Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION COPY
Dated as of
September 30, 2003
Among
WISCONSIN POWER AND
LIGHT COMPANY
as Borrower
THE BANKS NAMED HEREIN
as Banks
and
BANK ONE, NA
as Administrative
Agent and LC Issuing Bank
WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Syndication Agent
BANC ONE CAPITAL
MARKETS, INC.
and
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS,
LLC
Co-Lead Arrangers
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
BARCLAYS
BANK PLC
and
XXXXX FARGO BANK, N.A.
Co-Documentation
Agents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
Page |
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
1 |
SECTION 1.01 |
Certain Defined Terms |
1 |
SECTION 1.02 |
Computation of Time Periods |
15 |
SECTION 1.03 |
Computations of Outstandings |
16 |
SECTION 1.04 |
Accounting Terms |
16 |
ARTICLE II AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT |
16 |
SECTION 2.01 |
The Advances |
16 |
SECTION 2.02 |
Making the Advances |
16 |
SECTION 2.03 |
Letters of Credit |
17 |
SECTION 2.04 |
Fees |
20 |
SECTION 2.05 |
Reduction of the Commitments |
21 |
SECTION 2.06 |
Repayment of Advances |
21 |
SECTION 2.07 |
Interest on Advances |
21 |
SECTION 2.08 |
Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances |
22 |
SECTION 2.09 |
Interest Rate Determination |
22 |
SECTION 2.10 |
Voluntary Conversion of Advances |
23 |
SECTION 2.11 |
Optional Prepayments of Advances |
24 |
SECTION 2.12 |
Increased Costs |
24 |
SECTION 2.13 |
Illegality |
25 |
SECTION 2.14 |
Payments and Computations |
25 |
SECTION 2.15 |
Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness |
26 |
SECTION 2.16 |
Taxes |
27 |
SECTION 2.17 |
Sharing of Payments, Etc. |
28 |
SECTION 2.18 |
Extension of Revolving Commitment Termination Date; Term Election |
29 |
ARTICLE III CONDITIONS OF LENDING |
30 |
SECTION 3.01 |
Conditions Precedent to Closing |
30 |
SECTION 3.02 |
Conditions Precedent to Each Extension of Credit |
32 |
SECTION 3.03 |
Conditions Precedent to Each Extension of the Revolving Commitment Termination Date |
33 |
SECTION 3.04 |
Reliance on Certificates |
34 |
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
34 |
SECTION 4.01 |
Representations and Warranties of the Borrower |
34 |
ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER |
36 |
SECTION 5.01 |
Affirmative Covenants |
36 |
SECTION 5.02 |
Negative Covenants |
40 |
ARTICLE VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
44 |
SECTION 6.01 |
Events of Default |
44 |
SECTION 6.02 |
Cash Collateral Account |
46 |
ARTICLE VII THE AGENT |
47 |
SECTION 7.01 |
Authorization and Action |
47 |
SECTION 7.02 |
Agent's Reliance, Etc |
47 |
SECTION 7.03 |
Bank One and Affiliates |
48 |
SECTION 7.04 |
Lender Credit Decision |
48 |
SECTION 7.05 |
Indemnification |
48 |
SECTION 7.06 |
Successor Agent |
49 |
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS |
49 |
SECTION 8.01 |
Amendments, Etc |
49 |
SECTION 8.02 |
Notices, Etc |
50 |
SECTION 8.03 |
No Waiver; Remedies |
50 |
SECTION 8.04 |
Costs, Expenses, Taxes and Indemnification |
50 |
SECTION 8.05 |
Right of Set-off |
51 |
SECTION 8.06 |
Binding Effect |
52 |
SECTION 8.07 |
Assignments and Participations |
52 |
SECTION 8.08 |
Confidentiality |
56 |
SECTION 8.09 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
57 |
SECTION 8.10 |
Governing Law |
57 |
SECTION 8.11 |
Relation of the Parties; No Beneficiary |
57 |
SECTION 8.12 |
Execution in Counterparts |
57 |
EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES |
|
|
|
Exhibit 1.01 |
- |
Form of Note |
Exhibit 2.02(a) |
- |
Form of Notice of Borrowing |
Exhibit 2.03 |
- |
Form of Request for Issuance |
Exhibit 2.10 |
- |
Form of Notice of Conversion |
Exhibit 3.01(a)(viii)-1 |
- |
Form of Opinion of Xxxxx & Lardner |
Exhibit 3.01(a)(viii)-2 |
- |
Form of Opinion of General Counsel |
Exhibit 3.01(a)(viii)-3 |
- |
Form of Opinion of King & Spalding LLP |
Exhibit 8.07 |
- |
Form of Lender Assignment |
|
|
|
Schedule I |
- |
Commitment Schedule |
Schedule II |
- |
Existing Liens |
Schedule III |
- |
Existing Debt |
Dated as of
September 30, 2003
THIS
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made by and
among:
(i) |
|
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY, a Wisconsin corporation (the
“Borrower”), |
(ii) |
|
the banks (the “Banks”) listed on the signature
pages hereof and the other Lenders (as hereinafter defined) from time to time
party hereto, and |
(iii) |
|
Bank One, NA (“Bank One”), as administrative
agent (the “Agent”) for the Lenders hereunder and
as the issuer of Letters of Credit (as hereinafter defined) (the “LC
Issuing Bank”). |
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
(1) |
The Borrower has requested that the Banks and LC Issuing Bank provide certain
Extensions of Credit (as hereinafter defined) to the Borrower. |
(2) |
The Banks and LC Issuing Bank have agreed to make such Extensions of Credit
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND
ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01.
Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
|
“Administrative
Agency Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated August 27, 2003,
among the Borrower, the Parent, IPL, Bank One and Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
|
|
“Arranger
Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated August 27, 2003, among
the Borrower, the Parent, IPL, Bank One, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., Wachovia Bank,
National Association and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC.
|
|
“Advance”
means an advance by a Lender to the Borrower as part of a Borrowing and refers to a Base
Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance, each of which shall be a
“Type” of Advance.
|
|
“AEC
Facility” means the $650,000,000 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of
October 11, 2002, among the Parent, the banks named therein and Bank One, as the
administrative agent.
|
|
“Affected
Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.13.
|
|
“Affected
Lender Advance” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.13.
|
|
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
(including but not limited to all directors and officers of such Person), controlled by,
or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to
control another entity if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
|
|
“Alternate
Base Rate” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum as shall
be in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to
the higher of:
|
(i) |
|
the
rate of interest announced publicly by Bank One or its corporate parent, Bank
One Corporation, from time to time, as its corporate base rate or prime rate of
interest; and |
(ii) |
|
1/2
of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate. |
|
Each
change in the Alternate Base Rate shall take effect concurrently with any change in such
base or prime rate or the Federal Funds Rate. |
|
“Applicable
Lending Office” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s
Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender’s
Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance.
|
|
“Applicable
Margin” means, for any Eurodollar Rate Advance or Base Rate Advance,
(i) on any date the Utilization Percentage equals or is less than 33-1/3%, the number of
basis points set forth below in the columns identified as Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0,
Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 5 or Level 6 below, opposite the Eurodollar
Rate or the Base Rate, as applicable, and (ii) on any date the Utilization Percentage
exceeds 33-1/3%, the number of basis points set forth below in the columns identified as
Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 5 or Level 6
below, opposite the Utilized Eurodollar Rate or the Utilized Base Rate, as applicable.
|
|
|
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 5 |
LEVEL 6 |
BASIS FOR |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
PRICING |
Ratings At |
Ratings |
Ratings Less |
Ratings |
Ratings |
Ratings Less |
|
Least A By |
Less Than |
Than Level 2 |
Less Than |
Less Than |
Than Level 5* |
|
S&P's/A2 By |
Level 1 But |
But At Least |
Level 3 But |
Level 4 But |
|
|
Xxxxx'x. |
At Least A- |
BBB+ By |
At Least |
At Least |
|
|
|
By S&P's/A3 |
S&P's/Baa1 |
BBB By |
BBB- By |
|
|
|
By Xxxxx'x. |
By Xxxxx'x. |
S&P's/Baa2 |
S&P's/Baa3 |
|
|
|
|
|
By Xxxxx'x. |
By Xxxxx'x. |
|
|
Basis Points Per Annum |
|
Eurodollar Rate |
55.0 |
62.5 |
85.0 |
95.0 |
105.0 |
195.0 |
|
Base Rate |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Utilized Eurodollar |
67.5 |
75.0 |
97.5 |
107.5 |
130.0 |
220.0 |
Rate |
|
Utilized Base Rate |
12.5 |
12.5 |
12.5 |
12.5 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
|
* or unrated
|
The
Applicable Margin will be based upon the Level corresponding to the Reference Ratings at
the time of determination. Any change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in
the Reference Ratings shall be effective, as to any Advance, as of the date on which the
applicable rating agency announces the applicable change in ratings. The Applicable Margin
set forth above shall be increased at all times following the effective date of the Term
Election, by 37.5 basis points at Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 and by 50.0 basis points at Levels
5 and 6. |
|
(i) in
the case of each Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all
times to the sum of the Alternate Base Rate in effect from time to time plus the
Applicable Margin in effect from time to time; and |
|
(ii) in
the case of each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same
Borrowing, a rate per annum during each Interest Period equal at
all times to the sum of the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the
Applicable Margin in effect from time to time during such Interest Period. |
|
“Available
Commitment” means, for each Lender at any time on any day, the unused
portion of such Lender’s Commitment, computed after giving effect to all Extensions
of Credit made or to be made on such day, the application of proceeds therefrom, all
prepayments and repayments of Advances made on such day and all reductions in the LC
Outstandings made on such day.
|
|
“Available
Commitments” means the aggregate of the Lenders’ Available
Commitments hereunder.
|
|
“Banks”has
the meaning assigned to that term in the Preamble to this Agreement.
|
|
“Base
Rate Advance” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 2.07(a).
|
|
“Borrowing”
means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the same Type, having the same
Interest Period and ratably made or Converted on the same day by each of the Lenders
pursuant to Section 2.02 or 2.10, as the case may be. All Advances of the same Type,
having the same Interest Period and made or Converted on the same day shall be deemed a
single Borrowing hereunder until repaid or next Converted.
|
|
“Business
Day” means a day of the year on which banks are not required or
authorized to close in New York City, Chicago, Illinois or Madison, Wisconsin and, if the
applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advance, on which dealings are
carried on in the London interbank market.
|
|
“Capitalized
Lease Obligations” means obligations to pay rent or other amounts
under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real and/or personal
property which obligation is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital
lease on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and for purposes hereof the
amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount determined in accordance with
such principles.
|
|
“Cash
and Cash Equivalents” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate
amount of the following, to the extent owned by such Person free and clear of all Liens,
encumbrances and rights of others and not subject to any judicial, regulatory or other
legal constraint: (i) cash on hand; (ii) Dollar demand deposits maintained in
the United States with any commercial bank and Dollar time deposits maintained in the
United States with, or certificates of deposit having a maturity of one year or less
issued by, any commercial bank which has an office in the United States and which has a
combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000; (iii) eurodollar time deposits
maintained in the United States with, or eurodollar certificates of deposit having a
maturity of one year or less issued by, any commercial bank having outstanding unsecured
indebtedness that is rated (on the date of acquisition thereof) A- or better by S&P or
A3 or better by Xxxxx’x (or an equivalent rating by another nationally-recognized
credit rating agency of similar standing if neither of such corporations is then in the
business of rating unsecured bank indebtedness); (iv) direct obligations of, or
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States and having a maturity of one year or
less; (v) commercial paper rated (on the date of acquisition thereof) A-1 or P-1 or
better by S&P or Xxxxx’x, respectively (or an equivalent rating by another
nationally-recognized credit rating agency of similar standing if neither of such
corporations is then in the business of rating commercial paper), and having a maturity of
one year or less; (vi) obligations with any Lender or any other commercial bank in
respect of the repurchase of obligations of the type described in clause (iv) above,
provided that such repurchase obligations shall be fully secured by obligations of
the type described in said clause (iv) and the possession of such obligations shall be
transferred to, and segregated from other obligations owned by, such Lender or such other
commercial bank; and (vii) preferred stock of any Person that is rated A- or better
by S&P or A3 or better by Xxxxx’x (or an equivalent rating by another
nationally-recognized credit rating agency of similar standing if neither of such
corporations is then in the business of rating preferred stock of entities engaged in such
businesses).
|
|
“Cash
Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
6.02.
|
|
“Certifying
Officer” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
5.01(h)(iv).
|
|
“Closing”
means the day upon which each of the applicable conditions precedent enumerated in
Section 3.01 shall be fulfilled to the satisfaction of, or waived with the consent
of, the Lenders, the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and the Borrower. All transactions
contemplated by the Closing shall take place on a Business Day on or prior to September
30, 2003, at the offices of King & Spalding LLP, 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time), or such later Business Day
as the parties hereto may mutually agree.
|
|
"Co-Lead
Arrangers" shall mean, collectively, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. and Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC.
|
|
“Commitment”
means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Advances to
the Borrower and to participate in the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower in
respect of Letters of Credit in an amount no greater than the amount set forth on
Schedule I hereto or, if such Lender has entered into one or more Lender Assignments,
set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to
Section 8.07(c), in each such case as such amount may be reduced from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.05(a), (b) or (c).
|
|
“Commitments”means
the total of the Lenders’ Commitments hereunder.
|
|
“Confidential
Information” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.08.
|
|
“Consenting
Lenders” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.18(c).
|
|
“Consolidated
Capital” means, with respect to any Person, at any date of
determination, the sum of (i) Consolidated Debt of such Person,
(ii) consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, (iii) consolidated equity of the preference stockholders
of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and (iv) consolidated equity of the
preferred stockholders of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case
determined at such date in accordance with GAAP.
|
|
“Consolidated
Debt” means, with respect to any Person, at any date of determination,
the aggregate Debt of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but shall not include Nonrecourse Debt of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
|
|
“Consolidated
Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such
Person whose accounts are or are required to be consolidated with the accounts of such
Person in accordance with GAAP.
|
|
“Convert”,
“Conversion” and “Converted”
each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of another Type, or to
the selection of a new, or the renewal of the same, Interest Period for Advances, as the
case may be, pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10.
|
|
“Debenture
Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of June 20,
1997, between the Borrower and Firstar Trust Company, as Trustee, as amended and
supplemented from time to time.
|
|
“Debt”
means, for any Person, any and all indebtedness, liabilities and other monetary
obligations of such Person (i) for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or other similar instruments, (ii) to pay the deferred purchase price of
property or services (except trade accounts payable arising and repaid in the ordinary
course of business), (iii) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (iv) under
reimbursement or similar agreements with respect to letters of credit (other than trade
letters of credit) issued to support indebtedness or obligations of such Person or of
others of the kinds referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above and clause (v) below,
(v) reasonably quantifiable obligations under direct guaranties or indemnities, or
under support agreements, in respect of, and reasonably quantifiable obligations
(contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a
creditor against loss in respect of, or to assure an obligee against failure to make
payment in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in
clauses (i) through (iv), above, and (vi) in respect of unfunded vested benefits
under Plans. In determining Debt for any Person, there shall be included accrued interest
on the principal amount thereof to the extent such interest has accrued for more than six
months.
|
|
“Default
Rate” means (i) with respect to the unpaid principal of or
interest on any Advance, the greater of (A) 2% per annum above the Applicable
Rate in effect from time to time for such Advance and (B) 2% per annum above
the Applicable Rate in effect from time to time for Base Rate Advances and (ii) with
respect to any other unpaid amount hereunder, 2% per annum above the Applicable
Rate in effect from time to time for Base Rate Advances.
|
|
“Dollars”and
the sign “$” each means lawful money of the United States.
|
|
“Domestic
Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office or
affiliate of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending
Office” opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Lender
Assignment pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office or affiliate of such
Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify in writing to the Borrower and the
Agent.
|
|
“Eligible
Assignee” means (i) a commercial bank or trust company organized
under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof; (ii) a commercial bank
organized under the laws of any other country that is a member of the OECD, or a political
subdivision of any such country, provided that such bank is acting through a branch
or agency located in the United States; (iii) the central bank of any country that is
a member of the OECD; and (iv) any other commercial bank or other financial
institution engaged generally in the business of extending credit or purchasing debt
instruments; provided, however, that (A) any such Person shall also
(1) have outstanding unsecured indebtedness that is rated A- or better by S&P or
A3 or better by Xxxxx’x (or an equivalent rating by another nationally-recognized
credit rating agency of similar standing if neither of such rating agencies is then in the
business of rating unsecured indebtedness of entities engaged in such businesses) or
(2) have combined capital and surplus (as established in its most recent report of
condition to its primary regulator) of not less than $250,000,000 (or its equivalent in
foreign currency), (B) any Person described in clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) above
shall, on the date on which it is to become a Lender hereunder, (x) be entitled to
receive payments hereunder without deduction or withholding of any United States Federal
income taxes (as contemplated by Section 2.16) and (y) not be incurring any
losses, costs or expenses of the type for which such Person could demand payment under
Section 2.12, and (C) any Person described in clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) above
shall, in addition, be reasonably acceptable to the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and, so
long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower.
|
|
“Equity
Interests” means, (i) with respect to a corporation, shares of
capital stock of such corporation or any other interest convertible or exchangeable into
any such interest, (ii) with respect to a limited liability company, a membership
interest in such company, (iii) with respect to a partnership, a partnership interest
in such partnership, and (iv) with respect to any other Person, an interest in such
Person analogous to interests described in clauses (i) through (iii).
|
|
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
|
|
“ERISA
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business
(whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of which such Person is a
member and which is under common control within the meaning of the regulations under
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
|
|
“ERISA
Event” means (i) the occurrence of a reportable event, within the
meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect
thereto has been waived by the PBGC; (ii) the provision by the administrator of any
Plan of notice of intent to terminate such Plan, pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of
ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in
Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (iii) the cessation of operations at a facility in
the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by
the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate of the Parent from a Multiple Employer Plan or a
Multiemployer Plan during a plan year for which it was a “substantial employer”,
as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (v) the failure by the Parent or an
ERISA Affiliate of the Parent to make a payment to a Plan required under
Section 302(f)(1) of ERISA, which failure results in the imposition of a lien for
failure to make required payments; (vi) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan
requiring the provision of security to such Plan, pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA;
or (vii) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Plan, pursuant to
Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition which might
reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.
|
|
“Eurocurrency
Liabilities” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
|
|
“Eurodollar
Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office or
affiliate of such Lender specified as its “Eurodollar Lending Office” opposite
its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Lender Assignment pursuant to which it became
a Lender (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other
office or affiliate of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify in writing
to the Borrower and the Agent.
|
|
“Eurodollar
Rate” means, for each Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance
made as part of the same Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the average
(rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such
average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S.
dollars are offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London,
England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially
equal to such Reference Bank’s Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of such Borrowing
and for a period equal to such Interest Period. The Eurodollar Rate for the Interest
Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the same Borrowing shall be
determined by the Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the
Agent from the Reference Banks two Business Days before the first day of such Interest
Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.09.
|
|
“Eurodollar
Rate Advance” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 2.07(b).
|
|
“Eurodollar
Reserve Percentage” of any Lender for each Interest Period for each
Eurodollar Rate Advance means the reserve percentage applicable to such Lender during such
Interest Period (or if more than one such percentage shall be so applicable, the daily
average of such percentages for those days in such Interest Period during which any such
percentage shall be so applicable) under Regulation D or other regulations issued
from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any
successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation,
any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) then applicable to such
Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency
Liabilities having a term equal to such Interest Period.
|
|
“Events
of Default” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 6.01.
|
|
“Existing
Facility” means the $150,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of October
11, 2002, among the Borrower, the banks named therein and Citibank, N.A., as the
administrative agent.
|
|
“Extension
of Credit” means (i) the disbursement of the proceeds of any
Borrowing and (ii) the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the amendment of any Letter
of Credit having the effect of extending the stated termination date thereof or increasing
the maximum amount available to be drawn thereunder.
|
|
“Facility
Fee” means a fee that shall be payable on the aggregate amount of the
Commitment of each Lender, irrespective of usage, payable to each Lender on the amount of
its Commitment at the rate (expressed in basis points per annum) set forth below in
the columns identified as Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 5 or Level 6
based on the Reference Ratings.
|
|
|
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 0 |
XXXXX 5 |
LEVEL 6 |
BASIS FOR |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
Reference |
PRICING |
Ratings At |
Ratings |
Ratings Less |
Ratings |
Ratings |
Ratings Less |
|
Least A By |
Less Than |
Than Level 2 |
Less Than |
Less Than |
Than Level 5* |
|
S&P/A2 By |
Xxxxx 0 But |
But At Least |
Level 3 But |
Level 4 But |
|
|
Xxxxx'x. |
At Least A- |
BBB+ By |
At Least |
At Least |
|
|
|
By S&P/A3 |
S&P/Baa1 |
BBB By |
BBB- By |
|
|
|
By Xxxxx'x. |
By Xxxxx'x. |
S&P/Baa2 |
S&P/Baa3 |
|
|
|
|
|
By Xxxxx'x. |
By Xxxxx'x. |
|
|
Basis Points |
10.0 |
12.5 |
15.0 |
17.5 |
20.0 |
30.0 |
|
* or unrated
|
The
Facility Fee will be based upon the Level corresponding to the Reference Ratings at the
time of determination. Any change in the Facility Fee resulting from a change in the
Reference Ratings shall be effective as of the date on which the applicable rating agency
announces the applicable change in ratings.
|
|
“Federal
Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per
annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on
overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business
Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if
such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the
quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal
funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
|
|
“First
Mortgage Bond Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of
August 1, 1941, between the Borrower and First Wisconsin Trust Company and
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, as Trustees, as amended and supplemented from time to time.
|
|
“GAAP”has
the meaning assigned to that term in Section 1.04.
|
|
“Governmental
Approval” means any authorization, consent, approval, license,
franchise, lease, ruling, tariff, rate, permit, certificate, exemption of, or filing or
registration with, any governmental authority or other legal or regulatory body.
|
|
“Granting
Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.07(i).
|
|
“Hazardous
Substance” means any waste, substance, or material identified as
hazardous, dangerous or toxic by any office, agency, department, commission, board,
bureau, or instrumentality of the United States or of the State or locality in which the
same is located having or exercising jurisdiction over such waste, substance or material.
|
|
“Hostile
Acquisition” means any acquisition involving a tender offer or proxy
contest that has not been recommended or approved by the board of directors (or similar
governing body) of the Person that is the subject of such acquisition prior to the first
public announcement or disclosure relating to such acquisition.
|
|
“Indemnified
Person”has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.04(c).
|
|
“Indentures”means
the Debenture Indenture and the First Mortgage Bond Indenture.
|
|
“Interest
Period” means, for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the
same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance or
the date of the Conversion of any Advance into such a Eurodollar Rate Advance and
ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions
below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the
immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by
the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period
shall be 1, 2, 3 or 6 months, as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not
later than 11:00 a.m. on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest
Period, select; provided, however, that:
|
(i) |
|
the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination
Date; |
(ii) |
|
Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Advances comprising part of the
same Borrowing shall be of the same duration; and |
(iii) |
|
whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day
other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be
extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, in the case of
any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Advance, that if such extension would
cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following
calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next
preceding Business Day. |
|
“IPL”means
Interstate Power and Light Company, an Iowa corporation.
|
|
“IPL
Facility” means the $200,000,000 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of
October 11, 2002, as amended, among IPL, the banks named therein and Citibank, N.A., as
administrative agent.
|
|
“LC
Fee” is defined in Section 2.04(b).
|
|
“LC
Issuing Bank” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble
to this Agreement.
|
|
“LC
Outstandings” means, on any date of determination, the sum of the
undrawn stated amounts of all Letters of Credit that are outstanding on such date plus the
aggregate principal amount of all unpaid reimbursement obligations of the Borrower on such
date with respect to payments made by the LC Issuing Bank under Letters of Credit.
|
|
“LC
Payment Notice” is defined in Section 2.03(d).
|
|
“Lender
Assignment” means an assignment and acceptance agreement entered into
by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by the Agent and the LC Issuing Bank,
in substantially the form of Exhibit 8.07.
|
|
“Lenders”
means the Banks listed on the signature pages hereof and each Eligible Assignee that shall
become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07.
|
|
“Letter
of Credit” means letters of credit issued by the LC Issuing Bank
pursuant to Section 2.03.
|
|
“Lien”has
the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.02(a).
|
|
“Loan
Documents” means (i) this Agreement, any Note issued pursuant to
Section 2.15, the Administrative Agency Fee Letter and the Arranger Fee Letter,
(ii) all agreements, documents and instruments in favor of the Agent, the LC Issuing
Bank or the Lenders (or the Agent on behalf of the LC Issuing Bank or the Lenders), and
(iii) all other agreements, instruments and documents now or hereafter executed
and/or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.
|
|
“Majority
Lenders” means, on any date of determination, Lenders that,
collectively, on such date (i) hold greater than 50% of the then outstanding Advances
and participation obligations with respect to the LC Outstandings and, (ii) if there are
no Outstanding Credits, have Percentages in the aggregate greater than 50%. Any
determination of those Lenders constituting the Majority Lenders shall be made by the
Agent and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties absent manifest error.
|
|
“Margin
Stock” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation U of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
|
|
“Material
Adverse Change” means (i) a material adverse change in, or a
material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or
contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, a
downgrade by S&P or Moody’s of its rating of the Borrower or any Debt of the
Borrower shall not, in and of itself, be deemed to be a Material Adverse Change, but for
purposes of clarity in interpreting the foregoing, it is agreed that the event, change,
circumstance or condition that causes such downgrade (or an announcement of a potential
downgrade or a review for possible ratings change) of any such rating, and the effect or
change caused by such downgrade (or an announcement of a potential downgrade or a review
for possible ratings change), will be considered in whether there has been a Material
Adverse Change; provided, further, the fact that the Borrower is unable to issue
Debt in the commercial paper market due to market conditions generally affecting the
commercial paper market shall not, in and of itself, be deemed to be a Material Adverse
Change; (ii) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its
obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (iii) a material
adverse change upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the
Borrower of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
|
|
“Moody’s”means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto.
|
|
“Multiemployer
Plan” means a multiemployer plan, as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA and to which the
Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of the Parent is making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an
obligation to make contributions, such plan being maintained pursuant to one or more
collective bargaining agreements.
|
|
“Multiple
Employer Plan” means a single employer plan, as defined in
Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA and (i) is
maintained for employees of the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate of the Parent and at least
one Person other than the Parent and its ERISA Affiliates or (ii) was so maintained
and in respect of which the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate of the Parent could have
liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were
to be terminated.
|
|
“Non-Consenting
Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.18(b).
|
|
“Non-Performing
Lender”has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.03(e).
|
|
“Nonrecourse
Debt” means any Debt that finances the acquisition, development,
ownership or operation of an asset to the extent that the Person to which such Debt is
owed has no recourse whatsoever to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates other than:
|
(i) |
|
recourse to the named obligor with respect to such Debt (the
“Debtor”) for amounts limited to the cash flow or
net cash flow (other than historic cash flow or historic net cash flow) from the
asset; and |
(ii) |
|
recourse to the Debtor for the purpose only of enabling amounts to be claimed in
respect of such Debt in an enforcement of any security interest or lien given by
the Debtor over the asset or the income, cash flow or other proceeds deriving
from the asset (or given by any shareholder or the like in the Debtor over its
shares or like interest in the capital of the Debtor) to secure the Debt, but
only if the extent of the recourse to the Debtor is limited solely to the amount
of any recoveries made on any such enforcement; |
(iii) |
|
recourse to the Debtor generally or indirectly to any Affiliate of the Debtor,
under any form of assurance, undertaking or support, which recourse is limited
to a claim for damages (other than liquidated damages and damages required to be
calculated in a specified way) for a breach of an obligation (other than a
payment obligation or an obligation to comply or to procure compliance by
another with any financial ratios or other tests of financial condition) by the
Person against which such recourse is available; and |
(iv) |
|
recourse to the Debtor, if such Debtor’s assets are limited to the asset so
acquired, developed, owned or operated and other assets used in connection with
or produced by the operation of the asset so acquired, developed, owned or
operated. |
|
“Note”
means a promissory note issued at the request of a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, in
substantially the form of Exhibit 1.01 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of
the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Advances made by such Lender.
|
|
“Notice
of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.02(a).
|
|
“Notice
of Conversion” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.10.
|
|
“OECD”means
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
|
|
“Other
Taxes” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.16(b).
|
|
“Outstanding
Credits” means, on any date of determination, an amount equal to the
sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Borrowings outstanding on such date
plus (ii) the LC Outstandings on such date.
|
|
“PBGC”
means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor entity) established under
ERISA.
|
|
“Percentage”
means, for any Lender on any date of determination, the percentage obtained by dividing
such Lender’s Commitment on such day by the total of the Commitments on such date,
and multiplying the quotient so obtained by 100%.
|
|
“Person”
means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture
or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.
|
|
“Plan”means
a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
|
|
“PSC
Order” means the order of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
(File No. 6680-SB-122), dated May 4, 2001.
|
|
“PUHCA”means
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended from time to time.
|
|
“Reference
Banks” means Bank One and Wachovia Bank, National Association, and any
additional or substitute Lenders as may be selected from time to time to act as Reference
Banks hereunder by the Agent.
|
|
“Reference
Ratings” means the ratings assigned by S&P and Moody’s to the
Reference Securities. For purposes of the foregoing, if the ratings assigned to such
Reference Security by S&P and Moody’s, respectively, are not comparable
(i.e., a “split rating”) by: (x) one level, the level corresponding to
the lower of such two ratings shall control, or (y) two or more levels, the level
corresponding to the rating one level above the lower of such two ratings shall control,
unless either rating is below BBB- or unrated (in the case of S&P) or Baa3 or unrated
(in the case of Moody’s), in which case the lower of the two ratings shall control.
|
|
“Reference
Securities” means the Borrower’s senior unsecured non-credit
enhanced long-term debt.
|
|
“Register”has
the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.07(c).
|
|
“Report”has
the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.01(h)(iv).
|
|
“Request
for Issuance” means a request made pursuant to Section 2.03(a) in
the form of Exhibit 2.03.
|
|
“Revolving
Commitment Termination Date” means the earlier to occur of
(i) September 28, 2004, or such later date as to which the Lenders may from time to
time agree pursuant to Section 2.18 and (ii) the date of termination or
reduction in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01.
|
|
“S&P”
means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx
Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.
|
|
“Senior
Financial Officer” means the President, the Chief Executive Officer,
the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower.
|
|
“Significant
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that, on a
consolidated basis with any of its Subsidiaries as of any date of determination, accounts
for more than 20% of the consolidated assets (valued at book value) of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries.
|
|
“Single
Employer Plan” means a single employer plan, as defined in
Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA and which
(i) is maintained for employees of the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate of the Parent and
no Person other than the Parent and its ERISA Affiliates, or (ii) was so maintained
and in respect of which the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate of the Parent could have
liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be
terminated.
|
|
“SPC”has
the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.07(i).
|
|
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or unincorporated entity of which more
than 50% of the outstanding Equity Interests having ordinary voting power (irrespective of
whether at the time Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such corporation or
entity shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the
time owned by said Person, either directly or through one or more other Subsidiaries. In
the case of an unincorporated entity, a Person shall be deemed to have more than 50% of
interests having ordinary voting power only if such Person’s vote in respect of such
interests comprises more than 50% of the total voting power of all such interests in the
unincorporated entity.
|
|
“Taxes”has
the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.16(a).
|
|
“Term
Election” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.18(a).
|
|
“Termination
Date” means the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, or, if the
Borrower shall have made the Term Election, the first anniversary of the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date.
|
|
“Type”
has the meaning assigned to that term (i) in the definition of “Advance”
when used in such context and (ii) in the definition of “Borrowing” when
used in such context.
|
|
“Unmatured
Default” means an event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
|
|
“Utilization
Percentage” means, as of any time for the determination thereof, the
percentage obtained by dividing the aggregate Outstanding Credits by the aggregate
Commitments then in effect.
|
SECTION 1.02.
Computation of Time Periods. Unless otherwise indicated,
each reference in this Agreement to a specific time of day is a reference to
Chicago, Illinois time. In the computation of periods of time under this
Agreement, any period of a specified number of days or months shall be computed
by including the first day or month occurring during such period and excluding
the last such day or month. In the case of a period of time “from” a
specified date “to” or “until” a later specified date, the
word “from” means “from and including” and the words
“to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”.
SECTION 1.03.
Computations of Outstandings. Whenever reference is made in
this Agreement to the “principal amount outstanding” on any date under
this Agreement, such reference shall refer to the aggregate principal amount of
all Advances outstanding on such date after giving effect to all Advances to be
made on such date and the application of the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 1.04.
Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically
defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”) consistent with
those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in
Section 4.01(f).
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF
THE EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT
SECTION 2.01. |
The Advances. |
(a) |
Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
to make Advances to the Borrower from time to time, during the period from and
including the date hereof, to and up to, but excluding, the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date, in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed at any time
such Lender’s Available Commitment. Each Borrowing shall be in an aggregate
amount not less than $5,000,000 (or, if lower, the amount of the Available
Commitments) or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall
consist of Advances of the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably
according to their respective Percentages. Within the limits of each
Lender’s Commitment and as hereinabove and hereinafter provided, the
Borrower may request Borrowings hereunder, and repay or prepay Advances pursuant
to Section 2.11 and utilize the resulting increase in the Available
Commitments for further Extensions of Credit in accordance with the terms
hereof. |
(b) |
In no event shall the Borrower be entitled to request or receive any Borrowings
that would cause the Outstanding Credits to exceed the Commitments. |
SECTION 2.02. |
Making the Advances. |
(a) |
Each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 11:00 a.m.
(i) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing,
in the case of a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances and
(ii) on the date of the proposed Borrowing, in the case of a Borrowing
comprised of Base Rate Advances, in each case by the Borrower to the Agent,
which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier, telex or
cable. Each such notice of a Borrowing (a “Notice of
Borrowing”) shall be by telecopier, telex or cable, in
substantially the form of Exhibit 2.02(a) hereto, specifying therein the
requested (A) date of such Borrowing, (B) Type of Advances comprising such
Borrowing, (C) aggregate amount of such Borrowing and (D) in the case
of a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the initial Interest
Period for each such Advance. Each Lender shall, before (x) 12:00 noon on
the date of such Borrowing, in the case of a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar
Rate Advances, and (y) 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing, in the case
of a Borrowing comprised of Base Rate Advances, make available for the account
of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at its address referred to in
Section 8.02, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such
Borrowing. After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of
the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Agent will promptly
make such funds available to the Borrower at the Agent’s aforesaid address. |
(b) |
Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In
the case of any Borrowing which the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to
be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each
Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of
any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of
Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, including, without limitation, any loss, cost or expense
incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds
acquired by such Lender to fund the Eurodollar Rate Advance to be made by such
Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure,
is not made on such date. |
(c) |
Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of
any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such
Lender’s Advance as part of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such
Lender has made such Advance available to the Agent on the date of such
Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the
Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on
such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall
not have so made such Advance available to the Agent, such Lender and the
Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount, together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is
repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate
applicable at the time to Advances comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the
case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the
Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such
Lender’s Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement. |
(d) |
The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any
Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any,
hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be
made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing. |
SECTION 2.03. |
Letters of Credit. |
(a) |
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Letter of Credit shall be
issued (or the stated maturity thereof extended or terms thereof modified or
amended) on not less than two Business Days’ prior notice thereof by
delivery of a Request for Issuance to the Agent (which shall promptly distribute
copies thereof to the Lenders) and the LC Issuing Bank. Each Request for
Issuance shall specify (i) the date (which shall be a Business Day) of
issuance of such Letter of Credit (or the date of effectiveness of such
extension, modification or amendment) and the stated expiry date thereof (which
shall be no later than the Revolving Commitment Termination Date), (ii) the
proposed stated amount of such Letter of Credit (which shall not be less than
$1,000,000), (iii) the name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter
of Credit and (iv) a statement of drawing conditions applicable to such
Letter of Credit, and if such Request for Issuance relates to an amendment or
modification of a Letter of Credit, it shall be accompanied by the consent of
the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit thereto. Each Request for Issuance shall
be irrevocable unless modified or rescinded by the Borrower not less than one
day prior to the proposed date of issuance (or effectiveness) specified therein.
Not later than 12:00 noon on the proposed date of issuance (or effectiveness)
specified in such Request for Issuance, and upon fulfillment of the applicable
conditions precedent and the other requirements set forth herein, the LC Issuing
Bank shall issue (or extend, amend or modify) such Letter of Credit and provide
notice and a copy thereof to the Agent, which shall promptly furnish copies
thereof to the Lenders. |
(b) |
No Letter of Credit shall be requested or issued hereunder if, after the
issuance thereof, (i) the Outstanding Credits would exceed the total Commitments
or (ii) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Letters of Credit would
exceed $100,000,000. |
(c) |
The Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of the LC Issuing
Bank and, if they shall have purchased participations in the reimbursement
obligations of the Borrower pursuant to subsection (d) below, the Lenders,
on demand made by the LC Issuing Bank to the Borrower, on and after each date on
which the LC Issuing Bank shall pay any amount under any Letter of Credit issued
by the LC Issuing Bank, a sum equal to the amount so paid plus interest on such
amount from the date so paid by the LC Issuing Bank until repayment to the LC
Issuing Bank in full at a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the
interest rate applicable to Base Rate Advances plus, if any amount paid by the
LC Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit is not reimbursed by the Borrower
within three Business Days, 2%. |
(d) |
If the LC Issuing Bank shall not have been reimbursed in full for any payment
made by the LC Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit issued by the LC Issuing
Bank on the date of such payment, the LC Issuing Bank shall give the Agent and
each Lender prompt notice thereof (an “LC Payment
Notice”) no later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day
immediately succeeding the date of such payment by the LC Issuing Bank. Each
Lender severally agrees to purchase a participation in the reimbursement
obligation of the Borrower to the LC Issuing Bank by paying to the Agent for the
account of the LC Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Lender’s Percentage
of such unreimbursed amount paid by the LC Issuing Bank, plus interest on such
amount at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from the date of the
payment by the LC Issuing Bank to the date of payment to the LC Issuing Bank by
such Lender. Each such payment by a Lender shall be made not later than
3:00 P.M. on the later to occur of (i) the Business Day immediately
following the date of such payment by the LC Issuing Bank and (ii) the
Business Day on which such Lender shall have received an LC Payment Notice from
the LC Issuing Bank. Each Lender’s obligation to make each such payment to
the Agent for the account of the LC Issuing Bank shall be several and shall not
be affected by the occurrence or continuance of an Event of Default or the
failure of any other Lender to make any payment under this Section 2.03(d).
Each Lender further agrees that each such payment shall be made without any
offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. |
(e) |
The failure of any Lender to make any payment to the Agent for the account of
the LC Issuing Bank in accordance with subsection (d) above shall not
relieve any other Lender of its obligation to make payment, but no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender. If any Lender (a
“Non-Performing Lender”) shall fail to make any
payment to the Agent for the account of the LC Issuing Bank in accordance with
subsection (d) above within five Business Days after the LC Payment Notice
relating thereto, then, for so long as such failure shall continue, the LC
Issuing Bank shall be deemed, for purposes of Section 8.01 and Article VI
hereof, to be a Lender owed a Borrowing in an amount equal to the outstanding
principal amount due and payable by such Non-Performing Lender to the Agent for
the account of the LC Issuing Bank pursuant to subsection (d) above. Any
Non-Performing Lender and the Borrower (without waiving any claim against such
Lender for such Lender’s failure to purchase a participation in the
reimbursement obligations of the Borrower under subsection (d) above)
severally agree to pay to the Agent for the account of the LC Issuing Bank
forthwith on demand such amount, together with interest thereon for each day
from the date such Lender would have purchased its participation had it complied
with the requirements of subsection (d) above until the date such amount is
paid to the Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest
rate applicable at the time to Base Rate Advances and (ii) in the case of
such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. |
(f) |
The payment obligations of each Lender under Section 2.03(d) and of the
Borrower under this Agreement in respect of any payment under any Letter of
Credit by the LC Issuing Bank shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall
be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all
circumstances, including, without limitation, the following circumstances: |
(i) |
|
any
lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document
or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto or to such Letter of
Credit; |
(ii) |
|
any
amendment or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, the terms of this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or such Letter of Credit; |
(iii) |
|
the
existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which the Borrower may
have at any time against any beneficiary, or any transferee, of such Letter of
Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may
be acting), the LC Issuing Bank, or any other Person, whether in connection
with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, thereby or by such
Letter of Credit, or any unrelated transaction; |
(iv) |
|
any
statement or any other document presented under such Letter of Credit
reasonably proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; |
(v) |
|
payment
in good faith by the LC Issuing Bank under the Letter of Credit issued by the
LC Issuing Bank against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not
comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or |
(vi) |
|
any
other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of
the foregoing. |
(g) |
The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of any beneficiary or
transferee of any Letter of Credit. Neither the LC Issuing Bank, the Lenders nor
any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or Affiliates
shall be liable or responsible for (i) the use that may be made of such
Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee
thereof in connection therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness
of documents, or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove
to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (iii)
payment by the LC Issuing Bank against presentation of documents that do not
comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, including failure of any
documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to such Letter of Credit;
or (iv) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment
under such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained in any Loan Document, the Borrower and each Lender shall have the
right to bring suit against the LC Issuing Bank, and the LC Issuing Bank shall
be liable to the Borrower and any Lender, to the extent of any direct, as
opposed to consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower or such Lender which
the Borrower or such Lender proves were caused by the LC Issuing Bank’s
willful misconduct or gross negligence, including, in the case of the Borrower,
the LC Issuing Bank’s willful failure to make timely payment under such
Letter of Credit following the presentation to it by the beneficiary thereof of
a draft and accompanying certificate(s) that strictly comply with the terms and
conditions of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the
foregoing, the LC Issuing Bank may accept sight drafts and accompanying
certificates presented under the Letter of Credit issued by the LC Issuing Bank
that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further
investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and
payment against such documents shall not constitute willful misconduct or gross
negligence by the LC Issuing Bank. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender
shall be obligated to indemnify the Borrower for damages caused by the LC
Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence. |
(a) |
The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender the
Facility Fee, from the date hereof, in the case of each Bank, and from the
effective date specified in the Lender Assignment pursuant to which it became a
Lender, in the case of each other Lender, until the later of the Termination
Date and the date all Advances are paid in full, payable quarterly in arrears on
the last day of each March, June, September and December during the
term of such Lender’s Commitment, commencing December 31, 2003, and on the
later of the Termination Date and the date all Advances are paid in full. |
(b) |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a fee (the
“LC Fee”) on the average daily amount of the sum
of the undrawn stated amounts of all Letters of Credit outstanding on each such
day, from the date hereof until the later to occur of the Termination Date and
the date on which no Letters of Credit are outstanding, payable on the last day
of each March, June, September and December (commencing December 31, 2003)
and such later date, at a rate equal at all times to the Applicable Margin in
effect from time to time for Eurodollar Rate Advances. In addition, the Borrower
shall pay to the LC Issuing Bank such fees for the issuance and maintenance of
Letters of Credit and for drawings thereunder as may be separately agreed
between the Borrower and the LC Issuing Bank. |
(c) |
In addition to the fees provided for in subsections (a) and (b) above, the
Borrower shall pay (i) to the Agent and the LC Issuing Bank, for their own
accounts, such fees as are provided for in the Administrative Agency Fee Letter
and (ii) to the Lenders and the Co-Lead Arrangers, for their own accounts, such
fees as are provided for in the Arranger Fee Letter. |
SECTION 2.05. |
Reduction of the Commitments. |
(a) |
The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days’
notice to the Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused
portions of the respective Commitments of the Lenders; provided that the
aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall not be reduced to an
amount which is less than the aggregate principal amount of the Extensions of
Credit then outstanding; and provided, further, that each partial
reduction shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof. |
(b) |
On and after any date following the effective date of the Term Election, if the
Available Commitments shall exceed the aggregate principal amount of Advances
outstanding, the Available Commitments shall automatically be reduced on such
date by an amount equal to such excess. |
(c) |
On the Termination Date, the Commitments of the Lenders shall be reduced to
zero. |
(d) |
Any termination or reduction of the Commitments under this Section 2.05 shall be
irrevocable, and the Commitments shall not thereafter be reinstated. |
SECTION 2.06. |
Repayment of Advances. The Borrower shall repay the
principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender on the Termination Date. |
SECTION 2.07. |
Interest on Advances. The Borrower shall pay interest on
the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender from the date
of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the
Applicable Rate for such Advance (except as otherwise provided in this
Section 2.07), payable as follows: |
(a) |
Base Rate Advances. If such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, interest
thereon shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March,
June, September and December, on the date of any Conversion of such Base
Rate Advance and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall become due and payable
or shall otherwise be paid in full; provided that at any time an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Base Rate Advance shall bear
interest payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times to the
Default Rate. |
(b) |
Eurodollar Rate Advances. If such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance,
interest thereon shall be payable on the last day of such Interest Period and,
if the Interest Period for such Advance has a duration of more than three
months, on that day of each third month during such Interest Period that
corresponds to the first day of such Interest Period (or, if any such month does
not have a corresponding day, then on the last day of such month);
provided that at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, each Eurodollar Rate Advance shall bear interest payable on demand,
at a rate per annum equal at all times to the Default Rate. |
SECTION 2.08. |
Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances. The
Borrower shall pay to Agent for the account of each Lender any costs actually
incurred by such Lender with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances that are
attributable to such Lender’s compliance with regulations of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System requiring the maintenance of reserves
with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency
Liabilities. Such costs shall be paid to the Agent for the account of such
Lender in the form of additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
Eurodollar Rate Advance of such Lender, from the date of such Advance until such
principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum equal at
all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting (i) the Eurodollar Rate for
the Interest Period for such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing
such Eurodollar Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period, payable on each date on
which interest is payable on such Advance. Such additional interest shall be
determined by such Lender and notified to the Borrower through the Agent. A
certificate as to the amount of such additional interest, submitted to the
Borrower and the Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes, absent manifest error, provided that the determination thereof
shall have been made by such Lender in good faith. |
SECTION 2.09. |
Interest Rate Determination. |
(a) |
Each Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Agent timely information for the
purpose of determining each Eurodollar Rate. If any one or more of the Reference
Banks shall not furnish such timely information to the Agent for the purpose of
determining any such interest rate, the Agent shall determine such interest rate
on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining Reference Banks. |
(b) |
The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the
applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of
Section 2.07(a) or (b), and the applicable rate, if any, furnished by each
Reference Bank for the purpose of determining the applicable interest rate under
Section 2.07(b). |
(c) |
If fewer than two Reference Banks furnish timely information to the Agent for
determining the Eurodollar Rate, due to the unavailability of funds to such
Reference Banks in the relevant financial markets: |
(i) |
|
the
Agent shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the interest
rate cannot be determined for Eurodollar Rate Advances; |
(ii) |
|
each
such Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then
existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance (or if such
Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue as a Base Rate Advance); and |
(iii) |
|
the
obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate
Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the
Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. |
(d) |
If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Majority Lenders notify
the Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances
will not adequately reflect the cost to such Majority Lenders of making, funding
or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest
Period, the Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders,
whereupon: |
(i) |
|
each
Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then
existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance; and |
(ii) |
|
the
obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar
Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and
the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. |
(e) |
If the Borrower shall fail to (i) select the duration of any Interest
Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advance in accordance with the provisions
contained in the definition of “Interest
Period” in Section 1.01 or (ii) provide a
Notice of Conversion with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advance on or prior to
12:00 noon on the third Business Day prior to the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto, the Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and
the Lenders and such Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then
existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance. |
(f) |
On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Advances
comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or
otherwise, to less than the product of (i) $1,000,000 and (ii) the
number of Lenders on such date, such Advances shall, if they are Advances of a
Type other than Base Rate Advances, automatically Convert into Base Rate
Advances, and on and after such date the right of the Borrower to Convert such
Advances into Advances of a Type other than Base Rate Advances shall terminate;
provided, however, that if and so long as each such Advance shall be of
the same Type and have the same Interest Period as Advances comprising another
Borrowing or other Borrowings, and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all
such Advances shall equal or exceed the product of (i) $1,000,000 and
(ii) the number of Lenders on such date, the Borrower shall have the right
to continue all such Advances as, or to Convert all such Advances into, Advances
of such Type having such Interest Period. |
(g) |
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each
outstanding Eurodollar Rate Advance shall automatically Convert into a Base Rate
Advance at the end of the Interest Period then in effect for such Eurodollar
Rate Advance. |
SECTION 2.10. |
Voluntary Conversion of Advances. Subject to the conditions
set forth below, the Borrower may, on any Business Day, by delivering a notice
of Conversion (a “Notice of Conversion”) to the
Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) on the third Business Day prior to the
date of the proposed Conversion, in the case of a Conversion to or in respect of
Eurodollar Rate Advances and (ii) on the date of the proposed Conversion,
in the case of a Conversion to or in respect of Base Rate Advances, and subject
to the provisions of Sections 2.09 and 2.14, Convert all Advances of one
Type comprising the same Borrowing into Advances of another Type; provided,
however, that, in the case of any Conversion of any Eurodollar Rate Advances
into Base Rate Advances on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period
for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse
the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b). Each such
Notice of Conversion shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.10 and
shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (A) the date of
such Conversion, (B) the Advances to be Converted, (C) if such
Conversion is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the Interest Period
for each such Advance, and (D) the aggregate amount of Advances proposed to
be Converted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may not Convert Base
Rate Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances and may not select a new Interest
Period for Eurodollar Rate Advances at any time an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing. |
SECTION 2.11. |
Optional Prepayments of Advances. The Borrower may, upon at
least three Business Days’ notice to the Agent stating the proposed date
and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given
the Borrower shall, prepay for the ratable account of the Lenders the
outstanding principal amounts of the Advances comprising part of the same
Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the
date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided,
however, that each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal
amount not less than $1,000,000 (or, if lower, the principal amount outstanding
hereunder on the date of such prepayment) or an integral multiple of $1,000,000
in excess thereof. In the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate
Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect
thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b). Except as provided in this
Section 2.11, the Borrower shall have no right to prepay any principal
amount of any Advances. |
SECTION 2.12. |
Increased Costs. |
(a) |
If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any
change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements, in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Advances, included in the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage) in
or to the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance
with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental
authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase
in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining
Eurodollar Rate Advances, then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand
by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for
the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such
Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased
cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender, shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, provided
that the determination thereof shall have been made by such Lender in good
faith. |
(b) |
If any Lender determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any
guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority
(whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of
capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender and that the amount of such capital is increased by or
based upon the existence of such Lender’s commitment to lend hereunder and
other commitments of this type, then, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of
such demand to the Agent), the Borrower shall immediately pay to the Agent for
the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender,
additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation in
the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably
determines such increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such
Lender’s Commitment. A certificate as to such amounts submitted to the
Borrower and the Agent by such Lender, describing in reasonable detail the
manner in which such amounts have been calculated, shall be conclusive and
binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, provided that the
determination and allocation thereof shall have been made by such Lender in good
faith. |
(c) |
Notwithstanding any provision of subsections (a) or (b) above to the
contrary, no Lender shall be entitled to demand compensation or be compensated
thereunder to the extent that such compensation relates to any period of time
more than 60 days prior to the date upon which such Lender first notified the
Borrower of the occurrence of the event entitling such Lender to such
compensation (unless, and to the extent, that any such compensation so demanded
shall relate to the retroactive application of any event so notified to the
Borrower). |
SECTION 2.13. |
Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender (the “Affected
Lender”) shall notify the Agent and the Borrower that the
introduction of or any change in or to the interpretation of any law or
regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental
authority asserts that it is unlawful, for the Affected Lender or its Eurodollar
Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate
Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, all
Eurodollar Rate Advances of the Affected Lender shall, on the fifth Business Day
following such notice from the Affected Lender, automatically be Converted into
a like number of Base Rate Advances, each in the amount of the corresponding
Eurodollar Rate Advance of the Affected Lender being so Converted (each such
Advance, as so Converted, being an “Affected Lender
Advance”), and the obligation of the Affected Lender to
make, maintain, or Convert Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall
thereupon be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders
that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, or the Affected
Lender has been replaced pursuant to Section 8.07(g). For purposes of any
prepayment under this Agreement, each Affected Lender Advance shall be deemed to
continue to be part of the same Borrowing as the Eurodollar Rate Advances to
which it corresponded at the time of the Conversion of such Affected Lender
Advance pursuant to this Section 2.13. |
SECTION 2.14. |
Payments and Computations. |
(a) |
The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder not later than 1:00 p.m. on the
day when due in Dollars to the Agent at its address referred to in
Section 8.02 in same day funds. The Agent will promptly thereafter cause to
be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or
fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.16,
2.18(c) or 8.04(b)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective
Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other
amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable
Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Upon its acceptance of a Lender Assignment and recording of the
information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(d),
from and after the effective date specified in such Lender Assignment, the Agent
shall make all payments hereunder in respect of the interest assigned thereby to
the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Lender Assignment shall
make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such
effective date directly between themselves. |
(b) |
The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to the extent payment owed to
such Lender is not made when due hereunder held by such Lender, to charge from
time to time against any or all of the Borrower’s accounts with such Lender
any amount so due. |
(c) |
All computations of interest based on clause (i) of the definition of
“Alternate Base Rate” and of the Facility Fees shall be made by the
Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all
computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate and the Federal Funds Rate
and of the LC Fee shall be made by the Agent, and all computations of interest
pursuant to Section 2.09 shall be made by a Lender, on the basis of a year
of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day
but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or
fees are payable. Each determination by the Agent (or, in the case of
Section 2.09, by a Lender) of an interest rate hereunder shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, provided
that such determination shall have been made by the Agent or such Lender, as the
case may be, in good faith. |
(d) |
Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day,
and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of
payment of interest or fees, as the case may be; provided, however, that
if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar
Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment
shall be made on the next preceding Business Day. |
(e) |
Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date
on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not
make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such
payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon
such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an
amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the
Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent, each Lender
shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such
Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is
distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the
Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate. |
SECTION 2.15. |
Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness. |
(a) |
Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting
from each Advance made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts
of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder. |
(b) |
The Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of
each Advance made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period (if any)
with respect thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder,
and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder from the
Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof. |
(c) |
The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to subsections (a)
and (b) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the
obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of the
Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in
any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such obligations in
accordance with their terms. |
(d) |
Any Lender may request that its Advances be evidenced by a Note. In such event,
the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to
the order of such Lender. Thereafter, the Advances evidenced by such Note and
interest thereon shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to
Section 8.07) be represented by one or more Notes payable to the order of the
payee named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 8.07, except to the
extent that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such Note for
cancellation and requests that such Advances once again be evidenced as
described in subsections (a) and (b) above. |
(a) |
Any and all payments by the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.14, free and clear of
and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto,
excluding, in the case of each Lender, the LC Issuing Bank and the Agent,
taxes imposed on its overall net income and franchise taxes imposed on it by any
jurisdiction, unless such Lender, the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent (as the case
may be) would not have had such taxes imposed on it by such jurisdiction but for
such Lender’s, the LC Issuing Bank’s or the Agent’s (as the case
may be) having entered into this Agreement, having consummated the transactions
contemplated hereby or having received payments by the Borrower hereunder or
under the other Loan Documents (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to
as “Taxes”). If the Borrower shall be required by
law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under
any other Loan Document to any Lender, the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent,
(i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after
making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional
sums payable under this Section 2.16) such Lender, the LC Issuing Bank or
the Agent (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 pay the full amount deducted
to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with
applicable law. |
(b) |
In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan
Document or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (hereinafter referred to
as “Other Taxes”). |
(c) |
The Borrower will indemnify each Lender, the LC Issuing Bank and the Agent for
the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any
Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this
Section 2.16) paid by such Lender, the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent (as the
case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses)
arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other
Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made
within 30 days from the date such Lender, the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent (as
the case may be) makes written demand therefor. Nothing herein shall preclude
the right of the Borrower to contest any such Taxes or Other Taxes so paid, and
the Lenders in question, the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent (as the case may be)
will, following notice from, and at the expense of, the Borrower, reasonably
cooperate with the Borrower to preserve the Borrower’s rights to contest
such Taxes or Other Taxes. |
(d) |
Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the Borrower will furnish
to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 8.02, the original or a
certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof. |
(e) |
The LC Issuing Bank and each Lender agrees that, on or prior to the date upon
which it shall become a party hereto, and upon the reasonable request from time
to time of the Borrower or the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank or such Lender will
deliver to the Borrower and the Agent either (i) a statement that it is
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction within the United States or
(ii) duly completed copies of such form or forms as may from time to time
be prescribed by the United States Internal Revenue Service indicating that the
LC Issuing Bank or such Lender is entitled to receive payments without deduction
or withholding of any United States federal income taxes, as permitted by the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. The LC Issuing Bank
and each Lender that delivers to the Borrower and the Agent the form or forms
referred to in the preceding sentence further undertakes to deliver to the
Borrower and the Agent further copies of such form or forms, or successor
applicable form or forms, as the case may be, as and when any previous form
filed by it hereunder shall expire or shall become incomplete or inaccurate in
any respect. The LC Issuing Bank and each Lender represents and warrants that
each such form supplied by it to the Agent and the Borrower pursuant to this
subsection (e), and not superseded by another form supplied by it, is or will
be, as the case may be, complete and accurate. |
(f) |
Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 2.16 shall use its best efforts (consistent with its internal
policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its
Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a change would avoid the need
for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter
accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise
disadvantageous to such Lender. |
(g) |
Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower
hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this
Section 2.16 shall survive the payment in full of principal and interest
hereunder. |
SECTION 2.17. |
Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain any
payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of
set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Advances made by it (other than
pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.12, 2.16, 2.18(c) or 8.04(b)) or on account of
the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations in respect of LC Outstandings in
excess of its ratable share of payments obtained by all the Lenders on account
of the Advances or on account of such reimbursement obligations, such
Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in
the Advances made by them and such reimbursement obligations as shall be
necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably
with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such
excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such
purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the
purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery, together
with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the
proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to
(ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any
interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of
the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing
a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.17 may, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment
(including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as
if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation. |
SECTION 2.18. |
Extension of Revolving Commitment Termination Date; Term Election. |
(a) |
At least 30 but not more than 60 days prior to the then applicable Revolving
Commitment Termination Date, the Borrower may, by delivering a written request
to the Agent (each such request being irrevocable), request that the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date be extended for an additional period of 364 days,
commencing on the then applicable Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Any
such notice shall also indicate whether the Borrower elects, in the event that
the Lenders determine not to extend the Revolving Commitment Termination Date as
requested by the Borrower, to extend the then applicable Termination Date to one
year following such Termination Date (any such election to so extend the
Termination Date being the “Term Election”). Upon
receipt of any such notice, the Agent shall promptly communicate such request to
the Lenders. |
(b) |
No earlier than 30 days prior, and no later than 20 days prior, to the then
applicable Revolving Commitment Termination Date, the Lenders shall indicate to
the Agent whether the Borrower’s request to so extend the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date is acceptable to the Lenders (and, if so, the
conditions, if any, relating to such acceptance), it being understood that the
determination by each Lender will be in its sole and absolute discretion and
that the failure of any Lender to so respond within such period shall be deemed
to constitute a refusal by such Lender to consent to such request, with the
result being that such request is denied (any Lender refusing or deemed to
refuse any such request, a “Non-Consenting
Lender”). The Agent shall notify the Borrower, in writing,
of the Lenders’ decisions no later than 15 days prior to the then
applicable Revolving Commitment Termination Date. |
(c) |
Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.03, in the
event that the sum of the Commitments of the Lenders that have consented to the
Borrower’s request to extend the then applicable Revolving Commitment
Termination Date (the “Consenting Lenders”) plus
the Commitments of Non-Consenting Lenders with respect to such request that have
been assigned pursuant to Section 8.07(g) hereof shall constitute greater than
50% of the aggregate Commitments, the then applicable Revolving Commitment
Termination Date shall be extended for an additional period of 364 days with
respect to the Commitments of such Consenting Lenders. The Commitments of
Non-Consenting Lenders with respect to such request shall automatically
terminate on the last day of the then applicable Revolving Commitment
Termination Date (and the principal amount of all Advances made by such
Non-Consenting Lenders, together with accrued interest and fees to such date,
shall be repaid), unless assigned pursuant to Section 8.07(g) hereof;
provided that, before the Borrower may solicit Eligible Assignees other
than the Consenting Lenders, the Consenting Lenders shall have at least five
days before the end of the then applicable Revolving Commitment Termination Date
to determine whether to purchase by assignment the Commitments of such
Non-Consenting Lenders. |
(d) |
In the event that any request by the Borrower pursuant to subsection (a) above
shall be denied and the Borrower shall have indicated in such request that, in
the event of such denial, it has determined to effect the Term Election, then,
effective as of the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, the Termination Date
shall be extended to the first anniversary of the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date; provided that on such date and on the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date (i) the representations and warranties contained in
Section 4.01 are true and correct, before and after giving effect to the Term
Election, and (ii) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from
the Term Election, that constitutes an Event of Default or an Unmatured Default.
In addition, in the event that the Borrower shall not have requested an
extension of the Revolving Commitment Termination Date pursuant to subsection
(a) above, the Borrower may nonetheless make the Term Election by giving written
notice to such effect to the Agent (which shall promptly give notice thereof to
the Lenders) at least ten Business Days prior to the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date, whereupon, effective as of the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date, the Termination Date shall be extended to the first
anniversary of the Revolving Commitment Termination Date; provided that
on such date and on the then applicable Revolving Commitment Termination Date
(i) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are true and
correct, before and after giving effect to the Term Election, and (ii) no event
has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the Term Election, that
constitutes an Event of Default or an Unmatured Default. |
(e) |
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Borrower’s
right to effect the Term Election as provided in either subsection (a) or (d)
above shall not affect any rights or remedies that the Lenders or the Agent may
have at such time under Section 6.01 as a result of any Event of Default or
Unmatured Default that may have occurred and then be continuing, either at the
time of the giving of such notice or on the then applicable Revolving Commitment
Termination Date. |
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS OF LENDING
SECTION 3.01. |
Conditions Precedent to Closing. The Commitments of the
Lenders and the obligation of the LC Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit
shall not become effective unless the following conditions precedent shall have
been fulfilled: |
(a) |
The Agent shall have received the following, each dated the date of the Closing,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders and in sufficient copies for
the LC Issuing Bank and each Lender: |
(i) |
|
this
Agreement, duly executed by the Borrower, each Lender, the LC Issuing Bank and
the Agent; |
(ii) |
|
each
Note requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15 payable to the order of
each such Lender, duly completed and executed by the Borrower; |
(iii) |
|
copies
of (A) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is, or is to be, a
party, and (B) all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action
on the part of the Borrower with respect to this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Borrower; |
(iv) |
|
a
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower
certifying the names, true signatures and incumbency of the officers of the
Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to
which it is, or is to be, a party; |
(v) |
|
copies
of the Certificate of Incorporation (or comparable charter document) and
by-laws of the Borrower, together with all amendments thereto, certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower; |
(vi) |
|
copies
of all Governmental Approvals, if any, required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Borrower; |
(vii) |
|
copies
of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(f), certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower; |
(viii) |
|
favorable
opinions of: |
(A) |
|
Xxxxx
& Xxxxxxx, special counsel for the Borrower, in substantially the form of
Exhibit 3.01(a)(viii)-1 and as to such other matters as the Majority
Lenders, through the Agent, may reasonably request; |
(B) |
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxx, General Counsel of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit 3.01(a)(viii)-2
and as to such other matters as the Majority Lenders, through the Agent, may
reasonably request; and |
(C) |
|
King
& Spalding LLP, special New York counsel to the Agent, in substantially the
form of Exhibit 3.01(a)(viii)-3 and as to such other matters as the
Majority Lenders, through the Agent, may reasonably request; and |
(ix) |
|
such
other approvals, opinions and documents as any Lender, through the Agent, may
reasonably request. |
(b) |
The following statements shall be true and correct, and the Agent shall have
received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, dated the
date of the Closing and in sufficient copies for each Lender, stating that: |
(i) |
|
the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.01 of this Agreement
are true and correct on and as of the date of the Closing as though made on and
as of such date, and |
(ii) |
|
no
event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes an Unmatured Default or
an Event of Default. |
(c) |
The Borrower shall have paid (i) all fees payable hereunder or payable pursuant
to the Administrative Agency Fee Letter and the Arranger Fee Letter to the
extent then due and payable, and (ii) all costs and expenses of the Agent
(including counsel fees and disbursements) incurred through (and for which
statements have been provided prior to) the Closing. |
(d) |
The Agent shall have received evidence that all amounts outstanding under the
AEC Facility, the IPL Facility and the Existing Facility, whether for principal,
interest, fees or otherwise, shall have been paid in full, and all commitments
to lend thereunder shall have been terminated. |
SECTION 3.02. |
Conditions Precedent to Each Extension of Credit. The
obligation of (i) each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of each
Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) that would cause the aggregate
principal amount of Advances outstanding hereunder to increase and (ii) the LC
Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit shall be subject to the conditions
precedent that, on the date of such Extension of Credit: |
(a) |
the following statements shall be true and correct (and each of the giving of
the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Request for Issuance, as the case may be,
and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or the
issuance of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be, shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrower that, on the date of such Extension
of Credit, such statements are true and correct): |
(i) |
|
the
representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are true and
correct on and as of the date of such Extension of Credit, before and after
giving effect to the application of the proceeds of any Borrowing made in
connection therewith or the issuance or amendment of any Letter of Credit in
connection therewith, as the case may be, as though made on and as of such
date; and |
(ii) |
|
no
event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Extension of
Credit or from the application of the proceeds of any Borrowing made in
connection therewith or the issuance or amendment of any Letter of Credit in
connection therewith, as the case may be, that constitutes an Event of Default
or an Unmatured Default; and |
(b) |
the Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions, or documents as
the Agent, or the Majority Lenders through the Agent, may reasonably request,
and such approvals, opinions, and documents shall be satisfactory in form and
substance to the Agent. |
SECTION 3.03. |
Conditions Precedent to Each Extension of the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date. In the event that the Borrower shall request an
extension of the Revolving Commitment Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.18,
such extension shall take effect on the then applicable Revolving Commitment
Termination Date, subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions
precedent on or prior to such date, together with such other conditions
precedent as the Consenting Lenders may require in connection with such
extension: |
(a) |
the Agent shall have prepared and delivered to the Borrower, the LC Issuing Bank
and each Lender (including each new bank and other financial institution to
which a Non-Consenting Lender’s Commitment has been assigned pursuant to
Section 8.07(g) hereof) a revised Schedule I that reflects the Commitments of
each Lender after giving effect to such extension; |
(b) |
the Borrower shall have paid all fees payable hereunder or payable under or
referenced in Section 2.04, to the extent then due and payable; |
(c) |
the Agent shall have received the following, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Lenders and in sufficient copies for each Lender: |
(i) |
|
copies
of all Governmental Approvals, if any, required in connection with such
extension, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Borrower; and |
(ii) |
|
favorable
opinions of: |
(A) |
|
Xxxxx
& Xxxxxxx, special counsel for the Borrower, in form acceptable to the
Agent; |
(B) |
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxx, General Counsel of the Borrower, in form acceptable to the Agent; and |
(d) |
the Agent shall have received such other documents and legal opinions in respect
of any aspect or consequence of the transactions contemplated by Section 2.18 as
the Agent shall reasonably request, including, without limitation, copies of the
resolutions, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, of the Board of
Directors of the Borrower authorizing the extension of the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date; and |
(e) |
the following statements shall be true and correct and the Agent shall have
received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, dated on
and as of such date and in sufficient copies for each Lender, stating that: |
(i) |
|
the
representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are true and correct
on and as of such date as though made on and as of such date; and |
(ii) |
|
no
event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such extension of
the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, that constitutes an Event of Default
or an Unmatured Default. |
SECTION 3.04. |
Reliance on Certificates. The Lenders, the LC Issuing Bank
and the Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon the certificates
delivered from time to time by officers of the Borrower as to the names,
incumbency, authority and signatures of the respective Persons named therein
until such time as the Agent may receive a replacement certificate, in form
acceptable to the Agent, from an officer of such Person identified to the Agent
as having authority to deliver such certificate, setting forth the names and
true signatures of the officers and other representatives of such Person
thereafter authorized to act on behalf of such Person. |
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. |
Representations and Warranties of the Borrower. The
Borrower represents and warrants as follows: |
(a) |
The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation and is duly qualified to do business in, and is in good standing
in, all other jurisdictions where the nature of its business or the nature of
property owned or used by it makes such qualification necessary (except where
the failure to so qualify would not constitute a Material Adverse Change). |
(b) |
The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents to which it is or will be a party, and the receipt by
the Borrower of the proceeds of Extensions of Credit on the date of any
Extension of Credit, are within the Borrower’s corporate powers, have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not and will not
contravene (i) the Borrower’s charter or by-laws, (ii) any law,
or (iii) any legal or contractual restriction binding on or affecting the
Borrower (including, without limitation, the PSC Order); and such execution,
delivery and performance do not and will not result in or require the creation
of any Lien (other than pursuant to the Loan Documents) upon or with respect to
any of its properties. |
(c) |
No Governmental Approval is required in connection with the execution, delivery
or performance by the Borrower of any Loan Document to which the Borrower is a
party, except for the following (which has been duly filed or obtained and is
final and in full force and effect): the PSC Order. |
(d) |
This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower will be a
party when executed and delivered hereunder will be, legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with
their respective terms, subject to the qualifications, however, that the
enforcement of the rights and remedies herein and therein is subject to
bankruptcy and other similar laws of general application affecting rights and
remedies of creditors and that the remedy of specific performance or of
injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any
proceedings therefor may be brought. |
(e) |
Since December 31, 2002, there has been no Material Adverse Change. |
(f) |
The audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
at December 31, 2002, and the related audited consolidated statements of
income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, and
the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
as at June 30, 2003, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income
for the six-month period then ended, copies of each of which have been furnished
to each Bank, fairly present (subject, in the case of such balance sheets and
statements of income for the six months ended June 30, 2003, to year-end
adjustments) the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as at such dates and the consolidated results of operations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, all in
accordance, in all material respects, with GAAP. |
(g) |
Except as disclosed in the Parent’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002 and Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30,
2003, there is no pending or threatened action or proceeding affecting the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or properties before any court, governmental
agency or arbitrator, that might reasonably be expected to constitute a Material
Adverse Change and since December 31, 2002 there have been no material
adverse developments in any action or proceeding so disclosed. |
(h) |
No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to
any Plan of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates which would result in a
material liability to the Borrower. No “prohibited transaction” has
occurred with respect to any Plan of the Borrower that is reasonably expected to
result in a material liability to the Borrower. Neither the Borrower nor any of
its ERISA Affiliates has incurred nor reasonably expects to incur any material
withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan. |
(i) |
The Borrower has filed all tax returns (Federal, state and local) required to be
filed and paid all taxes shown thereon to be due, including interest and
penalties, or, to the extent the Borrower is contesting in good faith an
assertion of liability based on such returns, has provided adequate reserves for
payment thereof in accordance with GAAP. |
(j) |
The Borrower is not an “investment company” or a company
“controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
(k) |
Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is engaged principally,
or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying
Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
Margin Stock. After the making of each Extension of Credit, Margin Stock will
constitute less than 25 percent of the assets (as determined by any reasonable
method) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. |
(l) |
As of the date hereof, the Borrower is not a “holding company” within
the meaning of PUHCA. |
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE
BORROWER
SECTION 5.01. |
|
Affirmative Covenants. So long as any amount in respect of
this Agreement shall remain unpaid, any Lender shall have any Commitment or any
Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower will, unless the
Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing: |
(a) |
|
Payment of Taxes, Etc. Pay and discharge, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges, royalties or levies imposed upon it
or upon its property except, in the case of taxes, to the extent the
Borrower or such Subsidiary is contesting the same in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings and has set aside adequate reserves for the payment
thereof in accordance with GAAP. |
(b) |
|
Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, or cause to be maintained, insurance
or other risk management program covering the Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries and their respective properties in effect at all times in such
amounts and covering such risks and using such means as are usual and customary
for companies of a similar size (based on the aggregate book value of the
Parent’s assets, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP), engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties, either with
reputable insurance companies or, in whole or in part, by establishing reserves
of one or more insurance funds or other risk management mechanisms, either alone
or with other corporations or associations. |
(c) |
|
Preservation of Existence, Etc. Preserve and maintain, and cause each of
its Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain, its corporate existence, material
rights (statutory and otherwise) and franchises; provided, however, that
neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve
and maintain any such right or franchise, and no such Subsidiary shall be
required to preserve and maintain its corporate existence, unless the failure to
do so would constitute a Material Adverse Change. |
(d) |
|
Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to
comply, with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and
orders of any governmental authority, including without limitation any such
laws, rules, regulations and orders relating to zoning, environmental
protection, use and disposal of Hazardous Substances, land use, ERISA,
construction and building restrictions, and employee safety and health matters
relating to business operations, the non-compliance with which would constitute
a Material Adverse Change. |
(e) |
|
Inspection Rights. At the reasonable expense of the Borrower, at any time
and from time to time, upon reasonable notice, permit or arrange for the Agent,
the LC Issuing Bank, the Lenders and their respective agents and representatives
to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of
account of, and the properties of, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries,
and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective
officers, directors and accountants. |
(f) |
|
Keeping of Books. Keep, and cause its Subsidiaries to keep, proper
records and books of account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of
all financial transactions of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the assets
and business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in accordance with GAAP. |
(g) |
|
Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to maintain, good and marketable title to, and preserve, maintain,
develop, and operate in substantial conformity with all laws and material
contractual obligations, all of its properties which are used or useful in the
conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and
tear excepted, except where the failure to do so would not constitute a
Material Adverse Change. |
(h) |
|
Reporting Requirements. Furnish to each Lender: |
(i) |
|
as
soon as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the
occurrence of each Unmatured Default or Event of Default continuing
on the date of such statement, a statement of a Senior Financial
Officer setting forth details of such Unmatured Default or Event of
Default and the action that the Borrower proposes to take with
respect thereto; |
(ii) |
|
as
soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of
the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at
the end of such quarter and consolidated statements of income,
retained earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and
ending with the end of such quarter, all in reasonable detail and
duly certified (subject to year-end audit adjustments) by a Senior
Financial Officer as having been prepared in accordance (in all
material respects) with GAAP, together with a certificate of said
officer stating that no Unmatured Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or, if an Unmatured Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature
thereof and the action that the Borrower proposes to take with
respect thereto; |
(iii) |
|
as
soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the audited consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of
such fiscal year and consolidated statements of income, retained
earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such
fiscal year, together with a certificate of a Senior Financial
Officer stating that no Unmatured Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or, if an Unmatured Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature
thereof and the action that the Borrower proposes to take with
respect thereto; |
(iv) |
|
concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in clauses
(ii) and (iii) above (each a “Report”), a
certificate signed by the principal executive officer and the
principal financial officer of the Borrower(each, a “Certifying
Officer”) certifying that (i) each Certifying
Officer has reviewed the Report; (ii) based on such Certifying Officer’s
knowledge, the Report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading; (iii) based on such
Certifying Officer’s knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in the Report, fairly represent in all
material respects the financial condition and results of operations
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of, and for, the period
presented in the Report; (iv) such Certifying Officer and the other
Certifying Officer (A) are responsible for establishing and
maintaining internal controls; (B) have designed such internal
controls to ensure that material information relating to the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries is made known to such officers by others within
the entities, particularly during the period in which the periodic
reports are being prepared; (C) have evaluated the effectiveness of
the internal controls of the Borrower as of a date within 90 days
prior to the Report; and (D) have presented in the Report their
conclusions about the effectiveness of their internal controls based
on their evaluation as of that date; (v) such Certifying Officer and the
other Certifying Officer have disclosed to the auditors and the audit
committee of the Board of Directors of the Borrower (A) all
significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls which could adversely affect the ability of the Borrower to
record, process, summarize, and report financial data and have
identified for the Borrower’s auditors any material weakness in
internal controls; and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that
involves management or other employees who have a significant role in
the internal controls of the Borrower; and (vi) such Certifying
Officer and the other Certifying Officer have indicated in the Report
whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or
other factors that could significantly affect internal controls or in
other factors that could significantly affect internal controls
subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective
actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses. Furthermore, such certificate signed by the Certifying
Officers shall (i) certify as to whether a Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such
certificate, and if a Default or an Event of Default has then
occurred and is continuing, specifying the details thereof and the
action that the Borrower has taken or proposes to take with respect
thereto, (ii) set forth in reasonable detail calculations
demonstrating compliance with Section 5.02(i) and (iii) state whether
any change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred since the
date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.01
and, if any change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change
on the financial statements accompanying such certificate; |
(v) |
|
as
soon as possible and in any event (A) within 30 days after any ERISA Event
described in clause (i) of the definition of ERISA Event with respect
to any Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower
has occurred and (B) within 10 days after any other ERISA Event with
respect to any Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the
Borrower has occurred, a statement of a Senior Financial Officer
describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, which the
Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect
thereto; |
(vi) |
|
promptly
after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates
from the PBGC copies of each notice received by the Borrower or such
ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC’s intention to terminate any Plan of
the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate or to have a trustee appointed
to administer any such Plan; |
(vii) |
|
promptly
after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the
Borrower from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a copy of each notice
received by the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate concerning the
imposition or amount of withdrawal liability in an aggregate
principal amount of at least $250,000 pursuant to Section 4202
of ERISA in respect of which the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate is
reasonably expected to be liable; |
(viii) |
|
promptly
after the Borrower becomes aware of the occurrence thereof, notice of
all actions, suits, proceedings or other events (A) of the type
described in Section 4.01(g) or (B) for which the Agent, the LC
Issuing Bank and the Lenders will be entitled to indemnity under
Section 8.04(c); |
(ix) |
|
promptly
after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all such proxy
statements, financial statements, and reports which the Borrower
sends to its public security holders (if any), and copies of all
regular, periodic and special reports, and all registration
statements and periodic or special reports, if any, which the
Borrower files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
governmental authority which may be substituted therefor, or with any
national securities exchange; and |
(x) |
|
promptly
after requested, such other information respecting the business,
properties, results of operations, prospects, revenues, condition or
operations, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries as the Agent or any Lender through the Agent may from
time to time reasonably request. |
(i) |
|
Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Advances hereunder solely for
the Borrower’s general corporate purposes (including supporting commercial
paper issued by the Borrower) and in compliance with the PSC Order, and not to
finance any Hostile Acquisition. |
(j) |
|
Further Assurances. At the expense of the Borrower, promptly execute and
deliver, or cause to be promptly executed and delivered, all further instruments
and documents, and take and cause to be taken all further actions, that may be
necessary or that the Majority Lenders through the Agent may reasonably request
to enable the Lenders, the LC Issuing Bank and the Agent to enforce the terms
and provisions of this Agreement and to exercise their rights and remedies
hereunder or under any other Loan Document. In addition, the Borrower will use
all reasonable efforts to duly obtain Governmental Approvals required in
connection with the Loan Documents from time to time on or prior to such date as
the same may become legally required, and thereafter to maintain all such
Governmental Approvals in full force and effect. |
SECTION 5.02. |
|
Negative Covenants. So long as any amount in respect of
this Agreement shall remain unpaid, any Lender shall have any Commitment or any
Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower will not, without the
written consent of the Majority Lenders: |
(a) |
|
Liens, Etc. Create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist, or permit any of
its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist, any lien,
security interest, or other charge or encumbrance (including the lien or
retained security title of a conditional vendor) of any kind, or any other type
of arrangement intended or having the effect of conferring upon a creditor a
preferential interest upon or with respect to any of its properties of any
character (including, without limitation, accounts) (any of the foregoing being
referred to herein as a “Lien”),
excluding, however, from the operation of the foregoing restrictions the
Liens created under the Loan Documents and the following: |
(i) |
|
Liens
for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies to the extent not
past due; |
(ii) |
|
Liens
imposed by law, such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’,
workmen’s and repairmen’s liens and other similar Liens
arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations which are
not overdue or which are being contested in good faith, provided that
any such contested Lien securing an amount claimed in excess of
$1,000,000 shall be fully bonded within 90 days after the imposition
of such Lien; |
(iii) |
|
pledges
or deposits to secure obligations under workmen’s compensation laws
or similar legislation, to secure public or statutory obligations of
the Borrower or such Subsidiary, or to secure the utility obligations
of any such Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business; |
(iv) |
|
(A)
purchase money Liens upon or in property now owned or hereafter acquired by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business (consistent with present practices, it being understood that
for purposes of this clause, the purchase, construction or
maintenance of generating facilities by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with present practices) to secure (1) the
purchase price of such property or (2) Debt incurred solely for the
purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement of
any such property to be subject to such Liens, or (B) Liens existing
on any such property at the time of acquisition, or extensions,
renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or a
lesser amount, provided that no such Lien shall extend to or
cover any property other than the property being acquired, constructed
or improved and replacements, modifications and proceeds of such
property, and no such extension, renewal or replacement shall extend
to or cover any property not theretofore subject to the Lien being
extended, renewed or replaced; |
(v) |
|
Liens
constituting easements, restrictions and other similar encumbrances
arising in the ordinary course of business, which in the aggregate do
not materially adversely affect the Borrower’s use of its
properties; |
(vi) |
|
attachment,
judgment or other similar Liens arising in connection with court
proceedings, provided that the execution or other enforcement of such
Liens is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being
actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or the
payment of which is covered in full (subject to customary deductible
amounts) by insurance maintained with responsible insurance
companies; |
(vii) |
|
Liens
securing Debt permitted by Section 5.02(b)(i)(B) and (C); |
(viii) |
|
Liens
incurred in connection with sales of assets permitted under Section
5.02(f)(vii); |
(ix) |
|
Liens
incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on assets of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries (A) securing the payment obligations of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under contracts (other than
contracts for borrowed money) or (B) posted as cash collateral in
connection with Non-Recourse Debt, in an aggregate principal amount
not to exceed $50,000,000; and |
(x) |
|
other
Liens set forth in Schedule II hereto, and any extensions or renewals
of any such Liens upon or in the same property theretofore subject
thereto. |
(b) |
|
Debt. (i) Create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist any Debt
other than: |
(A) |
|
Debt
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; |
(B) |
|
Debt
issued pursuant to the Indentures; and |
(C) |
|
other
Debt of the Borrower that is pari passu with, or subordinate to,
the Debt hereunder or secured by a Lien permitted under Section
5.02(a); |
|
provided,
however, that, both immediately before and after the incurrence of any Debt described
in clause (B) or (C) of this paragraph (i), the Borrower shall be in compliance with the
covenant set forth in Section 5.02(i). |
(ii) |
|
Permit
any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist any
Debt other than: |
(A) |
|
Debt
of any Person acquired by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary (whether by
merger, stock or asset purchase, or otherwise) that was in effect and
outstanding at the time of acquisition; |
(B) |
|
Debt
owing by any such Subsidiary to the Borrower or to any other such
Subsidiary; |
(C) |
|
Debt
of such Subsidiaries under working capital lines and with respect to
Capitalized Lease Obligations not to exceed $5,000,000 in the
aggregate at any one time outstanding (such dollar limitation to
apply to the Debt of any Persons acquired by and merged into any such
Subsidiary to the extent of any surviving working capital lines and
Capitalized Lease Obligations of any such Person that shall survive
such acquisition and merger); |
(D) |
|
Debt
secured by Liens permitted by Section 5.02(a)(iv); and |
(E) |
|
other
Debt set forth in Schedule III hereto; |
|
provided,
however, that, both immediately before and after the incurrence of any Debt described
in clause (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) of this paragraph (ii), the Borrower shall be in
compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 5.02(i). |
(c) |
Compliance with ERISA. (i) Permit to exist any “accumulated
funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time) (unless such deficiency
exists with respect to a Multiple Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan and the
Borrower has no control over the reduction or elimination of such deficiency),
(ii) terminate, or permit any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower to terminate,
any Plan of the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate so as to result in any material
(in the opinion of the Majority Lenders) liability of the Borrower to the PBGC,
or (iii) permit to exist any occurrence of any Reportable Event (as defined
in Title IV of ERISA), or any other event or condition, which presents a
material (in the opinion of the Majority Lenders) risk of such a termination by
the PBGC of any Plan of the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate and such a material
liability to the Borrower. |
(d) |
Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to enter into, any transaction with an Affiliate of the Borrower,
unless such transaction is on terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, than if the transaction had been negotiated in
good faith on an arm’s length basis with a Person that was not an Affiliate
of the Borrower, or such transaction has been approved by (i) the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to PUHCA; or (ii) the Public Service Commission of
Wisconsin pursuant to the Wisconsin statutes. |
(i) |
|
merge
with or into or consolidate with or into any other Person, except the Borrower
may merge with or into or consolidate with or into any of its Subsidiaries, provided that
immediately after giving effect thereto, (A) no event shall occur and be
continuing that constitutes an Unmatured Default or an Event of Default, (B) the
Borrower is the surviving corporation and (C) the Borrower shall not be
liable with respect to any Debt or allow its property to be subject to any Lien
which it could not become liable with respect to or allow its property to
become subject to under this Agreement or any other Loan Document on the date
of such transaction; or |
(ii) |
|
permit
any of its Subsidiaries to merge with or into or consolidate with or into any
other Person, except that any such Subsidiary may merge with or into any other
Person, provided that immediately after giving effect thereto, (A) the
surviving corporation is a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (B) no event shall
occur and be continuing that constitutes an Unmatured Default or an Event of
Default and (C) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be
liable with respect to any Debt or allow its property to be subject to any Lien
which it could not become liable with respect to or allow its property to
become subject to under this Agreement or any other Loan Document on the date
of such transaction. |
(f) |
Sales, Etc., of Assets. Sell, lease, transfer, assign or otherwise
dispose of any of its assets, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to sell, lease,
transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, except
(i) sales, leases, transfers and assignments from one Subsidiary of the
Borrower to another such Subsidiary or to the Borrower, (ii) in any
transaction in which the net proceeds from such sale, lease, transfer,
assignment or disposition are solely Cash and Cash Equivalents and such proceeds
are (A) applied solely as a permanent reduction of the Commitments and
prepayment of Advances pursuant to Sections 2.05, 2.11 and 2.12, or
(B) applied solely to pay or prepay Debt (together with a permanent
reduction of any commitments relating to such Debt) incurred by the Borrower or
any such Subsidiary in connection with the project comprising such assets,
(iii) in connection with a sale and leaseback transaction, (iv) sales,
leases, transfers and assignments of other assets representing not in excess of
5% of the consolidated assets (valued at book value) of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries in the aggregate from the date hereof until the Termination Date in
any single or series of transactions, whether or not related, (v) sales,
leases, transfers and assignments of worn out or obsolete equipment no longer
used and useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (vi) sale
or capital contribution of nuclear generation assets to Nuclear Management
Company LLC and (vii) sales of contracts and accounts receivable of the
Borrower, including, but not limited to, sales of accounts receivable in
connection with (A) the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 30,
2001 (as amended from time to time), among Xxxxxx, LLC, Alliant Energy SPE LLC,
Citicorp North America, Inc. and Alliant Energy Corporate Services, Inc. and (B)
the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2001 (as amended from
time to time), among Citibank, N.A., Alliant Energy SPE LLC, Citicorp North
America, Inc. and Alliant Energy Corporate Services, Inc.; provided in
each case that no Unmatured Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing after giving effect thereto. |
(g) |
Maintenance of Ownership of Significant Subsidiaries. Sell, assign,
transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests of any of its
Significant Subsidiaries or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such
Equity Interests, or permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to issue, sell
or otherwise dispose of any shares of its Equity Interests or the Equity
Interests of any other of its Subsidiaries or any warrants, rights or options to
acquire such capital stock, except (and only to the extent) as may be necessary
to give effect to a transaction permitted by subsection (e), above. |
(h) |
Restrictive Agreements. Directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or
permit to exist, or permit, directly or indirectly, any of its Significant
Subsidiaries to enter into, incur or permit to exist, any agreement or other
arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability
of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary to declare or pay dividends or
other distributions to the Parent, the Borrower or any other Significant
Subsidiary; provided that the foregoing limitations do not apply to
(i) financial covenants that require the maintenance of a minimum net worth
or compliance with financial tests as conditions to the ability to pay dividends
or make other distributions with respect to capital stock or otherwise;
(ii) restrictions that arise only if dividends on preferred stock have not
been paid; and (iii) limitations or restrictions imposed by law or in
regulatory proceedings. |
(i) |
Capitalization Ratio. Permit the ratio of Consolidated Debt of the
Borrower to Consolidated Capital of the Borrower to exceed .58 to 1.00. |
(j) |
Synthetic Lease Restrictions. Enter into or permit any Subsidiary to
enter into a synthetic lease transaction. |
ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01. |
Events of Default. If any of the following events (each an
“Event of Default”) shall occur and be continuing
after the applicable grace period and notice requirement (if any): |
(a) |
The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Borrowing or any
reimbursement obligation in respect of a Letter of Credit when the same becomes
due and payable; or |
(b) |
The Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Borrowing or any other amount
due under this Agreement for two days after the same becomes due; or |
(c) |
Any representation or warranty made by or on behalf of the Borrower in any Loan
Document or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant thereto shall
prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
or |
(d) |
The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term or covenant on its part
to be performed or observed contained in Section 5.01(c), 5.01(h)(i) or
5.02 (other than subsections (c) and (d) thereof); or |
(e) |
The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term or covenant on its
part to be performed or observed contained in this Agreement or in any other
Loan Document, and any such failure shall remain unremedied, after the earlier
of (i) actual knowledge by the Borrower thereof, and (ii) written notice
thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent, for a period of 30
days; or |
(f) |
The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any of its Debt,
including any interest or premium thereon (but excluding Debt hereunder),
aggregating $25,000,000 or more when due (whether by scheduled maturity,
required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) and such failure shall
continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in any agreement
or instrument relating to such Debt; or any other default under any agreement or
instrument relating to any such Debt, or any other event, shall occur and shall
continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement
or instrument, if the effect of such default or event is to accelerate, or to
permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be
declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a
regularly scheduled required prepayment) prior to the stated maturity thereof as
a result of a default or other similar adverse event; or |
(g) |
The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts as
such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
generally, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any
proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking
liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection,
relief, or composition of its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an
order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or other similar
official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of
a proceeding instituted against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, either
such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of
60 days or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including without
limitation the entry of an order for relief against the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other
similar official for the Borrower or such Subsidiary or any of its property)
shall occur; or the Borrower shall take any corporate or other action to
authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (g); or |
(h) |
Any judgment or order for the payment of money equal to or in excess of
$25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or
their respective properties and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall
have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or
(ii) there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a
stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or
otherwise, shall not be in effect; or |
(i) |
Any material provision of any Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party
shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on the Borrower or the
Borrower shall so assert in writing; or |
(j) |
Any Governmental Approval required in connection with the execution, delivery
and performance of the Loan Documents shall be rescinded, revoked, otherwise
terminated, or amended or modified in any manner that is materially adverse to
the interests of the Lenders, the LC Issuing Bank and the Agent; or |
(k) |
Any ERISA Event shall have occurred with respect to a Plan that could reasonably
be expected to result in a material liability to the Borrower, and, 30 days
after notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent, the LC
Issuing Bank or any Lender, such ERISA Event shall still exist; or |
(l) |
The Parent shall cease to own 100% of the common equity interests of the
Borrower or shall cease to have the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a
majority of the Borrower’s directors. |
|
then,
and in any such event, the Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent,
of the holders of greater than 50% of the principal amount of the Advances then
outstanding or, if no Advances are then outstanding, Lenders having greater than 50% of
the Commitments, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make
Advances and the obligation of the LC Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit to be
terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request,
or may with the consent, of the holders of greater than 50% in principal amount of the
Advances then outstanding or, if no Advances are then outstanding, Lenders having greater
than 50% of the Commitments, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Advances (if any), all
interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due
and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become
and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice
of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided,
however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with
respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of the
LC Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit, the Commitments and the obligation of each
Lender to make Advances shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all
such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Borrower. |
SECTION 6.02.
Cash Collateral Account. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, no notice given or declaration made by the Agent
pursuant to this Article VI shall affect (i) the obligation of the LC Issuing
Bank to make any payment under any Letter of Credit in accordance with the terms
of such Letter of Credit or (ii) the obligations of each Lender in respect of
each such Letter of Credit; provided, however, that if an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Agent shall at the request, or may
with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, upon notice to the Borrower, require
the Borrower to deposit with the Agent an amount in the cash collateral account
(the “Cash Collateral Account”) described below
equal to the LC Outstandings on such date. Such Cash Collateral Account shall at
all times be free and clear of all rights or claims of third parties. The Cash
Collateral Account shall be maintained with the Agent in the name of, and under
the sole dominion and control of, the Agent, and amounts deposited in the Cash
Collateral Account shall bear interest at a rate equal to the rate generally
offered by Bank One for deposits equal to the amount deposited by the Borrower
in the Cash Collateral Account, for a term to be determined by the Agent, in its
sole discretion. The Borrower hereby grants to the Agent for the benefit of the
LC Issuing Bank and the Lenders a Lien in and hereby assigns to the Agent for
the benefit of LC Issuing Bank and the Lenders all of its right, title and
interest in, the Cash Collateral Account and all funds from time to time on
deposit therein to secure its reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of
Credit. If any drawings then outstanding or thereafter made are not reimbursed
in full immediately upon demand or, in the case of subsequent drawings, upon
being made, then, in any such event, the Agent may apply the amounts then on
deposit in the Cash Collateral Account, toward the payment in full of any of the
Obligations as and when such obligations shall become due and payable. Upon
payment in full, after the termination of the Letters of Credit, of all such
obligations, the Agent will repay and reassign to the Borrower any cash then in
the Cash Collateral Account and the Lien of the Agent on the Cash Collateral
Account and the funds therein shall automatically terminate.
ARTICLE VII
THE AGENT
SECTION 7.01.
Authorization and Action. Each of the LC Issuing Bank and
each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as
agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are
delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by
this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, without limitation,
enforcement or collection of the Borrowings), the Agent shall not be required to
exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to
refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining
from acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders, and such
instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders and all holders of Notes (if
any); provided, however, that the Agent shall not be required to take any
action which exposes the Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to
this Agreement or applicable law. The Agent agrees to give to each Lender prompt
notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement. The Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the
administration and enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents if
it undertakes such administration and enforcement in a manner substantially
equal to that which Bank One accords credit facilities similar to the credit
facility hereunder for which it is the sole lender.
SECTION 7.02.
Agent’s Reliance, Etc. Neither the Agent nor any of
its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for its or their own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the
foregoing, the Agent: (i) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder
thereof until the Agent receives and accepts a Lender Assignment entered into by
the Lender which is the payee of such Note, as assignor, and an Eligible
Assignee, as assignee, as provided in Section 8.07; (ii) may consult
with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public
accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any
action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the
advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (iii) makes no warranty or
representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any
statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or
in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) shall not
have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of
any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document on the part of the Borrower or to inspect the property (including the
books and records) of the Borrower; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender
for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; and (vi) shall
incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or
writing (which may be by telecopier, telegram, cable or telex) believed by it to
be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
SECTION 7.03.
Bank One and Affiliates. With respect to its Commitment and
the Advances made by it, Bank One shall have the same rights and powers under
this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were
not the Agent; and the term “Bank” or “Banks” and
“Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly
indicated, include Bank One in its individual capacity. Bank One and its
Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under
indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower,
any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own
securities of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, all as if Bank One were not
the Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
SECTION 7.04.
Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it
has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and
based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(f) and such
other 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 Agent or
any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking action under this Agreement.
SECTION 7.05.
Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent
(to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to (i) on or
before the Termination Date, the respective Percentages of the Lenders, or (ii)
after the Termination Date, the respective outstanding principal amounts of the
Advances, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or
asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under this Agreement,
provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Agent’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each
Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share
of any out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees) incurred by the Agent in
connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration,
modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal
proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or
responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that the Agent is not
reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower.
SECTION 7.06.
Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any
time with or without cause by the Majority Lenders, with any such resignation or
removal to become effective only upon the appointment of a successor Agent
pursuant to this Section 7.06. Upon any such resignation or removal, the
Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent, which shall
be a Lender or shall be another commercial bank or trust company (and reasonably
acceptable to the Borrower so long as no Event of Default exists) organized
under the laws of the United States or of any State thereof. If no successor
Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders, and shall have
accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent’s giving
of notice of resignation or the Majority Lenders’ removal of the retiring
Agent, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a
successor Agent, which shall be a Lender or shall be another commercial bank or
trust company organized under the laws of the United States of any State thereof
reasonably acceptable to the Borrower. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as
Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon
succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties
of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its
duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring Agent’s
resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this
Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted
to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01. |
Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
any Loan Document, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall
in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Majority Lenders and, in the case of any amendment, the Borrower, and then such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment,
waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders, do any
of the following: (a) waive, modify or eliminate any of the conditions
specified in Section 3.01, 3.02 or 3.03, (b) increase or extend the
Commitments of the Lenders or subject the Lenders to any additional obligations,
(c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Advances, any Applicable
Margin or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any
date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any
fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (e) change the percentage of the
Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or the
number of Lenders, which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to
take any action hereunder, (f) amend this Section 8.01, or
(g) release any collateral for the obligations of the Borrower hereunder;
and provided, further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect
the rights or duties of the Agent or the LC Issuing Bank under this Agreement or
any Note, unless such amendment, waiver or consent is in writing and signed by
the Agent and the LC Issuing Bank, as the case may be, in addition to the
Lenders required above to take such action; and provided, further that
this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender,
the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent if, upon giving effect to such amendment and
restatement, such Lender, the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent, as the case may be,
shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated) or
have any Commitment or other obligation hereunder or under any Letter of Credit
and shall have been paid in full all amounts payable hereunder to such Lender,
the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent, as the case may be. |
SECTION 8.02. |
Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications provided
for hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall be in writing (including
telecopier, telegraphic, telex or cable communication) and mailed, telecopied,
telegraphed, telexed, cabled or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000-0000 Attn: Treasurer, or X.X.
Xxx 00000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000-0000 Attn: Treasurer; if to any Bank, at its
Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its name on Schedule I hereto;
if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Lender
Assignment pursuant to which it became a Lender; and if to the Agent, at its
address at 0 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx; or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by
such party in a written notice to the other parties. All such notices and
communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed or cabled,
be effective five days after being deposited in the mails, or when delivered to
the telegraph company, telecopied, confirmed by telex answerback or delivered to
the cable company, respectively, except that notices and communications to the
Agent pursuant to Article II or VII shall not be effective until received
by the Agent. |
SECTION 8.03. |
No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Lender,
the LC Issuing Bank or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any
right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall
any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein
provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. |
SECTION 8.04. |
Costs, Expenses, Taxes and Indemnification. |
(a) |
The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses of the Agent in
connection with the preparation (including, without limitation, printing costs),
negotiation, execution, delivery, modification and amendment of this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents, and the other documents and instruments to be
delivered hereunder and thereunder, including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect
thereto and with respect to the administration of, and advising the Agent as to
its rights and responsibilities under, this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses,
if any (including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses of
the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and each Lender), in connection with the
enforcement and workout (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or
otherwise) of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the other
documents and instruments to be delivered hereunder and thereunder, including,
without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses in connection with the
enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a). In addition, the Borrower
shall pay any and all stamp and other taxes payable or determined to be payable
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, and the other documents and instruments to be delivered
hereunder and thereunder, and agrees to save the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and
each Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or
resulting from any delay in paying or omission to pay such taxes. |
(b) |
If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate Advance is
made other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance as a
result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.09(f), 2.10, 2.11
or 2.13 or acceleration of the maturity of the Advances pursuant to
Section 6.01 or for any other reason, the Borrower shall, upon demand by
any Lender or the LC Issuing Bank (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay
to the Agent for the account of such Lender or the LC Issuing Bank, as the case
may be, any amounts required to compensate such Lender or the LC Issuing Bank
for any additional losses, costs or expenses which it may reasonably incur as a
result of such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss,
cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance. |
(c) |
The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold each Lender, the Agent, the LC
Issuing Bank and their respective officers, directors, employees, professional
advisors and affiliates (each, an “Indemnified
Person”) harmless from and against any and all claims,
damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses (including reasonable
attorney’s fees and expenses, whether or not such Indemnified Person is
named as a party to any proceeding or is otherwise subjected to judicial or
legal process arising from any such proceeding) which any of them may incur or
which may be claimed against any of them by any Person (except for such claims,
damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses resulting from such Indemnified
Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct): |
(i) |
|
by
reason of or resulting from the execution, delivery or performance of any of
the Loan Documents or any transaction contemplated thereby, or the use by the
Borrower of the proceeds of any Advance or the use by the Borrower or any
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of such Letter of Credit ; |
(ii) |
|
in
connection with any documentary taxes, assessments or charges made by any
governmental authority by reason of the execution and delivery of any of the
Loan Documents; or |
(iii) |
|
in
connection with or resulting from the utilization, storage, disposal,
treatment, generation, transportation, release or ownership of any Hazardous
Substance (A) at, upon, or under any property of the Borrower or any of
its Affiliates or (B) by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates
at any time and in any place. |
(d) |
The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 8.04 shall survive the
repayment of all amounts owing to the Lenders hereunder and the termination of
the Commitments. If and to the extent that the obligations of the Borrower under
this Section 8.04 are unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower agrees to
make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction thereof which is
permissible under applicable law. |
SECTION 8.05. |
Right of Set-off. |
(a) |
Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default
and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent by the
Majority Lenders specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the Agent to
declare all amounts owing hereunder due and payable pursuant to the provisions
of Section 6.01, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time
to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and
all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any
time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender 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 any Loan Document, irrespective of
whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under such Loan Document
and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to
notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lender,
provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this
Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without
limitation, other rights of set-off) which such Lender may have. |
(b) |
The Borrower agrees that it shall have no right of set-off, deduction or
counterclaim in respect of its obligations hereunder, and that the obligations
of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint. Nothing contained herein
shall constitute a relinquishment or waiver of the Borrower’s rights to any
independent claim that the Borrower may have against the Agent, the LC Issuing
Bank or any Lender for the Agent’s, the LC Issuing Bank’s or such
Lender’s, as the case may be, gross negligence or willful misconduct;
provided that no Lender shall be liable for the conduct of the Agent, the
LC Issuing Bank or any other Lender; provided further that the Agent
shall not be liable for the conduct of any Lender or the LC Issuing Bank, and
the LC Issuing Bank shall not be liable for the conduct of any Lender or the
Agent; provided, however that none of the Agent, any Lender or the LC
Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrower for any amounts representing
indirect, special, consequential or punitive damages suffered by the Borrower. |
SECTION 8.06. |
Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when
it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Agent and when the Agent
shall have been notified in writing by each Bank that such Bank has executed it
and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower,
the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and each Lender and their respective successors
and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its
rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the
Lenders. |
SECTION 8.07. |
Assignments and Participations. |
(a) |
Each Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its
rights and obligations under the Loan Documents (including, without limitation,
all or a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and the Note or
Notes (if any) held by it); provided, however, that (i) each such
assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all of the
assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents,
(ii) the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender being assigned
pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Lender
Assignment with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than the
lesser of the amount of such Lender’s then remaining Commitment and
$5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (except in the
case of assignments between Lenders at the time already parties hereto and
between a Lender and an Affiliate of such Lender), (iii) the Agent, the LC
Issuing Bank and, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Borrower, shall have consented to such assignment (which may not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and (iv) the parties to each such
assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and
recording in the Register, a Lender Assignment, together with any Note or Notes
(if any) subject to such assignment and a processing and recordation fee of
$3,500. Promptly following its receipt of such Lender Assignment, Note or Notes
(if any) and fee, the Agent shall accept and record such Lender Assignment in
the Register. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and
after the effective date specified in each Lender Assignment, (x) the
assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Lender
Assignment, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and
(y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Lender
Assignment, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under
this Agreement (and, in the case of a Lender Assignment covering all or the
remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under
this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may at any
time, with notice to the Borrower, the Agent and the LC Issuing Bank, assign all
or any portion of the Advances owing to it to any other Lender or any Affiliate
of a Lender. No such assignment, other than to an Eligible Assignee, a Lender or
an Affiliate of a Lender, shall release the assigning Lender from its
obligations hereunder. |
(b) |
By executing and delivering a Lender Assignment, the Lender assignor thereunder
and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other
parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Lender
Assignment, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with any Loan Document or the
execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value
of any Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
thereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the
Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its
obligations under any Loan Document or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a
copy of each Loan Document, together with copies of the financial statements
referred to in Section 4.01(f) hereof and such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into such Lender Assignment; (iv) such assignee will,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning Lender or any
other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking action under the Loan Documents; (v) such assignee confirms that
it is an Eligible Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the
Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers
under the Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent by the terms thereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and
(vii) such assignee agrees that 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. |
(c) |
The Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy
of each Lender Assignment delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and
principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender from time to time (the
“Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and
binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and
the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a
Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time
and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. |
(d) |
Upon its receipt of a Lender Assignment executed by an assigning Lender and an
assignee representing that it is an Eligible Assignee, together with any Note or
Notes (if any) subject to such assignment, the Agent shall, if such Lender
Assignment has been completed and is in substantially the form of
Exhibit 8.07 hereto, (i) accept such Lender Assignment,
(ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower. |
(e) |
Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks, financial institutions
or other entities in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under the
Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its
Commitment, the Advances owing to it and the Note or Notes (if any) held by it);
provided, however, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under
this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower
hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note (if any) for all
purposes of this Agreement, and (iv) the Borrower, the Agent and the other
Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in
connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. |
(f) |
Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed
assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07, disclose to the
assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant, any information
relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the
Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee or
participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree, in accordance with
the terms of Section 8.08, to preserve the confidentiality of any
Confidential Information relating to the Borrower received by it from such
Lender. |
(g) |
If any Lender (or any bank, financial institution, or other entity to which such
Lender has sold a participation) shall (i) make any demand for payment
under Section 2.08 or 2.12, (ii) give notice to the Agent pursuant to
Section 2.13 or (iii) determine not to extend the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date in response to any request by the Borrower pursuant to Section
2.18, then (A) in the case of any demand made under clause (i) above,
or the occurrence of the event described in clause (ii) above, within 30
days after any such demand or occurrence (if, but only if, in the case of any
demanded payment described in clause (i), such demanded payment has been
made by the Borrower), and (B) in the case of the occurrence of the event
described in clause (iii) above, at any time prior to the then-scheduled
Revolving Commitment Termination Date, the Borrower may, with the approval of
the Agent and the LC Issuing Bank (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld), and provided that no Event of Default or Unmatured Default shall then
have occurred and be continuing, demand that such Lender assign in accordance
with this Section 8.07 to one or more Eligible Assignees designated by the
Borrower all (but not less than all) of such Lender’s Commitment and the
Advances owing to it within the period ending on the latest to occur of
(x) the last day in the period described in clause (A) or (B) above,
as applicable, and (y) the last day of the longest of the then current
Interest Periods for such Advances. If any such Eligible Assignee designated by
the Borrower shall fail to consummate such assignment on terms acceptable to
such Lender, or if the Borrower shall fail to designate any such Eligible
Assignees for all or part of such Lender’s Commitment or Advances, then
such demand by the Borrower shall become ineffective; it being understood for
purposes of this subsection (g) that such assignment shall be conclusively
deemed to be on terms acceptable to such Lender, and such Lender shall be
compelled to consummate such assignment to an Eligible Assignee designated by
the Borrower, if such Eligible Assignee (1) shall agree to such assignment
by entering into a Lender Assignment with such Lender and (2) shall offer
compensation to such Lender in an amount equal to all amounts then owing by the
Borrower to such Lender hereunder, whether for principal, interest, fees, costs
or expenses (other than the demanded payment referred to above and payable by
the Borrower as a condition to the Borrower’s right to demand such
assignment), or otherwise. |
(h) |
Anything in this Section 8.07 to the contrary notwithstanding, any Lender
may assign and pledge all or any portion of its Commitment and the Advances
owing to it to any Federal Reserve Bank (and its transferees) as collateral
security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank.
No such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations
hereunder. |
(i) |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a
“Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose
funding vehicle (an “SPC”) of such Granting
Lender identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to
the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and the Borrower, the option to provide to the
Borrower all or any part of any Advance that such Granting Lender would
otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement;
provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any
such SPC to make any Advance, (ii) if such SPC elects not to exercise such
option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Advance, the
Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Advance pursuant to the terms
hereof and (iii) no SPC or Granting Lender shall be entitled to receive any
greater amount pursuant to Section 2.12 or 8.04(b) than the Granting Lender
would have been entitled to receive had the Granting Lender not otherwise
granted such SPC the option to provide any Advance to the Borrower. The making
of an Advance by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting
Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Advance were made by such Granting
Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any
indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender
would otherwise be liable so long as, and to the extent that, the related
Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. In furtherance of
the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive
the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and
one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other
senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against or join any other
person in instituting against such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United
States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Granting Lender
unconditionally agrees to indemnify the Borrower, the LC Issuing Bank, the Agent
and each Lender against all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature whatsoever which may be incurred by or asserted against the
Borrower, the LC Issuing Bank, the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, in
any way relating to or arising as a consequence of any such forbearance or delay
in the initiation of any such proceeding against its SPC. Each party hereto
hereby acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have the rights of a Lender
hereunder, such rights being retained by the applicable Granting Lender.
Accordingly, and without limiting the foregoing, each party hereby further
acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have any voting rights hereunder and
that the voting rights attributable to any Advance made by an SPC shall be
exercised only by the relevant Granting Lender and that each Granting Lender
shall serve as the administrative agent and attorney-in-fact for its SPC and
shall on behalf of its SPC receive any and all payments made for the benefit of
such SPC and take all actions hereunder to the extent, if any, such SPC shall
have any rights hereunder. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the
prior written consent of any other party hereto, assign all or a portion of its
interest in any Advances to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a
confidential basis any information relating to its Advances to any rating
agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit
or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. This Section 8.07(i) may not be
amended without the prior written consent of each Granting Lender, all or any
part of whose Advance is being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment. |
SECTION 8.08.Confidentiality.
In connection with the negotiation and administration of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, the Borrower has furnished and will from time to time
furnish to the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and the Lenders (each, a “Recipient”)
written information which is identified to the Recipient in writing, when
delivered, as confidential (such information, other than any such information
which (i) as publicly available, or otherwise known to the Recipient, at
the time of disclosure, (ii) subsequently becomes publicly available other
than through any act or omission by the Recipient or (iii) otherwise
subsequently becomes known to the Recipient other than through a Person whom
the Recipient knows to be acting in violation of his or its obligations to the
Borrower, being hereinafter referred to as “Confidential
Information”). The Recipient will maintain the
confidentiality of any Confidential Information in accordance with such
procedures as the Recipient applies generally to information of that nature. It
is understood, however, that the foregoing will not restrict the
Recipient’s ability to freely exchange such Confidential Information with
its Affiliates or with current or prospective participants in or assignees of,
or any current or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap,
securitization or derivative transaction relating to, the Recipient’s
position herein, but the Recipient’s ability to so exchange Confidential
Information shall be conditioned upon any such Affiliate’s or prospective
participant’s or assignee’s or counterparty’s entering into an
understanding as to confidentiality similar to this provision. It is further
understood that the foregoing will not prohibit the disclosure of any or all
Confidential Information if and to the extent that such disclosure may be
required (i) by a regulatory agency or otherwise in connection with an
examination of the Recipient’s records by appropriate authorities,
(ii) pursuant to court order, subpoena or other legal process or in
connection with any pending or threatened litigation, (iii) otherwise as
required by law, or (iv) in order to protect its interests or its rights
or remedies hereunder or under the other Loan Documents; in the event of any
required disclosure under clause (ii) or (iii) above, the Recipient agrees
to use reasonable efforts to inform the Borrower as promptly as practicable.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank or any Lender (and each
officer, director, employee, agent and advisor of such Person) may disclose to any and all
other Persons, without limitation of any kind, the “tax treatment” and “tax
structure” (in each case within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4)
of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions
or other tax analyses) that are provided to such Person relating to such “tax
treatment” and “tax structure”. For the avoidance of doubt, no disclosure
to any Person is permitted to the extent such exposure does not relate to such “tax
treatment” or “tax structure”. The foregoing is intended to comply with the
presumption set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(3)(iii) and should be
interpreted in a manner consistent with such regulation.
SECTION 8.09.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE AGENT, THE LC ISSUING BANK, THE
LENDERS AND THE BORROWER HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE
ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED
HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS
(WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN), OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT, THE LC ISSUING BANK, SUCH
LENDERS OR THE BORROWER. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE AGENT,
THE LC ISSUING BANK AND THE LENDERS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
SECTION 8.10.
Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York. The Borrower, each Lender, the LC Issuing Bank and the Agent
(i) irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York
State court or Federal court sitting in New York City in any action arising out
of any Loan Document, (ii) agrees that all claims in such action may be
decided in such court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may
effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum and (iv) consents
to the service of process by mail, provided that a copy shall be promptly sent
by overnight courier to Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx, Firstar Center, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Emory Ireland, Esq. A final
judgment in any such action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other
jurisdictions. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve legal
process in any manner permitted by law or affect its right to bring any action
in any other court.
SECTION 8.11.
Relation of the Parties; No Beneficiary. No term, provision
or requirement, whether express or implied, of any Loan Document, or actions
taken or to be taken by any party thereunder, shall be construed to create a
partnership, association, or joint venture between such parties or any of them.
No term or provision of the Loan Documents shall be construed to confer a
benefit upon, or grant a right or privilege to, any Person other than the
parties thereto.
SECTION 8.12.
Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 8.13.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any Note,
the Administrative Agency Fee Letter, the Arranger Fee Letter and any other
agreements, instruments and other documents required to be executed and
delivered in connection herewith, represents the entire agreement of the parties
hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties
with respect to the subject matter covered hereby.
S-1
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their
respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
|
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY |
|
|
|
|
|
By_____________________________________ |
|
Name: |
|
Title: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BANK ONE, NA, as Agent, as LC Issuing Bank and as Lender |
|
|
|
|
|
By_____________________________________ |
|
Name: |
|
Title: |
S-2
|
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
|
|
|
|
|
By_____________________________________ |
|
Name: |
|
Title: |
SCHEDULE I
WISCONSIN POWER AND
LIGHT COMPANY
364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2003,
among Wisconsin
Power and Light Company, as Borrower, the Banks
named therein and Bank One, NA, as
Administrative Agent and LC Issuing Bank
|
|
|
|
Name of Lender |
Commitment |
Domestic Lending Office |
Eurodollar Lending Office |
Bank One, NA |
$15,550,000 |
0 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000 |
Office |
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
|
Wachovia Bank, National |
$15,550,000 |
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xx. |
Same as Domestic Lending |
Association |
|
DC-05 |
Office |
|
|
NC-0760 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: Xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx |
|
ABN Amro Bank N.V. |
$14,600,000 |
000 X. Xx Xxxxx Xx. |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxxxx 0000 |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Loan Administration |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: xxx.xxxx.x@xxxxxxx.xxx |
|
Australia And New Zealand |
$7,700,000 |
1177 Avenue of the Americas |
Same as Domestic Lending |
Banking Group Limited |
|
0xx Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx |
|
Bank of America, N.A. |
$14,600,000 |
000 Xxxx Xx. |
Same as Domestic Xxxxxxx |
|
|
XX0-000-00-00 |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxxxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: |
|
|
|
xxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
|
The Bank of |
$13,800,000 |
Harborside Financial Center |
Same as Domestic Lending |
Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. |
|
000 Xxxxx 0 |
Xxxxxx |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
|
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxx Xx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: xxx@xxxxx.xxx |
|
Barclays Bank PLC |
$14,600,000 |
000 Xxxxxxxx |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Office |
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, GSU |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: Xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx |
|
Citibank N.A. |
$7,700,000 |
Two Penn's Way |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxxxx 000 |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: Xxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
|
Cobank, ACB |
$7,700,000 |
0000 X. Xxxxxx Xx. |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Office |
|
|
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx |
|
Fleet National Bank |
$11,100,000 |
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
Same as Domestic Xxxxxxx |
|
|
XX XX 00000X |
Office |
|
|
Xxxxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: xxxxx_x_xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx |
|
KBC Bank N.V. |
$7,700,000 |
000 X. 00xx Xx. |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Office |
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx/Loan |
|
|
|
Administration |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: |
|
KeyBank National |
$13,800,000 |
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
Same as Domestic Lending |
Association |
|
XX-00-00-0000 |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: Xxxxxxx_xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx |
|
Xxxxxx Brothers Bank, FSB |
$11,100,000 |
000 0xx Xxxxxx |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
00xx Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx |
|
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Bank USA |
$11,100,000 |
00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxxxx 000 |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: Xxxxx_xxxxx@xx.xxx |
|
Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. |
$7,700,000 |
1800 Plaza Ten |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Office |
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: Xxxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
|
National Australia Bank |
$11,100,000 |
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
00xx Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx |
|
|
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: |
|
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A. |
$14,600,000 |
000 Xxxxx Xx. |
Same as Domestic Lending |
|
|
MAC 0187-081 |
Office |
|
|
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
|
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Tel: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
|
|
|
Email: |
|
TOTAL |
$200,000,000 |
|
|
SCHEDULE II
EXISTING LIENS
Liens in favor of wholly owned
Subsidiaries
SCHEDULE III
EXISTING DEBT
Debt incurred in connection with
sales transactions referred to in Section 5.02(f)(viii) of the Agreement.