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EXHIBIT 10.2
EXECUTION COPY
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EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
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$250,000,000
REVOLVING CREDIT AND COMPETITIVE
ADVANCE FACILITY AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 4, 1996
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THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
AND CAF ADVANCE AGENT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS . . . . . . . . . 1
SECTION 1.1 Certain Defined Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
SECTION 1.2 Computation of Time Periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 1.3 Accounting Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 1.4 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 2.1 The Revolving Credit Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 2.2 Making the Revolving Credit Advances . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 2.3 Evidence of Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 2.4 CAF Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SECTION 2.5 Procedure for CAF Advance Borrowings . . . . . . . . 21
SECTION 2.6 CAF Advance Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SECTION 2.7 Evidence of Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 2.8 Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 2.9 Reduction of the Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SECTION 2.10 Repayment of Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SECTION 2.11 Interest on Revolving Credit Advances . . . . . . . . 27
SECTION 2.12 Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances . . . 28
SECTION 2.13 Interest Rate Determination . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 2.14 Voluntary Conversion of Advances . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 2.15 Optional and Mandatory Prepayments . . . . . . . . . 31
SECTION 2.16 Increased Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
SECTION 2.17 Increased Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SECTION 2.18 Illegality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
SECTION 2.19 Payments and Computations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
SECTION 2.20 Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 2.21 Sharing of Payments, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
SECTION 2.22 Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
SECTION 2.24 Replacement of Lenders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS OF EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING . . . . . . . 40
SECTION 3.1 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of this Agreement 40
SECTION 3.2 Conditions Precedent to Initial Advances . . . . . . 41
SECTION 3.3 Conditions Precedent to Initial Advances to Any Borrowing
Subsidiary or Holding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 3.4 Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing . . . . . . . 43
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES . . . . . . . . . 43
SECTION 4.1 Representations and Warranties of the Borrowers . . . 43
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS . . . . . . . . . . 47
SECTION 5.1 Affirmative Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
SECTION 5.2 Negative Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
SECTION 5.3 Reporting Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
SECTION 5.4 Restrictions on Material Subsidiaries . . . . . . . . 56
ARTICLE VI
GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
SECTION 6.1 Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
SECTION 6.2 No Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
SECTION 6.3 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations;
Waiver of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
SECTION 6.4 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional . . . . . . . . 58
SECTION 6.5 Reinstatement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
ARTICLE VII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
SECTION 7.1 Event of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
ARTICLE VIII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE CAF ADVANCE AGENT . . . . 63
SECTION 8.1 Authorization and Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 8.2 Administrative Agent's and CAF Advance Agent's
Reliance, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
SECTION 8.3 Chase and Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
SECTION 8.4 Lender Credit Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
SECTION 8.5 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
SECTION 8.6 Successor Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent 65
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
SECTION 9.1 Amendments, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
SECTION 9.2 Notices, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
SECTION 9.3 No Waiver; Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
SECTION 9.4 Costs and Expenses; Indemnity . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
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SECTION 9.5 Right of Set-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
SECTION 9.6 Binding Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
SECTION 9.7 Assignments and Participations . . . . . . . . . . . 69
SECTION 9.8 Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
SECTION 9.9 Consent to Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
SECTION 9.10 GOVERNING LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
SECTION 9.11 Rate of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
SECTION 9.12 Execution in Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
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SCHEDULE
Schedule I Commitments, Addresses, Etc.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Note
Exhibit B Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C Form of CAF Advance Request
Exhibit D Form of CAF Advance Offer
Exhibit E Form of CAF Advance Confirmation
Exhibit F Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit G Form of Opinion of [Associate] General Counsel
of the Company
Exhibit H Form of Opinion of New York Counsel to the
Company
Exhibit I Form of Process Agent Letter
Exhibit J Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit K Form of Opinion of [Associate] General Counsel of
the Company
Exhibit L Form of Opinion of New York Counsel to the Company
Exhibit M Form of Extension Request
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$250,000,000 REVOLVING CREDIT AND COMPETITIVE ADVANCE FACILITY
AGREEMENT, dated as of November 4, 1996, among EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation ("EPNGC"), the several banks and other financial
institutions from time to time parties to this Agreement (the "Lenders"), THE
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation, as administrative agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and as CAF Advance Agent (in such
capacity, the "CAF Advance Agent") for the Lenders hereunder.
The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.1 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 Agent" has the meaning assigned to such term in
the preamble hereof.
"Advance" means an advance by a Lender to any Borrower pursuant
to Article II, and refers to a Base Rate Advance, a Eurodollar Rate
Advance or a CAF Advance.
"Affiliate" means as to any Person, any other Person that,
directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person.
The term "control" (including the terms "controlled by" or "under common
control with") means, with respect to any Person, the possession, direct
or indirect, of the power to vote 20% or more of the securities having
ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
Person, whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or
otherwise.
"Agreement" means this $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility, as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Alternate Program" means any program providing for the sale or
other disposition of trade or other receivables entered into by the
Company or a Principal Subsidiary (or for purposes of Section 5.2(a)
only, any Restricted Affiliate) which is in addition to or in
replacement of the program evidenced by the Receivables Purchase and
Sale Agreement (whether or not the Receivables Purchase and Sale
Agreement shall then be in effect), provided that such program is on
terms (a) substantially similar to the Receivables Purchase and Sale
Agreement or (b) customary for
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similar transactions as reasonably determined by the Administrative
Agent.
"Applicable LIBO Rate" means in respect of any CAF Advance
requested pursuant to a LIBO Rate CAF Advance Request, an interest rate
per annum equal to the rate which appears on Page 3750 of the Telerate
Service (or any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any
successor to or substitute for such service providing rate quotations
comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as
determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of
providing quotations of interest rates applicable to Dollar deposits in
the London interbank market) as at approximately 11:00 A.M., London
time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of the period for which
such CAF Advance is to be outstanding as the rate for Dollar deposits
with a maturity comparable to such period.
"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by the
Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit F.
"Base CD Rate" means the sum of (a) the product of (i) the Three-
Month Secondary CD Rate and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is
one and the denominator of which is one minus the C/D Reserve Percentage
and (b) the C/D Assessment Rate.
"Base Rate" means for any day, a rate per annum (adjusted to the
nearest 1/16 of 1% or, if there is no nearest 1/16 of 1%, rounded
upwards to the next highest 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greatest of (a) the
Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Base CD Rate in effect on such
day plus 1/2 of 1% and (c) the Effective Federal Funds Rate in effect on
such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in
the Prime Rate, the Three-Month Secondary CD Rate or the Effective
Federal Funds Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on
the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate, the Three-Month
Secondary CD Rate or the Effective Federal Funds Rate, respectively.
"Base Rate Advance" means an Advance which bears interest as
provided in Section 2.11(a)(i).
"Borrowers" means the collective reference to EPNGC, each
Borrowing Subsidiary and Holding once Holding executes and delivers a
Joinder Agreement; each, a "Borrower".
"Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of Advances of the same
Type made on the same day by the Lenders, it being understood that there
may be more than one Borrowing on a particular day.
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"Borrowing Subsidiary" means each domestic Principal Subsidiary
of the Company which has been designated by the Company as a "Borrowing
Subsidiary" by written notice to the Administrative Agent; collectively,
the "Borrowing Subsidiaries".
"Burlington" means Burlington Resources Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
"Business Day" means a day of the year on which banks are not
required or authorized to close in New York, New York and, if the
applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO
Rate CAF Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London
interbank market.
"CAF Advance" means an Advance made pursuant to Sections 2.4 and
2.5.
"CAF Advance Agent" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
preamble hereof.
"CAF Advance Availability Period" means the period from and
including the Closing Date until the earlier of (a) the date which is 7
days prior to the Stated Termination Date and (b) the Termination Date.
"CAF Advance Confirmation" means each confirmation by the
applicable Borrower of its acceptance of CAF Advance Offers, which CAF
Advance Confirmation shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit E and
shall be delivered to the CAF Advance Agent by telecopy.
"CAF Advance Interest Payment Date" means as to each CAF Advance,
each interest payment date specified by the applicable Borrower for such
CAF Advance in the related CAF Advance Request.
"CAF Advance Lenders" means Lenders from time to time designated
by the Company, in consultation with the CAF Advance Agent, as CAF
Advance Lenders as provided in Section 2.4.
"CAF Advance Maturity Date" means as to any CAF Advance, the date
specified by the applicable Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5(d)(ii) in
its acceptance of the related CAF Advance Offer.
"CAF Advance Offer" means each offer by a CAF Advance Lender to
make CAF Advances pursuant to a CAF Advance Request, which CAF Advance
Offer shall contain the information specified in Exhibit D and shall be
delivered to the CAF Advance Agent by telephone, immediately confirmed
by telecopy.
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"CAF Advance Request" means each request by the applicable
Borrower for CAF Advance Lenders to submit bids to make CAF Advances,
which request shall contain the information in respect of such requested
CAF Advances specified in Exhibit C and shall be delivered to the CAF
Advance Agent in writing, by telecopy, or by telephone, immediately
confirmed by telecopy.
"Capitalization" of any Person means the sum (without
duplication) of (a) consolidated Debt of such Person and its
consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (b) the aggregate amount of Guaranties
entered into by such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (c)
the consolidated common and preferred stockholders' equity of such
Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries.
"C/D Assessment Rate" means for any day as applied to any Base
Rate Advance, the annual assessment rate determined by Chase to be
payable on such day to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the
"FDIC") for the FDIC's (or any successor's) insuring time deposits at
offices of Chase in the United States.
"C/D Reserve Percentage" means for any day as applied to any Base
Rate Advance, that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in
effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (or any successor) (the "Board"), for determining
the then current reserve requirement for the Administrative Agent in
respect of new non-personal time deposits in Dollars having a maturity
of 30 days or more.
"Chase" means The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking
corporation.
"Closing Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.2.
"Commitment" means as to any Lender, the obligation of such
Lender to make Revolving Credit Advances to the Borrowers hereunder in
an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed
the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule I (as such
Schedule I is amended from time to time pursuant to Section 9.7(c)), as
such amount may be reduced from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement.
"Commitment Expiration Date" has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.23(a).
"Commitment Percentage" means as to any Lender at any time, the
percentage which such Lender's Commitment then constitutes of the
aggregate Commitments (or, at any time after the Commitments shall have
expired or terminated, the
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percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender's
Advances then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount
of the Advances then outstanding).
"Company" means (a) at all times prior to Holding becoming a
Borrower, EPNGC, and (b) thereafter, Holding.
"Contingent Guaranty" has the meaning assigned to such term in
the definition of the term "Guaranty" contained in this Section 1.1.
"Convert", "Conversion" and "Converted" each refers to a
conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of another Type
pursuant to Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.18.
"Debt" means, as to any Person, all Indebtedness of such Person
other than (a) any Project Financing of such Person, (b) in the case of
the Company or a Principal Subsidiary, any liabilities of the Company or
such Principal Subsidiary, as the case may be, under any Alternate
Program, or any document executed by the Company or such Principal
Subsidiary, as the case may be, in connection therewith and (c) any
obligations of the Company or a Principal Subsidiary with respect to
lease payments for the headquarters building of Tennessee located in
Houston, Texas; provided, however, that for purposes of Article V "Debt"
shall not include up to an aggregate amount (determined without
duplication of amount) of $200,000,000 of (i) the amount of optional
payments in lieu of asset repurchase or other payments to similar
effect, including extension or renewal payments, on off balance sheet
leases and (ii) the amount of the purchase price for optional
acquisition of such asset (in either case, calculated at the lower
amount payable in respect of such asset under clause (i) or (ii) above).
"Debt Realignment Plan" means the debt realignment plan described
under the caption "Debt and Cash Realignment--Debt Realignment" and
"Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information--Unaudited Pro Forma Combined
Financial Statements of El Paso and Tenneco Energy" in the Joint Proxy
Statement.
"Dollars" and "$" means dollars in lawful currency of the United
States of America.
"Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions precedent
set forth in Section 3.1 have been satisfied (or compliance therewith
shall have been waived by the Lenders).
"Effective Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, 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
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(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
Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized
standing selected by it.
"Eligible Assignee" means, with respect to any particular
assignment under Section 9.7, any bank or other financial institution
approved in writing by the Company expressly with respect to such
assignment and, except as to such an assignment by Chase so long as
Chase is the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent as
an Eligible Assignee for purposes of this Agreement, provided that (i)
neither the Administrative Agent's nor the Company's approval shall be
unreasonably withheld and (ii) neither the Administrative Agent's nor
the Company's approval shall be required if the assignee is another
Lender or an Affiliate of the assigning Lender.
"EPNGC" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
hereof.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and
rulings issued from time to time thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who is a member of the
Company's controlled group within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14)(A)
of ERISA.
"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 Rate" means, for any Interest Period for each
Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, an
interest rate per annum equal to the rate which appears on Page 3750 of
the Telerate Service (or on any successor or substitute page of such
service, or any successor to or substitute for such service providing
rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of
such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to
time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable
to Dollar deposits in the London interbank market) as at approximately
11:00 A.M. (London, England time) two Business Days before the first day
of such Interest Period as the rate for Dollar deposits with a maturity
comparable to such Interest Period; provided that if such rate is not
available at such time for any reason, the Eurodollar Rate for such
Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the interest rate per annum
equal
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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 Dollars are offered by the principal office
of each of the Reference Lenders in London, England, to prime banks in
the London interbank market as at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London,
England time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest
Period, in an approximate amount of each such Reference Lender's share
of the relevant Borrowing for the applicable Interest Period. The
Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance
comprising part of the same Borrowing, when being determined pursuant to
the foregoing proviso clause, shall be determined by the Administrative
Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the
Administrative Agent from the Reference Lenders two Business Days before
the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the
provisions of Section 2.13.
"Eurodollar Rate Advance" means an Advance which bears interest
determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, as provided in Section
2.11(a)(ii).
"Eurodollar Rate Margin" means for any day the rate per annum set
forth below opposite the applicable S&P Bond Rating and Xxxxx'x Bond
Rating in effect on such day:
Bond Rating Eurodollar
(S&P/Xxxxx'x) Level Rate Margin
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A/A2 or higher I .2000%
A-/A3 II .2150%
BBB+/Baa1 III .2200%
BBB/Baa2 IV .2500%
BBB-/Baa3 V .3750%
BB+/Ba1 or lower VI .5125%;
provided that if the ratings of such rating agencies do not fall within
the same Level, the Eurodollar Rate Margin applicable to such day will
be the lower Eurodollar Rate Margin and provided, further, that in the
event a rating is not available from a rating agency, such rating agency
will be deemed to have assigned its lowest rating.
"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" for any Lender for any Interest
Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advance means the reserve percentage
applicable during such Interest Period under regulations issued from
time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (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) for determining
the maximum reserve requirement (including, but not limited to, any
emergency, supplemental or other
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marginal reserve requirement) for 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 such term in
Section 7.1.
"Excluded Acquisition Debt" means (a) Debt, Guaranties or
reimbursement obligations of any corporation acquired by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries and which Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement
obligations exist immediately prior to such acquisition (provided that
(i) such Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement obligations are not incurred
solely in anticipation of such acquisition and (ii) immediately prior to
such acquisition such corporation is not a Subsidiary of the Company)
(b) Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement obligations of Tennessee and its
Subsidiaries in existence on the date of the Merger and not prohibited
by the Tennessee Facility, or incurred at any time under the Tennessee
Facility or (c) Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement obligations in respect
of any asset acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and
which Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement obligations exists immediately
prior to such acquisition (provided that (i) such Debt, Guaranties or
reimbursement obligations are not incurred solely in anticipation of
such acquisition and (ii) immediately prior to such acquisition such
asset is not an asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).
"Existing Facilities" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.2.
"Exposure" means (a) with respect to an Objecting Lender at any
time, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of its Revolving Credit
Advances and (b) with respect to any other Lender at any time, the
maximum amount of the Commitment of such Lender.
"Extension Request" means each request by the Borrowers made
pursuant to Section 2.23 for the Lenders to extend the Stated
Termination Date, which shall contain the information in respect of such
extension specified in Exhibit M and shall be delivered to the
Administrative Agent in writing.
"Facility Fee Commencement Date" means the date hereof.
"FERC" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or any
agency or authority of the United States from time to time succeeding to
its function.
"Fixed Rate CAF Advance" means any CAF Advance made pursuant to a
Fixed Rate CAF Advance Request.
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"Fixed Rate CAF Advance Request" means any CAF Advance Request
requesting the CAF Advance Lenders to offer to make CAF Advances at a
fixed rate (as opposed to a rate composed of the Applicable LIBO Rate
plus (or minus) a margin).
"Guaranty", "Guaranteed" and "Guaranteeing" each means any act by
which any Person assumes, guarantees, endorses or otherwise incurs
direct or contingent liability in connection with, or agrees to purchase
or otherwise acquire or otherwise assures a creditor against loss in
respect of, any Debt or Project Financing of any Person other than the
Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding (a) any
liability by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or
collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business,
(b) any liability in connection with obligations of the Company, any of
its consolidated Subsidiaries or any Restricted Affiliate, including,
without limitation, obligations under any conditional sales agreement,
equipment trust financing or equipment lease and any liability of any
Restricted Affiliate in respect of obligations of EPNGC or its
consolidated Subsidiaries and (c) any such act in connection with a
Project Financing that either (i) guarantees performance of the
completion of the project which is financed by such Project Financing,
until such time, if any, that such guaranty becomes a guaranty of
payment of such Project Financing (other than a guaranty of payment of
the type referred to in subclause (ii) below) or (ii) is contingent
upon, or the obligation to pay or perform under which is contingent
upon, the occurrence of any event other than or in addition to the
passage of time or any Project Financing becoming due (any such act
referred to in this clause (c) being a "Contingent Guaranty"); provided,
however, that for purposes of this definition the liability of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any obligation as to
which a third party or parties are jointly, or jointly and severally,
liable as a guarantor or otherwise as contemplated hereby and have not
defaulted on its or their portions thereof, shall be only its pro rata
portion of such obligation.
"Holding" means any domestic parent holding company of both EPNGC
and Tennessee which directly or indirectly owns 100% of the common stock
of EPNGC and 100% of the common stock of Tennessee; provided, however,
that immediately after Holding becomes EPNGC's and Tennessee's parent
holding company, not less than 80% of the shareholders of common stock
of Holding are the same shareholders of common stock of EPNGC
immediately prior to Holding becoming EPNGC's and Tennessee's parent
holding company.
"Holding Guarantee" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 5.1(g).
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"Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication (a)
indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) obligations of such
Person (other than any portion of any trade payable obligation of such
Person which shall not have remained unpaid for 91 days or more from the
original due date of such portion) to pay the deferred purchase price of
property or services, and (c) obligations of such Person as lessee under
leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, recorded as capital leases, except that
where such indebtedness or obligation of such Person is made jointly, or
jointly and severally, with any third party or parties other than any
consolidated Subsidiary of such Person, the amount thereof for the
purposes of this definition only shall be the pro rata portion thereof
payable by such Person, so long as such third party or parties have not
defaulted on its or their joint and several portions thereof.
"Indemnified Party" means any or all of the Lenders, the
Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent.
"Interest Period" means, for each Eurodollar Rate Advance
comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period beginning on the date
of such Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Advance into such
an Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the
applicable 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 applicable Borrower pursuant to the provisions below.
The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or
six months, or, subject to availability to each Lender, nine or twelve
months, in each case as the applicable Borrower may, upon notice
received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (New York
City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such
Interest Period with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, select;
provided, however, that:
(a) the duration of any Interest Period which
commences before the second anniversary of the Termination Date
and would otherwise end after the second anniversary of the
Termination Date shall end on the second anniversary of the
Termination Date;
(b) if the last day of such Interest Period would
otherwise occur on a day which is not a Business Day, such last
day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, except
if such extension would cause such last day to occur in a new
calendar month, then such last day shall occur on the next
preceding Business Day;
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(c) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for
Advances comprising the same Borrowing shall be of the same
duration; and
(d) with respect to Advances made by an Objecting
Lender, no Interest Period with respect to such Advances shall
end after the second anniversary of such Objecting Lender's
Commitment Expiration Date.
"Joinder Agreement" means a Joinder Agreement, substantially in
the form of Exhibit J hereto, duly executed and delivered by the Company
and the Borrowing Subsidiary party thereto or Holding, as the case may
be.
"Joint Proxy Statement" means the Registration Statements on Form
S-4, each relating to the Transaction, initially filed by each of EPNGC
and Tennessee with the SEC on August 27, 1996, as amended through the
Effective Date.
"Lenders" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
hereof.
"LIBO Rate CAF Advance" means any CAF Advance made pursuant to a
LIBO Rate CAF Advance Request.
"LIBO Rate CAF Advance Request" means any CAF Advance Request
requesting the CAF Advance Lenders to offer to make CAF Advances at an
interest rate equal to the Applicable LIBO Rate plus (or minus) a
margin.
"Lien" means any lien, security interest or other charge or
encumbrance, or any assignment of the right to receive income, or any
other type of preferential arrangement, in each case to secure any
Indebtedness or any Guaranty of any Person.
"Majority Lenders" means Lenders the Commitment Percentages of
which aggregate at least 51%, provided, that at any time after the
Commitment Expiration Date with respect to any Objecting Lender (but
prior to the termination of all the Commitments), "Majority Lenders"
shall mean Lenders whose Exposure aggregates at least 51% of the
aggregate Exposure of all the Lenders.
"Margin Stock" means "margin stock" as defined in Regulation U of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from
time to time.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
financial condition or operations of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
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"Material Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of Holding (other than
a Project Financing Subsidiary) that itself (on an unconsolidated,
stand-alone basis) owns in excess of 10% of the consolidated net
property, plant and equipment of Holding and its consolidated
Subsidiaries.
"Merger" means the merger of Tennessee with a de novo subsidiary
of EPNGC following the Spin-offs pursuant to the terms of the Merger
Agreement.
"Merger Agreement" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of June 19, 1996, among EPNGC, El Paso Merger Company and Tennessee,
as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified through the Effective
Date.
"Mojave" means Mojave Pipeline Company.
"Moody's Bond Rating" means, subject to Section 2.11(a)(ii), (a)
for any day prior to the Ratings Change Date, the rating of EPNGC's
senior long-term unsecured debt by Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. in
effect at 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such day and (b) for any
day that is on or after the Ratings Change Date, the rating of Holding's
senior long-term unsecured debt by Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. in
effect at 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such day.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
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 and in respect of which the Company or an ERISA
Affiliate has any liability (contingent or otherwise), 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 (a) is maintained for employees
of the Company or an ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than
the Company and its ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in
respect of which the Company or an ERISA Affiliate could have liability
under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or
were to be terminated.
"Net Worth" means with respect to the Company, as of any date of
determination, the sum of the preferred stock and stockholders' equity
of the Company as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of
the Company delivered pursuant to Section 5.3.
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"New Preferred Stock" means the voting junior preferred stock to
be issued by Tennessee in connection with the Debt Realignment Plan.
"Note" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.3(d).
"Notice of Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section
2.2(a).
"Obligations" means the collective reference to the unpaid
principal of and interest on the Advances and the Notes and all other
financial liabilities of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, the
CAF Advance Agent and the Lenders (including, without limitation,
interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in this Agreement
after the maturity of the Advances and interest accruing at the then
applicable rate provided in this Agreement after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency,
reorganization or like proceeding, relating to any Borrower whether or
not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such
proceeding), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or
to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise
under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the Notes, in
each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement
obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including,
without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent or to the Lenders that are
required to be paid by any Borrower pursuant to this Agreement).
"Objecting Lenders" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.23(a).
"Other Taxes" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.20(b).
"Party" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.8.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any
successor).
"Permitted Claims" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 9.9(a).
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation (including
a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture or other entity, or a country or any
political subdivision thereof or any agency or instrumentality of such
country or subdivision.
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"Plan" means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly
announced from time to time by Chase as its prime rate in effect at its
principal office in New York City. The Prime Rate is not intended to be
the lowest rate of interest charged by Chase in connection with
extensions of credit to debtors.
"Principal Subsidiary" means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the
Company (other than a Project Financing Subsidiary) having assets at
such time greater than or equal to 5% of the consolidated assets of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries at such time.
"Process Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 9.9(a).
"Project Financing" means any Indebtedness incurred to finance a
project, other than any portion of such Indebtedness permitting or
providing for recourse against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(or for purposes of Section 5.2(a) only, any Restricted Affiliate) other
than (a) recourse to the stock or assets of the Project Financing
Subsidiary, if any, incurring or Guaranteeing such Indebtedness, and (b)
such recourse as exists under any Contingent Guaranty.
"Project Financing Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the
Company (or for purposes of Section 5.2(a) only, any Restricted
Affiliate) whose principal purpose is to incur Project Financing, or to
become a partner, member or other equity participant in a partnership,
limited liability company or other entity so created, and substantially
all the assets of which Subsidiary, partnership limited liability
company or other entity are limited to those assets being financed (or
to be financed) in whole or in part by a Project Financing.
"Ratings Change Date" means the earliest to occur of (a) the date
on which Holding becomes a Borrower hereunder, (b) the date on which
Holding becomes a "Borrower" under the $750,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of the date hereof,
among EPNGC, the lenders parties thereto and Chase, as administrative
agent and CAF advance agent, and (c) the date on which Holding becomes a
"Borrower" under the Tennessee Facility.
"Receivables Purchase and Sale Agreement" means the Receivables
Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of January 14, 1992 among EPNGC,
XXXXXX X.X., a New York limited partnership, Corporate Asset Funding
Company, a Delaware
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corporation and Citicorp North America, Inc., as agent, as such
Agreement may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified
from time to time which amendment, supplement, restatement or
modification will not extend the purchase of receivables and other
assets thereunder to receivables and assets other than present and
future gas purchase contract take-or-pay buyout and buydown receivables,
the collateral and other support therefor and the collections therefrom.
"Reference Lenders" means Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of
New York and Union Bank of Switzerland.
"Register" has the meaning specified in Section 9.7(c).
"Required Lenders" means Lenders (a) which are not Objecting
Lenders with respect to any previous Extension Request and (b) which
have Commitment Percentages aggregating at least 66-2/3% of the
aggregate Commitment Percentages of such non-Objecting Lenders.
"Restricted Affiliate" means any Affiliate of EPNGC (other than a
Subsidiary of EPNGC) designated by EPNGC as a "Restricted Affiliate" by
written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided that such Affiliate
shall not become a Restricted Affiliate until such time that (a) such
Affiliate executes and delivers a guaranty (in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) (each a "Restricted
Affiliate Guaranty") in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Lenders, guaranteeing the prompt and complete
payment by each Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations owing by such Borrower and
(b) the Administrative Agent receives legal opinions from the General
Counsel or Associate General Counsel of Holding and from New York
counsel to Holding reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent,
which legal opinions shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent; provided, further, that after such time as such
Affiliate becomes a Restricted Affiliate, EPNGC may terminate the
designation of such Affiliate as a Restricted Affiliate by written
notice to the Administrative Agent at which time the aforementioned
guaranty of such Affiliate shall also terminate.
"Restricted Affiliate Guaranty" has the meaning assigned to such
term in the definition of Restricted Affiliate.
"Revolving Credit Advances" has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 2.1.
"S&P Bond Rating" means, subject to Section 2.11(a)(ii), (a) for
any day prior to the Ratings Change
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Date, the rating of EPNGC's senior long-term unsecured debt by Standard
& Poor's Ratings Group in effect at 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on
such day and (b) for any day that is on or after the Ratings Change
Date, the rating of Holding's senior long-term unsecured debt by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group in effect at 11:00 A.M., New York City
time, on such day.
"Single Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as defined
in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of
the Company or an ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Company
and its ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of
which the Company or an ERISA Affiliate could have liability under
Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be
terminated.
"Spin-offs" means the spin-off of Tennessee's shipbuilding,
packaging, automotive and administrative services units to its
shareholders immediately prior to the Merger as described in the Joint
Proxy Statement.
"Stated Termination Date" means November 3, 1997 or such later
date as shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.23
with respect to non-Objecting Lenders.
"Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, any corporation of which at
least a majority of the outstanding stock having by the terms thereof
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of
such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of
any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the
time directly or indirectly beneficially owned or controlled by such
Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more
of the Subsidiaries of such Person.
"Taxes" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).
"Tenneco Energy" means all energy businesses and operations owned
directly or indirectly by Tennessee and other operations of Tennessee
and its Subsidiaries other than those relating to Tennessee's
automotive, packaging, administrative services and shipbuilding
businesses.
"Tennessee" means Tenneco Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
to be renamed El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co. after the Merger, and its
successors.
"Tennessee Facility" means the $3,000,000,000 Revolving Credit
and Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as
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of November 4, 1996, among Tennessee, the several financial institutions
from time to time parties thereto, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
administrative agent and CAF advance agent thereunder, as the same may
be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Termination Date" means the earlier of (a) the Stated
Termination Date and (b) the date of termination in whole of the
Commitments pursuant to Section 2.9 or 7.1.
"Termination Event" means (a) a "reportable event," as such term
is described in Section 4043 of ERISA (other than a "reportable event"
not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC under
subsection .11, .12, .13, .14, .16, .18, .19 or .20 of PBGC Reg. Section
2615), or an event described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or (b) the
withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple
Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a "substantial
employer," as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or the
incurrence of liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate under
Section 4064 of ERISA upon the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan,
or (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the
treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of
ERISA, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the
PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (e) the conditions set forth in
Section 302(f)(1)(A) and (B) of ERISA to the creation of a lien upon
property or rights to property of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate for
failure to make a required payment to a Plan are satisfied, or (f) the
adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security
to such Plan, pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA, or (g) the occurrence of
any other event or the existence of any other condition which would
reasonably be expected to result in the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan under Section 4042 of
ERISA.
"Three-Month Secondary CD Rate" means, for any day, the secondary
market rate (adjusted to the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the
case may be) for three-month certificates of deposit reported as being
in effect on such day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, the
next preceding Business Day) by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (the "Board") through the public information telephone
line of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (which rate will, under the
current practices of the Board, be published in Federal Reserve
Statistical Release H.15(519) during the week following such day), or,
if such rate shall not be so reported on such day or such next preceding
Business Day, the average of the secondary market quotations for
three-month certificates of deposit of major money center banks in New
York City received at approximately 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on
such day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, on the next
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preceding Business Day) by the Administrative Agent from three New York
City negotiable certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing
selected by it.
"Transaction" means the Merger, the Spin-offs, the Debt
Realignment Plan, and the issuance of the New Preferred Stock.
"Type" means (a) as to any Revolving Credit Advance, its nature
as a Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance and (b) as to any
CAF Advance, its nature as a Fixed Rate CAF Advance or a LIBO Rate CAF
Advance.
"Withdrawal Liability" has the meaning given such term under Part
1 of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.2 Computation of Time Periods. Unless otherwise
stated in this Agreement, in the computation of a period of time from a
specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and
including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but excluding."
SECTION 1.3 Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not
specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles either (a) consistent with those principles
applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section
4.1(e) or (b) not materially inconsistent with such principles (so that no
covenant contained in Section 5.1 or 5.2 would be calculated or construed in a
materially different manner or with materially different results than if such
covenant were calculated or construed in accordance with clause (a) of this
Section 1.3).
SECTION 1.4 References. The words "hereof", "herein" and
"hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement, and Article, Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified.
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
SECTION 2.1 The Revolving Credit Advances. Each Lender
severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make
revolving credit advances ("Revolving Credit Advances") to the Borrowers or any
one or more of them from time to time on any Business Day during the period
from the date hereof to and including the Termination Date in an aggregate
amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender's
Commitment; provided that the aggregate amount of the Advances (other than
Advances of Objecting Lenders) outstanding
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shall not at any time exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments. Each
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 in the case of a
Borrowing comprised of Base Rate Advances and $20,000,000 in the case of a
Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, or, in each case, an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, in the case of a Borrowing of
Base Rate Advances, the aggregate unused Commitments, if less) and shall
consist of Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type made on the same day by
the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments. Within the
limits of each Lender's Commitment, any Borrower may make more than one
Borrowing on any Business Day and may borrow, repay pursuant to Section 2.10 or
prepay pursuant to Section 2.15, and reborrow under this Section 2.1.
SECTION 2.2 Making the Revolving Credit Advances. (a) Each
Borrowing of Revolving Credit Advances shall be made on notice by the Company
to the Administrative Agent (a "Notice of Borrowing") received by the
Administrative Agent, (i) in the case of a proposed Borrowing comprised of Base
Rate Advances, not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Business
Day of such proposed Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a proposed Borrowing
comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, not later than 12:00 noon (New York City
time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Borrowing.
Each Notice of Borrowing shall be by telecopy or telephone (and if by
telephone, confirmed promptly by telecopier), in substantially the form of
Exhibit B, specifying therein the requested (A) Borrower, (B) date of such
Borrowing, (C) Type of Revolving Credit Advances comprising such Borrowing, (D)
aggregate amount of such Borrowing, and (E) in the case of a Borrowing
comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the initial Interest Period for each
such Advance. Each Lender shall, before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the
date of such Borrowing, make available to the Administrative Agent at its
address at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, Reference: El Paso
Natural Gas Company, or at such other address designated by notice from the
Administrative Agent to the Lenders pursuant to Section 9.2, in same day funds,
such Lender's ratable portion of such Borrowing. Immediately after the
Administrative Agent's receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the
applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Administrative Agent will
make such funds available to the applicable Borrower at Chase, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, Account No. 323291503, Reference: El Paso Natural
Gas Company, or at such other account of the applicable Borrower maintained by
the Administrative Agent (or any successor Administrative Agent) designated by
the applicable Borrower and agreed to by the Administrative Agent (or such
successor Administrative Agent), in same day funds.
(b) Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on
the applicable Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing which the related Notice
of Borrowing specified is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, if such
Advances are not
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made as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified for
such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the
applicable Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or
expense incurred by such Lender as a result of such failure, 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
Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing.
(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make
available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable portion of such
Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in
accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.2 and the Administrative Agent
may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable
Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent such Lender
shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Administrative
Agent, such Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to repay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together
with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available
to the applicable Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the
Administrative Agent, at the Effective Federal Funds Rate for such day. If
such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount,
such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender's Advance to the applicable
Borrower 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 2.3 Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Lender shall maintain
in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing
indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Revolving
Credit Advance of such Lender to such Borrower from time to time, including the
amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time in respect of such Revolving Credit Advance.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register
pursuant to Section 9.7(c), and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which
shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Revolving Credit Advance made
hereunder, the Type thereof and each Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii)
the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and
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payable from each Borrower on account of such Revolving Credit Advance to each
Lender hereunder and (iii) both the amount of any sum received by the
Administrative Agent hereunder from each Borrower and each Lender's share
thereof.
(c) The entries made in the Register and the accounts of each
Lender maintained pursuant to Section 2.3(a) shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the
obligations of each Borrower therein recorded; provided, however, that the
failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain the Register or
any such account, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the
obligation of each Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Revolving
Credit Advances made to each such Borrower by such Lender in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement.
(d) Each Borrower agrees that, upon the request to the
Administrative Agent by any Lender, such Borrower will execute and deliver to
such Lender a promissory note of such Borrower evidencing the Revolving Credit
Advances of such Lender to such Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit
A with appropriate insertions as to date and principal amount (a "Note").
SECTION 2.4 CAF Advances. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, the Borrowers or any one or more of them may borrow CAF
Advances from time to time during the CAF Advance Availability Period on any
Business Day. The Company shall, in consultation with the CAF Advance Agent,
designate Lenders from time to time as CAF Advance Lenders by written notice to
the CAF Advance Agent. The CAF Advance Agent shall transmit each such notice
of designation promptly to each designated CAF Advance Lender. CAF Advances
shall be borrowed in amounts such that the aggregate amount of Advances
outstanding at any time shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the
Commitments at such time. Any CAF Advance Lender may make CAF Advances in
amounts which, individually and together with the aggregate amount of other
Advances of such CAF Advance Lender, exceed such CAF Advance Lender's
Commitment, and such CAF Advance Lender's CAF Advances shall not be deemed to
utilize such CAF Advance Lender's Commitment. Within the limits and on the
conditions hereinafter set forth with respect to CAF Advances, the Borrowers
from time to time may borrow, repay and reborrow CAF Advances.
SECTION 2.5 Procedure for CAF Advance Borrowings. (a) A
Borrower, or the Company on behalf of a Borrower, shall request CAF Advances by
delivering a CAF Advance Request to the CAF Advance Agent, not later than 12:00
Noon (New York City time) four Business Days prior to the date of the proposed
Borrowing (in the case of a LIBO Rate CAF Advance Request), and not later than
10:00 A.M. (New York City time) one Business Day prior to the date of the
proposed Borrowing (in the case of a Fixed Rate CAF Advance Request). Each CAF
Advance Request may solicit bids for CAF Advances in an aggregate principal
amount of $10,000,000
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or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and having not more
than five alternative maturity dates. The maturity date for each CAF Advance
shall be not less than 7 days nor more than 360 days after the date of the
Borrowing therefor (and in any event shall be not later than the Stated
Termination Date); provided that each LIBO Rate CAF Advance shall mature one,
two, three or six months or, if available, nine months after the date of the
Borrowing therefor. The CAF Advance Agent shall notify each CAF Advance Lender
promptly by telecopy of the contents of each CAF Advance Request received by
the CAF Advance Agent.
(b) In the case of a LIBO Rate CAF Advance Request, upon receipt
of notice from the CAF Advance Agent of the contents of such CAF Advance
Request, each CAF Advance Lender may elect, in its sole discretion, to offer
irrevocably to make one or more CAF Advances at the Applicable LIBO Rate plus
(or minus) a margin determined by such CAF Advance Lender in its sole
discretion for each such CAF Advance. Any such irrevocable offer shall be made
by delivering a CAF Advance Offer to the CAF Advance Agent, before 10:30 A.M.
(New York City time) on the day that is three Business Days before the date of
the proposed Borrowing, setting forth:
(i) the maximum amount of CAF Advances for each maturity
date and the aggregate maximum amount of CAF Advances for all maturity
dates which such CAF Advance Lender would be willing to make (which
amounts may, subject to Section 2.4, exceed such CAF Advance Lender's
Commitment); and
(ii) the margin above or below the Applicable LIBO Rate at
which such CAF Advance Lender is willing to make each such CAF Advance.
The CAF Advance Agent shall advise the Company and the applicable Borrower
before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date which is three Business Days
before the proposed date of the Borrowing of the contents of each such CAF
Advance Offer received by it. If the CAF Advance Agent, in its capacity as a
CAF Advance Lender, shall elect, in its sole discretion, to make any such CAF
Advance Offer, it shall advise the Company and the applicable Borrower of the
contents of its CAF Advance Offer before 10:15 A.M. (New York City time) on the
date which is three Business Days before the proposed date of the Borrowing.
(c) In the case of a Fixed Rate CAF Advance Request, upon
receipt of notice from the CAF Advance Agent of the contents of such CAF
Advance Request, each CAF Advance Lender may elect, in its sole discretion, to
offer irrevocably to make one or more CAF Advances at a rate of interest
determined by such CAF Advance Lender in its sole discretion for each such CAF
Advance. Any such irrevocable offer shall be made by delivering a CAF Advance
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Offer to the CAF Advance Agent before 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the
proposed date of the Borrowing, setting forth:
(i) the maximum amount of CAF Advances for each maturity
date, and the aggregate maximum amount for all maturity dates, which
such CAF Advance Lender would be willing to make (which amounts may,
subject to Section 2.4, exceed such CAF Advance Lender's Commitment);
and
(ii) the rate of interest at which such CAF Advance Lender is
willing to make each such CAF Advance.
The CAF Advance Agent shall advise the Company and the applicable Borrower
before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the proposed date of the Borrowing of
the contents of each such CAF Advance Offer received by it. If the CAF Advance
Agent, in its capacity as a CAF Advance Lender, shall elect, in its sole
discretion, to make any such CAF Advance Offer, it shall advise the Company and
the applicable Borrower of the contents of its CAF Advance Offer before 9:15
A.M. (New York City time) on the proposed date of the Borrowing.
(d) Before 11:30 A.M. (New York City time) three Business Days
before the proposed date of the Borrowing (in the case of CAF Advances
requested by a LIBO Rate CAF Advance Request) and before 10:30 A.M. (New York
City time) on the proposed date of the Borrowing (in the case of CAF Advances
requested by a Fixed Rate CAF Advance Request), the Company, in its absolute
discretion, shall:
(i) cancel such CAF Advance Request by giving the CAF
Advance Agent telephone notice to that effect, or
(ii) by giving telephone notice to the CAF Advance Agent
(immediately confirmed by delivery to the CAF Advance Agent of a CAF
Advance Confirmation in writing or by telecopy) (A) subject to the
provisions of Section 2.5(e), accept one or more of the offers made by
any CAF Advance Lender or CAF Advance Lenders pursuant to Section 2.5(b)
or Section 2.5(c), as the case may be, of the amount of CAF Advances for
each relevant maturity date and (B) reject any remaining offers made by
CAF Advance Lenders pursuant to Section 2.5(b) or Section 2.5(c), as the
case may be.
(e) The Company's acceptance of CAF Advances in response to any
CAF Advance Request shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i) the amount of CAF Advances accepted for each maturity
date specified by any CAF Advance Lender in its CAF Advance Offer shall
not exceed the maximum amount for such maturity date specified in such
CAF Advance Offer;
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(ii) the aggregate amount of CAF Advances accepted for all
maturity dates specified by any CAF Advance Lender in its CAF Advance
Offer shall not exceed the aggregate maximum amount specified in such
CAF Advance Offer for all such maturity dates;
(iii) the Company may not accept offers for CAF Advances for
any maturity date in an aggregate principal amount in excess of the
maximum principal amount requested in the related CAF Advance Request;
and
(iv) if the Company accepts any of such offers, it must
accept offers based solely upon pricing for such relevant maturity date
and upon no other criteria whatsoever and if two or more CAF Advance
Lenders submit offers for any maturity date at identical pricing and the
Company accepts any of such offers but does not wish to (or by reason of
the limitations set forth in Section 2.4 or in Section 2.5(e)(iii),
cannot) borrow the total amount offered by such CAF Advance Lenders with
such identical pricing, the Company shall accept offers from all of such
CAF Advance Lenders in amounts allocated among them pro rata according
to the amounts offered by such CAF Advance Lenders (or as nearly pro
rata as shall be practicable after giving effect to the requirement that
CAF Advances made by a CAF Advance Lender on a date of the Borrowing for
each relevant maturity date shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000
or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; provided that
if the number of CAF Advance Lenders that submit offers for any maturity
date at identical pricing is such that, after the Company accepts such
offers pro rata in accordance with the foregoing, the CAF Advance to be
made by such CAF Advance Lenders would be less than $5,000,000 principal
amount, the number of such CAF Advance Lenders shall be reduced by the
CAF Advance Agent by lot until the CAF Advances to be made by such
remaining CAF Advance Lenders would be in a principal amount of
$5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof).
(f) If the Company notifies the CAF Advance Agent that a CAF
Advance Request is cancelled pursuant to Section 2.5(d)(i), the CAF Advance
Agent shall give prompt telephone notice thereof to the CAF Advance Lenders.
(g) If the Company accepts pursuant to Section 2.5(d)(ii) one or
more of the offers made by any CAF Advance Lender or CAF Advance Lenders, the
CAF Advance Agent promptly shall notify each CAF Advance Lender which has made
such a CAF Advance Offer of (i) the aggregate amount of such CAF Advances to be
made on such Borrowing Date for each maturity date and (ii) the acceptance or
rejection of any offers to make such CAF Advances made by such CAF Advance
Lender. Before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of the Borrowing
specified in the applicable CAF Advance Request, each CAF Advance Lender whose
CAF
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Advance Offer has been accepted shall make available to the Administrative
Agent at its office set forth in Section 9.2 the amount of CAF Advances to be
made by such CAF Advance Lender, in same day funds. The Administrative Agent
will make such funds available to the applicable Borrower as soon as
practicable on such date at the Administrative Agent's aforesaid address. As
soon as practicable after each Borrowing Date, the CAF Advance Agent shall
notify each Lender of the aggregate amount of CAF Advances advanced on such
Borrowing Date and the respective maturity dates thereof.
(h) The failure of any CAF Advance Lender to make the CAF
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 CAF Advance on the date
of such Borrowing, but no CAF Lender shall be responsible for the failure of
any other CAF Advance Lender to make the CAF Advance to be made by such CAF
Advance Lender on the date of any Borrowing.
(i) A CAF Advance Request may request offers for CAF Advances to
be made on not more than one Borrowing Date and to mature on not more than five
CAF Advance Maturity Dates. No CAF Advance Request may be submitted earlier
than five Business Days after submission of any other CAF Advance Request.
SECTION 2.6 CAF Advance Payments. (a) The applicable Borrower
shall repay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each CAF Advance
Lender which has made a CAF Advance to it, on the applicable CAF Advance
Maturity Date the then unpaid principal amount of such CAF Advance. The
Borrowers shall not have the right to prepay any principal amount of any CAF
Advance.
(b) The applicable Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each CAF Advance to it from the date of the Borrowing to
the applicable CAF Advance Maturity Date at the rate of interest specified in
the CAF Advance Offer accepted by the applicable Borrower in connection with
such CAF Advance (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for actual days
elapsed), payable on each applicable CAF Advance Interest Payment Date.
(c) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any CAF
Advance shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise), such overdue principal amount shall, without
limiting any rights of any Lender under this Agreement, bear interest from the
date on which such payment was due at a rate per annum which is 1% above the
rate which would otherwise be applicable pursuant to such CAF Advance until the
stated maturity date of such CAF Advance, and for each day thereafter at a rate
per annum which is 2% above the Base Rate, in each case until paid in full (as
well after as before judgment). Interest accruing pursuant to this paragraph
(c) shall be payable from time to time on demand.
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SECTION 2.7 Evidence of Debt. Each Lender shall maintain in
accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing indebtedness
of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each CAF Advance of such Lender
to such Borrower from time to time, including the amounts of principal and
interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time in respect of such
CAF Advance. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to
Section 9.7(c) and a record therein for each Lender, in which shall be recorded
(i) the amount of each CAF Advance made by such Lender to each Borrower, the
CAF Advance Maturity Date thereof, the interest rate applicable thereto and
each CAF Advance Interest Payment Date applicable thereto, and (ii) the amount
of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from a Borrower on
account of such CAF Advance. The entries made in the Register and the records
of each Lender maintained pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and
amounts of the obligations of each Borrower therein recorded; provided,
however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain
the Register or any such record, or any error therein, shall not in any manner
affect the obligation of each Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the
CAF Advances made by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
SECTION 2.8 Fees. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee for the
period from and including the Facility Fee Commencement Date until all Advances
have been paid in full and all Commitments have been terminated, computed at a
variable rate per annum on the average daily amount of the greater of (i) the
Commitment of such Lender and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of
Revolving Credit Advances of such Lender during the period for which payment is
made, which rate will vary according to the S&P Bond Rating and the Xxxxx'x
Bond Rating as follows:
Bond Rating Facility
(S&P/Xxxxx'x) Level Fee Rate
--------------------- ----- --------
A/A2 or higher I .050%
A-/A3 II .060%
BBB+/Baa1 III .080%
BBB/Baa2 IV .100%
BBB-/Baa3 V .125%
BB+/Ba1 or lower VI .1875%;
provided that if the ratings of such rating agencies do not fall within the
same Level, the rate applicable to such day will be the lower facility fee rate
and provided, further, that in the event a rating is not available from either
rating agency, such rating agency will be deemed to have assigned its lowest
rating. Such facility fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last
day of each March, June, September and December, on the Termination Date or
such earlier date on which the Commitments
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shall terminate as provided herein, and on the second anniversary of the
Termination Date (or if the Lender is an Objecting Lender, the second
anniversary of the Commitment Expiration Date applicable to such Lender) or
such earlier date on which the Advances are repaid in full, commencing on the
first of such dates to occur after the date hereof.
(b) The Company agrees to pay to Chase Securities Inc., the
Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent the fees set forth in the
letter, dated September 20, 1996, from Chase Securities Inc. and Chase to
EPNGC.
SECTION 2.9 Reduction of the Commitments. The Company shall
have the right, upon at least three Business Days' notice to the Administrative
Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused portions of
the respective Commitments of the Lenders, provided that each partial reduction
shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof.
SECTION 2.10 Repayment of Advances. The Borrowers shall repay
to each Lender on the second anniversary of the Termination Date the aggregate
principal amount of the Advances then owing to such Lender; provided that the
Revolving Credit Advances made by Objecting Lenders shall be repaid as provided
in Section 2.23.
SECTION 2.11 Interest on Revolving Credit Advances. (a)
Ordinary Interest. The Borrowers shall pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount of each Revolving Credit Advance owing to each Lender from the date of
such Advance until such principal amount is due (whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise), at the following rates:
(i) Base Rate Advances. During such periods as such Advance
is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the Base
Rate in effect from time to time, payable quarterly in arrears on the
last day of each March, June, September and December during such periods
and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or due
(whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise).
(ii) Eurodollar Rate Advances. During such periods as such
Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, at a rate per annum equal at all
times during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of the
Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Eurodollar Rate Margin
(provided that notwithstanding the definitions of Xxxxx'x Bond Rating
and S&P Bond Rating, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances to EPNGC
and its Subsidiaries, whether before, on or after the Ratings Change
Date, the Eurodollar Rate Margin shall be based on the Xxxxx'x Bond
Rating and S&P Bond Rating of EPNGC, and, in the case of all other
Borrowers, shall be based on the Xxxxx'x Bond Rating and S&P Bond Rating
of
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Holding) in effect from time to time, payable on the last day of each
such Interest Period and, if any such Interest Period has a duration of
more than three months, on each day which occurs during such Interest
Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period,
and on the date such Advance shall be Converted or due (whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise).
(b) Default Interest. The applicable Borrower shall pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Advance to it
that is not paid when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) from the date on which such amount is due until such amount is paid
in full, payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times (i) from
such due date to the last day of the then existing Interest Period in the case
of each Eurodollar Rate Advance, to 1% per annum above the interest rate per
annum required to be paid on such Advance immediately prior to the date on
which such amount became due, and (ii) from and after the last day of the then
existing Interest Period, and at all times in the case of any Base Rate
Advance, to 1% per annum above the Base Rate in effect from time to time.
SECTION 2.12 Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances.
If any Lender shall determine in good faith that reserves under regulations of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System are required to be
maintained by it in respect of, or a portion of its costs of maintaining
reserves under such regulations is properly attributable to, one or more of its
Eurodollar Rate Advances, the applicable Borrower shall pay to such Lender
additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Eurodollar Rate
Advance to it (other than any such additional interest accruing to a particular
Lender in respect of periods prior to the 30th day preceding the date notice of
such interest is given by such Lender as provided in this Section 2.12),
payable on the same day or days on which interest is payable on such Advance,
at an interest rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period
for such Advance to the excess of (i) the rate obtained by dividing the
Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period by a percentage equal to 100% minus
the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage, if any, for such Lender for such Interest
Period over (ii) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period. The amount of
such additional interest (if any) shall be determined by each Lender, and such
Lender shall furnish written notice of the amount of such additional interest
to the Company and the Administrative Agent, which notice shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.13 Interest Rate Determination. (a) Each Reference
Lender agrees to furnish to the Administrative Agent timely information for the
purpose of determining the Eurodollar Rate. If any one or more of the
Reference Lenders shall not furnish such timely information to the
Administrative Agent for
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the purpose of determining any such interest rate, the Administrative Agent
shall determine such interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished
by the remaining Reference Lenders.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the
Company and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the
Administrative Agent for purposes of Section 2.11(a)(i) or (ii), and the
applicable rate, if any, furnished by each Reference Lender for the purpose of
determining the applicable interest rate under Section 2.11(a)(ii).
(c) If fewer than two Reference Lenders furnish timely
information to the Administrative Agent for determining the Eurodollar Rate for
any Eurodollar Rate Advances,
(i) the Administrative Agent shall give the Company and each
Lender prompt notice thereof by telephone (confirmed in writing) that
the interest rate cannot be determined for such Eurodollar Rate
Advances,
(ii) each such 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 obligations of the Lenders to make, or to Convert
Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
(d) If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the
Majority Lenders determine and give notice to the Administrative Agent that, as
a result of conditions in or generally affecting the London interbank
eurodollar market, the rates of interest determined on the basis of 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
Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Company and the Lenders,
whereupon,
(i) each such 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
Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
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(e) If the applicable Borrower shall fail to select the duration
of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the
provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.1, the
Administrative Agent will forthwith so notify the applicable Borrower and the
Lenders and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then
existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.
(f) On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount
of Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by
payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than $10,000,000, such Eurodollar
Rate Advances shall automatically Convert into Base Rate Advances, and on and
after such date the right of the applicable Borrower to Convert such Advances
into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall terminate; provided, however, that if and
so long as each such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall have the same Interest
Period as Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising another Borrowing or other
Borrowings, and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all such Eurodollar
Rate Advances shall equal or exceed $20,000,000, the applicable Borrower shall
have the right to continue all such Advances as, or to Convert all such
Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances having the same Interest Period.
(g) If any Reference Lender shall for any reason no longer have
a Commitment or any Revolving Credit Advances, such Reference Lender shall
thereupon cease to be a Reference Lender, and if, as a result, there shall only
be one Reference Lender remaining, the Administrative Agent (after consultation
with the Company and the Lenders) shall, by notice to the Company and the
Lenders, designate another Lender as a Reference Lender so that there shall at
all times be at least two Reference Lenders.
SECTION 2.14 Voluntary Conversion of Advances. Any Borrower may
on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Administrative Agent, not later
than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day of the proposed
Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Advances to Base Rate Advances and not later than
12:00 noon (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of
the proposed Conversion in the case of a Conversion of Base Rate Advances to
Eurodollar Rate Advances, and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.13, 2.16
and 2.18, Convert all Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into
Advances of another Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of any
Eurodollar Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances made on any day other than the
last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 9.4(b); and provided, further, that no
Revolving Credit Advance may be converted into a Eurodollar Rate Advance after
the date that is one month prior to (a) in the case of a Revolving Credit
Advance made by an Objecting Lender, the second anniversary of such Objecting
Lender's Commitment Expiration Date, and (b) in the case of all Revolving
Credit
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Advances, the second anniversary of the Termination Date and provided, still
further, that no Revolving Credit Advance may be converted into a Eurodollar
Rate Advance if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Each such
notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify
(a) the date of such Conversion, (b) the Advances to be Converted, and (c) if
such Conversion is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the Interest
Period for each such Advance.
SECTION 2.15 Optional and Mandatory Prepayments. (a) Optional
Prepayments. Any Borrower may upon (i) in the case of Eurodollar Rate
Advances, at least two Business Days' notice and (ii) in the case of Base Rate
Advances, telephonic notice not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on
the date of prepayment, to the Administrative Agent which specifies the
proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment and the Type of
Advances to be prepaid, and if such notice is given such Borrower shall, prepay
the outstanding principal amounts of the Revolving Credit Advances comprising
the same Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest
to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid; provided, however, that
(A) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less
than $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and
(B) in the event of any such prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Advances on any day
other than the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate
Advances, such Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect
thereof pursuant to, and to the extent required by, Section 9.4(b); provided,
further, however, that such Borrower will use its best efforts to give notice
to the Administrative Agent of the proposed prepayment of Base Rate Advances on
the Business Day prior to the date of such proposed prepayment.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments. If, at any time and from time to
time, the aggregate principal amount of Advances (other than Advances of
Objecting Lenders) then outstanding exceeds the Commitments of all the Lenders
after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments pursuant to Section
2.9, the Borrowers shall immediately prepay the Revolving Credit Advances of
Lenders (other than Objecting Lenders) (to the extent there are such
outstanding Revolving Credit Advances) by an amount equal to such excess.
SECTION 2.16 Increased Costs. (a) If, due to either (i) the
introduction after the date of this Agreement of or any change after the date
of this Agreement (including any change by way of imposition or increase of
reserve requirements or assessments other than those referred to in the
definition of "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage," "C/D Reserve Percentage" or "C/D
Assessment Rate" contained in Section 1.1) in or in the interpretation of any
law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request issued
or made after the date of this Agreement from or by any central bank or other
governmental
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authority (whether or not having the force of law), in each case above other
than those referred to in Section 2.17, there shall be any increase in the cost
to any Lender of agreeing to make, fund or maintain, or of making, funding or
maintaining, Eurodollar Rate Advances funded in the interbank Eurodollar
market, then the Borrowers shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender
(with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts
sufficient to reimburse such Lender for all such increased costs (except those
costs incurred more than 60 days prior to the date of such demand; for the
purposes hereof any cost or expense allocable to a period prior to the
publication or effective date of such an introduction, change, guideline or
request shall be deemed to be incurred on the later of such publication or
effective date). Each Lender agrees to use its best efforts promptly to notify
the Company of any event referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, provided that
the failure to give such notice shall not affect the rights of any Lender under
this Section 2.16(a) (except as otherwise expressly provided above in this
Section 2.16(a)). A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost,
submitted to the Company and the Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. After one or
more Lenders have notified the Company of any increased costs pursuant to this
Section 2.16, the Company may specify by notice to the Administrative Agent and
the affected Lenders that, after the date of such notice whenever the election
of Eurodollar Rate Advances by the applicable Borrower for an Interest Period
or portion thereof would give rise to such increased costs, such election shall
not apply to the Revolving Credit Advances of such Lenders during such Interest
Period or portion thereof, and, in lieu thereof, such Revolving Credit Advances
shall during such Interest Period or portion thereof be Base Rate Advances.
Each Lender agrees to use its best efforts (including, without limitation, a
reasonable effort to change its lending office or to transfer its affected
Advances to an affiliate of such Lender) to avoid, or minimize the amount of,
any demand for payment from the Borrowers under this Section 2.16.
(b) In the event that any Lender shall change its lending office
and such change results (at the time of such change) in increased costs to such
Lender, the Borrowers shall not be liable to such Lender for such increased
costs incurred by such Lender to the extent, but only to the extent, that such
increased costs shall exceed the increased costs which such Lender would have
incurred if the lending office of such Lender had not been so changed, but,
subject to subsection (a) above and to Section 2.18, nothing herein shall
require any Lender to change its lending office for any reason.
SECTION 2.17 Increased Capital. If either (a) the introduction
of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (b)
compliance by any Lender with any guideline or request from any central bank or
other governmental
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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 such Lender determines 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, within
ten days after demand, and delivery to the Company of the certificate referred
to in the last sentence of this Section 2.17 by such Lender (with a copy of
such demand to the Administrative Agent), the applicable Borrowers shall pay to
the Administrative 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 to lend hereunder (except any such
increase in capital incurred more than, or compensation attributable to the
period before, 90 days prior to the date of such demand; for the purposes
hereof any increase in capital allocable to, or compensation attributable to, a
period prior to the publication or effective date of such an introduction,
change, guideline or request shall be deemed to be incurred on the later of
such publication or effective date). Each Lender agrees to use its best
efforts promptly to notify the Company of any event referred to in clause (a)
or (b) above, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect
the rights of any Lender under this Section 2.17 (except as otherwise expressly
provided above in this Section 2.17). A certificate in reasonable detail as to
the basis for, and the amount of, such compensation submitted to the Company by
such Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding
for all purposes.
SECTION 2.18 Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, if the introduction of or any change in or in the
interpretation of any law or regulation shall make it unlawful, or any central
bank or other governmental authority shall assert that it is unlawful, for any
Lender or its lending office to perform its obligations hereunder to make
Eurodollar Rate Advances or to continue to fund or maintain such Advances
hereunder, such Lender may, by notice to the Company and the Administrative
Agent, suspend the right of the Borrowers to elect Eurodollar Rate Advances
from such Lender and, if necessary in the reasonable opinion of such Lender to
comply with such law or regulation, Convert all such Eurodollar Rate Advances
of such Lender to Base Rate Advances at the latest time permitted by the
applicable law or regulation, and such suspension and, if applicable, such
Conversion shall continue until such Lender notifies the Company and the
Administrative Agent that the circumstances making it unlawful for such Lender
to perform such obligations no longer exist (which such Lender shall promptly
do when such circumstances no longer exist). So long as the obligation of any
Lender to make Eurodollar Rate Advances has been suspended under this Section
2.18, all Notices of Borrowing
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specifying Advances of such Type shall be deemed, as to such Lender, to be
requests for Base Rate Advances. Each Lender agrees to use its best efforts
(including, without limitation, a reasonable effort to change its lending
office or to transfer its affected Advances to an affiliate) to avoid any such
illegality.
SECTION 2.19 Payments and Computations. (a) The Borrowers
shall make each payment hereunder (including, without limitation, under Section
2.6, 2.8, 2.10 or 2.11) and under the Notes, whether the amount so paid is
owing to any or all of the Lenders or to the Administrative Agent, not later
than 12:00 noon (New York City time) without setoff, counterclaim, or any other
deduction whatsoever, on the day when due in Dollars to the Administrative
Agent at its address at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Reference:
El Paso Natural Gas Company, or at such other location designated by notice to
the Company from the Administrative Agent and agreed to by the Company, in same
day funds. The Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be
distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or
facility fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12,
2.16, 2.17, 2.18 or 2.20) according to the respective amounts of such
principal, interest or facility fees then due and owing to the Lenders, and
like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to
such Lender, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording
of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section
9.7(d), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and
Acceptance, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments hereunder and
under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender
assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall
make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such
effective date directly between themselves.
(b) All computations of interest based on the Prime Rate and of
facility fees shall be made by the Administrative 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, the Base CD Rate or the Effective Federal Funds Rate
shall be made by the Administrative Agent, and all computations of interest
pursuant to Section 2.12 shall be made by each Lender with respect to its own
Advances, 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 Administrative Agent (or, in the case of Section 2.12, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18
or 2.20, by each Lender with respect to its own Advances) of an interest rate
or an increased cost or increased capital or of illegality hereunder shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes if made reasonably and in good faith.
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(c) Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes 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; provided, however,
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.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from the Company or any other applicable Borrower prior to the date on which
any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the applicable Borrower will
not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the
applicable Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent
on such date and the Administrative 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 the applicable
Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative
Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent, at a rate equal to the
Effective Federal Funds Rate for such day.
SECTION 2.20 Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrowers
hereunder or under the Notes to each Indemnified Party shall be made, in
accordance with Section 2.19, 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 all taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with
respect thereto, imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such
Indemnified Party is organized, domiciled, resident or doing business, or any
political subdivision thereof or by any jurisdiction in which such Indemnified
Party holds any interest in connection with this Agreement or any Note
(including, without limitation, in the case of each Lender, the jurisdiction of
such Lender's lending office) or any political subdivision thereof, other than
by any jurisdiction with which the Indemnified Party's connection arises solely
from having executed, delivered or performed obligations or received a payment
under, or enforced, this Agreement or any Note (all such non-excluded taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being
hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If any Borrower shall be required by law
to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under
any Note to any Indemnified Party, (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 2.20) such
Indemnified
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Party receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower shall make or cause to be made such
deductions and (iii) such Borrower shall pay or cause to be paid the full
amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in
accordance with applicable law, provided that the Borrowers shall not be
required to pay any additional amount (and shall be relieved of any liability
with respect thereto) pursuant to this subsection (a) to any Indemnified Party
that either (A) on the date such Lender became an Indemnified Party hereunder,
(I) was not entitled to submit a U.S. Internal Revenue Service form 1001
(relating to such Indemnified Party, and entitling it to a complete exemption
from United States withholding taxes on all amounts to be received by such
Indemnified Party pursuant to this Agreement) and a U.S. Internal Revenue
Service form 4224 (relating to all amounts to be received by such Indemnified
Party pursuant to this Agreement) and (II) was not a United States person (as
such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) or
(B) has failed to submit any form or certificate that it was required to file
or provide pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section 2.20 and is entitled to
file or give, as applicable, under applicable law, provided, further, that
should an Indemnified Party become subject to Taxes because of its failure to
deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrowers shall take such steps as such
Indemnified Party shall reasonably request to assist such Indemnified Party to
recover such Taxes, and provided, further, that each Indemnified Party, with
respect to itself, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Borrowers from any
taxes, penalties, interest and other expenses, costs and losses incurred or
payable by the Borrowers as a result of the failure of any of the Borrowers to
comply with its obligations under clause (ii) or (iii) above in reliance on any
form or certificate provided to it by such Indemnified Party pursuant to this
Section 2.20. If any Indemnified Party receives a net credit or refund in
respect of such Taxes or amounts so paid by the Borrowers, it shall promptly
notify the Company of such net credit or refund and shall promptly pay such net
credit or refund to the applicable Borrower, provided that the applicable
Borrower agrees to return such net credit or refund if the Indemnified Party to
which such net credit or refund is applicable is required to repay it.
(b) In addition, each 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 by such Borrower
hereunder or under the Notes or from the execution, delivery or performance of,
or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes (hereinafter referred
to as "Other Taxes").
(c) Each Borrower will indemnify each Indemnified Party and the
Administrative 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
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Section 2.20) paid by such Indemnified Party and any liability (including
penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto
except as a result of the gross negligence (which shall in any event include
the failure of such Indemnified Party to provide to the Borrowers any form or
certificate that it was required to provide pursuant to subsection (d) below)
or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party, 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 Indemnified Party makes written demand
therefor.
(d) On or prior to the date on which each Indemnified Party
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States becomes an
Indemnified Party hereunder, such Indemnified Party shall provide the Company
with U.S. Internal Revenue Service form 1001 or 4224, as appropriate, or any
successor form prescribed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, certifying that
such Indemnified Party is fully exempt from United States withholding taxes
with respect to all payments to be made to such Indemnified Party hereunder, or
other documents satisfactory to the Company indicating that all payments to be
made to such Indemnified Party hereunder are fully exempt from such taxes.
Thereafter and from time to time (but only so long as such Indemnified Party
remains lawfully able to do so), each such Indemnified Party shall submit to
the Company such additional duly completed and signed copies of one or the
other of such Forms (or such successor Forms as shall be adopted from time to
time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may be (i) notified
by any Borrower to such Indemnified Party and (ii) required under then-current
United States law or regulations to avoid United States withholding taxes on
payments in respect of all amounts to be received by such Indemnified Party
pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes. Upon the request of any Borrower from
time to time, each Indemnified Party that is a United States person (as such
term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall
submit to the Company a certificate to the effect that it is such a United
States person. If any Indemnified Party determines, as a result of any change
in applicable law, regulation or treaty, or in any official application or
interpretation thereof, that it is unable to submit to the Company any form or
certificate that such Indemnified Party is obligated to submit pursuant to this
subsection (d), or that such Indemnified Party is required to withdraw or
cancel any such form or certificate previously submitted, such Indemnified
Party shall promptly notify the Company of such fact.
(e) Any Indemnified Party claiming any additional amounts
payable pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall use its best efforts (consistent
with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the
jurisdiction of its lending office if the making of such a change would avoid
the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts which may
thereafter accrue and would not, in the reasonable
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judgment of such Indemnified Party, be otherwise disadvantageous to such
Indemnified Party.
(f) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement
of the Borrowers hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrowers and
each Indemnified Party contained in this Section 2.20 shall survive the payment
in full of principal and interest hereunder and under the Notes.
(g) Any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, any amounts which are payable by any Borrower under this
Section 2.20 shall not be payable under Section 2.16.
SECTION 2.21 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 2.12, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18 or 2.20) in excess of its
ratable share of payments on account of the Advances obtained by all the
Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such
participations in the Advances made by them 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 each 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 (a) the amount
of such Lender's required repayment to (b) 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. Each Borrower
agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender
pursuant to this Section 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 such
Borrower in the amount of such participation.
SECTION 2.22 Use of Proceeds. Proceeds of the Advances may be
used for general corporate purposes of the Borrowers and their respective
Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, for acquisitions and for payment
of commercial paper issued by the Borrowers and to refinance the loans under
the Existing Facilities.
SECTION 2.23 Extension of Stated Termination Date. (a) Not
less than 60 days and not more than 90 days prior to the Stated Termination
Date then in effect, provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Company may request an extension of such Stated Termination
Date by submitting to the Administrative Agent an Extension Request containing
the information in respect of such extension specified
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in Exhibit M, which the Administrative Agent shall promptly furnish to each
Lender. Each Lender shall, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days
prior to the Stated Termination Date then in effect, notify such Borrower and
the Administrative Agent of its election to extend or not extend the Stated
Termination Date as requested in such Extension Request. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any notice by any Lender of its
willingness to extend the Stated Termination Date shall be revocable by such
Lender in its sole and absolute discretion at any time prior to the date which
is 30 days prior to the Stated Termination Date then in effect. If the
Required Lenders shall approve in writing the extension of the Stated
Termination Date requested in such Extension Request, the Stated Termination
Date shall automatically and without any further action by any Person be
extended for the period specified in such Extension Request; provided that (i)
each extension pursuant to this Section 2.23 shall be for a maximum of 364 days
and (ii) the Commitment of any Lender which does not consent in writing, or
which revokes its consent in accordance with the provisions of this Section
2.23, to such extension not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior
to the Stated Termination Date then in effect (an "Objecting Lender") shall,
unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement, expire on the
Stated Termination Date in effect on the date of such Extension Request (such
Stated Termination Date, if any, referred to as the "Commitment Expiration
Date" with respect to such Objecting Lender). If, not less than 30 days and
not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Termination Date then in effect, the
Required Lenders shall not approve in writing the extension of the Stated
Termination Date requested in an Extension Request, the Stated Termination Date
shall not be extended pursuant to such Extension Request. The Administrative
Agent shall promptly notify (y) the Lenders and the Company of any extension of
the Stated Termination Date pursuant to this Section 2.23 and (z) the Company
and the Lenders of any Lender which becomes an Objecting Lender.
(b) Revolving Credit Advances owing to any Objecting Lender on
the Commitment Expiration Date with respect to such Lender shall be repaid in
full on or before the date which is two years after such Commitment Expiration
Date.
(c) The Borrowers shall have the right, so long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is then continuing, upon giving notice to the
Administrative Agent and the Objecting Lender in accordance with Section 2.15,
to prepay in full the Revolving Credit Advances of the Objecting Lenders,
together with accrued interest thereon, any amounts payable pursuant to
Sections 2.11, 2.12, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18, 2.20 and 9.4(b) and any accrued and
unpaid facility fee or other amounts payable to it hereunder and/or, upon
giving not less than three Business Days' notice to the Objecting Lenders and
the Administrative Agent, to cancel the whole or part of the Commitments of the
Objecting Lenders.
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SECTION 2.24 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests
compensation under Sections 2.12, 2.16 or 2.17 or if any Borrower is required
to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for
the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.20, or if any Lender defaults
in its obligation to fund Advances hereunder, then the Company may, at its sole
expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent,
require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance
with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.7), all its
interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (other than any
outstanding CAF Advances held by it) to an assignee that shall assume such
obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
assignment); provided that (i) the Company shall have received the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not
unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an
amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Advances (other than CAF
Advances), accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable
to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal
and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other
amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim
for compensation under Sections 2.12 , 2.16 or 2.17 or payments required to be
made pursuant to Section 2.20, such assignment will result in a reduction in
such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such
assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such
Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such
assignment and delegation cease to apply.
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS OF EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
SECTION 3.1 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of this
Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective (the "Effective Date") when
(i) it shall have been executed by EPNGC, the Administrative Agent and the CAF
Advance Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent and EPNGC either shall have been
notified by each Lender that such Lender has executed it or shall have received
a counterpart of this Agreement executed by such Lender, and (iii) the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the "Administrative Agent"
under the Tennessee Facility that the "Effective Date" has occurred, or
substantially simultaneously therewith is occurring, under the Tennessee
Facility, and if any Lender is not also a party to the Tennessee Facility, such
Lender shall have received all documents delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of
the Tennessee Facility, in each case above, unless waived by the Lenders in
accordance with this Agreement. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, if all of the conditions to effectiveness of this Agreement
specified in this Section 3.1 shall not have been
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fulfilled on or before December 31, 1996, (i) the Company shall on such date
pay all accrued and unpaid facility fees pursuant to Section 2.8 and (ii) this
Agreement, and all of the obligations of EPNGC, the Lenders, the Administrative
Agent and the CAF Advance Agent hereunder, shall be terminated on and as of
5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 31, 1996; provided, however, that as
soon as the Administrative Agent determines that all of the conditions to
effectiveness of this Agreement specified in this Section 3.1 shall have been
fulfilled on or before December 31, 1996, the Administrative Agent shall
furnish written notice to EPNGC, the Lenders and the "Administrative Agent"
under the Tennessee Facility to the effect that it has so determined, and such
notice by the Administrative Agent shall constitute conclusive evidence that
this Agreement shall have become effective for all purposes. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the obligations of the Company to pay fees pursuant to Section
2.8 as well as all obligations of the Borrowers pursuant to Section 9.4 shall
survive the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.2 Conditions Precedent to Initial Advances. The
agreement of each Lender to make the initial Advances to be made by it to the
Borrowers hereunder is subject to (the date upon which all conditions listed in
Section 3.2(a) and 3.2(b) are satisfied, the "Closing Date") (a) the occurrence
of the Effective Date hereunder and the "Closing Date" under the Tennessee
Facility) and (b) the receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in sufficient
copies for each Lender:
(i) Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of
Directors of EPNGC approving the borrowings contemplated hereby and
authorizing the execution of this Agreement and the Notes, and of all
documents evidencing other necessary corporate action of EPNGC and
governmental approvals to EPNGC, if any, with respect to this Agreement
and the Notes.
(ii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
EPNGC certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of EPNGC
authorized to sign this Agreement and the other documents to be
delivered by it hereunder.
(iii) A favorable opinion of the General Counsel of EPNGC, or
the Associate General Counsel of EPNGC, in substantially the form of
Exhibit G hereto.
(iv) A favorable opinion of Xxxxx, Day, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, New
York counsel to EPNGC, in substantially the form of Exhibit H hereto.
(v) A letter from the Process Agent, in substantially the form
of Exhibit I hereto, agreeing to act as Process Agent for EPNGC and to
forward forthwith all process received by it to EPNGC.
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(vi) Evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that all
advances, accrued interest and other fees and any other amounts (except
as provided under Section 9.12 of the $750,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of the date hereof,
among EPNGC, the lenders parties thereto and Chase, as Administrative
Agent and CAF Advance Agent) owing to the lenders and the agents under
the $400,000,000 Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance Facility
Agreement and the $100,000,000 Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance
Facility Agreement, each dated as of May 31, 1996 (the "Existing
Facilities"), among EPNGC, the several financial institutions from time
to time parties thereto, and Chase, as Administrative Agent and CAF
Advance Agent, shall have been paid in full, and the commitments to make
advances thereunder shall have been cancelled.
SECTION 3.3 Conditions Precedent to Initial Advances to Any
Borrowing Subsidiary or Holding. The agreement of each Lender to make the
initial Advances to be made by it to any Borrowing Subsidiary or Holding is
further subject to the Administrative Agent receiving the following, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (except for the
Notes) in sufficient copies for each Lender (provided that no Subsidiary of
Holding which is not a Subsidiary of EPNGC may become a Borrower hereunder
unless Holding is a Borrower hereunder):
(a) A Joinder Agreement executed and delivered by such
Borrowing Subsidiary or Holding, as the case may be, conforming to the
requirements hereof.
(b) Notes, dated the date such Borrowing Subsidiary or
Holding, as the case may be, executes and delivers its Joinder
Agreement, made by such Borrowing Subsidiary or Holding, as the case may
be, to the order of each Lender requesting a Note, respectively.
(c) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of such Borrowing Subsidiary or Holding, as the case may be, certifying
the names and true signature of the officers of such Borrowing
Subsidiary or Holding, as the case may be, authorized to sign the
Joinder Agreement and the other documents to be delivered by it
hereunder.
(d) A favorable opinion of the General Counsel or Associate
General Counsel of the Company, given upon the express instructions of
the Company, in substantially the form of Exhibit K hereto, and as to
such other matters as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may
reasonably request, with such assumptions, qualifications and exceptions
as the Administrative Agent may approve.
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(e) A favorable opinion of Xxxxx, Day, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx or other
New York counsel to the Company reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit L hereto, and
as to such other matters as any Lender through the Administrative Agent
may reasonably request, with such assumptions, qualifications and
exceptions as the Administrative Agent may approve.
(f) A letter from the Process Agent, in substantially the
form of Exhibit I hereto, agreeing to act as Process Agent for such
Borrowing Subsidiary or Holding, as the case may be, and to forward
forthwith all process received by it to such Borrowing Subsidiary or
Holding, as the case may be.
SECTION 3.4 Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing. The
obligation of each Lender to make an Advance (including the initial Advance,
but excluding any continuation or Conversion of an Advance) on the occasion of
any Borrowing shall be subject to the conditions precedent that on the date of
such Borrowing this Agreement shall have become effective pursuant to Section
3.1 and, before and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing and to
the application of the proceeds therefrom, the following statements shall be
true and correct, and the giving by the applicable Borrower or the Company on
such Borrower's behalf of the applicable Notice of Borrowing and the acceptance
by the applicable Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing shall constitute
its representation and warranty that on and as of the date of such Borrowing,
before and immediately after giving effect thereto and to the application of
the proceeds therefrom, the following statements are true and correct:
(i) each representation and warranty contained in Section 4.1
is correct in all material respects as though made on and as of such
date; and
(ii) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result
from such Borrowing, which constitutes an Event of Default or would
constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be
given or time elapse or both.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.1 Representations and Warranties of the Borrowers.
Each Borrower represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Each Principal Subsidiary and each Restricted Affiliate is duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing in the jurisdiction
of its incorporation. The Company, each Principal Subsidiary and
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each Restricted Affiliate possess all corporate powers and all other
authorizations and licenses necessary to engage in its business and
operations as now conducted, the failure to obtain or maintain which
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by (i) each Borrower
of this Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, if any, to which it is a
party and its Notes (as applicable) and (ii) each Restricted Affiliate
of its Restricted Affiliate Guaranty are within such Borrower's or
Restricted Affiliate's, as the case may be, corporate powers, have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene
(A) such Borrower's or Restricted Affiliate's, as the case may be,
charter or by-laws or (B) any law or any material contractual
restriction binding on or affecting such Borrower or Restricted
Affiliate, as the case may be.
(c) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body
is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by (i) such
Borrower of this Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, if any, to which it
is a party or its Notes (as applicable) or (ii) any Restricted Affiliate
of its Restricted Affiliate Guaranty, except filings necessary to comply
with laws, rules, regulations and orders required in the ordinary course
to comply with ongoing obligations of such Borrower under Section 5.1(a)
and (b).
(d) This Agreement constitutes, its Notes and each Joinder
Agreement, if any, to which it is a party (as applicable) when delivered
hereunder shall constitute and its Restricted Affiliate Guaranty when
delivered hereunder shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding
obligations of each Borrower or Restricted Affiliate, as the case may
be, enforceable against such Borrower or Restricted Affiliate, as the
case may be, in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be
limited by any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general principles of equity.
(e) The consolidated balance sheet of EPNGC and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1995, and the related
consolidated statements of income and cash flows of EPNGC and its
consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by
Coopers & Xxxxxxx LLP, independent public accountants, copies of which
have been furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prior to
the date hereof, fairly present the consolidated financial condition of
EPNGC and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date and the
consolidated results of
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the operations of EPNGC and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the period
ended on such date, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied, and since December 31, 1995, there has
been no material adverse change in such condition or operations. The
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of EPNGC and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1996, and the related consolidated
statements of income and cash flows of EPNGC and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for the six months then ended, certified by the chief
financial officer of EPNGC, copies of which have been furnished to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders prior to the date hereof, fairly
present the consolidated results of operations of EPNGC and its
consolidated Subsidiaries for the three months then ended, all in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied (except as approved by the chief financial officer of EPNGC and
as disclosed therein) and subject to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(f) The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet of EPNGC
and Tenneco Energy as at June 30, 1996 and the related unaudited pro
forma combined statements of income of EPNGC and Tenneco Energy for the
six-month period ended June 30, 1996 set forth in the Joint Proxy
Statement, copies of which have been delivered to the Lenders, were
prepared from financial statements referred to in Section 4.1(e), which
were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, are complete and correct in all material respects and have
been prepared on the basis described therein and show the combined
financial position and results of operations of EPNGC and Tennessee as
if the Transaction had occurred, in the case of the combined balance
sheet, on June 30, 1996, and in the case of combined statements of
income, as of January 1, 1995.
(g) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance
with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any governmental
authority applicable to it or its property except where the failure to
comply, individually or in the aggregate, would not in the reasonable
judgment of the Company be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(h) There is no action, suit or proceeding pending, or to the
knowledge of any Borrower threatened, against or involving the Company,
any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted Affiliate in any court, or
before any arbitrator of any kind, or before or by any governmental
body, which in the reasonable judgment of the Company (taking into
account the exhaustion of all appeals) would have a Material Adverse
Effect, or which purports to affect the legality, validity, binding
effect or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes.
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(i) The Company, each Principal Subsidiary and each Restricted
Affiliate have duly filed all tax returns required to be filed, and have
duly paid and discharged all taxes, assessments and governmental charges
upon it or against its properties now due and payable, the failure to
pay which would have a Material Adverse Effect, unless and to the extent
only that the same are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings by the Company, the appropriate Subsidiary or the
appropriate Restricted Affiliate.
(j) The Company, each Principal Subsidiary and each Restricted
Affiliate have good title to their respective properties and assets,
free and clear of all mortgages, liens and encumbrances, except for
mortgages, liens and encumbrances (including covenants, restrictions,
rights, easements and minor irregularities in title) which do not
materially interfere with the business or operations of the Company,
such Subsidiary or such Restricted Affiliate as presently conducted or
which are permitted by Section 5.2(a), and except that no representation
or warranty is being made with respect to Margin Stock.
(k) No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur with respect to any Plan which, with the giving of
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default
under Section 7.1(g).
(l) Each Plan has complied with the applicable provisions of
ERISA and the Code where the failure to so comply would reasonably be
expected to result in an aggregate liability that would exceed 10% of
the Net Worth of the Company.
(m) The statement of assets and liabilities of each Plan other
than, prior to the Merger, any Plan of Tennessee or any of its
Subsidiaries and the statements of changes in fund balance and in
financial position, or the statement of changes in net assets available
for plan benefits, for the most recent plan year for which an
accountant's report with respect to such Plan has been prepared, copies
of which report have been furnished to the Administrative Agent, fairly
present the financial condition of such Plan as at such date and the
results of operations of such Plan for the plan year ended on such date.
(n) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred,
or is reasonably expected to incur, any Withdrawal Liability to any
Multiemployer Plan which, when aggregated with all other amounts
required to be paid to Multiemployer Plans in connection with Withdrawal
Liability (as of the date of determination), would exceed 10% of the Net
Worth of the Company.
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(o) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has received
any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization,
insolvent or has been terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of
ERISA, and no Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be in
reorganization, insolvent or to be terminated within the meaning of
Title IV of ERISA the effect of which reorganization, insolvency or
termination would be the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section
7.1(i).
(p) The Borrowers are not engaged in the business of extending
credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no
proceeds of any Advance will be used to extend credit to others (other
than to any Subsidiary of the Company) for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying Margin Stock.
(q) No Borrower is an "investment company" or a "company"
controlled by an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(r) No Borrower is a "holding company" or a "subsidiary
company" of a "holding company" within the meaning of the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
(s) The borrowings by the Borrowers under this Agreement and
the Notes and the applications of the proceeds thereof as provided
herein will not violate Regulation G, T, U or X of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
All representations and warranties made by the Borrowers herein or made in any
certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the making of the Advances
and the execution and delivery to the Lenders of this Agreement and the Notes.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS
SECTION 5.1 Affirmative Covenants. So long as any amount
payable by any Borrower hereunder or under any Note shall remain unpaid or any
Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Borrower will, unless the
Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:
(a) Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. Preserve and
maintain, and, in the case of the Company, cause each Principal
Subsidiary and each Restricted Affiliate to preserve and maintain, its
corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and material
franchises, except as otherwise permitted by Section 5.2(d) or 5.2(e).
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(b) Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply, and, in the case of
the Company, cause each Principal Subsidiary and each Restricted
Affiliate to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws,
rules, regulations and orders (including, without limitation, all
environmental laws and laws requiring payment of all taxes, assessments
and governmental charges imposed upon it or upon its property except to
the extent contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings) the
failure to comply with which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Visitation Rights. At any reasonable time and from time
to time, permit the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders or any
agents or representatives thereof, to examine and make copies of and
abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the
properties of, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries and any Restricted
Affiliate, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries and any Restricted Affiliate with any
of their officers and with their independent certified public
accountants.
(d) Books and Records. Keep, and, in the case of the Company,
cause each of its Subsidiaries and each Restricted Affiliate to keep,
proper books of record and account, in which full and correct entries
shall be made of all its respective financial transactions and the
assets and business of the Company, each of its Subsidiaries and each
Restricted Affiliate, as applicable, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles either (i) consistently applied or (ii)
applied in a changed manner provided such change shall have been
disclosed to the Administrative Agent and shall have been consented to
by the accountants which (as required by Section 5.3(b)) report on the
financial statements of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries
for the fiscal year in which such change shall have occurred.
(e) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain and preserve,
and, in the case of the Company, cause each Principal Subsidiary and
each Restricted Affiliate to maintain and preserve, all of its
properties which are used in the conduct of its business in good working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, to the extent that
any failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, and, in the case of
the Company, cause each Principal Subsidiary and each Restricted
Affiliate to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable
insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such
risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses
and owning similar properties in the same general areas in
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which the Company, such Subsidiary or such Restricted Affiliate
operates.
(g) Holding. Once Holding is formed, cause (i) Holding to
execute and deliver a guaranty (in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) (the "Holding Guarantee") in
favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders, guaranteeing the prompt and complete payment by each Borrower
when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise)
of the Obligations owing by such Borrower and (ii) the delivery to the
Administrative Agent of legal opinions from the General Counsel or the
Associate General Counsel of Holding and from New York counsel to
Holding reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which legal
opinions shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
SECTION 5.2 Negative Covenants. So long as any amount payable
by any Borrower hereunder or under any Note shall remain unpaid or any Lender
shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Borrower will not, unless the
Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:
(a) Liens, Etc. (i) Create, assume or suffer to exist, or, in
the case of the Company, permit any Principal Subsidiary to create,
assume or suffer to exist, any Liens upon or with respect to any of the
capital stock of any Principal Subsidiary, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, or (ii) create or assume, or, in the case of the
Company, permit any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted Affiliate to
create or assume, any Liens upon or with respect to any other assets
material to the consolidated operations of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole securing the payment of
Indebtedness and Guaranties in an aggregate amount (determined without
duplication of amount (so that the amount of a Guarantee will be
excluded to the extent the Indebtedness Guaranteed thereby is included
in computing such aggregate amount)) exceeding $100,000,000; provided,
however, that this subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(A) Liens on the stock or assets of any Project
Financing Subsidiary or any Restricted Affiliate (or any
partnership, member or other equity interest in or assets of any
partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which
the Project Financing Subsidiary is a partner, member or other
equity participant) securing the payment of a Project Financing
and related obligations;
(B) Liens on assets acquired by the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any Restricted Affiliate after February 11, 1992
to the extent that such Liens existed
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at the time of such acquisition and (except as otherwise permitted under
clause (F) below) were not placed thereon by or with the consent of the
Company in contemplation of such acquisition;
(C) Liens created by any Alternate Program or any
document executed by any Borrower or any Restricted Affiliate in
connection therewith;
(D) Liens on Margin Stock;
(E) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental
charges or levies not yet overdue; and
(F) Liens on assets of Tennessee and its Subsidiaries
existing immediately prior to the Merger and not prohibited by
the Tennessee Facility.
(b) Consolidated Debt and Guarantees to Capitalization. (i)
Permit the ratio of (A) the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of
consolidated Debt of EPNGC and its consolidated Subsidiaries and all
Restricted Affiliates and their consolidated Subsidiaries (without
duplication of amount under this clause (A) and determined as to all of
the foregoing entities on a consolidated basis) plus (2) the aggregate
amount of consolidated Guaranties of EPNGC and its consolidated
Subsidiaries and all Restricted Affiliates and their consolidated
Subsidiaries (without duplication of amount under this clause (A) and
determined as to all of the foregoing entities on a consolidated basis)
to (B) Capitalization of EPNGC and all Restricted Affiliates (without
duplication and determined as to all of the foregoing entities on a
consolidated basis) to exceed .7 to 1; and (ii) from and after the date
that Holding becomes a Borrower hereunder, permit the ratio of (A) the
sum of (1) the aggregate amount of consolidated Debt of Holding and its
consolidated Subsidiaries plus (2) the aggregate amount of consolidated
Guaranties of Holding and its consolidated Subsidiaries to (B)
Capitalization of Holding to exceed .7 to 1.
(c) Debt, Etc. In the case of the Company, permit any of its
consolidated Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist any Debt, any
Guaranty or any reimbursement obligation with respect to any letter of
credit (other than any Project Financing), if, immediately after giving
effect to such Debt, Guaranty or reimbursement obligation and the
receipt and application of any proceeds thereof or value received in
connection therewith, the aggregate amount (determined without
duplication of amount) of Debt, Guaranties and letter of credit
reimbursement obligations of the Company's consolidated Subsidiaries
(other than any Project Financing) determined on a consolidated basis
would exceed $150,000,000; provided, however, that the following Debt,
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Guaranties or reimbursement obligations shall be excluded from the
application of, and calculation set forth in, this paragraph (c): (A)
Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement obligations incurred by (x) Mojave or
(y) so long as it is a Borrower, EPNGC, (B) Debt, Guaranties or
reimbursement obligations arising under this Agreement or the Tennessee
Facility or the $750,000,000 Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance
Facility Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among EPNGC, the
lenders parties thereto and Chase, as Administrative Agent and CAF
Advance Agent, (C) Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement obligations
incurred by El Paso Field Services Company up to an amount not to exceed
at any time outstanding the tangible net worth of El Paso Field Services
Company, provided that such Debt may be guaranteed by the Company, (D)
Excluded Acquisition Debt and (E) successive extensions, refinancings or
replacements (at the same Subsidiary or at any other consolidated
Subsidiary of the Company) of Debt, Guaranties or reimbursement
obligations (or commitments in respect thereof) referred to in clauses
(A), (B) and (D) above and in an amount not in excess of the amounts so
extended, refinanced or replaced (or the amount of commitments in
respect thereof).
(d) Sale, Etc. of Assets. Sell, lease or otherwise transfer,
or, in the case of the Company, permit any Principal Subsidiary to sell,
lease or otherwise transfer, (in either case, whether in one transaction
or in a series of transactions) assets constituting a material portion
of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Principal Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, provided that provisions of this subsection (d) shall
not apply to:
(i) any sale of the San Xxxx Basin Gathering System
and related facilities in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the Master Separation Agreement dated as of January 15,
1992 between EPNGC, Meridian Oil Holding Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and Burlington;
(ii) any sale of receivables and related rights
pursuant to any Alternate Program;
(iii) any Project Financing Subsidiary and the assets
thereof;
(iv) sales, leases or other transfers of assets or
capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company other than any
Principal Subsidiary;
(v) any sale of Margin Stock;
(vi) any sale of up to 20% of the equity of El Paso
Field Services Company in an initial public offering of such
corporation's equity securities;
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(vii) any sale, lease or other transfer to the Company
or any Principal Subsidiary, or to any corporation which after
giving effect to such transfer will become and be either (A) a
Principal Subsidiary in which the Company's direct or indirect
equity interest will be at least as great as its direct or
indirect equity interest in the transferor immediately prior
thereto or (B) a directly or indirectly wholly-owned Principal
Subsidiary;
(viii) any transfer permitted by Section 5.2(e);
(ix) any transfer to Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries of any stock or assets other than FERC regulated
assets (or stock or any other equity interest in an entity owning
FERC regulated assets) used in the mainline gas transmission
business; provided that (A) no Event of Default, or event that
with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would
constitute an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be
continuing before and after giving effect to such transfer and
(B) no Borrower may be so transferred unless Holding is also a
Borrower; and
(x) so long as the Tennessee Facility is in effect,
any sale, lease or other transfer of assets of Tennessee and its
Subsidiaries, provided that the commitments, if any, outstanding
under the Tennessee Facility are reduced by an amount equal to
the net cash proceeds thereof (after provision for taxes,
holdbacks, reserves and all costs and expenses arising from, or
attributable to, such transaction) to the extent required under
the Tennessee Facility.
(e) Mergers, Etc. Merge or consolidate with any person, or
permit any of its Principal Subsidiaries to merge or consolidate with
any Person, except that (i) any Principal Subsidiary may merge or
consolidate with (or liquidate into) any other Subsidiary (other than a
Project Financing Subsidiary, unless the successor corporation is not
treated as a Project Financing Subsidiary under this Agreement) or may
merge or consolidate with (or liquidate into) the Company, provided that
(A) if such Principal Subsidiary merges or consolidates with (or
liquidates into) the Company, the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation and (B) if any such Principal Subsidiary merges or
consolidates with (or liquidates into) any other Subsidiary of the
Company, one of such Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation and, if
either such Subsidiary is not wholly-owned by the Company, such merger
or consolidation is on an arm's length basis, and (ii) the Company or
any Principal Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other
corporation (that is, in addition to the Company or any Principal
Subsidiary of the Company),
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provided that (A) if the Company merges or consolidates with any such
other corporation, the Company is the surviving corporation, (B) if any
Principal Subsidiary merges or consolidates with any such other
corporation, the surviving corporation is a wholly-owned Principal
Subsidiary of the Company, and (C) if either the Company or any
Principal Subsidiary merges or consolidates with any such other
corporation, after giving effect to such merger or consolidation no
Event of Default, and no event which with lapse of time or the giving of
notice, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall have
occurred and be continuing.
SECTION 5.3 Reporting Requirements. So long as any amount
payable by any Borrower hereunder or under any Note shall remain unpaid or any
Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Company will furnish to each
Lender in such reasonable quantities as shall from time to time be requested by
such Lender:
(a) as soon as publicly available and in any event within 60
days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each
fiscal year of each of EPNGC and, following its formation, Holding, a
consolidated balance sheet of each of EPNGC and, following its
formation, Holding and its respective consolidated subsidiaries as of
the end of such quarter, and consolidated statements of income and cash
flows of each of EPNGC and, following its formation, Holding and its
respective consolidated subsidiaries each for the period commencing at
the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such
quarter, certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as being
fairly stated in all material respects by the chief financial officer,
controller or treasurer of the Company and accompanied by a certificate
of such officer stating (i) whether or not such officer has knowledge of
the occurrence of any Event of Default which is continuing hereunder or
of any event not theretofore remedied which with notice or lapse of time
or both would constitute such an Event of Default and, if so, stating in
reasonable detail the facts with respect thereto, (ii) all relevant
facts in reasonable detail to evidence, and the computations as to,
whether or not the Company is in compliance with the requirements set
forth in subsections (b) and (c) of Section 5.2, and (iii) a listing of
all Principal Subsidiaries and consolidated Subsidiaries of the Company
showing the extent of its direct and indirect holdings of their stocks;
(b) as soon as publicly available and in any event within 120
days after the end of each fiscal year of each of EPNGC and, following
its formation, Holding, a copy of the annual report for such year for
each of EPNGC and, following its formation, Holding and its respective
consolidated Subsidiaries containing financial statements for such year
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reported by nationally recognized independent public accountants
acceptable to the Lenders, accompanied by (i) a report signed by said
accountants stating that such financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and (ii) a
letter from such accountants stating that in making the investigations
necessary for such report they obtained no knowledge, except as
specifically stated therein, of any Event of Default which is continuing
hereunder or of any event not theretofore remedied which with notice or
lapse of time or both would constitute such an Event of Default;
(c) within 120 days after the close of each of the Company's
fiscal years, a certificate of the chief financial officer, controller
or treasurer of the Company stating (i) whether or not he has knowledge
of the occurrence of any Event of Default which is continuing hereunder
or of any event not theretofore remedied which with notice or lapse of
time or both would constitute such an Event of Default and, if so,
stating in reasonable detail the facts with respect thereto, (ii) all
relevant facts in reasonable detail to evidence, and the computations as
to, whether or not the Company is in compliance with the requirements
set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of Section 5.2 and (iii) a listing
of all Principal Subsidiaries and consolidated Subsidiaries of the
Company showing the extent of its direct and indirect holdings of their
stocks;
(d) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of
all publicly available reports which the Company, any Principal
Subsidiary or any Restricted Affiliate sends to any of its security
holders and copies of all publicly available reports and registration
statements which the Company, any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted
Affiliate files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
national securities exchange other than registration statements relating
to employee benefit plans and to registrations of securities for selling
security holders;
(e) within 10 days after sending or filing thereof, a copy of
FERC Form No. 2: Annual Report of Major Natural Gas Companies, sent or
filed by the Company to or with the FERC with respect to each fiscal
year of the Company;
(f) promptly in writing, notice of all litigation and of all
proceedings before any governmental or regulatory agencies against or
involving the Company, any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted
Affiliate, except any litigation or proceeding which in the reasonable
judgment of the Company (taking into account the exhaustion of all
appeals) is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial condition of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
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(g) within three Business Days after an executive officer of
the Company obtains knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default
which is continuing or of any event not theretofore remedied which with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default,
notice of such occurrence together with a detailed statement by a
responsible officer of the Company of the steps being taken by the
Company or the appropriate Subsidiary to cure the effect of such event;
(h) as soon as practicable and in any event (i) within 30 days
after the Company or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know
that any Termination Event described in clause (a) of the definition of
Termination Event with respect to any Plan has occurred and (ii) within
10 days after the Company or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to
know that any other Termination Event has occurred, a statement of the
chief financial officer or treasurer of the Company describing such
Termination Event and the action, if any, which the Company or such
ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto;
(i) promptly and in any event within two Business Days after
receipt thereof by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of each
notice received by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC
stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee
appointed to administer any Plan;
(j) promptly and in any event within 30 days after the filing
thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, copies of each Schedule B
(Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with
respect to each Single Employer Plan;
(k) promptly and in any event within five Business Days after
receipt thereof by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the sponsor
of a Multiemployer Plan, a copy of each notice received by the Company
or any ERISA Affiliate concerning (i) the imposition of Withdrawal
Liability by a Multiemployer Plan, (ii) the determination that a
Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, in reorganization or
insolvent within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, (iii) the termination
of a Multiemployer Plan within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or (iv)
the amount of liability incurred, or expected to be incurred, by the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate in connection with any event described in
clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above; and
(l) as soon as practicable but in any event within 60 days of
any notice of request therefor, such other information respecting the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the
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Company as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to
time reasonably request.
Each balance sheet and other financial statement furnished
pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 5.3 shall contain
comparative financial information which conforms to the presentation required
in Form 10-Q and 10-K, as appropriate, under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
SECTION 5.4 Restrictions on Material Subsidiaries. Upon Holding
becoming a Borrower hereunder, Holding will not, and will not permit any
Material Subsidiary, to enter into any agreement or understanding pursuant to
which (a) any non-equity interest claim Holding may have against any Material
Subsidiary would be subordinate in any manner to the payment of any other
obligation of such Material Subsidiary (other than waivers or subordination of
subrogation, contribution or similar rights under Guaranties and similar
agreements) or (b) by its terms limits or restricts the ability of such
Material Subsidiary to make funds available to Holding (whether by dividend or
other distribution, by replacement of any inter-company advance or otherwise)
if, in any such case referred to in this Section 5.4, there is, at the time any
such agreement is entered into, a reasonable likelihood that all such
agreements and understandings, considered together, would materially and
adversely affect the ability of Holding to meet its obligations as they become
due.
ARTICLE VI
GUARANTEES
SECTION 6.1 Guarantees. (a) Subject to the provisions of
Section 6.1(b), each Borrower hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees
to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and their
respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and
complete payment by each other Borrower when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations owing by such other
Borrower.
(b) Anything in this Article VI to the contrary notwithstanding,
the maximum liability of each Borrower (other than a Borrower which is
guaranteeing the Obligations of its Subsidiaries) under this Article VI shall
in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Borrowing
Subsidiary under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency
of debtors.
(c) Each Borrower agrees that the Obligations owing by any other
Borrower may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the
liability of such other Borrower under this Article VI without impairing the
guarantee of such Borrower under
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this Article VI or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative
Agent or any Lender under this Article VI.
(d) No payment or payments made by any Borrower or any other
Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from
any Borrower or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any
set-off or appropriation or application, at any time or from time to time, in
reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed to modify,
reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the Borrowers under this
Article VI which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments, continue
until the Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated.
(e) Each Borrower agrees that whenever, at any time, or from
time to time, it shall make any payment to the Administrative Agent or any
Lender on account of its liability under this Article VI, it will notify the
Administrative Agent in writing that such payment is made under this Article VI
for such purpose.
SECTION 6.2 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or
payments made by any Borrower under this Article VI or any set-off or
application of funds of such Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender, such Borrower shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the
rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against any other Borrower or
against any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Obligations, nor
shall such Borrower seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or
reimbursement from any other Borrower in respect of payments made by such
Borrower hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders by the other Borrowers on account of the Obligations are paid in full
and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any
Borrower on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the
Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such
Borrower in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from
other funds of such Borrower, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such
Borrower, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received
by such Borrower (duly indorsed by such Borrower to the Administrative Agent,
if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or
unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine.
SECTION 6.3 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations;
Waiver of Rights. Each Borrower shall remain obligated under this Article VI
notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against such Borrower,
and without notice to or further assent by such Borrower, any demand for
payment of any of the Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and any of
the Obligations continued, and the
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Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof,
or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with
respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed,
extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or
released by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and this Agreement, any
Notes and any other documents executed and delivered in connection herewith may
be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the
Administrative Agent (or the Majority Lenders, as the case may be) may deem
advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of
offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the
payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or
released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any
obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by
it as security for the Obligations or for this Agreement or any property
subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against any Borrower, the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to,
make a similar demand on the applicable Borrowing Subsidiaries or any other
guarantor, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make
any such demand or to collect any payments from the other Borrowers or any such
other guarantor or any release of the other Borrowers or such other guarantor
shall not relieve such Borrower of its obligations or liabilities hereunder,
and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or
as a matter of law, of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against such
Borrower for the purposes hereof "demand" shall include the commencement and
continuance of any legal proceedings.
SECTION 6.4 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Borrower
waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any
of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender upon this Agreement or acceptance of this Agreement; the
Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been
created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in
reliance upon this Agreement; and all dealings between any Borrower, on the one
hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other, shall
likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance
upon this Agreement. Each Borrower waives diligence, presentment, protest,
demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the other
Borrowers with respect to the Obligations. The guarantee contained in this
Article VI shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional
guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the validity, regularity or
enforceability of this Agreement, any Note, any of the Obligations or any other
collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect
thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender, (b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of
payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by
any
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Borrower against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or (c) any other
circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of any
Borrower) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable
or legal discharge of any Borrower for the Obligations, or of the Borrowers
under this Agreement, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When pursuing
its rights and remedies hereunder against any Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, pursue such
rights and remedies as it may have against any other Borrower or any other
Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Obligations or
any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any
payments from other Borrowers or any such other Person or to realize upon any
such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset,
or any release of any other Borrower or any such other Person or of any such
collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any
Borrower of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights
and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender against such Borrower. The guarantees
contained in this Article VI shall remain in full force and effect and be
binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon each Borrower
and its successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective successors,
indorsees, transferees and assigns, until all the Obligations and the
obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement shall have been satisfied by
payment in full and the Commitments shall be terminated, notwithstanding that
from time to time during the term of this Agreement the Borrowers may be free
from any Obligations.
SECTION 6.5 Reinstatement. The provisions of this Article VI
shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or
must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or
reorganization of any Borrower or upon or as a result of the appointment of a
receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, any
Borrower or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though
such payments had not been made.
ARTICLE VII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 7.1 Event of Default. If any of the following events
("Events of Default") shall occur and be continuing:
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(a) Any Borrower shall fail to pay any installment of
principal of any of its Advances or Notes when due, or any interest on
any of its Advances or Notes or any other amount payable by it hereunder
within five Business Days after the same shall be due; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any
Borrower herein or by any Borrower (or any of its officers) in
connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any
material respect when made or deemed made; or
(c) Any Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other
term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to
be performed or observed and any such failure shall remain unremedied
for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to such
Borrower by the Administrative Agent or by any Lender with a copy to the
Administrative Agent; or
(d) The Company, any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted
Affiliate shall fail to pay any Debt or Guaranty (excluding Debt
incurred pursuant hereto) of the Company, such Principal Subsidiary or
such Restricted Affiliate (as the case may be) in an aggregate principal
amount of $100,000,000 or more, or any installment of principal thereof
or interest or premium thereon, 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
the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt or Guaranty; 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 required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly
scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof, as
a result of either (i) any default under any agreement or instrument
relating to any such Debt or (ii) the occurrence of any other event
(other than an issuance, sale or other disposition of stock or other
assets, or an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness or other
obligations, giving rise to a repayment or prepayment obligation in
respect of such Debt) the effect of which would otherwise be to
accelerate or to permit the acceleration of the maturity of such Debt;
provided that, notwithstanding any provision contained in this
subsection (d) to the contrary, to the extent that pursuant to the terms
of any agreement or instrument relating to any Debt or Guaranty referred
to in this subsection (d) (or in the case of any such Guaranty, relating
to any obligations Guaranteed thereby), any sale, pledge or disposal of
Margin Stock, or
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utilization of the proceeds of such sale, pledge or disposal, would
result in a breach of any covenant contained therein or otherwise give
rise to a default or event of default thereunder and/or acceleration of
the maturity of the Debt or obligations extended pursuant thereto, or
payment pursuant to any Guaranty, and as a result of such terms or of
such sale, pledge, disposal, utilization, breach, default, event of
default or acceleration or nonpayment under such Guaranty, or the
provisions thereof relating thereto, this Agreement or any Advance
hereunder would otherwise be subject to the margin requirements or any
other restriction under Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, then such breach, default, event of default
or acceleration, or nonpayment under any Guaranty, shall not constitute
a default or Event of Default under this subsection (d); or
(e)(i) The Company, any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted
Affiliate shall (A) generally not pay its debts as such debts become
due; or (B) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally;
or (C) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (ii)
any proceeding shall be instituted or consented to by the Company, any
Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted Affiliate seeking to adjudicate
it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or
composition of it or 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; or (iii) any such proceeding shall have been instituted
against the Company, any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted
Affiliate and either such proceeding shall not be stayed or dismissed
for 60 consecutive days or any of the actions sought in such proceeding
(including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against
it or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar
official for it or any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or
(iv) the Company, any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted Affiliate
shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set
forth above in this subsection (e); or
(f) Any judgment or order of any court for the payment of
money in excess of $50,000,000 shall be rendered against the Company,
any Principal Subsidiary or any Restricted Affiliate and either (i)
enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon
such judgment or order (other than any enforcement proceedings
consisting of the mere obtaining and filing of a judgment lien or
obtaining of a garnishment or similar order so long as no foreclosure,
levy or similar process in respect of such lien, or payment over in
respect of such garnishment or similar order, has
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commenced) or (ii) there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days
during which a stay of execution or of enforcement proceedings (other
than those referred to in the parenthesis in clause (i) above) in
respect of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal,
bonding or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(g) (i) Any Termination Event with respect to a Plan shall
have occurred and, 30 days after notice thereof shall have been given to
the Company by the Administrative Agent, such Termination Event shall
still exist; or (ii) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have been
notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred
Withdrawal Liability to such Multiemployer Plan; or (iii) the Company or
any ERISA Affiliate shall have been notified by the sponsor of a
Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, or
is insolvent or is being terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of
ERISA; or (iv) any Person shall engage in a "prohibited transaction" (as
defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving
any Plan; and in each case in clauses (i) through (iv) above, such event
or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any,
would result in an aggregate liability of the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate that would exceed 10% of the Net Worth of the Company.
(h) Upon completion of, and pursuant to, a transaction, or a
series of transactions (which may include prior acquisitions of capital
stock of EPNGC or Holding in the open market or otherwise), involving a
tender offer (i) a "person" (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) other than Burlington, EPNGC or
Holding, a Subsidiary of EPNGC or Holding or any employee benefit plan
maintained for employees of EPNGC or Holding and/or any of their
respective Subsidiaries or the trustee therefor, shall have acquired
direct or indirect ownership of and paid for in excess of 50% of the
outstanding capital stock of EPNGC or Holding entitled to vote in
elections for directors of EPNGC or Holding and (ii) at any time before
the later of (A) six months after the completion of such tender offer
and (B) the next annual meeting of the shareholders of EPNGC or Holding
following the completion of such tender offer more than half of the
directors of EPNGC or Holding consists of individuals who (1) were not
directors before the completion of such tender offer and (2) were not
appointed, elected or nominated by the Board of Directors in office
prior to the completion of such tender offer (other than any such
appointment, election or nomination required or agreed to in connection
with, or as a result of, the completion of such tender offer); or
(i) Any event of default shall occur under any agreement or
instrument relating to or evidencing any Debt
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now or hereafter existing of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary or
Restricted Affiliate as the result of any change of control of the
Company; or
(j) Any of (i) the guarantees contained in Article VI, (ii)
the Restricted Affiliate Guarantees or (iii) the Holding Guarantee shall
cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or any Borrower,
any Restricted Affiliate or Holding shall so assert;
then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or
may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company, (i)
declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to be terminated,
whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) declare the Advances and
the Notes, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this
Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances and the
Notes, 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 Borrowers; provided,
however, that if an Event of Default under subsection (e) of this Section 7.1
(except under clause (i)(A) thereof) shall occur, (A) the obligation of each
Lender to make Advances shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances
and the Notes, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this
Agreement shall automatically become and be forthwith due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Borrowers.
ARTICLE VIII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE CAF ADVANCE AGENT
SECTION 8.1 Authorization and Action. Each Lender hereby
appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent to
take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this
Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance
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 (including, without limitation, enforcement of this Agreement or
collection of the Notes), the Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance 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; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent and the CAF
Advance Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the
Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance Agent to personal liability or which is
contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Administrative
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Agent and the CAF Advance Agent agree to give to each Lender prompt notice of
each notice given to it by any Borrower pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
SECTION 8.2 Administrative Agent's and CAF Advance Agent's
Reliance, Etc. None of the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent or any
of its respective 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, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful
misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the
Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent: (i) may treat the payee of any
Note as the holder thereof until the Administrative Agent receives and accepts
an Assignment and Acceptance entered into by the Lender which is the payee of
such Note, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as assignee, as provided in
Section 9.7; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the
Company), 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; (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 on
the part of the Borrowers or to inspect the property (including the books and
records) of the Borrowers; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the
due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or
value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
hereto; and (vi) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement
by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing
(which may be by telegram, telecopier, cable or telex) believed by it to be
genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
SECTION 8.3 Chase and Affiliates. With respect to its
Commitment, the Advances made by it and the Note issued to it, Chase 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 Administrative Agent or the CAF
Advance Agent; and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise
expressly indicated, include Chase in its individual capacity. Chase 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 Company,
any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, all as if Chase were not
the Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance Agent and without any duty to
account therefor to the other Lenders.
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SECTION 8.4 Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges
that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent,
the CAF Advance Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements
referred to in Section 4.1 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 Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance 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 8.5 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the
Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by
the Borrowers), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the
Advances then outstanding by each of them (or if no Advances are at the time
outstanding or if any Notes are held by Persons which are not Lenders, ratably
according to the respective amounts of their aggregate Commitments), 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
Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance Agent in any way relating to or arising
out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative
Agent or the CAF Advance 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 Administrative Agent's or the CAF Advance Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each
Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent
promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent or the
CAF Advance Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery,
administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through
negotiations, legal proceedings, in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, or
otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under,
this Agreement, to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance
Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrowers.
SECTION 8.6 Successor Administrative Agent and CAF Advance
Agent. The Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent may resign at any
time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Company and may be
removed at any time with or without cause by the Majority Lenders. Upon any
such resignation or removal, the Majority Lenders shall have the right to
appoint a successor Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance Agent. If no
successor Administrative Agent or CAF Advance Agent shall have been so
appointed by the Majority Lenders, and shall
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have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring
Administrative Agent's or the CAF Advance Agent giving of notice of resignation
or the Majority Lenders' removal of the retiring Administrative Agent or CAF
Advance Agent, then such retiring Administrative Agent or CAF Advance Agent
may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent or CAF
Advance Agent, which shall be a Lender and a commercial bank organized, or
authorized to conduct a banking business, under the laws of the United States
of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of
at least $500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as
Administrative Agent or CAF Advance Agent hereunder by a successor
Administrative Agent or CAF Advance Agent, such successor Administrative Agent
or CAF Advance Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or
CAF Advance Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent or CAF Advance Agent
shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
After any retiring Administrative Agent's or CAF Advance Agent's resignation or
removal hereunder as Administrative Agent or CAF Advance 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 Administrative Agent or CAF Advance
Agent under this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Amendments, Etc. An amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement or the Notes, or a consent to any departure by any
Borrower therefrom, shall be effective against the Lenders and all holders of
the Notes if, but only if, it shall be in writing and signed by the Majority
Lenders, and then such a waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided,
however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and
signed by all the Lenders, be effective to: (a) waive any of the conditions
specified in Article III, (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, any Advance or the Notes or any facility fees hereunder,
(d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on,
any Advance or the Notes or any facility fees hereunder, (e) change the
percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
any Advance or the Notes, or the number of Lenders, which shall be required for
the Lenders or any of them to take any action under this Agreement, (f) amend
this Section 9.1, (g) amend, waive or consent to any departure of any provision
in Article VI or (h) except as provided below, release any Borrower or Holding
or any Restricted Affiliate from its guarantee in Article VI, the Holding
Guarantee or any Restricted Affiliate Guarantee, as the
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case may be; provided, further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall,
unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance
Agent in addition to the Lenders required hereinabove to take such action,
affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance
Agent under this Agreement or any Note; provided, still further, that the
guarantee of a Borrower under Article VI and of a Restricted Affiliate under
its Restricted Affiliate Guarantee shall be released automatically upon (i) the
sale by the Company of such Borrower or Restricted Affiliate, provided that
such sale is permitted under this Agreement, or (ii) such Borrower or
Restricted Affiliate ceasing to be a Borrower or a Restricted Affiliate
hereunder.
SECTION 9.2 Notices, Etc. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 2.2(a), 2.5(d) or 2.15(b), all notices and other communications
provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier and other
readable communication) and mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested,
telecopied or otherwise transmitted or delivered, if to any Borrower, c/o the
Company at 1 Xxxx Xxxxxx Center, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx Xxxx, Xxxxx
00000, Attention: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000; if to any Lender, at its address set forth under
its name on Schedule I; if to the Administrative Agent, at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx, Telecopier: (000) 000-0000;
and if to the CAF Advance Agent, at 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Telecopier: (000) 000-0000, Telephone: (212)
000-0000; or, as to each party and each Borrowing Subsidiary, 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, if so mailed, telecopied
or otherwise transmitted, be effective when received, if mailed, or when the
appropriate answerback or other evidence of receipt is given, if telecopied or
otherwise transmitted, respectively. A notice received by the Administrative
Agent, the CAF Advance Agent or a Lender by telephone pursuant to Section
2.2(a), 2.5(d) or 2.15(b) shall be effective if the Administrative Agent or
Lender believes in good faith that it was given by an authorized representative
of the applicable Borrower and acts pursuant thereto, notwithstanding the
absence of written confirmation or any contradictory provision thereof.
SECTION 9.3 No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any
Lender, the Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance 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 right hereunder
or under any Note 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.
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SECTION 9.4 Costs and Expenses; Indemnity. (a) Each Borrower
agrees to pay on demand (to the extent not reimbursed by any other Borrower)
(i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the
Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery
of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder
and the fulfillment or attempted fulfillment of conditions precedent hereunder,
(ii) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and
its Affiliates in initially syndicating all or any portion of the Commitments
hereunder, including, without limitation, the related reasonable fees and
out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent or its
Affiliates, travel expenses, duplication and printing costs and courier and
postage fees, and excluding any syndication fees paid to other parties joining
the syndicate and (iii) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, if any, incurred
by the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent and the Lenders in
connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal
proceedings in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, or otherwise) of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and
thereunder, including the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of
counsel.
(b) If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any
Eurodollar Rate Advance or CAF Advance is made by any Borrower to or for the
account of a Lender on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period
for such Advance, as a result of a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.15 or a
Conversion pursuant to Section 2.13(f) or Section 2.14 or due to acceleration
of the maturity of the Advances and the Notes pursuant to Section 7.1 or due to
any other reason attributable to such Borrower, or if any Borrower shall fail
to make a borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Advances or CAF Advances after such
Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, such Borrower shall, upon demand by such Lender
(with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to
compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses which it
may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, Conversion or failure to
borrow, including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated
profits), 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) Each Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent and each Lender (to the extent not
reimbursed by any other Borrower) from and against any and all claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements
of counsel) which may be incurred by or asserted against the Administrative
Agent, the CAF Advance Agent or such Lender in connection with or arising out
of any investigation, litigation, or proceeding (whether or not the
Administrative Agent, the CAF
74
69
Advance Agent or such Lender is party thereto) related to any acquisition or
proposed acquisition by the Company, or by any Subsidiary of the Company, of
all or any portion of the stock or substantially all the assets of any Person
or any use or proposed use of the Advances by any Borrower (excluding any
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by reason of the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the party to be indemnified or its
employees or agents, or by reason of any use or disclosure of information
relating to any such acquisition or use or proposed use of the proceeds by the
party to be indemnified or its employees or agents).
SECTION 9.5 Right of Set-Off. Upon the declaration of the
Advances and the Notes as due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section
7.1, 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 applicable Borrower against any and all of the obligations of
such Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Notes of
such Borrower held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender
shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Notes and although such
obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the
Company 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 9.5 are
in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other
rights of set-off) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.6 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become
effective in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.1, and thereafter
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers, the
Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent and each Lender and their
respective successors and assigns, except that no Borrower shall have the right
to assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein without
the prior written consent of all of the Lenders.
SECTION 9.7 Assignments and Participations. (a) Each Lender
may assign to one or more banks or other financial institutions all or a
portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and
the Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i) each such assignment shall
be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations
under this Agreement, (ii) the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender
being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of
the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no
event be less than $15,000,000 (or, if less, the entire Commitment of
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70
the assigning Lender) and shall be an integral multiple of $1,000,000, (iii)
each such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee, and (iv) the parties to
each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for
its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance,
together with any Notes subject to such assignment and a processing and
recordation fee of $2,500, and shall send to the Company an executed
counterpart of such Assignment and Acceptance. Upon such execution, delivery,
acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each
Assignment and Acceptance, (A) 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 Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations
of a Lender hereunder and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the
extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant
to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from
its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance 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).
(b) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance,
each 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 Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no
representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any
statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this
Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation
or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial
condition of each Borrower or the performance or observance by each Borrower of
any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a
copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements
referred to in Section 4.1 and such other documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into
such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and
without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent, such
assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such
assignee confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints
and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent to take such
action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement
as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the CAF Advance Agent
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71
by the terms hereof, 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 this Agreement are
required to be performed by it as a Lender.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address
referred to in Section 9.2 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance 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 each Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance
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 any Borrower or any Lender at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Upon the
acceptance of any Assignment and Acceptance for recordation in the Register,
Schedule I hereto shall be deemed to be amended to reflect the revised
Commitments of the Lenders parties to such Assignment and Acceptance as well as
administrative information with respect to any new Lender as such information
is recorded in the Register.
(d) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed
by an assigning Lender and as assignee representing that it is an Eligible
Assignee, together with any Notes subject to such assignment, the
Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been
completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto, (i) accept such
Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the
Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Company; within five
Business Days after its receipt of such notice and its receipt of an executed
counterpart of such Assignment and Acceptance, the Borrowers, at their own
expense, shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent in exchange for
the surrendered Notes, if any, new Notes to the order of such Eligible
Assignee, if requested, in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by it
pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and, if the assigning Lender has
retained a Commitment hereunder, new Notes, if requested, to the order of the
assigning Lender in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by it hereunder.
Such new Notes, if any, shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of such surrendered Notes, if any, shall be dated
(A) in the case of Notes made by EPNGC, the Closing Date and (B) in the case of
Notes made by any other Borrower, the date such other Borrower executes and
delivers its Joinder Agreement, and shall otherwise be in substantially the
form of Exhibit A.
(e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks
or other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights
77
72
and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of its Commitment, and the Advances owing to it and the Notes held by
it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement
(including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrowers 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 Notes for all purposes of this Agreement,
(iv) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance 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, (v)
such Lender shall continue to be able to agree to any modification or amendment
of this Agreement or any waiver hereunder without the consent, approval or vote
of any such participant or group of participants, other than modifications,
amendments and waivers which (A) postpone any date fixed for any payment of, or
reduce any payment of, principal of or interest on such Lender's Advances or
Notes or any facility fees payable under this Agreement, or (B) increase the
amount of such Lender's Commitment in a manner which would have the effect of
increasing the amount of a participant's participation, or (C) reduce the
interest rate payable under this Agreement and such Lender's Notes, or (D)
consent to the assignment or the transfer by any Borrower of any of its rights
and obligations under the Agreement, and (vi) except as contemplated by the
immediately preceding clause (v), no participant shall be deemed to be or to
have any of the rights or obligations of a "Lender" hereunder.
(f) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section
9.7, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or
participant, any information relating to the Borrowers furnished to such Lender
by or on behalf of the Borrowers; provided that, prior to any such disclosure,
the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree in
writing for the benefit of the Borrowers to preserve the confidentiality of any
confidential information relating to the Borrowers received by it from such
Lender in a manner consistent with Section 9.8.
(g) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all
or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, the Advances owing to it) and the Notes issued to it hereunder in
favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor regulation) and
the applicable operating circular of such Federal Reserve Bank.
SECTION 9.8 Confidentiality. Each Lender, the Administrative
Agent and the CAF Advance Agent (each, a "Party") agrees that it will use its
best efforts not to disclose, without
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73
the prior consent of the Company (other than to its, or its Affiliate's,
employees, auditors, accountants, counsel or other representatives, whether
existing at the date of this Agreement or any subsequent time), any information
with respect to the Borrowers which is furnished pursuant to this Agreement,
provided that any Party may disclose any such information (i) as has become
generally available to the public, (ii) as may be required or appropriate in
any report, statement or testimony submitted to any municipal, state or Federal
regulatory body having or claiming to have jurisdiction over such party or to
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or similar organizations (whether in the United States or
elsewhere) or their successors, (iii) as may be required or appropriate in
response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation or
regulatory proceeding, (iv) in order to comply with any law, order, regulation
or ruling applicable to such party, or (v) to any prospective assignee or
participant in connection with any contemplated assignment of any rights or
obligations hereunder, or any sale of any participation therein, by such Party
pursuant to Section 9.7, if such prospective assignee or participant, as the
case may be, executes an agreement with the Company containing provisions
substantially similar to those contained in this Section 9.8; provided,
however, that the Company acknowledges that the Administrative Agent has
disclosed and may continue to disclose such information as the Administrative
Agent in its sole discretion determines is appropriate to the Lenders from time
to time.
SECTION 9.9 Consent to Jurisdiction. (a) Each Borrower hereby
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court
sitting in New York City and any appellate court from any thereof in any action
or proceeding by the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent, any Lender or
the holder of any Note in respect of, but only in respect of, any claims or
causes of action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes
(such claims and causes of action, collectively, being "Permitted Claims"), and
each Borrower hereby irrevocably agrees that all Permitted Claims may be heard
and determined in such New York State court or in such Federal court. Each
Borrower hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do
so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding in any aforementioned court in respect of Permitted Claims. Each
Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System (the "Process
Agent"), with an office on the date hereof at 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, as its agent to receive on behalf of such Borrower and its property
service of copies of the summons and complaint and any other process which may
be served by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the holder of any Note in
any such action or proceeding in any aforementioned court in respect of
Permitted Claims. Such service may be made by delivering a copy of such
process to the Company by courier and by certified mail (return receipt
requested), fees and postage prepaid, both (i) in care of the Process Agent at
the Process
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74
Agent's above address and (ii) at the Company's address specified pursuant to
Section 9.2, and each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the
Process Agent to accept such service on its behalf. Each Borrower agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may
be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law.
(b) Nothing in this Section 9.9 (i) shall affect the right of
any Lender, the holder of any Note or the Administrative Agent or the CAF
Advance Agent to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law or
affect any right otherwise existing of any Lender, the holder of any Note or
the Administrative Agent or the CAF Advance Agent to bring any action or
proceeding against any Borrower or its property in the courts of other
jurisdictions or (ii) shall be deemed to be a general consent to jurisdiction
in any particular court or a general waiver of any defense or a consent to
jurisdiction of the courts expressly referred to in subsection (a) above in any
action or proceeding in respect of any claim or cause of action other than
Permitted Claims.
SECTION 9.10 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
SECTION 9.11 Rate of Interest. It is the intention of the
parties hereto that each Lender shall each conform strictly to usury laws
applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby would
be usurious as to any Lender under laws applicable to it, then, in that event,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in the Notes to
the order of such Lender, it is agreed as follows: (a) the aggregate of all
consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to such Lender
that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Lender
hereunder, or under such Notes or otherwise, shall under no circumstances
exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and any excess shall
be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the sums owed to such
Lender (or, if all amounts owing to such Lender shall have been paid in full,
refunded by such Lender to the applicable Borrower); or (b) in the event that a
prepayment of any Advances owed to any Lender is required, then such
consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to such Lender may
never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and
excess interest, if any, provided for shall be cancelled automatically by such
Lender as of the date of such prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be
credited by such Lender on the principal amount of such prepayment obligation
(or, if the principal amount of such prepayment obligation shall have been paid
in full, refunded by such Lender to the applicable Borrower). To the extent
that Article 5069-1.04 of the Texas Revised Civil Statutes is relevant to any
Lender for the purpose of determining the maximum amount of interest allowed by
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75
applicable law, such Lender hereby elects to determine the applicable rate
ceiling under such Article by the indicated (weekly) rate ceiling from time to
time in effect, subject to such Lender's right subsequently to change such
method in accordance with applicable law. In no event, however, shall Article
5069, Chapter 15, of the Texas Revised Civil Statutes apply to this Agreement
or the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 9.12 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. Delivery to the Administrative Agent of a counterpart executed by a
Lender shall constitute delivery of such counterpart to all of the Lenders.
This Agreement may be delivered by facsimile transmission of the relevant
signature pages hereof.
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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.
EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
Administrative Agent, CAF Advance
Agent and a Lender
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
ABN-AMRO BANK, N.V. HOUSTON AGENCY
By: ABN AMRO North America, Inc.
as agent
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING
GROUP LIMITED
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
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77
BANK OF MONTREAL
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS, HOUSTON
AGENCY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
83
00
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XX,
XXX XXXXXXX AGENCY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
CAISSE NATIONALE DE CREDIT AGRICOLE
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
CITIBANK, N.A.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT,
ATLANTA AGENCY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
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79
CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
CREDIT SUISSE
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE DAI-ICHI KANGYO BANK, LTD.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK AND/OR
CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCHES
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
00
00
XXXXXXXX XXXX XX, XXX XXXX BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE FUJI BANK, LIMITED-HOUSTON
AGENCY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
COMPANY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
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81
KREDIETBANK N.V., GRAND CAYMAN
BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE LONG-TERM CREDIT BANK OF JAPAN,
LTD.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
MELLON BANK, N.A.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF
NEW YORK
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC NEW
YORK BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
87
82
NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC
NASSAU BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
NORINCHUKIN BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED - NEW YORK
BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
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83
THE SANWA BANK LIMITED DALLAS
AGENCY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
SOCIETE GENERALE
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED, HOUSTON
AGENCY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE TOKAI BANK, LIMITED, NEW YORK
BRANCH
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
89
00
XXXXX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXXXX, HOUSTON
AGENCY
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
THE YASUDA TRUST & BANKING, CO.,
LTD.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
90
SCHEDULE I
COMMITMENTS, ADDRESSES, ETC.
Name and Address of Lender Amount of Commitment
-------------------------- --------------------
The Chase Manhattan Bank $10,625,000
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
ABN AMRO Bank, N.V. Houston Agency $2,500,000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: H. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Australia and New Zealand $2,500,000
Banking Group Limited
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Bank of America Illinois $7,812,500
000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Bank of Montreal $7,812,500
000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Bank of New York $7,812,500
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
91
2
Name and Address of Lender Amount of Commitment
-------------------------- --------------------
The Bank of Nova Scotia $7,812,500
Atlanta Agency
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: F.C.H. Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
With a copy to:
Houston Representative Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. $7,812,500
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Banque Nationale de Paris, $4,062,500
Houston Agency
000 Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Barclays Bank PLC $7,812,500
000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Director -
Structured Finance
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Bayerische Vereinsbank AG, $2,500,000
Los Angeles Agency
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
92
3
Name and Address of Lender Amount of Commitment
-------------------------- --------------------
Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole $2,500,000
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce $7,812,500
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Citibank, N.A. $9,375,000
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000/4845
Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, $7,812,500
Atlanta Agency
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X. Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx/Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Credit Lyonnais New York Branch $7,812,500
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Credit Suisse $7,812,500
000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Asa
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Ltd. $4,062,500
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
93
4
Name and Address of Lender Amount of Commitment
-------------------------- --------------------
Deutsche Bank AG New York and/ $2,500,000
or Cayman Islands Branches
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Dresdner Bank AG, New York Branch $4,062,500
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
First National Bank of Boston $2,500,000
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Mailstop 01-08-02
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The First National Bank of Chicago $7,812,500
One First National Plaza
0634, 1FNP, 10
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Fuji Bank, Limited-Houston Agency $7,812,500
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
0000 XxXxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx xxxXxxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Industrial Bank of Japan $4,062,500
Trust Company
Xxxxx Three Center
000 Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: W. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
94
5
Name and Address of Lender Amount of Commitment
-------------------------- --------------------
Kredietbank N.V., Grand Cayman Branch $4,062,500
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
or
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, Ltd. $7,812,500
000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
With a copy to:
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Mellon Bank, N.A. $7,812,500
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of $7,812,500
New York
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Services, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
National Westminster Bank Plc $4,062,500
NatWest Markets
New York Branch
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Commercial Lending Unit
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
95
6
Name and Address of Lender Amount of Commitment
-------------------------- --------------------
Nationsbank of Texas, N.A. $7,812,500
000 Xxxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Norinchukin Bank, New York Branch $4,062,500
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
Attention: Shinichi Saitoh
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
PNC Bank, National Association $7,812,500
One PNC Plaza
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx/
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000/000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000/000-000-0000
Royal Bank of Canada $7,812,500
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Sakura Bank, Limited - $4,062,500
New York Branch
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Sanwa Bank Limited Dallas Agency $4,062,500
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000X
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Societe Generale $7,812,500
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Center
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
96
7
Name and Address of Lender Amount of Commitment
-------------------------- --------------------
The Sumitomo Bank, Limited, $7,812,500
Houston Agency
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Tokai Bank, Limited, New York Branch $2,500,000
Energy Finance Group
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Toronto Dominion (Texas), Inc. $7,812,500
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Union Bank of Switzerland, $7,812,500
Houston Agency
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
The Yasuda Trust & Banking, Co., Ltd. $4,062,500
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
97
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
$____________ New York, New York
________ ___, 1996
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, ___________________, a ________
corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the
order of ________________ (the "Lender") at the office of The Chase Manhattan
Bank, located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, in lawful money of
the United States of America and in same day funds, on the second anniversary
of the Termination Date (or if the Lender is an Objecting Lender, the second
anniversary of the Commitment Expiration Date applicable to the Lender) the
principal amount of (a) _______________ DOLLARS ($__________), or, if less, (b)
the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Advances made by
the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to subsection 2.1 of the Credit Agreement,
as hereinafter defined. The Borrower further agrees to pay interest in like
money at such office on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time
outstanding at the rates and on the dates specified in the Credit Agreement.
The holder of this Note is authorized to, and prior to any transfer
hereof shall, endorse on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof
or on a continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part
hereof the date, Type and amount of each Revolving Credit Advance made pursuant
to subsection 2.1 of the Credit Agreement and the date and amount of each
payment or prepayment of principal thereof, each continuation thereof, each
conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type and, in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Advances, the length of each Interest Period with respect
thereto. Each such endorsement shall constitute prima facie evidence of the
accuracy of the information endorsed. The failure to make any such endorsement
shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower in respect of such Revolving
Credit Advance.
This Note (a) is one of the Notes referred to in the $250,000,000
Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of
November 4, 1996 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"), among El Paso Natural Gas Company, the Lender,
the other banks and financial institutions from time to time parties thereto
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent,
(b) is subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement
98
A-2
and (c) is subject to optional and mandatory prepayment in whole or in part as
provided in the Credit Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of any one or more of the Events of Default, all
amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to
be, immediately due and payable, all as provided in the Credit Agreement.
All parties now and hereafter liable with respect to this Note, whether
maker, principal, surety, guarantor, endorser or otherwise, hereby waive
presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind except those
expressly required under the Credit Agreement.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement
and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
[BORROWER]
By
--------------------------------------
Title:
99
Schedule A to Note
ADVANCES, CONVERSIONS AND REPAYMENTS OF BASE RATE ADVANCES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount of Base
Amount of Rate Advances
Amount Principal of Base Converted to Unpaid Principal
Amount of Base Converted to Rate Advances Eurodollar Rate Balance of Base Notation
Date Rate Advances Base Rate Advances Repaid Advances Rate Advances Made By
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100
Schedule B to Note
ADVANCES, CONTINUATIONS, CONVERSIONS AND REPAYMENTS OF EURODOLLAR RATE ADVANCES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount of
Interest Period Amount of Eurodollar Rate Unpaid Principal
Amount of Amount Converted and Eurodollar Principal of Advances Converted Balance of
Eurodollar Rate to Eurodollar Rate with Respect Eurodollar Rate to Base Rate Eurodollar Rate Notation
Date Advances Rate Advances Thereto Advances Repaid Advances Advances Made By
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
101
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF
NOTICE OF BORROWING
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
[Date]
Attention: El Paso Natural Gas Company
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY, refers to the
$250,000,000 Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated
as of November 4, 1996 (the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being
used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties
thereto and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent and CAF Advance
Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to
Section 2.2 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a
Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below
the information relating to such Borrowing (the "Proposed Borrowing") as
required by Section 2.2(a) of the Credit Agreement:
(i) The Borrower for the Proposed Borrowing is ______________.
(ii) The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is ___________,
199_.
(iii) The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Borrowing is
[Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].
(iv) The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is
$__________.
(v) The Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made
as part of the Proposed Borrowing is [______ month[s]].
The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements
are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed
Borrowing, before and immediately after giving effect thereto and to the
application of the proceed therefrom:
102
B-2
(A) each representation and warranty contained in Section 4.1
is correct in all material respects as though made on and as of such
date; and
(B) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result
from such Proposed Borrowing, which constitutes an Event of Default or
would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice
be given or time elapse or both.
Very truly yours,
EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By
--------------------------------------
Title:
103
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF
CAF ADVANCE REQUEST
__________, 199__
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as CAF Advance Agent
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Reference is made to the $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996, among the
undersigned, the Lenders named therein and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent (as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Credit Agreement.
This is a [Fixed Rate] [LIBO Rate] CAF Advance Request* pursuant
to Section 2.5 of the Credit Agreement requesting quotes for the following CAF
Advances:
================================================================================
Loan 1 Loan 2 Loan 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate Principal Amount $__________ $__________ $_________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAF Advance Date
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maturity Date
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest Payment Dates
================================================================================
Very truly yours,
[BORROWER]
By
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
---------------
* Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, a CAF Advance Request may be
transmitted in writing, by telecopy, or by telephone, immediately
confirmed by telecopy. In any case, a CAF Advance Request shall contain
the information specified in the second paragraph of this form.
104
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF
CAF ADVANCE OFFER
___________, 199__
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as CAF Advance Agent
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Reference is made to the $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996, among the
undersigned, the Lenders named therein and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent (as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Credit Agreement.
In accordance with Section 2.5 of the Credit Agreement, the
undersigned Lender offers to make CAF Advances thereunder in the following
amounts with the following maturity dates:
================================================================================
CAF Advance Date: __________, 199__ Aggregate Maximum Amount: $_________
================================================================================
Maturity Date 1: __________, 199__ Maximum Amount: $__________
$________ offered at _______*
$________ offered at _______*
================================================================================
Maturity Date 2: __________, 199__ Maximum Amount: $__________
$________ offered at _______*
$________ offered at _______*
================================================================================
Maturity Date 3: __________, 199__ Maximum Amount: $__________
$________ offered at _______*
$________ offered at _______*
================================================================================
Very truly yours,
[NAME OF CAF ADVANCE LENDER]
By
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Telephone No.:
Telecopy No.:
---------------
* Insert the interest rate offered for the specified CAF Advance. In the
case of LIBO Rate CAF Advances, insert a margin bid. In the case of
Fixed Rate CAF Advances, insert a fixed rate bid.
105
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF
CAF ADVANCE CONFIRMATION
_________ __, 199_
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as CAF Advance Agent
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Reference is made to the $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996, among the
undersigned, the Lenders named therein, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent(as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Credit Agreement.
In accordance with Section 2.5(d) of the Credit Agreement, the
undersigned accepts and confirms the offers by the CAF Advance Lender(s) to
make CAF Advances to the undersigned on __________, 199_ [date of CAF Advance
Borrowing] under Section 2.5(d) in the (respective) amount(s) set forth on the
attached list of CAF Advances offered.
Very truly yours,
[BORROWER]
By
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[The Borrower must attach CAF Advance offer list prepared by the CAF Advance
Agent with accepted amount entered by the Borrower to the right of each CAF
Advance offer].
106
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
Dated _____________, 199_
Reference is made to the $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996 (as the
same may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement") among EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent") and CAF
Advance Agent (the "CAF Advance Agent") for the Lenders. Terms defined in the
Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.
_____________ (the "Assignor") and ____________ (the "Assignee")
agree as follows:
1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee, and
the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, that interest in
and to all of the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement
as of the date hereof which represents the percentage interest specified on
Schedule 1 of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit
Agreement, including, without limitation, such interest in the Assignor's
Commitment, the Advances owing to the Assignor, and the Notes held by the
Assignor. After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the Assignee's
Commitment and the amount of the Advances owing to the Assignee will be as set
forth in Section 2 of Schedule 1.
2. The Assignor (i) represents and warrants that it is the
legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and
that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) makes no
representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any
statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the
Credit Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability,
genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) makes no
representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the
financial condition of each Borrower or the performance or observance by each
Borrower of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (iv) attaches the Notes
referred to in paragraph 1 above and requests that the Administrative Agent
exchange such Notes for new Notes payable to the order of the Assignee in an
amount equal to the Commitment assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto or new
Notes payable to the order of the Assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment
assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto and the
107
F-2
Assignor in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by the Assignor under
the Credit Agreement, respectively, as specified on Schedule 1 hereto.
3. The Assignee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of
the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred
to in Section 4.1 thereof and such other documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into
this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other
Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate
at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking
action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) confirms that it is an Eligible
Assignee; (iv) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and CAF Advance
Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers
under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and CAF
Advance Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto; (v) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are
required to be performed by it as a Lender; [and] (vi) specifies as its address
for notices the address set forth beneath its name on the signature pages
hereof [and (vii) attaches the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service
of the United States certifying as to the Assignee's status for purposes of
determining exemption from United States withholding taxes with respect to all
payments to be made to the Assignee under the Credit Agreement and the Notes or
such other documents as are necessary to indicate that all such payments are
subject to such rates at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty]*.
4. Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance
by the Assignor and the Assignee, it will be delivered to the Administrative
Agent for acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent. The effective
date of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be the date of acceptance thereof
by the Administrative Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1 hereto
(the "Effective Date").
5. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative
Agent, as of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to the
Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance,
have the rights and obligations of Lender thereunder and (ii) the Assignor
shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its
rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
---------------
* If the Assignee is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside
the United States.
108
F-3
6. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative
Agent, from and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make
all payments under the Credit Agreement and the Notes in respect of the
interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of
principal, interest and commitment fees with respect thereto) to the Assignee.
The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments
under the Credit Agreement and the Notes for periods prior to the Effective
Date directly between themselves.
7. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective officers thereunto
duly authorized, as of the date first above written, such execution being made
on Schedule 1 hereto.
109
Schedule 1
to
Assignment and Acceptance
Dated _________, 199_
Section 1.
Percentage Interest: ______%
Section 2.
Assignee's Commitment: $______
Aggregate Outstanding Principal
Amount of Advances owing to the Assignee: $______
Note payable to the order of the Assignee
Dated: _______, 199_
Principal amount: $_____________
Note payable to the order of the Assignor
Dated: _______, 199_
Principal amount: $_____________
Section 3.
Effective Date*: ________, 199_
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE] [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By: By:
------------------------------ ------------------------------
Title: Title:
Address for notices:
[Address]
Consented to:
EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
Administrative Agent
By: By:
------------------------------ ------------------------------
Title: Title:
---------------
* This date should be no earlier than the date of acceptance by the
Administrative Agent.
110
2
Accepted this __ day
of __________, 199_
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
Administrative Agent
By:
------------------------------
Title:
111
EXHIBIT G
FORM OF OPINION OF [ASSOCIATE] GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE COMPANY
___________ __, 1996
To Each of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent
and the CAF Advance Agent
Referred to Below
x/x Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Bank
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Re: El Paso Natural Gas Company
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iii)
of the $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance Facility
Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996 (the "Credit Agreement"), among El Paso
Natural Gas Company (the "Borrower"), the banks and other financial
institutions from time to time party thereto (each a "Lender," and together the
"Lenders"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and as CAF Advance Agent (in such
capacity, the "CAF Advance Agent") for the Lenders. Unless the context
otherwise requires, all capitalized terms used herein without definition shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.
I am [Associate] General Counsel of the Borrower, and I, or
attorneys over whom I exercise supervision, have acted as counsel for the
Borrower in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the
Credit Agreement. In that connection, I or such attorneys have examined:
(1) the Credit Agreement, executed by the parties thereto;
(2) the Notes, executed by the Borrower; and
(3) the other documents furnished by the Borrower pursuant to
Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the Credit Agreement.
I, or attorneys over whom I exercise supervision, have also
examined the originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of the
agreements, instruments and other documents, and all of the orders, writs,
judgments, awards, injunctions and decrees, which affect or purport to affect
the Borrower's ability to perform the Borrower's obligations under the Credit
Agreement or the Notes (collectively referred to herein as the "Documents").
In addition, I, or attorneys over whom I exercise
112
G-2
supervision, have examined the originals, or copies certified to our
satisfaction, of such other corporate records of the Borrower, certificates of
public officials and of officers of the Borrower, and agreements, instruments
and other documents, as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions
hereinafter expressed. In all such examinations, I, or attorneys over whom I
exercise supervision, have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons
executing documents, the genuineness of all signatures on original or
certified, conformed or reproduction copies of documents of all parties (other
than, with respect to the Documents, the Borrower), the authenticity of
original and certified documents and the conformity to original or certified
copies of all copies submitted to such attorneys or me as conformed or
reproduction copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinions
expressed herein, I have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of,
representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and
certificates and oral or written statements and other information of or from
public officials, officers and/or representatives of the Borrower and others.
I have assumed that the parties to the Documents other than the
Borrower have the power to enter into and perform such documents and that such
documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitute
legal, valid and binding obligations of, such parties.
The opinions expressed below are limited to the federal laws of
the United States and, to the extent relevant hereto, the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware, as currently in effect. I assume no obligation
to supplement this opinion if any applicable laws change after the date hereof
or if I become aware of any facts that might change the opinions expressed
herein after the date hereof.
Based on the foregoing and upon such investigation as we have
deemed necessary, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and
assumptions set forth herein, I am of the following opinion:
1. The Borrower (i) is a corporation duly incorporated and
existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and
(ii) possesses all the corporate powers and all other authorizations and
licenses necessary to engage in its business and operations as now
conducted, the failure to obtain or maintain which would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of
the Documents are within the Borrower's corporate powers and have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action in respect of or by
the Borrower, and do not contravene (i) the Borrower's charter or by-
laws, each as amended to date, (ii) any federal law, rule or regulation
applicable to the Borrower (excluding provisions of federal law
expressly referred to in and covered by the
113
G-3
opinion of Xxxxx, Day, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx delivered to you in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby) or any provision of the
General Corporation Law or the State of Delaware applicable to the
Borrower, or (iii) any contractual restriction binding on or affecting
the Borrower. The Documents have been duly executed and delivered on
behalf of the Borrower.
3. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any federal governmental authority or
regulatory body (including, without limitation, the FERC) is required
for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the
Documents, except those required in the ordinary course of business in
connection with the performance by the Borrower of its obligations under
certain covenants and warranties contained in the Documents.
4. To the best of my knowledge, there is no action, suit or
proceeding pending or overtly threatened against or involving the
Borrower or any of the Principal Subsidiaries which, in my reasonable
judgment (taking into account the exhaustion of all appeals), would have
a material adverse effect upon the consolidated financial condition of
the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or
which purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability of any Document.
These opinions are given as of the date hereof and are solely for
your benefit in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit
Agreement. These opinions may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose
or relied upon by any other person for any purpose without my prior written
consent.
Very truly yours,
114
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF OPINION OF NEW YORK COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY
______ __, 1996
To Each of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent,
and the CAF Advance Agent Referred to Below
c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Re: $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance Facility
Agreement dated as of November 4, 1996
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special New York counsel for El Paso Natural Gas
Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
$250,000,000 Revolving Credit and Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated
as of November 4, 1996 (the "Financing Agreement"), among the Company, the
banks and other financial institutions from time to time party thereto (each a
"Lender," and together the "Lenders") and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and as CAF
Advance Agent (in such capacity, the "CAF Advance Agent") for the Lenders.
This opinion is delivered to you pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the
Financing Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
have the meanings assigned such terms in the Financing Agreement. With your
permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance herein have been made
without any independent investigation or verification on our part except to the
extent otherwise expressly stated, and we express no opinion with respect to
the subject matter or accuracy of the assumptions or items upon which we have
relied.
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have
examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed necessary
for the purposes of this opinion. We have examined, among other documents, the
following:
(a) An executed copy of the Financing Agreement; and
(b) An executed copy of each of the Notes.
The documents referred to in items (a) and (b) above are referred to herein
collectively as the "Documents."
115
H-2
In all such examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity of
all natural persons executing documents, the genuineness of all signatures, the
authenticity of original and certified documents and the conformity to original
or certified copies of all copies submitted to us as conformed or reproduction
copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinions expressed
herein, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, representations and
warranties contained in the Documents and certificates and oral or written
statements and other information of or from representatives of the Company and
others and assume compliance on the part of all parties to the Documents with
their covenants and agreements contained therein. With respect to the opinions
expressed in paragraph (a) below, our opinions are limited (x) to our actual
knowledge, if any, of the Company's specially regulated business activities and
properties based solely upon an officer's certificate in respect of such
matters and without any independent investigation or verification on our part
and (y) to our review of only those laws and regulations that, in our
experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by
the Documents.
To the extent it may be relevant to the opinions expressed
herein, we have assumed that the parties to the Documents have the power to
enter into and perform such documents and to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereby and that such documents have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and, except as set forth in paragraph (b) with
respect to the Company, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of,
such parties.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations,
qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
(a) The execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent, the CAF
Advance Agent and the Lenders by the Company of the Documents and the
performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder (i) do not require
under present law any filing or registration by the Company with, or approval
or consent to the Company of, any governmental agency or authority of the State
of New York that has not been made or obtained except those required in the
ordinary course of business in connection with the performance by the Company
of its obligations under certain covenants and warranties contained in the
Documents and (ii) do not violate any present law, or present regulation of any
governmental agency or authority, of the State of New York applicable to the
Company or its property.
(b) The Documents constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective
terms.
(c) The borrowings by the Company under the Financing Agreement and
the applications of the proceeds thereof as provided in the Financing Agreement
will not violate Regulation
116
H-3
G, T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following
qualifications:
(A) We express no opinion as to:
(i) the validity, binding effect or enforceability (a)
of any provision of the Documents relating to indemnification,
contribution or exculpation in connection with violations of any
securities laws or statutory duties or public policy, or in connection
with willful, reckless or criminal acts or gross negligence of the
indemnified or exculpated party or the party receiving contribution; or
(b) of any provision of any of the Documents relating to exculpation of
any party in connection with its own negligence that a court would
determine in the circumstances under applicable law to be unfair or
insufficiently explicit;
(ii) the validity, binding effect or enforceability of
(a) any purported waiver, release, variation, disclaimer, consent or
other agreement to similar effect (all of the foregoing, collectively, a
"Waiver") by the Company under the Documents to the extent limited by
provisions of applicable law (including judicial decisions), or to the
extent that such a Waiver applies to a right, claim, duty, defense or
ground for discharge otherwise existing or occurring as a matter of law
(including judicial decisions), except to the extent that such a Waiver
is effective under and is not prohibited by or void or invalid under
provisions of applicable law (including judicial decisions), (b) any
provision of any Document relating to choice of governing law to the
extent that the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any such
provision is to be determined by any court other than a court of the
State of New York or (c) any provision of any Document relating to forum
selection to the extent the forum is a federal court;
(iii) the enforceability of any provision in the
Documents specifying that provisions thereof may be waived only in
writing, to the extent that an oral agreement or an implied agreement by
trade practice or course of conduct has been created that modifies any
provision of the Documents;
(iv) the effect of any law of any jurisdiction other
than the State of New York wherein the Administrative Agent, the CAF
Advance Agent or any Lender may be located or wherein enforcement of any
document referred to above may be sought that limits the rates of
interest legally chargeable or collectible; and
117
H-4
(v) any approval, consent or authorization of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any other United States federal
agency or authority needed in connection with the execution, delivery
and performance by the Company of the Documents, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby and compliance with the terms and
conditions thereof.
(B) Our opinions above are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, voidable preference,
moratorium or similar laws, and related judicial doctrines, from time to time
in effect affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally, (ii) general
principles of equity (including, without limitation, standards of materiality,
good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness, equitable defenses and limits on
the availability of equitable remedies), whether such principles are considered
in a proceeding at law or in equity and (iii) the qualification that certain
other provisions of the Documents may be unenforceable in whole or in part
under the laws (including judicial decisions) of the State of New York or the
United States of America, but the inclusion of such provisions does not affect
the validity as against the Company of the Documents as a whole, and the
Documents contain adequate provisions for enforcing payment of the obligations
governed thereby, subject to the other qualifications contained in this letter.
(C) Our opinions as to enforceability are subject to the effect of
generally applicable rules of law that:
(i) limit the availability of a remedy under certain
circumstances when another remedy has been elected; and
(ii) may, where less than all of a contract may be
unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the contract
to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential
part of the agreed exchange; and
(iii) govern and afford judicial discretion regarding the
determination of damages and entitlement to attorneys' fees and other
costs.
(D) For the purposes of the opinion set forth in paragraph (c) above,
we have assumed that (i) none of the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance
Agent or any of the Lenders has or will have the benefit of any agreement or
arrangement (excluding the Documents) pursuant to which any Advances are
directly or indirectly secured by Margin Stock, (ii) none of the Administrative
Agent, the CAF Advance Agent, any of the Lenders or any of their respective
affiliates has extended or will extend any other credit to the Company directly
or indirectly secured by Margin Stock and (iii) none of the Administrative
Agent, the CAF Advance Agent or any of the Lenders has relied or will rely upon
any Margin Stock as collateral in extending or maintaining any Advances
pursuant to the Financing Agreement.
118
H-5
(E) For purposes of our opinions above insofar as they relate to the
Company, we have assumed that (i) the Company is a corporation validly existing
in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all requisite power
and authority, and has obtained all requisite corporate, shareholder, third
party and governmental authorizations, consents and approvals, and made all
requisite filings and registrations, necessary to execute, deliver and perform
the Documents to which it is a party (except to the extent noted in paragraph
(a) above), and that such execution, delivery and performance will not violate
or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, order, decree, judgment, instrument
or agreement binding upon or applicable to the Company or its properties
(except to the extent noted in paragraph (a) above), and (ii) the Documents
have been duly executed and delivered by the Company.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the federal laws of
the United States of America (in the case of the matters covered in paragraph
(c) above) and the laws of the State of New York, as currently in effect,
except that we express no opinion with respect to laws, rules or regulations of
the State of New York, or of any governmental agency or authority thereof,
applicable to companies engaged in the transmission or distribution of gas or
other petroleum products, or as to filings, registrations, approvals or
consents required under or by such laws, rules or regulations.
We express no opinion as to the compliance or noncompliance, or
the effect of the compliance or noncompliance, of each of the addressees with
any state or federal laws or regulations applicable to each of them by reason
of their status as or affiliation with a federally insured depository
institution.
The opinions expressed herein are solely for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent, CAF Advance Agent and the Lenders and may not be relied
on in any manner or for any purpose by any other person or entity.
Very truly yours,
XXXXX, DAY, XXXXXX & XXXXX
By:
--------------------------------------
119
EXHIBIT I
[Letterhead of Process Agent]
______________, 199__
To each of the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement (as
defined and referred to
below) and to The Chase Manhattan Bank
as Administrative Agent and
CAF Advance Agent for said Lenders
x/x Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Bank
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
To El Paso Natural Gas Company
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xx Xxxx, Xxxxx 00000
El Paso Natural Gas Company
Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain $250,000,000 Revolving Credit
and Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996 (said
Agreement, as it may hereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, being the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein
being used herein with the same meaning) among El Paso Natural Gas Company (the
"Company"), certain banks and other financial institutions from time to time
party thereto as Lenders thereunder (the "Lenders") and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent (in such capacities, the
"Administrative Agent" and the "CAF Advance Agent" for the Lenders).
Pursuant to Section 9.9(a) of the Credit Agreement ______________
(the "Borrower") has appointed the undersigned (with an office on the date
hereof at 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000) as Process Agent to receive
on behalf of the Borrower and its property service of copies of the summons and
complaint and any other process which may be served by the Administrative
Agent, the CAF Advance Agent, any Lender or the holder of any Note in any
action or proceeding by the Administrative Agent, the CAF Advance Agent, any
Lender or the holder of any Note in any New York State or Federal court sitting
in New York City in respect of, but only in respect of, any claims or causes of
action arising out of or relating to the Credit Agreement and the Notes issued
pursuant thereto.
120
I-2
The undersigned hereby accepts such appointment as Process Agent
and agrees with each of you that (i) the undersigned will not terminate the
undersigned's agency as such Process Agent prior to June 15, 2002 (and hereby
acknowledges that the undersigned has been paid in full by the Borrower for its
services as Process Agent through such date), (ii) the undersigned will
maintain an office in New York City through such date and will give the
Administrative Agent prompt notice of any change of address of the undersigned,
(iii) the undersigned will perform its duties as Process Agent in accordance
with Section 9.9(a) of the Credit Agreement and (iv) the undersigned will
forward forthwith to the Borrower at its address specified below copies of any
summons, complaint and other process which the undersigned receives in
connection with its appointment as Process Agent.
This acceptance and agreement shall be binding upon the
undersigned and all successors of the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
CT CORPORATION SYSTEM
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
Address of the Borrower:
[Address]
121
EXHIBIT J
FORM OF
JOINDER AGREEMENT
Reference is made to the $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and CAF
Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement";
terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among El Paso
Natural Gas Company (the "EPNGC"), certain banks and other financial
institutions from time to time party thereto and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that it has received and
reviewed a copy (in execution form) of the Credit Agreement, and agrees to:
(a) join the Credit Agreement as a Borrower party thereto;
(b) be bound by all covenants, agreements and acknowledgements
attributable to a Borrower in the Credit Agreement and any Note
to which it is a party; and
(c) perform all obligations required of it by the Credit Agreement
and any Note to which it is a party.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the
representations and warranties with respect to it contained in, or made or
deemed made by it in, Article IV of the Credit Agreement are true and correct
on the date hereof.
THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
122
J-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Joinder
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered in New York, New York by its proper
and duly authorized officer as of this _________ day of ____________, 199__.
[BORROWER]
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO:
--------------------------
[EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY]
[HOLDING]
By:
------------------------------
Title:
123
EXHIBIT K
FORM OF OPINION OF [ASSOCIATE]
GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE COMPANY
(a) [Each of the Company and the Borrowing Subsidiary]
[Holding] (i) is a corporation duly incorporated and existing in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and
(ii) possesses all the corporate powers and all other authorizations and
licenses necessary to engage in its business and operations as now
conducted, the failure to obtain or maintain which would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery by [the Company and the
Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of the Joinder Agreement and by [the
Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of the Notes made by it and the
performance by [the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of its obligations
as a "Borrower" under the Credit Agreement and the Notes made by it are
within such corporation's corporate powers and have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action in respect of or by [each of the
Company and the Borrowing Subsidiary (as applicable)] [Holding], and do
not contravene (i) [the Company's or the Borrowing Subsidiary's]
[Holding's] charter or by-laws, each as amended to date, (ii) any
federal law, rule or regulation applicable to [the Company or the
Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] (excluding provisions of federal law
expressly referred to in and covered by the opinion of [New York
Counsel] delivered to you in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby) or any provision of the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware applicable to such corporation, or (iii) any
contractual restriction binding on or affecting [the Company or the
Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding]. The Joinder Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered on behalf of [the Company and the Borrowing
Subsidiary] [Holding] and the Notes made by [the Borrowing Subsidiary]
[Holding] have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of [the
Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding].
(c) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any federal governmental authority or
regulatory body (including, without limitation, the FERC) is required
for (i) the due execution and delivery by [the Company or the Borrowing
Subsidiary] [Holding] of the Joinder Agreement, (ii) the performance by
[the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of its obligations as a "Borrower"
under the Credit Agreement or (iii) the execution, delivery and
performance by [the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of the Notes made by
it, except those required in the ordinary course of business in
124
K-2
connection with the performance by [the Company or the Borrowing
Subsidiary] [Holding] of its obligations under certain covenants and
warranties contained in the Joinder Agreement, the Credit Agreement and
the Notes and those which have been obtained and are in full force and
effect.
(d) To the best of my best knowledge, there is no action, suit
or proceeding pending or overtly threatened against or involving the
Company or any of the Principal Subsidiaries which, in my reasonable
judgment (taking into account the exhaustion of all appeals), would have
a material adverse effect upon the consolidated financial condition of
the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or which
purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability of the Joinder Agreement, the Credit Agreement or the
Notes.
125
EXHIBIT L
FORM OF OPINION OF NEW YORK
COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY
(a) The execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent,
the CAF Advance Agent and the Lenders by [the Company and the Borrowing
Subsidiary] [Holding] of the Joinder Agreement and by [the Borrowing
Subsidiary] [Holding] of the Notes made by it and the performance by
[the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of its obligations as a "Borrower"
under the Credit Agreement and the Notes made by it (i) do not require
under present law, any filing or registration by [the Company or the
Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] with, or approval or consent to [the
Company or the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of, any governmental
agency or authority of the State of New York that has not been made or
obtained, except those, if any, required in the ordinary course of
business in connection with the performance by [the Company or the
Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] of its respective obligations under
certain covenants and warranties contained in the Joinder Agreement, the
Credit Agreement and the Notes and (ii) do not violate any present law,
or present regulation of any governmental agency or authority, of the
State of New York applicable to [the Company or the Borrowing
Subsidiary] [Holding] or its property.
(b) The Joinder Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the Notes
(as applicable) constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of
[each of the Company and the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] enforceable
against [each of the Company and the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding] in
accordance with their respective terms.
(c) The borrowings by [the Borrowing Subsidiary] [Holding]
under the Credit Agreement and the applications of the proceeds thereof
as provided in the Credit Agreement will not violate Regulation G, T, U
or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
126
EXHIBIT M
[FORM OF EXTENSION REQUEST]
[Date]
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: ________________________
Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the $250,000,000 Revolving Credit and
Competitive Advance Facility Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1996, among the
undersigned, the Lenders named therein and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent and CAF Advance Agent (as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Credit Agreement.
This is an Extension Request pursuant to Section 2.23 of the
Credit Agreement requesting an extension of the Stated Termination Date to
[INSERT REQUESTED TERMINATION DATE]. Please transmit a copy of this Extension
Request to each of the Lenders.
EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By
------------------------------
Title:
