

I, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, hereby certify that I am the duly elected, qualified and acting Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“Borrower”), and do hereby certify:

1. As Treasurer of the Borrower, I am familiar with the business and affairs of the Borrower and with the proceedings taken in connection with Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 2008 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent thereunder and each Lender from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. I have either personal knowledge of the matters and things hereinbelow set forth or have obtained information with respect thereto from officers and employees of the Borrower in whom I have confidence and whose duties require them to have personal knowledge thereof.

2. I am familiar with the terms of the Credit Agreement and each of the other documents entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated therein (the “Transaction Documents”) and make this certificate with the intent that it shall be relied upon by Xxxxx & Xxx Xxxxx PLLC as a basis for its opinion to be rendered with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

3. The Borrower is not an entity which (a) is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities; (b) is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of issuing face-amount certificates of the installment type, or has been engaged in such business and has any such certificate outstanding; or (c) is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities, and owns or proposes to acquire “investment securities” having a value exceeding forty percent (40%) of the value of the Borrower’s total assets (exclusive of government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. As used in this paragraph, “investment securities” includes all securities except (i) government securities, (ii) securities issued by employees’ securities companies, and (iii) securities issued by majority-owned subsidiaries of the owner which are not investment companies. As used in this paragraph, “government securities” means any security issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the United States, or by a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the Government of the United States pursuant to authority granted by the Congress of the United States; or any certificate of deposit for any of the foregoing.

4. None of the proceeds under the Credit Agreement will be used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock” or for the purpose of retiring indebtedness used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. As used herein, “margin stock” means:

(i) any equity security registered or having unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange;

(ii) any equity security not traded on a national securities exchange but as to which the Federal Reserve Board has determined to have the degree of national investor interest, the depth and breadth of market, the availability of information respecting the security and its issuer, and the permanence of the issuer to warrant being treated like an equity security traded on a national securities exchange and which has been further identified by publications by the Federal Reserve Board as an “OTC margin stock”;

(iii) any OTC security designated as qualified for trading in the National Market Systems under a designation plan approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(iv) any debt security convertible into a margin stock or carrying a warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase a margin stock;

(v) any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase a margin stock; or

(vi) any security issued by an investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate this 3rd day of December, 2008.



By:	/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
	Name:	Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
	Title:	Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments

Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

Processing and Recordation Fees